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Huling Na-update:
2025-02-17 23:38:56
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I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 024
~Hayden's POV~The silence in the room felt suffocating. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing through the events of the last day. I held my phone in my hand tightly. In it were several messages from Max. Several ones that I hadn’t replied to much less glanced at for more than five seconds.‘Hey good morning beautiful. How do you find the day? Tell me you’re not busy.’‘Hayden you must be busy. But let me know when you’re free. I can meet up with you in front of the hotel. Can’t wait to spend more time chatting with you. M.’‘Hayden you haven’t replied to any of my messages. It’s worrying. Nothing’s wrong right? Did I do anything wrong?’‘Hayden even if we don’t hang out please answer my questions. What did I do wrong?’The last one had hit me like a gut punch as it came in an hour ago. I had been too afraid to stay outside for long and had returned to the suite shortly after a walk down the hallways. If Max somehow caught me I didn’t want Vincenzo to know of it. Alrea
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-18I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 025
~Vincenzo’s POV~I got dressed with purpose. The clock read 4am by the time I had given up ideas of rest. My mind moved a mile a minute and the thought that we still hadn’t caught Dumas lingered in the back of my mind.Therefore I had left the bed and had a scalding hot shower to ease my muscles. Stepping out of the shower my eyes caught on the reflection in the foggy bathroom mirror. A scratch mark on my shoulder that went all the way down to my upper arm. Turning around, I glanced at the reflection of my back at the mirror and couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of fingernail scratches painting my back with thin red lines.It didn’t hurt; were it not for the bathroom mirror I wouldn’t have noticed at all.But Hayden was simply a delight. I got dressed quickly, tugging on a clean pair of pants and shirt. I put on my boots and was about to grab my coat when I heard Hayden stir.“Where are you going?” Hayden softly murmured as though he were still asleep. I turned to glance back at
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-19I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 026
~Hayden's POV~The light from the bedside lamp filtered through the decorative lampshade, casting beautiful swirly shadows across the room. I blinked, slowly waking from a restless nap.Vincenzo had returned hours ago but his thunderous expression was enough to warn me not to go near. While he had his meetings I sequestered myself in the suite’s room and busied myself with doing anything but going out to find him there.The atmosphere was palpable, even when he wasn’t here, and the tension that hung in the air afterward was almost suffocating.Casting a glance to the click that blinked on the bedside table I was surprised to find that the time was already past midnight. 12.17am. That was what the glowing numbers read.No wonder I felt absolutely famished, i idly thoughtThings must not have gone well for Vincenzo wherever he had gone to today. I had some idea that he and his men were after someone specific but hadn’t been able to find him.However the lack of information I could get w
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-20I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 027
~Hayden's POV~I swallowed hard. Being involved in the operation felt natural in some ways, but there was also a knot in my stomach. The intimacy between Vincenzo and me hadn’t made things easy. His possessiveness and constant watchfulness were wearing me down. It was hard to focus when I knew that he was always watching, always controlling the situation, always keeping me in his grasp."Understood Mas– Don," I said. "When do we leave?"Vincenzo raised a brow at my words. A faint feeling of embarrassment filled me and I looked away and glanced at Faye."Now.,” Faye replied to me. She blinked slowly and I could see questions in her mind regarding me. “The auction begins in two hours. We’ll head out early to scope the place and make sure there’s no ambush this time. We’ll need to be fast too."I wasn’t sure what to expect when we left. Vincenzo only gave orders for Faye and I to keep our comms open and always stay alert. I could see the warning in his eyes as I left, walking beside Faye
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-20I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 028
~Vincenzo's POV~The sharp buzz of my phone shattered the silence of the room. I didn’t need to look at the screen to know it was Fate. Her voice, urgent and clipped, confirmed my suspicion."Don Vincenzo, we have a problem," she said. Her words were rapid, rushed, almost breathless. "Dumas set us up. We were ambushed."Every muscle in my body tensed at her words. Dumas had outsmarted us. The bastard had known we were coming."Where are you? What happened?" I demanded, my voice low and tight with tension.“We’re fine, but we’re being followed. We need to get out of here. They knew we were coming, how are they doing it?” Faye’s voice was strained, yet I could still hear the calm beneath it—she was one of the few who never let panic seep into her tone.I slammed the phone down on my desk, my mind already calculating the risks. I didn’t waste another second as I bolted for the door. Fury was etched into every fiber of my being and I had to clench my hands into fists to stop them from tre
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-20I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 029
~Hayden’s POV~I wondered what had gotten into Vincenzo today as I pulled the shirt off my body. I had just had a shower and now was trying to decide what would be a fitting piece of clothing to wear going out with the De Luca Capo.Not that I was trying to impress him, I thought with a mild grumble as I reached for the royal blue button down. It was rather that Vincenzo would likely disapprove if I embarrassed him because of how I looked. I glanced at my reflection and decided that the shirt would do.I was on a mission you see. It was a mission that required a delicate touch. Something I hadn’t been doing before. Now that Vincenzo had given me a chance to work alongside his men I wouldn’t waste that opportunity. But I had to make sure to keep him as happy as possible so that opportunity wouldn’t slip from my hands. The sound of my phone vibrating caught my attention and I picked it up curiously. I’d never received a call from this phone which Vincenzo had given to me.I doubted an
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-21I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 030
~Vincenzo’s POV~I was silent through the drive back to the hotel. Hayden looked like a deer in headlights when I had informed him we would be leaving Paris. But I didn’t care. What feeling burned through me with a searing heat was FURY.I left Hayden in the car as we reached the hotel and stormed up to the front doors. My quick strides and glare prevented anyone who saw me coming from standing in my way. As soon as the elevator opened other guests of the hotel parted like the Red Sea not going into it after I had situated myself in it.I felt like punching someone. Blood rushed through my ears and pumped in my veins so loudly that it over took every sane thought I had.Who had it been? Had it been Nadia? Bernito?One of my own people?A smaller sane part of my mind knew that this was inevitable.But it didn’t change things.Swiftly I began the task of packing. It was the only action I could undertake without strangling someone.“Master.”Hayden’s soft voice stopped me and I turned sl
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-22I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 031
~Hayden’s POV~ My body ACHED. Everything that Vincenzo had done to me last night lingered in the back of my mind like a dark nightmare that was difficult to wake up from. Why had I not fought him? I decided not to think too much about that either and turned on the tap to wash my face. The water was warm and comfortable. By the time I finished washing my face however, the door suddenly opened and startled me from my meditative state. “Hayden.” My lips fell open as I stared at Vincenzo’s reflection through the bathroom mirror. He had come after me. Why? I had little space for my own thoughts and agency in Vincenzo’s world. But even with him owning me, I knew that he definitely saw other men and women. And I was aware of every excruciating second that the flight attendant spent flirting with him. Call it jealousy or frustration. But I had left to give them both some space. So what on earth did this mean? The bathroom was barely big enough for one person, yet somehow, wit
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-22
Pinakabagong kabanata
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 120
Hayden’s POVThe room felt still, like the walls were holding their breath. I stood in the middle of my father’s study, the photograph of my parents still on the desk, the weight of everything pressing down on me. The scent of old leather and wood lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a memory I never got to make.I stared at the ring on my finger, the Romano crest catching the soft glow of the lamp, and tried to convince myself this was real. That this was mine now. That I belonged here.But then I heard the door creak open behind me.I didn’t need to turn. I felt it. His presence filled the room like smoke. Cold and familiar.“Hayden.”His voice was low, a little rougher than usual. I turned slowly to see Vincenzo standing there in the doorway, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat, his eyes locked on me like he’d been watching from the shadows for hours.“You found it,” he said, stepping inside. “T
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 119
Hayden’s POV Two Weeks Ago The rain poured down, thick and relentless, soaking Me to the bone as he walked through the dark, buzzing streets of Miami. My shoes splashed through puddles, the cold biting at my skin, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. My mind was a whirl of disbelief and horror while my heart dragged against the weight of what I had just found out from Antonio, that he wasn't my true father. My real parents were murdered by my uncle. He killed them. He killed my parents. My heart still throbbed from the pain, the weight of the truth heavy on my shoulders. There were so many questions. I stopped walking for a moment, standing still under the flickering streetlight. The rain had only grown worse, but it wasn’t the cold that froze me now. It was the truth. A car’s headlights blinked in the distance, cutting through the rain,
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 118
Hayden’s POVThe metallic scent of blood clung to the air like smoke after a fire. My hands were shaking, warm and stained red. The gun—still clutched tight between my fingers—felt heavier than ever. I didn’t hear anything at first. Not the rain outside, not the murmurs around me. Just silence, broken only by the echo of that final gunshot still ringing in my ears. Antonio’s body was sprawled on the cold marble floor behind me, lifeless. A smear of crimson trailed beneath his head, pooling slowly. I turned around and looked at him one last time. His mouth was slightly open, eyes blank, still wearing the same smug expression I’d hated since I was a boy. Only now it was frozen in death. I stepped forward. My boots left red prints on the floor. A few of Antonio’s guards stood at the base of the stairs, frozen, unsure of what to do. Their rifles lowered. They looked at me—not with hatred, not with vengeance—but something closer to… respect.
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 117
Hayden’s POVThe sound of the door slamming behind Antonio echoed in my ears. I was alone now. My hands were bound, but the ropes didn’t feel tight enough to keep me from escaping. I could feel the anger building up inside me. He thought he had me cornered. But he didn’t know me like Vincenzo did.The minutes dragged by, but I knew I had to act. I wasn’t going to wait for him to come back. I wasn’t going to wait to die. I was going to make my move.My heart was pounding in my chest as I struggled against the ropes. It took everything I had to break free. My wrists were raw, but I managed to loosen the knots just enough to slip my hands out. I looked around the room for something I could use. There, just behind the door, lay one of the guards. The gun was close. Too close.With a swift movement, I grabbed it, holding the cold metal in my hand. The feeling of power was fleeting but satisfying. I could feel my pulse quicken as I stood and crept
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 116
Hayden’s POVThese two idiots. They really thought they could double-cross Vincenzo. As if they’d ever stand a chance. And now? Now he was coming for them, and they knew it.Antonio’s face went pale as he slammed a trembling hand on the table. “How is that even possible?” His voice cracked halfway through the question.“It—it must’ve been deactivated,” Jason stammered, eyes darting back and forth. “They must have a hacker on their side. The men we sent to infiltrate the safehouse where Vincenzo was hiding… they’re all dead.”He didn’t even say it like a report. More like a confession. His voice was hollow, full of horror. He sounded like he’d seen the devil himself.I laughed under my breath, but it came out dry and bitter. These fools had no clue what kind of monster they poked.“Jason, you son of a bitch!” Antonio roared, charging at him. He slapped him so hard, Jason was thrown to the floor, crashing into a chair on the way do
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 115
Antonio's POVAh, the sweet smell of victory. I'd finally done it. I’d cornered Vincenzo De Luca, made him vulnerable, and now, Hayden was the key to everything. His pain, his suffering, everything had led to this. I could almost taste the power I was about to take.I turned back to look at him, hanging by chains from the ceiling, his body swaying slightly, exhausted and drained. A pathetic sight. I couldn't help but chuckle."Oof, are you falling asleep, Hayden? Don't pass out just yet. I still need you," I said, walking up to him, slapping his cheek lightly, just enough to make him stir. Hayden’s head rolled back slightly as his eyes fluttered open, his voice thick and slurred. "Screw you, Antonio," he muttered, like he was half-drunk, the words slurring together.I raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. "That's no way to talk to your father, now is it?" I clucked my tongue, shaking my head. "I thought I raised you better than that." I stepped forward, smirking. Hayden’s eyes narrow
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 114
Vincenzo's POV"Can someone trace that call now?" I shouted, my voice echoing through the underground facility."Yes, boss. Right away," one of the techs responded, already typing furiously on his keyboard.I paced back and forth, the concrete floor beneath my feet doing little to ground the storm brewing inside me. Antonio had made his move sooner than expected, and now Hayden was missing. I had anticipated betrayal, but not this swiftly. The fact that Hayden was being held in an undisclosed location only added fuel to the fire."Check every security footage, every street camera. I want to know when and where Hayden was taken," I ordered, my tone leaving no room for argument."Understood, sir," another team member replied, already pulling up feeds from various cameras around the city.It had been a few hours since I learned about the hit on Hayden. We found what was left of my men—loyal soldiers, now lifeless bodies strewn across the streets. Antonio would pay dearly for this."Any
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 113
Antonio Romano's POV“Goddamn it, Marcus!” I roared, my voice bouncing off the walls as the glass in my hand smashed against the far side of the room. Pieces scattered across the floor, but I didn’t care.Marcus flinched. He had the nerve to stand there like he didn't do everything that caused this goddamn mess.“What the hell were you thinking?” I stepped toward him, jabbing a finger in his direction. “You dimwitted son of a bitch. My instructions were clear—crystal fucking clear. You were supposed to stay away from this operation. Away!”“I—I thought—” he began, trying to find the words, but I cut him off.“You thought?” I shouted. “You thought? Since when do you get paid to think, Marcus? Huh?”“I was just trying to help. I thought maybe—”“I don’t give a shit what you thought!” I snapped. “You don’t get to help. Not when it risks the entire plan I’ve worked on for months.”I turned sharply to Jason, who stood stiff by the door, clearly trying not to make eye contact. “And you, Jas
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 112
Hayden's POVMy heart was thumping, and adrenaline flooded my veins, turning my body into a well-oiled machine of pure alertness. This wasn’t supposed to be how things went. I wasn’t planning on just sitting around and being dragged off. I wasn’t dead yet, and as long as I had breath in my lungs, there was a chance to get out of this.These guys were after me. Alive. That meant I had an advantage.I wasn’t stupid enough to think that they wouldn’t kill me if they needed to. But for now, the orders were clear. Bring me in alive. And if I could outsmart them, I could turn that advantage to my side.I acted fast.Without warning, I ducked low, throwing my free arm across, knocking the gun from his hand. It slid across the floor, skidding out of reach, but I didn’t stop there. I struck hard, punching him in the side as I spun my body and pushed him back. With the momentum, I used my elbow to drive into his chest, knocking him off balance. His grip on me loosened.For a moment, I was in c
