LILIANAHis voice cuts through the silence like a blade slicing through butter. There he stands at the edge of the room. His dark eyes lock onto me, stealing every trace of oxygen from my chest in that single look.I'd be damned if I say his presence isn't commanding. The man rises from his seat, his face flushed with rage.“She slapped me!” He sputters, pointing at me. “Your little pet doesn't know her place and trust me, I'll make sure she gets the training she lacks.”“Maybe you should keep your sticky fingers to yourself next time.” I reiterate in anger. Damian's gaze flicks to me then back to the man. “Genovese, as long as this party continues, she is mine.” His voice is calm. Dangerous even. “And I don't share.”The thrill that shoots up my spine is delicious. So delicious that the man's glare drilling holes into the side of my face is nothing compared to the heat in Damian's gaze.It pulls moisture to my core and settles there, growing into a small pool. Why do I love it so mu
LILIANAThe moment I step out of the casino, it feels like my legs are moving without me. I'm like a doll being yanked around by invisible strings, having no say for herself. The air is sticky, the lights too bright and for a second, I wish I could blink and wake up somewhere else. Anywhere else. I crane my neck to look for a particular face. Damian's nowhere in sight and it's as if he's vanished into thin air. Minutes ago, I was kneeling before him in a forbidden prayer. I'd barely touched the zipper of his pants when a knock brought me back down to earth. It was Andros who requested his presence urgently. Putting himself back in order, he stepped out of the room without a glance at me. The shame that coursed through me can't be explained. I wanted the earth to give way and close over me in that moment.My stomach twists at the shameful memory. Used. That's how I feel. Like a coin passed around a table until it's too worn to be recognized. On the brighter side, I hadn't touched
DAMIANRed. All I see is crimson red in the shape of large welts on her naked skin. I open my eyes only to realize it's just a dream. With a weary sigh, I swing my legs over the bed.The pills and glass of water on my bedside remains untouched. That's perhaps the reason why my sleep has been nothing but shit. So, I take the pills and swallow them. Then, I lay back in bed to wait for sleep to come woo me. After trying unsuccessfully to fall asleep, I decide that a drive would do me some good. Now tell me why I'm parked right outside Genovese's house around a few minutes to five and telling the guards I have an important discussion with him?Under normal circumstances, what conversation would drive me to Genovese's house if it isn't about Liliana?Of course, they let me in without so much as a question. Genovese has always been a reckless man who believes nothing can upend him from his exalted position. He better watch out because he wouldn't see it coming. The house is empty and d
LILIANA The first time I saw the lady was a few hours ago when Genovese first brought me in. The blank stare stare she gave which unnerved me. Little did I know how much she hated her Don. As we follow down the hallway and down the stairs, my pulse drums so loud in my ears that I fear the lady behind me can hear it. What if the guards notice something off about our departure and decide to do something about it? What if someone stepped into the bedroom with Damian still in there? What if someone bumps into us? At that thought, I can't help but throw one last glance over my shoulder, hoping he's right on our heels and when I do, I'm disappointed at what I see. Nothing. “Don't be anxious. This is just his getaway house, else your Pakhan wouldn't even stand a chance. He's smart enough to know that Genovese always brings his recent conquests this place where there are less security.” “How does that even make any sense?” She smirks at that. “He plays this twisted game with us where
DAMIANI move to my stash of drinks, pulling out a blue bottle of vodka. After staring at it for a moment, I set it down and grab a bottle of water instead. The glass empties quickly and I pour another, then leave it on the table. Unable to resist the need for nicotine, I reach into my locker for cigarette and a lighter. Lighting it up, I sit on the sofa, staring at Liliana as the orange glow adds more light to the dim room. “Why did you come back?” Liliana ask, stepping closer than I need her to. “You could have left me there.”I ignore her, exhaling a plume of smoke as her words ring in my head. Left you there? Alice would have my head everyday until there's nothing left. “Damian!” She snaps.I raise my eyes to meet hers with a look of disinterest. The red end of the cigarette burns brighter when I take a long drag.The next thing, she marches right over to snatch it from my lips and stub it out in the glass of water. “You're going to die one way or another with the reckless dec
RACHELIt's been a week since I prepared Liliana for the casino opening. A week since I took leave from work, claiming it was for my health. In that time, I've seen Melanie more than I care to count. Not that I'm proud of spending so much time with her. But I have to. If I don't trail after her like some obedient dog, she'll expose my pregnancy and ruin everything. “What's with that look? You already had your way with Damian and got pregnant for him. So stop moping around,” she'd hissed once as her eyes narrowed like a snake's. I hadn't of course. Hell, I haven't even thought about the Pakhan that way. My life would be ruined if he caught wind of that. Not that it matters to Melanie. She doesn't believe a word I say. Her theory remains that I have been sleeping with him.And despite my father's pathetic attempts to shove me into Damian's path, trying to play matchmaker for the Pakhan himself, I couldn't do it. I won't do it.But now Melanie's amping the pressure. “Get rid of it,”
LILIANAI wake up with a lightness in my chest I haven't felt in weeks. There's no sign of lingering dread, no shadow of gloom, none of Genovese hanging over my day like a storm cloud. It's just…peace. Blissful peace, and for once, everything is quiet. Even Damian seems to be going through some kind of thawing out recently. For instance, he's distant but not cold. The kind of warmth that creeps in without permission, unexpected and fragile. Unbidden, I find myself clinging to whatever this is.Maybe from there, I can ask him to let me go back home to Theodore. Heaven knows if he's alright. I lean back and raise my eyes to meet Damian's. He's sitting opposite me in the courtyard now. Sunlight drips over his sharp features, making the dark ink of his rose tattoo stand out stark against his skin. He is waiting for me to start, arms resting casually on his thighs. Oh fuck me, who am I kidding? There's never been anything casual about this predator whose heated gaze is locked on me as
LILIANAI drop the brush in a small bowl of water with a sound of triumph. Another completed project. “So beautiful,” I coo. The air shifts and suddenly, every inch of me is is hyperaware of him. The heat radiating off his skin. The faint scent of cedar and smoke mixing together like an alluring elixir with his masculine scent. His voice drops low and dangerous. “Is that what you see when you look at me? Beauty?”My heart begins a wild pounding rhythm I can't control. “I see a lot of things,” I whisper, almost unable to get the words out.Wait, hold on! Why is my tongue so loose this morning?He's close now. So close I can feel his breath against my cheek. His fingers reach for my chin and ever so softly, he turns my face towards him. “Tell me.”“You—” He doesn't give me a chance to speak before the rest of my words are swallowed up by his lips descending on mine. As his lips crash into mine, it feels as though the air evaporates from my lungs and in that mind-numbing moment, the w
DAMIANHer eyes widen in caution as I approach her. Like she’s scared of me, or maybe scared I’d hurt her even when I’m certain she knows I can’t. She doesn’t really know the power she holds over me, does she?I should say I am disappointed but how can I when I can’t even tell her how I really feel about her? That’s just hypocrisy. Behind her is Stelleza’s wardrobe full of her things which I stowed away in her memory. “I couldn’t throw her things out, neither could I burn them.” I remember the exact angle where I kept the journal hidden. Since this is her blood sister we’re talking about, then perhaps she has a right to know what it entails and the truth about how she died.Reaching further into the back, my fingertips graze a hard leather. Bringing it out, I flip the leather-bound journal and hand it to her. She gazes down at the book, not taking it yet. “What is this?”“She wrote this,” I murmur, recalling the dark words that birthed my rage. “She wrote every word on every page b
LILIANAIt’s supposed to be Stelleza…but this woman bearing such a dazzling smile…My heart stutters but I can’t bring myself to drag my eyes away from the horrifying revelation staring back at me. It’s been thirteen years since the last time I saw her. Thirteen whole years of fumbling in the dark, left alone to navigate the maze that is life. She shielded it from me for so long until she couldn’t handle it anymore.“L–lajla…Lajla…” I whisper unable to believe the sight before me. She looks the same…except for her forest green eyes, now dulled from being immortalized in a photo frame. It’s an understatement to the real sparkle when you look at her in real life. And her smile, now frozen in time, is just like I remember it. But brighter. Better.“Forgive me, Lajla.” The first drops slide down my cheeks. “I failed you over and over.” I sniffle, trying my best to hold back the dam from bursting forth. “I did what you asked and went an extra mile pleasing the wrong people.”I crumble fr
hey guys. I promise I'm not slowing updates on purpose this time. We have gotten to critical points in this book and I'm not going to rush it. I'm doing my best to deliver as seamlessly as I can and carefully close plot holes. So please be patient with me 🥹. It's slowly but surely...no one likes an unsatisfactory ending. Please bear with me.
LILIANAThe words strike right in the middle of my chest like lightning hitting a spot twice. It just doubles the ache I’ve been feeling since I woke up. Could it be any worse?I’m certain I’ve heard this from the man himself. As though fate is playing a cruel joke on me, his words echo in my ears again.‘I killed her.’ ‘I pulled the trigger that killed her.’Is that why he wanted me to stay away from him? Oh, Liliana, how much of an idiot can you be? The signs have been staring at me naked. I ignored the way I did Kyle’s red flags until he landed me in worse trouble. Is this just the universe’s way of teaching people like me lessons?“You look pale. Maybe you should just go back and wait…?”“No. No, I’m fine.” I don’t know if I’m ready to hear more of what she has to say, yet I tell her– “Go on.”She nods, casts a nervous glance around and then looks at the door. “I don’t know what he hides in there that he’s refused to let anyone in. The only person who managed to see in here by m
LILIANARachel is waiting by the door by the time the car pulls up inside the fancy prison I familiarized myself with as home. Not anymore. Maybe soon, this nightmare would be over and I’ll get over him. “You’re back early?”I manage a fake smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “Don’t tell me you miss me. I’ve barely been gone for a week.”She reaches to take my bags and I pull away before she can touch it. There’s no need to fool anyone with exaltations when we are both alike in more ways than we think. She’s a slave here even though she’s willing. I’m the captive. Still sounds the same to me. Yet, why do I need all of this special attention? It’s just bullshit around here.Speaking of captives, I stop and turn to Rachel. “Did Melanie stop by at the house today?”She pauses to think, then shakes her head. “That was last night. I told her you were on a trip and she made me spill the location. I don’t know why she needed that information anyway.” After another long pause, she gasps
Buckle up people, this is going to be a long ass read but I guess we've seen this coming.LILIANAMelanie?I look at Damian for help, wondering why in the hell she is standing on the property of his private island. Wait–how does she know where we are? Damian looks as shocked as I am as well. So we’re going to say he’s not aware of her arrival? I don’t believe whatever facade he’s wearing on his face now. It’s hard to believe he doesn’t know about this and something within me breaks. I’m not sure what that is.“Well, well, well,” she starts in a demeaning tone reeking of spite, “if it’s not the captive and her captor enjoying a week out of town so they can spend time alone. How romantic!”Damian looks like he’s fed up of her nonsense. “What are you doing here, Mel?”“That’s not such a nice thing to say to someone who you once called better suited for your cock. Now that’s not very nice, is it? I should be the one asking the questions here, not you baby boy. What are you doing here?” Sh
To my consistent readers who make writing worth it, i'll be making the next chapter a free one to make up for my inconsistencies. especially those two special readers whose comments I can't do without and make me roll in laughter on my bed and spin ideas...thank you. thank you for loving D & L even in their silliness and mistakes. thank you, wonderful readers for getting to this point. you're my most treasured on earth after God and chocolate. happy reading!
LILIANAThe water ripples as he sinks in behind me, large body settling under the surface with practised ease. His legs open and he guides me between them, pulling me back against his chest. His arms come around me.I melt right into him with a greedy inhale of him.We sit like that for a while with the water lapping around us and his fingers massaging my scalp. Then, they stop and disappear into the water. Before I get the chance to protest, his fingers lightly begin tracing patterns on my stomach. His chin rests on my shoulder, and for a moment, everything stills. Until his hands drift lower. And lower.“You’re insatiable,” I whisper, smiling. I already know how this is going to end.“And you,” he says as he grazes my ear with his mouth, “are impossible to resist.”He shifts me, wrapping his hands around my waist to turn me so I can straddle his lap. The second our eyes lock, the air becomes charged with sexual tension. His hands are hot on my thighs. I rest my hands on his should
LILIANAI wake up wrapped in the warmth of body heat and cedar. Damian.His arm is draped across my waist, his chest pressed firmly against my back and one leg tangled over mine like he’s scared I’ll disappear while he’s asleep. His breath is warm against my neck, blowing in steady and soft.For a man like him, sleep turns him into something else. He’s in a vulnerable calm.I need to move now, but I don’t want to. I just lie there, breathing his scent in and watching, enthralled by the way his fingers twitch slightly against my stomach like he’s still chasing me in whatever dream he’s in. what he doesn’t know is that I don’t need to be chased anymore. I’m his as much as he’s mine. His confessions and the way he loved me last night, deep and hard…it wasn’t perfect. He’s not perfect either. He’s just–him and I’m content with that.Eventually, I shift to face him. He’s still asleep. There’s still a faint crease between his brows. Even in rest, his mind doesn’t fully shut off. But it’s