RAVENNA
~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“Well, that was a total waste of time,” Drake said as we made our way back home.“Not a total waste. At least we were able to warn him.” I busied myself with my phone when a text from Zypher came in.Zypher: Lucian Sterling is dead. His funeral is tomorrow, and you have to attend. Alaina has gone shopping for some dresses for you.Lucian Sterling was dead. I didn’t know if to be happy or sorry for him, but good riddance, right?“We’ll have to push the appointment with the men for later. A member of the organization just died. I have to get prepared for his funeral. If I know Alaina, I’ll be trying on a thousand dresses.”“Okay. Maybe we'll ask Andrea and Slade to take care of the issue temporarily.”
“Good idea. I'll text them.”
********“They look like a perfect faRAVENNA~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“We can leave now,” I said to Drake and Zypher. “Took you long enough. We were a second away from coming to find you,” Zypher said as we all made our way out. “Alaina texted me and asked if we wanted to eat something. Apparently, she’s the only one at home.” “Where’s Nana?” I asked. “She went to visit your parents with Leonardo,” Zypher replied. “I know it’s not my place, but you should go visit them someday.” “I will.” Drake elbowed my side. “Ravenna, you’re like the exact opposite of Alaina.” “How so?” “You can’t cook.” “I bake really well.” “That’s a lie. You never baked for me.” “Oh, you expect me to bake for you when w
CIRO~~~~◇◇◇“Hi! I was asleep when you two came in earlier. I’m Sofia,” Tino’s mother said as she took a seat on the lounger closest to where I was sitting on the edge of the pool. “I’m Ciro. It’s nice to finally meet you,” I said, faking a smile. “Something troubles you. I might be no genius, but I can see it in your eyes. What’s wrong with you?” She asked with worry in her eyes. Worry. A woman who I just met for the first time was worried about me, while my mother sat on a chair without a care in the world, watching as my father threw a cup at my head. I had gotten a minor cut just above my left eyebrow, dangerously close to my eye. “You know, it’s messed up that my mother watched when my father did this.” I pointed to the cut on my head. “To me without saying a word, but a woman I just met is
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧“Ciro, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I’ve got a job right now, but when I get back, I’ll deal with your stupidity.” That was the fifth voicemail I left to Ciro, and he hadn’t replied to any of them. Aggravated, I walked into the kitchen. “Did you see Ciro when he left the house?” I asked. “Leave the boy alone. If you keep coddling him, he won’t be able to stand on his own. He’s made his choice,” Sofia said. “I have somewhere to be. On no account should you leave the house.” “Gee. One would think you’re the parent. Of course, I know not to leave the house. You’re so bossy.” “You’ll thank me later when you get to live. I’ll be gone for a few hours.” “One question before you leave. Where did you g
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧“I have a bunch of incompetent assholes as workers. Byron was supposed to get the car checked out,” I said with irritation, climbing out of the car. “I already texted a guard from the club to bring us a new car. He’ll take this to the mechanic,” Carlo said. “We’re meeting a potential business partner. We’re already an hour late as it is.” “Boss, you should go sit in the car. The other car will be here soon.” Frustrated, I sat in the car. It took thirty minutes before the other car came, and when Carlo was about to drive off, I got a message on my phone. “Turn this car around,” I said. “Boss, are you alright?” “Turn the fucking car around.” “But, we already late as it is.” “If you question my ord
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~ ♧♧♧♧♧♧ “Tino, what is this nonsense? Who gave you the right to shoot all those people outside my house?” Aria snarled immediately I threw open the front door. “Why are you stained with blood?” “Those men outside died because they refused to tell about Fiore’s whereabouts. Except you want your fate to be like theirs, I suggest you start talking,” I said, heading straight for Fiore’s office while she followed me. Just like I’d thought, it was empty. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am your father’s wife and there’s nothing you can do to me.” I backed her up against a wall. “It wouldn’t cost me anything to put a bullet in your head, but I am giving you a chance to free yourself. Where is he?” “He left on his private jet. I don’t know where he is.” She looked like she was being honest, so I stepped away from her. “Get out.” “Excuse me? This is my husband’s house. You have no right to order me around.” “You can
RAVENNA ~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“So, you didn’t die,” I teased Drake, taking the seat next to his bed. He glared at me, but there was no malice behind it. “Why do I feel like you wanted me dead? You will not get rid of me that easily, I tell you.” “Right. I still have to prove to you I can bake and cook.” “Well, we got plenty of time. You can bring the treats to me. I don’t mind.” “I will. Tomorrow. I just got back from a party with Gina.” “Nice dress.” “You think?” I looked down at my dress. “I think it’s too sparkly, but Alaina said it was gorgeous, but I think that’s because she was the one that got the dress for me.” “I’m pretty sure that’s why she said so. So, why did you go to a party with Gina?” “We’re looking for my father’s bodyguard. He might know something. We didn’t find him, but we found his brother. Sadly, his brother didn’t also know anything about him. According to him, they’ve been estranged for more than a decade.” “You shoul
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧I walked into the living room to find a sleeping Jasmine in Sofia’s arms “You didn’t tell me you had a child. Where’s her mother?” Sofia asked. “She’s not mine. Her mother is dead.” Sofia gasped. “Poor baby. Are you going to keep her?” “I haven’t figured that out yet. I’ll be really busy for a while, so I won’t be able to look after her.” “I can do that. I can take care of her. Since I’m the only one at home, we can keep each other company. She’ll need a nursery.” “I bought some things for the baby. Byron will set that up for you tomorrow. I need to get some sleep.” “Okay. Goodnight.” “Goodnight.” I made my way to my room, coming to a stop when I saw the painting Carlo had brought wedged against the wall. I picked it up, examining the painting for the first time since he had brought it here.I didn’t see the fuss about the painting. It looked like something Fiore would splash money on just for the fun of it.
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧“Keeping an eye on you? Why would I?” Bradshaw asked, glaring at me. “Same thing I’m asking myself. How did you know I set some hounds loose on a man? I only told that to Fiore in the message I sent to him this morning since he wanted to know how his men died. Are you, by some chance, working with Fiore?” “W- what? W- why would I do that?” He sputtered. “Same thing I’m asking myself. How do you know what I did to those men?” “So you do admit to killing those men?” Bradshaw deflected my question. “I never denied it. What’s your point? Oh, I forgot. You stated that already, and it was just a pile of bullshit.” “How dare you disrespect me like that?” Bradshaw snarled, pushing forward in his chair. “Well, since we’re hellbent on sticking our noses in each other’s businesses, why don’t we talk about how Lucian Sterling died at your party?” I shot back. Eloise had always been a peaceful woman but had it been Bradshaw’