ALINAMy eyes slowly peeled open to the soft rays of the sun which found its way into my room through the partly opened curtains. I dragged myself out of consciousness and yawned. It took a while for my vision to adjust to this foreign environment as everything seemed blurry. For a split second, I had expected to see myself cuddled up in my room and my mind wondered on whose room I laid in until it slowly dawned on me that I was in Dante's Mansion and this was the bedroom allotted to me by the maid who had helped me settle in last night.Now with enough lightening, I was able to fully access the room.No doubt, my bed was huge and ostentatious. Though I was very drowsy last night, I had managed to observe the room but faintly. Now in the day, I had full access to marvel at the room I was in.My scarlet red bed was a four poster bed with white and gold patterned sheets, having a caramel canopy thereby providing a rectangular roof over the bed.Two long windows were situated at
ALINA Before they all left, one of the maids had taken the liberty to show me all around Dante's gothic yet heavenly mansion.The brilliantly lit hallways stood awe inspiring in illuminating our paths. I couldn't keep count of how many doors I was being led into. From Dante's study room, to the room which had all the cleaning supplies installed in them to the laundry room, the magnificent spacious library with beautifully designed shelves that looked like they were carved from the finest of woods. They were arranged alphabetically in rows and different books were stacked in them. The library had this aura of ideas, imagination and knowledge oozing all over as a result of the different antique of books stacked in the shelves. Dante even had a mini game room stacked with game equipments which got me surprised. I never knew he had a fun side. Now, I was in the kitchen in preparation for the arrival of his guests.I wondered who Dante was inviting over?Could it be women? I woul
ALINA "Are you so blind that you mistook my legs for the table Alina!" Dante raged, bolting up from his seat at once."I'm sorry I'll get a napkin right away" I pleaded and attempted to turn away when an iron grip dragged me back. "Are you mad Alina?" Dante asked rhetorically in a surprisingly low tone this time.I had already apologised so what was the fuss then? "You did this on purpose didn't you?" He added with a raised brow."No, I would not. I didn't do it on purpose. Allow me to go get a napkin" I defended myself."Do you think I'm a fool to not recognise what you are doing huh Alina!?" Dante raged at me.I glanced at the other men and they all had slightly confused expressions rocking their faces."Dante why would Alina purposely pour syrup on you? It was just an accident" Enzo stood up for me."This is between me and my maid. I want no ones interference on this. She knows what she did. This lying bitch knows what she did" Dante's bitter tone retorted back at Enzo whilst kee
ALINA I pondorously walked down the stairs and towards the kitchen to prepare dinner. Ever since Dante kissed me so roughly yesterday night, we hadn't spoken again which I was honestly grateful for.My night was terrible. I had series of dreams in which Dante tried to force himself on me. I would always wake up with a fright whilst screaming out my lungs. Only heavens knew what Dante had against me that even in my sleep he tormented me. I pushed the double doors of the kitchen apart and checked the cupboards.We were running low on groceries and diary products. I guess I'll need to ask Dante to take me to the supermarket. I hadn't spoken a word to him through out the day.He stayed home which got me a tad uncomfortable at first but our silence and distance was refreshing to the core. The only time I saw him was when I brought breakfast and lunch to his study room. And I didn't say a word. I just dropped it and left whilst he continued on whatever he was doing. Now I'l
ALINATrue to Dante's words, signs were conveniently placed around the area, showing directions to different places. This place was defintely a posh, gated community.I followed the directions and sign boards. I spotted a lot of gated houses on my way, few individuals walking and lone mansions.It took a while but after few turns and signs, I had approached a nearby grocery store. I was defintely in the urban open area of the community, away from Dante's secluded mansion.People moved about like a tide chattering, the serene sound of children playing and mild car horns graced the air.The name of the grocery store, 'Foodies' was bodly written in red italics. Its painting looked chipped and worn out but overall it looked like a dainty shop. I walked inside and picked a basket but not before texting the tyrant of a husband that I had arrived.Like every other super market, there were indications above each aisle which showed its content.I briskly walked towards the dairy aisle becau
ALINA Right before my very eyes was my own husband, Dante, and a brunette lady having a hot make out session. They were too deep in their kiss to even notice me or anything else around them.With quivering lips, erratic heart beat and teary eyes, I watched Dante's hand explore the lady's skin as she moaned into the kiss. He grabbed her behind, squeezing it and hauling her against himself. The lady tugged at his shirt, drawing him more closer to herself as the deep erotic kiss continued. With a swift motion, Dante wrapped her legs around his waist, hands kneading all the parts of her body. My body trembled and I sought to tear my gaze away but I couldn't.My eyes couldn't take it anymore neither could my body. My knees quivered and I had to hold on to the door for support."Dante" I called out in a wild whisper which was loud enough for him to hear me. That single utterance of mine brought to a halt, their make out and Dante reluctantly dropped the brunette. He ran his h
The days flew by in a blur after Alina caught Dante making out with another woman in his study room. The pain was shattering and it got Alina so withdrawn from Dante than she would have normally.Never in her life, did she think Dante would stoop that low just to punish her.Why his betrayal hurt her, she could not fanthom the reason but she could not deny the fact that she was hurt deeply disappointed at Dante's morals. Probably, she expected too much from, a little decency perhaps for the sacred union called marraige but he crushed all her expectancy of him and proved that day that he didn't value their marraige and neither was he going to be faithful to it. When she wasn't working for Dante and cleaning up the house, Alina spent her days in the library, feeding from the vast knowledge of ideas that seemed to surround everywhere. And as for her nights, she spent them in despair. She would cry herself to bed every single night whenever she pondered on her married life.This
ALINA "Here you go" I handed Dante a file from the library which he instructed me to get. Dante collected it swiftly, his eyes glaring at me. "Get me a cup of coffee fast" he ordered. "Sure" I replied as I left to attend to my work in the kitchen.The animosity between both of us seems to grow every single day. I still could not believe Dante actually pointed a gun at me about two days back.My own husband literally pointed a gun to my head. Was it this sort of maltreatment I would have to endure for the rest of my life until one day my tired soul had gotten enough and I would just have to wither away? The scary realisation that this is what my life had become and would remain always got me cowering in fear of what was to come. Something bad is going to happen to me as long as I am staying with Dante.This marraige will end my life and the thought of it all shatters me whenever I realised I would die in the hands of my husband. I felt so unloved, used, betrayed and fo
Two years LaterALINA I sat with Dante on the bed, the bed we both had laid on for more than two years. He flashed me a concerned stare and I gave him a soft smile. In my hands held a paper which my eyes repeatedly looked at, trying to comprehend what I just read in the paper.It was a DNA report proving that I and Enzo were indeed related. Enzo was my blood brother. My elder brother.Honestly I am beyond shocked.Like what the fuck!?"How do you feel baby?" Dante nudged my shoulder with his.I sighed and took in breath. "I don't know what to even say. I'm speechless honestly. Like a part of me feels so happy that I found my family and yet another part of me is uhm shocked as hell. Like how did they let me go? Why did I get missing and away from family? Did they try searching for me? Do they miss me?" My questions were endless.After the incidents that took place two years ago and the revelation that I wasn't Russian, Dante had taken it upon himself to find my true family. I hon
ALINA "Careful Dante....no put your legs that way..no no don't apply to much pressure on your legs.." I pestered Dante as if he were toddler learning his first step. Dante groaned and sighed as we walked up the stairs leading to our room.I and Dante had just come back from a meeting with Nikolia's daughters. Dante had ordered them to leave America with immediate effect and keep away from I and him. He looked so murderous whilst speaking to them that they cowered beneath his dagger stares.They dared not counter his orders.Like loyal dogs, the two sisters agreed to Dante's conditions.Finally, that phase of my life was over and now I'll start a brand new one with Dante by my side. "I am fine Alina. It's been close to a month already. I can walk. I am not a baby ok" Dante shot me his perfect boyish grin and I rolled my eyes at him."Well you are still my baby sweetheart. You left the hospital a week ago Dante. Allow me to take care of you" I obliged as we trailed slowly up the st
ALINA "Dante will be fine. He won't die. He will be perfectly fine" I paced to and fro, wandering aimlessly around the hospital's corridor whilst repeating those words to myself in assurance that Dante would be fine.If I didn't say those words to myself repeatedly, I would not be able to breathe. Reminding myself of the hope of Dante being fine aided me in my breathing and reduced my erratic heart beat.It has been more than ten hours since we left Nikolia's home.I was worried as hell on the questions we would recieve in the hospital concerning Dante's gun wounds but Enzo told me that the Morelli's had private hospitals ran by mafia capos scattered all around the globe so nobody would interrogate us and we wouldn't have any legal records of whatever we did.It calmed me down a little but still, my fear soared to immeasurable heights on getting to the hospital.Dante had been in the Intensive care unit for so long and anxiety was eating me away slowly.The doctors won't let me s
ALINA"Dante!" I shrieked out, softly dragging him to lay on my thighs as the wet pool of his blood streamed around us."I-I am s-so-sorry A-ali-na f-for eve-ry--thing" Dante struggled for air, tears trickling down his eyes as I knelt beside him."Don't say that please Dante. I hold no grudge against you" I smiled admist my tears, but my features gave way to an even greater wailing. My heart, my entire senses, every cell in me was shutting down watching life seep out of Dante. My dress and hands were soaked with his blood which got me releasing higher ear splitting cries. My heart had a million drums in it and my throat tightened the more. I could barely even speak as I sobbed defeatedly on him. I could only quiver, my lips unable to form correct sentences with the rain drops still splattering on both of us."Dante please...." I finally found my voice, grasping on to one of his hand. "Y-you l-love me r-r-r-right?" Dante whispered breathlessly.I nodded vigorously."Yes Dante. I l
Like a movie, everything happened in slow motion to Alina.Fear soared in the air, overwhelming tensions and anxiety creating the ambience. Alina had her eyes filled with both fear, terror and relief on seeing Dante. She was hell scared but looking at Dante gave her comfort and strength. He was doing all he could to save her and the life of her unborn baby.But her heart was palpitating, her pulse rising to tremendous heights. Nikolia was trying to use her to get to Dante. She was the bait and he was the catch. She knew he wouldn't let Nikolia shoot her so the only alternative he had was to submit himself in.Alina couldn't let that happen. She couldn't stand and watch Dante sacrifice his life and mafia.Her heart broke into a million pieces as she saw the helplessness in his features. So she took a very drastic step that could cost her life.She could see the apprehension in his emerald orbs. He was warning her not to take an impulsive action. But Alina couldn't stand and wat
DANTE The ride to Nikolia's home felt like an entire century. My anxiety and anger boiled, tightening my chest and making it hard for me to focus on anything apart from Alina. My capos bickered unnecessary, rolling out plans endlessly but I couldn't even hear them.The only thing I could hear was the heavy thumping of my heart which seemed to resound in my ear, blocking out all other sounds.Nikolia gave me just twenty four hours to come meet him and hell was I ready to face that bloody motherfucker. Threatening me is one thing but kidnapping Alina and turning her into his punching bag is something I can't tolerate.I'll never tolerate it.I already feel like a big fool and an idiot for turning against Alina. I'm really trying to redeem myself.I fear Alina hates me already. Fuck.My mind is in turmoil.Whenever it comes to Alina, I go blank and nothing seems to make sense.I just want to go rescue her. I had no time to plan out a formation of men. The only thing I did was to make s
DANTE Everywhere was dead silent, the only sound being made was my shoes which paced around the tiled floors of my office. My anger was rising with each nano second and a bomb was ticking in my head. My sleeves were folded up to arms length and my shirt had a few buttons loose."Dante can you just relax for a moment?" Luca suggested. Luca, Enzo and Fabio were with me in my office, watching my sanity drain out with each passing moment.I snapped my heated orbs to face him. "I should relax?" I rhetorically asked, walking over to him."That bitch, that whore escaped and you are saying I should relax!?" I boomed, my Adams apple gobbling.It has been three fucking days since Alina escaped and I had not gotten any information about her whereabouts.It is like she just disappeared into thin air. I wanted to find her and bring her back so I can melt out my anger on her. She can't escape from me so easily.Luca sighed and moved away from me."Atleast you've found the maids. So just re
ALINA I slowly opened my eyes which felt like they weighed the size of a dumbbell.For a split second, I forgot what had transpired through out these couple of days and expected to see myself all cuddled up in Dante's duvets. But slowly it dawned on me that I wasn't dreaming, I was living a freaking nightmare.The hot rays of the sunlight filled the entire rooom making me realise that I had definitely spent the night in here. I blinked my eyes repeatedly in a fit of panic trying to make out where I was but I ended up letting out a shriek as I accidentally fell to the floor. I howled in pain and caressed my elbows, slowly sitting up straight.I pivoted to check what I fell from. I had fallen from a wooden red couch.I began looking around this somehow distinct room I was laid in, taking in the surroundings. The room seemed so distinct, like I had been here before or seen it before. The walls were painted brown.I looked forward and spotted a huge wooden table and also a swer
Alina Once I had made it outside, I kept on running as fast as my legs could carry me. I was very weary and tired but the race for survival was one I couldn't give up on. I ran holding back my flood of tears. I had no idea where I was going neither did I carry a single thing with me. I looked like a mad and dirty woman that just escaped the mental asylum. But still, I ran so fast with the fear that Dante might just pop out from anywhere. My adrenaline filled me up and my heart beat increased tremendously. After a while of running down the long lonely road of this posh gated community, I approached civilisation and slowed down in my steps. I panted heavily and tried catching my breath as I walked. I noticed the odd stares I was getting from people. They were probably wondering why I looked so unkept and dirty but I didn't mind their curious orbs. I kept on walking frantically, zoning out anyone who tried to talk to me.I still wasn't safe. Hell this was still Dante's terr