LAKEI woke up with a satisfying grin across my lips. I stretched my arm out to Maverick’s side of the bed. I expected her to be still curled at this time on weekends. To my dismay, her side was empty.I planned on making her a greasy breakfast for her hangover, and with how we ended last night, she deserved a good massage and a beauty treatment.I got up from bed and went to the bathroom. I used the toilet, then brushed my teeth and washed my face. I put on some sweatpants and a tee before I picked up my phone.“What the fuck?” I blinked my eyes repeatedly to make sure I wasn’t just dreaming. My bank notified me that I just successfully transferred five million dollars to Maverick’s account.I didn’t care about the money. If she had asked me, I would have given her an extra million dollars. Then, another notification came from my safe.“What the fuck is going on?” I dashed out of the room and called her name. Of course, she might be already gone. The notifications were sent four hou
LAKE“Walk me through it.” He led me to the Gunner Room, or the situation room, where his men had access to all the CCTV they could access and the body cams of their men in action.After I told him everything I knew so far, minus the fantastic, mind-blowing sex last night, he ordered his men.The sex was incredible. I could still feel my entire body buzzing in satisfaction. And I didn’t have a clue it was goodbye sex.“Can you access her phone?”“Are you insulting my capability, Mr. Winston?” asked the eyeglasses.“Just do it, Don,” Linden said dismissively.“Uh-huh. It just shut off,” Don said in dismay.“What do you mean? What about her car?” I was about to tell him the plate number, but her GPS just flashed on the screen.“It’s on the third and fourth street,” he announced.Linden nodded and ordered the control man with a mic, “Get a team to that location.”Linden had just finished his order when the car seemed to stop moving or the GPS went off.“What the fuck? It looks like we’re
MAVERICKTerzo stopped asking questions since then. He brought me to a small villa in Marettimo instead of Sicily. He said I was in the right place if I wanted to hide from someone. Since he was far richer than me and people around here and Sicily knew him, he took care of the rent. That was a week ago. He didn’t call, and I did not reach out as well.I hadn’t seen him after that besides some random guy who brought some groceries, coffee, or pastries, and damn, the Cassatelle. It was so good. I would gain weight if I wouldn’t be cautious.I heard the door locked. Terzo trusted his men so much that he gave them the Villa key.“What do you have for me today? Muccunetti?” I stopped my Yoga in the backyard.“Have you been eating?” I stiffened at his voice behind me.“It’s nice of you to show up.” I turned around and smiled. It even felt weird to smile. I cried every night until I stopped. Maybe my eyes or my body just gave up. Everything had an end. Even a robot malfunctioned—what more fo
LAKEYesterday was the best feeling I’ve had in a while. Winston Holdings had finally accepted my resignation. I sold my share, and the company was on the brink of collapse.I felt a huge accomplishment, and I just told my father what a manipulative sociopath he was. It felt so good that I finally got it off my chest.Although my heart was breaking for my wife leaving me without explanation, I felt relieved that somehow everything was becoming clearer. My wife was a victim of blackmail and threats.I answered my phone when it rang. “Yeah?”“Winston?” Hope rose in my chest when I recognized the caller.“Terzo.”“I’m sending you random pictures. You might know the other guys. Don’t worry about the Italian. I took care of him.”“What do you mean?”“Someone blackmailed my sister.”“Fuck you.” I spat out in vain. “You told me you didn’t know where she was.”“Well, I lied. I’m a criminal, remember? I’m a liar.”Fuck. “For just one second, be serious with me, Terzo.”“It’s a good thing that
LAKE“Hey, man.” Rusher was smiling from ear to ear as if he hadn’t been stabbing me in the back and stealing millions of money from the company. How could I detect it if he’d been blackmailing my accountant for years? “It’s Saturday. What’s the emergency?”“Have a seat while we’re waiting for others to arrive.” I was the first to arrive as I read random numbers from the report I received last night. The company’s financial department worked hard day and night to finish what I’d asked them to do. They deserved a raise for coming up with a quick analysis.“Is there a new project that I don’t know about?” No matter how good he was at lying, the truth would always come out when a person was guilty. I could feel the tension in his muscles, and he started fidgeting.I ignored his question and checked my messages and call logs, hoping Maverick would just reach out. I admired her and loved her even more for sacrificing her happiness, even our marriage to protect me and her grandmother.Finch
MAVERICK“Shit. Shit. Shit.” I screamed in silence in the bathroom as I stared at the last set of pregnancy kits, revealing the same result. All five of them seemed to be mocking me with taunting positive signs.“Fuck. Why now? When my life is still a mess.” My heart squeezed hard. There was no question about how I missed my pills. I knew exactly when it happened.I quickly tossed everything into the plastic bags and dropped it into the trash basket. I wasn’t shocked by the result. Since I arrived here, I hadn’t been on a period, but I still prayed I was not pregnant.My situation wasn’t exactly ideal for being pregnant right now, but the stars seemed not to have aligned with my prayers these days.***“The first question everyone wants to know is why you resigned as the Chief Operating Officer at Winston Holdings. Do you know the effect of your resignation and being one of the major shareholders can make this impact on the company’s possible bankruptcy?”“First of all, thank you for
LAKEAll the rage that filled my chest evaporated like molten lava. Even my breathing changed as I finally had a chance to get a face-to-face with my father.My eyes narrowed and steady as I glared down at him. “If you ever threaten me and my wife again, her family, and my mother, I swear I don’t care. Even if I go to jail, I will drag you down with me. This is the last time I ever see your face again, or I file a restraining order against you.”He just lifted his gaze at me in his chair in his massive office. What happened to the manipulative father I knew? Was he succumbing to his downfall?“Wow. Now, this is new.” I snorted. “What happened to the narcissistic father who controlled me all my life?”“I did it for your own good. You wouldn’t be—”“Really? So you admitted your narcissism? Do you think you made me stronger, fiercer, smarter? No. You made me madder. You traumatized my entire existence. You made me your mockery. You are the first person who broke my heart, Dad. Now that I
LAKE“No.” I swallowed down my emotions. Owen and Homer might have sensed something went wrong inside my father’s office.“That’s sad. I missed her, honey. You should go and take her home.”“She chose to stay. Why would I?”“What’s upsetting you, Lake?” she asked and must have sensed the heaviness of anger in my voice.I squeezed my eyes shut when it began to burn and pressed my fingers against my aching temple. “Is Dad sick? Is it true? Aurelia just told me, and I don’t believe a word coming from that woman’s mouth.”When I heard her sigh, she didn’t have to say yes.I blinked off the tears behind my lids. “How long have you known?”She went quiet momentarily before she spoke, “Your father tried to conceal it from anyone until you came back to take over the seat. If Aurelia told you, then this is not good.”“So, it’s been fuck— it’s been months, and he didn’t even tell me. Instead, he chose to hurt my wife. He chose the hardest fucking way to convince me to turn away from my wife. Wh
TERZOThe thick wooden doubled-door swung open to my father’s office. It was one of the biggest rooms in the house where business was discussed and where the most secured safe and panic room were situated, where he kept his most valuables.I was assaulted by the scents of cedar wood and expensive cigars hung thick in the air.I let go of a shuddering breath as I stepped inside. Gaetano Siciliano, the patriarch of the family, the Don— one of the most powerful and feared heads of the mafias in Italian history— my father was sitting in his chair before his massive desk. His thick brows knitted together, hanging low over his dark caramel eyes and gray hair cut stylishly. In his sixties, he was still fit, strong, and could beat me in the ring if he desired to, but he always humbly said his prime was over.“Figlio.”“Come va, papa?”Papa nodded in acknowledgment. “Come in. How’s your sister?”Standing in the left corner that caught my eye was Celestina, my other beautiful sister who had bee
MAVERICKI smiled as we finally had time for each other. Atlas just fell asleep.Lake cupped my face and traced my lips with his thumb. “Thank you for making me complete, the happiest man on this planet, and for being my wife.”My heart exploded with his words with so much joy. “Ditto. Now, no more talking. Just get rid of your clothes.”He held his laugh, shaking his head as we began taking our clothes off. There was nothing much to strip off. I was in my sexy red lingerie, and he was in his pants.To be honest, our only problem was our time for both of us— most of the time while we were naked in bed, Atlas began waking up and started to cry.“I love you, baby.”I parted my lips as I watched the desire flicker in his eyes. He then dipped down, tagging my bottom lip between his teeth. He groaned as he pressed his hard cock against my lower belly and then cupped my ass as he finally captured my mouth in a passionate kiss, gliding his tongue inside, dominating me.Moaning, I instantly w
MAVERICKEight months later, Southampton I had a teary-eyed earlier as Cooper carried the precious angel I’d never thought I could love beyond anything in this world. He was five months old today and became the center of our universe. He was our ringbearer, and everyone, oh and ah, as he put on a cute little suit, while Nana and Beatreigh had been giggling since I walked down the aisle with my father, Gaetano.Like what he promised to my husband when Lake asked for the blessings he would be here, my friends and family, everyone I loved, including Terzo and Celestina. Lake did his luck inviting my mother. Surprisingly, she was here alone.“What’s in your head, baby?” the most handsome groom I’d ever seen smiled. He still took my breath away when he did that.After all these years of finding my perfect one, he came to me at the right time, even for the wrong reason.Then, our whole universe, Atlas Sawyer Bates Winston, came into our world, adding more colors to our lives. Sawyer was my
LAKE“Oh, my God!” My mother was the first to react, seeing the golf ball pop into blue smoke as soon as my uncle executed a stroke.“I knew it. Look at her abdomen,” Augustine said to my mother.“I told you, remember?” Mom seemed to find a new good friend in Augustine. They went to coffee or shopping together and sometimes baked at home. I was glad they got along so well. They were going to be excellent guides in raising our child.When we held our gender reveal party, Maverick was already six months pregnant. It was worth the wait. Everyone was here— our families, close friends, her friends from the Bazz, and, of course, our extended family.“You should promote my baby products, Maverick.”Amused, I shook my head at Estelle. “Give my wife a break.”“You’re the one who’s not giving her a break,” London replied. “She’s going to wear LH maternity dress for the photoshoots.“Congratulations, cuz.” Striker came to me.“Thanks.” We hugged each other.“Are you ready to be a father?”“I don
MAVERICK“Whoa. Why the long face?” I shoved a spoonful of butter pecan ice cream into my mouth as I watched Lake’s face seemingly in deep, miserable thoughts. “Babe?”“Yeah?” He looked at me, looking guilty.“Did you just cheat on me in that four hours?”“Baby, why do you always think like that?”“Lake, cheating doesn’t only mean you’re sleeping or kissing the other woman. Could be lying, keeping something important from me.”“I know.” He rose from the chair to join me on the couch. Then he pulled me close to him so he could hug me. “You like that?”“Yeah. You want some?” I scooped and offered, but he shook his head.“I want to tell you something.” I could feel the heaviness of guilt in his voice. Whatever he was about to say, I was sure he had reasons.“Shoot.”“I went to Nana.” It lightened up my chest when he called my grandmother Nana. One time, when he talked about my father, he called him Papa even though I still called Gaetano by his name.“And?” I met his gaze.“Your mother w
LAKE“She did not ruin your life. You ruined your own life by sleeping with the most dangerous man,” Augustine spat her anger out.I felt her anger towards her daughter was decades long, and she just had time to let it out of her chest.“You were only eighteen,” she added. “I had high hopes for you, but you disappointed your father. You were reckless and stupid and slept with a married man. You didn’t even know what care and love meant, and after you were gone for months, you came to me five months pregnant. Don’t blame your miserable life and poor choices on the poor, innocent child. She’s been through enough and all of that because you caused her so much pain.”“What do you want from my wife, Florence?”She lifted her chin. “I just wanted to meet her.”“Why now? Why not before when she didn’t have a mother at her first school recital? On her first time having a period? I’m your last to get out of here without being dragged into a van. Terzo is still in town, Florence.”She blinked t
LAKE“Are you okay?” I glanced down at Maverick working on her tan beside the pool.She looked pretty satisfied and comfortable in her yellow two-piece swimsuit and sunglasses, which shielded her eyes from the blazing sun.“Why do you keep asking me that?” She slightly lifted her chin.“Did you put enough sunscreen on?” I wanted to see her eyes but was disappointed that she kept her sunglasses on.“Don’t worry. I need more Vitamin D.” She strolled her gaze at me.“My Vitamin D isn’t enough for you?”When she saw me smirking, she slightly tipped her head down, glaring. “Not everything is about your dick, Lake. Going somewhere?”“Yeah. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”“A date?”“Yes, Maverick. I have a date. You might as well put Airtag on me.”“Can you buy butter pecan ice cream for me?”“Of course. Anything else?”“Bring your cock back untouched.”I laughed, making her frown. “My cock is exclusively yours, baby.” I bent down to cup her face and kissed her on the lips. “I promise yo
MAVERICK“Linden made fun of me. He sent me every copy of the books he read while Estelle had their first baby, Gabrielle. I’m done reading the first two books.”“Is that why you’re so calmer than me because of these books?”“You may be stubborn, but when it comes to our unborn child, you’re very responsible. Hence, we never argued about it. We most argued about money and my spending on you.”“I did not tell you that I love the ring.” I raised my hand. It was a Marquise cut, the same size as my first engagement ring.“Thank you, baby. I have good taste, you know.” I found some meaning in his words.“I bet.”Once he was done eating, he went to a small fridge and brought two bottled water. He opened one and gave it to me.“Thank you.” I drank it.“Can you stay a little longer?”“Why? Isn’t a chairman and CEO has a lot of work to do?”“That can wait.” He stood before me, cupped my head, and kissed me hard.My hands came to his arms, gripping them as he deepened the kiss and shoved his to
MAVERICKWe finally found out the gender of our baby this morning. I could see the joy in Lake’s eyes as the doctor told us. He was excited and couldn’t wait to meet our baby. He was even teary-eyed as he kissed my tummy.One thing he assured me was that he didn’t care about either a boy or a girl as long as our child was healthy, and I couldn’t agree more.On the other hand, I was a little bit scared of a lot of things, including labor and the pressure of being a first-time mother.I was still astounded at how lucky I was to be his wife. Aside from being overprotective and bossy, he was also thoughtful and loving.After Beatreigh, Nana, and I visited a bridal boutique, we had a late lunch, and then I decided to pay a visit to my husband, who was never invited to the Chairman and CEO’s office. The last time I planned on walking into this building was my confrontation with Wallace, but it didn’t happen.So, I thought I would surprise Lake.I knocked on his office door when Venus told m