Kimberly's POV“There’s going to be a two-week training for all new recruits. As Don and Donna, we have to be available,” Leonardo said casually, his voice steady as he bit into his toast.I glanced up from my plate. Why does he always wait until breakfast to drop these little landmines? Does he want me to choke to death?“What will be my job?” I asked, trying to keep my irritation in check.“Nothing much,” he replied with a shrug. “Just that it’s unavoidable for you not to be there.”I sighed. “All I’ll be doing is welcoming people?”He nodded, his focus never wavering from his meal.“What a life,” I muttered under my breath, poking at my eggs. My tone was sharp enough to make him glance at me, but I didn’t care if he heard.---“You’re done for today, ma’am,” Enzo said with a grin, handing me a bottle of water.I smiled back, wiping sweat from my brow. “Not gonna lie, it was enjoyable,” I admitted, my muscles aching from the self-defense session.“Of course, ma’am. It only proves ho
A loud, piercing alarm jolted me awake. My heart pounded as I shot up, blinking rapidly. The sound was sharp, invasive, and entirely unwelcome."What in the world?”“Helen?” I called out instinctively, my voice groggy. There was no reply.I blinked at the dimly lit room, momentarily confused by my environment. The bare walls, the faint scent of wood…. my mind sluggishly started catching up. This wasn’t the mansion. Then it hit me, I was still at the camp.Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled to the adjoining bathroom. It was surprisingly clean, with neatly tiled walls and a small mirror mounted above the sink. I splashed cold water on my face, letting the chill clear the remnants of sleep from my mind.After freshening up, I changed into a pair of jeans and a jacket, hoping it would be enough to keep out the early morning chill.“Salute”!!The noise outside grew louder, drawing my attention.Curiosity tugged at me, and my legs carried me toward the commotion.The sight on the field
Leonardo’s POV"You've been on my nerves ever since you arrived," I muttered under my breath, barely controlling the surge of frustration rising within me."Then return me," she shot back, her voice tinged with a biting sharpness. "Not like I begged to be here in the first place."I gritted my teeth. "If I had a choice, I wouldn't need a damn reminder.""Leonardo," she said quietly, her gaze steady despite the tension thickening the air. "What exactly am I doing wrong? I'm just trying to help.""Yes..." I snapped before I could stop myself. "Your idea of help is exactly what’s getting on my nerves. You're tarnishing my image," I barked. The words left my mouth before I could take them back.“Fuck it” I cursed under my breath.I watched her flinch, taking a step back, her eyes wide with a flicker of pain."Tarnishing your image, you say?" Kimberly's voice was low but firm. "Trying to join in with the welcome party is what’s tarnishing your image. But sleeping in a separate room from min
Kimberly's POV"Just leave!" His voice echoed endlessly in my mind, each word a fresh wound. My vision blurred as I sprinted toward the camp gate, praying to slip past the guards unnoticed.But when I got there, my heart sank. "Oh no."The security had somehow tripled. Guards were stationed everywhere, their presence suffocating. My chest tightened as I stepped closer, daring to stretch my luck.One guard glanced in my direction. I froze, panic gripping me. Quickly, I turned back, hoping he hadn’t noticed my intention.The gates were locked tight. Escape seemed impossible.I bit down hard on my lower lip, holding back the sob building in my throat. Going back to the room was out of the question, I couldn’t face Leonardo’s cold gaze, his biting words replaying cruelly in my mind.The recruits’ hostel was equally unthinkable. Not when all this is happening because of my last visit there that this mess began.No, I couldn’t go back.Aimlessly, I wandered, ignoring the polite greetings of
Kimberly’s POV"I'm sorry," Leonardo whispered, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. His touch was soft,catching me off guard. Everything about his touch contradicted everything I’d come to know about him.I stepped back, breaking the kiss. My lips tingle, my body betraying me with a warmth that lingered in my chest arguing against my better judgment.The wind carried a biting chill, and I shivered as it cut through me.“Let’s go, Kimberly,”he urged, his voice low and controlled, “Why?” My voice was barely audible, but I held my ground. “Why should I follow you, Leonardo? Because I have nowhere to go? Because I have no father to protect me? Because I owe a five-hundred-million debt? Or is it because you hold my brother’s life in your hands?”My words came out fast, biting, each one laced with the frustration I’d been bottling up for so long.“Kimberly…”“Or maybe,” I interrupted, my voice sharp with sarcasm, “it’s because I’m now the Donna of the almighty Mafia
Leonardo’s POV"If you like her, just say it," Mario said, looking at me with that knowing gaze of his. "Stop making her go through all this."I frowned. "But it's not part of the plan, Mario."He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Leonardo, you know what you want. Don’t pretend you don’t."Mario sighed heavily, folding his arms. "Plans can change, Leonardo. You created this plan. If affection wasn’t in it, you can damn well add it.""Fine," I muttered, running a hand through my hair, frustration building. "Enough. I and Kimberley will leave camp today. You and Enzo, meet us at the mansion tomorrow."Mario went silent, watching me, but I knew he wasn’t done.I couldn’t stop thinking about his words. What do I want?---I entered the tent to find Kimberly struggling with her luggage."Is that box too small?" I asked the words out before I even thought about it.She let out a laugh. "I’m just terrible at packing. My dad helps me most of the time... well, he did. Then, Helen took o
Kimberly’s POVDinner had barely settled in my stomach when I caught sight of Leonardo walking past the dining room. I didn’t even think; I pushed my chair back and hurried after him."Leonardo!" I called, but he didn’t stop or even glance back.He strode to his bedroom with the same cold indifference I had come to expect. Still, I had hoped foolishly, perhaps that returning from the office or wherever he went might clear his mind and make him more willing to listen. Clearly, I was wrong.I stopped mid-step, defeated. Just as I turned to head back to my room, a familiar voice called out."Kimberly, dear!"I spun around, and there she was…Emily, her face lit up with excitement.“Oh goodness, I rushed down the moment I heard you were back!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.I clung to her like a lifeline, my emotions unraveling in a way I hadn’t expected. I didn’t even realize tears were streaming down my face until she whispered, "Shh… it’s okay. We’ll talk about it."We retr
Kimberly POV I didn’t cheat,” I said quietly.“Yeah, I know,” he replied curtly, his tone colder than the air between us.My breath hitched. “ You know?" I asked, surprised. Then why are you so mad at me? He scoffed, running a hand through his dark hair, his jaw clenching with barely contained fury. “You made love to someone, Kimberly. You gave them what should have been mine.”His words cut like glass, sharp and jagged, and I met his glare despite the lump forming in my throat. “You think I would do something like that?” My voice rose, cracking with the weight of my emotions. “Then explain!” he barked, his face inches from mine, the heat of his anger palpable.I swallowed hard, my pulse roaring in my ears. The truth felt too raw, too humiliating, but I couldn’t let him think so little of me. “I was ovulating,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing with shame. “I was… frustrated. I needed release, so I did it myself.”Leonardo froze, his piercing eyes locked on mine. The tension between
Kimberly POV I didn’t cheat,” I said quietly.“Yeah, I know,” he replied curtly, his tone colder than the air between us.My breath hitched. “ You know?" I asked, surprised. Then why are you so mad at me? He scoffed, running a hand through his dark hair, his jaw clenching with barely contained fury. “You made love to someone, Kimberly. You gave them what should have been mine.”His words cut like glass, sharp and jagged, and I met his glare despite the lump forming in my throat. “You think I would do something like that?” My voice rose, cracking with the weight of my emotions. “Then explain!” he barked, his face inches from mine, the heat of his anger palpable.I swallowed hard, my pulse roaring in my ears. The truth felt too raw, too humiliating, but I couldn’t let him think so little of me. “I was ovulating,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing with shame. “I was… frustrated. I needed release, so I did it myself.”Leonardo froze, his piercing eyes locked on mine. The tension between
Kimberly’s POVDinner had barely settled in my stomach when I caught sight of Leonardo walking past the dining room. I didn’t even think; I pushed my chair back and hurried after him."Leonardo!" I called, but he didn’t stop or even glance back.He strode to his bedroom with the same cold indifference I had come to expect. Still, I had hoped foolishly, perhaps that returning from the office or wherever he went might clear his mind and make him more willing to listen. Clearly, I was wrong.I stopped mid-step, defeated. Just as I turned to head back to my room, a familiar voice called out."Kimberly, dear!"I spun around, and there she was…Emily, her face lit up with excitement.“Oh goodness, I rushed down the moment I heard you were back!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.I clung to her like a lifeline, my emotions unraveling in a way I hadn’t expected. I didn’t even realize tears were streaming down my face until she whispered, "Shh… it’s okay. We’ll talk about it."We retr
Leonardo’s POV"If you like her, just say it," Mario said, looking at me with that knowing gaze of his. "Stop making her go through all this."I frowned. "But it's not part of the plan, Mario."He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Leonardo, you know what you want. Don’t pretend you don’t."Mario sighed heavily, folding his arms. "Plans can change, Leonardo. You created this plan. If affection wasn’t in it, you can damn well add it.""Fine," I muttered, running a hand through my hair, frustration building. "Enough. I and Kimberley will leave camp today. You and Enzo, meet us at the mansion tomorrow."Mario went silent, watching me, but I knew he wasn’t done.I couldn’t stop thinking about his words. What do I want?---I entered the tent to find Kimberly struggling with her luggage."Is that box too small?" I asked the words out before I even thought about it.She let out a laugh. "I’m just terrible at packing. My dad helps me most of the time... well, he did. Then, Helen took o
Kimberly’s POV"I'm sorry," Leonardo whispered, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. His touch was soft,catching me off guard. Everything about his touch contradicted everything I’d come to know about him.I stepped back, breaking the kiss. My lips tingle, my body betraying me with a warmth that lingered in my chest arguing against my better judgment.The wind carried a biting chill, and I shivered as it cut through me.“Let’s go, Kimberly,”he urged, his voice low and controlled, “Why?” My voice was barely audible, but I held my ground. “Why should I follow you, Leonardo? Because I have nowhere to go? Because I have no father to protect me? Because I owe a five-hundred-million debt? Or is it because you hold my brother’s life in your hands?”My words came out fast, biting, each one laced with the frustration I’d been bottling up for so long.“Kimberly…”“Or maybe,” I interrupted, my voice sharp with sarcasm, “it’s because I’m now the Donna of the almighty Mafia
Kimberly's POV"Just leave!" His voice echoed endlessly in my mind, each word a fresh wound. My vision blurred as I sprinted toward the camp gate, praying to slip past the guards unnoticed.But when I got there, my heart sank. "Oh no."The security had somehow tripled. Guards were stationed everywhere, their presence suffocating. My chest tightened as I stepped closer, daring to stretch my luck.One guard glanced in my direction. I froze, panic gripping me. Quickly, I turned back, hoping he hadn’t noticed my intention.The gates were locked tight. Escape seemed impossible.I bit down hard on my lower lip, holding back the sob building in my throat. Going back to the room was out of the question, I couldn’t face Leonardo’s cold gaze, his biting words replaying cruelly in my mind.The recruits’ hostel was equally unthinkable. Not when all this is happening because of my last visit there that this mess began.No, I couldn’t go back.Aimlessly, I wandered, ignoring the polite greetings of
Leonardo’s POV"You've been on my nerves ever since you arrived," I muttered under my breath, barely controlling the surge of frustration rising within me."Then return me," she shot back, her voice tinged with a biting sharpness. "Not like I begged to be here in the first place."I gritted my teeth. "If I had a choice, I wouldn't need a damn reminder.""Leonardo," she said quietly, her gaze steady despite the tension thickening the air. "What exactly am I doing wrong? I'm just trying to help.""Yes..." I snapped before I could stop myself. "Your idea of help is exactly what’s getting on my nerves. You're tarnishing my image," I barked. The words left my mouth before I could take them back.“Fuck it” I cursed under my breath.I watched her flinch, taking a step back, her eyes wide with a flicker of pain."Tarnishing your image, you say?" Kimberly's voice was low but firm. "Trying to join in with the welcome party is what’s tarnishing your image. But sleeping in a separate room from min
A loud, piercing alarm jolted me awake. My heart pounded as I shot up, blinking rapidly. The sound was sharp, invasive, and entirely unwelcome."What in the world?”“Helen?” I called out instinctively, my voice groggy. There was no reply.I blinked at the dimly lit room, momentarily confused by my environment. The bare walls, the faint scent of wood…. my mind sluggishly started catching up. This wasn’t the mansion. Then it hit me, I was still at the camp.Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled to the adjoining bathroom. It was surprisingly clean, with neatly tiled walls and a small mirror mounted above the sink. I splashed cold water on my face, letting the chill clear the remnants of sleep from my mind.After freshening up, I changed into a pair of jeans and a jacket, hoping it would be enough to keep out the early morning chill.“Salute”!!The noise outside grew louder, drawing my attention.Curiosity tugged at me, and my legs carried me toward the commotion.The sight on the field
Kimberly's POV“There’s going to be a two-week training for all new recruits. As Don and Donna, we have to be available,” Leonardo said casually, his voice steady as he bit into his toast.I glanced up from my plate. Why does he always wait until breakfast to drop these little landmines? Does he want me to choke to death?“What will be my job?” I asked, trying to keep my irritation in check.“Nothing much,” he replied with a shrug. “Just that it’s unavoidable for you not to be there.”I sighed. “All I’ll be doing is welcoming people?”He nodded, his focus never wavering from his meal.“What a life,” I muttered under my breath, poking at my eggs. My tone was sharp enough to make him glance at me, but I didn’t care if he heard.---“You’re done for today, ma’am,” Enzo said with a grin, handing me a bottle of water.I smiled back, wiping sweat from my brow. “Not gonna lie, it was enjoyable,” I admitted, my muscles aching from the self-defense session.“Of course, ma’am. It only proves ho
Kimberly POV I sighed in frustration as my Blinklist app displayed the dreaded message: "To be responded to in 48 hours." Does this mean I’d spend the next two days in utter boredom? I’d already spent the past month after training devouring romance books, so the thought of a bookless night was unbearable.It was only 9 PM, and restlessness clawed at me. The house was deathly quiet. Helen was on her day off, and Enzo had taken his rare break too. Everyone else had somewhere to be, something to do. Everyone except me.I wandered aimlessly through the hallways, letting the silence press against me. My steps brought me to the door of Leonardo’s room.The temptation to peek inside and see what his private world looked like gnawed at me, but I fought it down. “Ugggh” Moving on, I passed a heavy wooden door I hadn’t noticed before. Its design looked old, like it belonged in a castle, not a modern mansion. I stopped, curiosity tugging at me. This part of the house was unfamiliar. I haven