The double doors to my father's room burst open, and I jump to my feet to see who the hell has disturbed our peace, ready to bite their head off. I cautiously advance three steps, my heart pounding in my chest, only to retreat five steps in sheer terror as Alessandro, bursts into the room with his entourage of four loyal henchmen hot on his heels.He's got a fire in his eyes, a burning rage that could melt steel. And for once, I feel the weight of his gaze bearing down on me, like a vice tightening around my soul. He steps forward, his presence looming over me, his jaw clenching with a ticking time bomb of fury.Our eyes meet, and he ensnares my wrists with a swift, calculated move, firmly clasping them between our bodies. He doesn't utter a single word, nothing—zilch. He fixes his steely gaze upon me, and a shiver runs down my spine. In that instant, I feel the weight of every ill-fated choice I've ever made, each one leading us inevitably to this crossroad.As his vice-like gr
I open my mouth to scream, only to find myself being dragged to the ground. My shoulder hits the cold hospital floor with a thud and my head bounces off a large warm hand.Alessandros’ hand. He's thrown his body in front of me, protecting me from the hail of bullets ripping through the room. Tiny shattered glass fragments rained down from above, dancing through the air like deadly confetti.Gasping for air, “my father!” I struggle under his weight, trying to push him off me, but he is too heavy and doesn't budge. “He's okay, Renzo is shielding him,” he hisses in a hushed tone, his cheek pressed against mine. He slightly rolls onto his side, examining me with his eyes, and his hand cups the side of my jaw. “Are you okay, Farfalla?” He asks through ragged breaths. I nod my head with glassy eyes as I stare into his blue irises. “Are you?” I try to suppress the sob that's slowly erupting from the pit of my stomach, making me feel sick. He lets out a low grunt as he peers down at
“I honestly don't know. But they're becoming very impatient, and they said that if you don’t hurry, they will start shooting again.” She turns to her side, using her body to open the door wider.Wiping the corners of my mouth, I straighten my back, clearing my throat as I take a glimpse at myself in the mirror.'You’ve got this.' I say to myself, finding the last ounce of courage I have within. “Let's go.” My voice quivers. We exit the restroom, and the chaos through the corridors is still alive and thriving. As we approach the nurse's station, which is surrounded by agents wearing masks of frustration. Every nerve in my body is screaming at me to turn away and run. “Miss Bishop?” A man asks me with the phone in his hand.I gulp as I nod my head. “Yes,” I croak out. Multiple sets of eyes are watching me, and I suddenly feel very self-cautious. He passes me the cordless phone, “they're requesting to speak with you.” He steps away when I take the phone from his grasp. “Don't say
I Push through the double swinging doors that direct me into the room where my father and Alessandro are currently resting. Looking toward the far corner, I see my father’s bed has been pushed against the wall. Two nurses are fussing over him, one is sorting out the cords to his machines and the other is... Hmm...Actually, I haven't got the slightest clue what she is up to. Instead of fussing over my father, she is standing there taking sneaky glimpses at Alessandro as she twirls her boxed dyed hair around her finger. I narrow my eyes and storm towards her, devouring the distance between us in a heartbeat.“I’m interested to know if you are here for my father, or here to eye fuck the big hunk of spunk across the room?” My voice was harsher than I had intended it to be. Her mouth forms an 'O'-like shape as her cheeks turn rosy red and her eyes drop to the ground. “I'm sorry, I didn't know he was spoken for.”"Does it matter? You are here to take care of your patients, not eye fu
Leaning against the wall, I place the palm of my hand against my forehead. We've looked everywhere for Scarlett, and she is nowhere to be found. Ryan has taken the liberty to interrogate the nurses himself, and unfortunately, he has come back empty-handed. My heart won't stop racing with every breath I take, and my stomach feels like it has grown teeth, and it’s eating me from the inside out as I fear each breath I take can possibly be my last.“Three bombs.”Those were the hacker's words.They are willing to kill hundreds of people for one life. Ryan and I returned to the nurse's station to regroup and devise a fresh strategy for tracking Scarlett down. She couldn't have gotten very far.As we approach our destination, taking note that the desk is surrounded by agents once again as we get closer, I also notice that Alessandro is sitting in the desk chair.I shake my head, "what the fuck is he up to?" I think to myself, as I exhale deeply through my nostrils. The man has a de
ALESSANDRO, AKA DON VALENTINO.I sit paralysed as I watch Scarlett raise the gun to her chest, pointing the gun at my Ivy.The blood drains from my face, my eyes dart back and forth between the two women and for once in my life, I am at a loss for what to do.I cast my gaze back to Ivy, she looks hell-bent on letting Scarlett instil the ferocious sensation of fear in her. She takes a calculated step forward with her gaze heavily trained on the gun, and she raises her hands in mid-air. “I just want to answer the phone.” She says loud and clear in an even tone.Good Farfalla, don’t show her an ounce of your fear.“If I don't, they have threatened to start shooting and activate the bombs they have scattered through the hospital.” Ivy continues to speak as she holds her head up high and takes another step. “Hurt her, and I will make it rain with your blood,” I mutter under my breath to Scarlett, feeling the muscles on the side of my neck throbbing.I need to distract Scarlett. I need t
I'm about two feet away from Alessandro, and he's looking at me like he wants to devour me for dessert. My body shivers with the memory of his face plunged deep within my thighs, his velvety-like tongue licking the folds of my sex and his hot breath fanning my feverish skin. The tip of his tongue darts out of his mouth, sweeping over the bow on his top lip, deliberately caressing it with his eyes slowly looking me up from my toes to my head.Shit!My step falters, and I stumble into his embrace as he catches me, settling me on his lap with one arm wrapped around my torso in a vice-like grip. I hear him suck in a sharp, painful breath, and I look up at him with wide, apologetic eyes. His wound…“Ciao, Clary. It seems I have something you want yet again, old friend.” Alessandro answers the phone in a nonchalant tone, his fingertips drawing lazy figure eights on my hip.As I stand to give him some privacy and room to move about freely, he pulls me back down on his lap, meeting my ga
I don't wince, flinch or freeze as I thought I would.I want this.I want his kisses, his affection, and his attention. I don't care that his heart might still belong to Rose.Tonight, could be our last night together, my last chance to know what it's like to be wanted.So tonight, I'm choosing to be selfish.I am choosing Alessandro. I kiss him back, matching his fever for possession, and domination. Gods!I pour every emotion that's coursing through my veins into our kiss.The distress, anguish, heartache, and hunger.My quivering body is being fuelled by the yearning for Alessandro to take over the reins of my terror.It is as if everything begins to fade away around me. The caressing of our lips and the faint gasps that escape my mouth drown out the surrounding commotion. “You're too much Farfalla,” he whispers between kisses, “you make a wounded man cripple with need. My balls are blue and it fucking hurts.” His voice is hoarse, desperate, and full of need. My inner goddes
I set the bouquet that little Savannah had gathered from the villa’s lovely rose garden on Roses' grave. I take a step back to where Savannah stands. In her small, delicate hands, she holds the photo frame that contains a picture of her and Rose on their trip to the beach one sunny day. I peer down at her, a sad pout upon her bottom lip, and the tears in her eyes gnaw at the branches of my heart.She is so young and innocent, and she's lost both of her parents. I can't even comprehend what turmoil invades her little body. If anything happens to me or Alessandro, she will be left all alone. Tears pool in my eyes when I imagine her going through life alone, and I nibble on my bottom lip, deep in thought. I wish to give her a sibling. Whether it be blood or through an adoption agency. Conceiving a child is one of my biggest fears after losing our precious child beforehand. But with my tubes being cleaned and two doctors on call at my every whim. The fear that harbours my body isn't
FIVE DAYs LATER.It's been five pleasurable days since I spontaneously married the man whom I love like there is no tomorrow. We finally left the room and joined the rest of civilisation yesterday afternoon. We also took Savannah out to the beach for dinner and an early evening swim in the water. We ate, laughed, sang silly childhood songs from the past and swam. It was a perfect evening to end a perfect wedding and the start of a wonderful life together — as a family. Alessandro hasn't been able to keep his hands off my body either and this morning, I slipped out of the room bright and early to evade his wandering hands. Torturous mouth. And well… I'm sure you get the picture.My body aches in places I never knew it could. My womanly parts have never felt so raw and beautifully used at the same time. But today I'd actually like to sit down without gnawing on the inside of my cheek to mask the hissing wince that escapes my lips. As I descend the stairs, with Viktor not too far
Alessandro lets out a little growl. “You'll be the death of me, woman.” He takes my hand and starts leading us off the dance floor, making a small pit stop when we reach Riccardo and Selena.Riccardo clears his throat, steps away from Selena like her touch suddenly burnt, and he straightens his posture, running a hand through his hair. Selenas’ eyes widen as they dart between Alessandro and Riccardo, placing her hands behind her back. “I think you'll both make one hell of a power couple, and I give you my blessing,” Alessandro says with amusement flickering in his eyes as he thrusts his hand out.Selenas’ head snaps up with a big smile spreading across her face and her mouth agape. Riccardo looks at Alessandro with shock-engulfed irises, and he clears his throat as he takes Alessandros’ hand in his and starts shaking it. “You knew?” “Of course I did,” Alessandro chuckles as he releases Riccardos’ hand and pulls me into his side. “There's not much that goes on in the villa that I
I don't know how many times I have told myself that marrying Alessandro today is crazy.Impulsive.But when I think back to the photos of the stunning Brazilian dancer all over him. Jealousy invades my body like a plague. It's cruel, tormenting, and body crippling. It's a feeling that I wouldn't want to wish upon my greatest enemy.The truth is, I love Alessandro. I want to be his wife. His lifetime companion and I know he feels the same about me. He refers to me as his Farfalla. My glorious, powerful prince charming, who is hell-bent on haunting my nightmares back even though he has demons of his own, lurking in the shadows that I vow to slay on his behalf.Together, we can be unstoppable. We can conquer the impossible and build an indestructible empire.Together as one.We have old wounds that have been opened and exposed, forcing me to face my insecurities as they lured cruel enemies back into our lives from the shadows of hell.We slipped through each other's fingers multipl
MINUTES EARLIER.Walking out of the bathroom, a knock sounds at my bedroom door. “Come in,” I call out, jumping back under the sheets in the bed I share with Alessandro.The door slowly pries open. I glance up and watch as Nic and Selena walk into the room, looking like utter shit. They look how I feel. Pointing to the bottle of painkillers on the bedside table, “help yourself, there's no ice water, so you'll have to go downstairs for that,” I say as I try to stifle a yawn behind my hands.“Babe,” Nic says in her 'I have something to tell you, and you're not going to like it' voice.Shit…The blood drains from my face. “What's wrong?” I ask as I sit upright, pulling the sheet with me.Selena sits down on the bed, followed by Nic, and she opens the laptop she had walked in with and turns it around to face me. “There are some pictures…” Selena says as she glances at Nic.“Of what?” I ask before looking at the screen.If it's about the shitfest that happened last night. I might jus
“Come on, hon,” I say to Nic as I loop our arms together and follow Riccardo out of the club.Nic stumbles across the dance floor muttering, “I seriously like Reece, I mean, I think he's a top-notch bloke, but…” She sighs, leaving her sentence unfinished and I let her be.I just want to get out of here and go home to my big, comfortable bed. As we exit the club, we take a right, following Riccardo and I watch as he catches up with Selena, wrapping his long fingers around her upper arm; she instantly halts her movements, spinning around to face him. “What do you want from me, Cardo?” She cries out as she shrugs him.“What the cazzo’s gotten into you?” He growls incredulously.“Gotten into me?” She snorts as she violently wipes the tears sliding down her cheeks. “Si, you.” He hisses. She laughs bitterly at him as her eyes search his face. “You're unbelievable.” She spits as she walks away from him once again.Nic and I try to keep our distance to give them their privacy, as we lurk
THE FOLLOWING WEEK.As I walk into Alessandros’ office, knowing that his meeting is drawing to an end; I hear his velvet voice fill the vicinity.“Is there still no word from Ryan?” He asks his henchmen with frustration.I trip over my feet, thanking the God's no one saw me, as everyone is distracted with the folios they have in their grasps.“I'll take that as a firm no,” Alessandro mutters under his breath as he types away on his keyboard.Guilt nibbles away at my heart.I desperately want to tell him where Ryan is to prevent him from stressing out any further. Then I consider the consequences of telling him that I sent one of his finest men on a mission without his knowledge.It's undoubtedly safer if I don't tell him. I scan the third row of books at the bottom of the bookcase and halt when my finger lands on Roses' favourite novel. I remove it from the shelf and open it, turning the pages as dust escapes from the spine.Just as I'm about to close it, a scrap of paper falls out
I turn my attention to the large clock on the wall. “Shit!” I mutter, walking out of the kitchen with my stomach twisting in knots. “Viktor?” I call out as I see him talking to one of the other henchmen. He expresses his farewells and jogs towards me. “You called, Miss Bishop?” He responds with a broad grin. “I did.” I chuckle. Viktor is always smiling, and I've noticed whenever he smiles, I smile too, as his is infectious. “I need to go into town. I have a lunch date with the girls and if I don't leave now, I'm going to be super late.” I exhale loudly, wanting nothing more than to curl up in bed and sleep the rest of the week away. “Very well, I'll bring the car around and inform Ryan?” He curtly bows his head and walks away before I can respond. I make my way out of the villa after retrieving my handbag and to where the car awaits, with Ryan behind the wheel and Viktor holding the passenger door wide open. As I slide into the car, I raise my brows at him. “Don't.” He mu
I run my hands through my hair as I exhale. I have no idea what is going on and am completely bewildered. Riccardo tells me this is Alessandros’ method of submitting to me as he drapes an extremely thick coat with weights over Alessandros’ shoulders. His face distorts in anguish as he attempts to maintain his calm and stance. “Tell him what's bothering you and what you expect from him.” Riccardo shares with me. I nod my head, looking around the yard, and I become well aware that we have an audience on our hands. Part of me wants to tell them all to piss right off, but then the other part of me wants them to stay. So they can hear what I've said straight from my mouth, rather than the gossip that spreads through the thin walls like wildfire. I return my attention to Alessandro. His head is bowed as he continues to kneel before me. Swallowing my pride, I lower myself onto my knees. “You hurt me,” I declare in an even tone. “I know you have been driven by wrath to find Mrs D