Isabella "Now I just feel like you're patronizing me," Damon said as he laughed softly. "I'll be done here in about 30 minutes. Wait for me." I nodded my head, and when I turned to leave, Damon smacked me on the ass, earning a few whistles and catcalls from the men. I couldn't help the way my cheeks flooded with blood as I laughed. Even though I tried to walk with even steps, I still felt embarrassed. *** Damon sat in my room, having breakfast while I waited, nibbling on a piece of strawberry. The reddish juice had already stained my fingers from eating so much, but I was bored waiting for him. Finally, he finished after what felt like an eternity and smirked at me. "When is the next meeting?" I asked. "We have meetings every two weeks. Sometimes, if there's no order of business, it could last a month before we have any. But I called for another one in two weeks." "So I have two weeks before we figure out whatever the hell is going on," I said, and he grunted in response. "Is t
Damon I stepped on the gas, driving as fast as I could to the hospital that Alessandro had told me about. Without wasting much time, I parked the car and we made our way inside. It looked the same, eerily so, but the man behind the counter was different. "Are you his family?" the doctor asked as we stood waiting in the ICU. "Yes," Isabella said. "What happened?" she asked, turning to face the doctor. "He has been stabbed multiple times," the doctor said plainly. "His vital organs were slightly damaged but redeemable. The rest was mostly blood loss. That's why we didn't spend so long in surgery," the doctor added, as though he wanted to pat himself on the back. Andrew looked fragile. A tube was in his mouth, an oxygen feeder in his nose, delivering air directly to his lungs. His chest was open and stuck with as many monitors as possible, connected by wires to various beeping machines. His eyes were closed, his chest moved up and down steadily with each breath he took. Isabella s
Damon The wait for Miguel and Jacques to come back was grueling. I would have preferred that Valentino wouldn't have been the one to stab the one he called friend, but whatever we were presented with, we would take. Most of the men had left the room, leaving just a handful of us. Finally, I heard the footsteps of the two men, and when they came into the room, I breathed a sigh of relief. Jacques opened his sketchpad to reveal different drawings of Valentino from different angles. It also captured his face in many negative emotions that ranged from sadness to anger. Finally, he flipped open a page. "Don't mind those ones," he said. "I was just getting angles of what Valentino looks like from different perspectives... We don't need to know about that right now." The Frenchman smiled, knowing that I had caught him. "Forgive me," he said sheepishly. He flipped several pages and revealed a startling scene: Valentino crouched over Andrew, who was already bleeding. Valentino's hands
Damon "Let's go. I've heard what I need to hear," I said and resumed the walk back to the helicopter. "What now?" "I need to make a few calls to Rome." Just as I was talking, I received a phone call. "Martino," I said, recognizing the caller ID. "There's a problem, King," Martino said nervously. "Valentino made some calls. He's closing in on me. I don't know why. He's shutting down some of my businesses." "Come," I said. "Come where?" "Come to the city. You've spent long enough. Before he takes everything you have, consolidate, liquidate, and come here. I'll figure out a place for you." I hung up after that. "Why do you offer him a place here?" "Because he deserves something. He's balanced on the edge from Valentino's side to mine. Besides, those he considered enemies have long since been destroyed. Martinez is dead, and Revaldi is on our side. There's no need for bad blood to continue. I'm sure he'll fit in just right." "Do you intend to put him on the council?" "Maybe. It
Isabella "So what are you saying? Do you mean that he would literally be walking around as my friend as we speak? But why?" I leaned up and sat. "Why would he do this?" Damon stayed lying down but moved to his back. "I was hoping you would tell me that." I shook my head. "I can only see. I only have permission. I don't know what people are thinking. It would be nice if one of your men had that ability." Damon suddenly started laughing. "There is. But this happened before… Michael left before he discovered it." I debated whether to tell Paula about it, but I didn't think it would be wise. I leaned back down and put my head on Damon's chest. His steady heartbeat began to comfort me. Just as I was beginning to fall asleep again, I heard the pesky sound of his phone vibrating in his pocket. "I'm sorry, bird," he said with a laugh when I smacked his chest. "Is it that bad?" he said slowly. "Give me a moment. I'll send you some help." I peeked at him from my lashes and blinked, al
Isabella "But not now," he said after pulling away from the kiss, leaving me cold. "I understand. We definitely need to resolve this issue with Valentino and Martinez. But Damon… I'm so happy. This means so much to me." I couldn't help the flood of tears that gathered in my eyes. He let them fall before wiping them away with a kiss. He pulled me into a hug and began to rub my back soothingly as I continued to tear up on his shoulder. Hours later, after several more rounds of lovemaking, I stood in front of Paula's room, nervous and almost unable to knock. "It was just news," I told myself as I raised my hand for the umpteenth time. I dropped it again and began to pace in front of her room. Finally, the door opened to reveal Ted. "Come in, please," he said with a sheepish look on his face. I entered to find Paula coming out of the bathroom, dressed in a silk robe similar to mine. "Dude, you've been there for a while." "Couldn't sleep," she said with a laugh. Ted walked back towa
Isabella A phone call woke me up. I groaned as I fumbled out of my bed, over Damon's warm body, and then to my dresser table. "Hello?" I said, groggy, half-asleep, and not bothering to check who it was. "It's me," a familiar voice said. "Frederick?" "Though lovely to hear from you this early morning. I thought I told you not to make a habit of waking me up." "It's urgent. Sorry, but this is the only time I can call. Cassandra goes on her morning workout by this time. It's the only time I had to call. Look, she's crazy. She's actually batshit crazy, and I know that it's wrong of me to do this, but if I started, I might as well just finish it. So, what do you want to finish?" He was silent for a moment, and then I heard movement. "If you want to find the Ravella, I need assurance of my safety when Cassandra goes down. I need you to keep me safe. I need the Mafia King... He's the only one that can keep me safe from her. I know he has an army, and I know his men are strong and well-
Isabella My mind was almost shot off as my hand reached for my phone to send Frederick a message. "Curfew," I heard Frank say, but I wasn't able to question him further as my fingers moved rapidly over the keyboard, forming words. "How soon can you leave?" I asked, instantly hearing a reply. "Just give me a time, and I will be where you need me to be." "Where?" I asked Frank. "I will send the message when we reach the lower town. Who knows who's around him. Tell him to prepare; he will get words soon enough." I texted the words as fast as possible, and Frederick's reply was fine. I got up from my seat and stretched my hand towards Paula. "Let's go." As we ascended the stairs, she began to ask questions. "How long do you think this is going to take? Definitely, I'll take casual clothes, but should I pack an overnight bag, right?" "Yes to the overnight bag, yes to the casual clothes, but I don't know how long it will take—maybe a day or two." We reached my room, and I briskly walk
IsabellaPerhaps it was Donatella's face that was the most surprising, but the days following my declaration and official ascension to the throne were followed by endless visits to my family's estate.I had to temporarily move there because I was worried about the constant movement and how my son would take it. However, according to Julio, it also applied pressure to bring Cassandra back to the city.She had disappeared a few days ago, and I believed she went to have her child."I must say, he's a very handsome boy," Nicholas said as he carried my son and began to walk around the new nursery. The baby cooed in his arms and raised his little fists towards his face. I smiled but began to miss the little bundle of warmth that he provided. I had once complained to Damon, and his reply was,"You'll just have to get used to it. Or are you going to take my son away from me?" Damon said with a smile.***To my surprise, Cassandra didn't show up over the next few weeks. I began to genuinely w
IsabellaGeorge knelt in front of me in the gazebo. I had given Alessandro the go-ahead to let him come to the mansion. He came accompanied by three more people that I didn't recognize."There was a mistake, Princess. If I had known…”“I know you think that I am a benevolent figure of never-ending kindness that might accept you. But you must understand that given my position, I simply cannot forgive you right off the bat. You have to prove yourself to me. You have to prove yourself to the city. You have to prove your loyalty, and it will cost you more than it did the last time," I found myself saying.Shortly after that, I left the men alone and made a beeline for the nursery where I felt my son squirming and crying in his cot. The maid I had instructed to stay with him was trying to keep him calm, but she was failing miserably, making me laugh.I stretched out my hands, and just as she placed him in it, the infant settled down. Shortly after passing him and singing to him, I felt ar
DamonAfter Isabella told me that I should handle Cassandra, Valentino, and her allies, I got to work instantly, telling Ted to pull out the old files he had on the trust of those she committed."So what do we do with them?" he asked. "We pick the weakest link. We pick the one most sympathetic to the lower City. Find me a couple of them and show them the pictures."A few days later, I received a call from Ted while I was out in town on a meeting with Nicholas."We have a number of them. What do you want us to do?" he asked. "Tell them to come to my place," Nicholas said with his arms raised. "I'm sure we'll do a good job convincing them." I smiled and told Ted to do the same. Six men, members of the lesser families, came through his gate.I recognized Antonio and George to be some of them and stopped myself from snickering behind my mask. The men bowed when they saw me, but it was clear that their initial fear of me was gone. I smirked behind the mask and looked at them.I loved se
IsabellaDamon had carried me into the tub filled with cold water. As soon as my body came in contact with the water, I instantly sighed in relief. Marie came to me with a small figure half wrapped in a cloth and laid the pink infant on my naked chest.I leaned my back against the foam headrest and let my child lean against my skin. He squirmed and cried, but Marie said it was all part of the process, even though my heart was aching as I desperately searched my mind for what to do to ease his sorrows somehow."If he doesn't cry, his lungs wouldn't be strong. You have to let him cry, princess," she had told me before I struggled with her, and Damon carried me into the bathroom. Even now, he was still crying, but I felt a bit assured as Damon held my hand and began to rub soothing circles over my knuckles. "You are so strong," he whispered. "I'm so proud of you." He whispered again, and this time his hand reached up to caress the head of the infant that laid on my chest. I smiled, bu
IsabellaDamon laughed suddenly, his shoulders quaking, and the room filled up with the hearty sound of joy. He stopped after a while and turned his head towards Cassandra. "It looks as though this wannabe princess is uninformed about what's happening in the city. Someone please tell her."Andrew cleared his throat. "The King…" Damon took off his mask, revealing his face, causing Cassandra to gasp and cover her mouth, as did Donatella. "The King has been married to the princess for quite a while now. I happen to be one of those privileged to witness the ceremony and the signing of their marriage certificate.This, of course, meant that as one without a surname, he would take his wife's own, making him Damon Montenegro Therefore, your challenge… your stake on the throne is very much mitigated by him.""That's not possible!" Cassandra screeched. "You wouldn't do that," she said as she turned her head towards me and stared daggers at me through the screen. "I did. Would you like to h
Isabella"Do I need to remind you that you are a fugitive?" Damon's voice cut through the silence like a hot knife through butter."Do I need to remind you that your crimes are so great you deserve to be put to death?" Damon stood up from his seat and walked towards the pregnant woman."Get out, or I will pull my gun and shoot you between your eyes, not caring about the child within your belly." Instantly, Donatella gasped and covered her mouth with surprise.She got up and walked towards both of them and set herself in their midst as though to protect Cassandra. "Ouch," I thought to myself. "So much for loyalty forever," I said out loud. Donatella turned to me."You must understand, princess, it's not as though I will not be loyal to you. It's just with the recent developments, we find ourselves needing an heir. Perhaps once she gives birth, she can leave." "I'm not going anywhere," Cassandra said, protesting as she pushed the older woman out of the way."I'm here to challenge her
Isabella“No, Isabella. We still need Cassandra to come out. We need her to show her cards. I'm sure it's not going to take long, but... you have to hang tight, Mia Bella," Damon said, shaking his head.He raised his hand and began to caress my belly before leaning in and pressing a kiss on my swollen abdomen. As if in response, the baby kicked where his hand was."He's saying hello to me," Damon said with a smile as he leaned forward and then pulled open the robe I wore to reveal my naked belly."So perfect," he said as he pressed another kiss on the pale skin. "So damn perfect," he said again as he met my eyes. I could see the expression there, his eyes flashing red before returning back to their normal hazel color. He spread open my legs and slowly removed the outer robe to reveal my naked pussy. Slowly, he kissed his way from my belly button down to my weeping pussy.***The extra wait was grueling, but I didn't mind it. I filled my days with walking, with Paula up and down the
Isabella"It was just a rumor," I told my husband as he paced the length of the room, hitting one wall and then going to the next to do the same."We both know rumors are next to truth. It wouldn't be said if it wasn't seen at some point. But you're the same person that said the city thrived on rumors. Why is this one only different?" I questioned him, but the man continued his insistent pacing. He had taken off his shirt, leaving him half naked and making my eyes wander to strange places."Please," I begged him as I stood up. I took off my coat."You're making me dizzy," I said.Damon stopped suddenly and looked at me. "And if the rumor's true?""Then we laid a trap. And I think traps are your thing… at least Julio's thing.""So let's call the ultimate trap master and have him whip up something for us," I said as I reached up towards my husband's head.***The day after, Julio sat opposite me in the gazebo. "How could you not tell me you were pregnant?" He asked, his eyes wide and f
DamonIsabella's face was pale when I saw her as she came out of the bathroom. She had a stunned look as though she was trying to remember something. I grabbed her hands and rubbed circles over her knuckles until she smiled at me."I am fine," she said with a shaking voice."Champagne?" I asked as I handed her a flute. She shook her head. "I can't keep it down," she said, forcing another smile at me."Isabella, what is wrong?" I asked with my mouth close to her ear. "I'll tell you when we get home," she said as she squeezed my fingers back.The rest of the evening couldn't come fast enough as I began to wish time could go faster. Finally, three hours after we arrived at the party, she tugged on my arm, telling me she wanted to go home. I bade goodbye to my friends and some others who were desperate to see me for some reason. We decided to take the chopper, being impatient and me wanting to find out what was wrong with my wife.I helped her out of her dress when we reached our room. S