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CHAPTER THIRTY
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-12 21:59:57
Bab terkait
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
MEL POVThe gasp of shock from Mama Agness scares me more than Dante’s words.“Me?” I look up from Nick’s shivering body to Dante’s smiling face. “It’s meant for me?”“So, it says.” Dante answers. “Let me just say this, welcome to the Mafia life.” He winks at me.“Don’t be ridiculous.” Rio snatches the paper from him, a frown creasing his forehead as he reads through its contents. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He murmurs.“Rio…” I whisper, but he doesn’t look at me.“Is someone going to read what it says out?” Reign asks.Rio hands him the open letter and slumps on a nearby sofa.“‘It wasn’t meant to be like this.’” Reign reads aloud. “‘You should have stayed away.’” He looks up from the paper. “This does not necessary mean it’s for her. It could be for anyone.”“You really should consider getting those glasses, Dad.” Dante baits him, taking a seat next to Rio.“Is this the time for jokes, Dante?” Mama Agness scolds him.“He clearly can’t see without it.” He returns.“Read the bottom left,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-20Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
RIO POVI watch as Mel runs to the elevator as if being chased by something or someone, and I can’t help but feel like she knows a lot more than she is letting off.“My precious.” Dante mimics the endearment on the letter. “Sounds so cliche and just… wrong.”I turn my attention to him. “Why?”“I would have assumed this was the work was one of your many jilted and heartbroken ladies, but that my precious is throwing me off that idea.”“Heartbroken ladies?” I repeat.“Cmon. We all saw the way that pretty doctor behaved when she noticed Mel was your wife. Bitch wanted to pluck her eyes out.”“Ignore him.” Father says, with his expression bleak. “What are we going to do about this, Rio?”“Nothing.” The word echoes in the room as they both stay still, staring at me.“No-nothing! You are going to do nothing!” Father yells. “Your wife was just threatened and you are going to do nothing?”“I’m going with Dante on this, Father.” I respond calmly. “I’m sure this was just a silly prank meant to
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-04Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
MEL POV“I didn’t realize how much I would miss Nonna’s nagging in the morning.” Dante whines. “I have gotten so used to her voice that this feels different, doesn’t it, Mel?”“Huh?” I murmur, startled by the fact that he called my name, instead of something annoying.“It’s weird not having Nonna for breakfast, right?”“Yes, it is.” I say shyly and shift in my seat.He was right, but Nonna being away isn’t the only weird thing about this morning.Mr. Reign has been sending me little sorrow filled glances since I joined them for breakfast, and Dante has been acting… nice.As for Rio, he is missing in action as usual. I haven’t seen him since I woke up. At least one thing was normal.“The hospital called earlier.” Reign announces, not looking up from his plate. “Nick is doing fine. He is even wanting to come home today. But Agness insists he stays a day more.”“He must be pissed.” I grin, imagining how frustrated Nick must be feeling now. “Maybe I could drop by and see them. I even pic
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-04Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
MEL POV“Nia.” Nick calls out happily. “You came to see me.”“Nicky boy.” Nia walks to the bed, but turns the opposite side, facing me.I haven’t seen her since the first time we met in the garden, that I even began to think she had been a fidget of my imagination.“Heard you got your first gunshot wound.” She said and Nick nodded like a child, lifting his shirt to show her his wound. “Told you were a little pussy. That little thing landed you in the hospital? Couldn’t you just walk it off?”“It was Nonna’s idea.” Nick’s face drops into a sulk. “I am actually fine.”“Well, you wouldn’t be injured, if not for little Mrs. Rafe over here?” She glares at me.I feel irritated at her tone, but she was right. Nick is in here because of me.“She didn’t do anything.” Nick speaks up in my defense when I remain silent.“Yes, expect show up where she isn’t wanted.” Nia accuses me. “And now you are nursing a bullet wound meant for her. Or am I wrong about the death threat hanging on your head, M
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-06Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER THIRTY- FIVE
MEL POV“Mel!” Mama Agness walks into the room. Nick and I stand up to greet her. “And you, young man, back in your bed.” She turns to me and immediately envelops me in a warm hug. “Oh, my darling. You look so tired. I was thinking of you all night.”“Nonna.” I hug her tight, holding onto the comfort she gives me, as I feel the tension leaving my body. “I missed you, Nonna.” I breathe in her scent.“Have you eaten? Those monsters didn’t feed you right?” She pulls back, turns me around to check my body.“I’m fine Nonna.” I laugh. “How are you? How did you sleep?”“Good enough for a hospital. Drop that phone, young man.” She scolds Nick. “You spend too much time on your screen and it has affected your eye. That’s why you couldn’t see the bullet coming your way.”“Nonna! That’s not fair.” Nick pouts. “Besides, you know I don’t like looking at the TV. If I was back in the estate, at least I will busy in the garden or working in the stables.”“Oh, don’t you even think about it.” She pulls
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
RIO POVI pull into the company’s parking lot, and I am greeted by my father’s secretary who immediately appeared at my door.“Good morning Mr. Rio. I am sorry to disturb you, this early.” She says. “I called your father but he said he wasn’t coming in today.”“That’s all right, Andrea. I was already on my way here.” We walk through the entrance together. “So, the French police are here already?”“Yes, sir.” She answers. “Mr. Temple is here too. He refused to speak to any of the board members, so I cajoled him into agreeing to meet with you instead of your father. I should warn you that he is now insisting on the arrest of Mr. Jim.”“Is he?” I ask, smiling. I had earlier informed Signor Temple to come to the company very early this morning and cause a huge scene over his goods. Sensing the tension in Andrea, he might have taken the order a little too serious.“Where is Mr. Temples now?” We get in the elevator.“In your office.” She winces as if she expected me to complain.“That’s fi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
RIO POVSecurity footage?There isn’t supposed to be a security footage. I had made certain of that.After concluding my meeting with Signor Temples, I had met up with some associates who would handle the planting of the drugs, and altering of the cameras to avoid any evidence or anyway of linking this back to me or anyone at all.“We all know that the security cameras in the loading docks were going to be altered,” Signor Andre says. “But our culprit forgot a little detail. The light house just across the dock. I was able to get this footage from them.”Shit. The damn light house. How could I have missed that?“Nice work, Mr. Andre.” I say, trying to conceal my annoyance. “I work hard for my money.” He answers. “It’s only natural I protect where it goes.” He presses play on the remote and the screen goes dark. In the next second, a man walks into the frame and heads to the already locked container, carrying a small bag with him. He unlocks the container, breaks the seal on the boxe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER THIRTY- EIGHT
RIO POV.“The order came from the Anteri Cartel.” Antonio finally says.“What?” Andre shots to his feet instantly.“Anteri, you say? The same Anteri drug lords from France?” Blanc asks.“Yes, sir. It’s the same ones.” Antonio nods in response.The Anteri Cartel is a mafia group from France known mainly for being notorious hard drug pushers. Recently their Don was acquainted for a drug deal gone wrong and I have never had personal deals with them.So, why did Antonio pin this on them? What game is he playing here?“That is a lie.” Andre angrily points at Antonio. “You! You are a freaking liar. Liar!”“I’m not lying, sir.” Antonio insists and brings out a white envelope from his pocket. He hands it over to Detective Blanc. “This was left in my mail at home, after I agreed to do the job. It had the upfront payment of ten thousand Euros and a letter warning me to do a good job.”“This is the French group’s seal.” Leroy says, while examining the letter. “I have seen it enough times to kno
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-14
Bab terbaru
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY- FIVE
Mel POV“The smell of the blooming flowers in the spring is the perfect remedy for any aching nerves.” Nick grins, bringing a red flower to his nose.After a morning of Rio and his father arguing about me, Nick had suggested we spend the afternoon picking flowers to calm me down, since he was still on bed rest and couldn’t do much yet.“You can say that again.” I settle on the pavement along the wall. “It always hits the spot.” “I have missed this beautiful garden.” He sits next to me.“I have missed working in this beautiful garden with you, Nicky.” I give him my best smile. His face turns red as he tries to hide his embarrassment.“I have missed you too, Senorita.” He manages to murmur. I nod in response, happy with his reaction.Why can’t all men, Rio- fucking- Rafe in particular, be like my sweet Nick? I wonder. Why didn’t I fall for a nice, sensitive and charming man, instead of a freaking mad man?Fall? My body stiffens. How in the hell did I conclude I was in love with Rio?
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
JACK POV“Get off me!” I yell at the bouncer as he drags me out of the club through the back door and pushes me to the floor. “Come on, Pavor. It’s good old Jack.” I try to appeal to the club owner who followed us out.“Go back to whatever hell you crawled out from and don’t come back.” Pavor warns, shutting the door in my face.“F*** you!” I curse. This is the third club I am getting kicked out from this night alone.What wrong with wanting a little boost for the night? After the shitty day I had, spending most of it in the station, a drink was the least I deserve.I just have the little problem of being broke, so I decided to hover around the local spots, hoping for some freebies, but it seems I have garnered some sort of bad reputation of being a debtor.“Shit.” I push my body up against the wall, holding my aching head in my hand. I really should go home, get some rest and maybe some food. My stomach growls in response to the image of a hot plate of my mum’s pasta forming in my h
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
RIO POVI stood by the corner of the container, watching as Dante and Pascal hurdle over the computer, whispering about the information that they had managed to get out Rafeal, while his dead body was lying still, on the floor right next to them.“This will just be a minute more.” Dante calls to me.“Take your time.” I push off the wall and walk around the space. “Do you mind me asking how you purchased this container? Was it a gift or…”“My family runs a shipping business.” Dante“Of course, smart ass.” I shoot him a glare. “I just remembered a little detail. There is a serial number on this container, right? It should start with RF since the container belongs to the company.”“I don’t know.” Dante answers.“I do, sir.” Pascal says. “And it does. At the right end corner, outside.”“Exactly.” I clap in excitement. “Dante, the container in the woods had a serial number staring from IT. I remember seeing it on the contract and even in the pictures.”“And your point here is?” Dante stand
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY- TWO
MEL POV“So, what do we do now?” Angie asks as I drove her back to the Dancing Stars for her afternoon shift.“What?”“My shift doesn’t start till in the next hour.”“So…, I shouldn’t take you there now?”“No. Keep going.” She answers. “Just that I will be bored for that hour.”“I’m sure Steve will be glad if you decided to put in that extra hour.” I laugh. “How about you come inside for a little, huh? Say hi to the gang. Maybe flaunt that car key in Steve’s face, make him jealous.” She wiggles her brow. “Also, I’m certain Marty will be glad to whip something up for you. You barely touched your toast at the café, except when you were torturing it, of course.”“Marty still works there?” I ask in shock. Marty is the chef at the bar, but between him and Steve, it was hard to tell who was the boss and who was the employee. “I thought Steve would have given him the boot by now.”“Steve will need to summon up the balls to do that first.” Angie snorts as I park in front of the bar. “Besides
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY- ONE
RIO POV“Where exactly are we headed?” I pull down my window as Dante goes off the highway, we have been on for the past two hours and takes a turn into a small, dirty, one-lane road. “Are we going out of city?”“Not exactly.” He answers, with his eyes glued to the road.“I haven’t been in this part of the city in a while.” I say, looking around the slums and make-shift homes lined up on both sides of the road. “People actually live here?” I ask, marveling at the state of the environs.“Not everybody was born with a silver spoon like you brother.” Dante glances at my face. “What with the look of your face? Feel like helping the poor, already?” He laughs. “You were always too soft, brother. Most of the people here are drug addicts running from their debtors.”“Having a conscience isn’t being soft.” I shift on my seat. “Not everybody can be crazy like you.”“I am pretty sure your wife would disagree.” He jests.“F*** off.” I lean out the window when I feel a cold breeze on my face. “Are
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FIFTY
MEL POV“Changed?” Angie echoes my words. “Like you don’t dream of that night anymore?”“I still do… sometimes.”“And other times?” She urges me to speak.“I have been dreaming of my childhood, I think.”“You think?” She raises her brow.“Yes, Angie.” I reply. “To be sincere, I don’t really know. I haven’t been able to understand what it is.”“But you think it’s about your childhood?” She asks.I nod in response.“And what normally happens in these nightmares? What do you see?”“Myself, but so much younger. I look just like the little girl in the pictures, Mrs. Park showed me when I asked her about when I was little.”“Interesting.” Angie rubs on her chin. “And what?”“I can’t remember, Angie.”“Let’s try this.” She leans into the table. “Close your eyes. Just do it.” She insists when I frown at her.“You are being silly.” I reply, but still oblige her.“Breathe in. Breathe out. Good. Now just relax.” She takes my hands. “Nice. Now try to picture the image in your head.”“Really, Angi
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FOURTY-NINE
MEL POVIt smells just like him.Maybe taking Rio’s car wasn’t such a good idea, I realize. I was already having a hard time dealing with flashbacks of our night together, I really didn’t need to breathing in his scent. It is just annoying and very, very distracting.“Arggh!” I blast the horn of the car loudly, taking out my frustration on a black car that suddenly swerves in front of me to enter the next lane, right before we approach a red light stop. “Can’t you f**king see?” I roll down my window to yell at the driver. He, it looks like a man from my end, does not even glance my way, but stays put, even after the light turns green.“Now, you don’t want to go.” I shout. Still no response. “Asshole!” I roll up my window and continue driving.Few minutes later, from my left side mirror, I notice the same car again. This time, he is driving closely behind me, even though the other lanes were practically empty.Is he following me? He couldn’t.Panicking, I increase my driving speed and
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FOURTY-EIGHT
RIO POV“I thought you don’t let anyone into this room.” I mention when Dante leads me into his dark office. “Or have you finally gotten over your weird kink of not letting people touch your things?”Growing up, Dante had this weird possessiveness over his stuff, that he never let anyone, not even our mother nor Nonna, into his room, to the extent that he cleaned the room by himself. I strongly believed that he had killed people in there, since it was the only soundproof room in the house.“This is not my room.” He turns on the lights and turns on his desk’s computer.“I have never been in here either.” I mutter, looking through the stacks of CDs on a wall shelf.“Mel has.” He says casually, while pressing some keys on the computer.“What?” I glare at him. “You brought her in here?”“More like she fell in.” He murmurs. “Your wife is pretty nosy.”Not willingly to play his games again, I decide to ignore his words. “What did you want to tell me?”“That you were wrong. I didn’t spend al
Hidden Obsessions CHAPTER FOURTY-SEVEN
RIO POV She is staying.I don’t usually take bath, but the heat of the water soaking into my skin was definitely what I needed this morning.She is staying.I can’t figure understand why the fact that Mel chose to stay makes me… happy. Afterall, I have gotten what I craved.To have her in my bed. Then why do I feel this immense pleasure at her decision to stay, even after what happened this morning?I couldn’t actually… care for her. No, that is not possible. The sex was good, great in fact, more than what I imagined. So, it’s only natural I would want to her close by, with the hopes of it happening again.You will never touch me again. Mel’s heartfelt warning made me excited.I wouldn’t be who I am if I didn’t get turned on by a challenge.“If you are done moping about being chased out of your room, get out of the bathroom.” Dante bangs on the bathroom door, starling me. “We need to talk.”“Shit!” I curse. I thought I had locked the door. The last thing I need now is Dante’s snide
