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 POV This was my world, but tonight felt different. The music's beat throbbed through my chest, grounding me as I stepped onto the stage. Here, I wasn't Lilith Russo, the awkward nineteen-year-old college student who trips on her own two feet. Lilith Russo, who couldn't look into anyone's eyes or make a coherent sentence without fumbling or blasting out classical literature to hide her nervousness. I was known as The Raven. A beautiful seductress, a shadow they couldn't touch but watch, a desire they couldn't hold but feel. Letting out a deep breath, my hands gripped the pole. I started slow, letting the rhythm seep into my bones, each sway of my hips a controlled invitation. I let go of the pole and let my fingers glide along my thighs, a practiced movement meant to tease. Of course, I knew how to play this game and dangle just enough mystery to keep them wanting without giving too much. "How much for that whore?" I heard whispers. It wasn't the first time an
LILITH'S POV I gasped as a hand gripped me, stopping me from moving further. A relieved sigh pierced through me as I saw it was Marco. I couldn't be any happier to see his annoying face; at least he had stopped me from making a terrible mistake. He pulled me towards the room's corner, where it was quieter. Many people do not come to this part of La Notte; you only come here when you want privacy. I frown, staring at Marco, wondering what he wanted. "How are you?" His toffee-brown eyes moved over my body. "Um, fine, I guess," I laughed. Even as I was anything but that. My body ached from exerting too much pressure on it. You'd think doing this for three years would make me an expert in the field, but I was far from that. Also, the fact that Marco was asking about my well-being when he had never indeed cared made it even more laughable. "Good," he nodded. "Do you remember the deal from earlier?" Tilting my head, I tried to remember the exact deal he was talking about. W
LILITH'S POV My head hurt, and likewise, my throat. It wasn't easy to keep my eyes open because it closed by itself as soon as I opened them. I couldn't remember the last time I tasted booze. It was my first time in La Notte, and I was clueless about what was being done. Someone had offered me a drink, and I had drunk without thinking. That was the first time I suffered from a hangover, and also the last time I stopped drinking since I tend to do something out of the ordinary. When I mean out of the ordinary, I embarrass myself. Last night, I never wanted to drink, but it was the only thing that could keep me calm. I never would have imagined that a glass would knock me out cold. Shifting on the bed, I heaved a breath, pushing back the nausea that surged through me, before opening my eyes. They slowly accommodated to the brightness of the room. I glanced at myself as I felt exposed. I couldn't remember slipping out of my clothes last night or maybe I had changed before returning
GIOVANNI POVBeing made in the family—it was more than a title. It was a damn oath written in blood. I'd earned my bones long ago, proving to Don Massimo that I had the stomach for what The Life demanded.As a capo in La Famiglia Ricci, it was my job to run my crew with a tight fist to make sure no one got any ideas about stepping out of line. To keep the family's interest protected, to settle debts, to enforce loyalty—I did what was needed to do. And in return? I had the family's backing. Respect, fear.But it wasn't all power and luxury. Being a made man meant you didn't get to quit, didn't get to retire. You either did the work, or you were sleeping with the fishes. That was how it was, how it always would be."Capo." Jacques, one of my muscles said.I stopped walking to stare at him. He was standing by Luca. Jacques and Luca were my muscles, always two steps behind and ready to handle any trouble that came my way. Loyalty was everything in this line of work; they were the only one
LILITH'S POV I felt jittery. Rubbing my clammy palms on the A-shaped brown skirt I wore for the umpteenth time, I placed my hand on my raving heart. "Take a deep breath, Lilith, and remember that the universe is unfolding as it should be." taking two deep reassuring gulps of air as if my life depended on it, I walked towards the entrance of the hall. I had practiced for the test a week before and was sure it was also child's play. In fact, I had skimmed through my notes before arriving at school. However, I couldn't tell why I was afraid of failing. Maybe it was because of Social Psychology (PSY 340), and I had heard a lot of rumors from the seniors about that class. I guessed it was because I learned one could fail without trying, which made me a bit nervous. "Fuck, watch where you are going?!" A voice growled, causing me to jump back in fright. I had almost slammed into him. It was my fault; I didn't watch where I was going. "I'm sorry," I stuttered, bending to pick up my book
GIOVANNI POVMarcella was hurt because of me. I was her big brother and protector. I should have been watching over her!Instead, I had been with a woman. A woman I could not stop thinking about now!Although Marcella had her personal bodyguard, whom Don Massimo had placed close to her school, I still made it my primary objective to look after her.Don Massimo had been good to me, picked me from the damned gutters, and brushed me up. I wouldn't have gotten to this stage of my life if it weren't for him. He had treated me like a son.Honestly, anyone who didn't know the relationship between us would assume I was his child. However, Don Massimo himself had never treated me anything lesser than that.Marcella had gotten hurt under my watch because I was fucking some unknown woman. Yet, I was here thinking of the same woman instead of looking for those who had hurt her and giving them a taste of their medicine.Grimacing, I stared at the boner forming on my pants. The dent was noticeable,
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 POVChristie and I seemed to be hitting it off pretty well. I had thought the blonde petite woman would be someone I'd detest. You know, those nepo babies who got everything handed to them on a platter of gold because of mommy or daddy dearest and believed the world revolved around their ass? Yes, them.Christie was far from that. Not only was she beautiful, she was accommodating and overly thoughtful.Somehow, I couldn't tell how she had snagged the attention of someone in Giovanni’s circle. Giovanni was dangerous, and everyone associated with him would be too.Behind the playful façade that Theo was trying to portray, he was as dangerous as Giovanni, so I didn't think her groom would be anything less.Christie, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind about the company her husband kept, or maybe she was used to it all ready and prepared to live with such.She straightened from where she was sitting in front of the vanity mirror—we had left the celebration outside to check her o
LILITH POVI was down in about thirty minutes, meeting with Giovanni at the dining.His attention snapped to mine as soon as I stepped into the room, and a small smile adorned his lips. His eyes appraised me slowly, from my head to my toes, and then he gave a gentle nod as if he approved of my look.It was a below-the-knee golden sequined dress with a wrap-around skirt and a low-cut v-shaped neckline featuring an open back. It was sleeveless as well and showed a great deal of skin, from my cleavage to my back.I had thought it too casual and assumed Giovanni would disapprove, not like I'd have changed into something else if he had asked me to anyway. Besides, I believed it was my overall appearance, not just the dress itself.My hair, or rather the wig I was wearing, was curled at the tip; I had done my makeup, making it even bolder than usual but not overdoing it so I wouldn't appear like a weirdo.Before I stepped out of the room, I had caught my reflection in the mirror. I didn't e