"Speak, woman," Henry suddenly orders me. I roll my eyes and signal the waiter to give me the same drink. However, Henry grabs my forearm and makes a cleaver gesture below his throat at the waiter. "I think we'll start with some proper explanations before you end up rolling under the table, Lulu!" he tells me, concern shining in his eyes. "There's nothing more to say. I know Jones, and Jones knows me. Period," I reply, making an exaggerated sucking noise with my straw. "All right. And can I ask how you even know him?" "No." "Did you go to school together?" he asks me, amused. "No." "Yes... he looks much older. Oh, I know! You were friends with his wife!" I nearly choke on my gulp and quickly grab my white napkin and come to rest it against my lips. I let out a sigh and lean my back firmly against my chair. "That's it. I'm friends with his wife." Henry suddenly frowns and straightens up, looking in the direction Jones has ta
I didn't see the return trip pass by. My situation took over my mind. My stilettos pounded the pavement, and I gritted my teeth as I saw men in black suits standing guard outside the doors of the building where I lived. The two gorillas standing at the bottom of the stairs bow their heads slightly when they recognize me. I walk furiously and stop at their level without a glance at them. "Cosa si fai qui? (What are you doing here?)," I ask through gritted teeth. I try to keep my annoyance aside. These men are not responsible for the actions of their Don. "Facciamo la guardia, Signora Lucia."(We are on guard*) "Perché? (Why?)" However, I am grabbed by the arm and have to make monstrous efforts not to let out a scream. I know who it is just by the pungent smell of cigars and Cologne. "Let me go, Santo. I don't want to cause a scene," I ordered him with falsely calm air. "Don't talk with the minions, Lulu," he replies, pulling me toward the buildi
Santo freezes, and I see the bitterness gradually creep over his features. "Yes, Lulu. And, instead of leaning on Matteo and me, you wanted the most dangerous of us. The only Ganovese who remains in the shadows. Elio Ganovese, the man in absolute control of his emotions. The man always in control of everything. Do you know how it felt the day he called you 'Luce dei miei occhi' (Light of my eyes*) without realizing it?" I slowly nod. Santo, Matteo, and I had a big fight the day they learned I was in a relationship with their brother. Since then, I hated Santo, who had been the most virulent against me. "You brought fucking light to a man who lives in fucking darkness all the time. We warned you that you would never be free again if you let Elio's love grow for you. We told you to stay away. You know our family's saying: Mangiare bene, ridere spesso, amare molto. (Eat well, laugh often, love a lot. *) We warned you that we would never oppose him, that we co
As soon as he says these words, I literally jump on his neck. I clutch the fabric of his black turtleneck in my hands and start kissing him passionately. I can't help but sigh as his hand slides down the back of my neck to pull me a little closer to him. Elio. My Elio. Merda. (Shit*) At the point where I am now, there's no need to think anymore. He starts walking towards the living room without ever leaving my lips. His hand stays firmly against my neck, and he almost throws his glass of bourbon on the impressive glass coffee table. "Show me, Amore mio," he says against my lips as my hands slip under his black top. I push him to sit on his oversized black leather corner couch. He spreads his legs so I stand right in front of him. I begin to unbutton my jacket without taking my eyes off him. Elio smiles at me and leans comfortably against the backrest. The way he looks at me h
Elio steps back and lets me get up. I bend down to grab my clothes, thrown carelessly to the side, and I start to get dressed. He beckons me to come closer, and then he helps me to pull up the zipper of my white pencil skirt. "You could spend the night here," he says, watching me calmly. I look up at him for a moment as I button my jacket. "I could, yes," I whisper to him. And it breaks my heart to see the hope shining in his eyes. Elio runs his hands down my back and pulls me back to him. He spreads my legs enough so I'm kneeling on the couch right before him. Then he puts his hands on my cheeks and comes to press our foreheads together. "What more do I have to do to make you stay?" I frown slightly. I try to pull my head back, but Elio holds my neck firmly. "Sign the divorce papers." Elio lets out a sigh. "I refuse. You are mine. You agreed to be mine. You can't abandon me again. Especially not today. I can leave you your apartment, your business, amore mio. But I will neve
I wake up and change immediately. 5:00 AM. I am late. But what can I do? My body was perfectly relaxed after the orgasm Elio gave me, and I fell into a deep sleep as soon as I got home. It was as if my mind was perfectly serene, knowing that he was on top of me. I quickly grab my gym bag and sling it around me. I need to hurry downstairs. I need to walk and let my body warm up from the effort despite the cold morning air. 5: 30 AM. Half out of breath, I finally arrive at the gym and rush to the locker room to drop off my stuff. As I try to pass through the door that separates the showers from the training room, my coach grabs me by the arm and drags me toward the exit. I do not have time to figure out what is happening to me before I find myself outside. My bag is thrown on the sidewalk while my coach claps his hands loudly as if to remove the dust. "I know I am late, but don't you think you are overreacting a little?" I ask my coach. I cringe slightly as I meet his dark ga
The sound of an incoming email startles me as a slightly satisfied smile appears on the corner of Elio's lips. I do not know what it is about, but I know from how he is acting that he just received some great news. He looks up at the driver of his car, then informs him that he will make a phone call using the car's speaker. I raise my neck, leaning on the headrest of my seat. I just close my eyes, trying to keep my composure. I repeat to myself like a mantra: it is nothing, Lulu. Elio is just afraid you will get hurt. You still have your job and apartment, even though it is now riddled with damn spy cameras! "Don Elio" articulates the voice over the speaker. "I am very pleased with the speed this case was resolved. Glad to see your skills are up to the salary I am paying you," Elio replies coldly. I can feel him moving to the side and reaching for a cigar. I do not know what case he is talking about, but one thing is sure, Elio is delighted. Strang
(Thirteen years ago.) I can hear them talking. They try to whisper around me, but I am not deaf. "The bambina is only sixteen..." "Who will take care of her until she comes of age?" "Luciano died like that. Cardiac arrest. But, if you ask me, he paid for all the excesses of his youth. "I know some people who must be angry that they did not manage to kill him." "His daughter found him laid out when she came home from school." "His daughter is a Mafia princess. I wonder how much she will inherit." "Luciano was a rich man." "Luciano had a daughter?" "Yes, he did. Stronzo (asshole*) knocked up the daughter of a capo. She died giving birth to the bambina." "She could marry one of my sons." "Who will tutor her?" "The families are likely to fight among themselves to get custody of the girl. To acquire Luciano's daughter is to have the opportunity to have access to his fortune." "Wouldn't that be Santo Ganovese?" "The Ganovese's mad dog." "Why did the Ganovese come?" "Where i