Genevieve jolted awake, her eyelids fluttering as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings. Was she dreaming?She had just woken from a nightmare—the same haunting replay of her 16th birthday that had tormented her for the past two years—only to find herself in yet another strange setting. Was it possible to drift from one dream into another?"You've been awake for minutes now, Missus. Don’t tell me you’re waiting to be carried to your room?" Alejandro’s teasing voice cut through the haze of sleep, snapping her fully awake.She sat up abruptly, her gaze darting around.The unfamiliar place she’d mistaken for a dream was the interior of a car. Specifically, the back seat. Her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, locking onto Alejandro’s amused expression."Where am I?" she asked.‘’In a car. We arrived home ten minutes ago.’’Genevieve turned to glance out through the window, confirming that they were indeed parked in front of the mansion. Maids and guards moved about outside, their pre
As Genevieve stepped past the threshold, the first thought that popped in her mind was that the grand living room sure lived up to its name.It was grand.The space was huge, with a high ceiling and a sparkling chandelier that filled everywhere with warm, golden light. The polished hardwood floor shone beneath a large, beautiful rug with detailed patterns.Soft, velvet sofas in deep colors were placed around a grand marble fireplace, their cushions looking fluffy and inviting. Tall windows, covered with heavy silk curtains, let in just enough light to give the room a cozy feel.Elegant life potraits of Roberto, Annika, Aurora, Reyna, and gold-framed mirrors decorated the walls, adding to the room’s rich style. In one corner, a tall bookshelf stood filled with old, leather-bound books, giving the space a classic and sophisticated touch.Genevieve eyes swept around the room, taking note of Aurora’s absence, the way Annika’s head was bent over, the warm smile on Roberto’s face, the knowi
‘’As I was saying,’’ Roberto continued, his tone stern as his eyes moved across the faces of everyone in the room. ‘’To show you all how serious I am with my claim, I and Genevieve will be getting a court and church marriage coming Saturday.’’Adrian's jaws ticked.Genevieve, along with the others in the room, snapped their heads in Roberto’s direction, shock written vividly all over their faces.‘’A court and church marriage?’’ Genevieve blurted out, unable to keep the words to herself. Today was a Tuesday, so Saturday was just four days away. It was so soon. And totally unexpected.She had expected so many methods for him to show he had claimed her, but none of them came close to this."Why? How?’’‘’I am catholic,’’ Roberto announced, as if that explained everything. ‘’Don’t be surprised it's so soon. In fact, if not for the meeting with the Capos from the north holding on Thursday, the wedding would be held earlier.’’He looked around the room, taking in each gaping mouth and wide
Genevieve was jolted out of her thoughts by another pat on the back by Roberto. Why the hell did the man like patting her back so much? She wasn’t able to dwell on the thought much as he rose to his feet and said, ‘’You should go to your room. It was cleaned thoroughly yesterday, and I think you will find everything you need in there. One of the maids will bring breakfast.’’Genevieve nodded but remained seated, not wanting to walk out of the room with everyone’s attention on her. She continued to watch as he turned to Adrian and Alejandro, saying, ‘’Let’s go discuss more in the study. There’s a lot to prepare.’’ It was at that moment that Adrian finally pulled his gaze from her to look at his father, ‘’And a lot to talk about,'’ he added.The three men walked out, leaving the women alone. As soon as the sound of the men's footsteps had completely disappeared, Reyna rose from her seat and walked across the room to Genevieve’s, patting the girl’s back just like her brother had done
Genevieve bit her lower lip harshly at the cruel pep talk she just gave herself, not stopping even after the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. ‘’Eve!’’ Annika’s voice echoed in her ears.She snapped out of her thoughts to see that the girl was now sitting beside her, snapping her fingers in front of her face.‘’Earth to Eve!’’ she exclaimed. '’What were you thinking?’’ ‘’Oh, that was nothing," Genevieve shook her head. "What were you saying?’’‘’I was apologizing, remember? And we moved to Aurora," Spoke with Aurora earlier, and she said she would apologize personally when she comes back home for her break. She won’t be able to come to the wedding.’’ Genevieve forced a smile, ‘’Oh… she doesn't have to. It's just a wedding your father wants to use to pass a message across anyway. It's not like it is my dream wedding or something.’’Annika’s face grew solemn, her eyes flickering with something like shame as she took Genevieve’s hand in hers.‘’I know it’s not. And I also know
The men headed down the hallway to the study, with Adrian and Roberto in front while Alajandro trailed after them. No one spoke a word until they got to their destination and closed the door behind themselves.‘‘What was that about in there?’’ Roberto asked as he went to sit on one of the leather couches.‘‘What was what about?’’ Adrian murmured absentmindedly while going to sit on the chair directly opposite his father’s. ‘‘Have any idea, Alejandro?’’‘‘Not at all, Boss,’’ Alejandro replied. He stood behind the chair Adrian was sitting on, his posture imposing and intimidating. If the one they were facing wasn’t of higher rank than they were, he’d probably be pissing in his pants at the intimidating picture the both of them portrayed.‘‘You know what I’m talking about,’’ Roberto stated, his tone laced with displeasure. "And you think I wish to waste my time over it?"Roberto sighed in exasperation. "Saying you don't want to guard my wife to be, and then when she tries to choose ano
Roberto’s lips set into a thin line before replying, ‘‘No. What do you want?’’‘‘Nothing much,’’ his son said, ‘‘Except that you forget what happened earlier and never talk to me about how you use my resources just because you can, ever again.’’‘‘That’s not a bad deal,’’ Roberto agreed, ‘‘You should know this though, Son. You will have a weakness one day. In the form of a position, a property, or better still… a woman who will bring you to your knees and undo the damage i did on you. Then you will know just how i feel with you threatening me with mine.’’‘‘Can’t wait,’’ Adrian said, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. ‘‘I hope it comes sooner so I can quash it in your presence and reiterate the lessons you taught me as a kid.’’‘‘As if,’’ Roberto’s smile came back to his face. ‘‘It will come sooner. Sooner than you expect, I hope. And you will see just how easy it is for such kind of weakness to be quashed.’’Father and son locked eyes, a silent battle of wills reflecte
Genevieve glanced around Annika’s room, instantly noting the stark contrast to her own. While hers was a blend of cream and white, this space was awash in shades of pink, with delicate decor and soft aesthetics that gave it the feel of a princess’s chamber.It somehow reminded her of how her own room used to look like back at her parents’ mansion.‘’Big enough?’’The question made her turn to Annika, who was standing by her closet door, a wide smile on her face. She had been invited here to come check out clothes to borrow after their tight embrace earlier that had ended with Annika scrunching her nose and saying, ‘You smell... damp.’Since Aurora was not around and her room was locked, there was no one else she could borrow clothes from except Annika, who didn’t share the same size as her. However, she had no choice but to make do with it.‘’Your room is beautiful. And yes, it's very big,’’ she commented, her words causing a sparkle in Annika’s eyes.‘’Really?’’ the latter gushed in
The neon-lit banner loomed over Genevieve, casting a provocative glow against the evening. A large V and A were emblazoned at its base, while the overhead lights illuminated a striking image of an intertwined man and woman, masked but otherwise not wearing anything, leaving no secrecy about the nature of the establishment. The six-story building stood like a bold declaration of indulgence and secrecy. "So, Missus," Alejandro’s voice carried a teasing edge as he stepped beside her. "What do you think of our sex club?" Genevieve’s head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowing into a glare. She knew she was to blame for not making sure of where they were bringing her to, but still... "You didn’t tell me it was this kind of place. This is even worse than The Vault." "Better than The Vault, you mean?" Adrian's smooth, familiar voice came from her other side, as he walked over to stand beside her. At the sight of his bandaged arm suspended by his side, her annoyance wavered, replac
‘’We can’t," Adrian replied almost immediately. Genevieve’s face fell.‘’What do you mean we can’t? I wan’t to go there, and you are obligated to—’’"To take you wherever you want, yes," he replied. "But The Vault is on the outskirts of town. Tell me what exactly you want to see there that we can’t find anywhere else in the city, and I’ll believe the hour and a half journey is worth it."Genevieve harrumphed. Did he have to be such a killjoy? If only she could just drop this whole plan, let Adrian be, and not feel guilty about him needing rest…But she did feel guilty. And it would only increase if she let it go.So she sighed, quickly racking her brain for a believable excuse. The real reason she chose The Vault was simple; if they went there, she could get him to stay in his office with her, making sure he rested in a familiar space. But there was no way she could tell him that. He’d never agree.So she went with the next most plausible reason. One that, unfortunately, sent heat ru
"So these men were all eliminated, and the restaurant management didn’t send reinforcements the entire time?"Genevieve lifted her gaze from the book resting in her lap, turning to Alejandro who had asked the question. He was staring into the rearview mirror, watching Adrian and the doctor who had arrived with him—both seated in the back. Unlike earlier, when she had been completely absorbed in her book, she now found it impossible to immerse herself in the fictional world.The worry pressing against her chest was too heavy for an erotica novel to distract her. Not that she had managed to read beyond three lines since they got into the car.Back in the alley, Adrian had ordered Alejandro to get her a spare T-shirt, refusing to let either of them near him until she had changed. Only after she had done so did he allow the doctor to approach and help.Once inside the car, she had taken the front passenger seat while Alejandro slid behind the wheel. Adrian and the doctor had settled in th
The smile dropped from Adrian’s face, his expression suddenly turning serious."Exactly, Principessa. The keyword is 'some.' There are honest officials out there, just as there are dishonest ones. Would you want us to risk spending years in prison when we could just wait here for my men to arrive?"Genevieve’s face fell. Of course, he was right. He was smarter than she was and had been in this life much much longer than she was, so he knew what he should and should not do in situations like this.If it was really safe to go to the hospital, he wouldn't be here, leaning against this dirty wall and risking death by excessive blood loss... right?"So... what do you say?"She looked up, frowning at the smug expression that had taken over Adrian’s face. But as her eyes caught sight of the blood still seeping from his arm, a wave of unease washed over her again.She couldn’t just stand there and watch him bleed without doing something about it. Acting on instinct, her hands dropped to the h
Jaws clenched against the pain, Adrian watched through blurry vision as Genevieve rushed toward him. She caught hold of his injured hand, lifting it gently, likely to examine the wound. Under normal circumstances, he would have welcomed her touch—her initiative to reach out to him—but the sharp, searing pain that shot through his arm at the movement nearly made him grit his teeth harder."Did I offend you?" he asked, his voice strained but laced with a hint of dry humor, trying to mask the agony her action had caused.Genevieve kept her eyes fixed on his injured arm, her worry evident as she replied, "No, why would I be offended?" She couldn't stop tears from welling up in her eyes as she noticed the blood soaking through the sleeve of his t-shirt, the fabric beginning to cling to his skin. "Oh my God, we need to get you to the hospital. Now.""One," Adrian began, his voice calm but firm, "If I didn’t offend you, then let go of my hand before I pass out from what you’re doing." He pa
Genevieve sat huddled inside the cabinet, her legs pulled tightly to her chest, and her arms wrapped around herself in a desperate attempt to hold herself together. "I killed them... I killed them... I did... I—I killed them," she whispered in a low, trembling chant, her voice barely audible over the chaos outside. "I’ll be killed too. It—it’s my f—fault though. I deserve it."Though the air outside was rented with the sound of gunfire and angry shouts in Italian, to her, it all faded into a distant hum. All she could hear was the sound of her own shaky voice, and all she could see, even in the darkness of the cabinet, was the inside of her closet back in her parents’ mansion.The memory was vivid: the luxurious dresses, shoes, watches, jewelry, bags, and costumes that had surrounded her as she waited for her aunt in that dark room.The scene replayed in her mind like a nightmare; her father collapsing, his final words urging her to take care of her mother. Her mother, despite being
Fuck! He’d been shot.It wasn’t that Adrian hadn’t expected it. In fact, just like everything else in his life, except for Genevieve and anything that had to do with her, he had anticipated.But that didn’t make what just happened any less infuriating.Gritting his teeth, Adrian forced himself to dull the excruciating pain in his arm, reducing it to nothing more than a sting. It took only a few seconds—a few seconds in which he didn’t stop shooting.Several of the men were already down, and the hostages they had intended to use as shields were now screaming, crawling across the floor, and ducking beneath tables and chairs. With the entrance still blocked by the intruders, it made sense why they hadn’t tried escaping through the door.So he continued firing, his movements precise, his mind calculating every step the attackers took.Meanwhile, behind him, Genevieve stood frozen, her wide eyes locked onto the blood streaming from his right arm. Her breath had caught in her throat and her
Adrian tilted his head slightly, his mind racing. If his reasoning was correct, it explained why the backup that was supposed to have arrived hadn’t shown up yet. It meant they knew—or at least believed, considering the three dead bodies now sprawled on the floor—that no one would be harmed here tonight.That also suggested whoever had sent these inexperienced, bumbling mercenaries had contacted the restaurant in advance. And the only person capable of giving orders to the restaurant’s management would have to be someone from his own family.A smirk tugged at his lips, as he murmured beneath his breath, "I’ll have fun figuring out which idiot thought this was a good idea later."For now, he sighed, realizing he’d been overthinking things today. Normally, he’d act on instinct, confident that whatever consequences arose would be within his control—even if he took the wrong step. Not that that happened often.But today was different. Today, he had someone with him; Genevieve. Her presenc
The intruders exchanged quick glances, their eyes silently communicating a message that each of them—and Adrian, judging by the expression on his face—seemed to grasp."Did you hear that?" whispered the man with a scar beneath his eye, his voice low but still loud enough for Adrian to hear.Their leader shook his head, a nervous laugh escaping him. "Impossible," he muttered, though his tone betrayed his unease."You think so?" Adrian spoke up, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he noted the mix of fear and confusion flickering across their faces. He tilted his head slightly, his voice steady but laced with mockery. "You’ve been standing here for minutes now, doing nothing but tossing around empty threats and waving those guns like toys. Not a single shot fired. So, let me ask again... what are you really here for?""Shut your mouth if you know what’s good for you!" the scarred man snapped, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his fear. His gaze darted away from Adrian’s, landing