Marco took a steadying breath as he made his way across the ballroom toward the imposing figure of his father. His jaw clenched, muscles tense as he approached, knowing full well that the conversation waiting for him would be anything but pleasant. As he neared, Ezekiel’s cold gaze locked onto him, the sharp, calculating look that always sent a shiver down Marco’s spine—even if he’d never admit it. Ezekiel stood tall, a quiet authority radiating off him that made the entire room feel smaller, more suffocating. His mask, dark and elaborate, barely concealed the stern features beneath. He didn’t need to say a word for Marco to feel the weight of his displeasure. He wasn’t happy that the boy left the need to capture Double S and was here partying instead.He also invited his red hair."So," Ezekiel’s voice was low but heavy with the sharpness of a blade. "You let her come to this party." His eyes glinted beneath the mask as they flicked briefly toward where Alessia had been standing. "Y
Marco’s fingers twitched as the doors to the ballroom slammed shut behind Alessia. The moment felt suspended in time, the chatter and clinking glasses fading into the background. His heart was pounding, and his body moved on instinct as he took a step toward the doors, ready to chase after her.Suddenly, a firm hand clamped down on his arm, stopping him in his tracks.“Marco, don’t.”Dante’s voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable authority in it. His grip tightened just enough to hold Marco back, though not enough to cause a scene. Marco’s body was already coiled with tension, his muscles tight with the need to act. He turned his head sharply, glaring at Dante with barely contained rage.“Let go of my hand,” Marco growled through clenched teeth, his eyes blazing with fury. Every second that ticked by was another second Alessia was out there, alone, hurting, and it was his fault. The guilt gnawed at him like a beast tearing at his insides.But Dante stood firm, his gaze hard as
The double doors of a mansion on the outskirts of town were pushed open and Salvatore walked in. The guards bowed on seeing him and the maids led him to the study where a man clad in black sat awaiting him. “Greetings, father." Salvatore greeted and lowered his head in acknowledgment. The man in black lazily nodded, refusing to say a word.“I have news to share with you, but before then, you'll have to answer a few questions of mine." Salvatore implored and took a seat opposite his father's."What else did you find out now?” The man in black asked with an amused smile. "I just hope those people aren't still after you. Salvatore, or should I say, Double S, the mercenary.” Salvatore grinned and winced. “Please don't call me that, it's extremely cringe." He replied with a glare.His father chuckled loudly at his son’s reaction. “It’s good to have you here, Tore. Tell me, what brought you here today from Sicily?”"Father, I'm sorry to ask this, but who was my mother?” Salvatore swallow
After the ball was over, Marco rushed to find Alessia. He had been worried sick, not even knowing where to start his apology from.When he walked into her bedroom, he found it empty but also caught the sound of water running in the bathroom. She was having a night bath.He walked over to the bed and plopped down on it. His happiness was directed at the fact that his father did nothing today. Thankfully, the party went smoothly as planned.All that was needed was to get Alessia to forgive him.Just then, the door to the bathroom was pulled open and Alessia stepped out dressed in a bathrobe.At the sight of Marco, she jolted in shock, but soon realized it was him.Marco drank At the sight of her petite frame in that big black bathrobe. He had never expected black to look so good on her, coupled with her red hair that cascaded down her shoulders.“What are you doing here?" She asked begrudgingly, walking towards her closet and picking out the outfit for the night.She was angry, but she
After their passionate night together, Alessia woke up the next morning feeling sore. She turned to see that her side of the bed was empty. Her brow furrowed, wondering where he had gone off to.She stretched her aching limbs, groaning in satisfaction as she pulled the covers aside to get down from the bed.She walked naked towards her bathrobe, grabbing it and throwing it on as she walked towards the bathroom.Surprisingly, Marco wasn't also in the bathroom.“I wonder where he went to." She muttered and walked in to wash her face.After tying her hair up, she splashed water on her face, at the same time memories of what they did last night came flooding into her mind.Red marred her cheeks as she smiled widely.She had never expected Marco to take her the way he did last night. He didn't hold back. He even pleaded and begged her that he wanted to loose himself inside of her.She had shamelessly accepted with her mind all over the place in pleasure and pain.This was all she wanted,
"Oh my goodness!" Alessia gasped in shock, staring at the place. Before she was a calm lake, looking ever so peaceful and wonderful as the birds chirped in the background. She had never seen anything so peaceful in her entire life. This made her wonder just how long she had been living a life of stress. If she wasn't being a nanny, then she was on the run from a Mafia boss, she never had the luxury to go for a vacation or maybe visit the beach. Alessia loved water a lot. She would do anything to be closer to one. "You like it?" Marco asked from behind her. " I love it! " She yelled out with a huge smile, turning to look at him. "There's more," "There's more?" Alessia asked him, her eyes shining brightly. Marco nodded, confirming her words."Oh my goodness, show me!" She yelled and rushed towards him." Calm down, Mia Cara. I'll show you if you're calm. " Marco teased, snaking a hand around her waist to pull her closer to him. Alessia blushed and nodded, making a sign of zippin
Marco lifted her off the ground, not breaking the kiss as he carried her bridal style into the house.Alessia's dainty hands were wrapped around his neck, her face heating up at the sweetness of his lips on hers.She could never get enough of kissing this man.He walked into the massive bedroom, shutting the door with his right leg and hurriedly setting her down there.Alessia was confused as to why he placed her down by the door. Her chest heaved up and down from the intense kiss they just shared.Her blue eyes sparkled when it met his.Alessia didn't even get the chance to admire the room before Marco spoke.“I want to take you here." He muttered, closing the distance between them as his hand snaked around her waist again.Take her here? Which meant that he wanted to have sex with her by the bedroom door.For some reason, the idea made Alessia's core throb in excitement. She had always wanted to try out new things, and it was time to do so.“Take me…. Wherever and however you want m
"Let's watch a movie instead," Alessia suggested as she stepped out of the bathroom, holding her hair up with the hairpin she had fortunately brought along with her from the base. Marco sprawled on the couch in the living room, turned to look at her. "I don't watch movies, Mia Cara. I'll rather hold you throughout the night." He grumbled. Alessia snorted, taking a seat beside him on the couch. "I've always known you to be a boring man, but not watching a movie? That's extreme, Marco." She stated, reaching for the remote control on the table before them. Marco opened his mouth, ready to protest and maybe, snatch the remote from her, but Alessia added before he could do so, "Don't even think of anything funny, Marco De Luca. You won't like the outcome." Marco sighed dejectedly and instead, snaked his hand around her neck to hold her close. "At least let me hold you while we watch the movie." Alessia didn't protest, letting him hold her close. Honestly, she needed the warmth radia
"And what do you mean by that?" Victor asked in confusion. He didn't understand what Dante meant by taking it to the next level. " You want to marry her? " He added. "What? No! She would never accept me." Dante's lips twitched. "Then what are you talking about, you punk?" "It simply means that I want to ask her to become my girlfriend." Dante rolled his eyes and said. Victor was a doctor, but a dumb one. " So you two aren't a couple yet? Got it. You're just friends? " " With benefits." Dante finished, giving him a firm nod. Victor shook his head at the absurdity of his words. Dante was definitely sick in the head. "I can't stay here anymore. I can't believe you all still indulge in this silly friends with benefits shit! I better leave!" He yelled and turned to walk away. Dante chuckled and followed after him. Victor was such a character, that was exactly why they needed him around. After Victor left, Dante went in search of Grace. He found her in her bedroom and on phone wit
“You did what?!" Salvatore’s voice thundered as he yelled at his right-hand man, Kade, an American. Kade had narrated the entire operation to him. Today had been a total mess. The initial plan was to grab Alessia and return to Salvatore, but thanks to Marco, they had to waste some bullets. They didn't even go with enough. “Sorry, Tore. We tried not to attack, but that Marco man had to open fire, and we lost Lorenzo." Kade explained again, he knew how dangerous Salvatore could be when he was angered. Salvatore glared at the good-for-nothing men he had deployed to get Alessia for him.Salvatore’s dark eyes narrowed as he slowly turned to the rest of his men, his jaw clenched. "You lost Lorenzo… but what about Alessia? Where is she? Why didn’t you bring her?"Kade swallowed, glancing nervously at the others as if searching for backup. "We planned to take her. Just grab her quietly and bring her back, like you ordered, boss. But Marco didn’t give us a chance. He opened fire, and we ha
Alessia was dumbfounded when she heard Marco's words. The house was hers? He bought a house for her?! It was hard to believe that Marco went out of his way to buy a mansion by the seaside for her.Kendrick bowed with a smile when Alessia pulled Marco in for a hug. She owned a house? Like her own house now? She kept asking herself multiple questions, unable to come up with a solid answer.Kendrick then excused himself, wanting to set up lunch for the both of them.The moment he left, Alessia turned to Marco. “Seriously? A house for me?" She asked him, her eyes shining with unshed tears.Marco grinned and nodded. “It's what I have to do for my woman. My girlfriend." He added the last part with a gentle kiss on her shoulders.Alessia's heart fluttered; he hadn't asked her out yet, but he called her his girlfriend. Should she be happy or sad?“Your girlfriend? Since when?" She asked purposely, cocking her head to the side.Marco looked away, flustered. He realized he hadn't even asked her
Dante’s words continuously rang in Marco's head as he walked out of his office. He had acted tough and nonchalant just now, but deep down, he was bittered. This position as Clan head was acquired from his sweat and blood, his sleepless nights, and brutal training, but he was about to give it all up.He knew he would officially draw the battleline between him and his father, but he didn't care one bit. He was already tired of fighting a losing battle. As much as he hated to admit it, Double S was much more powerful than he could ever be. He was tactical and wise in this game of theirs.Marco walked into the living room to see Alessia and Grace seated and covering.At this moment, all Marco wanted was to be in her arms and never move away, but she needed to have an alone time with her friend after all. Alessia turned to see him, she saw the look in his eyes and frowned. She could already sense that he was in a sore mood.“I'll be back." She said to Grace and stood up to approach Marco.
"We have to get Alessia out of Marco’s house," Salvatore said firmly as he sat back down. He stood up earlier to pace the room after the realization that Alessia was his sister. His twin sister.Marcel barely lifted his head. "I know. And you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that happens."Salvatore nodded. "I’ll get her out. No matter what."Marcel gave a small nod, his eyes cold and calculating. "Good. Then go."Salvatore turned to leave, his steps steady as he walked out of the room, leaving his father alone. Marcel sat quietly for a moment, his fingers tapping the armrest of his chair. His heart trembled slightly, a rare sign of emotion for him. He couldn’t stop thinking about Alessia. She was his daughter, after all. Though he hadn't seen her in person, that photo was enough.How could Celine have kept this from him? How could she have hidden their child before dying? Marcel clenched his fist, his face tightening with anger and regret. He wasn’t sure how, but he would get Ale
The double doors of the Marino base mansion swung open, and Salvatore stepped inside. His usual calmness was gone, replaced with excitement as he walked briskly through the grand hallway. Today, he had news—important news. He stopped the first servant he saw. "Where's my father?"The servant, a bit startled, nodded toward the garden. "The boss is in the garden, sir."Salvatore nodded curtly, barely acknowledging the response before heading straight to the garden. He passed through a maze of corridors, finally bursting through the doors that led outside. As he approached the entrance to the garden, the guard stationed there stepped forward."The boss is in a conversation, sir," the guard said, his voice low and respectful.Salvatore narrowed his eyes. "With who?"The guard glanced toward the garden and hesitated before responding. "A woman, sir."Not bothering to wait for more details, Salvatore pushed past the guard and strode into the garden. His eyes immediately fell on Marcel, sit
"Let's watch a movie instead," Alessia suggested as she stepped out of the bathroom, holding her hair up with the hairpin she had fortunately brought along with her from the base. Marco sprawled on the couch in the living room, turned to look at her. "I don't watch movies, Mia Cara. I'll rather hold you throughout the night." He grumbled. Alessia snorted, taking a seat beside him on the couch. "I've always known you to be a boring man, but not watching a movie? That's extreme, Marco." She stated, reaching for the remote control on the table before them. Marco opened his mouth, ready to protest and maybe, snatch the remote from her, but Alessia added before he could do so, "Don't even think of anything funny, Marco De Luca. You won't like the outcome." Marco sighed dejectedly and instead, snaked his hand around her neck to hold her close. "At least let me hold you while we watch the movie." Alessia didn't protest, letting him hold her close. Honestly, she needed the warmth radia
Marco lifted her off the ground, not breaking the kiss as he carried her bridal style into the house.Alessia's dainty hands were wrapped around his neck, her face heating up at the sweetness of his lips on hers.She could never get enough of kissing this man.He walked into the massive bedroom, shutting the door with his right leg and hurriedly setting her down there.Alessia was confused as to why he placed her down by the door. Her chest heaved up and down from the intense kiss they just shared.Her blue eyes sparkled when it met his.Alessia didn't even get the chance to admire the room before Marco spoke.“I want to take you here." He muttered, closing the distance between them as his hand snaked around her waist again.Take her here? Which meant that he wanted to have sex with her by the bedroom door.For some reason, the idea made Alessia's core throb in excitement. She had always wanted to try out new things, and it was time to do so.“Take me…. Wherever and however you want m
"Oh my goodness!" Alessia gasped in shock, staring at the place. Before she was a calm lake, looking ever so peaceful and wonderful as the birds chirped in the background. She had never seen anything so peaceful in her entire life. This made her wonder just how long she had been living a life of stress. If she wasn't being a nanny, then she was on the run from a Mafia boss, she never had the luxury to go for a vacation or maybe visit the beach. Alessia loved water a lot. She would do anything to be closer to one. "You like it?" Marco asked from behind her. " I love it! " She yelled out with a huge smile, turning to look at him. "There's more," "There's more?" Alessia asked him, her eyes shining brightly. Marco nodded, confirming her words."Oh my goodness, show me!" She yelled and rushed towards him." Calm down, Mia Cara. I'll show you if you're calm. " Marco teased, snaking a hand around her waist to pull her closer to him. Alessia blushed and nodded, making a sign of zippin