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 know it would ever be like this," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.Leonardo chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "It's not always like this with just anybody," he replied, his tone teasing yet firm.I glanced at him, my gaze locking onto his. Something unspoken passed between us, and I couldn't look away."Yes, it's new to you," he continued, his voice dropping an octave. "But your body turned to mine, Kimberly. It understood, even if you don't.""I'm glad," I admitted, my fingers tentatively brushing against his bare chest. He had handcuffed me earlier, but now I was free-free to touch, to feel.My fingertips traced the curly hair on his chest as flashes of our moments together replayed in my mind. A rush of warmth flooded me, leaving me breathless. I glanced down and saw him stir, his arousal unmistakable."Oh my goodness," I whispered, my cheeks flushing."Don't tell me you want to do this again, Leo?" I asked, my lips p
Kimberly POV It was amusing to watch Emily completely ignore Leonardo’s reprimand for barging in on us that evening. She had been on top of the world, basking in the success of her little scheme. That girl had no fear, not even of her brother.After that night, things between Leonardo and me fell into an unspoken routine. We woke up to the same rhythm each day. I’d often feel a dull ache in my body, but not in a bad way. Leonardo had his thing, big, thick and oh-so-capable, if you catch my drift. Despite him not taking it personal, sex with him was amazing. Maybe because this is a phase in our relationship I never imagined would come to pass.Ignoring his sometimes coldness and attitude, I made sure to insert little couple-like gestures into our routine. Dinner together, for instance, became non-negotiable. To my surprise, he had stopped resisting it, even if his phone remained glued to his hand.I watched him now, scrolling through whatever mafia-related updates filled his morning.
Leonardo’s POV"If you had the chance to make this work, would you give it a try?" Kimberly’s question echoed in my ears.Her words forced me to confront my actions. From flings to submissives, I had always kept a strict rule: no staying in the same bed, no conversations after. But Kimberly shattered that record effortlessly."Why are you so different?" I remembered her question at camp.How could I tell her the truth? How could I admit that the Mafia Don was falling for his captive?I ran a hand through my hair and sighed in frustration. "This isn’t supposed to be happening," I muttered, picking up my phone to call Mario."Hello?" came his voice on the other end."Mario. Café. 5 PM," I said curtly, hanging up before he could respond.An exasperated sigh escaped me as I moved to my desk, glancing at the stacks of documents on my desk but I couldn’t focus. My thoughts were all on her.______"Hey, bro!" Mario called from across the lounge.The moment I arrived, I regretted not choosing
Kimberly's POV"Ah, our beloved Donna returns," Monica drawled, her voice dripping with venomous sweetness.I stiffened, forcing my face into a neutral mask. "Monica." My voice remained steady, even as my chest tightened.She set her glass down with deliberate slowness, her fingers trailing along its rim before she rose to meet me."Leonardo isn’t here, if you're here for him. Stop wasting your time," I informed her.I Thought Leonardo had told me Monica is his secretary, so how won’t a secretary know her boss isn’t around? Ridiculous.Her lips curled into a mocking smile. "You look so stressed..." she replied instead, her voice laced in mockery rather than affection."Is it the Donna tasks or... the Mr. Fiore's bed warmer tasks that’s draining? Hope you're meeting up with his demands? Leonardo's got an appetite, you know."I swallowed hard, the words cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. My eyes burned, but I blinked the tears away. "What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice, s
Leonardo pov"Where’s my wife?" I asked as soon as I stepped inside the mansion.The silence was unnerving. The house wasn’t usually lively, but today, something felt different, off. It was Kimberly."She’s upstairs, sir," a voice replied.Helen had informed me earlier over the phone. "She hasn’t been coming down for meals, nor is she opening her door."I ascended the stairs, my footsteps echoing in the stillness. Stopping outside her room, I called softly, "Kimberly. It’s me. I’m home."A rustle from within told me she was awake. I pressed on. "I’m sorry, okay? Just open the door. We need to talk.""I have nothing to say to you," came her muffled response, her voice thick with emotion."Kim..." I sighed, leaning my head against the door. "I know you’re upset. I need you to hear me out. Please."Silence."Whatever Monica said to you, It's not true, believe me" I said, like I knew the exact words Monica said."Kim..." A creak sound came from the door, for a moment, my heart leaps, she
Kimberley's Pov My heart leapt into my throat. There, in flesh and blood, with a gun clutched in one hand and his eyes locked onto me. My man. He was all I ever could have hoped for. But Lara wasn’t through yet. Not even her doom is glaring. Without hesitation, she moved for me, her fingers closing around my neck and jerking me backward roughly. My knife was still clutched in my fingers, but Lara moved first, her grip tightening around my throat in an unrelenting grasp. “No, no, no, Leonardo,” she sneered, her breath coming in jerky puffs. “You have played your move too soon. I will be the one to conclude it.” She yanked me toward her, using my body as a shield. I struggled to breathe, my chest rising and falling desperately against the tightening grip. My vision blurred, and I felt the sting of tears at the edge of my eyes, not from pain, not yet, at least, but from fear. Leonardo’s gun remained leveled. His eyes glinted, trained on both of us, a deadly tranquility in his
Kimberly’s POVMy heart slammed against my ribs. There he was, my Leonardo standing in the dimly lit warehouse, a gun clutched in his hand, his dark eyes locked onto mine. My man. My savior. My only hope.But Lara wasn’t done. Not even with her downfall staring her in the face.Before I could react, she yanked me backward, her fingers closing around my throat in a vice-like grip. The force sent a sharp jolt of pain down my spine, my breath choking off in my throat. My knife was still in my hand, but she moved too fast, her hold tightening with brutal force.“No, no, no, Leonardo.” She sneered, her breath ragged with fury. “You played your move too soon. I will be the one to finish this.”She jerked me against her, using my body as a human shield.I struggled, my chest rising and falling in desperate gasps. Black spots danced at the edges of my vision, my body fighting the suffocating grip. I wasn’t just afraid, I was terrified.Leonardo’s gun never wavered. His face was unreadable, bu
Kimberley's POV.Pain radiated from my wrists, where the ropes had chafed my skin. The moldy, wet environment in the warehouse blistered in my lungs when I struggled to draw a steady breath. The knife was still at my throat, the cold steel pressing hard enough to sting.Lara’s grip about the handle was strong, but it seemed off. She was unbalanced, trembling, and unsteady.She’s unraveling.I’d spent long enough witnessing humans manipulate, deceive, and distort reality to know when an individual was about to lose it. Lara was losing it completely, her sanity, her power, her sense of victory.I just had to push her a little deeper.“You don’t have to do this,” I whispered, putting a tremble in my voice. I had to sound vulnerable. Needed to make Lara believe I'm afraid, because I was, but fear wasn’t the only thing keeping me alive right now. My baby was.Lara let out a faint, humorless laugh. "Sweetie, I don't have to, but I'd prefer to."I swallowed, feeling the press of the knife ag
Leonardo's POV.The moment I stepped out into the cold night, I could sense the weight of it all bearing down upon me. My heart beat in erratic pulses, my blood afire with anger and with fright. This was not just another job; it was about Kimberley—my wife, the mother of my daughter, the woman I loved more than anything.She was out somewhere, in agony, and at the mercy of a lunatic with no qualms about ruining everything I cherished.My team was already in motion, but the distance between us and the abandoned warehouse district felt like an eternity. My mind raced, calculating, strategizing. I had to move quickly, but every second felt like a lifetime.The pounding in my head matched the thudding of my heart."Boss," Enzo interrupted, shaking me out of my trance state. “We’ve got the location. We’re almost there. We’ll storm the place, get in and get her out.”I barely acknowledged him. I kept my eyes trained in one direction and my hands holding onto the wheel even tighter."I’ll ta
Kimberley's POV My nerves weren’t soothed by the faint, fading light above my head. The adrenaline coursing through my veins made my pulse race, and the sweat trickling down my back only added to my sense of urgency. I wasn’t going to give up, not now that there was still a chance to escape. I had to give it my all.The only thing standing between me and freedom was Royce, who stood quietly in the corner, his body stiff and guarded. Lara had gone off to do whatever twisted thing she had planned, leaving me alone with the man who had been both my captor and maybe, just maybe my saviour.Royce’s eyes darted nervously around the room as he sat on a crate a few feet from me. He was a man lost in thought, pondering his next move, uncertainty written all over him.I recognized it. The hesitation. The anxiety. I had to use it. I needed to take this moment, to push him further.With a quiet resolve, I began, my voice gentle but steady. “Royce, I know you don’t want to be here. Your eyes show
Leonardo's POV There was no sound in the safe house. It was silent. Too silent. Seated in my office, my knuckles turned white as I gripped the whiskey in the crystal tumbler. The amber liquid, which had yet to be touched, reflected the faint light from the enormous chandelier above. My thoughts were elsewhere, obviously not in this house or this room. They were with her. Kimberley. My wife. Missing. In danger. Kimberly's parent has called a while ago, doing everything within their power to bring back their daughter. But nothing was coming forth. Well what do I expect when dealing with a psychopath? Nancy had been beating and blaming herself and it's driving me crazier.And now this.I gazed at the plain envelope on my desk, my fingers quivering slightly. Just a simple manila envelope. No address. No labels.I sat there as if my world hadn't just been shattered. Lan had brought it. It was found outside the main gates. The delivery had not been captured on camera. There were no footpr
Kimberley's POV It was cold in the room. Not only from the absence of heat but also from the overwhelming presence of insanity that hung thick in the air. My wrists were raw from the restraints, my body sore from the struggle earlier. But none of that mattered. What mattered was survival. I had to get inside Royce’s head. He looked like he is doing all of these by order and not will.I needed to make him question, doubt, and eventually turn against Lara. Because she wasn’t just unhinged, she was unpredictable. And unpredictable people were the most dangerous.Humming under her breath, Lara sat in the corner, flipping through her sick little scrapbook. I got chills from the sound. She was engrossed in a world she had created for herself in which I was the barrier she had to remove, and Leonardo was hers. After a while, she fell asleep.I needed to act quickly.With his arms folded and his face unreadable, Royce stood close to the door. He was built like a soldier, broad shoulders, a
Leonardo's POV.Sweat, alcohol, and sex filled the underground den. The gloomy shadows on the dirty walls were created by the dim red lights that flickered above. Cigarette smoke thickened the air, and the faint sounds of illegal transactions buzzed around the room.Men such as myself hardly ever entered such a place without making a scene.And I was going to do just that.Closely followed by my men, I forced my way through the heavy steel door. Suspicious eyes darted toward us, and the room’s noise level instantly decreased. Since they were already aware of who I was, I didn’t need to introduce myself.Enzo moved forward first, looking around the throng. Then he barked, “Where’s Aldo?”A couple of customers shifted uneasily and looked toward the rear area. In situations like this, fear outweighed loyalty—even though nobody wanted to be the one to sell out their own.I didn't have patience for games. I strode forward, yanking the nearest man out of his seat. With a yelp, he spilled hi
Kimberley’s POV A dull ache pulsed at the back of my head, pulling me from unconsciousness. My limbs felt sluggish, and my body felt heavy as I forced my eyes open. The tiny, windowless room was filled with unsettling shadows as the faint light above flickered.Panic weighed heavily on my chest. The last thing I could recall was kicking, struggling, and tasting fear as I fought Lara before I was grabbed from behind. Right now, I am in a new and worse place. The air was cold, with a hint of mildew and a hint of metal.This time, my wrists were bound in front of me rather than behind me as I lay on a firm mattress. Even though my ankles were still tied, there was more space than before.And then I heard a sound…light footsteps.I tensed as I looked up suddenly. The light flickered as Lara stood in the doorway. But she was different in some way. She was no longer the smug, controlled woman I had previously met.This was a more dangerous Lara, with her hair disheveled, her pupils blown w