(Writer's POV) "You should have been careful, Vanessa!" Enzo scolded her loudly. Vanessa had managed to escape from Alessio's house to meet up with Enzo. "I have always been careful, Enzo. I didn’t know Alessio would be awake at that time. I thought he would have been tired after having sex with Lisa, which was why I snuck into the kitchen to call you and inform you about Lisa winning over Salvatore," Vanessa explained. "But still, you should have been more careful!" he scolded again and took in a deep breath. "How were you able to survive? Alessio kills his enemies without thinking twice." Vanessa smirked and crossed one leg over the other, picking up a cigarette from an ashtray. She was wearing a black jumpsuit, which made her look younger than her age. "Lisa was able to bail me out. She used her relationship with Alessio to blackmail him." "And that devil complied?" Enzo asked, sounding surprised. "Yeah, he did. He's head over heels for her. And as for Lisa, I have
(Writer's POV) Ivan's eyes slowly opened when he heard a knock on the door. He stretched his whole body, blinking sleepily, before getting up to open the door for whoever was outside. "Isabella?" he yawned, trying to see her clearly. "Can we talk for a few minutes?" she whispered. "Let it wait until tomorrow morning," he replied, attempting to shut the door in her face, but Isabella held it, preventing him from slamming it. "I thought you said you were on your monthly flow. Don’t tell me you changed your mind and want to have sex with me," he said, and Isabella kicked his knee. Ivan pressed his lips together to suppress the pain. "I know I agreed to be friends with benefits with you, but I am not here for sex. It's about Vanessa." "Vanessa?" Ivan uttered, sounding serious. Isabella nodded. "What about her?" he questioned. "Can we talk inside your room? Or should we find a safe place to talk?" she asked, and Ivan opened the door wider, allowing her to enter. "So,
Isabella groaned in pain as Vanessa stabbed the knife into her back. Vanessa pulled the knife out and tried to stab her again, but despite the pain, Isabella grabbed the blade. The sharp edge cut through her palm, drawing blood. Vanessa, determined to kill her, struggled to overpower her. All she wanted was to eliminate Isabella so no one would suspect her. "Who are you?" Isabella winced in pain, but Vanessa remained silent, knowing Isabella might recognize her voice. Desperate, Isabella tried to remove the mask Vanessa was wearing, but Vanessa fought to keep it on. Their struggle continued until Vanessa finally overpowered her. Vanessa stabbed Isabella again, this time in her stomach, then kicked her hard. Isabella screamed in agony as she crashed to the ground, landing in a pool of her own blood. But Vanessa didn’t care—her only goal was to ensure Isabella didn’t leave this fight alive. She raised the knife to strike again, but then she heard the pounding footsteps of Ales
(Lisa's POV) "Are you really sure about this, Lisa?" my dad asked, his tone full of worry, as I placed the last of my clothes into my luggage. "I'm definitely sure about this, Dad. I'm going to Italy," I replied firmly, giving him a determined smile. I wanted him to know I wasn’t going to change my mind. I was heading to Italy to see my boyfriend, Nathan. He had been there for over three months now, and I missed him terribly. Sure, we texted and video-called almost often, but it just wasn’t the same. I missed being with him, holding his hand, and feeling his presence. Three months ago, Nathan told me he needed to go to Italy for work. He said there was a potential client he had to persuade into partnering with him. Nathan owns a wine business in California, but it hasn’t been doing well. The market is competitive, and he struggles to find the right sponsors to take his business to the next level. I’ve always supported him however I could—financially, emotionally, and in every
(Lisa's POV) I walked down the streets of Italy, unsure of where to go or which direction to take. I was in a foreign land where I knew no one. The only person I came to see—the main reason for this trip—had cheated on me and left me shattered and broken. Everywhere I looked seemed to mock me as if the universe was laughing at my foolishness. I had booked a flight all the way from California to Italy, dreaming of a romantic reunion with my boyfriend, only to witness his betrayal. I should have listened to my dad, who had repeatedly warned me not to invest too much in Nathan. But I didn’t. My stubbornness and my foolish heart didn’t allow it. Now, it was too late to cry over spilled milk. I needed to brace myself, hold back my tears, and figure out how to return to California tomorrow. But it was already late in Italy, and I had no idea where to go for the night. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I clenched my jaw and forced them back. Nathan didn’t deserve my tears. I
(Lisa's POV) I felt his warm hands carefully lay me down on the bed, his touch gentle as though I were something fragile he didn’t want to break. My body sank into the soft mattress, and I let out a shaky breath, too weak and drained to do much. My eyes fluttered open briefly, only to close again. The alcohol I’d consumed earlier was wreaking havoc on my system, leaving me disoriented and heavy. But even with my eyes closed, I could sense him. His presence filled the room like a commanding force, his strong aura wrapping around me. His scent was intoxicating—clean, masculine, and refreshing in a way that comforted me. I felt the bed dip slightly as he sat down beside me. He didn’t speak at first, but I could feel his eyes on me, studying me. Then, with gentle precision, he removed my sneakers, his warm hands brushing against my ankles as he worked. The touch sent a strange, tingling sensation up my legs, causing my body to heat up in response. What was happening to me? I sensed h
(Alessio's POV) I woke up to find the woman from last night gone. In her place, she had left a pillow where her waist had been. How dare she run off as if what happened between us was meaningless? My jaw tightened as I sat up, her absence triggering a strange blend of frustration and longing. I rose from the bed, heading to the wardrobe to grab fresh clothes. After a quick shower, I changed and prepared to confront the day ahead.My eyes flicked back to the bed, lingering on the faint stain on the sheets—a mark of last night’s intensity. The memory rushed back, vivid and unshakable. Who would have thought a woman so breathtakingly beautiful, with an hourglass figure that seemed sculpted by the gods, would still be a virgin? I felt honored—no, privileged—to have been the first man to touch her. Her fragility, her innocence—it was unlike anything I’d experienced before.The night had started like any other. I went to the nightclub to meet with other mafia bosses, as I often did to disc
(Lisa's POV) "Are you sure nothing happened in Italy?" my dad asked, trying to force the truth out of me. Ever since I came back to California two days ago, his question has remained the same. He was clearly surprised when I came back just a day after leaving. He hadn’t expected me back so soon, but I wasn’t ready to tell him the truth about Nathan’s betrayal—or how I had carelessly given my virginity to a total stranger. "Nothing happened, Dad," I replied, forcing the words out. Guilt welled up inside me for lying to him, but I just wanted to forget everything that had happened in Italy and move on. "Then why did you come back so soon?" he pressed, his brows knitting together. "You were supposed to stay at least a week." I swallowed hard. He wasn’t wrong. If Nathan hadn’t betrayed me, I would still be in Italy. And maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t have encountered the stranger who made me feel things I’d never felt before. "He’s busy with work. I didn’t want to stress him out," I l
Isabella groaned in pain as Vanessa stabbed the knife into her back. Vanessa pulled the knife out and tried to stab her again, but despite the pain, Isabella grabbed the blade. The sharp edge cut through her palm, drawing blood. Vanessa, determined to kill her, struggled to overpower her. All she wanted was to eliminate Isabella so no one would suspect her. "Who are you?" Isabella winced in pain, but Vanessa remained silent, knowing Isabella might recognize her voice. Desperate, Isabella tried to remove the mask Vanessa was wearing, but Vanessa fought to keep it on. Their struggle continued until Vanessa finally overpowered her. Vanessa stabbed Isabella again, this time in her stomach, then kicked her hard. Isabella screamed in agony as she crashed to the ground, landing in a pool of her own blood. But Vanessa didn’t care—her only goal was to ensure Isabella didn’t leave this fight alive. She raised the knife to strike again, but then she heard the pounding footsteps of Ales
(Writer's POV) Ivan's eyes slowly opened when he heard a knock on the door. He stretched his whole body, blinking sleepily, before getting up to open the door for whoever was outside. "Isabella?" he yawned, trying to see her clearly. "Can we talk for a few minutes?" she whispered. "Let it wait until tomorrow morning," he replied, attempting to shut the door in her face, but Isabella held it, preventing him from slamming it. "I thought you said you were on your monthly flow. Don’t tell me you changed your mind and want to have sex with me," he said, and Isabella kicked his knee. Ivan pressed his lips together to suppress the pain. "I know I agreed to be friends with benefits with you, but I am not here for sex. It's about Vanessa." "Vanessa?" Ivan uttered, sounding serious. Isabella nodded. "What about her?" he questioned. "Can we talk inside your room? Or should we find a safe place to talk?" she asked, and Ivan opened the door wider, allowing her to enter. "So,
(Writer's POV) "You should have been careful, Vanessa!" Enzo scolded her loudly. Vanessa had managed to escape from Alessio's house to meet up with Enzo. "I have always been careful, Enzo. I didn’t know Alessio would be awake at that time. I thought he would have been tired after having sex with Lisa, which was why I snuck into the kitchen to call you and inform you about Lisa winning over Salvatore," Vanessa explained. "But still, you should have been more careful!" he scolded again and took in a deep breath. "How were you able to survive? Alessio kills his enemies without thinking twice." Vanessa smirked and crossed one leg over the other, picking up a cigarette from an ashtray. She was wearing a black jumpsuit, which made her look younger than her age. "Lisa was able to bail me out. She used her relationship with Alessio to blackmail him." "And that devil complied?" Enzo asked, sounding surprised. "Yeah, he did. He's head over heels for her. And as for Lisa, I have
(Lisa's POV) The sickening sound of something I couldn't quite describe penetrated my ears. My eyelashes fluttered before I slowly opened my eyes. My head hurt, and for a moment, everything around me was dark. It wasn't until I regained my sight that I saw the clan's doctor packing syringes into a plastic box. She didn't seem to notice me, so I intentionally cleared my throat. Her eyes instantly shifted from her work, and when she realized I was awake, she rushed to my side. "Thank God you're finally awake," she said with relief. I tried to sit up in bed, but I was too weak, so she helped me. "Thank you," I muttered, and she beamed at me. "It's nothing, Lisa. What matters most is that you're awake." "What happened to me? All I remember is passing out after I drank the pineapple juice Nadia gave me," I murmured. "The drink was spiked with barbiturates." "Barbiturates?" I furrowed my brows. "Yes. It's a dangerous drug when taken excessively. But what matters right now is that
(Alessio's POV) "Bianca was the one who spiked Lisa's drink with barbiturates?" I asked, and she slowly nodded her head. "Yes. I'm sure of it, Don Alessio. She asked me once about a poison that could kill someone. I wasn't sure what she was up to, so I lied to her, telling her that barbiturates are dangerous." "Why didn’t you tell me about this?" I fumed. "I wasn't sure what she was up to, which is why I lied to her," she replied, and I harshly choked her neck. "What difference does it make now?! Lisa is unconscious! The least you could have done was tell me when you found her suspicious!" I snapped. "I'm sorry, Don Alessio. I never thought she would use the drugs on Lisa," she pleaded, but I added pressure to her neck. "Your mind didn’t tell you Bianca would use the drugs on Lisa, but it could whisper to you to take your phone and call Salvatore, right?" I growled. "I'm a doctor, Don Alessio. I couldn't watch Bianca die when I knew I could treat her; that's why I call
(Alessio's POV) "Where did she go?" I muttered to myself as I entered the shooting range and couldn't find her there. The moment we arrived at the clan, she had told me she wanted to go to the shooting range. I had agreed, but upon arriving at the shooting range, I couldn't find her anywhere. The guns were still intact, meaning she hadn't been here. Did she lie to me? Jealousy flared in me as I sensed she must've gone to see Angelo. I left the shooting range and went to his room inside the clan—he was the only one who didn’t have a condo of his own aside from the room he had in the clan, which was why he was mostly here. Arriving at his room, my brows furrowed when I didn’t find him there. "Where's Angelo?" I asked a mobster I came across. "He's in the power room, Don Alessio," she replied with a bow. Right. For a moment, I had forgotten he normally spent half of his day there since it was his job. Before I could get to the doorstep of the power room, I heard his voice. He w
(Lisa's POV) "They're... they're what?" I stuttered, surprised by what Alessio had just said. He stuck his hands into his pants pockets, giving me a mocking look. "They're fake, Lisa," he replied with a smirk. "If they were real, do you think you would have still been alive after you stepped on it the first time?" he asked in a mocking tone. "So you mean you left me standing for hours in the rain, believing they were real landmines?" I asked, and he gladly nodded his head. "It was a way to punish you for trying to escape from me." "Alessio!!!" I yelled at him, unaware that I had stepped away from the landmine. I gasped, but when I didn't see myself explode, I calmed my nerves. "See? I told you they were fake," he mocked. "Why did you do that to me, Alessio? Do you know how terrified I was that day? I thought I was going to die!" I yelled at him. "You wouldn't have stepped on it if you weren't trying to escape from me," he sneered. "You're a jerk!" I thundered, aimi
(Alessio's POV) I read her text over and over again, but I was too angry to reply. She had no right to threaten me the way she did, and a part of me still hurt, knowing she was using my relationship as leverage to bail Vanessa out of my hell. I wasn't done with Vanessa. I was determined to fish out the truth from her. I just needed to catch her red-handed so she wouldn't have anything to say when I did. I glanced at the cellphone in my hand, which belonged to Vanessa. It wasn't a smartphone. I dialed the number she had called last night, but whoever it was didn't answer. What made me suspicious was when I glanced through the phone and discovered there were no other numbers apart from the one Vanessa claimed was her sister's. It was impossible to have just a single number on your phone. Even I, who hate keeping friends like kids loathe medicine, have plenty of contacts. I became suspicious of her. She better be ready for me, if my suspicions turned out to be true, not ev
(Lisa's POV) "Good morning," I greeted him when I woke up the following morning and discovered he was back in his suite. He didn't answer. He was focused on buttoning the buttons of his black shirt. Didn't he hear me? "Good morning, Alessio," I greeted again with a cheerful smile, but he still didn't reply. That was when I realized he had actually heard me but was pretending not to. I got down from the bed and strode toward him. "Let me help you with that," I smiled, reaching out to help him button his shirt, but he held my hand. "I can do it. I don't need your help," he said, his tone different from the way he usually spoke to me. Was he mad at me? Yeah, he should be. What I said to him last night was really uncalled for, just like Isabella had said. I shouldn't be the only one ignoring him whenever I was upset with him. I guess this time around, it's my turn to apologize. "Alessio, about last night..." I began, but he cut me short. "I have something important to do," h