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25 : Stuck in a Moment
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 26 : Super Sleuth
•"Where were you?"Théo stepped out of the rental car after he saw Anastasia's death glare as she approached the driver's side. He slammed the door shut and locked the car. A thin coat of dust had overlain the black roof and hood."Where have you been?""Go back inside; it's gonna rain," he muttered in response. The sky just got darker. Like his mood."Do I look like I give a shit?"He placed his fist over his mouth to try to obscure the sight of him gritting his teeth. He expected this reaction from her, but did she really have to swear at him?He looked in the direction of the hotel's main entrance.It was another pricey five-star hotel near Sunset Boulevard, and he knew she would be paying for a week-long stay using her credit card—paid for by her parents, of course—just so she could join
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 27 : Confirmation
•"Tomorrow night?" "Yeah. Why? Are you supposed to..." Anastasia frowned slightly. "You have another meeting tomorrow?"Théo held back a sigh of frustration and pocketed his phone. Gillaume just texted him coordinates again. He was expecting another dropped call, but the coordinates meant Gillaume was ready to meet up any minute now.Meaning, she was already in the States. In New York, maybe? The agency also had headquarters in the East Coast."I can call the...we can do the morning after. Or the day after that," Ana said when he kept hesitating. "You're gonna be busy all day tomorrow?""Yeah. I need to be back in New York tomorrow afternoon." "What?" Ana pulled a face. "You just arrived.""Gotta meet up with someone from the agency. I have to clear up my schedule before we go to Rome. Let them know I'll be unavailable." "Okay," she replied with a faint nod that indicated some uncertainty. "Booked a flight yet?""No. I just got the text. Meeting with them tomorrow evening." He had
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 27 Pt 2 : Stopover Date
• Columbia •"Are you sleeping there? At the hospital?""No. I'm heading back to the hotel in a bit.""Alright," he said, pausing to heave another sigh. "You okay, babe?""Yeah." Veronica couldn't help smiling again, appreciating the genuine concern in his voice. They hadn't been texting or talking on the phone lately. She had been avoiding him for more than a week now, actually.But of course she missed him a lot...and she couldn't just say no to his invitation. No matter how busy her schedule was, she would make time for him. They had a lot to talk over. She didn't even know how to begin."Had dinner yet?" Théo asked next."Sandwich. What about you? Why're you leaving so soon? Tomorrow night?""I gotta...flight to catch. To Italy. Gotta stay there a while for a job.""Oh. Okay." She pulled a face. "Like a week?""Possibly longer. Want me to pick you up?""No. I'll drive," she insisted. "Text me which hotel.""Okay. Thanks. You feelin' okay?" "Why?""You sound sick.""Just allergies.
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 28 : Reality Check
•Veronica shut the bathroom door and let go of the cold doorknob. The drawn curtains dimmed the room to an extent, but not enough to hide her face from his scrutinizing gaze.Her legs felt like they'd regained full mobility after a moment of her just sitting motionless on the bathroom floor, so she took quiet steps towards the hotel bed. It would be dawn in a couple of hours, and neither of them seemed eager to call it a night. She forced her feet to keep moving as her eyes centered on the guy hunched over on the bed.His dark clothing emphasized the yellowish covers. Théo's left arm was bent because he was nail biting—a habit she thought he had grown out of. Crumpled in his other hand was the small paper bag from the drugstore.She stood still by the foot of the bed and watched, feigning calmness and apathy to obscure the fact that she was having trouble getting a word
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 29 : It's Complicated
•"Is she upset?" Théo frowned the second she stepped out of the bathroom in a robe, hair damp and fresh out of the shower."Who? Mom?""You told her?"The room looked tidier than she remembered. Veronica stared at the guy standing near the bed. He cleaned up again, most probably. "Told her what?""What we were up to last night?" he replied. His dimpled smirk was every bit teasing as it was laughably arousing."Not really." She looked away and tightened the belt of the bathrobe. Of course she didn't tell her mother he had to buy the test kits himself just so she would stop procrastinating. She wouldn't hear the end of it if her mom knew."Crap. She hates me even more now," her ex muttered with a fake half-grin when she got quiet. "Can't blame her, though.""She doe
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 30 : Ready, Set
•"Did Tomek text you again?""Yeah. We'll meet up sometime soon, when he's not too busy." Veronica sat closer to the table than to her date for tonight.It wasn't exactly a date. Well, okay. They were alone, having a meal together, exactly like the other couples in the small dining area. To outsiders, they definitely looked like they were on a date. He didn't seem to care, though.Beside her, Théo reclined and pushed his empty plate away from the edge of the table. "So Dan's gonna be in the studio with you and your backup guitarist?" He drank what was left of her apple juice, having already devoured the last spoonfuls of his goopy carbonara."We're pretty much done with Kyle's parts." Veronica nodded her head slightly. "Dan and Ed, they've got a show tonight in Brooklyn. Mini-concert of some sort," she said."Ah... You want to go?" A
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 31 : Action
• Rome, Italy •18 days left"Sì. Stiamo arrivando, Mamma. Sì. Già. Ciao.""Is she home?" Théo glanced at his companion, his seatmate for the entire flight. He could tell she was tired and ready to sleep, but he also knew she had a lot on her mind at the moment."Yeah. Waiting for us. I told her you had to work late," Anastasia muttered without looking at him. She had been acting distant for the past hour. Almost too quiet, reserved.He wasn't used to her being this quiet. "What's up?"She shook her head weakly."You feelin' okay?""Just another headache." "Did you get enough sleep?" he asked next. He wasn't pretending to care; if she didn't feel well, they might not get to attend the event. Crucial day tomorrow for him and her family. They both had to be in good shape for an eventful weekend. "Barely." Anastasia sighed and looked out the window. The midnight sky appeared pitch-black. Some clouds blurred their view from time to time. In a few minutes, they'd be in her family's e
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 32 : Prep
• Piazza Di Valtieri • Grand. Spacious. Bricks and stone. Freshly trimmed grass. Well-maintained. For aristocrats.As part of his preparations, he had to study the blueprint of the entire lot and villa for days—which he had already done a week ago. Théo already knew what to expect, but of course he would pretend as if this was his first time ever seeing the property. The estate's security setup was also quite impressive. Familiar with the basic rigs, he glanced at the security cameras obscured by lampposts towering above the tall, shiny white gates welcoming their vehicle and their escorts. Well, Anastasia's security escorts, to be specific.The thick iron gates ostentatiously showed who owned the entire place. "Piazza Di Valtieri"—which basically meant "The Valtieri Estate"—was etched in eye-catching golden letters in the middle. It immediately reminded him of the last time he'd been in a private property as secure and extravagant as this prime real estate. That time, he had been
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In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] Bonus : Book II [Sneak Peek Pt. 2]
° ° ° ° °She was an impostor.Out of all the things he’d imagined she was capable of…Faking someone else’s identity just wasn't on his Top 10. It just sounded so absurd. And pointless.Although, now that he had given it some time to stew ― give or take five hours ― the haze just cleared up in his head.Now he knew why she’d always seemed guarded, mostly reticent whenever he would ask about her family. She’d only given him bits and pieces over the six months they’d dated, and he thought it was rather suspicious, but it hadn’t occurred to him she was actually capable of a crime. She just didn’t strike him as the type.She had told him of her being a programmer and having worked for a telecoms company. He thought it was obvious and true, since she knew a lot about computers and technical stuff. Now that he’d come to think of it, he should’ve questioned her why sh
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] Bonus : Book II [Sneak Peek]
•••••••••Author's Note:Hi, friends and dear readers! ❤️☺️First off, thank you for checking out my books and for supporting the hardworking authors on this platform. Without you guys, we wouldn't be able to keep doing what we love doing.I hope you enjoyed reading about T and V's complicated lives, their personal struggles, family drama, their growth, and their rocky journey through adulthood together...Hopefully this story (it started out as a little fanfic btw) also made you believe in their undying 😂 love for each other through the years.(Sup, fiction lovers! SAY NO to insta-love! 😆🤭)Anyhoo! Hope you are all well and doing your best to stay healthy, happy, and keep living your best life! 😏👍Much love,M°[ Below is a snippet of the sequel I'm planning to write in the near future. Enjo
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 114 : We'll Make Our Own Future
•"Sorry." Théo held her hand on his thigh. A comfortable silence lingered in the room. His calmer demeanor now seemed genuine and he kept staring into her eyes.Perhaps he was done trying to provoke another argument just for the sake of it. The mumbled apology was giving her the distinct impression that he really wanted to work over their issues now.The thought, although comforting enough, still didn't get rid of her doubts. Veronica kept still on the bed. "For?"Théo averted his eyes. He let go of her hand and gave her the flimsiest of shrugs. "I was being a dick.""And?" She hid a grin using her bangs."I just...rushed to judgment.""Okay.""How's your mom?"A little surprised by the question, she leaned closer to his lap and smiled at him, content with his short but earnest apology. &n
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 113 : Setting Things Straight
• Despite some misgivings, Veronica didn't push him aside or leave his bedroom. She didn't want to leave him yet. She came back here to do radio interviews and promo shoots, but Théo was the main reason she decided to hop on a flight to Paris. She hadn't seen him in months. More importantly, they had a lot to hash out: 1) Anastasia Valtieri 2) Everything that happened in Rome 3) The real reasons he went to Tuscany The list went on and on... But she didn't plan to stay the night here in the loft. They didn't have much privacy; Théo was still living with his best friends. The rest of the two-storey house seemed quiet, though. Where did Tomek and the guys go? "Why didn't you tell me you're gonna be here?" Théo leaned against the closed door with his arms crossed, eyeing her with a curious squin
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 112 : Nice Seeing You Again
• Paris, France • "How many times a month d'you gotta see your shrink?" "What?" "Like every week?" "As often as necessary." Théo glanced up from his phone after his best friend's question sank in, distracting him from composing a new message for his ex. Veronica just texted him an hour ago. After weeks of radio silence. It wasn't unexpected behavior from her, considering the circumstances the last time they saw each other in person. Why did she decide to reach out to him again? Just because his grandmother died? Or because it was almost his birthday? Perhaps both convinced Veronica that it was time to rekindle their friendship again. "You're paying for everything? Every session?" Tomek sat beside him and pouted, his pale hand clutching a can of root beer. "Or your insurance covers half at least?" Théo scoffed and almost laughed. "I wish." The a
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 111 : You've Done Enough, Sport
• Disobeying a direct order. Obstruction of an investigation. Impeding the course of justice. Whichever was most applicable to his case, he had no choice but to face the music. His luck just kept running out lately. Saying he "meant well" wouldn't be enough for any of the big bosses, but at least his mother had his back this time. Well, somewhat. A judge might be more sympathetic, actually. Théo shifted on the hospital bed as he watched his mother wrap up another phone call. Perhaps her 20th for the day. Just part of her job. Like cleaning up after his mess. "Not like it's the first time," she would say. He most probably embarrassed her after what happened, but at least she showed up today. It must be just another debriefing. Or she only came over to reprimand him for disobedience and his defiant actions that almost ended in a vendetta.
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 110 : Job Well Done
•Nobody died. Two men from Leandro's group got shot in the arm and shoulder after some guy hiding in the old building pulled the trigger, but no one got killed.No horrendously violent shootout to report on the news. No casualties to count, investigate, autopsy, or bury. Hopefully no media coverage to worry about on the Internet, either.Théo's mother would take care of that issue. Most likely. Claudia seemed like she only needed to make a few phone calls to pull some necessary strings. Trying to find comfort in the thought, Veronica sat still behind the speechless driver. Her self-soothing attempts since they left the scene of the crime eventually got trumped by the sound of Alodia mewling in Raffaele's arms.Alodia sat in the backseat with him, sobbing uncontrollably for the past few minutes. The heart-wrenching noise filled the vehicle as they drove back towards
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 109 : Back In His Arms
• "Aya! Don't even... Argh! Cazzo!" "No, Aya!" Veronica could only stand and watch as Raffaele ran after his pregnant girlfriend. He rushed out of the SUV the second Alodia started running for the tall gates. They were wide open, almost too tempting to ignore, which eventually convinced Alodia to step into the property amid the ongoing standoff. "Please don't shoot! Don't shoot!" Alodia kept screaming as her tears ran down her pale cheeks. "He's... He's not himself! Please! I'm begging you. Don't shoot him!" She was all eyes on Leandro while begging for the authorities to spare the guy's life. Before she could even reach the parking lot surrounded by Italian cops and their heavily armed tactical team, two taller guys clasped her arms, effortlessly holding her back, keeping her stuck and sobbing beside a police car. Raffaele didn't get that far. Three cops blocked his way before h
In Wounded Rhymes [Mafia Games X] 108 : A Defensive Stand
•About half an hour of begging and tears eventually granted her wish. Raffaele obviously hated to say yes to her request, but he gave in when she didn't stop pleading for him to take her to Castiglione.Such an impulsive decision on her part—a choice that might put her life in serious danger, but she just couldn't stay behind. Wait. Do nothing. No thanks. She had to be there. See Théo with her own eyes.This would be the last time she would be risking her own safety for him. Seriously. The last time. Her mother didn't even know she was back here in Italy, begging for help from strangers just to find her ex. Raffaele didn't treat her like a stranger, though. For the past 24 hours, he had been indulging her, consoling her, helping her to the best of his ability as though they were old friends.Did it mean he already forgave Théo? F
