Share

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Seven

Author: KL Jenkins
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-03 20:00:44

The petite blonde, blue-eyed, screaming doll had me hooked. She held my finger and soon babbled up at me as if her world had already revolved around me. Christ, I hope our daughter looks like her mother and equally looks up to me like that.

What I'm trying to describe is how fate had me fall for her even then when she was a newborn baby, and my love has lasted this long.

Emma turns to me, looking up as she has on so many occasions before. She seeks my gaze on the balcony, and I hold hers for a long moment. A smile spreads on her face, and she summons me, taking my breath away.

She's forgiven me yet again, not that I deserve her forgiveness after treating her so demeaningly.

Holding one finger up, I back away, turning into the bedroom before floating toward her. And then through the house and down the hall. I walk through the open patio doors and down the steps into the garden and stalk towards her fervently.

Her hand is outstretched at the very moment I grab her waist, pulling her
Locked Chapter
Continue Reading on GoodNovel
Scan code to download App

Related chapters

  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Eight

    EmmaAs I look down into my baby's eyes, I forget all the hardship her labour created only moments ago. She has the deepest shade of mahogany brown hair that covers her head and curls by her ears, yet her eyes seem somewhat light—perhaps they'll be a shade of blue like mine or a deep shade of marbled grey.Her looks remarkably resemble both of ours, yet it seems she favours her father more. It's in her straight nose, sharp jawline, and chin that resembles his. I know this might change; in fact, there's a sure certainty that my daughter will evolve rapidly, but right now, I couldn't be happier to meet her, especially to have her resemble her father in such ways. My world re-centres around her, making everything else seem dim in comparison to her. I've never felt love like this. It pulls my insides as something imaginary envelopes the pair of us. It feels like a bubble, one that's missing one person—the very man waiting to meet his daughter properly. "Hello, my darling," I hum quietly

    Last Updated : 2025-03-04
  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Nine

    "Take your T-shirt off?" I request with a beaming smile that sends tingles through my veins at the thought of gifting this invaluable gift of life to Luca after so long."O—Kay," he replies with confusion but does it anyway. His shirt goes over his head, and he dumps it with his shoes on the floor. I lay our daughter, who is just as naked as his chest, on him. The doctor raved about skin-to-skin, so surely that extends to her father, too? I gently press her head sideways so she can breathe, and I watch with amusement as Luca holds his hands out as if he thinks he might harm her if he moves. "Here," I smile, moving his hands to cradle her before I cover the pair of them with the blanket around my legs.It's an instant connection for him, his eyes close as he presses his back into the lifted mattress, and he leans down to smell our little girl's head. A sound somewhere between a moan and a groan exits his mouth, and tears fall through his closed eyes."Congratulations, Papa," I whisper

    Last Updated : 2025-03-04
  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Seventy

    EmmaIntroducing Aria to our men—our family was exhausting, but at least we could keep her birth a secret from the outside world with them.Luca and I have been in this quiet, subdued, and fabulous bubble, but just as with everything, Dimitri is not out of the know. The plan was to call him the day after the birth, but we put it off and then again the next day and the one after that. It turns out he made the first move. He called just this morning, six days after her birth, to ask why we were keeping his grandchild away from him and Lucia and if we knew there were protocols in place to pass over the information. The call was scary; I watched the version of Luca, who had been around me for days, turn into the man I came home to over a year ago. Honestly, we didn't call to prevent the rest of the world from knowing. There's this deep-rooted need to protect my little girl; no, that's not right. It's not a need; it's a must. In answer to his question, we knew we would only need to mak

    Last Updated : 2025-03-05
  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Seventy One

    I watch as he grabs Aria's blanket, the little changing bag and a small teddy Anna gifted Aria."Let's get comfortable in the lounge before they come?" He asks, holding a hand out to lead me from the bed.I nod, cradling Aria closer before I stand and let Luca walk us down to the lounge we never use. The sofa isn't as comfortable as the bed; it's cold and far too firm, but I make myself as comfortable as I can while Aria continues to feed. She soon falls asleep, so I move her to lay over my shoulder to burp her. That's when Luca leaves, obviously having word that his parents are here.Anxiety rolls through me, and I start to wonder if anyone would have followed them. If our impenetrable home will fail us. I started spiralling; I swore I might begin hyperventilating before Luca reentered with his parents.Dimitri and Lucia are dressed down in casual clothes that scream normal people. Luca looks far too overdressed compared to the three of us, but his father appraises him with a grin b

    Last Updated : 2025-03-05
  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Two

    EmmaIntroducing Aria to our men—our family was exhausting, but at least we could keep her birth a secret from the outside world with them.Luca and I have been in this quiet, subdued, and fabulous bubble, but just as with everything, Dimitri is not out of the know. The plan was to call him the day after the birth, but we put it off and then again the next day and the one after that. It turns out he made the first move. He called just this morning, six days after her birth, to ask why we were keeping his grandchild away from him and Lucia and if we knew there were protocols in place to pass over the information. The call was scary; I watched the version of Luca, who had been around me for days, turn into the man I came home to over a year ago. Honestly, we didn't call to prevent the rest of the world from knowing. There's this deep-rooted need to protect my little girl; no, that's not right. It's not a need; it's a must. In answer to his question, we knew we would only need to mak

    Last Updated : 2025-03-06
  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Three

    Anxiety rolls through me, and I start to wonder if anyone would have followed them. If our impenetrable home will fail us. I started spiralling; I swore I might begin hyperventilating before Luca reentered with his parents.Dimitri and Lucia are dressed down in casual clothes that scream normal people. Luca looks far too overdressed compared to the three of us, but his father appraises him with a grin before holding his hand out."Congratulations, son.""Thank you, Father."Lucia moves away from them and comes to me. She smiles kindly and bends her knee beside me on the sofa."Congratulations, Emma. How are you?" she asks me, her hand coming out to stroke my hair away from my face before she holds my chin much as she has done a few times before."Tired, overwhelmed, wired. That's hard to answer.""Birth does that to you; the drop in hormones is worse than the pregnancy itself. How have you been getting along? Is there anything you need?" She litters me with questions, surprising me. I

    Last Updated : 2025-03-06
  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Four

    Luca"Aria, come to Papa?" I request, sitting opposite Emma on the floor of our new lounge in our new home. I bought a new country estate not long ago, in secret and not in either of our names, of course. Our little family is growing by one more, not to mention all of Rossi's former men, women, and children who have moved with us.Yes. Emma is pregnant again, six or so weeks. A little flickering entity is living deep within her tummy once again. I'm excited to watch her swell with this child, as I was with our princess, and I'm equally happy to find out who fate has blessed us with.Aria is nearly ten months old. She's tall like me. Her previous brown hair has turned into long, curly blonde locks like Emma's, and she has her mother's eyes but strangely looks a hell of a lot like me."Go to Papa, Arri," Emma encourages.Watching intently, I hold my hands out for our little girl, and she shakily takes some steps, holding onto her mother's fingers. I've been away these last few days, bu

    Last Updated : 2025-03-07
  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One

    LucaAs I step out of my car, my shoes hit the pavement with a steady rhythm that synchronises with my heartbeat. I'm standing in the driveway of the house where I grew up, but I'm about to leave the comfort of the familiar behind and make my way to my father's office, where he summoned me earlier this evening. The halls of my parent's home are dimly lit, but the soft glow is enough to guide me as I walk towards my father's office, wondering what he wants to talk to me about this time. I've been meeting with him regularly lately, and while it's become routine, I can't help but feel a sense of unease every time I step into his office under his domain. You see, I've recently taken on the role of underboss in the family business, preparing to become the next Don of the Italian Mafia. It's a position I never expected to find myself in, having grown up as a half-Italian boy in London, feeling like I only fit in with myself. Looking back, it's clear that everyone was afraid of me and, mo

    Last Updated : 2024-10-04

Latest chapter

  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Four

    Luca"Aria, come to Papa?" I request, sitting opposite Emma on the floor of our new lounge in our new home. I bought a new country estate not long ago, in secret and not in either of our names, of course. Our little family is growing by one more, not to mention all of Rossi's former men, women, and children who have moved with us.Yes. Emma is pregnant again, six or so weeks. A little flickering entity is living deep within her tummy once again. I'm excited to watch her swell with this child, as I was with our princess, and I'm equally happy to find out who fate has blessed us with.Aria is nearly ten months old. She's tall like me. Her previous brown hair has turned into long, curly blonde locks like Emma's, and she has her mother's eyes but strangely looks a hell of a lot like me."Go to Papa, Arri," Emma encourages.Watching intently, I hold my hands out for our little girl, and she shakily takes some steps, holding onto her mother's fingers. I've been away these last few days, bu

  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Three

    Anxiety rolls through me, and I start to wonder if anyone would have followed them. If our impenetrable home will fail us. I started spiralling; I swore I might begin hyperventilating before Luca reentered with his parents.Dimitri and Lucia are dressed down in casual clothes that scream normal people. Luca looks far too overdressed compared to the three of us, but his father appraises him with a grin before holding his hand out."Congratulations, son.""Thank you, Father."Lucia moves away from them and comes to me. She smiles kindly and bends her knee beside me on the sofa."Congratulations, Emma. How are you?" she asks me, her hand coming out to stroke my hair away from my face before she holds my chin much as she has done a few times before."Tired, overwhelmed, wired. That's hard to answer.""Birth does that to you; the drop in hormones is worse than the pregnancy itself. How have you been getting along? Is there anything you need?" She litters me with questions, surprising me. I

  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Two

    EmmaIntroducing Aria to our men—our family was exhausting, but at least we could keep her birth a secret from the outside world with them.Luca and I have been in this quiet, subdued, and fabulous bubble, but just as with everything, Dimitri is not out of the know. The plan was to call him the day after the birth, but we put it off and then again the next day and the one after that. It turns out he made the first move. He called just this morning, six days after her birth, to ask why we were keeping his grandchild away from him and Lucia and if we knew there were protocols in place to pass over the information. The call was scary; I watched the version of Luca, who had been around me for days, turn into the man I came home to over a year ago. Honestly, we didn't call to prevent the rest of the world from knowing. There's this deep-rooted need to protect my little girl; no, that's not right. It's not a need; it's a must. In answer to his question, we knew we would only need to mak

  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Seventy One

    I watch as he grabs Aria's blanket, the little changing bag and a small teddy Anna gifted Aria."Let's get comfortable in the lounge before they come?" He asks, holding a hand out to lead me from the bed.I nod, cradling Aria closer before I stand and let Luca walk us down to the lounge we never use. The sofa isn't as comfortable as the bed; it's cold and far too firm, but I make myself as comfortable as I can while Aria continues to feed. She soon falls asleep, so I move her to lay over my shoulder to burp her. That's when Luca leaves, obviously having word that his parents are here.Anxiety rolls through me, and I start to wonder if anyone would have followed them. If our impenetrable home will fail us. I started spiralling; I swore I might begin hyperventilating before Luca reentered with his parents.Dimitri and Lucia are dressed down in casual clothes that scream normal people. Luca looks far too overdressed compared to the three of us, but his father appraises him with a grin b

  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Seventy

    EmmaIntroducing Aria to our men—our family was exhausting, but at least we could keep her birth a secret from the outside world with them.Luca and I have been in this quiet, subdued, and fabulous bubble, but just as with everything, Dimitri is not out of the know. The plan was to call him the day after the birth, but we put it off and then again the next day and the one after that. It turns out he made the first move. He called just this morning, six days after her birth, to ask why we were keeping his grandchild away from him and Lucia and if we knew there were protocols in place to pass over the information. The call was scary; I watched the version of Luca, who had been around me for days, turn into the man I came home to over a year ago. Honestly, we didn't call to prevent the rest of the world from knowing. There's this deep-rooted need to protect my little girl; no, that's not right. It's not a need; it's a must. In answer to his question, we knew we would only need to mak

  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Nine

    "Take your T-shirt off?" I request with a beaming smile that sends tingles through my veins at the thought of gifting this invaluable gift of life to Luca after so long."O—Kay," he replies with confusion but does it anyway. His shirt goes over his head, and he dumps it with his shoes on the floor. I lay our daughter, who is just as naked as his chest, on him. The doctor raved about skin-to-skin, so surely that extends to her father, too? I gently press her head sideways so she can breathe, and I watch with amusement as Luca holds his hands out as if he thinks he might harm her if he moves. "Here," I smile, moving his hands to cradle her before I cover the pair of them with the blanket around my legs.It's an instant connection for him, his eyes close as he presses his back into the lifted mattress, and he leans down to smell our little girl's head. A sound somewhere between a moan and a groan exits his mouth, and tears fall through his closed eyes."Congratulations, Papa," I whisper

  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Eight

    EmmaAs I look down into my baby's eyes, I forget all the hardship her labour created only moments ago. She has the deepest shade of mahogany brown hair that covers her head and curls by her ears, yet her eyes seem somewhat light—perhaps they'll be a shade of blue like mine or a deep shade of marbled grey.Her looks remarkably resemble both of ours, yet it seems she favours her father more. It's in her straight nose, sharp jawline, and chin that resembles his. I know this might change; in fact, there's a sure certainty that my daughter will evolve rapidly, but right now, I couldn't be happier to meet her, especially to have her resemble her father in such ways. My world re-centres around her, making everything else seem dim in comparison to her. I've never felt love like this. It pulls my insides as something imaginary envelopes the pair of us. It feels like a bubble, one that's missing one person—the very man waiting to meet his daughter properly. "Hello, my darling," I hum quietly

  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Seven

    The petite blonde, blue-eyed, screaming doll had me hooked. She held my finger and soon babbled up at me as if her world had already revolved around me. Christ, I hope our daughter looks like her mother and equally looks up to me like that. What I'm trying to describe is how fate had me fall for her even then when she was a newborn baby, and my love has lasted this long.Emma turns to me, looking up as she has on so many occasions before. She seeks my gaze on the balcony, and I hold hers for a long moment. A smile spreads on her face, and she summons me, taking my breath away.She's forgiven me yet again, not that I deserve her forgiveness after treating her so demeaningly. Holding one finger up, I back away, turning into the bedroom before floating toward her. And then through the house and down the hall. I walk through the open patio doors and down the steps into the garden and stalk towards her fervently. Her hand is outstretched at the very moment I grab her waist, pulling her

  • His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1   Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Six

    Six months later LucaAs I stare at Emma sitting in our garden with her stomach round and protruding, one hand rubbing it absently, I think over the events that led up to this moment.Things haven't always been easy for us, far from.Falling in love with her at such a young age gave my father the weakness he needed to exploit to keep me in check. He had his gun trained on her one too many times with only our knowledge to make me do as he wished. Taking her away from me made me thicken my skin; that was the most suitable decision he ever made and probably will ever make regarding me and my future. Without that singular choice, I don't know if I would ever have become the man everyone fears. The loss of Emma was monumental in creating the drive I lacked beforehand. I suppose I should be thankful to my father; without his input, Emma's and my child's safety would be at risk more than it is.The sun shines down on her as if telling me to watch my beautiful wife as she walks alongside t

Scan code to read on App
DMCA.com Protection Status