Alessio's Pov The warehouse reeked of dust, coil, blood too, maybe. The kind of place which was forbidden to people who didn't deal with guns. I stepped out of the SUV, the gravel stones crunching beneath my boots. I looked around taking in the view. No signs of life, except the figure leaning against the barrel near the far end of the building. Pablo.His arms were crossed, his body relaxed. That alone made my skin itch.I didn’t say anything at first. Just walked. Each step echoing as I moved. Two of my men Carlo and Ricci stood beside me. The tension between all could’ve cracked a concrete wall. “You picked a hell of a place for a meeting,” I muttered when I got close enough to see the sweat on Pablo’s brow.He smirked, his eyes hidden behind those damn mirrored shades. “You’re late.”“Traffic,” I said dryly. “Let’s not waste more time.”He shifted, finally standing up straight. “I got news. But you’re not gonna like it.”I narrowed my eyes. “I haven’t liked much of anything la
Gabriella's Pov The house felt like a damn museum, big, cold but lifeless. I wandered through the long hallways with no real direction, just bare feet against polished floors and boredom clinging to me like perfume.I had already counted the columns in the hallway twice. There were Twenty-eight in total. The exact number of minutes I’d been pacing. I muttered to myself, “I’m going crazy.”No one answered. Obviously.I made my way to the front of the house, hoping, praying, for some reason to go out. Maybe a fire. An earthquake. A scandal. Anything.Two guards stood at the entrance like they were a statue. One of them, the bald one in sunglasses, turned his head as I approached.“I want to head out,” I said, already bracing for the worst. To my surprise the bald guy grunted. “Can’t let you do that, ma’am.”I crossed my arms. “Excuse me?”“Don’s orders. You're to stay inside.”I blinked. “Are you hearing yourself? Am I a prisoner now?”“No one said that,” he replied calmly. Too calml
Gabriella's PovThe car ride back to the mansion was unusually quiet. Paul’s eyes were glued to the road, hands gripped firm around the steering wheel, his jaw locked like he was chewing on a million thoughts he refused to spit out.But me? My mind was racing.Just before Paul interrupted earlier, she slid a paper into my hand. Quiet, quick, unnoticed.I waited until we were clear. I shifted slightly in my seat, making sure Paul’s eyes stayed ahead, and with a racing heart and trembling fingers, I unfolded the little piece of paper.It was a phone number. No name. Just digits.I glanced at Paul again. He was still focused on the road. A slow, strange smile tugged at the corner of my lips. The moment we pulled into the long driveway and the mansion came into view, I practically flew out of the car the second we stopped. I didn’t wait for Paul to open my door. I didn’t even say a word. My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as I bolted through the grand hallway, ignoring th
Gabriella’s Pov“How much further till we get there?" I asked, my voice cutting through the silence, barely audible due to the rain falling heavily.My stepdad, Victor, remained silent. His eyes stayed focused on the road, his jaw tightening, while he checked his watch over and over. Breathing out, I faced the window, observing the city pass by. My hands were shaking, something that always happened whenever I knew danger was lurking ahead. Like the day my mother passed.I turned back to him, to the man who I was certain was responsible for her death. “We have been driving for hours. Where are we going?”Victor chuckled, glancing at me briefly. “Just a little more princess and we'll be there.”I cringed at the word, “princess”. Only my father was allowed to call me that. I hated Victor. I hated him for finding his way into my mother's life after my father passed away.. He filled her heart with nothing but sorrow and pain. My mother changed after marrying him, she became distant, rarely
Alessio's PovMy fists clenched as I stared at Gabriella. That name once brought a sense of warmth and comfort to me. But now, it tasted bitter. Hatred overwhelmed me, burning hotter than the cigarette between my fingers. She hadn't changed much, her soft brown hair tied in a bun, brought out her sparkling hazel wide eyes. I hated those eyes. I despised everything about her, but now, she wasn't the same girl I had known, she's prettier, fiercer, and at the same time, fragile. "Why did you buy me?" She asked softly. I closed my eyes, taking a slow drag out of my cigarette, the thick smoke filling the air before placing it in the ashtray by my side.“Wrong question ,” I murmured. “You should be asking what happens next.” "Alessio," she called out harshly this time . "You can’t just….." "Shut up." I warned, clearly pissed off with her tantrums. "If you say one more fucking word, I promise you that you won't make it alive before dawn." Her eyes widened at my words, as she sank furt
Gabriella’s PovI stared at my reflection in the mirror, the white gown hugged my body to my skin, showing off my perfect curves. The fabric of the dress was soft and smelled like flowers. I glanced briefly at my wrists which were sore and turning purple from the way the guards had held me at the auction house. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat as I remembered today was the day I was getting married to Alessio. However this wasn't a wedding to me. It was a nightmare.I bit my lip lightly, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. Rosa, the makeup artist, exhaled heavily while looking at my reflection in the mirror. “It's okay to cry, you know. I cried when I was getting married so I understand the feeling. Today is a special day for you so no more crying else you'll ruin my masterpiece,”she laughed, dabbing my cheeks once more.I let out a forced chuckle, wiping my tears gently. Masterpiece, that was what she called the broken face staring back at me. Beneath all the f
Alessio's pov A week later“The Russians need to be taken care of before they become a bigger problem,” Vincenzo, one of my investors said, his face laced with worry.I hummed, nodding my head, barely paying attention to what he said. My thoughts kept drifting to Gabriella. She was a drug I didn't want to be addicted to. Everything about her from her scent, down to her curves pissed me off. That was why I avoided her.Every morning, she prepared meals for me, but I made sure to leave before she woke up and return late at night. I needed distance. She was getting under my skin, and I hated that."Alessio?" Vincenzo’s sharp voice cut through my thoughts.I blinked, forcing my focus back to the conversation. "Go on.”“Like I said," he began. “If you want our continued support, you need to guarantee that we can call upon your services when needed. Can we count on you?" I nodded. “Sì. (Yes)"The Russians had started crossing into our territory, and that was unacceptable. A war was near,
Gabriella's Pov I stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep even though it was past midnight. My heart began racing when I thought of what happened earlier. The kiss. It replayed in my mind which made it harder to focus. I felt hot and angry about what Alessio did. The way he kissed me was insane, it was rough, and demanding at the same time. My first kiss, stolen just like that. And the worst part? He didn’t even act like it mattered. Like it was no big deal. That made me furious. Groaning, I turned to face Alessio. He laid next to me, sleeping peacefully like he hadn't just left me all hot and bothered. His blond hair rested messily against the pillow. His features looked relaxed and for a split second I hated the fact that he looked so good even while he was asleep. Of course he had to be sleeping fine. Why wouldn’t he be? He always got what he wanted. We’d kissed once before, back when we were kids playing truth or dare. I was sure Alessio didn’t remember, but it had meant e
Gabriella's PovThe car ride back to the mansion was unusually quiet. Paul’s eyes were glued to the road, hands gripped firm around the steering wheel, his jaw locked like he was chewing on a million thoughts he refused to spit out.But me? My mind was racing.Just before Paul interrupted earlier, she slid a paper into my hand. Quiet, quick, unnoticed.I waited until we were clear. I shifted slightly in my seat, making sure Paul’s eyes stayed ahead, and with a racing heart and trembling fingers, I unfolded the little piece of paper.It was a phone number. No name. Just digits.I glanced at Paul again. He was still focused on the road. A slow, strange smile tugged at the corner of my lips. The moment we pulled into the long driveway and the mansion came into view, I practically flew out of the car the second we stopped. I didn’t wait for Paul to open my door. I didn’t even say a word. My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as I bolted through the grand hallway, ignoring th
Gabriella's Pov The house felt like a damn museum, big, cold but lifeless. I wandered through the long hallways with no real direction, just bare feet against polished floors and boredom clinging to me like perfume.I had already counted the columns in the hallway twice. There were Twenty-eight in total. The exact number of minutes I’d been pacing. I muttered to myself, “I’m going crazy.”No one answered. Obviously.I made my way to the front of the house, hoping, praying, for some reason to go out. Maybe a fire. An earthquake. A scandal. Anything.Two guards stood at the entrance like they were a statue. One of them, the bald one in sunglasses, turned his head as I approached.“I want to head out,” I said, already bracing for the worst. To my surprise the bald guy grunted. “Can’t let you do that, ma’am.”I crossed my arms. “Excuse me?”“Don’s orders. You're to stay inside.”I blinked. “Are you hearing yourself? Am I a prisoner now?”“No one said that,” he replied calmly. Too calml
Alessio's Pov The warehouse reeked of dust, coil, blood too, maybe. The kind of place which was forbidden to people who didn't deal with guns. I stepped out of the SUV, the gravel stones crunching beneath my boots. I looked around taking in the view. No signs of life, except the figure leaning against the barrel near the far end of the building. Pablo.His arms were crossed, his body relaxed. That alone made my skin itch.I didn’t say anything at first. Just walked. Each step echoing as I moved. Two of my men Carlo and Ricci stood beside me. The tension between all could’ve cracked a concrete wall. “You picked a hell of a place for a meeting,” I muttered when I got close enough to see the sweat on Pablo’s brow.He smirked, his eyes hidden behind those damn mirrored shades. “You’re late.”“Traffic,” I said dryly. “Let’s not waste more time.”He shifted, finally standing up straight. “I got news. But you’re not gonna like it.”I narrowed my eyes. “I haven’t liked much of anything la
Third person pov The dimly lit room smelled of blood and sweat, the air thick with tension. A single flickering bulb hung from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the cracked concrete walls. The metallic scent of iron clung to the atmosphere, mixing with the stale odor of cigarette smoke.Victor knelt on the cold floor, his face battered and swollen, blood trickling from his split lip. His left eye was nearly swollen shut, a deep purple bruise forming around it. His hands trembled slightly as he kept them pressed against his sides, barely able to lift his gaze to the imposing figure seated before him.The man in the chair was silent for a long moment, merely observing Victor with cold, calculating eyes. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest, a patient yet ominous gesture. Behind him, two guards stood motionless, their expressions unreadable, their presence filed with a silent warning. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but laced with danger."Tell me, Victor. Why didn'
Gabriella's Pov I woke up feeling light, like I was floating. My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was Alessio’s face, his features looking soft as the dim light of the plane cabin reflected on him. His arms were wrapped securely around me, holding me close to his chest as he carried me effortlessly.“Finally awake,” he murmured, his voice deep yet soft but there was something else beneath it, relief? Concern?I blinked, trying to shake the drowsiness from my mind. “What… happened?” My voice came out hoarse, and my throat felt dry. I struggled to recall the last moments before I drifted it to sleep. “We landed,” he said simply. “You were exhausted, so I let you rest.”I swallowed hard and slowly became aware of the hum of the plane’s engines winding down. The scent of Alessio’s cologne wrapped around me, it was woodsy, rich, and something undeniably him. I should have pulled away, but his warmth was comforting, and my body refused to fight against the ease of his grip
Gabriella's Pov “You’re awake,” Alessio says, his voice softer than I expected as he rubs my arm lightly. His touch is warm, almost… gentle. I blink a few times, trying to shake off the lingering haze in my mind.“Here, sit up straight,” he adds, handing me a bottle of water.I stare at him for a moment, my mind struggling to process the situation. Alessio… being nice? Is this a dream? I shake my head slightly, pushing the thought away, and take the water from him. The cool liquid soothes my dry throat as I gulp it down in one go.“Where am I?” I ask, furrowing my brows as I take in my surroundings. The bright hospital lights, the scent of antiseptic, the stiff sheets under my fingers, it all starts to make sense.“You’re in the hospital, Bella,” he replies, his voice low and steady. His hand continues rubbing slow, comforting circles on my arm, sending an unfamiliar warmth through me.I don’t know what shocks me more, the fact that I’m here or the fact that Alessio is being… tender.
Alessio’s PovI stepped onto the balcony, gripping my phone tightly as I answered. “Yeah, talk.”Vincenzo’s voice came through, shaky and uneven. “Boss… there’s a problem. I found out who’s behind the shipment.” He hesitated for a second. “It was the Russians.”My entire body tensed. The Russians. Of course, it was them. Filthy, backstabbing bastards. My fingers curled into a fist around the phone, my knuckles turning white. I could feel my pulse hammering against my ears. “What else?” My voice was low, controlled, but deadly.Vincenzo sucked in a breath. “Don… you need to get out of there. Now.”Something in his tone sent a chill down my spine. My instincts sharpened, my grip tightening on the balcony railing. “What do you mean?” I demanded, my voice coming out sharper than intended. “The place has been raided…..”Before I could reply, gunshots rang out. “Shit,” I muttered to myself. My breath hitched as adrenaline surged through me. My mind raced through a thousand possibilities
Gabriella's POVI took a deep breath, smoothing my hands over my red satin gown. It clung to my body just right, making me feel elegant, but the moment Alessio walked in, my confidence started to slip away.Dressed in a sharp black suit, his red tie matched my dress, though we hadn't planned it that way. His dark eyes scanned me slowly, intensely. I felt my face flush under his gaze."You look…" His voice was low, dangerous and seductive. "Perfect."I swallowed hard, looking away. "You’re not so bad yourself."A smirk tugged at his lips as he reached for my hand. His fingers wrapped around mine, warm and steady. "Come," he said, leading me downstairs.His grip was firm, like he had no intention of letting go. Every step we took, I was aware of him, his presence, his scent, the quiet power in the way he moved.The car ride was quiet, but not uncomfortable. I could feel his eyes on me, though he didn't say anything. My hands rested in my lap, fingers twisting together in nervousness."N
Gabriella’s Pov I woke up with a pounding headache, my eyes turning like someone that had uncountable drinks. News flash that was me, my head throbbed so bad. My mouth was dry, and my body felt heavy. Ugh. What the hell happened last night? Then it all came rushing back, Alessio, his cold attitude, the way he dismissed me like I was nothing. Anger bubbled inside me as I pushed the blanket off. That man had a way of getting under my skin like no one else. I looked around the room, expecting to see him, but it was empty. Of course, it was empty, as it always is. Pushing back the thick duvet, I forced myself to sit up, groaning at the slight dizziness that accompanied my movements. My throat was parched, and as I looked around the room, I realized something, it didn't feel like he slept here last night. My eyes instantly landed on the table by the keft, that’s when I noticed it, a small pill bottle, a glass of water, and a note placed neatly on the coffee table. Curious, I pic