The girls were already dressed in their dresses. We lodged in the Vienna Hotel, one of the Hunter's establishments. Even though we wanted a small wedding with only close friends and family in attendance, we wanted nothing less than luxury. I had already taken my bath and was ready for the makeup artist to doll me up.I silently prayed that my face wouldn't look puffy. I have been eating more than usual lately; it is as though I am possessed by a gluttony spirit.I slipped into my gown, and Grace helped me tie it up."It entered, that's perfect," I screamed happily. Honestly, I have been worried that the gown won't fit. It was a big relief to see how beautiful it looked on me."You're a perfect, girl," Grace said, hugging me.Grace did some finishing touches, and we were ready to step out for the ceremony.I was in the room talking with the girls and waiting to be called on when Karen walked in from the bathroom."Tilda, there is something I have been wanting to ask you," she said, lo
I woke up a little earlier than usual, next to the love of my life. I don't know how to describe the feeling, but it feels just as though life will finally allow me to have it all. It has been a week of peace, away from all the drama. It has been one week since the wedding, and it's been nothing but bliss these days. I sometimes wish we could spend the rest of our lives here in the Maldives, but I knew Mace wouldn't have it; he would practically remind me that New York is his kingdom, and as the king, he can't leave his kingdom unprotected. I would willingly abdicate the throne when it's becoming a threat to my life, but I guess Mace was wired differently.I tried as much as I could to leave the memories of what happened at the wedding in New York and have a blast here in the Maldives. But it sometimes has a way of creeping into my mind."We will sort it out when we get home," I reminded myself. Looking at how peaceful Mace looked as he slept, this was all I ever wanted—to know that h
ANASTASIA HUNTER'S POVI froze at the door. I stood transfixed at the spot for more than 5 minutes, mouth wide open and unable to scream. I couldn't believe my eyes. Francesco was pants down with one of our maids. That monster was raping one of the maids at gunpoint. He dared disrespect me on my turf and at our engagement party, with guests right outside jeering us on. I lost the last shred of hope I had that I might still turn him into a human after all. I was speechless, wondering about his temerity to rape our maid at gunpoint at our engagement party. He turned around to see me standing at the door, looking surprisedly at him, but he didn't budge. He had his fill with the maid, and he pulled his cursed dick out of her. He stood up and moved away from her, while the maid crawled to a corner, crying profusely.I was pained in my spirit, seeing how satisfied he felt. He pulled his trousers up, buttoned them, placed his gun back in his gun holster, and walked toward
ANASTASIA HUNTER POV"We had lost quite a lot of our men at the hands of Francesco Ricci," Ana turned pale and sad. "I am sorry you had to experience all this.""They were good soldiers with loving families, and Francesco killed them all.""Gilbert, my father, died a few years after my wedding. Francesco laid ambush on them, and after exchanging bullets with them, Dad escaped with some wounds, and it was actually what killed him." I grabbed a handkerchief and damped my eyes with it, cleaning off the moisture that had formed in it."Why not send him to hell, where he belongs?" Matilda blurted out angrily without thinking. I knew she was pained by the situation, and I, for one, am also pained. How do I start telling her the number of times we have tried killing that monster, but each time he has a sneaky way of cheating death?How do I explain to her that I nearly lost Sergio on one of his hunts for Francesco?"We believed that he made a deal with the devil to kill
"Yeah," he calmly replied."The first day at the school parking lot," I chipped in."No, it wasn't the first day we met; don't you remember me from somewhere?" he asked."No, I don't," confusion written all over me,"What game is he playing this time around?" I asked myself."We met for the first time on January 6th; don't you remember?" he said."6th of January," I repeated, wondering why the date sounded so familiar. I was about to ask him about the date when it hit me."That date, how do you know it?" I inquired."Why, do you remember me now?" he curiously asked."Not really," I replied. I could sense the disappointment in his voice when he let out a sigh."I know it was your mom's death anniversary the day we met," he said to me. I was wondering just how far he researched on me; I don't remember telling anyone about my mom's death anniversary. I find myself wanting to be all alone each time it's my mom's death anniversary."How on earth do you know that? Have you been watching me
I was tired of these secrets, and I think it was time I told him the truth. I can't continue to keep this a secret from him.Mace looked at me a bit puzzled and with a piercing look to ascertain what was wrong with my facial expressions. I wrapped my hands around his arm, and we went over to sit on a stone in the corner."Can't we do this at home, Amorino?" he queried me, still confused by my disposition."We should do it here," I quickly replied. I just wanted to get it off my chest already.I cleared my throat a little; I didn't know how to put it or where to begin my story. I just didn't want him to get angry, but from every indication, it was inevitable."Amorino, you're scaring me with this whole drama.""I thought you didn't get scared at all." I teased him"I don't get scared, Amorino, but when it gets to you, I'm scared as hell. You're my weakness, my undoing, Amorino." He caressed my cheeks gently.Tears began forming in my eyes when I heard him call me that. I didn't mean to
My scream echoed in the whole house. He stopped abruptly, he turned back to see me placing a hand on my tummy, and ran frantically towards me."Did I hurt you, Amorino?" he asked anxiously, holding me by the waist. I didn't say anything but kept on faking pain."We should go to the hospital," he suggested, holding me tightly. I still didn't say a word to him but turned to the stairs. I took his hands off my waist and tried walking away. I climbed the first and second staircases. Stole a glance at him, only to find him standing at the bottom of the stairs and not moving with me. I acted as though I was about to fall, and he caught me. He hoisted me up in his arms and led me to the room. I wrapped my hands around his neck, burying my face in his chest while smiling, his cologne driving me nuts, reminding me of how much I missed him."Amorino, let's go see a doctor," he said again, searching my face for a reply. I quickly told him that I just wanted to rest in the room for a while."You
It's been 2 months after his pact with Kierian, Mace assigned the training of his men to Ray, and he has been preparing the men for D-Day, or more like the apocalypse, with each day scaring the shit out of me. Mace spent a lot of time with Kieran in secrecy. I was surprised he only spent time with Kieran, with no one else knowing about it.I wanted to know why he did not inform his trusted men of the secret Kierian had told him and why he hid it all from them. He told me that there was a mole among his men. I nearly screamed my head off when he talked about the mole. I was glad Kierian told him all he needed to know about who was working for Francesco. I became curious, asking who the mole was, but he told me not to let it bother me.I wish I had taken that advice because I couldn't sleep the rest of the night. I couldn't imagine Ricci planting one of his men in the Hunter's cartel.I have been having difficulty sleeping these days; the thought of a spy watching my every move and repo
MACE'S POVI had so many thoughts running through my mind as I raced up the stairs. I prayed so hard, but it wasn't what I was thinking. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to her.I was in disbelief looking at her standing like an avenger with a gun in her hands and Sarah lying down dead beneath her. I never thought Amorino could fire a gun, but here I am looking at the very impossible staring me in the face.I ran towards her, took the gun from her, and handed it over to Ray.I looked her over before hugging her. I was glad she was okay and even happier that we both saved our son together."Amorino, are you okay?" I asked, peering into her face."I'm fine; where is Vey?" she asked immediately, looking from me to Ray."Vey is fine," Dad replied. She quickly ran to him and grabbed him from his hands, hugging him so hard."Mammy!""Mammy is here, Vey," she said, smiling at him."Hold on, were you going to accept this crazy bitch proposal?" S
MACE'S POVThose very words were what I had been waiting for this whole time. I paused immediately when I heard Ray say he had found the bitch. I let out a devilish grin because I knew what I had in store for that mad bitch.She had taken more than she could chew. If she had messed with me, I would be lenient, but you mess with my family, and I will send you to the afterlife in pieces."Where?" "Right under our nose."Tilda jumped off the bed while hurriedly heading to the door"Honey, where are you off to?" Mom asked her. "To get my son!" She screamed, her voice filled with pain."Amorino," I gently called her; she didn't answer, nor did she glance my way. I touched her shoulder, and she turned towards me."I promise to bring our son home; I give you my word," I reassured her, looking her in the eyes while patting her hair."Mace, I want to bash that weirdo's head in for causing me pain.""I will make her pay for all the pain and misery she has caused
MATILDA'S POV"Ma'am, is everything okay?" Martha asked immediately, she rushed into the sitting room. I sat down, mopping like a fool, still unable to process what was happening. I began feeling dizzy, and the whole room was spinning nonstop in my eyes."Ma'am," she called yet again, but I was slowly losing sense of my surroundings. I heard her beckoning on the guards to come, but before I knew it, I had lost consciousness.I opened my eyes, but the light was too bright. I shut my eyes, but I could hear Sergio and Mace arguing over God knows what. I managed to open my eyes, and I tried a little harder to keep them open as my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the light."Darling, you are awake?" I heard Ana's voice. I followed the voice only to see her seated on the chair next to the bed.I was a bit confused about where we were and what was going on."What happened to me?" I asked Ana. I tried getting up, but Ana held me down."Honey, please stay put." I
MATILDA'S POV"Keep it wet; we will make Lavey's sister when we get back," he whispered into my ears, and I giggled like a teenage girl.We quickly rushed our bath; we were running out of time, and the last thing I want is grace nagging my ass. We prepared to leave for dinner. I came downstairs to find Lavey and her nanny all dressed up. She was on the phone when we came downstairs, but quickly put the phone away when we showed up."You guys ready?" I asked the nanny."Yes Ma'am" Mace took Lavey from the nanny, and we set out for dinner.Our little adventure in the shower delayed us a little bit; when we got to the Castillo's, the room was already packed. It was a lovely sight to behold; there were no outsiders in attendance, just family. Sergio, Dad, and Ray were having a hearty conversation while the ladies were laughing over something Kimberly said."There they are," Ana announced, all smiles. I hugged Kimberly while Mace was busy speaking with Pearl.
MATILDA'S POVI brought my hands to my mouth in awe; I couldn't believe my eyes. I never expected that he could be this sentimental. I guess being a father comes with some changes."It's beautiful," I said, smiling at him as he held me in his arms."I wanted to give our prince the best," he said proudly.It is the best nursery I have seen. There was a beautiful white baby bed at one end of the room. The wallpapers were so beautiful. I couldn't get my eyes off the drawing of a lion's head and the family motto written boldly on the wall."A lion?" I asked Mace while pointing at the drawing."Yes, Amorino, we need to always remind him that he is a hunter," Mace replied while kissing my hair."Of course," I said, rolling my eyes."Do you think Lavey would love it? I painted the room myself," he whispered.I was a bit surprised to hear he did all this by himself. I brought his hands close to my lips and kissed him."He will adore it," I said to him, and I went
MACE'S POV "What lady?" Ray asked, giving me the What the heck are you talking about Look. I read the room and didn't ask any further questions."You got this, right?" I asked Ray, pointing at the building."Get the hell out of here, tell Tilda that I will be right there."I quickly entered one of the cars, leaving Ray behind to clean up the building.I got to the safe house. Jumped out of the car the minute I turned off the ignition. I ran into the house frantically in search of Amorino. I met Ray's mom in the hallway, all smiles."You made it, Mace, this way," she said, pointing to one of the rooms at the end of the hallway.I opened the door to see Mom seated next to Amorino on one side of the bed, while Grace sat on the other side."Ocean!" mom screamed. I went over to Amorino; she looked a bit worn out, but I was glad she was ok."My love here is our son," she said, holding our peanut wrapped in colorful clothing. I couldn't contain my joy when I s
MACE'S POVI rushed to the torture room, where I found Dad seated. I told one of our men to lead Dad into the room and away from Ricci's minions. I came closer to see a dead body lying on the floor. I guess one of Ricci's fools thought he could kill Dad seeing he was wounded. I went over to his side; he was losing a lot of blood. I got more worried. What pained me most was how to explain to Mom that Dad got hurt. Why would he take the bullet,"It should have been me," I kept whispering to myself.I fished out my phone from my pocket to call a doctor, but my dad wouldn't let me. He grabbed my hands, looking me straight in the eyes. I could tell the amount of pain he was in."Don't," he said."We should get you a doctor, dad.""I'm fine, ocean; the bullet just grazed my skin. Patch me up or get our men to patch me up, and I will be good as new." I was lost for words, looking at my old man asking to be patched up the old-fashioned way. I sometimes forget he
MACE'S POVI was still at the study sipping a glass of whiskey while Dad had his face buried in a piece of paper he was holding. I didn't bother checking what he was reading because I had a lot on my mind.I couldn't get the thoughts of Amorino off my mind. I was missing her badly. The picture of her sleeping soundly in her lingerie kept playing in my head. This is the first time she is sleeping outside the house after we got back together. I was fighting the urge to go get her. I knew I couldn't bring her home just yet, not when the baby could pop out any day from now. I can't give her the attention she needs right now, and besides, Francesco won't go easy on her if he ever finds her.I need to put an end to this shit as fast as possible. I was still lost in thought when Ray called me. I looked up to see Kieran standing next to Ray."You're here," I said, looking at Kieran. He nodded."I heard how things went in Italy," he said.I smirked, pointing at
MACE'S POVI woke up the next morning to the beeping sound of my phone. I checked the time, and it was 5 a.m. I pulled my fingers that had been buried under my pillow out and got off the bed to prepare. I had some scores to settle this morning. It was time to rain blood on Ricci and his minions. I warned that fool that I might be my father's son, but I'm not my father. I was already prepared to leave, but I was checking out my outfit when Ray called to inform me that he was downstairs.I turned to the bed to find Amorino still soundly asleep. I didn't want to wake her, so I wrote a note on a piece of paper and placed it on the bedside table where she could easily find it before leaving. I came downstairs to see Ray sitting comfortably while munching the last bite of the cornflakes on his plate."Making yourself at home," I asked him."What can I do?" he replied, wearing a smirk."Besides, I need all the strength I could get, you know."I wasn't ready f