[KYRA]Yet another attack in less than a week. The shooter had strategically concealed themselves among the trees just outside her window, making it a straightforward and accessible target even for an amateur.Lily was so used to her life being in danger that it didn't bring out a reaction when she was being treated for the abrasion. As usual, Adler had gone in search, scaled through with goons, and gone from room to room searching for god knows what.Everyone was a suspect in a situation where every single person owned guns and knew how to use them.Merely by looking at him, one might assume he was the one who was shot. Hurt and exasperated, he promptly reorganized Lily's sleeping setup, and despite the seriousness of the situation, Kyra couldn't resist a smile.She'd see how long Lily's anger at him lasted when she stayed in his room. Some things couldn't be denied, and one was sexual attraction.Kyra knew because it had her all knocked her. Although she still wasn't comfortable wi
[LILY]He opened the wardrobe, where his clothes and hangers had already been moved aside, making ample room for my belongings with extra space to spare. I gazed at my small bag, containing the temporary clothes required for a few weeks in his room, and furrowed my brow.“Am I suddenly staying here forever without my permission?” “Raising that hand that carelessly will do nothing but get you a bed back in your ward." Moving up, he stopped at my side, then pushed his thumb into his pockets, staring down at my bandaged arm. “Does it hurt?” "No, it doesn't,” I rolled my eyes."Hmm," he glanced at the wrap, “would you tell me if it does?"“No.” Because why would I? It was a scrape, and yeah, it did hurt, but pumped with sedatives, his fusing around my bed, calling for the doctors and nurses each time I accidentally moaned about a slight discomfort, was grueling and so sweet that I had to remind myself that I was mad at him constantly.I was supposed to be mad at him. Urrrrrgh.I create
LILY“... Making sure I go through every envelope before it reaches Adler," Salvatore's voice filtered through the speaker and into my ear. "So far, I think your cousin has taken a break."I took a deep breath, the phone pressed to my ear. Despite the seemingly positive words, I understood this was far from good news. Greg's silence, particularly regarding matters that could jeopardize me, was the calm before the storm.And one that should be greatly feared: I wish I knew where he was so I knew where it all came from, but in between my anxiety and apprehension, it was hard to get a hold of myself."Lily, are you there?"I rubbed my eyes, weary from the nights I had gone without sleep, and breathed, "Yeah, I am. I think Greg is toying with me. And he's succeeding."The quietness on the other end stretched for seconds until finally, he sighed, "Are you okay?""Positive," I began. "Adler's room is secured, the window barricaded; it'll take quite the effort to get in,” I chuckled. “And al
[ADLER]“...look into it, Don Adler; my offer benefits you even more than it does me.”Adler pulled a wedge from his golf bag: This was why he needed Salvatore, and if he hadn't pulled off that stunt, he wouldn't be here finding a middle ground with Guordiola’s son when all he wanted to do was see his brain spill on grass.Looking at the scores of bodyguards he came with, Adler knew the feeling was mutual; obviously, the competitive animosity had been passed down from father to child, for even though Guardiola, who was one of the influential tycoons, worked so closely together with Domenico, they each watched their backs.After Domenico stepped aside, Salvatore handled negotiations, and Adler focused on the field. However, caught between Rune's triumphant smile and teasing "I told you so" and his distaste for golf, he felt trapped.But not trapped enough to admit he was wrong; he wasn't, and he would stand by that, even if he kept making silly decisions that kept him isolated from eve
LILY.Rune's plans were always over the extreme, one that should be supervised before letting fly, but when a matriarch like Nonna was involved, the result was me in between these men masquerading a bold front while inside, I was a freighting train."Is there anything to lose?" he had asked in Nonna's room. But right now, I could think of numerous things at risk.I sighed in relief when, out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Rune snatching Adler's gun; I flicked my hair back. He had begun this shit; it was just natural for me to play along.At least for me.Not to begin acting like it was all your idea, Lily.I shut down my inner voice."Lily, what do you do?" Luigi Guardiola began as he sized the ball with the club, "Apart from being beautiful?"He swung the club, sending the ball flying, momentarily capturing my attention. From his firm grip on the club to his swing, something about it seemed oddly familiar."I'm a caregiver," I replied when he began to walk up to me. It was how he wa
RUNE…"If you fight half as aggressively as you do in bed, you'll have me on my back," he murmured, so only she heard.Kyra chuckled, flexing her fingers and rounded her fist, ready for her first strike.He understood why everyone in the training room appeared uninterested in their sparring matches, unlike their enthusiasm during Don and the consigliere's sessions.They all knew that he always ended up on the floor with this bodyguard.Kyra was strong and quick, with an incredibly lethal endurance; she was notoriously known among the other soldiers. Most avoided her like a plague; being one of her challengers and ending up beaten wasn't a flex.However, with him, it was one. He knew how to get under her skin, so she drew blood from him, and somehow, the harder she hit, the more significant his achievement.But lately, he was having none of that. Instead, there was a woman who had treated his wounds and even stayed the night when he wanted her to, in a way that went beyond the sex.Whi
LILY.The shelves, rows, and columns were filled with books, and the smell of newly opened packages, ink, and flowers owned the room. I had never been in this space before, and staring at Rune's face, neither had he.Except for Adler.And there he was, obviously fidgeting and struggling to get his words out. That had to be the reason he didn't notice the huge bags under my eyes; he had all of his concentration on forming a simple sentence.In the last two days, there was the thought that he would never do it. Even after our encounter in the golf cart, I continued to be ignored, more like avoided, and yeah, I took it like a champ and sulked alone on my bed and in the dark.Seeing them now, I felt the darkness hovering around me disappear into thin air. It had been days of getting accustomed to the strangeness and struggling to get used to living without him."...can I text my apologies instead?"I scowled at him, and he sighed again. "Fuck me."Salvatore's smile was faint, but I caught
EVAShe folded her apron and handed it to Antonio from over the counter. “That's it.""You were supposed to leave an hour ago, Eva," he said, taking it from her. "I understand the rules and regulations keep you safe, but being in this place at eleven doesn't cut it.""She never listens," Tamara said, appearing beside her, leaning against the counter. "Listen, sugar. I know you want to make enough money and help however you can, but your safety comes first."She would have rolled her eyes if it were anyone but them; instead, she found the warmth in her chest. It was how they had picked up interest in her right from the onset. It was the way they took her as one of their own.Or that was what it felt like.Maybe it was how they reminded her of her family, the strong bond between her parents, and the love they shared.Who cared if it was scolding, as long as it came from them and maybe the strange man who had pried her out of Victor's cage?"...except for that guy that would probably nee