"What the h*ll f*cking happened?" I threw the glass of brandy on the wall, shattering it into pieces. Now, all three of them were in my small office in our hideout. Lev, Maxim, and Roman were taking glances at each other, scowling, and waiting to spill the beans. "Lev!" I called out. "You told me you take charge!" he sat straight, eyes defiantly staring back at me. Lev was my friend since I went back to Russia. Among them, he's the one I trusted with my life. "I said I'd take care of everything, but you didn't tell me Marcini was there!" his abrupt answer got me zone out. What did he say again?! Martin Marcini was at the theater! Did Shantel fail to mention that, or did she also not know? "Marcini, you said!" both Maxim and Roman nodded with the same furious stare as Lev. "F*cking sh*t!" I strode to my desk and called Shantel's number. It took a couple of rings before she answered. Her background was loud and head-splitting. "Are you f*cking celebrating in advance, Zaborowski
High tide! The sea, with its ocean-blue glory, basked underneath the clear sky. The earth's wind passing with its coldness blew on my keyed-up look. I've been in this mansion for two days, and the only rooms where I toured so far were the dining room and the living room. Martin made sure my actions were limited. He had eyes for me everywhere. His being like this caused me to feel two different things. He either warmed my heart or caused my head to boil in anger. A deep sigh left my lips as I stared at the horizon. The sea wave was calm today. Martin's mansion was situated on top of a hill. Surrounding this vast extensive place were huge trees and wild plants. The road here wasn't also that wide, one lane was good enough to occupy cars. I bet Martin engineered everything for his safety. He could always escape this place with the helicopter he had parked on one of the rooftops of Casa Al Mare, just in case. A soft blow of the wind engulfed me, hugging myself for comfort. The beige
Martin POV . . Until now, when I was in my office, I was still chewing what Dakota told me this morning. She was right on some point. Where could she get money to pay gangsters to kill me? She was just a freaking simple woman who luckily received a vast inheritance from her dead parents. Aside from us, she had no connections to other gangsters at all. Aside from that, she shared the same opinion with my mom. I should look at the bottom of the issue and not just the top. I glanced at the sealed documents in my open drawer, pondering what was written inside. That was the agreement for the smuggled weapons on the shoot-out. For the second time, we lost millions of dollars in just a couple of hours. For the second time, the big godfathers all over the world would scrutinize how I handled my businesses in the state. I was now just waiting for the grand meeting. I was about to read it again when my door burst open. I slid the drawer closed and locked it with my pin, Dakota's birth
Shantel let out an annoying groan upon hearing the ring. She shot Luke's name on the caller ID, a scowl, reluctant to get off my desk. Her hands that were wrapped around my neck were still tangled like poisonous snakes. "I have to take that, bellissima!" I told her, my voice was clothed with sweetness, something I hadn't used to her for a long time. Yet, she insisted on staying this way, like a sloth hanging tightly on a tree branch. My phone's ringing non-stop, which only meant one thing. The call was very important. "Bellissima, why not get me a cup of coffee for a while? You know how much I like the way you make my coffee!" giving her a light kiss on her cheek if this still wouldn't work, boy, I might as well just forget I was just feigning and push her to the floor. "But tesoro mio!" she even swayed her shoulders while pouting her lips, acting cute but not even close to someone I knew. Shantel was always the serious business-type woman. Playing sweet and adorable didn't suit he
Dakota POV . . It's f*cking hurt! This mere sacrifice I made just to escape from that gigantic cage. D*mn, my arm's still in pain like b*tch. Purposely slipping on a wet bathroom floor was torture-suicide, I would not recommend it. However, at least I was now out, more than an hour away from his mansion. The nurse wrapped a bandage around my arm, making it hard to move, but it lessened the pain so far. Now, all I had to do was steal some time to stealthily leave this hospital. This was a private hospital in the countryside, and they were not exactly strict when it came to organizing, or the staff here were just too lazy to work. Their stuff is everywhere, including their uniforms and laboratory gowns. I got up from the bed and ambled to the door. Peeping through the slightly open entrance, I saw two nurses talking to each other while passing by. I gasped when one of the nurses took off her lab gown and tossed it in the bin while her companion was waiting. "Perfect!" I
"When I said you have to stay here for a while, I meant it!" he pushed me to the room, almost spraining my ankle. "Ah!" I screamed, scowling at him as I lifted my head just to meet his furious gaze. "That's hurt!" I even forgot my other arm was bandaged, and it was f*cking painful when I unintentionally raised it to point at his annoying face. I hissed at the discomfort I felt, twitching my lips while my glare was glued on him. "What do you want from me, anyway? Why can't you just let me go?" I roared while trying to get up. He stepped forward and pressed my chin, his face just an inch away from mine, his fresh mint breath tickling my nose. "Not until I find the truth that you're not involved with the shoot-out, you'll be staying here!" his tone was stern, and his eyes were hinting at something I couldn't fathom. "I already told you it was not me. Why would I plan on killing you and not doing it properly?" I lifted my head, leveling his deep stare. "If that was me, I should ha
Dinner time! . I stared at the juicy steak on my plate while listening to the clutching sound of Martin's cutlery. "Aren't you going to eat?" he asked while chewing his food. When I shifted my glance at him, he was now sipping his red wine while his stare was fixed on me. "I'm not really hungry!" I uttered under my breath but also cursed my stomach internally for making a rumbling sound. I clearly saw his smirk from the corner of his lips. Even from that simple action he did while holding a glass of wine, it was so sexual to see. He gently put the glass on the table and continued eating. "Okay, if that's what you said!" he muttered while cutting the steak on his plate. I thought for a moment he was just feigning not to care, but as minutes passed, he never glanced at me again. That made my blood boil. I grunted and dragged the chair. I got up and marched out of the dining room. I was famishing, yes! But I also hated his guts. What was that attitude he was showing this time?
Luke POV . . I was full of joy. Finally, I could take some time off tonight. Guarding a strong-headed woman like Ms. Weasly drained my energy a lot. "Someone's so happy!" Mariana chimed in behind me. I just glanced over my shoulder and smiled at her. "Looks like someone can sleep early tonight and can wake up late tomorrow, huh?!" she quipped. I turned around and raised the glass of red wine to her. "Cheers to that, Mariana. The same must go with you, too!" I told her with a wink. "Oh! Well, I need to prepare for their breakfast!" she shrugged off while pouring herself a glass of wine. "But who knows, right?!" she also winked, knowing what we both meant. "I'm telling you, you're not gonna prepare for breakfast. A late lunch or early dinner, maybe!" I whispered while glancing around, thinking somebody could have heard us. But the thing was, aside from boss and Ms. Weasly, it was just me and Mariana who lived in this mansion. The Scarred-face Gang was scattered everyw
Dakota POV . . "Martin?!" Paul repeated with a question. He glanced at the door but there was no one there. "Kota, are you alright?" "Huh?! Oh! Yeah! I am absolutely alright!" Who was he to stop me? He broke up with me after everything that I had done to him. So, who was he to control me now. "Paul, let's dance!" I placed my hands on his shoulders. "Now? Where?" Paul was confused and thought I was just kidding, but when he saw my serious look, he sighed. "You mean on the first floor? Sure, you want to have fun tonight, huh?!" He smiled and intertwined my hand with his. "That's why we are here for, Paul. To have fun. Besides, we're both leaving this place soon, so let's put a lot of memories here, shall we?!" I winked at him, and he just chuckled. We both went downstairs after closing the VIP room and talked to the server to just place our order on the table. Some of the people from the other VIP rooms did the same thing. The music was at its loudest, and the cheers
Dakota POV . . "Why are you leaving? And where are you going?" He clasped my hand that was resting on the table. A sullen look laced on his face. "Dakota, is there something wrong?" "Paul, Martin and I broke up!" I confessed. I pursed my lips to restrain the tears that were about to leak. "I am going back to London. I miss my life there. Also, I want to help Warren run our business!" It was also one of the reasons why I had to go back to my country. I called Warren the other day, and we talked about it. He said he was always swamped with the tasks and responsibilities of running Liam's company, The Bailey International. Aside from having a major in fashion design, I was also interested in marketing. I had a double course when I was studying. It was a grind to the bones, but I could say it was worth it. "Well, what can I say? So, I shall see you there then!" His smile was off the roof, and I was also stunned at his response. "What do you mean? Wait, are you also going t
Dakota POV . . "Are you sure about this?" My best friend, Amy Leah, asked me for the nth time. I planned to leave New York for good. I would like to go back to London and just help my brother with the family's business. Warren was now the CEO of Bailey's Enterprise. The business company that was once led by our cousin Liam, Amy Leah's deceased husband, a long time ago. "Yes, Ams, I am very sure about it. And please don't tell your husband about my whereabouts. Although I know for sure that Martin wouldn't mind, I just want to play safe here. Desmond's family is my enemy and Martin... is one of them now!" I took a deep sigh, thinking about everything that happened in my life since I met that gorgeous-looking but as*hole mafia god. Amy Leah sighed. "I think I can't stop you anymore. I'm going to miss you, Kota. Please keep in touch, okay?!" She hugged me tight, and this time, I couldn't help but be emotional. I told myself not to cry in front of her, but I guess that wasn't e
Dakota POV . . I tried to sleep and just forgot everything that I saw that evening, but heck, who was I kidding?! I had already rolled on the bed many times, but still, my mind was wide awake. "Huh?!" I jolted on my bed and sat up, staring blankly at the darkness. There was only one dim lamp serving as my light in my room. Although there were light posts outside the villa, and they were on from the evening till the morning, the navy blue curtains were blocking them from penetrating my room. I wiped the sweat on my forehead and planned to go downstairs to get some water. I remembered I skipped dinner, and now it was past midnight. However, I couldn't feel any hunger at all. I guessed I lost my appetite because of the two annoying jackas*s in the house. Where were they now anyway?! I stealthily crept downstairs and headed to the kitchen to get a bottle of water. I was about to open the fridge when suddenly somebody clamped my mouth and hugged me from behind. I was restrained
Dakota POV . . It had been weeks since I had never spoken to Martin since I found out he also f*cked that female member of his gang. Also, it had been a week since I had never seen him in person. He was always with that Shantel. "Hello, Miss Weasly!" Mariana called me from the kitchen. "What brought you here?!" She was cutting some carrots on the island. "Drop the 'Miss Weasly' Mariana. I told you many times that you can simply call me Dakota!" I sighed, making Mariana glance at me and her face form a thin smile. I took one baby carrot and crunched it in my mouth while staring at the different vegetables on the island. "You are cooking a lot for the evening!" I shifted my glance at her. She continued chopping the baby carrots while her smile was glued on her gentle-looking face. "Don't you know? Boss will come home this evening. He told Luke about it. Luke told me to prepare his favorite!" "Hmm, I see!" Nonchalantly, I just shrugged my shoulders and sat on one of the to
Chatny POV . . The h*ll this as*hole had the nerve to insult me after f*cking me. Who did he think he was? And what the h*ck was he doing in this motel, in this place, in this countryside? I was here simply trying to escape from Shantel, who had been bossing me around. I had a great life in Italy. My job as a fashion model was doing well until my sister dragged me into this freak show she and my father started. If only she didn't have something that could blackmail me, I would never obey her. Shantel and I may be sisters, but we were water and fire. We couldn't get along. She was the businesswoman and the brain in the family, I was the cheerful, easy-go-lucky one. I was the wallflower in the Zaborowski mansion; never noticed, never cared, but always there. "Miss, we are here!" My Lady guard arrived just in time. She was with another guy, who acted as my driver and bodyguard. "Please get rid of him. Throw him outside or in the trash, I don't care!" I pointed at Yvan, w
Yvan/Harry POV . . I had been thinking about what to do with the beauty in front of me. It had been almost an hour since I came into her room, and she hadn't finished taking a shower yet. Until a devilish plan came up in my drunk thoughts. I hastily took off my clothes and entered the bathroom. Due to the sound of water, the naked lady couldn't hear me coming in. Aside from that, she was singing nonstop. It hurt my ears, but I focused on the curves in the right places, standing in front of me. I was already out of my mind, not thinking of the consequences of my actions. She would never know me, I told myself. So, before she would turn around, I had already grabbed her. I clamped her mouth with my palm and wrapped my strong hand around her flat tummy. "Hmp!" She whimpered and struggled, but I was too strong, she couldn't move at all. "Scream, and you'll die!" I whispered in her ears, and she stopped moving. "Let me taste you, my love!" I began nibbling her collarbone, the
YVAN / HARRY POV . . I had been drinking here at the bar for almost three hours now. I escaped the company of my gang for a while to bask in the glory of being alone. Since Dakota had left with Martin last week, I was a mess. I tried everything that I could do to keep myself tied up, to forget about her. However, everything seemed to be going to waste as always! "F*ck!" I roared. The people around me glanced in my direction. The bar was not the normal bar where drunk people would actually spend their time and be crazy with the ear-deafening sound of the music. This bar was different. It was quiet and only a few customers were inside. "More brandy, boss?!" The bartender asked while wiping a glass on the counter. I nodded my head and raised my index while holding an empty glass of brandy. "Here!" He poured a new glass and put it in front of me. "It's on the house!" He added, smiling. My glassy eyes smiled back at this, in my observation, teenage bartender. "Aren't you
Dakota POV . . "I'm bored!" I complained while changing the channels of the TV in the living room. I was sitting alone here on this luxurious five-seater Italian leather couch. There were three kinds of snacks on the table that were meant for my stomach, but I only tasted a bit of each. "Life of the well-off is killing me!" I whined in the air. "Miss Weasly!" Mariana called me from the entrance of the dining room. I just glanced at her, then turned the channel to a boring talk show. "Do you like to go out for a while?" She asked, excited. "Like where Mariana? Martin told me to stop going out for a while. Also, I don't want to go out with lots of people following me!" I stomped my feet on the marmoleum floor, making Mariana smile. "Then how about let's find something to do in the mansion? By the way, what is your hobby?" I lifted my head, thinking about my dead hobbies. "Hmm, aside from designing clothes, I like horseback riding and karate!" My eyes gleamed at the idea o