Natalia's POV: I stood close to the door as Luca stood in the middle of my room, his hands shoved into his pockets, eyes fixed on me. Shit. I chewed on my bottom lip nervously. What do I say? ‘Please I don't want to marry you. I already have feelings for your father’ or ‘We can't get married. You do know I have sexual relations with your father, right?’ None was convincing enough. Just plain stupid. I'd brought him up here without a goddamn plan. What on earth was I thinking? “...I don't have all day, Natalia.” His voice penetrated my thoughts and my eyes snapped back to his. I can do this. This is just Luca—even though he's changed a bit… Keeping my eyes fixed on his, I cleared my throat, wiping my sweaty palms against my leggings. “Uhh… how have you been?” Easing into a conversation was clever, right? “You just…just.. disappeared… I… I hope you were doing alright wherever you went.” And I meant that sincerely. He scoffed angrily, eyes blazing as he regarded me slowly. “
Natalia’s POV:My heart thumped rapidly against my chest, each beat echoing in my ears as I shoved a hoodie into my duffel bag. Sweat beaded on my forehead with each fast movement I made. I needed to escape. It was now or never. BANG!!My heart skipped a beat as a shiver ran down my spine at the sound of the living room door being slammed. I knew what the sound was, it was HIM again. No doubt already drunk even though the day was just starting. Quickly, I pushed my little sister, Ava, into the closet. “Don’t come out until I come to get you, okay?” She nodded, her big brown eyes glistened with tears as the fear on her face mirrored mine. I placed a kiss on her forehead. “I won't let him hurt you. I promise.” Liar, you can't even protect yourself. The voice in my head mocked and I squashed it, shutting the closet door, and headed for the living room as my heart raced with a familiar dread. He wasn't supposed to be home, he was usually off at some bar drinking until evening. So
Natalia’s POV:“You… you can’t do that!” I spat as my mind raced wildly. The man’s index finger curled around the trigger. “You underestimate me, piccolina.” His deep voice was cold and void of any emotion. My blood ran cold as I broke out in cold sweat. I was glued to a spot.Torn between wanting to agree and disagree. Just moments ago I could almost taste my freedom and dreams. I worked my butt off for years to be awarded a fully funded scholarship. Everyone else was going off to college in a few weeks. I couldn't possibly follow a stranger across the continent to get married. War raged inside me at his threat. I can’t let this man ruin everything for me. I won’t back down. I have to call the cops. As if dad heard my thoughts. “Na… Natalia…” Dad breathed as tears rolled down his cheeks.“Plea… please do as he says. Don Carlo’s going to kill me if you don't.”Don Carlo? My heart squeezed painfully at his plea. He might have been an asshole to me all my life but he was still my f
Natalia’s POV:It’s all my fault… I caused this… Why didn’t I follow them? Instead, I thought I could outsmart them and I was wrong. So terribly wrong. Tears blurred my vision as every fight I had in me melted away. I turned to Carlo, the devil in human form. “I’ll come with you,” I said in a soft plea. “I’ll do anything! Please.”My eyes turned back to where Ava stood in front of the black van, tears streaming down her cheeks as her brown gaze locked with mine. A man stood behind her, his left hand closed her mouth, muffling her screams while his right held a dagger against her neck. How could they do that to a child?! I yanked my arm from his hold and dropped to my knees, clasping my hands in front of me. “Please, don’t do this… please!”His gray-blue eyes studied me, they were expressionless and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. With each second that passed, my anxiety heightened. Carlo made eye contact with the man holding Ava and he let her go. Like lightning, Ava dashe
Carlo’s POV:Death had a smell.Tears, blood, sweat, and fear…I glanced back at the traitor—Marco’s limp body being chained to a chair. In my world, disloyalty and lies were deadly sins. The only way to punish traitors for such an unforgivable sin was death. “Wake the stronzo up,” I growled. “Sure thing, Capo,” Enzo, my cousin and right-hand man answered as he moved to Marco, striking him hard across the face and he jerked awake. Marco’s left eye was ballooned shut, his lip split, and his cheek already bruising. Marco had been working for me for over ten years, yet he betrayed me. The fucker knew how much I hated traitors and yet.“You know what happens to men like you, don't you?” I asked, my voice hard and cold. “Don Carlo, please…please don’t do this. I’m sorry. I was desperate, he had my family,” he cried as snot dripped down his broken nose. If he was desperate, he could have come to me for help. But no, the fucker took the easier way out. He stole from me and sold informa
Natalia’s POV:I shouldn’t have opened the envelope…My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the floor, the envelope crinkled under my grip as my hands trembled. Suddenly, the room felt too little and it felt like my lungs could no longer function as I struggled to breathe. This can’t be true—A rattling sound behind the door had me scrambling to my feet as I wiped my eyes. Quickly, I hid the envelope and its contents in my duffel bag, stuffing the rest of my things back inside my bag. I couldn't let anyone find me in this state.The door swung open, and I expected it to be Carlo. But at the door stood an elderly lady and a young woman who held a tray of food and juice.I frowned. “Who are you?”“Ciao, bella. How are you?” The older lady asked, ignoring my question. “Let’s get you freshened up and changed into something—”“Who are you?” I asked again. The older lady’s eyes softened as she sighed. She gestured to the younger lady. “This is Vittoria, she will serve you. She’s your maid—
CHAPTER SIXCarlo’s POVStunned. That was my first reaction.A throbbing pain shot through my skull, and I could feel the warm trickle of blood mixing with wine, running down my face.For a moment, everything froze. I took in the woman in front of me, the one who'd dared to hit me, her face had gone pale and her eyes wide with horror. I blinked as my vision swam.My men—brutal, ruthless men—stood like statues. Equally stunned speechless. Eyes wide, jaws slacked. In seconds, shock morphed into blinding fury, it boiled inside me, I could suffocate from it. She had just disrespected me , in front of my men.Drew blood from my head and made me look weak.Almost in the same breath, Enzo—my right hand man—moved first. His face twisted with rage as he lunged for her, grabbing her arms as he pressed the barrel of his hand gun against her temple. Natalia let out a sharp gasp. “Enzo, don't!” Caterina yelled. I wiped the blood from my face. “Easy, Enzo,” I said calmly despite the rage brewi
Natalia's POV: His face was awfully familiar—sharp jawline, strong cheekbones, that same dark, silky hair. So similar, yet, different. He was much younger—around my age. There was concern in his golden green eyes, not cruelty like a certain someone’s bluish-grey ones. He began walking with me in his arms, my own arms wrapped securely around his neck. “I’m Luca,” He said. “I’m sorry about my father, he can be an asshole sometimes.”Father…? Then it clicked, the resemblance… “You’re Carlo’s son!” My throat felt tight.His eyes widened slightly, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “Okay, no one calls father, ‘Carlo’ well, except great-aunt. Yes, I’m his son.”I shoved against his chest. “Put me down!” “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” his voice was a gentle whisper. “I’m not going to hurt you.”I doubt that. “Let me go!” I said through my clattering teeth. “I can walk.”Instead, his arms tightened around me. “I can’t, you were literally catatonic when I found you. I don’t think you’re okay.”I
Natalia's POV: I stood close to the door as Luca stood in the middle of my room, his hands shoved into his pockets, eyes fixed on me. Shit. I chewed on my bottom lip nervously. What do I say? ‘Please I don't want to marry you. I already have feelings for your father’ or ‘We can't get married. You do know I have sexual relations with your father, right?’ None was convincing enough. Just plain stupid. I'd brought him up here without a goddamn plan. What on earth was I thinking? “...I don't have all day, Natalia.” His voice penetrated my thoughts and my eyes snapped back to his. I can do this. This is just Luca—even though he's changed a bit… Keeping my eyes fixed on his, I cleared my throat, wiping my sweaty palms against my leggings. “Uhh… how have you been?” Easing into a conversation was clever, right? “You just…just.. disappeared… I… I hope you were doing alright wherever you went.” And I meant that sincerely. He scoffed angrily, eyes blazing as he regarded me slowly. “
Natalia's POV: This has to be a joke. Really. A mean one.He was threatening them now? With his death? There was no way Carlo would refuse him now. No way. As much as he'd like to act tough to the outside world, act like he didn't have feelings, I knew how much he loved Luca. He wouldn't let his son die just because of me…I was literally nothing to him. Just his property.My eyes stung with impending hot tears and I blinked them away…With everything that had been happening these past few months, I'd forgotten my place in Carlo's life and I foolishly fell for him…Now look. He was going to give into Luca's demands, that much was certain.I could still hear them trying to reason with him. It wasn't working.I could feel my hands literally shaking, my hair sticking to the back of my neck from the sweat there as my heartbeat echoed loudly in my ears.This was bad.This was really fucking bad.My stomach churned, making my insides twist uncomfortably—a prize for letting curiosity get
Carlo's POV: ‘Natalia. I want to marry her this time.’ His hard, cold gaze held mine unflinchingly as the words left his mouth. His words rang in my ears, over and over again and yet, I wanted to pretend like he hadn't uttered the most absurd and ridiculous things.He wants Natalia back? She was mine.He'd left her, clearly wasn't interested in her. He can't have her. She's been in my bed severally. I knew how she felt wrapped around my bare cock, I've had my tongue far up her cunt, I knew how she tasted even in my sleep. She was mine in every way.And I was certain he knew she was my mistress even if he'd been away for months. Everyone within and outside our circle knew, surely, he must have heard the gossip. So how could he want her?I guess he didn't mean it, right? Right.But I waited. Waited to hear that he was joking, that he'd been messing with me but instead, the silence stretched. The tension in the room grew thicker, almost suffocating as Luca bored his cold eyes into min
Carlo's POV: “Enzo, stay. The rest of you, leave,” I demanded as soon as Luca joined us in my home office. I paced the space behind my desk, hands on my waist as I watched my men bow slightly before they left the office one by one.My eyes met my son's as he leaned against the now locked office door, his pose exuding nothing but arrogance and defiance. No remorse whatsoever. What the fuck? What has gotten into him? My blood boiled even more.I was furious. Might seem irrational to zia and maybe others but I knew how his stupidity could have cost us. Dearly.At first, I was relieved. Happy. Overjoyed. And then reality sank in. This boy could have gotten himself killed! I worried when he ran from home, hell, I panicked when he suddenly fled Spain too. I couldn't show it, wasn't allowed to show it or think of it, but I did panic. I had my men search all over Andorra even had them searching France just in case and now he was suddenly here. What sick games was he playing at?“Don?” En
Natalia's POV: ‘Luca is back.’ Why did that seem like trouble? Naaa, I was overthinking again. As the words escaped Enzo's lips the world seemed to have stopped, my eyes were wide with shock, Doctor Camilla's brows were almost kissing her hairline and from the shocked expression on Carlo's face… he hadn't expected that either. Wait… didn't he have Luca followed? I thought he knew his whereabouts since he was keeping a close eye on him. Surely, he would've been informed beforehand that his son was returning to Italy, right? “How do you know that?” Carlo broke the silence as he strode across the room to Enzo, taking the phone from his fingers. He glanced at the phone's screen and whatever he saw on it confirmed it; Luca was home. “This is nuts,” Enzo half laughed. “We couldn't even find him the last time he was spotted in Andorra. It felt like he knew we were following him and he was running away and now he shows up back in Italy. Willingly… What is going on in his mind, w
Natalia's POV;TWO DAYS LATER…Me: so this is it? Me: you'd ignore me forever? seriously this is so fucking childish and not what I'd expected from someone like you…I stared at my messages to Carlo and heaved a tired sigh. He's read them. It literally shows that he has and yet he doesn't respond. It had been almost two weeks since anyone at home had last seen him and this was getting ridiculous…My thumb hovered over the screen as I tried to make a decision if I should send him more text messages or not. The shrill sound of my phone's ringing tone and Doctor Camilla's name flashing on the screen made a decision for me unfortunately. No texting then…I swiped to answer the call, placing my phone against my ear. “Hello?” Hrt voice crackled through the phone. “Hi, Natalia. How are you?” “Good, I guess?”I heard her exhale deeply. “He's still avoiding home?” More like avoiding me. “Yes and he won't reply to my texts yet he reads them. All of them.” I heard her curse under her breat
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY-TWO: Carlo's POV: EIGHT DAYS LATER…Thanks to the little soundproofing in the vip lounge, the loud music blasting from the club's speakers were almost muffled.At first, coming to a club to distract myself, to just have some drinks and chill seemed like a good idea. But twenty minutes in and I'm not so sure it was a good idea anyway.“Can I speak freely?” Enzo asked, leaning back against the couch as he nursed the glass of whiskey in his hand.I scoffed, tapping my cigarette against the ashtray to expel some ashes. “When have you ever not spoken freely to me? You just use my title to mask your sharp tongue.” He pretended to be shocked by my words, clutching at his heart. “Now it hurts me to think you actually think I have no respect for you.”I puffed out a ring of smoke. “Enzo, if you had no respect for me you would have been six feet under, you know that.” “Alright, alright you have a point.” He took a sip of whiskey, setting the glass down on the sm
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY-ONE: Natalia's POV: It was clear Caterina hadn't said a word to her. But why? It wasn't anything she didn't already know… I should tell her…I think it's probably nothing and I was just overthinking things. Caterina probably didn't want Angela worrying about Carlo's health.“You're unusually quiet,” She said softly, her questioning eyes not leaving mine. “Is there something you're not telling me?” I lost the battle, dropping my gaze as I pulled out my phone. “Why would you think that?” I answered her question with another. The look on her face told me she wasn't buying my bullshit. “You're deflecting.” She nudged her glasses up her straight nose. “Natalia, I'm not stupid, I've lived with zia my whole life and I can tell something is wrong. And for some weird reason, you're aware of it. So spill.” I kept my eyes glued to my phone, typing rubbish on it. “This is stupid,” she huffed, sounding upset. “Zia would definitely talk if I pester her but she loo
Natalia's POV: Fuck. His wounds look bad. I thought, feeling my chest twist with an unpleasant feeling… If only there was a way to take his pains away, stop him from doing this to himself… Well, Doctor Camilla had said we could help… couldn't wait to hear the ideas she had.“Nngh,” Carlo grunted in pain and I craned my neck even more, watching from the side as Doctor Camilla took out the damaged bandage to redress Carlo's wounds. “You still don't want the pain meds?” She asked him.“No,” he grunted and I had to fight back an eye roll. Seriously, what is his problem? He was obviously in pain. “But you need it.” The words left my mouth before I could stop myself and he threw me a warning glare.Fine. Whatever. At least he was better now, a lot calmer which is definitely a good thing. My heart could finally be at peace.In silence, I watched her expertly replace the bandage with another one after she'd cleaned up his wounds. “I think you should be careful how you move that arm,” she s