Like a whip slashing through the air, it brings me back to reality, and I freeze with fright. Shit! What is he doing here? How did he find me? I quickly get off Keith, and I stand behind him. Keith straightens to his full height, his stance strong and ready for combat. I peer around Keith and search for Luca through the crowd of people. When I finally spot him, he looks like he’s about to murder someone. Still in his suit slacks with his shirt, and the sleeves rolled up. God… He looks delicious! His chest rises and falls viciously, with his hands clenching and unclenching into tight fists. Sweat beads from his forehead, and his eyes have thinned into narrow slits as they bore into Keith. I take Keith’s hand and make a run for it towards the women’s toilets, making sure to lock the door behind us. I shove him into one of the toilet cubicles, and I make sure I lock that too for extra caution. I quickly fix my shirt and notice Keith rolling his sleeves up in the corner of my eye b
In a panic, I cry out, hitting my abductor on the forearms as I struggle in his embrace. People momentarily stop in their tracks as I capture their attention. They look at me, giving me the stink eye before they carry on with their night and pay me no more attention. I know it's Luca who has me in his grasp. I mean, let’s face it…. There’s only one man insane enough to chase after me and grab me like this out in public. “Put me down!” I scream, kicking my feet in the air. “Never!” He growls, walking through the throng of people around us. I struggle, twisting and turning my body with all my might, desperately wanting to escape him. But, I'm completely outmatched by his strength, especially when he's consumed by his desire for punishment. “Do you fuck men on the dance floor regularly, do you?” He says through gritted teeth in a thick Italian accent. I can hear the revulsion heavily coating over his words like hot water being poured over ice, and I have to admit, it stings a l
“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen?” I look at Luca with eyes full of sadness, regret, and turmoil. “No. I guess we both are pretty disappointed. Si?” He looks at me, contemplating as he slowly rubs his jaw. “But I have a feeling you're more disgusted than disappointed in me, Luca.” I look down at the bubbles floating on the top surface of the water. He sighs deeply. “Disappointed? Si. But disgusted? No.” He slowly shakes his head with his eyes closed. I bring my legs up to my chest, hugging them, and I rest my chin on top of my knees. “I… I would rather not feel like this. I don’t want to get hurt.” I sigh. “I used Keith to see if I could get you off my mind. I had this crazy thought of you having someone… A family back in Italy. But deep down, I know that you're not that kind of man.” I sniffle, trying to stop myself from crying. “He gives you a drink and pays you a little attention, and you determine that he was fit to put his hands all over you and drive his tongue deep
I arrive home in a teary-eyed state, profusely hammering on the door. Chrissy opens it after what seems like an eternity with Conrad standing behind her in only a pair of baggy jeans. “Nessa, thank god. I was calling you a thousand times. What happened?” She asks as she steps to the side, dragging me in. “My ah… My phone is still off.” I look around, trying to avoid any eye contact. Shame has that effect on a woman. Avoiding eye contact and discussing the incident is critical if you want to avoid exposing yourself further than you already have. “I left him. I told him I loved him and he… he.. he told me he could not love me back, like, ever.” I cry out, running to my bedroom. I throw my body on top of my bed, sobbing like a child. My heartaches, along with my limbs. Why does rejection hurt so much? Seconds later, the bed dips, and Chrissy begins rubbing my back in an attempt to console me. “Babe, I love you to death. But the shit you pulled tonight was not you.” She looks at me a
Three weeks have passed since I walked out of Lucas' penthouse. Three agonisingly long weeks. He has texted. He's called, and he's also sent me emails on a near-daily basis throughout the first week. Christ, he even showed up on the front doorstep every night, hammering and threatening to break it down by the sheer strength behind his knocking. Poor Chrissy had put herself in the front line, doing her best to deal with him and sternly warning him to leave, or she would have no other choice but to call the authorities and have him arrested for trespassing. “I need to see her, Chrissy.” Luca had pleaded through the door, his voice soft with defeat. “Give her time and some extra space, Luca.” She always told him. “She is hurting and needs to heal before she can face you again.” “I can’t do that. I must see her, to hold her and tell her that she means more to me than my next breath.” The pain was evident in his voice, but it wasn't enough to emotionally drag me out from behind the doo
Chrissy and Conrad stared at one another as if they were looking for solace between themselves. “Well?” I snapped with my gaze darting between them, agitated. Conrad brushed a weary hand over his face. “I have heard stories of Luca having a personal security team. His brother is a big hotshot lawyer in Italy.” He paused as if he were trying to somehow give me a sugar-coated version of what he knew. “And?” I implored, eager for him to finish. “His brother apprehends the big criminals… the mob-style criminals, Nessa. His life has seen far too many close calls. Presently, there is a substantial reward for his head on a stake. Giovanni was forced into hiding, and Luca frequently visited New Zealand, where he established a security company to transport men back and forth to Italy. He was on his way to pick up another group of security personnel when his parents…” Conrad broke eye contact with me for a moment to gaze at Chrissy before he returned their focus back to me. “Were found dea
This morning, when I arrived at the Academy, there was a blanket text sent out to everyone from Sanz.Sanz: Good news for our female staff. Today, you have been invited to Auckland Hospital for a free cervical smear test and breast examination as part of a medical trial. If any of you are interested, I'll meet you out front during lunch break to drive you. Have a blessed day. I believed the offer was too good to refuse. I have no recollection of any members of my family dying of cervical or breast cancer. However, one can never be too careful when the Big C continues to thrive on the death toll tables.That is probably why the majority of us female teachers took advantage of the offer and are now sitting in the waiting room. I decided to make my way down to the cafeteria for a quick bite. I see no reason for all of us to remain here. It is not as if we are all going to be seen simultaneously. I use the elevator to return to the ground floor.After stopping through five levels, the ele
I sit in the living room and wait for Luca to return with our drinks with my gaze focusing on the floor. I should have told him to take me somewhere else. Being here, in his penthouse, brings back bad memories from the last time I was here. If I know what is good for me, I should get up and leave. But I can't because I'm too invested in finding out Lucas' hidden truths, hoping they will finally set me free. “You will need something strong to digest everything I’m about to tell you, Vanessa.” Luca says as he hands me a glass half filled with a golden coloured liquor. I bring it up to my nose and take a sniff. “Whiskey?” I ask, before setting the glass down on the coffee table. “Si, Scotch whiskey.” He pulls up a chair in front of me, sits down, and crosses one leg over the other while cradling his glass. “What is this all about, Luca?” I ground out impatiently. “I'm missing a free cervical smear test and breast examination. Not to mention that I have to return to the Academy shortl
Nine months later…Alessandro's POVI am driving like a madman through traffic. Missing vehicles by the skin of my teeth as I fly down the interstate. I am on my way to the hospital.Merda...I should have arrived an hour ago. Zoe is going to murder me, and I would rather she does it after the birth of our twin sons. I would like to at least give them the opportunity to meet me, even if I am a walking corpse.Si, that's right, guys. I Alessandro Russo knocked Zoe Henningson the fuck-up..*** Thirty Five Weeks Earlier.“Super sperm. I fucking swear to the Gods you have super sperm.” My beautiful, angry, kitten came storming through the door of my office. “Cara mia?” I looked at her with wide eyes that were filled with confusion.I rose from behind my desk and walked over to the door, which I then closed. She swung around and hurled something at me; it landed on my chest and bounced across the floor twice. With an arched brow, I gazed at her, questioning if she had lost her damn mind
I buck my hips against his mouth. Getting as much friction I can get as he lightly sucks on my clit. I throw my head back moaning. I know I won't last long. It's been over three years since he last touched me. Three years since ANY man has touched me. Tension pools in the pit of my stomach. I clutch my fingers through his hair, firmly gripping the roots and push his head deeper inside me. Alessandro starts to flick his tongue as he slides two thick fingers inside me, and I arch my back in pleasure. He wildly starts to drive his fingers in and out of my needy body, flicking his tongue faster, and mumbling in Italian. My walls start to clench around his fingers with pure greed, sucking the dear life out of them. I know he can sense how close I am because he swipes his tongue slowly across my sex, making me cum long and hard. I ride out my orgasm. Continuing to grind against his face. When my body begins to shudder, I unhook my leg from around his shoulder. “Stand, Alessandro.” I com
Three years later… I arrived back in Auckland two days ago. I’ve spent the last three and a half years in hiding. Every three months, I was moved to another location in another city. Every city meant a new identity was created for me. It eventually became challenging for me to remember who I was and what my backstory was at the beginning. But I gradually learned how to adapt to my new life and accept it. It took just over three years for the Italian legal team to get every member of the La Cosa Nostra Mafia rounded up and prosecuted. Gio had enough information saved on his laptop and files in a hidden safe to have them all incarcerated for a few life times. In the end, the Venturi’s managed to take them down from their graves, and their names will go down in the history books. They cleaned up the streets, making it safe for school kids to wander to school on their own.I gaze up from the side walk of the building where Lucas penthouse still stands. I'm trying to find the courage to
It's been three long and excruciating weeks since I ordered Luca to leave my life. And he did. He packed everything up and flew back to Italy, taking my Rosalia with him. The thing that hurt and still hurts the most is that I never got the chance to say goodbye to her. I only had Rosalia in my life for a short time before she was taken away from me once again. I haven’t heard from any of them. Not a single phone call, text, email, or even a postcard to tell me they’re okay. I only recently learned of their departure when Roman had called me and asked me to meet him at his office. ***“Nessa, how are you?” He asked as I walked through his office door.“I’m healing slowly, but I’m getting there.”“You’re looking a lot better from the last time I saw you.” I had caught a glimpse of a smile on his face. “I asked you here today because there are a few things that I need to discuss with you regarding my firm.” He said as he pulled out a contract from the top drawer of his desk. “This...”
Lucas POVI walk out of the house and jump into my Audi. Vanessa refuses to see me again. “Cazzo!” I yell as I bang my hands against the steering wheel. I just finished telling her I can’t fucking live without her, and she’s the best thing that's ever happened to me. Yet, she still dismisses me like I'm nothing to her. We just lost our baby. The baby I was secretly rejoicing in. We were going to be a famiglia, damn it, a fucking famiglia. She was going to bear my name and my children. My life was going to be complete and fucking incredible. I was planning on spending the rest of my life making her the happiest woman to ever grace the planet. But that has been viciously ripped away from me. The mob had gotten a hold of Mikal and paid him a pretty penny to turn my world upside down. That fucker is lucky he’s already dead because if I had gotten my hands on him, he would’ve died a long and slow death. Even that is generous on my behalf. The mob will pay. The arse hole who ordered the
Rosalia shows up twenty minutes later with her hair pulled up into a messy bun. She’s dressed in an Adidas tracksuit, and she looks so much like her mum. It almost causes my heart to skip a beat. “Is everything okay, Aunt Nessa?” Her face is full of concern as she approaches me.She sits be side me, I reach forward and place her hand in mine, resting them on my knees as I stare at our joined hands.“You know, I love you, right?” I try my best to keep my voice leveled.“Si. I love you too.” Her beautiful eyes are filled with confusion as her brows knit together.I bring her hand up to my lips and place a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. “This decision has no impact on us whatsoever.” I want to reassure her. “But for me to move on, I can’t be with your uncle no more.” I let go of her hand and quickly place the ring box in her palm. “I need you to do this one favor for me and return this to Luca.” Tears prick my eyes, and I rapidly blink, urging them away.I know this is such a cowar
I wake up to someone persistently knocking on the front door. Rolling over, I slowly ease myself into a sitting position on the bed. Being mindful to keep the screams of agony suppressed. Running my fingers through my tangled hair, I look up when Conrad walks in with a shadow close behind him.“Hey, Nessa.” He looks at me apologetically. “Detective Reeves is here to see you.” He steps aside, and a middle-aged female steps forward. “Hello, Vanessa. I’m detective Amanda Reeves.” She thrusts her hand forward, and I shake it. “Look, I know this isn’t an appropriate time in the morning to do this… But I would appreciate it if I could have your co-operation so we can get this case cleared.” She says as her eyes scan the room.Amanda Reeves looks to be in her mid-thirties. She looks a lot like Cameron Diaz with brown eyes, but when the light hits them, and you look close enough, there are bits of green and orange embedded deep within the irises.Her eyes are stunning. She has urban black hai
Two hours later, we are back at the house where I have joyfully popped a few painkillers. Conrad had set up our beds, turning the living room into a bedroom. Conrad said it was better we all slept in one room so they both could keep an eye on me. But deep down, I know he was trying to keep me from going back into the room where the assault took place. He is such a sweetheart. Carlos also tried his last hand at convincing me to change my mind and remain in my hospital bed. I lied to him and told him that I would be staying with Luca. So if anything happened, I would be in good hands. He still didn’t look pleased or convinced in the slightest when he handed me the discharge forms to sign. He gave me a few words of advice and informed Chrissy that if she felt that Luca wasn’t meeting her standards in taking super extra care of me to call him at any time. Day or night. I eventually forced his stubborn ass to hug me and thanked him for not letting me die the moment I handed the clipboa
“You got that right.” I wink at her. “How did you get here?” I ask with curiosity.“I had my driver drop me off. Uncle Luca said to tell you that he will be here as soon as he can. He is meeting with the detectives and his lawyer.” She looks at the door and then back at me.“Why is he meeting with the detectives? He wasn’t there.” I scowl, looking at everyone confused. “We have all been interviewed. But I assume Luca is trying to hold them off from coming to see you so soon.” Carlos says as he scratches the back of his head.Rosalia turns around at the sound of his voice. Carlos gazes at Rosalia and flashes her with one of his jaw-dropping smiles. Her head snaps back in my direction, and her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink. I watch her as she tucks her loose hair behind her ear, and when I look back at Carlos, he remains staring at the back of her head. I casually flick my eyes between the two and realise the air has become thick with wonderment. Conrad clears his throat, interrup