Alejandro took his time in answering her, stretching his hand over her head to press the elevator button. ‘’Uhm… what can I say? I have done much worse than that.’’ ‘’What?!’’ Genevieve exclaimed. So shocked was she that even after the elevator doors slid open, she remained rooted to one spot until Alejandro chuckled and pushed her in, before stepping in after her. ‘’Don’t tell me it shocks you that much,’’ he raised a brow, a hint of seriousness in his tone. When she turned to him with her still red cheeks and a sharp glare, he frowned. ‘’Wait… I understand that the Don bought you at a virgin auction but… you really are one?’’ Genevieve didn’t answer him, maintaining her glare as if it would force him to apologize. ‘’Wait,’’ Alejandro laughed nervously, ‘’You are what? 18? Even if you are really a virgin, surely you are knowledgeable in a lot of… things, right? Like other ways to pleasure yourself?’’ ‘’What does that have to do with what we are talking about?’’ ‘’Everyth
"No, you didn’t," Alejandro cut in flatly. "You only think you did."Genevieve's pulse quickened, but before she could press further, his tone shifted back to nonchalance. "Back to what we were talking about, you asked why I would want to teach you. Do you want the sugar-coated version or the plain truth?"She didn’t reply immediately, her mind still stuck on what she saw earlier. Alejandro had waved it off, but she was sure…Her thoughts trailed off, as the words from earlier echoed in her mind.‘You said earlier that what I saw up is the mildest of what I would see here…’He had been right, after all.First floor, explicit sex in the open. Second floor, casino with murder. Then what was she to expect in the rest of the floors?‘’How many floors does this place have?’’ she murmured in a low voice, though loud enough for Alejandro to catch what she said.‘’Just four,’’ he replied. ‘’Our destination is the ground or last floor where the offices are. Why do you ask?’’Genevieve shook
"Watch Porn," he deadpanned.Genevieve blinked, eyes widening in shock. "What?!"‘’Is that too much?’’ Alejandro pondered. ‘’Maybe read smutty books then. You don’t have to refuse or accept right now. I will send some recs to you; if you don’t want them, you are free to throw them away or do whatever you like with them. If you want more of them, you can find the mansion’s library and ask any of the blonde maids which is my section."Genevieve remained silent for a few seconds. She knew exactly what Alejandro was trying to do. Back her into a corner, making it seem like she had no real choice. He probably assumed she was too innocent or shy to voice her real thoughts.She wasn’t about to call him out on it, though. Let him think he had the upper hand. If anything, his little game might work in her favour too.Genevieve had always loved reading, but the books that lined the shelves of her parents' mansion were mostly academic and historical texts. They were dry and tedious, always faili
The woman’s face brightened as soon as she spotted Genevieve."Welcome, Mrs. Visconti," she greeted. "We weren’t informed in advance of your arrival, so we didn’t have much prepared. I hope our minimal refreshments won't annoy you."Genevieve shook her head.‘’No, it’s alright,’’ she instantly said, straightening.The woman set the tray down on the table, carefully lifting the single cup and handing it to Genevieve. She glanced inside and barely resisted the urge to hug the woman when she saw the rich, steaming liquid; hot chocolate."Thank you so much," she said, accepting it eagerly. "You have no idea how much I needed this.""Not at all, ma’am," the woman replied with a polite nod. "Boss Visconti requested it for you."Genevieve froze, the cup hovering just inches from her lips. Her head snapped up.Adrian?He had asked someone to bring this to her?The same man who was supposed to be cruel, cold, and unfeeling?Wait… now that she thought about it, had Adrian actually done anything
The smile on Alejandro’s lips disappeared at the dark look on his boss’s face. He immediately straghtened, knowing he had to say the truth even if it was going to land him in trouble.‘’Actually... I," he stuttered, "I already planned to test her even before I received the call from the Don. So i didn't do it because...'’Adrian chuckled dryly, sounding more eerie than amused.‘’You received a call from the Don, didn’t tell me shit about it, and went ahead to carry out his instructions before telling me, your immediate and only boss?’’ he asked, his rhetorical tone making it obvious he didn’t need an answer. Taking a step back, he kicked Alejandro in the knee, his face remaining expressionless even as his subordinate’s clenched in pain. ‘’Tell me, did you call him before coming in here to report to me?’’‘’I didn’t. And I do not intend to report to him,’’ Alejandro replied through gritted teeth.Adrian delivered another brutal kick to the same knee he had struck earlier, his fist slam
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
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