ALESSANDRO, AKA DON VALENTINO: I bask in the cool water as it rains upon us. Ivys’ body temperature has skyrocketed, causing her skin to burn with fever and act out deliriously. “Please, stop… it hurts, it hurts…” She whimpers, clawing at my suit jacket fiercely. 'What the fuck is wrong with me?' I dare to question my own sanity. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't feel compelled to hold her tightly under the cool shower to bring her fever down. She is the enemy. She has come to steal the only piece left of my brother, Savannah. If she were anyone else, she would already be buried six feet under, along with the rest of her bloodline. But she’s also vulnerable, and it strikes the beast within me every time I steal a glance at her. She looks so much like Rose, and it fucking hurts. Fate can be so cruel, and this would have to be her cruellest test for me. Like it wasn't bad enough that she made me sit back and watch my brother, Roman, marry the girl I loved with everythi
*** THREE DAYS LATER*** I step out of the black SUV that pulls up outside the clinic I’ve been asked to visit by Don Valentino. I wait for Riccardo to close the door behind me and lead the way. I am not entirely sure why I have been brought here and forced to see another doctor since Selena has been taking great care of me. I suppose I am fortunate; not many people get the chance to have a second doctor examine them. Following my consultation, I’d like to see my father at the hospital. I was made aware yesterday, that my father collapsed at work, and was whisked away by an ambulance. I was also informed that Don Valentino made it abundantly clear that my father was to be taken care of with the utmost professionalism. It shocked me to my core to learn this as I know my father and Don Valentino have never seen eye-to-eye, and if my father was given the opportunity, he would rob Don Valentno of his life with a giant grin on his face. As we exit the elevator and walk down a small
I look down at our joining hands, running the pad of my thumb across my father's knuckles, wondering how we ended up here.His hands are cold, fragile, and calloused. He has the hands of a man who has carried the weight of the world on his back for too long. The hands of a man who has worked his entire life to feed his family the best that he can.Tears stain my cheeks as I raise our joined hands and press a light kiss on the inside of his palm. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner, Dad.” I whimper, rubbing the side of my cheek against his hand, needing to feel his touch.When I entered my fathers’ room, I didn’t know what to expect. I was hoping that he would be awake, sitting up in his bed and nutting off at the nurses to allow him to return home.Instead, I walked in to see him hooked up to a life support machine in a dimly lit room. I almost collapsed to my knees with grief. My father is the only family I have had by my side since my mothers’ passing.He did his best to raise me
When the SUV comes to a standstill outside the large iron gates, I don't wait for Riccardo to open my door, and I rush straight towards the Villa.My body tingles with annoyance as I sense Don Valentino watching me from behind.As I draw closer to the front entrance, it swings wide open and Savannah comes rushing out the door. She wraps her small arms around my waist, clinging to me and naturally, I tenderly run my fingers through her hair. “You're back,” she smiles as she pulls away from me, and looks up.“Of course, I am. Where else would I go?” I smile, pinching her cheek as her uncle walks up the stairs behind me, staring at us intently as Savannah and I talk. “The room,” she replies as she takes a step back and looks up with sad puppy eyes. “I watched Uncle carry you from the small guest room into his big one when you were sleeping during the storm. He had no shoes or shirt on. Just his pants. He was shouting, really, really loudly, and he sounded really, really mad while he wa
It’s been four days since I kneed Don Valentino in the balls.Four days since I left the villa, leaving Savannah behind.I’m not going to lie and say that these past four days have gone by quickly, when in fact, it feels like I’ve been gone for an entire month.I swipe the unlock icon across the screen of my phone, and a pang of disappointment hits me when I don’t see any notifications.I don't know why I was hoping that Don Valentino would try to contact me. He's most likely relieved that I’m gone, and I'm not hanging around the villa and Savannah like a bad smell.But jeez, a phone call or perhaps a text message wouldn’t have hurt him to give me an update about her well-being.He knows that she is the centre of my world and I'll do anything for her. Raising my hand, I touch my lips with my fingertips as I think about the one man who is bad for my soul.Phantom tingles, linger across the seams of my lips, and a soft smile touches the corner of my eyes. I haven't been able to get t
ALESSANDRO, AKA DON VALENTINO.My lips rub against the shell of her ear and I shamelessly inhale her sweet scent of mango dipped in cream.A faint growl vibrates in the back of my throat, and I can feel her body trembling beneath my touch. I tighten my grip, despising the fact that I am infatuated with her dearly and the last time I aroused this kind of desire — the love of my life deserted me. I won't bend my will this time. After all, Ivy is Roses’ sister and I have made it my duty to make her life a living hell. I will take out my pent-up anger on her. She will suffer due to her sister's betrayal, and I will take great joy in doing it. I will make her trust me, need me and desire me. Just so I can humiliate her the way, Rose humiliated me. 'When I'm done, you will have fallen in love with me.' She reckons.Her words have been like a horrible symphony playing in my ears for the past four days, and it's been driving me wild. The taste of her stains my lips, and no matter how ma
“Let me go, Riccardo!” I struggle in his unwelcome embrace, kicking my feet in the air, twisting and turning my body.Riccardo ignores me, which is to be expected, and drags me back into the house, dumping me on the sofa. Then he towers over me with his arms folded across his chest“Ohh… So, big and scary!” I say with sarcasm heavily lacing my words. He frowns, rolling his eyes, totally over my bullshit, and he averts his gaze elsewhere. I watch as Don Valentino drags a chair across the room behind him, sitting across from me with his right ankle resting on his left knee. He unbuttons his suit jacket, loosening his tie with his eyes never straying from mine, drawing me in deeper. “What?” I snap at him, hating the way my body reacts whenever he is near.“You said you need a job to pay for your father's medical bills?” “I know what I said, but if you continue to keep holding me against my will, I’ll have no job and pretty soon, no home.”“I have a job for you.” He simply states whi
“I want Mr. Bishop moved into a private ward where he will receive the best treatment this hospital has to offer,” Don Valentino demands as he speaks with the Head Of Department, in the cardiac ward. I stand beside him, my jaw agape as I gaze at him in astonishment. He exudes wealth, power, and an aura that should not be trifled with.“I'll see what we can do with such short notice, Mr Valentino” The blonde-haired female replies as she bats her fake eyelashes at him. I swear, if she bats them any faster, she will create a mini-tornado right where we are standing.“Look, Mrs?” He sighs with frustration.“Ms. Yasmin Richards.” Her brows pinch together. “Kindly avoid using 'Mrs' in my name when addressing me.” Her cheeks flush with a lovely shade of pink. “I'm not married, and I’m definitely not my mother.” She hums, like what she is saying is relevant.“Ms. Richards,” Don Valentino raises his voice as he mutters her name. “I am paying this hospital a great deal of money, along with a
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