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Kimberly POV A week had passed since we relocated to the mansion in the southern part of Spain. It was grand, imposing, just like the previous one. Talking about that, the name of the man responsible for my turmoil had finally reached my ears—Salvatore. The realisation twisted in my gut like a cruel joke.Days earlier, Luca had demanded my I*******m login after my phone was shattered, taking with it the last shred of privacy I clung to.. Together, we scrolled through my exchanges with Salvatore, each line a reminder of my recklessness. Mario and Enzo looked on, their silence heavier than words. Enzo’s gaze, hard with judgement, sliced like a knife.Suddenly, Leonardo rose from his chair, the scrape of wood against marble slicing through the tense silence. He walked over to the bar, pouring himself a glass of wine, his jaw clenched."I'm wondering why you never left," he said quietly, his voice low but laced with accusation.My breath caught. "Left? And go where, Leonardo? You took eve
Kimberly POV One thing my father taught me was the importance of keeping the flowers tidy. Yet, as I scanned the garden, I couldn't help but notice the neglect—overgrown edges, untrimmed blooms. It irked me, especially with a splitting headache pounding behind my eyes, but tending to the flowers offered a strange kind of solace, a brief reprieve from the storm in my head.Monica's presence gnawed at me, an itch that refused to be ignored. What kind of personal assistant follows her boss home? The way they had interacted that night, anyone could see the familiarity was far more than professional. Lost in thought, I didn't even realize when my clippers slid too far, nicking my nail against a thorn. The sudden sting snapped me back, just as a familiar voice cut through the quiet.“Be careful,” Leonardo called out, his voice sharp enough to make me jolt.Blood welled up from the cut, trailing down my finger, and a wave of dizziness washed over me. Before I could react, Leonardo was beside
Kimberly POV “You… You killed your own mom?” I asked, taken aback, barely able to get the words out.I knew he was ruthless, but this… this was beyond anything I’d expected.His face darkened, eyes narrowing. “Leave.”“I…”“Get out, Kimberly.!”Without a second thought, I scrambled out, heart pounding, and left him to his brooding silence. I hurried down the hall, needing air, needing answers, and found myself in the kitchen where Helen was working quietly.“Helen,” I called, my voice coming out as a whisper.She looked up, a mixture of worry and something I couldn’t place etched across her face.“You’ve been working here for years, right?” I asked, wanting to be sure she was someone I could trust for the truth.“Yes, ma’am,” she said, nodding slowly.“Leonardo… did he really kill his own mom?” I kept my voice low, watching her carefully.Her reaction was immediate; her eyes widened in shock, her brow furrowed deeply. “Who told you such a lie?” she asked, bewildered.“Leonardo told me
Kimberly POV “Why did you say she died because of you?” I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Leonardo’s expression hardened, his eyes focused somewhere distant. “I couldn’t let the sleeping dog lie,” he said, his voice low and heavy.Salvatore. The name resonated like a dark omen—dangerous and deadly, a shadow cast over the past.Leonardo’s jaw clenched as he continued, “He was never worthy of being family. I tried to fight it, against my sister’s pleas. I didn’t listen, and my mother paid the price.”It took me several moments to piece it all together, the realisation snapping into place like a final puzzle piece. My eyes widened. “Salvatore… is Emily’s husband?” The shock laced my words.Leonardo’s muttered “Smart” was all the confirmation I needed. The silence that followed was heavy, the air between us taut with unspoken pain. He didn’t elaborate, and I understood the unspoken boundary. This wound was still raw, and pressing it further would break what little trust w
Kimberly POV I was in high spirits for the rest of the week. Leonardo and I had started making progress—or at least, I thought so.Since he sent me that landline, he’s been away traveling. But he still sends me texts, and I can’t help looking forward to them, even though I pretend otherwise. The thought of it makes me giggle, and I realise just how much I’ve started to rely on those messages. I was just settling down when the landline started ringing. For a split second, I hoped it was Leonardo. But it turned out to be Ian—well, not bad."Heyy," I greeted."Hi, sis," Ian said."I’ve been trying to reach Dad, but his number’s not going through. What’s up?" he asked.My heart leapt. I knew this moment would come, but I’d hoped to have a solid excuse ready by then. But as it turns out, my mind went blank."Actually..." I stammered."Sis?" Ian’s voice grew tense. "Is something wrong with Dad? Tell me!""No, not at all!" I blurted out, my voice almost too high. "He’s… on a field trip. Yea
Kimberly POV After the gym incident with Luca, I couldn’t help but feel flushed every time we were in the same room. Days rolled into weeks, and my daily life had settled into a rhythm of scrolling through my phone, chatting with Helen, binge-watching series, and occasionally reading some steamy romance stories.At dinner one evening, Leonardo looked up at me. "I hope you're prepared for the party. It’s in the U.S."“U.S.?” I repeated, almost choking. “Like…the United States?”He shrugged, casually continuing his meal. “Yeah. It’s a little grand.”I couldn’t hide my surprise. “I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard a lot about it,” I admitted, trying to keep my voice steady.“It’s not that bad,” Leonardo said calmly as he continued his meal.I took a breath, gathering the nerve to ask, “What kind of party is it, exactly?”Leonardo set his fork down, meeting my gaze. “It’s more of an investment discussion. But there’ll be a buffet, and… I’ll be there as the Don.”“Don?” The word rolled
Kimberly POV I caught my reflection in the mirror and nearly did a double-take. The emerald dress hugged me just right, with only a hint of gloss and mascara. I had tried my best not to do much, but the effect was something that couldn't go unnoticed.As I glanced over the bannister, I spotted Leonardo on a call downstairs. I think he noticed my presence, because he turned in my direction and stared at me. I heard him murmur something in Italian to the phone.I could feel his burning gaze on me as I descended the stairs, and I prayed silently not to trip and fall.When I reached him, he leaned in, pressing a light kiss to my forehead. “You look incredible,” he said, his tone softer than I’d expected.“Thank you.” I tried to look away, my cheeks warming under his steady gaze.“Shall we?” He extended his hand, and I took it, letting him lead me to the car. The drive was smooth, though I could feel his eyes on me from time to time, making me hyper-aware of every little detail.Once we ar
Kimberly POV The rest of the week passed marvelously, with Leonardo drifting in and out of the apartment. He’d be there one moment, and the next, he’d vanish. Strangely, since our near-moment of...whatever that was, we’d fallen into an easy rhythm together.I even pieced together what he meant by "punishment." It was the denied release, that almost-but-not-quite moment. And honestly, it was torture. Real Torture!This morning, I was woken by the scent of something warm and sweet. Opening my eyes, I blinked at the sight of Leonardo holding a tray with French toast and a steaming cup of ginger tea.“Hey,” I murmured, sitting up, a smile creeping onto my face at the sight."This must have taken ages to make," I teased, unable to hide my admiration.He raised an eyebrow, shrugging casually. "Not too long.""Uh-huh… So, what’s the occasion?” I asked with a laugh, eyeing the plate.“No occasion, Kimberly. Just thought I’d make something nice,” he said, shrugging it off with that familiar ai
Kimberly POV The sterile white walls of the hospital room are a stark contrast to the suffocating darkness I’d been trapped in just hours ago. My body was heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and lingering pain. I flinched as the needle pressed into my arm shifted slightly, the sharp sting reminding me that I was alive. I glanced around, my gaze falling on the empty chair by the bed. The room was silent except for the faint beeping of the monitors. Just as I began to wonder how I got here, the door creaked open. I quickly shut my eyes, feigning sleep, though the effort made my head throb. "In a few hours, she'll regain full consciousness," a woman’s voice, calm but slightly uncertain spoke. A nurse, I assumed. "You’ve been saying that for 46 hours," came the low, gravelly reply. I’d recognize that voice anywhere. Leonardo. His tone was quieter than usual, almost as if he was afraid of disturbing me, but it carried an unmistakable weight of frustration. "The anaesthetic shou
The night stretched endlessly as we arrived at the port, only to be stopped by cops at the gate.“Hold it right there. You can’t go in,” a voice barked.I rattled the gate, testing if it was unlocked, but it held firm. A frustrated sigh escaped my lips as I stepped back and watched Enzo negotiate with the security officer. The man’s sceptical gaze shifted to me, his eyes narrowing as he took in my dishevelled appearance. I know I look no different from a street hoodlum. Part of my shirt torn, the dirty jacket I had grabbed earlier hung on my shoulder.“How do I know you’re a Fiore?” the cop asked, his tone laced with suspicion.Mario intervened, flashing our ID. “This is enough proof.” I stayed silent, too focused on the task ahead to entertain conversation. The clock was ticking, and every wasted second gnawed at my patience.After a moment of scrutiny, the cop relented. “Okay,” he muttered, unlocking the gate and letting us through.“Don’t cause trouble.” Trouble was the least o
The sound of gunfire echoed endlessly, a grim reminder that this nightmare was far from over. I tried contacting Enzo and Mario, but neither line was connecting. Salvatore’s men were dwindling in numbers, but reinforcements seemed to appear from nowhere, emerging like shadows. “Your last wish, Salvatore?” I asked, my voice sharp as I cornered him. “To hell with you,” he spat, fear and anger flickering in his eyes like a dying flame. “Are you sure that’s how you want to end it?” I tilted my head, cocking my gun. “After all, what have you done with your miserable life?” He moved suddenly, his hand darting toward his pocket. My finger tightened on the trigger, and I fired before he could pull anything out. But either I was too slow, or the force of the bullet knocked something loose. A small metallic ball rolled from his hand and clattered to the floor. My instincts screamed, but it was too late—a deafening explosion ripped through the air, and a thick, choking cloud envel
Kimberly POV The crusty, dry bread lay on the floor in front of me, its stale scent wafting up and twisting my empty stomach. My body ached, but my pride burned hotter. There was no way I’d stoop so low to eating something this disgusting. Marcus strolled in, his sharp eyes zeroing in on the untouched bread. “Why aren’t you eating, baby girl?” His voice was calm, but there was venom beneath it. I didn’t answer. He tilted his head, smirking. “What’s wrong? Has Leonardo been feeding you something better than what your father ever could?” My fists clenched, but I kept my face blank, letting my thoughts drift. Once upon a time, To be honest, this bread would have been a nice meal for me and my dad. But since I got in with Leonardo I only ate rich foods. Butter bread. Now, the memory of enjoying something so plain felt foreign I turned my head away, refusing to meet Marcus’s gaze. His footsteps closed the distance between us. “You know,” he began, his voice softer, “you’re beau
Leonardo pov "I tried to find a hint in the video, and here..." The tech bro's voice broke through the static hum in the room, drawing my attention to the monitor. He pointed at the screen. "There’s a reflection of neon lights."I leaned in, squinting at the faint glow. The lights were blurry, barely distinguishable against the shadows."This is useless," Mario groaned, pacing behind me. "Neon lights are everywhere.""No, not this time," I said, my voice sharp. My mind raced, connecting the dots. "This is spring—neon light production slows down during this season. It’s expensive to maintain, so only people who already have it would use it.""Which means what?" Mario asked, crossing his arms."Salvatore and Marcus wouldn’t bother setting up neon lights just to record this video," I replied. "If there’s neon light in the room, someone nearby owns it."The tech bro hesitated. "But neon lights aren’t exactly rare—""They are when it comes to private ownership," I cut in, dragging a chair
Leonardo pov Getting the territory permanently seemed so close, almost within my grasp—until now. The insistent buzz of my phone shattered my thoughts. I’ve been ignoring business-related calls lately, focusing solely on finding Kimberly. Yet, when I glanced at the screen, the unfamiliar number gave me pause. My brows furrowed. It could only be Marcus or the other bastard. I answered. “Nardo, I never thought our next conversation would happen so soon,” came the voice, too casual for the situation. “Salvatore,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. “Where the hell is Kimberly?” He laughed, a grating, mocking sound. “You took everything from me, Leonardo, and you think I’d let you live in peace?” His tone shifted, laced with malice. “Of course not, dear Nardo. I’ll take everyone who matters to you and ensure your precious Grece territory becomes utterly worthless.” “Get to the point,” I snapped. “What do you want? Let Kimberly go, and we’ll settle this.” Salvatore c
(Leonardo pov)The receptionist flashed me a wide smile as she gestured toward the hall leading to his office. I didn’t return it. The walls of this place, once familiar, now felt suffocating. It wasn’t the building—it was him. I didn’t knock. The door creaked open, and there he was—Colton Fiore, better known as *Supremo.* A newspaper in his hands, glasses perched on his nose, his expression unreadable as always. “You finally see it fit to visit me,” he said, not looking up. “Kimberly has been abducted,” I said, skipping the pleasantries. He didn’t flinch. Instead, he folded the newspaper carefully, resting it on the desk. When he finally looked at me, it was with the same calm precision he used to dismantle his enemies. “Sit down, Leonardo,” he said, as though we were discussing something as trivial as the weather.“Supremo, there’s no time—” “Sit.” The weight of that single word crushed any argument I had. Reluctantly, I sank into the chair opposite him. He studied me
Kimberly POV The room’s shadows crept closer, pressing in with the weight of stale, stagnant air. I squinted at the figure on the screen as Treo adjusted the phone on its tripod, its dull glow illuminating a face half-hidden in shadow. Something about him tugged at my memory, but I couldn't really fathom it.“Hello, pretty friend of mine.” His voice slithered through the silence.A sick recognition sank in my chest. I wasn’t chained this time, but that didn’t make me feel any freer. I swallowed hard, praying I was wrong. “Salvatore?” My voice was barely more than a whisper.“Smart. Kimberly” His grin widened, cold and calculating. The casual way he said my name made my skin crawl.“You bastard!” I shot forward, reaching for the phone as if I could somehow claw him from the screen. Treo’s hand grabbed my arm and threw me back so hard I hit the floor, the impact causing me pain. Salvatore’s laughter echoed, rich with mockery, drowning the room in its sound.I sucked in a breath, anger a
Kimberly POV I woke up on the cold, hard floor, my skin prickling with the room’s damp chill. The darkness was thick, swallowing everything around me, and the air smelled faintly of rust and mold. It was the kind of darkness that made memories creep in—the kind that reminded me of my first abduction, the terror that had taken root and never left.I tried to move, but a sharp pain in my wrists stopped me. A cold, metallic restraint cut into my skin, chaining my arms to something behind me. Every shift pulled at my shoulders, making them ache. The sting of metal biting into my flesh would surely leave a scar, another reminder of this nightmare.My breathing grew shallow as panic clawed its way to the surface, but I forced it back down. Not now. Not yet. "Is… anyone there?" I whispered, my voice barely audible in the silence. I sensed a presence lurking in the shadows, something close to the walls but hidden in the gloom.Silence.Just as I was beginning to think I was alone, a low fluo