LuciaAfter Lorenzo left, I remained curled up on the floor, my eyes swollen and sore from crying. The weight of the ring on my finger felt like a shackle, cold and heavy. Every time I glanced at it, the heavy rock reminded me of my cage—the one Lorenzo had forced me into. I wish I could just die.After a while, a soft knock broke through my thoughts. I didn't answer, hoping whoever it was would leave. The door creaked open, and Maria entered, holding a tray of food.“Maria, please leave me alone,” I groaned."Signora," she said softly, her voice full of sympathy. "You need to eat something. It’s almost noon and you haven’t had breakfast."I shook my head, turning away from her. “I’m not hungry, Maria. Please, just leave me alone.”She sighed, stepping closer, and setting the tray on the nightstand. "I understand that you’re upset, but starving yourself won’t change anything.”I closed my eyes, trying to shut her voice out, but it only made the tears return, burning the backs of my ey
It’s past midnight and I can’t sleep. Sleeping is hard when I know Lucia is just down the hall. Lately, I have been finding it hard to sleep, and it’s because of her. Now I’m wondering if forcing her to marry me was a wise decision.Marrying her was a calculated decision. It wasn’t just about saving her from her father or that mess of a family. No. It was also for the Trello deal.For the past year, I’ve been on a mission to clean up my business. I’ve been working to secure a merger with Trello Group—a heavyweight in oil and gas. They’re my key to legitimacy, a way to leave some of my past behind.But there's a problem, the president of Trello Group is an old-fashioned man who swears by family values. He’s convinced that a man who isn't married can't be trusted. Under any other circumstances, I’d tell him to go fuck himself. But I need this deal.I groan and sit up on the bed staring into the dark. Deep down I know the deal with Trello Group isn’t the only reason I married Lucia. It’s
I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, the memory of Lorenzo’s lips grazing my ear played on repeat. I could still feel his breath, warm and infuriating, and the way my body betrayed me, responding in a way it had no right to.I was supposed to hate him. I did hate him. And yet, my body didn’t seem to understand that. It felt wrong, so deeply wrong, that I couldn’t stop thinking about him even now, lying in bed, my heart racing at the thought of his touch.After hours of tossing and turning, sleep finally came. But my dreams were filled with him—those dark eyes, that smug smile, his deep voice whispering into my ear, and his breath fanning against my skin. I woke up several times thinking he was in my room and every time I went back to sleep, the dream resumed.When I woke the next morning, groggy and restless, I forced myself to push those thoughts away. Lorenzo was my captor, not someone I should be dreaming about. I threw back the covers and headed to the bathroom, determin
LuciaI couldn’t spend much time with Elena at the cafe because she had to get back to her shift. I didn’t want to leave, but I would only distract her from working. I took an iced coffee to go and had Stan bring me back to the house.After putting away my things that I brought from John’s, it dawned on me that this was my reality, I was going to be my home, but this didn’t feel like home. Even though Lorenzo says I’m not a prisoner, I know I am.After putting away my things, I went to the library and spent the rest of the day reading, and by dinner time, when I got to the dinning table, I half-expected Lorenzo to be at the end of the table just like he was last night.“I see, I’m having dinner alone,” I muttered as Maria placed a plate of pasta in front of me. The disappointment in my voice leaked out despite my best efforts to hide it. Why did I care that he wasn’t here? I’m supposed to hate him, not miss him.“Yes, he rarely comes home at this time,” Maria said, completely unaware
As Lorenzo captured my lips with his, a soft gasp escaped me, but I didn’t pull away. I couldn’t. The kiss was possessive, and demanding, and I found myself responding in ways I didn’t think were possible. My hands gripped his shoulders as he deepened the kiss, his lips moving against mine with an intensity that made my knees weak.A soft moan escaped my lips, betraying me, and every ounce of reasoning I had disappeared as he slid his tongue past my lips and I granted him entrance, mimicking his action.Lorenzo lifted me as if I weighed nothing, my legs wrapping around his waist instinctively, my arms clutching him closer. His strength was intoxicating, his body solid beneath my hands as he pressed me against the cool wall, his mouth never leaving mine. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, my body betraying the hate I knew I should feel for him.He broke the kiss just long enough to trail his lips down the side of my neck, his beard grazing my skin, sending sparks of sensation through
LorenzoThe taste of her, the way she softened against me, was nothing short of addictive. I can’t get it out of my mind—how her breath hitched, how her lips parted for me, inviting me to take more. She has no idea what she’s doing to me, no idea how close I am to unraveling.I want her in ways I’ve never wanted anyone before. I want her wild beneath me, desperate and undone, so lost in pleasure that she forgets who she is, who I am. I want her to come apart in my arms, to lose every piece of that careful composure. But I have to be patient. I have to play this right, keep her wanting. I’ll pull every thread until there’s nothing left but raw need.As I leave her this morning, I can still feel her lingering presence, a phantom ache that follows me. It’s maddening. The self-control I pride myself on is slipping, and for the first time, I’m finding it hard to care.As I stepped out of my car and took in the sight of the old, secluded warehouse, I tried to push the image of my tempting w
LorenzoThe traffic is heavier than usual for this time of day. As we slowed to a stop at a red light, Lucia turned to me, her gaze dropping to my hand. She murmured something under her breath, too low for me to catch, but I caught the concern in her eyes.I leaned back, watching her rummage through her purse. When she pulled out the salve she placed in it earlier, I raised a brow, curious about what she planned to do.She took the ice she had earlier placed on my knuckles and set aside in the champagne bucket in the car without a word, took my hand gently, and squeezed some of the salve onto her fingers. Then, with a surprising tenderness, she began applying it to my busted knuckles.Her touch was careful, almost reverent, and it did something to me that I couldn’t quite explain. No one had ever taken care of me like this except they were getting paid to do it. It was just a busted knuckle, I had been through worse. Yet, here she tending to me like it was a bullet wound. A lump forme
As we got back to the mansion and headed upstairs to my bedroom, I could feel Lorenzo’s eyes on me, but I chose to ignore it. Tonight, I had played my part just as he asked, smiled at the right time, pretended to be his happy wife, and endured the company of his business partner.Now, I just wanted to retreat into the solitude of my room, peel off this suffocating dress, take a long, hot shower, and let the exhaustion of the night drown me into a peaceful sleep. I had no idea what had possessed me to talk back to him earlier, to lie so boldly and claim I had faked the way my body responded to his kiss. Maybe it was the arrogance in his smirk or the way he looked at me like he already knew me—knew what I wanted, what my body craved before I even did. But whatever rebellious spark had pushed me to defy him was long gone now, leaving behind nothing but the hum of awareness that still lingered from our stolen moment last night.I wanted to be away from him. Away from his intensity. Away
As we sat in the restaurant, I watched Principessa try not to act nervous. She was shaking her legs under the table, her fingers tapping lightly against her glass.I reached beneath the table and placed a firm hand on her thigh, stilling her movements. “Relax.”She looked up at me, startled, then let out a small, nervous laugh. “Sorry,” she murmured, offering me a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.I studied her for a moment. “What’s wrong?”“Nothing,” she said quickly. Then, after a beat, she exhaled and admitted, “I’ve never been in a restaurant this fancy before. And people keep glancing at me.”I followed her gaze, noticing how some of the patrons stole quick looks in her direction before averting their eyes. My hand tightened slightly on her thigh.“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” I told her, my voice low and even. “Everyone in here knows exactly who I am. None of them would dare disrespect you because you’re my wife.”She nodded and reached for her glass of water, tak
Spending the rest of the day with my mom was exactly what I needed.Elena and I kept her company, chatting about random things while we cooked together. It felt normal—like the nights before John had ruined everything before my mom had to walk on eggshells in her own home. And even though she still refused to come stay with me, seeing her smile again made it worth it.By the time I dropped Elena off at her apartment, the sun had already dipped below the horizon.“Call me when you get home,” Elena said as she stepped into her apartment building.“I will,” I promised.I was just turning to head back when two sleek black cars pulled up beside mine.I stopped mid-step, heart stuttering for a moment.The back door of the first car opened and out stepped Lorenzo.Still dressed in the same dark suit he’d worn to work that morning, he looked as immaculate as ever—like he hadn’t spent the entire day handling whatever business the Mafia King handled. Not a wrinkle on his jacket, not a single st
I froze, my milkshake forgotten, as Elena casually dropped the bombshell.“What did you just say?”"Rumor has it John is on the run," she repeated.My stomach twisted. I set my drink down carefully, my fingers tightening around the cup. "Are you sure?"Elena nodded, her expression serious. "I heard that he hasn’t been seen in the last twenty-four hours. Lorenzo’s men are looking for him. Maybe he stole from him again and decided to skip town."A sharp exhale left my lips as I processed her words. Deep down, I prayed it was true. Maybe, just maybe, this time he’d stay gone for good. Maybe, without him around, I could finally find a way to help my mother.After brunch, we hit the shops. At first, I had every intention of shopping just to spite Lorenzo, to take full advantage of the unlimited card he’d given me and piss him off. But after hearing about John’s disappearance, my heart wasn’t in it. Instead, I bought only a few things for myself, but I made sure to pick out clothes for my m
After Lorenzo left for work, I decided to use the new phone that he got he last night and called Elena, I would have loved to speak to mom, but John already seized her phone. I will go see her later.Elena picked up after two rings, her voice laced with confusion. "Hello?"I grinned. "Hey, Elena."There was a beat of silence before she practically shrieked in my ear. “Oh my God, Lucia! Whose number is this? Are you alright? Do you need me to come get you? Where are you?” she sounded so worried it made my heart ache. She was getting sick with worry about me and I was here having illicit thoughts about Lorenzo.I laughed. “I’m okay, Elena.”“This isn’t your number,” she still sounded confused.“Yeah, Lorenzo got me a new phone last night."“Oh, I see.” She exhaled, and when she spoke again, her voice was softer. "How are you, Lu? Really? Are you sure, you’re alright?"“I’m fine Elena, you need not worry.”She sighed. "You sure? I’ve been worried about you."“Yes I am. When do you get of
I stormed out of Lorenzo’s bedroom, my heart hammering against my ribs. I couldn’t stand the way his gaze seemed to pierce into my very soul, stripping me bare. He was wrong. There was no way I cared for him. I still hated him and that hadn’t changed.Needing a distraction, I headed to the library, determined to lose myself in a book. My fingers trailed over the spines until I settled on a book on the second world war. It wasn’t the type of book I would usually go for, but Lorenzo’s collection was as dark and intense as the man himself—history, philosophy, and war.Hours slipped by unnoticed, the afternoon sun casting golden light through the tall windows. My stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. With a sigh, I closed the book and made my way to the kitchen.Maria was there, assembling sandwiches with her usual warm smile. “I was just about to bring these up to you,” she said, holding up a tray. “With some freshly squeezed orange juice.”I returned her smile.
I was a little shocked that Lorenzo had gone to the trouble of saving the women and children. It wasn’t what I expected from a man like him and I couldn’t help being surprised.He must have noticed the surprise on my face."You seem surprised," he murmured, his voice low and unreadable. "What? You thought I’d let innocent women and children be sold like cattle?"I hesitated, my fingers stilling for a moment. The truth was, I had no idea what to think. I’d seen the cold, ruthless man he was capable of being. The one who killed without hesitation. The one who forced me into marriage.When I didn’t answer, he exhaled sharply. "I might be a monster, Principessa, but not that kind. Women and children are off-limits. Always." His voice was firm, unwavering. "And I don’t allow that kind of filth in my territory either.”Something inside me shifted. I wasn’t sure why, but I believed him. Maybe it was the conviction in his voice, or the way his expression hardened with something close to disgus
I ignored the way the nickname sent a shiver down my spine. “Someone has to,” I shot back. “And I don’t see anyone else here.”His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he smirked. “I’m almost convinced you care about me.”I tried convincing myself that I didn’t, but I knew that was a lie. I didn’t know why I cared. I shouldn’t. I should just leave him to his business and go back to pretending like none of this concerned me. But against my better judgment, the words slipped out before I could stop them.“I don’t. But you need to get that wound cleaned.”Lorenzo poured himself another drink, tilting the glass to his lips and swallowing it down in one go. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he drank, and when he set the empty glass back on the bar, his dark gaze lifted to mine.The way he looked at me sent a slow, unsettling shiver down my spine. There was something about it—something unreadable, something that made my breath catch.Then, to my surprise, he nodded. “Okay.”He turned, heading t
I woke up with Lorenzo’s name on my lips, my pulse was erratic, my skin flushed with warmth, and the vivid images of what he had done to me in my sleep left me breathless. For a moment, I felt bad waking up from the dream. I groaned, throwing an arm over my eyes as if that could make feel any better.Get a grip, Lucia.I forced myself out of bed, my legs still shaky as I padded toward the bathroom. The cold tiles did little to cool the heat coursing through me, and I gripped the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Eyes filled with confusion stared back at me, lips slightly parted.This wasn’t me. What was Lorenzo doing to me?I turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on my face before using the toilet and brushing my teeth. As I picked up my comb, I absentmindedly ran it through my hair before gathering it into a ponytail. I reached for my makeup bag, my fingers pausing when I realized what I was doing.I was putting on makeup for him. In the morning, when I had nowhere t
I couldn’t believe what I had just done.Me. Lorenzo Gonzalez. On my knees. I had never gone on my knees for any woman or anyone for that matter. It was unheard of. Unthinkable. But for her, I had done it. And the worst part? I would do it again.The realization twisted in my gut like a blade. What was she doing to me? I was not a man who bowed to anyone. Not to my enemies, not to my allies, not even to my own blood. Yet tonight, I had found myself kneeling before her, lost in her scent, her taste, the way she had trembled beneath my hands.My hands curled into fists, frustration burning through my veins. I was losing control and I hated it. Sleep was out of the question. If I stayed in this bedroom a second longer, I would find myself at her bedroom door, desperate for another taste. That wasn’t an option. I needed to get a grip.Stripping off my shirt, I stalked to my private gym. The cool air did nothing to soothe the fire raging inside me. I wrapped my hands, my movements rough, a