"Boss!" Alessandro called out.Marcello looked up and saw Alessandro running towards him with Andrea and Giana, their weapons drawn, checking their surroundings."What the fuck happened? Who the fuck is trying to assassinate me?" Marcello asked Alessandro.He shook his head. "I have a feeling it was—" he stopped, as if realizing something. "Let's get both of you into safety before we get into that.""I don't need you to protect me," Marcello returned, then turned to face Giana. "Get Mariana home and have two men outside my bedroom.""N---no," Mariana protested. "Let's go together."Marcello looked down at her. Her eyes welled up with tears, but nothing spilled over her cheeks. Terror was visible on her face.She would serve as a distraction right now, and he needed to focus. To find out who had tried to kill him. And the identity of the waitress.But depending on the gravity of the situation, he could go home with her for both their safety sakes, or he could let her stay with him beca
Gabriella scoffed. "Do you want to deny it in front of everybody? Go ahead, try it!" "I'm not denying anything. But that doesn't mean Hannah is my daughter. I might've been high when we had sex, but I'm fully aware that I used protection." He chuckled dryly. "I can't even imagine fucking you without a condom." His skin crawled at the thought of fucking Gabriella without a condom. He'd rather stay for twenty years without having sex. Gabriella's face reddened in embarrassment. Why are any of her plans not working? "I'm speaking the truth." She whined. Mariana was confused, but she still had to stand behind her husband no matter what, and she wasn't going to let Gabriella have her way. "Enough, Gabriella!! Aren't you just shameless? You've chosen now to bring this up? And what if he slept with you? Weren't you ashamed to take advantage of a drunken man all because of your desperation to get him to sleep with you?" Mariana fumed, but she didn't lose her composure. "How dare..." Ma
Sitting in a room, talking, was Andrea, Enzo, Mattia and Giana. "I can't believe that she shot the waitress," Andrea said. "Exactly! Did you see the way she handled the gun? Like a pro!" Enzo exclaimed. "At this point, our boss should probably teach her a thing or two. It won't hurt." "She would be a total badass if he teaches her," Giana added. "Yeah, she would. Her reflexes were quite good. She had a good eye. " Andrea agreed. " I would say that she was on alert. She knows the kind of man she's married to and the kind of party they came to. But I don't know though." Giana said, uncrossing her arms. "Obviously, she'd feel that way. Boss is someone that everyone fears so it isn't a new thing that someone would try to take him out." Andrea shrugged, standing up and walking towards the mini bar to pour himself a glass of tequila. "But it really was a close call tonight. We have to tighten security." The Following Morning. Mariana admired Marcello's lips as he slept, then her e
Mariana sniffed. "That was a horrible experience for a child to go through but now, you're the strongest man that I know and you also have me.""I have no control of whatever comes next but that doesn't mean that I don't have to always be prepared. And with these challenges popping up, I may be away sometimes.""But we can make it work, right? You, me and our future?" She said, taking his hands and placing it on her stomach."Yes, we can make it work." He said and she held him, pulling him into her embrace. "Are you happy?"She nodded. "So happy. But not when you were telling me your story. It was so saddening.""I'm sorry for not saying anything to you when you told me about the pregnancy.""I don't care about that anymore, not right now. I know you won't let anything or anyone hurt us." She said, referring to the baby."I wouldn't let anyone hurt even a strand of your hair." He kissed her forehead, before getting up. "I'll be back before it gets dark.""By the way, before I leave—"
Mariana woke up to searing pains in her ribs; she struggled to move, but realised her body was tied to a chair. Her head was covered with a sack making her unable to see her environment. Her head pounds as she tries to remember what happened, but her thoughts are jumbled. Everything is not so clear.Why was she tied to a chair? And her head covered with a sack?Groaning, she tried to free herself, but a sharp pain shot through her chest. The rope was too tight and she realised the more she tried to move the more pain shoots through her body. Tears started to well up in her eyes as she tried to breathe through the sack. It feels like her head and chest were on fire—and she can barely breathe.Where is she? Why can't she see anything?The last thing she remembered was going to the mall to get Marcello a birthday present and while they were about to get into the car when a van pulled up behind their car…God, they shot Aria and Giana!That was the last thing she remembered.Those men…the
An Hour Later. "Get the sack off her head." Leonardo ordered one of his men. The sack was removed from her head and Mariana tried to adjust her eyes to the rays that emanated from the light bulb above her head. "Y–you?" Her eyes widened when she recognized the face of her kidnapper. It was the man from the gala. The man who introduced himself to be Leonardo. Why was he keeping her hostage? What does he want from her? He laughed, a cruel sound that sent shivers down her spine. "Yes, me. Did I surprise you?" Now, Mariana understood why Marcello had told her to stay away from Leonardo. "When Marcello finds me, just know you're a dead man…" She said through gritted teeth. Her chest heaving. Leonardo's eyes glazed over with a burning rage. He slapped her across her cheeks and it stung. "Who is the dead man now?" Mariana really didn't see that coming until his palm landed on her cheek. The sting on her cheek caused tears to well up in her eyes. "Answer me! Who–" he was cut off a
Mariana awoke to the glare of the sun coming from the window, which hurt her eyes, blinking her eyebrows continuously to adjust to the sunlight.She stayed awake for a while, trying to remember what happened to her, but as soon as the images flashed through her mind— she suddenly felt nauseous.Her body wasn't hurting like before anymore but breathing was difficult. Her face feels swollen and her lips bruised.She doesn't even know the extent of her injuries; she doesn't even know if she's pregnant or not.'My baby?' She thought as she put a hand over her abdomen.Is her baby okay?Marcello came to save them, right? Killed the men who hurt her and took her to safety. He saved her."Mar—Marcello," she called in a croaky whisper.Marcello was in the bathroom so he couldn't hear but as soon as he came out and saw her awake, he rushed over to her. "Mariana," he said, taking her hand in his. "How are you feeling?"When she realised how deeply worried his eyes were, an unintentional tear ra
Marcello had been in that position before, and he knows what it felt like. He didn't want Mariana to be in that kind of situation ever again.He reached out to stroke her belly, a small smile tugging at his lips. If this baby turns out to be a boy, his name will definitely be Gabriel when he's born. He's a warrior.And if the baby turns out to be a girl, her name will definitely be Giada. A precious stone.Happiness swelled in his stomach, knowing he would have his child soon. Years of not wanting a family of his own, not wanting to be committed to anyone, and now he is blessed twice with both a beautiful wife and a child.Marcello gave her flat tummy a kiss, suddenly feeling eager for her belly to grow bigger."Hmm," Mariana hummed in a sleepy voice. "What are you doing?""I am just enjoying the thought that I will soon become a father.""Okay," she murmured, finally falling asleep.It's only been three months, and he has fallen hopelessly in love with her.Marcello appointed two gua