LORENA I can’t remember a time in my life when those two words were said and the outcome was good. But that’s what Gulio asked me to do, and with limited other options, that’s exactly what I did. And that is why at almost midnight, I am following him to God knows where.I’d just dealt with a particularly nasty period of morning sickness.Although why they call it that when it lasts all goddamn freaking day, I don’t know — when he knocked on Alessandro’s bedroom door where I was staying and told me it was time.“How the hell do you expect to get us out of here without anyone noticing, Gulio?” I snap, fueled by irritation and fear as he leads me down a hallway I’ve never seen before. This house is like a goddamn maze.“My dad and Cesare are out tonight. Now is the perfect time.”“But there are guards everywhere,” I remind him.“Not down here though,” he says with a mischievous grin. “I used to sneak out this way all the time when I was younger and in highschool It’s a secret entrance.
ALESSANDRO “Go and wait in my study. I’ll deal with you later,” I snap, to Gulio never taking my eyes off her. And her stare does not waver either. So, he stands, blinking, looking angry.“And this one?” Cesare asks.“Take her to the guest room. The one in the east wing,” I say furiously through clenched teeth, my rage palpable in every single word I say.“I’m s-sorry,” she mumbles, but I don’t acknowledge her.“Follow me,” Cesare says and begins to walk down the hallway, with her dragging her feet behind him.When I found out she was not in the house through the indoor cameras, I thought she had been taken away and came back and ordered the Guards to search the compound.Calling Cesare to check perimeters of the house not finding them Calling Zia asking if she was with her Zia saying no increased my frustrations only to find out she tried to escape with Gulio. Now to deal with Gulio.The door to my study almost comes off its hinges with the force as I burst inside to confront my
LORENA As I came downstairs from the east wing of the house to get something to eat. Still not telling Alessandro that I'm pregnant, I heard him make a call.“Hello?”“Calvino.” A shiver ran down my spine as I crept closer to the threshold, trying to make sense of what this meant and the familiar voice. “I heard you're running from the Yakuza. Good luck,” Alessandro spoke. My Father on the other side of the phone call, Ales had him on speaker, because I could hear him clearly.“Somehow I have a feeling you didn’t call me to congratulate me on leaving my creditors high and dry, Moravia.”I knew it. It was dad. But how did Alessandro get his number?And I have been in the Calvino mansion not knowing if my family needed help.Glancing around, I ensured none of my Ales’s men lingered around before pressing my ear against the cool wooden door. I didn’t want to miss a single world.“You’re right,” he drawled, his deep voice cold. Indifferent. “Honestly, what do you want?I have no time for
LORENAWalking to the garage with Simona felt like I was walking on eggshells, I heard my heart beating so fast.As she walked closer to the car“ Don't worry,” she said without look back at me, “ he knows we went out together” As we left the gate of the castello, I was feeling weary about going with her.“ I'm so sorry I tried my best to leave, he just wouldn't let me” I tried to reason with her.“ It's okay she replied he would get tired of you eventually, after the stunt you pulled I'm sure he wouldn't want to be holding a woman hostage that's not who he is” she said to me sounding like a woman infatuated with the image of a man she built in her head.As we got the the coffee shop down the street called Oscar's Oscar’s is small and unassuming. Its walls are dark timber paneling with big green–glass pendant lights hanging low over oversized chocolate leather lounges that have coloured scatter cushions all over them. Big wooden coffee tables adorn the center of each setting. The c
LORENAWalking to the garage with Simona felt like I was walking on eggshells, I heard my heart beating so fast.As she walked closer to the car“ Don't worry,” she said without look back at me, “ he knows we went out together” As we left the gate of the castello, I was feeling weary about going with her.“ I'm so sorry I tried my best to leave, he just wouldn't let me” I tried to reason with her.“ It's okay she replied he would get tired of you eventually, after the stunt you pulled I'm sure he wouldn't want to be holding a woman hostage that's not who he is” she said to me sounding like a woman infatuated with the image of a man she built in her head.As we got the the coffee shop down the street called Oscar's Oscar’s is small and unassuming. Its walls are dark timber paneling with big green–glass pendant lights hanging low over oversized chocolate leather lounges that have coloured scatter cushions all over them. Big wooden coffee tables adorn the center of each setting. The c
ALESSANDRO A touch of a hand on my chest, and my eyes snap open. Lorena’s breath brushes my side as she snuggles closer, and one of her legs comes over mine.It took us forty minutes more than I had to spare to arrive at the cafe when Simona called me to let me know she fainted, and we only got here in that time because Cesare drove at supersonic speed, narrowly avoiding a few accidents.It was still not fast enough.I spent the way here calling Simona and getting her voicemail. I really should’ve inserted a fucking tracker in her flesh. I was fooled by the false sense of security of having her by my side for weeks, so I overlooked this angle.If—when— she wakes up, I’ll put that tracker in her skin. Personally, if I have to.We got there and the ambulance already took her to the hospital. I told them to move her to my room at home, I hate feeling this way it's not an emotion I was used to feeling.“Lorena?”“Yeah?” she mumbles into my chest.“You need to get back in bed, baby.”“No. G
LORENA As I open my eyes, I look at my surroundings. I'm in Ales room, it's such a man room, everything is monochrome.immediately i remember everything that happened. I check the time it's already the next day, the room opens and Zia strolls in with a tray of food.“ My dear, you fainted yesterday. I've never seen Alessandro in such a state since my husband died. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. He let me know that you need to eat something in order to get better so I made my famous grilled cheese and tomato soup. I'm sure you'll feel better after this meal.” She remarks as the does the sign of the cross.My mouth wobbles as I know I'm robbing her of a grandchild that's not fair to her at all. She would have been such a sweet grandmother.I start eating as she leaves the room and the doctor comes in to fix up the drip, and sits down beside me telling me “ do you know you are 3 weeks pregnant I have not said anything to him because of the doctor - patient confidentiality” s
LORENAIt happened on the opening night of Apex.They were all there, my friends from school, trying to make me happy. Let's do something we would never do tonight. That is how I ended up here. Sofia and Lucie were such good friends. I just found out I was getting married a few hours ago. There were at least a hundred women in the club, most of them wearing tight short dresses“It's my party, my bachelorette party,” I clarified.“Yes, is there a problem,” Lucie yells.“No, but this is a mafia club,” I announced, thinking they weren't aware. “We are not twelve Lorena you have to learn to lose yourself to a night of passion, not that loser who drools over your sister” Sofia returns So my supposed fiance, Giulio Moravia, worships the ground my elder sister walks on; the family contract states that one of the Calvino daughters has to marry into the Moravia family, but it didn't state which daughter, but, My father placed so much value on my sister; he wasn't going to give her to just
LORENA As I open my eyes, I look at my surroundings. I'm in Ales room, it's such a man room, everything is monochrome.immediately i remember everything that happened. I check the time it's already the next day, the room opens and Zia strolls in with a tray of food.“ My dear, you fainted yesterday. I've never seen Alessandro in such a state since my husband died. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. He let me know that you need to eat something in order to get better so I made my famous grilled cheese and tomato soup. I'm sure you'll feel better after this meal.” She remarks as the does the sign of the cross.My mouth wobbles as I know I'm robbing her of a grandchild that's not fair to her at all. She would have been such a sweet grandmother.I start eating as she leaves the room and the doctor comes in to fix up the drip, and sits down beside me telling me “ do you know you are 3 weeks pregnant I have not said anything to him because of the doctor - patient confidentiality” s
ALESSANDRO A touch of a hand on my chest, and my eyes snap open. Lorena’s breath brushes my side as she snuggles closer, and one of her legs comes over mine.It took us forty minutes more than I had to spare to arrive at the cafe when Simona called me to let me know she fainted, and we only got here in that time because Cesare drove at supersonic speed, narrowly avoiding a few accidents.It was still not fast enough.I spent the way here calling Simona and getting her voicemail. I really should’ve inserted a fucking tracker in her flesh. I was fooled by the false sense of security of having her by my side for weeks, so I overlooked this angle.If—when— she wakes up, I’ll put that tracker in her skin. Personally, if I have to.We got there and the ambulance already took her to the hospital. I told them to move her to my room at home, I hate feeling this way it's not an emotion I was used to feeling.“Lorena?”“Yeah?” she mumbles into my chest.“You need to get back in bed, baby.”“No. G
LORENAWalking to the garage with Simona felt like I was walking on eggshells, I heard my heart beating so fast.As she walked closer to the car“ Don't worry,” she said without look back at me, “ he knows we went out together” As we left the gate of the castello, I was feeling weary about going with her.“ I'm so sorry I tried my best to leave, he just wouldn't let me” I tried to reason with her.“ It's okay she replied he would get tired of you eventually, after the stunt you pulled I'm sure he wouldn't want to be holding a woman hostage that's not who he is” she said to me sounding like a woman infatuated with the image of a man she built in her head.As we got the the coffee shop down the street called Oscar's Oscar’s is small and unassuming. Its walls are dark timber paneling with big green–glass pendant lights hanging low over oversized chocolate leather lounges that have coloured scatter cushions all over them. Big wooden coffee tables adorn the center of each setting. The c
LORENAWalking to the garage with Simona felt like I was walking on eggshells, I heard my heart beating so fast.As she walked closer to the car“ Don't worry,” she said without look back at me, “ he knows we went out together” As we left the gate of the castello, I was feeling weary about going with her.“ I'm so sorry I tried my best to leave, he just wouldn't let me” I tried to reason with her.“ It's okay she replied he would get tired of you eventually, after the stunt you pulled I'm sure he wouldn't want to be holding a woman hostage that's not who he is” she said to me sounding like a woman infatuated with the image of a man she built in her head.As we got the the coffee shop down the street called Oscar's Oscar’s is small and unassuming. Its walls are dark timber paneling with big green–glass pendant lights hanging low over oversized chocolate leather lounges that have coloured scatter cushions all over them. Big wooden coffee tables adorn the center of each setting. The c
LORENA As I came downstairs from the east wing of the house to get something to eat. Still not telling Alessandro that I'm pregnant, I heard him make a call.“Hello?”“Calvino.” A shiver ran down my spine as I crept closer to the threshold, trying to make sense of what this meant and the familiar voice. “I heard you're running from the Yakuza. Good luck,” Alessandro spoke. My Father on the other side of the phone call, Ales had him on speaker, because I could hear him clearly.“Somehow I have a feeling you didn’t call me to congratulate me on leaving my creditors high and dry, Moravia.”I knew it. It was dad. But how did Alessandro get his number?And I have been in the Calvino mansion not knowing if my family needed help.Glancing around, I ensured none of my Ales’s men lingered around before pressing my ear against the cool wooden door. I didn’t want to miss a single world.“You’re right,” he drawled, his deep voice cold. Indifferent. “Honestly, what do you want?I have no time for
ALESSANDRO “Go and wait in my study. I’ll deal with you later,” I snap, to Gulio never taking my eyes off her. And her stare does not waver either. So, he stands, blinking, looking angry.“And this one?” Cesare asks.“Take her to the guest room. The one in the east wing,” I say furiously through clenched teeth, my rage palpable in every single word I say.“I’m s-sorry,” she mumbles, but I don’t acknowledge her.“Follow me,” Cesare says and begins to walk down the hallway, with her dragging her feet behind him.When I found out she was not in the house through the indoor cameras, I thought she had been taken away and came back and ordered the Guards to search the compound.Calling Cesare to check perimeters of the house not finding them Calling Zia asking if she was with her Zia saying no increased my frustrations only to find out she tried to escape with Gulio. Now to deal with Gulio.The door to my study almost comes off its hinges with the force as I burst inside to confront my
LORENA I can’t remember a time in my life when those two words were said and the outcome was good. But that’s what Gulio asked me to do, and with limited other options, that’s exactly what I did. And that is why at almost midnight, I am following him to God knows where.I’d just dealt with a particularly nasty period of morning sickness.Although why they call it that when it lasts all goddamn freaking day, I don’t know — when he knocked on Alessandro’s bedroom door where I was staying and told me it was time.“How the hell do you expect to get us out of here without anyone noticing, Gulio?” I snap, fueled by irritation and fear as he leads me down a hallway I’ve never seen before. This house is like a goddamn maze.“My dad and Cesare are out tonight. Now is the perfect time.”“But there are guards everywhere,” I remind him.“Not down here though,” he says with a mischievous grin. “I used to sneak out this way all the time when I was younger and in highschool It’s a secret entrance.
LORENA I rifle through the cupboards of the medical room as quickly as I can before someone catches me. When I open the cupboard above my head, a roll of bandages falls out, bouncing off my head onto the floor.Dammit. I’m sure I saw some in here. I know I did because I wondered why the hell Alest even had them in his house. Chasing after the errant bandage, I wrack my brain to recall which cupboard they were in.I’ve hardly been in this room lately. I don’t know if that’s because Alessandro’s men are no longer her and the resident doctor is not around at the moment or whether it has anything to do with Gulio’s return. I spend my days reading or walking the grounds — and mostly avoiding Gulio. But I spend every night in Ales’s bed and occasional afternoons in his office where he fucks me over and over again, no longer giving me any of the warmth or affection that I was becoming used to. Currently that seems to be the only service I provide and whenever that fact starts to make me
ALLESANDROCesare frowns as he reads whatever message just came through on his cell.“Something wrong?” I ask him.“The guy from the other night, the one we assigned at Calvino house says something is going on in there?”“Yeah?”“that was about a half hour ago.”“Fuck,” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. I knew Calvino would try to rally other Don’s to support his claim that I kidnapped his daughter.Cesare nods.“Then it has to be a power grab. Someone must know something,and Calvino is stupid to fall for it, Cesare.”“I have turned this city upside down, Ales. I even tracked down his right hand Parisi Rizzo.”That name is a blast from the past. “Fuck, Cesare. I didn’t even know he was still breathing.”“Alive and barely kicking, but yes, he’s still around.”“And you went to see him, why?”“Leave no stone unturned, you said.”“Who knows? Calvino did wipe out his son-in-law and his grandchildren.” He laughs.“Yeah, but he hated them even more than we did.”Maximo nods his agreeme