Hey, everyone! Hope you enjoy today’s chapter! It’s a bit intense, I know, but don’t forget to comment and vote! XOXO 💋
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ Nikolai stood close to the vast windows of my office, his gaze slicing through the city skyline. Hands deep in his pockets, as he took in every word I said.. After a pause, he turned just slightly, a sliver of impatience in his eyes. “What’s your take about this?” I leaned back, feeling the familiar tension twist in my gut, “If there’s a problem on my side, I’ll take care of it.” A muscle in his jaw flexed. “It’s not you I’m concerned about,” he let the words hang in the air, “It’s that girl. There’s something… off. She’s not what she seems.” My grip tightened around the pen, rolling it between my fingers as I stared ahead, “I told you, she’ll be dealt with. You have my word.” He didn’t respond, just gave a brief nod. We both knew what that promise meant, and it wouldn’t end with Viviane walking away like she had done a few hours ago. Frankie stepped into my office, his face lost all its color when he saw Nikolai, he clasped his hands tightly behind his b
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ It felt like my body had been steamrolled. Or, well, almost. Technically, I hadn’t been steamrolled, just hit by a car, but every cell in my body protested like it had been. Pain radiated everywhere, like I’d been stretched thin and dragged over gravel. Breathing hurt. Blinking hurt. Even thinking hurt. The doctor leaned over me, his face a blur that slowly sharpened as I blinked and tried to focus. “Let’s run through a few things, okay? Can you tell me your name?” he looked at me, pen poised. I blinked, fighting through the haze. “Viviane Kane, unfortunately still very alive.” He raised an eyebrow, “Can you tell me where you are?” I glanced around, taking in the too-bright lights and sterile smell. I wasn't in my home or in Alessandro's torture chamber, “Either a hospital, or someone with an incredibly clean fetish dungeon.” A smile almost escaped him, but he held it back, “Good sense of humor, seems like your brain is working just fine. Now, how many fin
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ “Son, you know she’s been watching you for a while now,” his father murmured, eyes cutting to a young woman across the club, who was throwing suggestive glances at Alessandro. Alessandro barely looked her direction, he was more focused on his conversation with Scott. He was twenty, and he'd only come tonight because it was his birthday and his father, Vito, insisted on throwing a party. He didn't know that it would be the last one they’d celebrate together or he would have been nicer to him. “I don’t care, let her look,” Alessandro replied casually, sipping his whiskey and keeping his attention on Scott, one of the few people who understood his tech obsession. Vito gave a frustrated sigh, “Alessandro, I’ve been noticing something,” he said, “In all these years, not once have I seen you with a woman. Not once. Even at your initiation, you turned down every opportunity to fuck. It’s unnatural.” he raised an eyebrow, “Your cock works alright? Or should I be wo
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I’d never had anyone take care of me like this before. Growing up, Brandon and Stella did what they could, but life pulled them in other directions too early. College, jobs, and other stuff that kept them busy. They tried, but there was only so much they could do before they were gone. With my parents...well, I learned young that if I didn’t look after myself, no one else would. I practically raised myself. Then there were the men I dated. I’d picked one narcissist after another, guys who saw caring for anyone as something beneath them, or worse, as a woman’s job. My last ex wasn’t just self-absorbed—he was the type who thought cooking, cleaning, and even basic decency belonged on my side of the line, no matter what I had on my plate. So, sitting here now, watching him in my tiny kitchen compared to the spacious and luxurious ones he was used to, it was like seeing something out of place but so right. He was supposed to be untouchable Costello, all danger and c
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ The past 24 hours had been a blur—a storm of panic, decisions, and a speed I wasn’t prepared for. No time to think, no time to tell Brandon. I knew exactly what his reaction would be—he’d lose his mind, try to put a stop to it, argue about Alessandro’s influence and the strings he’d pulled. But I couldn’t afford that argument, not now. Not when Fliss’s life was hanging in the balance. Everything moved at a breakneck pace. By the time we got to the hospital, the donor—some poor child closer to Felicity's age, who’d just lost their life—was already prepped. I didn’t even have a moment to process what that meant, what we were really doing here. Alessandro didn’t give me a chance; he had it all under control, every detail. He took over, directing doctors and nurses, smoothing over paperwork while I just stood back. He made me feel that again—soft femininity, seen, and safe in a way that made me forget I ever had to stand alone. I should have felt gratitude, but the p
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I'd never felt the urge to stomp someone so hard I’d leave an imprint, but this bitch? She was testing my patience like no one else ever had. There were a lot of things I could handle, but watching her perfectly manicured hand reach out, to touch Alessandro’s tux? Yeah, that wasn’t one of them. Her smile was all sweetness and sugar, but I could see right through it—she wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all me. She leaned in, eyes lingering on him in a way that made my blood simmer, fingers brushing his lapel. “Can we talk for a moment... alone?” she asked, voice dripping with a little too much familiarity as she toyed with his collar. A heat rose up in me, a possessiveness I’d only felt for Fliss but somehow ten times more potent. In the span of a second, my mind was made up. I didn’t think, I just acted. My hand shot out, and I slapped her hand away from him—not a gentle brush-off either, but a smack that echoed in the space around us. Francesca jerked her hand b
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ From the corner of my eye, I watched Viviane—laughing, head thrown back, that carefree sound spilling out of her like it belonged in a different world than mine. What really got me was that even Bianca was laughing along with the rest of them. Bianca, who I expected to pull her usual crap, throw a snide remark, stir up trouble, or worse, drop some comment meant to chip away at me in front of Viviane but none of it happened. She was smiling like she wasn’t the viper I knew her to be. And it twisted something dark in me, this realization that Viviane fit here more easily than I wanted her to. I hated it—seeing her at ease with people, people who shouldn’t get to know her, who shouldn’t get to see her this relaxed. That laughter, those little smiles... They weren’t for them. They shouldn’t be. I realized it in that moment: Viviane wasn’t someone I could just share. Not here, not with them, maybe not with anyone. She’s mine. And the thought of anyone
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I stormed out of that suffocating mansion, cursing under my breath, every step harder and faster than the last. The the weight of all their judgment and bullshit pressing down until I could barely breathe. I had to get out. Alessandro was right behind me, his hand in mine. He didn’t say a word, didn’t try to stop me. For once, he just followed, letting me lead the way without a fight. The second we stepped outside into the biting cold night air, I dropped his hand and sucked in a breath, but it wasn’t enough to calm me down. Not even close. I clenched my fists, trying to force myself to breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Come on, Viviane. Inhale and fucking exhale. My pulse was racing, my blood boiling from the crap I’d just dealt with in there. Those self-righteous assholes. Acting like I was the one out of line. Like they haven’t let Bianca run wild for years, making excuses for her tantrums because Daddy broke her precious heart. I let out a bitter laugh, my bre
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I stormed out of that suffocating mansion, cursing under my breath, every step harder and faster than the last. The the weight of all their judgment and bullshit pressing down until I could barely breathe. I had to get out. Alessandro was right behind me, his hand in mine. He didn’t say a word, didn’t try to stop me. For once, he just followed, letting me lead the way without a fight. The second we stepped outside into the biting cold night air, I dropped his hand and sucked in a breath, but it wasn’t enough to calm me down. Not even close. I clenched my fists, trying to force myself to breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Come on, Viviane. Inhale and fucking exhale. My pulse was racing, my blood boiling from the crap I’d just dealt with in there. Those self-righteous assholes. Acting like I was the one out of line. Like they haven’t let Bianca run wild for years, making excuses for her tantrums because Daddy broke her precious heart. I let out a bitter laugh, my bre
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ From the corner of my eye, I watched Viviane—laughing, head thrown back, that carefree sound spilling out of her like it belonged in a different world than mine. What really got me was that even Bianca was laughing along with the rest of them. Bianca, who I expected to pull her usual crap, throw a snide remark, stir up trouble, or worse, drop some comment meant to chip away at me in front of Viviane but none of it happened. She was smiling like she wasn’t the viper I knew her to be. And it twisted something dark in me, this realization that Viviane fit here more easily than I wanted her to. I hated it—seeing her at ease with people, people who shouldn’t get to know her, who shouldn’t get to see her this relaxed. That laughter, those little smiles... They weren’t for them. They shouldn’t be. I realized it in that moment: Viviane wasn’t someone I could just share. Not here, not with them, maybe not with anyone. She’s mine. And the thought of anyone
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I'd never felt the urge to stomp someone so hard I’d leave an imprint, but this bitch? She was testing my patience like no one else ever had. There were a lot of things I could handle, but watching her perfectly manicured hand reach out, to touch Alessandro’s tux? Yeah, that wasn’t one of them. Her smile was all sweetness and sugar, but I could see right through it—she wasn’t fooling anyone, least of all me. She leaned in, eyes lingering on him in a way that made my blood simmer, fingers brushing his lapel. “Can we talk for a moment... alone?” she asked, voice dripping with a little too much familiarity as she toyed with his collar. A heat rose up in me, a possessiveness I’d only felt for Fliss but somehow ten times more potent. In the span of a second, my mind was made up. I didn’t think, I just acted. My hand shot out, and I slapped her hand away from him—not a gentle brush-off either, but a smack that echoed in the space around us. Francesca jerked her hand b
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ The past 24 hours had been a blur—a storm of panic, decisions, and a speed I wasn’t prepared for. No time to think, no time to tell Brandon. I knew exactly what his reaction would be—he’d lose his mind, try to put a stop to it, argue about Alessandro’s influence and the strings he’d pulled. But I couldn’t afford that argument, not now. Not when Fliss’s life was hanging in the balance. Everything moved at a breakneck pace. By the time we got to the hospital, the donor—some poor child closer to Felicity's age, who’d just lost their life—was already prepped. I didn’t even have a moment to process what that meant, what we were really doing here. Alessandro didn’t give me a chance; he had it all under control, every detail. He took over, directing doctors and nurses, smoothing over paperwork while I just stood back. He made me feel that again—soft femininity, seen, and safe in a way that made me forget I ever had to stand alone. I should have felt gratitude, but the p
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I’d never had anyone take care of me like this before. Growing up, Brandon and Stella did what they could, but life pulled them in other directions too early. College, jobs, and other stuff that kept them busy. They tried, but there was only so much they could do before they were gone. With my parents...well, I learned young that if I didn’t look after myself, no one else would. I practically raised myself. Then there were the men I dated. I’d picked one narcissist after another, guys who saw caring for anyone as something beneath them, or worse, as a woman’s job. My last ex wasn’t just self-absorbed—he was the type who thought cooking, cleaning, and even basic decency belonged on my side of the line, no matter what I had on my plate. So, sitting here now, watching him in my tiny kitchen compared to the spacious and luxurious ones he was used to, it was like seeing something out of place but so right. He was supposed to be untouchable Costello, all danger and c
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ “Son, you know she’s been watching you for a while now,” his father murmured, eyes cutting to a young woman across the club, who was throwing suggestive glances at Alessandro. Alessandro barely looked her direction, he was more focused on his conversation with Scott. He was twenty, and he'd only come tonight because it was his birthday and his father, Vito, insisted on throwing a party. He didn't know that it would be the last one they’d celebrate together or he would have been nicer to him. “I don’t care, let her look,” Alessandro replied casually, sipping his whiskey and keeping his attention on Scott, one of the few people who understood his tech obsession. Vito gave a frustrated sigh, “Alessandro, I’ve been noticing something,” he said, “In all these years, not once have I seen you with a woman. Not once. Even at your initiation, you turned down every opportunity to fuck. It’s unnatural.” he raised an eyebrow, “Your cock works alright? Or should I be wo
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ It felt like my body had been steamrolled. Or, well, almost. Technically, I hadn’t been steamrolled, just hit by a car, but every cell in my body protested like it had been. Pain radiated everywhere, like I’d been stretched thin and dragged over gravel. Breathing hurt. Blinking hurt. Even thinking hurt. The doctor leaned over me, his face a blur that slowly sharpened as I blinked and tried to focus. “Let’s run through a few things, okay? Can you tell me your name?” he looked at me, pen poised. I blinked, fighting through the haze. “Viviane Kane, unfortunately still very alive.” He raised an eyebrow, “Can you tell me where you are?” I glanced around, taking in the too-bright lights and sterile smell. I wasn't in my home or in Alessandro's torture chamber, “Either a hospital, or someone with an incredibly clean fetish dungeon.” A smile almost escaped him, but he held it back, “Good sense of humor, seems like your brain is working just fine. Now, how many fin
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ Nikolai stood close to the vast windows of my office, his gaze slicing through the city skyline. Hands deep in his pockets, as he took in every word I said.. After a pause, he turned just slightly, a sliver of impatience in his eyes. “What’s your take about this?” I leaned back, feeling the familiar tension twist in my gut, “If there’s a problem on my side, I’ll take care of it.” A muscle in his jaw flexed. “It’s not you I’m concerned about,” he let the words hang in the air, “It’s that girl. There’s something… off. She’s not what she seems.” My grip tightened around the pen, rolling it between my fingers as I stared ahead, “I told you, she’ll be dealt with. You have my word.” He didn’t respond, just gave a brief nod. We both knew what that promise meant, and it wouldn’t end with Viviane walking away like she had done a few hours ago. Frankie stepped into my office, his face lost all its color when he saw Nikolai, he clasped his hands tightly behind his b
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ Have you ever stood in a room and felt that every set of eyes was waiting for you to slip up, to give them some reason to tear you down? That's exactly what it felt like standing there, surrounded, with all of them staring me down. Their looks weren’t normal—they were filled with accusations and suspicions, as if they were all in on some shared vendetta against me. My gut was screaming that they didn’t just want me gone—they wanted to see me dead. Everyone in this room was the kind who played mental chess with their eyes closed. And I knew I had to be two moves ahead, outthink them before they even made their first play. I took a step back, searching Alessandro’s eyes. No—he wouldn’t just take their word for it, would he? They thought I’d stolen two damn laptops. It took everything I had not to laugh at the absurdity of it. As if I’d be careless enough to get caught over something as amateur as that. Alessandro already knew about the sensitive data I printed