As the sun began to set in the horizon, casting its golden hue upon manicured lawns and tall gates, Arnulfo reached his estate. This place, built out of view from other prying eyes, was a fortress-its luxury in the same way it protected itself. But Arnulfo wasn't here to admire the view.Not tonight. He stepped out of the car, his sharp suit now slightly creased from the tension-filled meeting with Victoria's father. He adjusted his cufflinks absentmindedly, his eyes scanning the perimeter. His men, stationed strategically around the estate, immediately snapped to attention upon seeing him."Report," Arnulfo said as he strode toward the main house, his tone crisp and commanding. Luis, his right-hand man, fell into step beside him. "The perimeter is secure. We've doubled the guards along the southern wall, as you requested. No unusual activity to report in the last twenty-four hours.""And the intel on Victoria?" Arnulfo asked, his voice lowering. Luis hesitated for a brief moment. "We
Arnulfo pulled Valentine close, and she could feel her cheeks getting warm.A cheeky smile spread across his face as he placed his hand on her lower back, rubbing it gently. Her heart started racing as she felt excitement mixed with confusion about the moment. All she knew was that she didn't want it to end; being around him felt really nice. It was a moment she wanted to hold onto.The connection between them was strong, and in that moment, everything else disappeared. Arnulfo felt like a safe place for Valentine, bringing her calm in the chaos of life. She could feel her heart racing as his touch warmed her. It was hard to think; the moment was too intense. She had always wanted to keep her distance to protect herself, but being with Arnulfo felt special and different. It felt real, and for the first time in so long, Valentine found herself to believe in something more."Do you feel well?" Arnulfo's voice snapped her out of her trance, soft and filled with concern as he wrapped his a
You are so fucking beautiful." He stroked her cheek, looking down at her in a way that made her core melt. Soon his hands were pushing back the terrycloth of her robe. Palms grazed hard, beaded nipples before squeezing them gently. Every nerve in her body fired so deliciously.She loosened the sash and let it drop open, baring her curvy body completely to him as she let it fall to the floor. Perhaps they had all day, but every passing moment was making her more and more needy. Her pussy felt so empty."Jesus Christ, you're beautiful." His bulge bumped her soft lower belly, and he groaned. He pushed himself against her a few times before dipping down to suck a nipple into his mouth.A new wave of need crested over her cunt. He was famished, pushing her back onto the bed before coming down over her and right back to work on her breasts, teasing and sucking. His tongue traced around them before flicking against the hard peaks. Somehow he knew exactly what turned her on most. Heat bloomed
He smirked, licking his lips. “I know, baby. And it feels good, doesn’t it?” He groaned and leaned his head back. “You’ve wanted me so long, haven’t you?”“Mhm.” She nodded.“Bet you played with this pussy each night, thinking about me, huh?”She squeezed at him in reply.“Spread it open.”She swallowed, slightly embarrassed at such an ask. But she reached down, using two fingers to open her folds. Heat swelled in her cheeks and along her chest. He was making her want things, things she’d never wanted with anyone else.“Look at that.”She gazed down and admired how she looked with him buried inside.“This pussy is so slick and hot for me.” He moved a little more, curls falling against his temples.“It’s so pretty with my dick shoved in.”She reached for her clit, circling two fingers over it. The urge to come was insufferable.“Uh-uh, darling.” He gripped her wrist and leaned in. “I want you on edge.”Their tongues danced together as their bodies melded into one. He dropped her leg and
The sunlight peeped through the windows of Arnulfo's mansion, casting long golden shadows across the polished floors. The air was still and almost too quiet as Arnulfo sat at his desk perusing the papers his men had brought in from all different parts of his empire. The weight of responsibility fell on his shoulders, a burden he had long grown accustomed to.For every moment his mind drifted with it, Valentine was the endearing thought that kept him close at an angle even closer to peace. She could be in the midst of all that chaos around and within them, but all the same, she's become his anchor. Nonetheless, memories of her brought a pending fear. He didn't know how long he could keep her safe from the storm that was coming—one with a name, and that name was Victoria.As he signed a document, his keen eyes caught movement outside the large windows of his study. He looked up, feeling a chill run down his spine as he saw the unmistakable black cars pulling up to the estate.Victoria.
He reached into his pocket and got out his phone, his fingers dialing a number he wished he wasn't calling at all. It rang a moment and then someone on the other end picked it up."Well, if it ain't Arnulfo."It was that low gravelly voice that, at once both reassuring and unnervingly unfriendly, spoke with an undeniable authority.Silence spread across the other end of the line as Arnulfo sensed wheels turning inside Vito's head. Vito was the capo di tutti capi of the rival mafia outfit that boasted influence and outreach all over the city. They'd met before, but in no way that required them to become this close. Arnulfo knew that asking for help from a man like Vito was dangerous-but desperate times called for desperate measures."I am listening," Vito said flatly, his voice indifferent, but interested."I need your help to take down Victoria," Arnulfo announced, his words cold, decisive. "I have had enough of games. It's either her or me."There was a silent pause, and Arnulfo cou
The phone went dead, and Valentine sat there, heart so full of both love and fear: the battle would be coming their way, but at present, she had to believe him—and that they'd survive together. Victoria Giupere paced her sumptuous bedroom, the clicking of her stiletto heels echoing off the marble floors. Her anger was a palpable mixture of jealousy and wounded pride. She could not think of how Arnulfo could betray her-not for some ordinary woman like Valentine. Her fists clenched at her sides as thoughts of Valentine consumed her.That girl," Victoria hissed under her breath, her reflection in the ornate mirror betraying the unhinged rage in her eyes. "She thinks she can take what's mine?"She turned sharply and grabbed her phone from the nightstand, dialing a number she knew by heart. When the call connected, the gruff voice of her right-hand man, Marco, answered."Boss?"Greg," she spat, her voice venomous. "I want you to find her. I don't care how long it takes or how much it costs
It was a cool evening, moonlit, with the lights of Los Angeles just seen in the distance. Bullets filled the air. The dusty streets of this abandoned industrial park became the battleground. Two notorious gangs had risen to engage in the fight and battle for control: namely, the Giupere gang against the Vito gang.The clash was about power, pride, and untold wealth. Booms and booms of gunfire erupted and ricocheted from rusty cars and crumbling walls as men scrambled behind cover. The air was thick with smoke, a stench hanging heavy that melded together the metallic tang of blood and gunpowder. In this melee, it was easy to see that the Giuperes were no match for the might of the Vito gang. Calculated precision marked their ambush, forcing the Giuperes to become disorganized and desperate. Behind a crumbling wall, Money struggled to reload his weapon, blood seeping from a wound on his leg. He gritted his teeth, his vision blurring as pain threatened to overwhelm him. “We’re sitting d
The soft hum of engines faded into silence as Vito stepped out of his car, his sharp suit a stark contrast to the grim exhaustion in his eyes. He was a man used to holding all the cards, but tonight, his hands felt empty. He had nothing left to gamble except his pride—and even that had been chipped away.Arnulfo's estate stretched before him, a fortress of understated elegance. Lights gleamed softly through tall windows, and guards stood at attention, their gazes keen as they watched every movement Vito made. He raised his hands a little, holding himself back as one of Arnulfo's men approached."I need to speak with him," Vito said, trying to keep his voice steady as he fought what was going on inside. "Tell him it's urgent.The guard hesitated for a moment then nodded, disappearing into the house. Minutes later, the heavy doors creaked open, and there stood Arnulfo, holding a glass of whiskey in one hand and wearing a faint smirk on his lips."Well, well," Arnulfo said in his drawled
The night wore on, and each passing second fed the fire in Victoria's chest. But she felt the restraint of her place more with every ticking moment.The room, even though it be luxurious, would choke her; every inch made her remember the powerful figurehead she once had been, feared and respected equally. Today, she's a pawn, playing her part in her father's games-to be trapped, to be manipulated, to be strangled.Her pacing was interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Victoria froze, her sharp gaze snapping to the entrance. Nobody dared to disturb her unless absolutely necessary."Miss Victoria?" came the timid voice of Elena, one of the few staff members brave—or foolish—enough to address her directly."Go away," Victoria snapped, her tone icy.She was silent for a long time before responding, her voice shaking a little. "Don Victor sent me to bring you dinner, ma'am. You haven't eaten all day."Victoria clenched her fists. She was starving, but the idea of accepting anything from he
Meanwhile, Arnulfo sat back in his chair, an expression of mirth and incredulity crossing his face as Leo relayed the latest news."Victor grounded his own daughter?" Arnulfo asked, raising an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Victoria Giupere, locked away like a disobedient teenager?"Leo nodded, his voice guarded. "It's true. She's confined to the estate. Don Victor has placed strict orders—no one in, no one out without his say. He's furious about the mess she's made."Arnulfo laughed, but the sound was devoid of humor. "I suppose the mighty Victoria wasn't so untouchable after all. What a shame. She's like a caged lioness now, pacing behind gilded bars."Leo looked at Arnulfo. "Do you think we should be afraid? If she is confined, that means she's planning something. That woman doesn't know how to just sit there."Arnulfo became pensive and started tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair. "Oh, she is planning something, all right. Victor may think he could contain
They stood there, bathed in the warm caress of twilight, drawing strength from each other. And in the distance, the final rays of the sun disappeared as the garden kept on being lit by the silver cool glow of the stars.And for the first time since what seemed to be an eternity, Sabrina allowed herself the hope that peace was possible-they would face whatever came after that together.The aftermath of the latest clash between Carla's and Vito's forces was destructive. The debris-strewn streets were replete with shattered vehicles and injured bodies. The constant crackle and boom of firefights diminished into eerie stillness, cut only by groans of wounded and wail of sirens in the far distance.She was standing in the midst of wreckage. Her breathing harsh, clothes were torn, and besmeared with blood. She rubbed a streak of blood from her forehead; she had no idea whose it belonged to, though.Her men were trying to regroup, but they'd lost far too many.Carla's jaw set, and her dark ey
Meanwhile, Carla was in the thick of the fight on the other side of the battle. Her gun was blazing as she led her men with fearless resolve into the fray, her voice hoarse from shouting, "Hold the line! We've bled too much to give up now!"It was a ferocious fight, the product of their shared disdain for one another. As daylight came, streets lay scattered with leftovers of battle-ash, wrecked automobiles, smashed glass panes, blood-splattered pavement-and a city still had all its wounds; and it could already remember to view streets grimly against all this as overnight's carnage spilled on it. Smoky haze emanated from burned automobile hulls and morning air held that burning sensation, sharp with powder fumes.Glass cracked on the floor, crunching as the first rays of morning lit up the site of slaughter: blood on concrete, painting in macabre red, of lives lost over the mercilessly endless war of Vito against Carla. Standing over the ruins of his operations, his features were grim a
Victoria stood up, her gait slow and deliberate. She trailed her fingers over the intricate carvings on the mahogany desk in the corner of the room. Her father had selected this prison for her with careful consideration—everything she could possibly need was here, except freedom. But what Don Victor didn't understand was that Victoria wasn't a woman who waited for opportunity to come knocking on her door. She created them.Her eyes locked onto the mirror that hung on the wall, its gilded frame glinting in the dim light. She contemplated her own reflection for a moment, a look of hardness on her face like stone.This was no fragile, defeated girl. This was Victoria Giupere—a woman who had built her reputation on cunning, manipulation, and power. And no one, not even her father, could strip her of that.She turned her head to the door, her mind calculating. The guards outside were loyal, but loyalty could be bought—or broken. All she needed was to sow the right seeds of doubt, the right
As the soft gold rays spread across the bedroom, the world outside became alive once more. The pounding heart of the city would soon return Arnulfo to its craziness, but for now he let himself just bask at this temporary peace. In Valentines' embracing arms, solace was at hand, remembering that even under the darkness are lights.Valentine stroked her fingers along the swell of his jaw, the touch as soothing as a balm. "You carry so much, Arnulfo," she said gently. "You do not have to do that alone."He met her gaze, his eyes filled with a sense of gratitude and resolve. "I know. You have been my strength, Valentine. Every step I take, every battle I fight, it is all for us. The life we are building together.She smiled, her expression tender. “And I’ll always be by your side, no matter what. But promise me something.”“What is it?” he asked, his tone serious.“Promise me that when this is all over—when the dust settles—you’ll allow yourself to breathe. To live. Not for the city, not
"No, no, no," Arnulfo said, holding her hands. He cuddled her close and kissed her cheek. "Leave them in, my babe," he whispered in her ear.He pulled the dress up to reveal her cute belly button, with a small strawberry piercing, which he savoured with kisses, as he stroked her thighs.Arnulfo began kissing her forehead. "You're mine, Valentine. I'm going to treat you like my own!" He sensually ran his lips downto her nose, and then kissed her soft neck, feeling the pulse in her veins.Valentine groaned as he stroked her bare back by her shoulders. She started trembling as he caressed his way to her upper chest, with strong but nerdy hands- which he used for training and writing so fiercely that there were some minute scars still there.She was then kissed over her strapless purple and red floral playsuit, over the cloth over her right nipple. He blew on it; she began to cry with pleasure.Arnulfo immediately stopped, his heart skipping a beat. He had not intended to make her cry!"
For Emilio, in Victor's clenched fists and stiffened posture, he saw a leader wrestling with betrayal but a father torn between duty and love.The silence was heavy and heavy until it dragged. It felt like the walls themselves were holding their breath and wanted not to disturb this fragile moment.Finally, the boy in the corner had just listened silently till Arnulfo rose from his corner and began: "Victoria. Do you know that everything has started to disintegrate-all this confusion within this city-with Victoria? All this mess no longer is simply your family issue. She dragged all of us into this one."Victor turned, the piercing look pinning Arnulfo. "Do you not know that? He sounded tired. "Can you not envision that I spend each day plagued by the fear that my very daughter has ended this empire as surely as my brother did a lifetime ago?Arnulfo gritted his jaw. But he took a step forward. "Knowing it and doing it are two different things, Victor. She's no longer just your concer