LILITH POVThe soft morning light crept through the window, casting a warm glow across the room.I stirred, opening my eyes slowly. The events of last night flooded back in bits and pieces. I grimace while sitting on the bed despite my body being sore.Unlike the first time, I consented to everything that happened last night, so I was a little less embarrassed about the situation.I was still in Giovanni’s room, but he wasn't here. I touched the part of the bed where he had laid to see if it was cool to my touch.He must have gone as soon as he came awake or maybe he didn't sleep in the room.Holding onto the headboard as I climbed down from the bed, my legs trembled. They had barely done anything last night, yet it seemed to be the most affected in my body.I took a step forward, taking another, slowly until I reached the vanity table. I sat on the chair, staring at myself in the mirror.I looked pretty awful. My cheeks were stained with mascara, which must be from when I had cried l
CHRISTIE POVI watched as Raven navigated her way around the kitchen. She loved cooking, and to be honest, she was good at it.I didn't know who was a better cook between her, Giovanni, and Xanthos. But if you were to ask me in Xanthos' presence, I'd pick him over the others.Sorry. I firmly believed hoes over bros, but Xanthos was my husband, and his food should taste better than the others, even if it were the worst, right?Right.My mind reeled back to Raven's and the discussion in her room. She didn't know Giovanni’s true identity. I couldn't tell if she was being serious or not, but from the look on her face, she seemed oblivious.I couldn't tell who was even more oblivious, she or Xanthos, because the difference was glaring.Even though he didn't write on his forehead that he was a mafia capo, people who could see should know. The confidence he exuded, the dangerous aura that encircled him and his words.Even from the look of the other boys!Xanthos, Theo, and Boaz might be easy
GIOVANNI POVLeonard was the tracker of our small group, and thanks to his tracking skills, we finally got to where the idiot was hiding. Roman had used some small thug he had befriended to drag him to the warehouse.The warehouse was in a location the police couldn't reach, and even if they did, it would take them some time. It was the perfect place to deal with rats and get answers.The air in the warehouse reeked of damned wood and stale cigarette, clinging to my clothes as I stepped inside. Shadows crept along the walls. Cages, from small to big, littered the room, and chains used to punish people dropped down from the ceiling—but I wasn't here to admire the decor.The informant, a bald man perhaps in his thirties sat slouched in a chair at the center of the room, his sweat-streaked face catching the faint glow of the bare bulb overhead. I stopped in front of him, hands in my pockets."Parla, Stronzo," (Talk asshole) I spat. It was a good thing the bàstàrd was Italian.He squirmed
LILITH POV"Baby!" Christie exclaimed, racing as the black Aston Martin came to a halt in front of the fountain.Xanthos stepped out, opening his arms as if he had been waiting for her to come running to him.He wrapped his arms around her while swinging her around.Her gentle laugh rippled through the air. It was so infectious that I found myself smiling too.The other boys came down from the car, except for Giovanni.I frowned, walking towards Theo, who was also coming to me."Where's Gianni?" I asked, looking behind him as if he'd pop out from there."Gianni?" Theo asked, his lips twitching at the side. "When did you start playing nicknames? I hope he won't be calling you Rave?"I rolled my eyes, my cheeks burning. I never realised I had called him that. Besides, I didn't think Giovanni would resort to calling me by nicknames. He was too serious for that."Where is he?" I asked him again."I'm hungry," Theo murmured, rubbing his stomach. "I barely ate anything before leaving today.
GIOVANNI POVThe air at the old port was heavy with the scent of saltwater and diesel, a sickening combination that clung to the back of my throat.I adjusted my coat, feeling the comforting weight of my holstered gún. The dim light from the lampposts flickered, casting shadows over the shipping containers stacked like a twisted labyrinth."Hey," I swirled from my hiding place as Theo swaggered towards me.He stuck a cigarette in between his lips, patting the breast pocket of his black coat, before pulling out a lighter.He lighted the cigarette, taking a drag and puffing.I nodded my greeting before going in for a bro hug as he came closer."What's up?" Theo asked."Nothing much," I muttered.I had been staying here for about an hour waiting for the shipment to arrive. For now, all I had seen was nothing, but I knew it would only be a matter of time before I could see anything.The usual chaos around the old port was existent to none. The stores were close for the day, fishermen had
LILITH POV"Hey," Giovanni gripped my shoulder, steadying me as I bumped into him.As soon as I woke up, I rushed down the stairs upon hearing voices and bumped into Giovanni at the foot of the stairs.My gaze flickered to his, and it moved from his slicked-back hair to the few-day-old stubble on his chin, then his lips, and back to his eyes.He looked, well healthy. Better than I had imagined. I guessed I had been worrying for nothing and Theo had been right."I told you, your boyfriend is going to come back to you in one piece," Theo teased, appearing behind Giovanni.I felt my cheeks heat up, glancing away from Giovanni who raised his brows at me."I thought she was going to hit me last night," Theo grimaced and gave a mock shudder."Don't exaggerate," I mumbled. I was only anxious and nothing else. I never thought of hitting him and I didn't think I could if I wanted to."Nino!""Bye," Theo stepped away from us as Diamante approached us.Diamante shot him a glare, then glanced fro
LILITH POVGiovanni pulled me close, his lips crashing onto mine with a hunger that stole my breath away."We shouldn't—" I started, but his kiss, firm and unyielding, swallowed my words."No one's looking, Cucciolo," he murmured, his hands already slipping down my hips, tugging me flush against him.Someone could be! How was he so sure? We had only gotten here, and he hadn't even appropriately surveyed to make sure of that.But this, what was about to happen, I couldn't stop him. I felt the need to, at the same time, I wanted it.My heart pounded as he pressed me back against the smooth rock wall, the cool surface contrasting with the heat of his touch. His hands slid beneath the hem of my sundress, fingers skimming my thighs.I bit my lip, trying to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape."Quiet," Giovanni whispered, his voice rough with desire. "Unless you want them to hear."The thrill of it—the risk, the stolen moment—made it impossible to resist. My hands tangled in his hair
LILITH POVThe sliding doors of Malpensa Airport opened, letting in the crisp, familiar air of Milan. The city's essence hit me—a mixture of jet fuel, and the faint metallic tang of rain that had only just stopped.The last time I had been here, the feeling it ignited in me had been thrilling. Walking into the airport and setting my feet in a private jet for the first time was enough to bring that thrill to me.But today, it felt different. I was home, in a familiar ground, but the comfort of home wasn't there.Giovanni walked ahead of me, his stride purposeful, his jaw set in the way it always was when he was hiding too much in plain sight.I had been watching him since we left the penthouse. He had not spoken much and still wasn't talking to me. I had tried my best to think of every possible thing that could be wrong because we had been having a great time, and for the first time since we arrived in Santorini, everything seemed to be going great.I had thought we were finally gettin
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