LAKEI came home late. It wasn’t supposed to happen, but I had to drop by the IMI office to grab some files of proposals that I needed to review and sign.Owen called me an hour ago to tell me that Maverick was already in my penthouse. I didn’t know why I suddenly felt excited about going home, even though sometimes it got lonely, and I had to rest.Maybe that was the reason why I took women to bed. At least they filled my instant need, but it felt hollow again. Meeting that need didn’t fill the void in my chest. I knew something was missing. I just hadn’t figured it out yet.I may have money, friends, and people who cared for me, but after that, in the darkness, I felt alone— loneliness and pain visited me most of the time. Yes, money couldn’t buy eternal happiness, and I didn’t know if I ever felt that way with contentment, completeness, and wholeness.I’d say having a broken family affected me so much. I was once happy with my parents being around, but it fell apart when they got d
MAVERICKJeez. We hadn’t been married for a day, and we were already fighting. He had already kicked me out of his room, which I thought was mine for 365 days.At that moment, I wanted to flee, but I signed a contract, and I had to endure how he treated me under this roof as long as he wouldn’t get physical, and that was my limit.I could play a good, loving wife before his family, friends, employees, and business partners, but that was it. I signed up for this, which was the price I must pay.I found the room that was supposed to be for me. It had a well-made queen-sized bed, a small walk-in closet, a door to the right that must be the bathroom, and a floor-to-ceiling window with white curtains drawn to the sides.Instead of dueling with what happened earlier, I went to shower quickly. Then I checked the closet to find something to wear. Surprisingly, I found dresses, jeans, pants, shirts, and tees folded in color-coordinated. Some suits, tweed jackets, skirts, shorts, and denim jea
LAKE“You’re leaving already?” my British friend Rusher Radcliff, who was also my IMI COO, asked.“Yes. Unlike you, I have a life outside work.” I decided to take my wife from school since I finished work early.He broke into a smile. “You’re bloody joking, right? What happened to my friend who worked hard day and night? Wait a sec.” He pointed at my finger where I wore a platinum band.“A ring. Yeah.” I stopped him before he could say something right. “Don’t work hard. See you tomorrow, Rush.”“Unbelievable.”I still hear him even though I was already walking into the elevator.“You’re not riding with us?” Homer asked as Owen exited my Audi and threw the key at me.“I’m taking OB’s advice for once. I’m picking up my wife from school.”“Aw,” mimicked Owen in a girl’s voice.“Shut up. You can follow me or take a day off. Up to you.”“Without a bodyguard? No way, Winston. I still love my job, or I’ll clean toilets at Osmium.”“Fine by me.” I entered the driver’s seat and sped off toward
MAVERICKWe arrived at the car dealer. Of course, everyone knew him.“Mr. Winston, we have something new that you might like,” said the man with a broad smile.“Not for me.” Lake didn’t let go of my hand. “For my wife.”My face flamed. Shit. I should get used to it.“Wife?” Even the dealer looked surprised. Now, I just became the person I loathed. “Congratulations.”“Maverick, pick a car so that we can eat.” Just like that— it was like shopping for a toy car or going to a grocery store to buy a carton of milk.“You know what, pick one for me.”“No.” He shook his head. “It’s your car. You choose the brand, engine, and color.”“Okay.” I took him to the cheapest cars on display. Fifty grand wasn’t even affordable, but that was the only cheapest car I could see. “How about this one?”“We have three colors available: black, red, and gray. That’s the latest model with 453 horsepower, 406 lb-ft of torque—”“Leave us for a moment.”When the man left, he looked right into my eyes. “Why don’t y
LAKE“Lake Winston.” Gabe Linden grinned, the owner and chairman of Osmium Resource Group, one of the largest private military contractors in the world, who also happened to be a good friend. Osmium had a futuristic building that London called a donut. He may not have a Braddson blood, but he was a family.“Linden.” I held my hand out, but he pulled me into a bear hug instead.He looked at me for a moment, and when he did that, he knew I needed a favor, and it was something important.Linden started the Firm, a startup private investigator agency, from the ground up in a small studio room with his friends. Now, he ran a multi-billion dollar company, yet he remained down to earth.“What do you want, Winston?” He opened the door to his office.“Wow. Is that how you treat a client?” I stalked inside.“A client? A fucking Braddson-Winston is a client, huh?” He slumped his ass on his chair.“Just shut up and hear me out for a second.” I took a seat across from him.“Well, I’m a busy man. J
MAVERICKI’d been trying to concentrate back on studying since I got my books from my apartment, but I got distracted by Homer.“Ma’am, you can’t get in there. I told you Mr. Winston is not here.”I should have just studied in my room, but the view behind the window was spectacular.“Then why are you here?” a woman asked, sounding pissed.I turned my head, about to stand up from the couch, when I recognized that face—the beautiful blonde model.Shit. I thought she didn’t have access to Lake’s penthouse. Right now, I wanted to flee and disappear. Lake’s personal life was not my business, and it was clearly stated in the agreement.“I can call the security, and I’m allowed to apprehend you if you make any disturbance or create a scene. This penthouse is private property that my employer can sue you for trespassing. I’m warning you, Miss Wise.”“He’s not answering my call. He’s not in his office either.”“He’s a busy person, ma’am. Can I help you out now?”“I’m not going anywhere until I
MAVERICKIt was afternoon already, and I had to go to work at the Bazz. I changed to a new set of casual outfits. I grabbed the black designer crossbody bag and put my wallet and keys inside before I headed down, but I made sure that bitch wasn’t in the penthouse anymore.I knew this would happen, and it didn’t occur to me that it would be awkward and somehow hurt.“Did she leave?”“Yeah.” Homer looked distraught as he gave me my phone back. “Boss is pissed off.”“At you?”“Yes.”“Why would he? If anyone should be pissed with, it’s him or me.”“He didn’t see it that way.”“If he fires you, let me know, and I will break his nose and knee him in his nutsack.”Homer’s dark eyes lit up. “Let me take you to your work.”“Oh no. I’m good.”“He insists.”I rolled my eyes. “Let me guess, if I resist, he threatens to fire you.”“Something like that.”“Fine, but because I don’t want you to lose your job.”Forty-five minutes later, we arrived at the Bazz.“You can go home. I’ll be fine,” I said a
LAKEIt was fun to watch Maverick blush before her boss. What Rocco did back there was admiring. We didn’t often see a boss fighting for his employees. But I still couldn’t shake off that Natalie went to my penthouse, and Maverick allowed herself to be treated like that. It pissed me off. I could still feel my body shaking from rage.I knew she didn’t want to get involved with Natalie because that woman could be mean if she wanted to, so Maverick chose silence and peace of mind.After we talked over the phone earlier, she still texted me. Despite ignoring her constant almost obsession with sending me messages, I deleted them.From the start, she knew it was just sex, and I didn’t want a relationship with her. When she started to get clingy, I declined most of her invitations because I wasn’t that stupid. She wanted more.Maverick just came out from the back door, looking upset.“What’s wrong?” I went to her, and the guys retreated to the car.“You is what’s wrong?” Her eyes narrowed.
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