Arianna's POV.So, I had a lot on my mind. Dealing with Gabriele Andino and all the problems associated with him ought to be a full-time job. I'd spent my days reading romance novels and I found an amazing friend in Sofia. We became talking buddies. Whenever I felt confused or down, talking with her cheered me up.I told her about my Nonna and my grandpa, but I didn't touch on the topic of my parents. Whenever I thought about them, I felt a sharp pain in my heart. It was stifling and made it hard for me to breathe. I thought I had steeled myself for years, but it turned out that they still have the ability to make me feel pain. I admit that I still held a little hope for them or else I wouldn't have come to Italy.Sofia started laughing animatedly as she talked and I tried my best to squeeze out a smile in return. She was amazing. I found out that when she had nothing and was at the lowest point of her life Gabriele hired her. Even when her qualifications didn't warrant the job or bet
Chapter Eleven.Arianna's POV.I escaped breakfast with Gabriele this morning and I was so over the moon. After our conversation last night, I'd rather be anywhere other than close to him. I heard that he had to leave for urgent work that morning. I enjoyed breakfast in the comfort of my room and I missed my phone badly. At one point I was tempted to ask him about my phone, but I gave up that idea pretty quickly.I remembered that Sofia had talked about the other women in the house Nadia and Elena. I was really curious about them and hoped that they were nothing like the bimbo Sara. I needed other people around me to at least keep me sane with all the madness going on in my life.I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where I was sure to find Sofia and there she was fiddling with some plates. "Sofie" I called out, and she turned to look at me. She smiled and immediately came to me. "You're here? Is there anything you need?""I'm bored," I replied as I swung her hands. She sighe
Gabriele's pov.I lay on the bed listening to the doctor's dos and don'ts about my wound and rolled my eyes at Basilio who was glaring at me from beside the doctor. He knew I wasn't listening, well why would I when I knew that he was there doing it and would probably nag about it when the doctor was gone? About the accident, it started as we were going home. I noticed that we were being trailed and to lose them, me and Basilio drove to an abandoned site.Well, who could've known that the men had guns and the hidden guards I had also lost us in the process of us losing the strange men. Well as expected there was a shoot-out between us and them. I and Basilio were prepared to hold them off as long as we could until the guards arrived. In the process, I was injured and luckily the guards came in time, and here we are in my room with the doctor blabbering his mouth off and Basilio glaring.I really didn't think it was a big deal. The injury that is. In our world, injuries like this were
Chapter thirteen.Arianna's POV.I stared into his eyes and I'm sure my heart did a little leap. I don't know how long we stared at each other like that but I was painfully aware of the tension in the air. I cursed myself internally countless times. I didn't understand, was I so horny? I struggled with so many thoughts and finally tore my eyes away from him as I turned to look for my book. I couldn't find it and then I heard him walking towards me, and soon he stopped. I didn't turn to look at him because I was so afraid that my face would betray any thoughts I harboured. "Looking for this, Bella?" He asked and I turned my face to look at him and saw my novel hanging in the air from his good arm. He still has that annoying smirk on his face which was a lot better than his fake smile. I reached out to grab the book and the swing shook a little. Then I remembered that I was currently sitting in a swing."Give me back my book?" I said as I glared at him in embarrassment. He whistled and
Gabriele's POV.I was so pissed at Sara for interrupting Arianna and I, but of course I made sure she was punished and very well. I'd been recovering very nicely and in a few days I'd be ready to remove the bandage. The shoulder still hurt a little but it was bearable. I felt frustrated seeing her run away like that.The next few days she avoided me completely and I didn't make it difficult for her cause I was so busy. Not going to the company for a few days just left a pile of work for me to manage as well as the mafia's issues as well. The Godfather could take care of those problems, but important decisions still had to go through my approval first.I finally wrapped it up for today as I had to go home a little earlier than usual at my godfather's and basilios insistence. He stayed back to finish up. I knew that I could absolutely trust basilio and my godfather so I wasn't worried. Number three acted as my driver and on our way home, no one spoke a word. My mind wandered off to the
Chapter fifteen.Arianna's POV.I hissed in pain as Sofie tidied up my wounds. She raised her head to glare at me and I shut up immediately. She continued to clean them and I watched her, Sofie was just a big softie. She glared at me, but I knew that she was worried about me. That's why she was angry."Sofie, I didn't get seriously injured. You know that, so don't be mad, okay?" I said softly and she sighed and dropped what she held in her hands. "I'm not angry. I know it's not your fault, but I was wrong to take you to the west wing anyway. If I hadn't done that, you wouldn't have gotten into a fight with her.""That fight was bound to happen. It was only a matter of time before Sara tried to hurt me, so don't blame yourself. Plus, I don't think she's in a good mental Condition." I said as I frowned softly towards the last sentence. I mean, I don't hate Sara, but I don't like her either. She's done nothing major that'll make me dislike her, so I felt a little sorry for her, but that
Chapter sixteen.Gabriele's POV.They were back, the nightmares, and this time around, with a vengeance. It was clear in this dream, which only happens very rarely. I could see the blood, hear the raspy screaming and the wailing, the begging, and finally her wide open eyes as they stared at me. My lily stared at me, dead. Her once bright eyes were now dismal and distant and most importantly, dead. Her body was battered. I was trapped in that cycle, that vicious cycle. It's like it was being played in my dream on repeat.I wanted to leave but I also didn't want to. That was the only way I could be near them. My body shook and I went stiff, as even more scenes were played in my head. My father's tragic yells in the house. His secret tears and his indifference towards me. He had nothing to live for according to him and even my presence couldn't change that."Fratello, Fratello wake up." I could hear Basilio calling me, but try as I could, I couldn't wake up. At some point, I felt it wou
Chapter seventeen.Gabriele's POV.The drive to the party was awfully quiet and me being painfully aware of Arianna. I could feel the heat of her skin as it brushed mine occasionally. The scent of her shower gel or was it shampoo I really didn't know and didn't care. All I knew was that she was doing something to me. Something that made me itch to claim her as mine in every possible way and I'd never let her escape.I looked outside the window to clear my head. I still had to deal with the situation I found myself in. "So…" Arianna started. "....where are we going? Can you tell me more about the party? Is there anything I can't do or say there? I mean give me something to work with." I shut my eyes and rubbed my forehead slightly with my fingers. "You don't need to do anything. Just stand by my side and look pretty." I turned to her and she looked surprised but she nodded. "Then how will Sofia be able to get her job back if I'm not doing anything at the party?" She asked, tilting h
Chapter 80: Arianna's POVThe beeping sound of the machine around me was the first thing my subconscious acknowledged as my eyes flutter open.I was in a hospital. A real one this time.My eyes went to the white light above me and a memory flash of what happened came propelling into my head.I was in the shack waiting patiently for Gabriele and his men to show up as he had promised. I heard the first attack and I braced myself just like Agostino thought me. But then Brett came in gasping like a lunatic.I fought him off for as long as I could, but the pain in my abdomen made it impossible for me to focus, the last thing I remembered before blacking out was the pricking pain of the needle.Where did he take me— the thoughts died down in my head as my eyes settled on the one person my heart valued the most."Gabriele?" I called in a weak voice.He snapped his eyes open. Then in slow motion, I watched how his face exploded into relief. He held my hands and peppered kisses all over them.
Chapter 79: Gabriele's POVThat night no one could sleep. My energy was back to a hundred percent as we all waited for the first rays of the daylight to stream in so that the mission would commence."Strike team, don't forget, be quiet, be quiet and be merciless!" My father roared and the men clanked their vested chests in anticipation.My fingers were sizzling with adrenaline and I couldn't wait to start burying my bullets into the enemies' brains. They picked the wrong lord to mess with.As we all moved out, my godfather came up to me and said. "Whatever happens, I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to make sure that Arianna lives, do you understand?"I nodded at his declaration and he hugged me. When he pulled apart, we got into the truck waiting for us and the journey began."There is something Arianna mentioned last night about the person who orchestrated all of these," I said as the vehicle silently moved over the beach sand and small shrubs."Who is he?" My
Chapter 78: Gabriele's POV"Fuck this!" I hissed out as I placed around the table.This had to be Gianni. No one would play a game this well with me. I was too late. He had Arianna somewhere else!"Did the message say where she is?" Agostino asked me. Usually, he would be the calmer one, but right now, he was as riled up as I was."No, it didn't. But you are right, she isn't here." I ran my fingers through my hair for the hundredth time that day.I didn't have to tell them what I thought. We all knew it was Gianni. He was the only rival we had that could think of a plan like this and come through with it.Basilio's phone ran out and he picked it up immediately. We all turned to him, hoping he would give us good news or something close to that.But his face contorted into a thin line and he grumbled intelligent words before he ended the call and turned to me."It was your father.""What does he want right now?!" I growled. "Look Basilio, my father can go fuck himself if he wants to. I
Chapter 77: Arianna's POVA banging ache on the side of my head stirred me awake. My eyes shut back as the bright light flashes into them.Where was I?I squinted and opened my eyes slowly. I was staring at the open skies."What the—" I snapped my eyes to the side and saw water!I made to get to my feet but blinding dizziness came to me and I sat back down at once. I was weak. I had to conserve my energy. How did I get here?I started searching through my brain but the continuous movement of the platform below me made it impossible.That was when it dawned on me —I was on a ship.I sat up, gently this time. My eyes roamed around me and I confirmed my thoughts. I was indeed on a ship in the middle of nowhere.There were about four guards on the platform with me but they were far enough for me not to be able to see their faces.The first, thing that came to my mind, was an escape —I had to leave. I had to escape from here.As I stared around me trying to make a mental calculation of my
Chapter 76: Gabriele's POV"What?!" I hissed as I dropped the files I was holding at once."Who would dare send such stupid pictures to her?!" I growled.The whole thing now made me boil with anger. What were they trying to achieve?!"I don't know Fratello. But we are already investigating it. She should be home soon," Basilio said on the phone."Fine, handle it. I should be done here before the weekend," I said.Basilio has a gruff response before the line went dead.It was already past midnight and I had an even longer day the next day. I had to follow through with my casinos. Everything just seemed to go wrong.My company database was attacked a few days ago, and while I still struggled to sort that out, the Feds were unto me.It almost felt like someone was after me even when I no longer dealt with illegal business.The last goods I sent to Asia got intercepted at sea and nothing I did could bring them back.I ran my fingers through my hair and took a deep breath. I needed to go h
Chapter 75: Arianna's POVI couldn't believe I was finally going to see my grandparents. My relationship with Gabriele was nothing I thought it would become. He was the love of my life.But I never thought he would let me go back to America to see my grandparents.I still had an escort of guards following after me from strategic locations but the freedom was overwhelming.I had tears in my eyes by the time the cars hit the road and I was asked to input my address. My hands shook as I typed the words on the pad.I was finally going to see my nonna.My heart raced and my stomach did several backflips as my eyes remained glued to the window. I thought my life was ruined when Gabriele bought me from those horrible men.When I even discovered that my parents were the ones who sold me, I thought I would pass out. Little did I know that I was getting closer to my prince charming. My Gabriele.When I told Brett to stay out of my life, a little part of me, missed the fact that I would never se
Chapter 74: Gabriele's POVMy cock was aching to bury itself inside Arianna's soft folds. I grabbed her thighs and tore through the left material of her dress."Gabriele, we are in the car!" She shrieked beneath me.The sound of her voice was sizzling and my cock ached even more. I pulled her neck to the right angle and claimed her lips before she could say another thing.She moaned against my mouth as I pulled my belt off my waist and released my cock between her thighs.I pulled her closer so that she now lay flat on the seat and I went on top of her. It was a good thing the car was big enough for the stunts I was pulling."Shit!" I cursed as I missed her entrance.Then like a dream, I felt her hand on my cock as she led me to her entrance. A grin covered my face as I let her continue."Naughty..." I whispered as I thrust deep inside of her."Hmmm," She moaned into my neck as I drove hard into her.My eyes rolled back and my veins popped as I held her waist and continued ramming int
Chapter 73: Arianna's POV"Arianna you don't understand! Gabriele has you rolled up around his fingers, I am only trying to help here. You don't love him... You don't mean that..." He said desperately.At this point I was no longer angry, I just watched him calmly. He needed help."I am sorry Brett but you have it all wrong and I will really appreciate it if you stop. It isn't worth it," I said slowly.His eyes darkened and he raised his fists in the air. I just watched him —he couldn't touch me because Mike would gnaw off his head before he got any closer."Arianna, this is terrible. You are a captive yet you defend your captor? Let me help you!" He insisted.I realized that he wasn't going to stop and I did t have time for this. I held on tight to my purse and let out a deep breath."As I said earlier, you can't understand Brett. Anyway, you have taken enough of my time. Enjoy the breakfast," I said and made for the door but on second thoughts, I paused."One more thing Brett," I sa
Chapter 72: Arianna's POVThe moment Agostino finished scolding us and left, Gabriele locked himself in his office and I returned to the room.Sofie and Mike gave me thumbs up but I didn't feel like it. I should have been happy.I won but I didn't feel so confident about it anymore.I got to the room and pushed the door close with my leg. I peeled off the clothes I wore and picked out his large white shirt. I wore it and dropped it on the bed unceremoniously.Why couldn't he just come to the room? I thought to myself.We could make out and make up. He didn't have to be so sad about the idea of me going to spend time with my friends. It wasn't necessary.It was just a simple outing and he didn't have to act like some jealous boyfriend. I loved him and no one else. Didn't he know that?Did I have to remind him?I tossed around the bed, as the questions rolled and flowed out of me.The lights went off automatically drowning me in darkness. I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep but