The morning sun streamed through the window, painting stripes of gold across the rumpled sheets. I stirred, the warmth beside me lulling me back into slumber. Then, I saw her. Lena. Tangled in my arms, her hair a cascade of dark waves across the pillow, a strand tickling my cheek. She looked… not pretty, but beautiful. The kind of beautiful that makes you stop and stare, the kind that steals your breath. A smile stretched across my face, and I reached out, gently pulling her cheeks. Her eyes fluttered open, those ice blue pools that had first captivated me. They were still sleepy, a bit hazy, but the way they crinkled at the corners when she smiled made my heart skip a beat. "Good morning," I murmured, my voice husky with sleep. "Morning," she mumbled, stretching and yawning. We lay there for a while, silent, just enjoying the warmth of each other’s presence. I traced the line of her jaw with my finger, admiring the way the morning light danced on her skin. "How are you feeli
The familiar weight of expectation settled on my shoulders as we walked through the doors of the villa. Every bowed head, every murmured greeting, was a reminder of who I was – Luca Rossi, the Don. It was a title I wore like a second skin, a mantle of power and responsibility that could feel as much a cage as a crown. I embraced the shadows, the power games, the intricate alliances and betrayal. We thrived on it, thrived on the respect, the fear, the absolute control. Even when it seemed like I had left… I did not, not really. I was still the Don of the Italian Mafia and the life, the intrigue, the blood it was all in my veins. Me and my brother's veins I followed Marco through the labyrinthine halls, the scent of old money and subtle menace clinging to the air. My office, when we finally reached it, was a study in understated wealth. Dark wood, leather, a single abstract painting on the wall that probably cost more than most people made in a year. I’d always found a certain ironi
Lena's POV The insistent California sun, filtering through the slits in my curtains, nudged me awake. I stretched, feeling the familiar ache in my muscles from the other night's... activities. Yes, obviously. Mr. Rossi had insisted I take two days off, but the thought of staying cooped up in this expansive penthouse felt suffocating. Besides, a strange restlessness tugged at me – I needed to be busy, to lose myself in the routine of work. As I stepped out of the bathroom, still damp from my shower, my bare foot met a rogue washcloth. I yelped, my hip connecting with the hard tile with a sickening thud. "Damn it!" I hissed, more annoyed than hurt. Ignoring the throbbing in my butt, I slipped into a simple, yet elegant black dress. A touch of perfume, I decided, and then I’d head down for a quick coffee and sandwich maybe, before facing the day. The sharp scent of lilies filled the air as I spritzed my neck, but my attempt at elegance was abruptly cut short. My hand, still clumsy fr
The car rolled to a stop, not in front of the familiar facade of my penthouse, but before another towering structure. My stomach twisted with a fresh wave of unease. This building felt different, colder, somehow. This Mr. Rossi’s other place. Mr. Rossi practically had to carry me out of the car. My legs felt like lead, heavy with the weight of the night's events. We entered the building, the silence stretching between us as we stepped into the elevator. He pulled me closer, tucking me against his side, and I went willingly, desperate for his closeness, for the feel of his strength around me. The elevator dinged, pulling me from the dark spiral of my thoughts. We were on the top floor. Of course. Mr. Rossi’s world existed only at the top. He swiped a key card, and the door swung open. A man emerged from the living room, his back to us, and began speaking. "Luca, I got rid of the car like you said, but those guys—" He turned, and my breath caught in my throat. He was the spitt
I drifted into a sleep I thought would be blissfully dreamless, lulled by the rhythmic beating of Luca’s heart beneath my cheek. I was wrong. My eyes flew open, my chest constricted with a terror so visceral it took my breath away. Sweat clung to my skin, and my heart hammered against my ribs. Mr. Rossi…Luca…he was gone. Just then, the bedroom door flew open, and there he was, his face etched with concern. Relief washed over me, so potent it left me weak. He was at my side in an instant, pulling me close, his hand stroking my hair with a tenderness that belied the steel in his eyes. “It’s okay, princess,” he murmured, his voice a soothing balm against my racing heart. “Just a dream. Everything’s alright. I’m here.” I hadn't even realized I was crying until he tilted my chin up, his thumb gently brushing away the tears. He kissed them away, one by one, his lips lingering on my skin. “Want to talk about it?” he asked, his voice low and husky. I shook my head, unable to find th
The clatter of ceramic on glass pulled me from my reverie. Luca reappeared, a bowl of colorful cereal in one hand and a steaming mug of coffee in the other. He settled into the lounge chair beside me, handing me the bowl with a gentle nudge. “Thank you,” I mumbled around a mouthful of Frosted Flakes, already feeling my mood lifting. The sunrise, the warmth of the sun on my skin, the unexpected sweetness of the cereal – it was all so simple, so pure, so different from the stifling tension that clung to every moment back in New York. I opened my mouth to tell Luca how much I loved watching the city wake up, how the early morning light painted everything in a soft, golden glow, but he stopped me mid-sentence. “No talking with your mouth full, amore,” he chided gently, his tone the perfect mimic of a concerned parent. I couldn't help but smile, a warm feeling spreading through my chest. His concern, even for something so trivial, felt…endearing. I finished my cereal quickly, eager t
My hand shot out, instinctively reaching for my phone, the sleek black surface cool against my palm. A wave of icy dread washed over me as I saw the notification flashing on the screen. It was from the press, a barrage of news alerts flooding my inbox. "Rossi's Enterprise: Scandal Rocks Multi-Billionaire," one headline screamed. Another read, "Mr. Rossi's Underworld Ties Come to Light," the words stinging like a slap in the face. My jaw clenched, the muscles in my neck tightening. Dmitri. The bastard was not only trying to destroy me from within, he was now aiming for my empire, aiming to paint me as a monster in the eyes of the public. I was seething, a dangerous heat coursing through my veins, but then Lena’s hand reached out, her fingers brushing against mine as she tried to see what was going on. Her face was a mask of concern, worry etched into her brow. I shifted the phone towards her, angling it so she could see clearly. A gasp escaped her lips, her eyes wide with a mixtu
Lena's POVThe drive was silent, a strange mix of anticipation and unease simmering beneath the surface. We pulled up to a house… no, not a house, a freaking mansion. It was opulent, a towering structure of stone and glass, with sprawling lawns and manicured gardens. The house screamed of elegance, of old money, of a history that whispered through the very walls. My breath hitched in my throat, and any attempt at a cool facade crumbled. The sheer size of the place was staggering, an opulent monument to wealth and power. I’d known Luca was rich, but this… this was obscene. I wondered just how rich Luca was, even though I knew he was rich, ridiculously so. This wasn't a mansion, it was a palace. Luca rounded the car, opening my door with a gentle smile. As I stepped out, I was met by a sight that sent a shiver down my spine. Men dressed in black, their faces grim, their hands resting on holsters, patrolled the building. There were more than two hundred of them, their presence heavy
Lena's POV I woke up with a smile already spreading across my face. Thankfully, I was still nestled in Luca's arms, his strong, warm body a comforting weight against mine. I traced his jawline with my fingers, admiring the sharp angles and the soft curve of his cheek. His lashes, impossibly long and dark, cast a shadow across his face, a subtle reminder of his undeniable beauty."Buongiorno, bellissima," he murmured, his voice deep and husky with sleep. His Italian accent, thick and unmistakable, was like velvet against my skin. A perfect man with so many flaws. I was hopelessly, helplessly in love with him.(Good morning, beautiful)His eyes flew open, and those beautiful green orbs locked onto mine. He pulled me closer, his hand spanking my butt playfully."Luca!!" I squealed, giggling."Mmm, how are you feeling today?" he asked, his voice a low purr."Honestly, I don't feel bad. I felt a little bit of pain and discomfort the first day I woke up, but I feel good now. Not too good,
Lena's POVThe water rippled around me, a cool contrast to the firestorm raging within. My legs were jelly, shaking as I tried to catch my breath. My legs trembled, not from the cold, but from the aftershocks of the incredible release I'd just experienced. Luca. I was on cloud nine, in the seventh heaven, my legs felt so weak."That... that was..." I struggled to find the words, my voice a breathless whisper. "Thank you.""Lena," he said, his voice a soft rumble. "Yes?""Don't worry about it," he murmured, his eyes glinting with something I couldn't quite decipher. "It will even be better later on. I'll do things..." He trailed off, muttering to himself, and a jolt of anticipation shot through me."What do you me-" My question was cut short as his warm lips found mine. I melted into the kiss, the world fading away around us. This kiss was different, softer, a silent conversation of love and need. It was everything our words couldn't express. He pulled back, our foreheads touching,
Luca's POVI felt her lips trailing down my neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. The way she moved, her hands tracing patterns on my inked chest, it was driving me insane, like she was marking herself on me. The way she moaned, a low, guttural sound that sent shivers down my spine... Fuck!!! That sound. It was like a siren call, pulling me deeper and deeper into this dangerous, intoxicating game. I knew I should pull away, but I was helpless against her touch, against the way she was driving me wild.I pulled her back, needing to see her face, to see the lust burning in her eyes. "Lena," I rasped, my voice rough with need, "I just might fuck you if you keep on doing this.""I want that, Papa," she breathed, her voice husky with a desperate edgeWhat the fuck?I knew Lena was wild, freaky, a force of nature. But this... this was different. It was raw, insatiable, primal, and it scared me a little. The way she said "Papa," it sent a jolt of something... something primal and dan
Luca's POV Lena's bratty behavior was seriously starting to get on my nerves. I needed her to stop. I had fucked up, yes, I knew that. I didn't need her constantly reminding me of it. Seeing the pain in her eyes, the bruises on her body, was damage enough. The bandage on her head, the paleness of her skin, they were constant reminders of what I had allowed to happen, constant reminders of my failures. Three weeks of watching her unconscious body lay motionless wasn't a joke. “Take. Off your clothes,” I said, my voice rough with exhaustion. She didn’t move, didn’t even attempt to do it. I didn’t have the strength for this, for her stubborn defiance. I decided to do it myself. I half expected her to push me away, but she didn’t, so I continued, pulling up her pajama shirt, the baggy fabric revealing the bruises that marred her skin. Rage flared through me. They were healed, but the scars were still visible and I could tell she still felt the pain, a visual representation of the violen
Lena's POVThe morning light, a pale, watery sun, crept through the gauzy curtains, a stark contrast to the darkness that had held me captive the previous night before Luca came. I stretched, reaching out for Luca, but my hand found empty space. A coldness, both physical and emotional, swept through me. The bed, still warm from his presence just moments before, was now cold and empty.My fingers traced the indentations left by his body as a wave of anger, sadness, and worry crashed over me. He never got enough rest, always rushing around, fixing things, making sure everyone was alright. He was going to burn himself out, fall sick and maybe die. And he'd left without even waking me, not letting me see his face before he went. The door creaked open, and a maid entered, carrying a tray with food. "Good morning, madam," she said, her voice quiet and deferential. She placed the tray on the bedside table, then dropped it with a clatter. "Don Rossi says you should make sure you eat the foo
Lena's POVThe scent of antiseptic and the soft hum of the life support machines were all I could focus on as I lay in the bed, my head throbbing with a dull ache. Marco and Ricardo were in the room, their presence filling the sterile air with a strange mix of tension and relief.Ricardo, Luca’s cousin, was surprisingly nice. He had a gentle smile that seemed to soften the sharp edges of the room. Marco, on the other hand, was his usual, infuriating self, treating me like a fragile doll, his little sister. Ricardo was fine too, he was so fine. All of them in their family are too fine, but then again nobody got close enough to Luca. His apology, delivered with an air of concern, rang hollow. It was a simple “I’m sorry,” devoid of any real emotion. The time I spent with them, after the nurse had left, was almost peaceful. It was a welcome distraction from the turmoil inside me. But there was one person who occupied my thoughts relentlessly. Luca.He was the one I thought about, the
Luca's POVThe sterile white of the room felt like a prison, a stark contrast to the vibrant life that usually filled Lena. The bandage wrapped around her head, the paleness of her skin, the absence of her usual sparkle – it was all a stark reminder of the impulsive actions I had taken. I had been so stupid, so caught up in my own world that I had let my pride get the best of me. Now, sitting by her side, watching her sleep, I was drowning in a sea of regret. My thumb rubbed soothing circles on her hand, a repetitive action that had become my nightly ritual for the past three weeks. Three weeks since she came back, the guilt gnawing at my insides. Every night, I sat here, whispering promises and apologies into her unconscious ear, hoping she could feel the sincerity in my voice, the desperation in my touch. The doctors had told me she needed time, that her brain was still healing, but every second that ticked by without her eyes opening felt like an eternity. Every day, the doctors
Luca's POV The plane hummed, a metal beast carrying me across the sky towards France. France. Of all the goddamn places. Dmitri had played me, hidden Lena in a place you wouldn't even think of looking, a place that was supposed to be a safe haven. The prick was smarter than I’d given him credit for. But D’Angelo, that little genius, had found their location in less than two hours. It seemed like, when he sent that last video, they’d slipped up on security, connections, and all that stupid stuff. D’Angelo only needed a tiny bit, a little connection, to break in. He was the fucking best hacker in the world, and luckily for him, he wouldn’t be killed. I'll hate to lose somebody that important to my mafia, especially because he couldn't give me Lena’s location. Marco and Ricardo were with me, flanking me on either side, their faces stoic. Marco and I hadn't really spoken since that night, not like we talk much anyway, but there was that slight tension, that unspoken wall between us.
Two days. Forty-eight fucking hours. Two whole days had passed since I got the text from the unknown number and I was still staring at this goddamn screen, at D'Angelo's frustrated face as he muttered the same useless words for the hundredth time. "It's not a valid address, Don. They altered it, I can't get through. But there's a notification, a video."My jaw was clenched so tight, I thought my teeth would shatter. Every second that ticked by was another second of torture for Lena, and every second was another nail hammered into my sanity. I was the one who'd put her in this position, the one who’d lured her into this dangerous world, and the guilt was eating me alive. I was supposed to protect her, not be the reason she was hurting.Honestly I have wanted to kill D'Angelo this past few days,he was good but I needed my girl back, his incompetence was driving me crazy and the Russians were doing a good job at being discreet, yes, but not for long. A bitter smile curled my lips as I t