"W-What?"I look like a fool staring at this devilishly handsome man in front of me. He's towering over me with his height but I don't seem to care gawking at him like an idiot.What the fuck did he say?"I'm going off somewhere and I won't be back for a week" he pauses. His eyes trail to my neck for a couple of seconds before meeting my gaze. "And I came here because I want to see you because you're my wife""A week? But you just get back" my forehead creased. "Where are you going this time?" I can't help to ask.How could he leave again? He just return from who knows where and he's here right now telling me that he's leaving again? Why would he suddenly go off somewhere for the entire week? Did something happen? Or maybe he's going to meet someone else. I still could remember that his name is linked to a woman name Helena Brown. I tilt my head and suspiciously eye him. "May I remind you that you're no longer a bachelor Mr. Ildefonso. You can't just fool around while I am your wi
I fell into silence while staring at Sain. I could feel the fast pounding of my heart inside my chest as if it wanted to burst out. I almost forgot what is our deal all about. It's just a kiss but why does it seem so hard to do?"Nervous?" I raised a brow seeing his wolfish grin that makes him even more hotter.What the hell? I can't believe that in everything he does, I didn't fail to praise him. But I don't think it's my fault. Sain Czar Ildefonso is a temptation to all women, a temptation that is hard to deny."I'm not nervous" I hissed and sharply glare at him. "But you seem hesitant" "It's my first time" I casually replied. Silence envelops us for a short moment. But later on, the late surprise reaction flashes on Sain's face. "You never been kissed?" His eyes widened a little as if that was the most ridiculous thing he ever heard.I mentally rolled my eyes. Who says I have never been kissed? Phss. "I've been kissed countless times. What I mean is I never initiated a kis
Wearing a floral summer dress paired with my white-heeled sandals, I step out of the car and casually roam my eyes around. The heat of the sun against my skin is a bit bothering so I start to walk inside the shopping mall where I and Enzo decided to meet. Enzo Stefano from Stefano Crime Family. He's one of my trusted and reliable men. He never failed to assist me in every mission. Meeting him today was not my plan knowing that Sain will be back tomorrow but then I received a message informing me about the sudden encounter between Ilde Famiglia and Sintti Organization last night. Jaxer is wounded and Apollo is in the hospital, being aware of it makes me irrational. I can't be at peace if I'm not able to talk to Enzo and make sure that my brothers are fine. I also need to get an important document from him. And last but not the least, I wanted to know if Sain was there during the encounter. Because if he is, then it was my fault. It was my job to spy on Sain and help Sintti to avoid
"She is young master Sain Czar's wife. Lay a finger on her, you will die" I gulp hearing the icy tone of Pierro Gustave. His threat gives me goosebumps and I couldn't help to feel alarmed for Phoebus Romani. "Czar's wife..." He chanted and eye me seriously.I keep my straight face. I guess he didn't know me, after all, I am the invisible daughter of Luscio Costello who works in the shadow of the Sintti Crime Organization.Pierro blocks his view. I couldn't see his face but I could hear in his voice that he was trying to be patient."He likes a fragile flower huh?" He chuckles.I frown. Do I look fragile to him? I can kill people, I don't think that is fragile."I'm not a flower" I intervene. "I'm a torn that could choke you alive until you die" He seems surprised by my brutal words but later on, laugh out loud gaining attention from the people around us."Your harsh and brutal words are sexy. Is that how you lure Czar?"I raised my brows. He's a fucking jerk and not an innocent ma
"Do I really need to move today?" I ask Sain who's comfortably laying on my bed as if he owns everything.I made my voice sound hesitant as if I'm scared with the fact of living inside the Ildefonso's Residence when in fact I have been dying to enter that place.We're inside my room because I am busy packing my things while Sain is on my bed enjoying the soft mattress. I am not looking at him because I could feel his stare at me. His eyes never left me, his gaze follow my every move and that is honestly uncomfortable. "The sooner I bring you home, the better" he utters in his usual calm yet authoritative tone of voice.I glance at him, forehead creased because I could feel that he's being impatient. Did something happen?"Does your Dad know about our contract?" I curiously query."He can't figure out about it" That's a good thing. I don't want him to know either. I stand and breathe out. My attention turn to Sain, just what I expected he was still looking at me. "Are you done?"
The moment I felt his hand on my back, my attempt to complain didn't happen. I swallow my words just like how I swallow the curses I wanted to spit out in front of him. My heart is beating so fast and I couldn't figure out if it is because of anger, nervousness, or the foreign feeling that I couldn't name. My lips form into a thin line, my chin resting on his shoulder. Unconsciously, I grasp the fabric of his clothes tightly while staring at nowhere. I could feel the heat of his body and the bulging muscles of his arms. His breath fanning on the exposed skin of my neck tickles me a little. On the back of my head, I wanted to push him followed by a small voice screaming 'danger' but then I can't seem to move my hands in the way that I should. His effect on me takes control of my senses. My body act on its own and I can't seem to protest. Perhaps, this was the first time I felt someone else's warmth. I didn't know that it feels overwhelming and calming. This is my first time getting
"You don't have to be nervous, Little. You have me, I am your husband" What does it mean? Why does it sound like assurance in my ears? I look into his eyes for a couple of seconds, and slowly, a genuine smile forms on my lips for the first time since we met. I didn't know that I am able to feel at ease with this man for even just a second.He pulled away and my lips move when I realize that he already unfasten my seatbelt. His eyes linger on my face for a while and I saw how the corner of his lips move before pushing the door open. I saw Nicolai approach him and glance in my direction. His formal yet friendly smile greeted me and I nod in response. I step out of the car and took a deep breath. My lips form into a thin line when I glance at the huge fancy mansion in front of me. The exterior design was inspired by Greek architecture that almost looks like the Costello Mansion. I was not surprised when I notice those numbers of men in black standing like a statue in each corner becau
"It was a wife's responsibility to give her husband a child" he stated. "It's part of your responsibility, darling. Have you forgotten condition # 2?"A hint of mischief crossed his eyes while staring at my stunned reaction. A bomb seems like explode inside my head and it was Sain Ildefonso who throw that bomb. He's quiet but his full attention is focused on me as if he was fascinated by something- it's either my face or something that I am not aware and he's the only one who knows. "You're serious?" My voice shook and I saw how he haft-bit his lower lip and sexily released it slowly."Do I look like I'm joking, woman?" He fireback, flashing a grin on his somewhat serious-looking face.I expelled a breath and shake my head."You fooled me!" I blurt out. "You created that contract because of a malicious intention" I accused him.How could he? How come I get fooled by his misleading contract? Does Nicolai know about it? Is that the reason why he was eager for me to sign the contract?
"Where is Sain? Please let me see him" I pleaded as I look at the stern expression of Sixto who's standing at the door not wanting me go inside the room."Celeste enough, you haven't fully recover yet. Let's go back to your room" Zachary said who's standing beside me while holding my arm, giving me support.It's been almost three weeks since what happen. Everything are still fresh in my memory, how I escape the Ildefonso's Residence, how Antonio help me, how I killed Teofilo, how Jaxer try to kill me and how Sain was getting shot by Apollo. It's been almost three weeks and yet I haven't saw Sain even just once. They won't let me, Sixto is always stopping me as well as Zachary who disappointingly siding at Sixto. They doesn't want me to see Sain, they are even updating me about his condition. I am dying with so much anxiousness, I am worried sick how he is doing. "Just a glance. I just have to know how he is" I insist not wanting to go back.I know it was my fault but I never wanted
The car halted in a familiar place. I took a deep breath and rolled down the car window scanning my eyes around the place. It's been a while since the last time I visit here and nothing change despite how my heart change. "Are you sure that you're doing this?" Antonio break the silence that made me look at him."What do you mean by that?" I ask in return."If Enzo is the one sitting here, for sure he will ask the same Hera. This is your enemy's place, you cannot do the first move. You just have to defend" he explain.I mentally shake my head, he almost sound like Enzo. I didn't know that he's coming to me. His loyalty is only for Enzo and I didn't know he will give it to me since he was under Sintti's training. "Have I mention to you that I have a brother? A real one and I just recently find out about him" I said."And what does it has to do with this?""He will save me together with my husband. You know how powerful my husband right? So nothing will happen to me," I confidently sai
"Hera..."I stilled on my spot when I heard the familiar voice of Apollo on the other line. Unconsciously, I turn my head to look at the direction of Sain and his brothers who's occupying the living room while discussing something that I didn't know.The trio doesn't seem to notice that I am no longer on my spot because their attentions are all on the table while Sixto is talking things that I cannot understand and follow. Perhaps it was about his organization and not Ilde Famiglia. "Please Hera, spare me a minute to talk with you" I blink my eyes and took a deep breath before living the trio. I went out and head straight to the gazebo doesn't want anyone to hear me talking to someone from Costello. "What do you want Apollo?" I ask, controlling the tone of my voice.Knowing that Teofilo Romani is the person who killed my parents, there is a sudden anger rooted inside me towards my brother. They all knew and yet they didn't say anything. They all make me look like a fool. They are a
The wind is blowing softly and it gives me a shivering sensation every time it touches my bare skin. I lifted my gaze and breath calmly. I am here in the gazebo hugging myself because of the morning breeze. I did stay but I couldn't find myself to sleep after what I find out. And now that the morning came, I still don't know what to do. I don't know where to start because I couldn't believe that I was been fooled for fifteen years and I am oblivious about it.I took a deep breath and gaze down shutting my eyes close. I am not sure if making a deal with Sain Czar is the smartest thing to do, but then I already did it. I already gave him my word in exchange of a very important information. I am not interested how did he finds out, my whole focus is on Sintti Organization and Mafia Romano. Both of them made fun of me, they made me believe a made up stories and I was such an idiot. I couldn't believe that I work for the man who killed my parents. I already meet him but I didn't recogni
"That's enough!" Sixto's voice filled the whole room, breaking the dark inclement mood that is about to explode. "Celeste is no longer the child we've been searching. She become the woman we never expected, she will not be pleased once she hears this" Zacharias agree. Well, he's right. Everything that is happening right now is not pleasing and here they are fighting as if I can't make decision on my own. Maybe my driven force to live is the vengeance inside my heart, but I stop living as Celeste. I already forgotten how does it feels like to live in the shoes of that innocent girl. "I will discuss this with Father. This is very complicated and I hope we are all expect the consequences..." Sixto added, sounding like a mature brother. "I don't want to see you two fighting about it."That make sense because he is the oldest among them. He has the authority to make the two follow him even the hardheaded Sain Czar. I immediately close my eyes and pretend that I'm still sleeping when Za
My eyes widen."What the hell are you doing?!" I blurt out and pulled my wrist from his grasp.Sain look at me with those serious and tantalizing eyes that never failed to drown me but I keep my distance with him, flaunting the anger that plastered on my face right now. "I am telling them the truth. You're Celeste Astraea Cortezi, and they should know that fact" My lips parted as I look at him disbelief. "What the hell are you saying Czar?" Zacharias suddenly intervene that made me fisted my hand.I stare at Sain Czar sharply hoping that he will stop this nonsense. There is no point even if he informed everyone about my real identity. I was molded and live as a Costello for fifteen years. I killed people, numerous lives die in my hands. That won't change and the fact that I am Celeste Astraea Cortezi will not cover the bloody life I'm living. But Sain ignore my warning gaze instead he turn to look at Zacharias."You heard me. She's Celeste Astraea Cortezi, the woman we've been fin
"What do you really want from me?" I ask before he take his step inside.We're already here, I was not able to stop him because his persistent to bring me back to Ildefonso's Residence is hard to break. But I need to know what does he really want from me. I want to know why he's doing this. If this is part of his revenge then he should stop it because I don't like playing this kind of game. Sain Czar didn't speak nor turn around to face me but he didn't walk away either. I am patiently waiting for his response because I need it. I don't know what he's up to because as I said, Sain Czar is difficult to read. He's hard to predict. I don't know what's on his mind, I cannot conclude any idea. He is that mysterious and I don't want to fall with his mystery."You're not my husband no matter how much you insist. You don't have the right to my life" I added.I step back when he suddenly face me. Standing six feet tall looking so handsome yet dangerous, Sain took a step closer to me causing m
"I am still here,Little. I am still here where you left me and I am just waiting for you to come back"An unknown warmth covers my heart, I didn't know this kind of assurance is what I needed right now. But then, I know that I am not supposed to ask for it. That would be unfair for him and everything will be mess up even more. I fisted hand giving him a void expression despite his pleading eyes. For the first time, I saw a weak side of him. Another part of him that he will never let anyone figure out. I don't want to be his weakness, he should not be swayed just because of me."You don't know what you're saying""I do" he firmly replied. "I am your husband and it will stay that way until my last breath. I warned you didn't I? When you insist to marry me, I told you there will be no turning back. You cannot turn your back at me, I won't let you" he hissed in a controlled tone. He looks determine, more serious than before. I look straight into his eyes, and just like for the first tim
A loud explosion made me cover my ears as I hide myself in the corner, hoping that a piece of wood I am leaning right now could save me from those sharp bullets that trying to kill me. "I should have killed them all" I hissed to myself, frowning while holding my gun tightly.I am now on the run. Sintti Crime Organization is chasing me just like what Luscio Costello told me. They were aware about the tragic death of my parents, they are aware that Luscio is part of the assassination happens fifteen years ago and now that I am aware about it they are hunting me. Things that I don't understand before is now make sense. The council anger is not about me being a woman, it was because I am a Cortezi the little girl who supposed to be dead years ago. They are trying to kill me now after I obey all their rules and commands for fifteen years. My hands are stained with blood because I stand before them, kill those people who tried to ruined the organization because I thought it was my family