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Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅He had fallen back into his routine of going to the gym first thing in the morning, which was followed by his coffee and then shower. I always made sure to wake up before he came back from the gym to make coffee for him, we'd both drink a cup of coffee before he went to take a shower but today I woke up a little late and found him in the bathroom standing over the sink, putting on shaving cream. I smiled as I made my way to him and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind, interrupting his shaving because I didn't want him to shave. "Why didn't you wake me up for coffee?" I asked, kissing the muscles of his chiseled back. He let out a dark deep laugh, in his husky morning voice no less, fuck, how can I woman in her right mind resist that. If someone didn't sculpt this godly creation into stone, they missed out on an art exhibit that would've left everyone panting. Forget museums; he deserved a dedicated shrine of worship, and I'd be the first in line."I th
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I lay on my stomach over the massage table, only a white towel covering my butt, surrounded by calming music and soothing scents. The masseuse's hands worked on my shoulders, melting away the stress. The water nearby made a soft sound, like a gentle escape from my thoughts. Closing my eyes, I let myself forget about the talk I'm supposed to have with Vincenzo tonight for a moment. "I love this..." I whispered. Alessia let out a laugh, "I know, right? I've been praying for a spa partner forever. I always thought if Allegra's dad hadn't taken her away, we'd do everything together, but nope, she's like the yin to my yang."I nodded with my head still wedged into the face cradle in the massage table, "Allegra's all about the simple life, except when it comes to that trouble magnet she calls a husband. I still can't wrap my head around how she fell for Scott, considering she usually prefers peace and quiet.""Love works in mysterious ways," she mused.A smile played o
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅And before I knew it, he was walking over to me. "NO!" I screamed, covering my head with my arms, making myself as small as I could.A guttural groan and a series of loud thuds echoed, my mind struggling to comprehend the chaos unfolding around me. He hadn't touched me yet, but I still wrapped my arms tighter around my frame to save myself. "Adriano, let him go..." I heard Mr. Capone say. His words sliced through my disorienting sobs, and I dared to peek through my arms, trembling. Adriano had Uncle Tony on his knees, blood streaming from his nose, a knife pressed menacingly against his throat. His arm muscles flexed with rage, and his eyes bore down on Tony with nothing but disgust. A glimmer of hope that maybe he'll get me out of here ignited. Adriano's rage radiated off of him as he held Uncle Tony in a vice grip, the knife a glinting threat against his throat. And a voice inside of me told me to shove that knife deeper inside his throat but my limbs wouldn'
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I sat on the couch, clutching the cup of coffee in my hands watching the smoke, observing it dance upward. On the table rested his mug, freshly prepared. I knew he was on his way up, so, I waited. The door opened and closed, I could hear his footsteps approaching until he came into my view. Our eyes met and he stopped before clenching his jaw and continuing to walk to the bedroom. "Aren't you going to have your coffee?" I asked. He stopped again, glancing at me with a slight frown and a hardened expression on his face, "Did you have enough air? You didn't come to sleep in bed last night so I thought you still needed some time alone," his voice was so brusque, so harsh. Swallowing hard, I averted my gaze to the mug clasped in my hands. "I'm okay now. Can we just enjoy the coffee before it gets cold?"He looked like he was thinking about it before he nodded to himself and walked over to me. He settled on the opposite couch, his gym gear clinging to his body. "I'
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅New York... New York embraced me with the familiar sense of home, a sanctuary where I could finally exhale. Adriano maneuvered the car while I observed the trees blur by from the passenger seat."Claire," he called."Hm?" I responded absentmindedly."Say something."I shut my eyes, inhaling deeply. "What do you want me to say?""Anything," he urged.My eyes stayed closed; the tears from last night had drained me. No matter how I struggled, there were no tears left – just a hollow numbness."Thank you for the ride," I murmured in a low voice."Goddamn it, Claire, I'm so fucking sorry."I nodded, opening my eyes and meeting his gaze. "I know, you've said it a hundred times since I sat in this car with you. I know you're sorry, Adriano, so am I...""You have nothing to be sorry for, Claire," he insisted. A bitter smile played on my lips. "I do. Vincenzo will never forgive me.""It wasn't your fault."I sighed, the weight of regret settling in. "If I had told him the
Vincenzo⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅Dead... That's what I felt from the inside. A chilling emptiness consumed me as I huddled on the cold floor within the shadows of my family's home. My brother had brought me here after they found me pathetically paralyzed in my apartment. I, Vincenzo Capone, got outsmarted by the woman I loved. Loved? Loved. It's insane how, in mere seconds, your perspective on someone can take a wild turn.One second you love them more than the whole world and the next, you hate them with every fiber of your being. Your whole being caught in this intense switch, like a tug of war between what felt great and what feels like a punch in the gut.Love and hate, surprisingly alike, are these crazy powerful feelings that have a knack for devouring you from within, like flames licking at the edges of your soul.In the end, both have the power to reshape you, leaving imprints that linger long after the flames have subsided.Claire Parker — She had me hooked from day one. I spotted
Vincenzo⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅"Hello?" Her saccharine sweet voice echoed from the other end.A tumult of emotions surged within me—aversion, heartache. "Claire..." A sharp intake of breath from the other side cut through the silence. "Don't hang up," I sneered, my words dripping with a mix of bitterness and desperation."Wasn't going to..."A heavy silence loomed between us, a perplexing void where words seemed to evaporate. "Why did you do it?""What are you talking about?" Her nonchalant response only fueled my rage.In a heartbeat, my temper exploded. "GODDAMN IT, CLAIRE! FUCKING TELL ME!" She let out a chilling laugh, "Is it so hard to believe that I never loved you? I never even said it back, not even once, no matter what you said or did. Just fucking leave me alone now!" Her words cut through the air like icy blades, leaving a bitter taste of betrayal.My jaw clenched, and my teeth gritted so hard that a sharp jolt of pain traveled through my jaw. "You're wrong if you think I'll leave y
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅"Is that really your plan?" I exclaimed into the phone, my pacing echoing in the living room."It's the safest option. If I let you slip through Vincenzo's fingers, he'll either kill me or, worse, never forgive any of us," Adriano replied in a hushed tone on the other end of the call. "We discussed this, Adriano. The moment I marry him, he'll surely kill me. I know him well enough to understand how a simple comment can trigger his anger. After what your father orchestrated, do you really think he'll easily let this go? He's marrying me to torture me," I stated, sitting on the couch and pushing my hair back."Maybe, but consider this: it's the best for all of us involved. We'll disclose everything the moment he's in power, or maybe even before if you two can find a—"I interrupted, firmly, "No! Not before he becomes Capo, Adriano. I'm afraid he might do something reckless. And your father, no offense, is a first-class jerk. He isn't even afraid to get rid of his own
Hey there,Thanks a ton for sticking around till the end of this wild and long ride! It's been a blast crafting this romance and I hope you've had as much fun reading it as I did writing it.I've loved weaving together all the juicy bits of love, drama, and danger. It's been like piecing together a puzzle but with way more heart-pounding moments.I hope you've been rooting for our main couple through all the twists and turns. They've been through the wringer, but love always finds a way, right?As you close this book, just remember, their story doesn't end here. They'll keep living on in your imagination, popping up when you least expect it.And if this story had you on the edge of your seat, I'm begging you, please, take a quick sec to give it a solid FIVE-STAR RATING. It's not just for me, it's for all those readers out there who haven't stumbled upon this story yet.Seriously, your rating could make all the difference in getting this book noticed. Think of it as your way of spreadin
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅•The First Steps! ❤️"Oh my god, do you have the camera ready?!" I asked, excitement bubbling up inside me as we watched Aurelia tentatively attempt to take her first steps.She was already pulling herself up on the furniture, her chubby little hands gripping tightly as she teetered on unsteady legs. Her blue eyes sparkled with determination, her tiny mouth set in a determined line as she focused on the task at hand. She had gotten her blue eyes from my mama. Vincenzo and I had been eagerly awaiting this moment, always keeping our cameras close at hand in anticipation. Not just us, but the whole house. Salvatore, Alessia, and his brothers, they all celebrated everything she did. With bated breath, we watched as Aurelia took a wobbly step forward, her face lighting up with a mixture of surprise and delight. She stumbled slightly, her arms windmilling for balance before she regained her footing and took another hesitant step."Look at her go," Vincenzo murmured, hi
Note: This chapter takes place after Vincenzo has sent Claire back to New York once he learns the entire truth.Vincenzo⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅She was safe—safer than she had ever been in Chicago before.I had rented out the house across the street and stationed my men there to keep a watchful eye on her. They would keep their distance, she wouldn't even realize that they were there. I was furious with her, consumed by an intense anger that threatened to engulf me. But despite my rage, I couldn't bring myself to abandon her. She was too self-destructive, too chaotic to be left to her own devices.Part of me wanted to confront her, to unleash my fury and make her understand the gravity of her actions. But another part of me, a side that only belonged to her, couldn't bear to see her suffer alone.In the end, my love for her won out. No matter how angry I was, no matter how much she lied to me, I couldn't abandon her. She was a part of me, and I would do whatever it took to keep her safe, even i
Vincenzo⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I held Claire close, her body tense against mine, her face buried against my chest as I observed Tony's pitiful state. His once tough presence was reduced to nothingness, stripped of his limbs, his sight, and his dignity. He lay there like a discarded husk, a mere shell of his former self, awaiting the inevitable embrace of death. Claire refused to spare him even a glance, she had stopped coming here all altogether after she had ordered their eyes to be taken out, it was just too much for her. Tony's existence was a grotesque mockery of humanity, stripped of its most fundamental faculties. Devoid of limbs, senses, and any semblance of autonomy, he lay there, a pitiful shell of his former self. The ordeal of surviving without the ability to walk or see had surely taken its toll on his mind, leaving him trapped in a nightmarish existence."Please, Vincenzo, I can't stand to be here any longer," Claire pleaded, her voice quivering with a mix of desperation and di
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I stirred awake, feeling Vincenzo's solid frame enveloping me from behind. The unmistakable presence of his sizable cock pressed against me sent a jolt of excitement coursing through my body. I couldn't resist teasing him, rolling my hips ever so slightly against his length.A low, guttural groan escaped his lips, sending a delicious shiver down my spine. His response was so quintessentially Vincenzo that I couldn't help but smile, relishing in the sensation of his desire coursing through me even before I opened my eyes to greet the day.Last night fulfilled every dream I've ever had about becoming a mother and sharing intimate moments with the man I love. "Are you awake, Mia Cara?"I reached up, my fingers delicately tracing the contours of his forearm where it lay against my ribs, just below my breasts. "Mhmm," I murmured softly. He pulled me closer, his embrace tightening as he buried his face in the nape of my neck. I could sense the gentle caress of his lips
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅"Who's been managing things while you've been away?" I inquired, pulling my hair up into a ponytail."I was," he replied, his gaze fixed on me through the mirror. "I know how to run my organization even when I'm not physically there."We stood side by side, him adjusting his tie while I styled my hair. I had been discreet about our baby, wanting the right moment to reveal the news, I wanted it to be special. I wasn't sure if he had noticed my subtle changes, but he hadn't said a word about it.His phone rang, and he quickly grabbed it, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at the screen. Without answering, he slid it back into his pocket."Who was it?" I asked, curious.His smirk widened. "Scott Mancini." My eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh my god, he must be so worried about me. You have to talk to him," I urged. Vincenzo's expression remained smug as ever, and he nonchalantly shrugged. "No," he replied, his tone dismissive."What do you mean, no?" I exclaimed,
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅Perched on the edge of the bed, I curled into myself, knees drawn up to my chest, and my chin resting on top of my knees. His presence across from me was palpable, his hand possessively wrapped around my ankle, anchoring me to him. Slowly, deliberately, his touch traced a path along my leg, each caress sending shivers of conflicting emotions coursing through me. Despite the state of mind, I knew he was in, his touch was a paradox of gentleness, a stark contrast to the brutality I knew he was capable of. Yet, at this moment, his tenderness felt like a lifeline, a fragile thread connecting us. With each stroke, I could feel the electricity coursing through my body, pulling me closer to him. It was like we were speaking our own language, one filled with longing and love. "You were the anonymous buyer..." I stated. His intense gaze locked onto mine, momentarily stealing my breath. "It was your debut exhibition. I had to support my girl," he replied, his voice dark a
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅My eyelids felt heavy as if they were weighed down by tons of bricks, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't force them open. With a groan, I summoned all my strength and pushed my eyes open, only to be met with the blurry sight of an unfamiliar ceiling.As I blinked away the haze of unconsciousness, the events of the previous night flooded back to me in a rush. Panic surged through me as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings.The room was dimly lit, with heavy curtains drawn tightly shut, casting a shadowy gloom over everything. I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me back down onto the soft surface beneath me.Where was I? And more importantly, who brought me here, and why? Dread pooled in the pit of my stomach. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I took in the opulent surroundings of the bedroom. Rich fabrics adorned the furnishings, and ornate decorations adorned the walls. It was a stark contrast to the cold fear grip
Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I was four months pregnant, and while the first trimester had been relatively easy, now I was starting to show a bit, and the nausea was hitting me hard, making each day a struggle to get through. I gently caressed my slightly swollen belly, finding comfort in the subtle changes my body was undergoing. Although it wasn't yet noticeable to others, I cherished this intimate connection with my growing baby, a bond that only I could feel.For the exhibition tonight, I opted for a dress that would discreetly conceal my growing bump. I slipped into a black burnout maxi dress with delicate spaghetti straps, its modest neckline offering just the right amount of coverage. As I admired my reflection in the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. No one on this earth can tear you down, Claire Parker, not even the man you love with all your heart. The sleek silhouette of the dress hugged my curves in all the right places, disguising my pregnancy with effortle