CHAPTER THREE
The night wind whips past me, spreading my hair around. The feeling of the wind calms me as I walk home with my heels in hand. I left the club in such a hurry that anyone who saw me would think I was crazy. I didn't want him to come out of the shower, and come find me. Who am I kidding? I'm just a whore, why would he even bother to look for me? After all, he already got what he wanted. You do know he paid for a night, not for one round. My subconscious snark. I shut down that thought as a guilt bubble inside me, he did pay for a night. He wouldn't have paid fifteen grand just for me to run out. My legs tingle, I can still feel his cock buried inside me. The way it felt, his lips on my skin as he ran his fingers down my body— What the hell? Stop thinking about it, stop thinking about him. That was the best sex of my entire life, and it was from a hookup. I hate it, hate how I feel so dirty. I am not supposed to like the sex the way I did, it was just a one night stand or in my case a one time thing. I am not supposed to want more, but I do. I want to run back to the club, strip naked and let him fuck me senseless. But I can't, I won't. It was a one time thing, and it's over. Now I search for a job, and leave this life behind. I try to force the thoughts of the blue eyed man behind my head. But it's impossible as I climb the stairs in this god forsaken apartment every step brings a dull ache that reminds me of the blue-eyed man. Damnit. Huffing loudly, I successfully climb the last steps rushing to my room. I immediately plop down on my bed as I already showered at the club. Grabbing my laptop, I click on my linked in account as I surf through the app in search of a job. My hands scroll repeatedly, applying for any, and all jobs I could get my hands on. A notification pops up on my laptop, I click on it to reveal I have a job match. LG TECH is in need of a secretary. Perfect. I quickly apply for the job, crossing my fingers in hopes of it working out. When I have successfully surfed enough, and applied to about twenty jobs. I lay on my bed, and forced myself not to think about him. The man who gave me my first orgasm, the man whose fingers are like magic, the man whose mark is forever etched on my skin…. Stop thinking about him. I will myself to finally shut my eyes, and fall into a disturbed sleep. “Stop being so difficult, and let us have our way.” he grunts, his first meeting my face in a sharp punch. My head rears back as I tumble to the floor. “DADDDD!!! HELP ME PLEASE!!!!” I scream out loud. The other guy lunges at me, his fisting pounding into my side. “Shut the fuck up bitch!!! He won’t save you.” another one behind growls. Those green eyes stare at me intently, a wicked grin spreading across his lips. “You will regret the day you came into my life.” he laughs, his fingers going towards the switch. No, no, no, not the lights. I try to scream but before I can he flicks the switch plunging us into darkness. A moment of silence then different arms grab me, pressing, hitting. “AHHHH!!!!” I scream awake, sweat trickles down my forehead as I pant. My vision blurs from the tears forming in my eyes, I take short gasps pressing my palm to my chest in a miserable aim to alleviate the pain. It’s okay. It’s in the past, he can’t find you. He is gone. A sound of pain tears out of my lips as tears stream down my eyes. Why can’t I just forget it all? My palm forms into a fist as I plunge it to my chest repeatedly. The physical pain is nothing compared to what I feel wrecking my insides apart. I fold my legs up, curling into a ball as I cry for the miserable person I am, for the demons that haunt my dreams. * Once I was feeling better I got dressed, and headed to the club for my money. He probably slashed my money in half as I ran before time. What was I thinking? Urgh, that was so unprofessional of me. So what if he didn’t kiss me? So what if I feel like trash because he didn’t see me as someone worth kissing. If I remember correctly I am a whore. And so what if I felt like my heart would rip to pieces if he saw me as a whore. I would probably never see him again so what does it matter? “If it isn’t a famous whore.” a familiar voice stops me as soon as I am outside the club. I turn around to stare at the only person who derives fun in taunting me. “Hello Hale, how are you?” I force out the words. Dressed in his usual joggers, and hoodie is none other than Hale Parker, my one, and only ex. We dated for almost two years until he found out I was a stripper. Since then he derives joy in dragging me down. He never even asked me why I did the job, just assumed the worst. I didn’t give a rat's shit if he was fine or not, but in order to get away from him is to act like a saint when he sees me as a whore. “Pft. Like a whore like you could even care. All you care about is getting your pussy fucked like a slut that you are.” he barks at me. The words stings so bad, ripping my insides out. But I would die before showing that his words hurt. I look down at my phone, eight am sharp, “Isn't it too early for this?” I ask, a smile finding its way to my lips. I didn’t feel like smiling, I felt like ripping him to shreds with my words. I felt like crying my eyes out that a man I once loved could treat me like this. I felt like screaming at the universe for casting a curse of bad luck on me, because no matter what I did I never found happiness. “You are so disgusting, your face alone repulses me.” he snaps, turning around and walks off. I took a deep breath, forcing a smile out of my lips as I marched towards the club entrance. This is me, my life. No matter what happens I always smile, my tears are for no one to see. * Turns out he was generous enough to actually pay the whole money as he promised. Madame gave a signal nod as she handed me my money. I smiled happily for the first time in a while as I bounced out of the club. I collapse in my bed, a smile still present on my lips as I recount the dozens of things I got to do. I restocked my drugs, paid my rent, sorted my other bills, bought groceries, and still had enough to last for a while. The blaring of my phone attracts my attention, stretching over. I grab it up. An unknown number. It can’t be him. It isn’t him. Chills ran down my spine as I scrambled away from my phone, his voice ringing in my head. “When I want you, I will find you. Because you are mine.” No, it can't be.CHAPTER FOUR The sound stops then starts all over again. It can’t be him. I applied for jobs so it's probably one of those. And I was right this time. It was the LG Tech company calling me in for an interview. “Ohhh!!!!!” I scream after dropping the call. I have an interview on Monday. Ohhhhhhh!!!! My feet move to the edge of the bed as I fly out of my bed in happiness. There isn't enough room, so I moved my legs on top of my bed as I jumped in excitement. Whoooo!!! *My eyes snaps open, my lips splitting into a wide smile as I giggle in excitement Without missing a beat my body moves up into a sitting position as I slide around my room in joy. “I got an interview ohhhh, amma got a job ohhh. No need to fret any more because finally something good is happening.” I sing out loud, moving my body around as a teardrop down my cheeks. I move about once more sliding to my bathroom to shower. Standing under the shower, the droplet of water glides around my body as my tears disapp
CHAPTER FIVE Aww fuck!! Why does it have to be him? They say the third time is never a coincidence. Staring at me with deadly eyes is none other than the blue eyed man that I had sex with last week, the same man I ran away from that same night and the same fucking man I smashed his car today. Is the universe against me or something? “What are you doing here? Don't tell me you are the interviewer?” I ask, my eyes widen the size of a frying pan if not more. I know I am exaggerating but still. He leans back in his seat, a smirk curving in his lips as he drops an even bigger bomb, “I am not just the interviewer, I am the CEO of Leonardo Geal Technology.”Ahh fuck, how I am even sure he is the CEO? “Say my name, Leonardo”His words from that night come back to haunt me. My eyes widen as I remember his name, Leonardo. I stare at the golden pate tag on the table, it has Leonardo Geal written boldly on it. There is no way he is going to hire me after running away from him that night
Chapter 6LEONARDOI am a man who believes in a few words. I don't have the energy to say more than ten words, and still be interested in the conversation.Unless it's about business. I can't hold a single conservation without wanting to slam my head into a wall. Yes, I am that anti-social. Yet here I am, provoking her to speak so the interview can last a little longer. What happened to me? I have no idea, but I like our conversation a lot so I keep it going. I could see all of her expressions, every curve and dip of that luscious soft body. The same body I ravished, but not fully before she fled. Remembering how I felt when I walked into an empty room. My jaw tightens as I glare at her, she owes me. Just one taste of her wrapped around my cock, the feel of her lips like it was made just for me. Her soft skin, she is so fragile I could break her with the snap of my fingers. So innocent, but she really isn't else she won't be working as a whore.Despite that knowledge I want t
Chapter 7OLIVIA'S povI stare at the man seated across from me. His words, so sharp, linger in the space between us, daring me to challenge him. But how can I? Leonardo exudes a confidence that borders on arrogance, and it leaves me flustered in ways I don't want to admit.Especially when he looks at me like that."What do you mean I owe you a night?" I snap, my voice sharper than intended, but it's the only way I know to mask the sudden warmth spreading across my cheeks.He leans back in his chair, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "Exactly what I said." His lips curl into a smirk that makes my stomach tighten and my temper flare simultaneously.I press my palms against the desk to steady myself. "I don't recall agreeing to anything.""Oh, but you did," he counters smoothly, tapping his temple with a long finger as though reminding me of a debt I'd forgotten. "You walked out on me that night, Olivia. I'm simply collecting what's owed."The memory of that night burns at the for
Chapter 8OLIVIAWorking in Leonardo's office was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it was a step up from the life I was trying to leave behind, and a curse because he was always there. Watching. Talking. Testing me with every word that fell from his perfectly sculpted lips."You type like you're afraid the keyboard might explode," he said, his voice breaking the silence yet again.I looked up from my screen, my fingers pausing mid-stroke. "Excuse me?""Your fingers barely graze the keys," he continued, leaning back in his chair with an infuriating smirk. "Are you afraid of breaking something?""Some of us prefer precision over aggression," I shot back, my tone as cool as I could manage.He chuckled, the sound low and rumbling. "Precision has its merits. But sometimes, Olivia, a little force gets the job done faster."I tried not to let his words affect me, but my cheeks betrayed me, heating under his gaze. "I'll keep that in mind," I muttered, returning to my work.Mi
OLIVIA"Be ready by 9." his text threw me off. Ready for what? I wondered, my doorbell rang and I went to check it out. "Who's there" "You have a package ma'am" A delivery man stood there with a box wrapped in a pink ribbon when I opened the door. He gave me the box and asked me to sign which I did, then he left. I took a peek inside the box and saw a gorgeous black dress and pieces of jewelry. My eyes went to the note there, 'A Business Party, Dress to impress 'The sleek black car pulled to a stop in front of the hotel, a glittering venue. People in dazzling gowns and sharp suits milled around, their laughter and conversation blending with the flash of cameras. I stared out the window, already feeling out of place."Don't just sit there, Olivia," Leonardo said, his voice as smooth and commanding as ever. "We're already late."He didn't wait for my reply, stepping out of the car with the grace of a man who owned every room he walked into. I fumbled with my clutch, trying to compo
Chapter 10OLIVIA'S Pov I couldn't stop thinking about the dance.The way Leonardo's hands had felt on my waist, the way his eyes had burned into mine, it was maddening. Even now, as I trailed behind him through the crowded ballroom, I felt like I was walking in a daze."You're unusually quiet," he said, glancing over his shoulder."I'm fine," I lied, plastering on a smile."Fine?" He stopped suddenly, turning to face me. His voice was low, his eyes sharp. "That's never true when a woman says it.""I'm serious, Leonardo," I insisted, forcing myself to hold his gaze.His lips quirked up in amusement. "If you say so."He didn't push further, but the intensity in his eyes lingered as he led us toward another group of important people. I fell into step beside him, tuning out the introductions and polite small talk. My focus was on keeping my composure, even as my thoughts swirled with confusion.Why had that dance affected me so much? And why did I feel like Leonardo knew exactly what he
LEONARDOBy the time I pulled into the driveway, I was already exhausted. My mind drifted to Olivia earlier when I dropped her off. My mind went to her lips, they were plumping out as if they were begging me to claim them. Not to mention Olivia had been my only distraction today in the rooms filled with boring talks on how to get rich, though not in the way I'd hoped. She was captivating, her every movement pulling me in, but she was also infuriatingly aloof. The distance she kept between us had gnawed at my nerves all night.I killed the engine and stepped out of the car, my hand going to my tie to loosen it. That's when I saw her.Alicia Hayes.She stood at my door like a vulture circling its prey, her arms crossed and her expression sharp enough to cut glass."Leonardo," she called, her voice dripping with a mixture of disdain and desperation."What are you doing here?" I asked, my tone cold as I walked toward the door. Why can't women understand the fact that a man does not w
Chapter 159: Growing TogetherOlivia's POV"Mommy! Can I go play outside?" Lily's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.I turned to find her standing by the back door, already in her sneakers, her backpack slung over her shoulder as though she was ready for an adventure."Did you finish your chores first?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.Lily made a face but nodded. "Yes, Mommy. I made my bed, and I put away my books."I smiled. "Alright, go ahead. But make sure to stay close, okay?"She grinned and ran outside, her blonde hair streaming behind her. Ethan, who had been playing with his toy cars on the floor, looked up at me."Mommy, can I go outside too?"I knelt down to his level, brushing a stray curl from his face. "After breakfast, sweetie."He pouted but nodded, his little lips pulling into a tight line as he held up his toy truck.I went back to the kitchen, turning off the stove and preparing to set the table. Just as I placed the last plate down, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap
Chapter 158: A Life of LoveOlivia’s POVThe afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting soft golden hues over the yard. I stood by the kitchen sink, watching through the window as Leonardo played outside with our daughter. Their laughter echoed in the crisp air, blending with the rustling of leaves.She sat perched on his shoulders, her tiny hands gripping his hair as he ran in circles, pretending to be a horse.“Faster, Daddy!” she squealed.Leonardo groaned dramatically. “Princess, Daddy is getting old.”She giggled, tapping his head. “No, you’re not! You’re strong like a superhero!”I smiled, my heart swelling.This was our life now. Simple, filled with love.No more running. No more looking over our shoulders. Just us.I wiped my hands on a towel and made my way outside. The air was crisp, the scent of pine and fresh grass wrapping around me.Leonardo spotted me first. A slow grin spread across his lips. “Look who finally decided to join us.”Our daughter gasped. “Mommy,
Chapter 157: A Love That LastsOlivia’s POVThe sound of soft laughter echoed through the cabin as I stepped into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from my eyes. The morning sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow over the wooden floors. The air smelled of fresh coffee and something sweet—pancakes, maybe.I followed the scent, my heart warming at the sight before me.Leonardo stood at the stove, shirtless, wearing only loose pajama pants. His dark hair was still tousled from sleep, and the muscles in his back flexed as he flipped a pancake with effortless ease. But what made me smile the most was the little girl sitting on the counter beside him, her tiny hands clapping together as she watched her father cook."Again, Daddy!" she giggled.Leonardo grinned and spun the spatula between his fingers before tossing the pancake into the air. It flipped twice before landing perfectly back in the pan."Like that, princess?" he asked.She nodded enthusiastically, her brown cur
Chapter 156: EpilogueOlivia’s POVThe mountain air was crisp as I stood on the wooden balcony, gazing at the endless stretch of pine trees below. The sun had just dipped behind the peaks, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The wind whispered through the branches, carrying with it the clean scent of rain and earth.It was quiet here. Peaceful.Safe.For the first time in months, I could breathe without fear coiling around my throat. The Russo family was gone. Matteo Russo was dead. The house, the network, the legacy—destroyed. Harris had confirmed it with photos and reports. There was no one left to hunt us. No shadows lurking behind cameras. No footsteps echoing in the night.Leonardo stepped onto the balcony beside me, two mugs of coffee in hand. He handed me one, then wrapped his free arm around my waist, pulling me into his warmth."Thinking again?" he asked softly.I leaned against him, feeling his steady heartbeat through his sweater. "Always."He kissed the top
Final Chapter(155)Leonardo’s POVThe sharp sound of footsteps echoed through the stairwell as Olivia and I sprinted toward the exit. Smoke burned my throat, and every muscle in my body screamed for rest, but we couldn’t stop. Not now. Not with Matteo Russo closing in.We reached the ground floor and burst through the emergency exit into the alley. The cold night air hit me like a slap. I scanned the shadows for movement, gun raised. Olivia stood beside me, her eyes wide and wild.The phone in my pocket buzzed again.Another message.“You can’t run forever.”I gritted my teeth and shoved the phone back into my jacket. "He’s playing with us," I muttered.Olivia’s voice shook. "He’s just a kid, Leonardo.""No," I said, scanning the rooftops. "He stopped being a kid the moment Victor put a gun in his hand."She hugged herself, shivering. I placed a hand on her arm, grounding her. "We end this tonight.""How?" she asked.I didn’t have an answer.The phone buzzed again.I hesitated, then
Chapter 154Olivia’s POVThe smell of smoke lingered in the air as I stood beside Leonardo, staring at the burning ruins of the Russo compound. The flames crackled, devouring the walls, the floors—everything Matteo Russo had built to continue his father’s legacy.But the weight in my chest wouldn’t lift. The fire might’ve destroyed the compound, but the memories remained. The sight of Matteo’s small body hitting the floor haunted me. His lifeless eyes. The blood spreading across his shirt.He’d been just a boy. A boy raised to hate, to kill, to continue the twisted family tradition. And Leonardo had been forced to pull the trigger."Olivia," Leonardo said softly, his voice pulling me from my thoughts.I blinked, realizing I’d been clutching my arms so tightly that my nails had dug into my skin. I loosened my grip. "Yeah?""We need to go. The police will be here soon."I gave a shaky nod.Leonardo took my hand, guiding me toward the car parked beyond the tree line. The headlights wer
Chapter 153:Leonardo’s POVThe photograph of the baby lay on the table, the words "Blood runs deep" scrawled across the back in thick red ink. Olivia sat beside me, her eyes locked on the image as though it might come to life. My own thoughts churned like a storm, each one darker than the last.Victor Russo had a son. An heir. A child born into a legacy of violence and manipulation."We didn’t know," Olivia whispered, voice trembling. "We thought we ended the family."I ran a hand down my face, exhaustion pressing against my skull. "Victor always had contingency plans. We underestimated him.""But how?" she asked. "We dug into every aspect of his life. There was nothing about a kid.""Because he wanted it that way." I stood and paced the length of the living room. "Victor was always obsessed with bloodlines. Family. Legacy. Of course, he’d hide a child until he was ready to use him."Olivia rubbed her arms. "He looked so...calm. That boy at the door. Like he wasn’t scared at all.""
Chapter 152: LEONARDO!Leonardo's pov.The timer stopped at 00:59.Olivia dropped the knife and collapsed against me, sobbing. I held her tightly.Harris groaned. "Did...we win?"I glanced at Victor’s body. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling."Yeah," I said. "We won."Harris’s team arrived within minutes. They removed the bomb and secured the mansion. Harris, bruised but breathing, sat on the porch while medics checked his vitals.Olivia and I stood nearby, watching the sunrise paint the sky in soft oranges and pinks."It’s really over," she whispered.I wrapped my arm around her. "This time, it is."She leaned into me. "No more running?""No more running," I promised.The Russo family was gone.And we were finally free.Olivia’s POVThe morning sunlight crept across the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over the Gael estate. The warmth should have brought comfort, a sense of peace after the nightmare we’d survived. But as I stood on the porch beside Leonardo, the weight of what
Chapter 151:Leonardo’s POVThe headlights sliced through the dark as I sped away from the cemetery, my knuckles white against the steering wheel. Olivia sat beside me, silent, her body rigid with fear. The message on my phone echoed in my mind:“The devil doesn’t die.”Victor Russo was alive. Or someone who looked and sounded exactly like him.I didn’t believe in ghosts. But I knew the Russos were capable of almost anything. Victor had faked his death once already. Why not twice?"Leonardo," Olivia said softly.I glanced at her, her face pale in the dim light. "Yeah?""How...how is this possible?" Her voice cracked. "We saw his body. We saw the coroner’s report."I didn’t have an answer. I’d held Victor’s cold wrist to check for a pulse that day. I’d seen the bullet hole in his forehead. But tonight...I’d seen him standing beneath the trees, breathing, smiling."We’re missing something," I said finally. "Something big."She hugged herself. "What if it really was him?"I gritted my t