LILITH POVI bite on my lower lip over again. Even though I needed to quit this habit, I had never allowed it to ruin my lipstick.But this time, it was for a good reason, I believed. My breath hitched with each passing minute, and I sat at the edge of my seat whenever someone popped into the room.No sign of Theo, James, or even Boaz. So, there was certainly no sign of Giovanni.Where the fuck did they go? James had told me they'd be right back and everything would be fine, which I doubted. This constant pricking at the back of my neck was a reminder that something was awfully wrong and would definitely be wrong in a few minutes.I looked in the direction of Christie and Xanthos. They seemed happy to be with each other. But Xanthos was staring at me. I could see it in his face even as he had tried to be subtle about it.I wondered if Giovanni was in trouble because of me. Only James and Theo seemed to have warmed up to me; I shouldn't expect to see the rest smile at me anytime soon.
LILITH POVMy head... It pounded, like someone had stuffed my skull with cotton and hit it with a hammer for good measure. My mouth felt dry, my throat raw, as if I’d be left in the desert and swallowed sand due to the lack of water.Blinking slowly, I tried to make sense of the blurry surroundings—a softly lit room with pale pink walls and a large, ornate mirror hanging above a dresser. The faint scent of lavender filled the air, mingling with the cool touch of silk sheets beneath me.My stomach churned when I finally sat up, twisting in several knots. I glanced around the room—plush throw pillows piled neatly on a small loveseat by the window, curtains swaying gently as the breeze seeped through a crack in the glass. Everything about the space screamed femininity and comfort, but my body felt the exact opposite—weak and heavy like I was dragging myself back from the edge of oblivion.My eyes moved to the wall, and I saw several paintings, naked men with abs, a beach, and the shark p
LILITH POV"He has always had a great taste." A sultry voice said.I swirled, locking eyes with the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.She was breathtaking, the kind of woman who turned heads without trying. Her dark hair, perfectly styled in soft waves, framed a face that belonged on magazine covers—sharp cheekbones, full lips, and eyes that carried quiet confidence. She wore a sleek, peach dress that hugged her figure in all the right places, a low-cut V-shaped neckline, and exuded sophistication and sensuality. There was an air of ease about her like she owned the space she walked into.Who was she? I couldn't tell. It was my first time seeing her, and I hadn't noticed her amongst the guests in the church.Trust me, I'd know if she had been there because I was barely concentrating on what the officiant had been saying.It wasn't as if the ceremony itself was boring; I didn't see any use in it. It would end anyway.A wedding was never a happy after; instead, it was a means to hur
LILITH POVThe once-celebratory atmosphere shifted abruptly into chaos. Screams echoed through the church as guests scrambled for cover, their footsteps and the clatter of overturned chairs reverberating through the sacred space. The air grew heavy with panic and tension, thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder.I had followed Theo inside the church. This place seemed like a safe spot. We weren't alone. Xanthos, Boaz, and the other four men were with him. I didn't know their name yet, and I didn't care.Giovanni wasn't here, likewise Diamante. I knew he had run in the opposite direction from her, and for my life, I didn't understand why he had done that.He should be with his friends, with me! Yet, he had gone with her. A total gorgeous bitchy stranger. Maybe not a stranger to him.Heaving a breath, I paced to the window, peered out, and paced back to the couch in the room's center."Don't do that," Theo gripped my hand, stopping me as I made my way to the window again."Why?" I asked
LILITH POVChristie and I returned to the living room—all the boys were there, including Diamante.I didn't want to be anywhere near her. I'd rather go back to the room and stare at the ceiling until I dosed off. But I had stepped out of the room in the first place due to hunger.It would make little to no sense to return on an empty stomach.Even if I desired to return, it was already too late as Diamante sighted us."Hey!" she waved, a bright smile on her face.She was acting as if we were friends rather than her, clearly warning me to steer clear of Giovanni. Yet, here she was acting as if she was the queen in his life and house.I grimace, staring at Christie who shrugged.There were about three vacant chairs around the large table. Giovanni wasn't in the room.And I noticed there was a chanel bag placed on the chair that was next to Diamante. She had maybe reserved it for Giovanni. I wasn't interested in sitting next to her anyway.I sat next to Theo while Christie sat next to Xa
LILITH POV"Did I do too much?" Christie slumped her shoulders, her face buried in her hands."Of course not," I shook my head, sitting next to her on the sun lounger.I gripped her hand to uncover her face.Her lips quivered, and she looked like she was about to cry."I know I chose this life. I know all these things would certainly happen; I mean wedding disruption, one of us dying soon..." she trailed off, laughing.Her laughter was tinged with sadness, just the way her eyes were."Hey," I said as I heard her sniffled.Christie shook her head, her shoulder heaving, "I'm sorry," she giggled, wiping at the tears gliding down her cheeks."I know I tried to make everything picture perfect than it really is. But can you blame me? I love Xanthos to death, but I don't want this life; I don't want to watch my back continuously while trying to make sure I don't get hit. I want to live as every normal being lives and not this pathetic wannabe perfection I try to show off..."This wasn't abou
LILITH POV"Morning," I murmured as I passed by Xanthos."Hey," he returned the greeting, nodding.I walked in the direction of the living room. We were still in Giovanni’s penthouse. There had been no attack yet and no news of what to expect next.They should know since they might have experienced this too many times because it didn't look like anything new to them.I was the only one who seemed lost here. Everyone, including Christie, seemed to be taking everything perfectly well.Arriving in the living room at the same time as Theo, he grumbled, "I hate mornings."He looked grumpy as fuck, with his hair sticking all over the place as if he had a fight the night before with a cat. He hunched his shoulders forward while he walked towards the chair in a zombie manner.He was in a black robe and barefoot. When he sat, he crossed his right leg over the left one and patted the chair next to him, "Come sit with me, sweetheart."I complied. There were only two vacant chairs: one near him
LILITH POVI doubted there was an adjective I could use that'd do justice to describe this place. I mean, Theo never told me we were going to heaven when he spoke about us having lots of 'activities'. I know this wasn't heaven per se, but it looked and felt like a mini-heaven, and I didn't want ever to leave it.The soft hum of the boat's engine thrummed beneath my feet as I leaned against the railing. The breeze tugged at my hair and brought with it the faint, briny scent of the sea.I gripped my hair, holding it in place as I looked at the horizon. It stretched endlessly, awash in a fiery shade of gold and crimson, blending into softer streaks of lavender—a breathtaking display that felt almost unreal."Where is this place?" I found myself asking, my voice barely above a whisper. Even as Theo told me not to say anything, he said, 'Watch, feel, and enjoy,' and I couldn't help but agree. However, I was curious.Theo turned, a knowing smile lighting up his face. "This is Santorini at
LILITH POVIt was close to midnight, and Giovanni hadn't returned yet. I was home. When I got home, I met Casey and Christie. I was glad that they were fine.They had all returned from the hospital except my mother. Even though she was still in the intensive care unit, there was an assurance that she wouldn't die overnight. The doctor had said so, and they were monitoring her. If her condition changes, they'll inform us as soon as possible.I was okay with her staying there. At her present condition, I didn't think we'd be able to care for her as much as they'd be able to do so in the hospital.Again, it would be a hassle having her here, and when she had another crisis, we'd need to take her to the hospital again.I looked out the window and saw a light flashing into the room. It was from a car driving in. One of Giovanni’s cars, but not the one he always drove in.I stepped away from the window as the car came to a halt, and Rowland climbed down from it.Snatching my robe from the s
LILITH POVI paced the room. Despite being lovely to look at due to the pastel wall painting and the vast window that allowed light to come into the room, it didn't give me any slight comfort that I needed right now.I believed the room had been specially prepared for me. I'd have thought of how thoughtful they were if the room wasn't a prison to me.No matter how cozy the room looked, it was a prison, and I didn't think I'd be coming out of it anytime soon.I hadn't seen my father in sight, nor Diego. The bastard that brought me to this place had only pushed me into the room before locking the door and walking away.He had even warned me not to attempt jumping out of the window as I'd only break a neck or even die in worse-case scenarios.I walked to the said window, looking down. Instantly, I withdrew my head as a wave of dizziness washed over me.It was higher than I had thought, and he wasn't lying. If I tried to jump, I wouldn't be breaking a neck alone, I'd die from the impact.
GIOVANNI POVI was with the guys, having a drink. We were trying to unwind and hoped for the best.Everyone was on edge. I glanced at Romeo sitting by himself and playing on his phone. He had stopped crying long ago. I wouldn't blame him.If I was his age, I might have that emotion as well. Only if I had my parents and I was as close as he was to them.I never had the privilege to feel this intense emotion because it was seen as a weakness. And I'd never allow myself to be as weak as that.But when it came to Lilith. It seemed like an entirely different thing for me. I had experienced moments of weakness, fear, and even more sensitivity than I had ever experienced in my life.I had tried to distance myself, believing because I was always in her presence, that made it that way.But even in her absence, she still managed everything to be about her.Looking away from Romeo, I caught Casey and Christie's movement. But not Lilith. Both were running towards us.I frowned, looking at both of
LILITH POVMy mother had been taken to the intensive care unit, while we were outside the door pacing, and waiting for the outcome of the doctor's diagnoses.I couldn't understand what was happening. I was still confused. Not only me. But Romeo who was now crying silently while Casey comfortable him, and everyone else.They had the same expression on their faces. I mean my mother had been fine. She was doing fine today and suddenly, she seemed unresponsive and her breath fading.Even though no one would openly admit it, I could tell the end was near for her. I didn't want to believe it too. But it was fucking too soon.I expected her to live months!Or even beat the doctor's words and stay years and even forever. She'd get to see her grandchildren and be the best grandmother ever, but that wouldn't be happening."Where are you going to?"I stopped walking, looking around me. I didn't realise I had left the others and was now very much closer to the main entrance.Giovanni was behind m
LILITH POVOut of all the things I wanted to hear Giovanni say, my father coming back was certainly not it.I stared at him. He wasn't bluffing. He looked absolutely serious. It was weird that he was mentioning my father seeing as I hadn't spoken to him about him. Also, the fact that he knew his name and he mentioned it made it even weirder."How do you know who my father is?" I questioned.Giovanni gripped my hand, pulling me up the remaining step, and towards the room. When we were inside the room, he let go of my hands.I watched as he stepped further inside, tugging his tie, and undoing the top button of his shirt.He rolled up his sleeves, pushing his hand inside his hair before turning to me."I am certain we haven't spoken about my father," I winced at the term father. I didn't want to refer to him as that because he was anything but my father, but at this moment, I had no choice.Since I wanted answers from Giovanni, it was only fitting I used it."There are things you don't k
GIOVANNI POVShe was fine.The thought jumped around in my head over and over again.Since I received Luca's call and went there to take care of business myself, I had been unsettled. Even though Luca had assured me that Rowland had driven her home safely, I didn't want to believe that.But now, seeing her in person, a relieved sigh coursed through me.I stumbled towards her, almost falling to her feet, but she caught me, her arms wrapping around me."What happened to you?" she whispered.I didn't respond to her. I couldn't. I doubted I could find my voice even if I tried to.I hugged her as tight as I could, never wanting to let her go. Inhaling her intoxicating scent, I shut my eyes tightly, opening them as I heard her voice."You have blood all over you, Giovanni. What happened to her?" She tried to move out of my embrace, but I held her back."Don't leave," I choked out.I had never been this emotional. Not even when Diamante left me a day before the wedding. Not even when Diamant
LILITH POVAs soon as I stepped inside the house, I was engulfed in a hug. It wasn't Giovanni as I had thought.Rather, it was the two people I had thought were still in the spa. The two people I was afraid for.As soon as they released me, my eyes widened, and I pulled them into an embrace of my own."You're safe!" I whispered again, holding them as tight as I could, as if they'd disappear if I let go.Casey laughed, "Of course we are."I pulled away, looking at both of them. They seemed fine and barely had any scratches on them. I was confused, but I was also curious to know how they had come out of the spa unscathed.Also, why didn't they bother to come looking for me?"What happened? I tried to make Rowland go back for the two of you and he assured me that you both would be fine. Perhaps I shouldn't have bothered!"I scowled at the smile still present on Casey's face. She was enjoying this. I had almost died because of them. I couldn't imagine what would have happened if I had bee
LILITH POVWe had barely reached the escape exit when I remembered I had forgotten something.The girls!I halted abruptly, my eyes widening as I looked around me. I tried to find Christie and Casey. But it was impossible to see anything due to the crowds and everyone running here and there to save themselves."We need to leave here!" Luca urged, tugging me.I resisted.Turning to stare at him."I need to find Casey and Christie!" I yelled."They'll be fine. We need to save you first," Luca said.I glared at him, tugging my hand from his. "Really? You want me to leave my best friends to some murderers?""I am sure you're ready to answer Xanthos when he knows you purposely left her, " even to Theo.Although Theo wouldn't admit to wanting Casey, and she, too, had denied it several times, I knew there was something going on between them."Or the murderers could be here for you and you'd get hurt because you wish to look for your friends who might have saved themselves. Then, I won't have
LILITH'S POV"Really?" I murmured, scowling as I saw Luca.He must have followed me here on Giovanni's order. But I thought Giovanni didn't care. How the hell did he know I was leaving the house, seeing as he had been avoiding me and we hadn't seen each other all morning?Perhaps he was watching from his window."So convenient of him," I rolled my eyes. He could watch me and despatched his bodyguard to watch me, but he couldn't even bring himself to speak to me."That's Luca," Casey pointed to where Luca was standing at the entrance.He wasn't even making his presence discreet. At least, someone else would have hidden from sight and maybe watched from a distance. Someone like Rowland.But he was doing the opposite."Did you mention you're coming here to your husband?" Christie asked me. "I thought both of you weren't on good terms."I shrugged, then stared at Christie. She shrugged as well. How would she know Giovanni and I weren't on good terms? She was really observant.She must hav