“Ughh….. what’s with the look on your face, Delilah?” Dante asked with a confused look on his face as she stared at Delilah who stood there with her eyes wide open and jaw dropped.“Da-da-Dante?” Delilah called out, still thinking that Alessia was standing behind her and they had both been bursting.“Yes, me. What’s wrong?” Dante asked as he walked over to the kitchen island to pick up an apple resting in one of the baskets.Delilah blinked in shock, wasn’t he seeing Alessia?She swallowed her saliva and slowly turned around, expecting to see Alessia still standing behind her. But to her greatest shock, no one was behind her.So Alessia had hidden herself so fast?!Great!She finally breathed a sigh of relief.“Nothing, everything’s fine.”Dante’s eyes narrowed as he took a bite of the apple, making a crunching sound as he spoke, “You're acting strange.” He pointed out, giving her a suspicious look.Delilah moved away from where she stood and walked over to the sink to wash her hands
“Grace? You’re here?” Mrs Alicia Franco, Grace’s mother asked the moment she walked past the living room, heading out for work.She was surprised that Grace hadn’t stepped out of the house yet.Grace glanced up at her mom and sighed, “No mama, I’m not leaving today. I feel sick.” She said as she struggled to sit up straight.Ever since she saw Alessia being dragged like some kind of animal that day, she had never had any peace in her life again. Not also adding the part where she provoked the only person who had promised to take care of Alessia.Dante must hate her now.She could barely focus at work, and today she was so close to having her leg cut off at the gym when she was slightly distracted.“Sick? Come over and let me check.” Alicia harried her as she turned to walk to where she was seated.“No mama, I’m fine. I just need a little sleep and I’ll be back to normal.” She shook her head, extending a hand to stop Alicia who already closed the distance between them as she first plac
“Boss, there’s a problem!” A guard ran forward to the courtyard where Marco sat with Dante as they went through some pieces of information gathered about their all-time enemy: Double S.Dante groaned in utter frustration and ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck it! Can we stay a day or two without bad news?!” He yelled out.Marco looked up at him with an amused smile, “This is the mafia. We’re far from peace.” He probed with a shrug and turned towards the already sweating guard. The guard knew without a doubt that if Marco heard the bad news he brought, he might end up destroying the entire mansion in rage.“What is it? What bad news could make you sweat this much despite the cold weather? Look, it’s going to rain any minute now.” Marco taunted, he relaxed in his seat as he watched his guard.“Boss…. It’s the lady with the red hair.”“What?” Marco finally sat up at the mention of Alessia’s name. He didn’t even let the guard tell him exactly what happened before he got up to his feet and
“Alessia, you have to tell me where you are! I need to come get you!” Grace rushed upstairs to grab her jacket as she rushed out of the house and towards the road.Alessia who was standing in the call booth had already made it clear to herself that she would never do anything to endanger her best friend’s life. If Grace got even closer to Marco, then she would face a much harsher punishment considering that she loved putting up a fight when she felt pressured.“Grace, please don’t come to find me. I’ll leave Sicily for a while and I promise to return once he forgets me.” She promised as she glanced around for any signs of the dreaded enemy.Something told her that Marco might have found out about her absence and would soon be coming to find her.“You can’t do this on your own, baby. You need help.” Grace said as tears stung her eyes. How did things get to this? How?“I’ll be fine, I don’t want you to get entangled in this situation too. It’s too dangerous.” Alessia said with a bitter
Alessia felt gazes on her, but she dared not turn around again to check who was particularly glaring at her.She hurried over to the ticket stand to buy a ticket to Scilla and thankfully, it went faster.She got her ticket and hurried over to the awaiting train. But her luck ran out at this point because two guards came out of nowhere to stand before her, blocking the entrance of the train.Alessia saw those shoes, those shoes that sent fear into the deepest part of her.She slowly glanced up at them and despite the mask she had on, the fear still didn’t disperse, and neither did she feel they might not recognize her.She paused and backed away slowly, also bumping into a passerby who glared daggers at her for not watching where she was headed.Alessia’s breathing hitched and got caught up in her throat as tears began to gather in her eyes.She felt the fear, they found her.She turned around to run, only to be met with more guards standing behind her.Couldn’t the passersby see she w
Dante sitting in the car with Marco couldn’t bear it anymore the moment he saw her fall harshly to the ground as he asked, “Are you just going to sit here and expect those punks to catch her? They’re clearly doing a bad job.”Marco remained quiet. Of course, he wasn’t just letting the guards catch her, he would step in eventually when the time was right.“No.” That was all he said and ignored Dante totally.Dante gritted his teeth and looked away as he ran a hand through his hair.She was hurting herself and he hated to admit that it pained him in a way.Just when Alessia reached the end of the street, she caught sight of hope!There before her, at the last place she already envisioned herself being caught, was a Taxi.“God is really on my side.” She said and smiled happily.She sped up her pace and soon arrived just where the Taxi was parked.Thankfully, the driver was just about to drive away.Marco’s eyes widened already knowing her intentions.He picked up the walkie-talkie again
Seeing her getting into a Taxi and driving off, Marco sighed as he clenched his fist.She was so determined to escape from him. Was he that bad for her?Did she hate him that much?Dante said nothing as he kept on a stoic expression.Marco finally closed the laptop, “I’ll take it from here.” He interjected and pushed the car door open.“Get out of the driver's seat!” He said to the driver of the other car parked right beside him.He then got into the car, a sleek black sedan, and drove off. His mind began to work its wonders as he tried to figure out the route the red hair would eventually take to escape this time.He had a small smile on his lips thinking of the way she took off upon seeing his men.“Crazy little poppy.” He muttered under his breath.He wasn’t the type to do this; go after women who rejected him. But Alessia was different.Marco never dated formally, but he eventually fell for someone at first sight.And, why?Her craziness, her looks, and her sense of humor.She was
The rain thumped incessantly against the windows, a steady, cadenced drumming that filled the room with its grim melody.The opened window let in a gust of wind that carried droplets of rain which splashed on Alessia’s sleeping face. She stirred, her eyelids fluttering open slowly as the coolness of the rain kissed her skin.She blinked as her gaze fixed on the white ceiling above, her eyes widening in confusion. With a start, she jerked upright in panic.“What the….” She glanced around the room, taking in the sight of things in it.From the heavy curtains to the ornate furniture, the faint scent of Marco’s cologne lingered in the air.“Wait, Marco?” She asked out loud as she finally realized where she was. Her eyes grew wide and her lips trembled in shock.She was back in the same room she had escaped from yesterday.She was back here in Marco’s house!She shook her head in denial, “This can’t be happening. I almost left Reggio…. I left this place yesterday… Wait, was it yesterday? Y
“Make sure she stays safe, I don’t want to hear any complaints when I’m gone,” Marco instructed for the umpteenth time as he gathered his papers, packing them into a briefcase. This was supposed to be a trip for inspection, but to avoid arousing suspicion, he had to dress corporate and carry a briefcase. “I’ll repeat, She is pregnant and vulnerable. Ensure she’s safe, but also make sure she doesn’t get any ideas of escaping.” He recited again, wanting to make sure Selena got the message loud and clear. He would kill her if anything were to happen to Alessia and his child.“Understood.” She nodded.“Also, Grace, her friend, needs the same level of scrutiny.” He added and turned around to face them; Dante and Selena.“Sure, boss.” Once he had finished his packing, he grabbed his case and headed out with Dante following behind. The convoy was ready outside, black SUVs lined up with their engines running. Clear definition of opulence and power. Marco entered into the lead vehicle, his
The door opened, revealing a maid who came over to deliver Alessia’s dinner.Grace walked forward to receive the meal from her and dismissed her afterward.She made her way back to the bed, placing the meal down on the table in the room.Alessia soon walked out of the closet and seeing the meal on the table, she raised a brow in confusion.“A maid?” she asked and Grace nodded.Just then, Grace finally noticed how much weight Alessia had lost. Alessia looked emaciated, her face and body, pale and thin.Grace shook her head pitifully and said, “Ali, you look so thin.”Alessia smiled weakly and nodded, “Yeah, I've spent all the time crying lately. I couldn't eat even, I lost my appetite each time I saw food.”“Woah, for a foodie like yourself, that's too much to bear.” Grace poked with a snort. “And on a serious note, now that you are expecting a child, you need to take care of yourself more,” she added with a serious look on her face.“I don't want this child.” Alessia’s face hardened a
“Yes, she is pregnant. And she has grown distant_”“Stop!” Grace let out a short scream and she stood up at once. She glared at Marco as tears gathered in her eyes.“You’re responsible for the pregnancy?” She asked, her eyes flashing with uncertainty.Marco knew she would react this way, so he tried again to run a hand through his hair but ended up pushing at his bandages.“Look, it wasn’t intentional.” “Then what was it?!” She yelled, disregarding the fact she was still standing in his property and he could have her punished for yelling. But Marco pushed his ego aside this time, he had messed up and had to fix the mess. “I was drugged that night and I couldn’t control myself.”“Why didn’t you go to the harem? Why did you go to her instead? And I’m sure as hell she put up a good fight. God why?” Grace broke down as she fell back on her chair, her hand going to tug at her hair.Dante felt a tug at his heart seeing her whimpering in her seat. Her shoulders wouldn’t stop shaking as she
Grace glanced at Dante who sat in the driver’s seat, driving towards the base. Earlier, he said there was a problem. But of course, he wouldn’t spill the details of the problem. Also, what has it got to do with her?“I thought you hated me?” She suddenly asked out loud, turning her head to face his that was focused on the road.Dante wasn’t focused on driving, his mind was all over the place as the image of a certain girl on stage kept coming up in his mind.He jerked slightly when he heard her voice beside him and turned to glance at her.“Would you quit that?” He asked with a frown. “Quit what?”“Don’t fucking startle me like that!” He fired and looked away from her.Seriously, why did she have to wear that top?!“Oh, did I startle you?” She feigned ignorance and batted her lashes when their eyes met again.Dante shook his head in disbelief. Which planet did she come from?“So tell me, what’s the problem at the base and what does it have to do with me?” Dante growled at her, his h
Dante dragged in deep refreshing breaths, trying his best to hold his anxiety together.When Alessia had found out about her pregnancy, she had cried herself to sleep, after throwing tantrums to kill Marco with her bare hands. Marco had felt so pained and bittered when she said a lot of hurtful words to him. She had cursed him even, said so many words, and ended up locking herself in the room. Alessia had refused to eat or drink, shutting everyone out completely.The only person who could get to her was a close friend and that close friend was Grace Franco.Marco had even collapsed after the struggles with her. The moment he arrived in his study room, his body gave up on him and sent him tumbling to the floor in pain.Before he closed his eyes completely, he begged Dante to go over to Devil’s Den to fetch Gracino, only she could get through to Alessia.The last thing Marco wanted was to harm Alessia or let her get harmed. He would do everything to keep her and their child safe. Dan
“The wedding preparations are fortunately in full swing.” The voice of Ignacio Gonzalo boomed over the phone as he spoke to Ezekiel De Luca.Ezekiel sat in his study room, a glass of liquor in hand as he drummed his index finger on the arm of his resting chair.“That’s great, Ignacio. I can’t wait to have Miracle in my house.” He said in return, a smile spreading across his face.“We should meet up at the Country Club for a few games,” Ignacio suggested, but Ezekiel was quick to turn him down.“Oh no, I have a few issues to deal with for a while and won’t be available for a game now,” Ezekiel said in return.Ignacio at the other end, frowned, but he still didn’t push it and just hummed in response. He knew of the issues ongoing in the De Luca clan, and he didn’t want to get involved in it for now. Maybe after his daughter gets married into their family, he will find a way to help them sort things out.Once Ezekiel ended the call, a knock came at the door and a guard walked in to info
“Pregnant?” Marco’s lips trembled at the word just now.The doctor closed up his items and gave a firm nod. “Yes, she is pregnant and I’m not interested to know the father of the child.” The doctor said sarcastically and turned to leave.Selena and Dante watched Marco, expecting the usual panic and denial he always dishes out each time a woman came with a report of her pregnancy.A playboy like him would never settle with anyone. But they all saw how he treated Alessia better than any of his previous flings, and they were sure as hell that he might settle with her finally. But then again, there was still Miracle Gonzalo in the picture and Marco’s father would never want him to settle with a woman who isn’t a mafia princess.Marco’s emotions were all over the place as he watched Alessia. Before anyone could understand what was going on, Marco yelled out in excitement and leaned in his kiss Alessia’s lips while she remained unconscious.He had prayed to God, (though that was a lie. He
Alessia stood before the machine while holding tightly to the microphone.Marco sat with the others behind her, his gaze fixed intently on her petite figure. He couldn't deny the beauty of her just standing there and doing nothing.Alessia cursed Marco in her heart for making her go through with this. She really didn't want to do this, but Marco was being persistent, plus Selena requested ‘nicely’.The machine soon came alive and the music she had to sing to happened to be one of her favorite songs which Simone often sang to put her to bed. A smile unknowingly crossed her features when she remembered the tone and how she would mock Simone for having the worst voice on earth.The lyrics were imprinted in her mind so much that she wouldn't easily forget them. She didn't even need to look at the flat screen in other to sing along.Soon, the song began and she immediately shut her environment out. Maybe this wasn't a bad idea after all.The entire room went quiet as she began. Honestly, t
Earlier,Marco, who lay on the bed motionless, suddenly opened his eyes, feeling the drowsiness wear off slowly. He turned to the side to see a maid cleaning up the table where the doctor had placed his things earlier. He groaned, his hand going to his head as he tried to fall back to sleep.But with the noises the maid kept making, it was far from possible for him to fall asleep again.“Quiet down, woman." He muttered, but enough for the maid to hear and shudder.She hurriedly stood still, not even breathing to avoid angering him.Marco managed to stay still, his pounding head returning to normal again.Thankfully, the party room was a bit far from his bedroom, so he couldn't hear the loud music coming from there.But again, he recalled something. Dante had this look in his eyes when he came over to the room to check on him earlier.That look was awfully familiar, a look that spoke volumes, one he had always never trusted. A mischievous one too.Marco opened his eyes again, slowly s