An hour after we left the Ildefonso's Residence, the clear cloudless bright sky suddenly turn dark and filled with heavyweight clouds an indication of inclement weather. The wind seems start to go wild because I could see how those trees sways in a bit harsh and alarming movement. There is already a light rain and I wouldn't be surprise if any moment by now, the light rain will replace by heavy rain fall. Sain is sleeping the whole ride or so I thought? Perhaps, he is pretending to be asleep to dodge my questions and curious stare. I wonder if it is alright with him to come with me when he has a lot of things to do. He's been busy the past weeks to settle the problem that happen during his illegal transactions. For sure his legal businesses has a lot of paperwork waiting that he needs to deal. I don't want him to come with me, can't he feel that? I frown and just focus my attention outside the car window shifting my thoughts away from Sain Czar. The silence between us made me realiz
Luscio Costello my father once told me that I am mean when speaking. That I was not the child he used to comfort every night whenever I come out from my room, screaming and crying because I miss my parents. I become short-tempered, uninhibited, and straightforward. I think the reason why I become like that was because I learned that there was no need for me to show respect to my enemies and I couldn't trust anyone aside from the Costellos so it's better to treat them in the same way. My enemies done shameful things and yet they don't feel bad about it. While strangers and people I am just acquainted with are unpredictable. They are allowed to do things that they wanted, we are not in control of how they think and how they choose to treat us. Life forces people to act in a certain way to protect themselves, a defense mechanism to feel safe. This is what happening to me. The downfall I experienced, the tragedy I witnessed, and the trauma that still keep on haunting my sleep forces me
I was drag back to my reverie when the cold wind blows that seep through the bare skin of my shoulder and legs. I shiver a little because of it that made me hug myself. I bit my lower lip and look at my phone. I need to talk Enzo. I took a deep breath and dial Enzo's digit which he immediately answer in just one ring, as expected. "Hera," My gaze become dead with emotion. I am not Selena Asli Castania right now so I don't need to fake an emotion. "I need you to do something for me" I said in a flat tone. Enzo Stefano. He came from the Stefano Syndicate one of the trusted ally of Costello. He becomes my right hand the moment I become a Costello. I can say that in every mission that I did, he is my support system. He become my shadow, the one who protect me from behind. He is my comrade, a loyal and trusted comrade. I know that he will never betrayed me. "I'm all ears" he immediately response. I start to walk back in forth in a slow pace while watching the every step I take.
His warmth spread to my body and for some reason the tension inside me slowly subside. All I could feel is his arms wrap around me giving me a delusion that I am his damsel in distress and he is ready to save me from everyone.I squeeze my eye shut fisting my hands. I inhaled his manly scent and the lingering trace of aftershave that I find alluring. My mind is not working but on the back of it, I know what to do. I know what I must do and that is to push him away from me, keep the distance between us, not to get swayed with his strange behavior. But why can't I move my feet nor my hands? His hug is different. It stronger, tighter, and warmer than those I experience before. It feels so different, it's unfamiliar yet I am liking the feeling of it. What is happening to me?How come this man possess this kind of hug? He is Sain Czar Ildefonso. He is my enemy...I silently gritted my teeth and swallow the lump lodge in my throat while grasping the fabric of my dress tightly as if I'm as
"Selena, darling we need to talk"The first thing that came out from Sain's mouth as soon as the car halted in front of the main door of the mansion. His voice is calm yet lace of demanding tone as if he doesn't want me to say no and he's not giving me a choice to reject him either.But I didn't listen to him instead I open the door beside me. "I'm tired. I'm going inside" I said in a flat tone before getting off the car.I can't be Selena all the time. I should know how to be Herravie in some situation to make him realize that I am not one of those women who's willing to submit to him. It doesn't mean that I'm the one who insist this marriage then he can just treat me as if I'm some kind of a puppet who will do everything that he wanted and not allowed to complain although I feel bad about what he say and do.He manage to sway my emotion a while ago and I won't let that happen again. I don't know how does his embrace differ to the point that I get lost with it. I don't know how does
My defenses crumble one after another just like how a rocky ice melt under the heat from the sun. His lips is warm and soft against mine too much from my expectation. He is unexpectedly gentle, the way he moves his lips feels like I am some kind of a delicate glass that he needs to hold carefully or else I breakdown into pieces. The tender pleasure is too good to be true and it feels like this is my first time. I have been kissed before, not just once but countless of times but this is the first time I felt something like this. An emotion I couldn't name, a tingling sensation that makes me crave for more, ask for more because I want more of him. Oh no... This is not good, this is getting dangerous.I was about to push him away from me but Sain pulled away and took away his mouth from me which is surprisingly sweet and addictive. I breath heavily while looking at him with my slightly parted lips. I am still taken aback with his sudden kiss and my grip on the fabric of my clothes tight
What is happening? Why does it feels that the contract between us was the biggest mistake I ever did in my life? I feel manipulated. I feel controlled. I can't protest because I agree to it. Was this his plan? I look at Sain Czar Ildefonso. Is this his plan? His words 'I mean it the way it sound' suddenly become suspicious. Was I got fooled? "Mia Signora, are you alright?" I look at Pierro who seems notice the sudden change of my emotion despite the dimly lighted kitchen. He has a sharp eyes. I force a smile. "I am..." I lied. I'm not freaking fine. I wanted to kill someone right now, someone who worth the blood on my hands. "Don't look at her Gustave" Sain hissed dragging me back to my senses. "Shit" Pierro whisper and immediately look away while scratching the back of his head. "Don't get it wrong. I didn't look at her" he explain, sound a bit defensive and at the same time nervous. "I saw you dimwit" Sain growl lowly and hid me behind his back covering me with his tall
"Disturbing me at this hour, Licciardi?"There is a hint of restrain annoyance that can be heard in Sain Czar's voice. It's too visible to the point that he can't no longer hide it from Nicolai."This is urgent" Pierro interject.I could feel the sudden cold and menacing air that filled the whole room. The atmosphere changes and that gives me a goosebumps but I keep my eyes close pretending to be asleep but my ears are attentive to every words they say even to their every move. If I am not mistaken, Pierro and Nicolai is facing on my direction while Sain Czar's back is facing me. That is just how I picture out their seating arrangement base on the direction and sound of their voices. Sain is much more closer to me that's why I could clearly heard him even if he is whispering. While the two is sitting a little farther. "To the point you barge in my room while I am with my wife" Sain stated in a controlled tone."We didn't mean to disturb your peaceful sleep with your wife , but this
"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