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 POV"Where the fuck is Raven? It's almost midnight, and she's yet to be here?!""I never said she could come here to walk around.""And why the hell is she with Theo? What's this stupid picture about?"Christie gave the best impression of Giovanni she could while pacing around the room with her face scrunched up.When she was done speaking, she burst out into a peal of laughter. "You should see his face, Raven. He looked pissed as fuck.""It's just a picture. Why should he be mad? Besides, he's not my father and has no right to want to impose a curfew on me."I stared at Christie's phone again. All the pictures that Theo had taken of me, including our dancing, were on his Instagram page.I never knew he was the kind of person who'd have an Instagram until now.I stared at the picture for a longer time. Even if no one could recognise me as the one, I didn't want my picture to be all over the Internet on some man's arm I didn't even know."It's a job well done, and I am satisfied
LILITH POVAfter yesterday's events, I didn't want to stay back and allowed Diamante to take control of the kitchen. I knew what happened yesterday would occur again if I did that.I glanced behind me as I heard footsteps approaching. It was the boys and Christie."Morning sunshine," Theo greeted, walking into the kitchen. He stood behind me, peering into the pot as I began to stir the pasta."That looks delicious," he said.I smiled, nodding. "You should have a taste before judging."Theo snorted, "Whatever comes from you will be good, most certainly."He was so sure of himself. I think I was the only one who didn't believe in myself because the others agreed with him."What can I help you with?" Christie murmured, yawning. Then, she went over to the kitchen sink to wash her hands. "I should have been awake earlier, but Theo kept me all night.""No, I didn't!" Theo argued."You did," Christie retorted."I did not," Theo scowled."You did Theodore. You did and you should be glad that
LILITH POV Giovanni opened the car door for me before the driver could.I stepped out of the car, and he put his arms around my waist.Sucking in a deep breath, I watched as his hand casually rested on my waist as if it was the most natural thing to do. He didn't look fazed, unlike me.My body was on high alert, my heart pounding continuously as if I had been running, my pussy clenched and unclenched, and my nipples tingled, straining against the fabric of the dress.Thank goodness it wasn't translucent.Since today I had been reacting unreasonable to Giovanni. From being Jealous that he was always around Diamante to wanting him now.Perhaps it was due to his nearness. If he wasn't near me, I often had a clear though and he was barely part of it.I pushed his thoughts to the back of my head, looking around me for the first time, my brows drew together in a frown, and I turned to him. "I thought we were..."Going to a fancy restaurant as we always did. I was hoping this was a mission
GIOVANNI POV"Do you care for some company?" the third woman, a brunette now, walked up to me. Her manicured fingers spread on my chest while she sat on the vacant chair next to me."I can't help but notice how quiet you are," she said.I turned around, looking at Boaz before shooting him a glare as he shrugged.That bastard. Always wanting to set me up.I knew he was waiting for me to slip. It would only take a picture of everything planned for tomorrow to be ruined, and I wouldn't let that happen.She'd be the third woman I'd be ignoring tonight, and it wasn't as if she wasn't beautiful. She was drop-dead gorgeous, with shoulder-length dark brown hair. Her caramel skin shone as the disco light hit it, and her lips were full, tempting, and begging to be kissed.But in all, she wasn't a match for the image I currently had in my head.Lilith. Even in her absence, she still had a firm hold on me. I had tried to imagine what she'd be up to all evening and even checked my damned phone to
LILITH POVI knew I couldn't stay mad at Casey for long; honestly, I had already settled with her within me the last time she was here. I just didn't want her to keep apologizing to me over and over again.Now, it was a week after and the eve of my wedding. Yes, wedding.I agreed to get married to Giovanni. For love? No.But for protection's sake. Yes.Also, he had sweetly proposed two days after his initial proposal in the fanciest way I couldn't even imagine.It was held at a charity gala, which he co-hosted, and everyone was present, the boys and even Christie, to witness it that day. I wouldn't say I enjoyed the cameras that went off like crazy that day, but the best thing was that Giovanni had made the proper proposal, and even if we weren't going to get married for love, it was better than a secret proposal."How do I look?" Christie broke of my thoughts, checking herself out in the mirror. She was wearing a sleeveless red sequined halter gown, reaching just her knees. It hugged
LILITH POVThe doorbell rang for the second time, and I paused the movie I was watching. My eyes wandered to the clock in the living room, it was noon.My mother was in her room, sleeping, maybe while Romeo had gone out with Giovanni. Only God knows where.But I wasn't bothered. I knew no matter what, he'd protect Romeo from arm's way.That said, I wasn't expecting anyone and couldn't help but wonder who was at the door.I walked to the door, looking through the peephole, but I couldn't make out anyone there."A prank?" I wondered. It wasn't even April or Halloween for anyone to have wanted to prank me.But I opened regardless. I knew I was safe in Giovanni’s house and I wouldn't be getting attacked because not only would an intruder have been caught at the heavily guarded entrance, they wouldn't have had a chance to sneak to get to the door because there were surveillance cameras everywhere.I opened the door slowly, standing behind it, and peeking. When I saw who was there, I let th
LILITH POV"Marry you?" I echoed back the words that Giovanni had said. I couldn't hide the disbelief in my voice or on my face.Surely, he was trying to tease me. Giovanni would never ask me to marry him, but that was a fucking red velvet box on the table.It could only be a ring inside. Of course. Nothing else would fit into a box as small as that.But Giovanni didn't make a commitment. He didn't want to get married to me, and he had said it himself. But what had changed?"I don't understand you, Giovanni," I said to him, moving closer to the table to take a closer look at the box. It was still closed. There was nothing special about it. Just the fact that it was red and an expensive-looking ring would be in it.I was tempted to take it, open it, and see what was inside for myself. But I didn't want to be too forward. Also, what if he was only trying to test me to see if I was still very much in love with him?I never did stop loving him, though, and I didn't think I'd ever stop.I
GIOVANNI POV"Bloody bastard!"I heard Gabriele Amato yell as soon as I stepped out of the house."Who the hell did he think he is? Just because he took over from that bloody thief, he believes he can walk all over us?""Father!""That's your chance to become a married woman, Diamante. Who would take you after the humiliation he put you through? I don't want any other man for you, except for him. Better start thinking of how to get to him."I scoffed, moving away from the entrance to the car. Like father, like daughter. I wasn't surprised.It was more irritating that Diamante was acting as if she was on my side. As if she hadn't planned with her father to ruin me.I hated when she looked innocent and unaware of what was going on.Whereas it was fucking planned by both of them.Rowland stepped out of the car and opened the door for me.I slid into it, sighing."Did the meeting go well?" he asked me, his hands on the steering wheel.I looked at him through the opened divider and shook m
GIOVANNI POVI clutched my hands tightly in front of me to stop me from doing what I had in mind. To strangle the breath out of Diamante and watch the life slowly fade away from her.I wanted to call her bluff. Even though I knew there was a 99% possibility that I had fathered the bastard inside her because I released it before I could stop myself, I still wanted to say to her face that she was lying.Diamante, seeing the stunned expression on my face, laughed heartily.This situation didn't warrant any laughter. I wanted to know the fucking truth.She just told you. My subconscious jeered."Are you surprised, Giovanni?" she asked me. "I stopped using birth control pills a long time ago. I had no one to fuck, so I didn't see any reasons to keep using it. Besides, stop looking at me as if I am the one who caused it. We both lost control. So, be a man and take up your responsibility."I opened my mouth to speak, but Gabriele Amato interrupted our conversation when he returned.He had a
GIOVANNI POVMy heart throbbed once again. I didn't know why it kept doing that. It had been doing that since I stepped out of the house. I felt kind of guilty for not precisely telling Lilith what was happening.I shouldn't feel that way because it was my life, and it wasn't as if I was bound to anyone or I promised to stay with anyone forever; I couldn't help it. I think Lilith deserved to know about Diamante's plot.At the same time, leaving her out of it seemed like the best decision ever."We are here," Rowland announced. I looked at the elegant Victorian building in front of me.The Amato's villa. The first time I came here was the last time, and it was to ensure her safety. After a message from her wanting to end it all, I arrived at the villa, hoping she was joking, until I saw it for myself.Also, after confronting her father, even though we didn't speak much and I said most of the words since I was pissed at him for neglecting his daughter in that manner, I realized he didn'
LILITH POV"Good morning, mom," I whispered; my voice was groggy as I walked past my mother to the living room.I groaned as the fresh aroma of coffee wafted into my nose. That would be my mother's doing. She must have woken up early to do the cooking.I walked to the counter and poured myself a cup of coffee before sitting on one of the stools in front of the kitchen's island.I cupped the mug, enjoying the warmth that spread from it to my fingers. Sighing, I glanced behind me as I heard my mother's voice. She wasn't alone. She was with Giovanni, who walked to where I was, and, well, Romeo.Briefly, I stared at Romeo, catching the hunt of remorse in his eyes before he looked away from me.He stood in the middle of the room, pocketing his hands in the grey joggers he wore. For someone who had been totally drunk last night, he barely looked hungover.Except for the blotches on his cheeks, which I couldn't tell what caused it, and the redness of his eyes, which I believed often appeared
GIOVANNI POVThe door clicked shut as I stepped in. Lilith was close to it, and she didn't make a move to even move closer.Inhaling deeply to curb the rage that was suddenly filling me away, I turned to her."Why am I here?" she asked me as she continued to stand by the door.How couldn't she know? Was it her thing to always act this clueless after trying to put herself in danger, or was I the one just doing too much?No, I didn't think so. This wasn't the first time she'd acted this one, which was annoying."You bloody put yourself in danger all the fucking time, Lilith." I snapped. I couldn't hold the anger back in. "How could you just fucking stand in front of him and let you smack you with that pillow?"I had seen the interaction. I followed her as soon as she ran out of the room, and I said nothing, only watching. I had hoped she would be in control and take care of everything without me butting in. Hence, I stood and watched until it was necessary for me to speak."You saw what