Russo's povApart from my phonk playlist, the kind of music I enjoy listening to are the sound of metal scratching against the wall, the sound of a gun when it goes off and most certainly the blood-curdling screams of my victims. I gripped his jaw one last time, staring at him squarely in the face. “The tattoo on your chest is from the Al Aziz Brotherhood. Who sent you? Ah Kash? How is your older brother?”“Fuck you!” He spat his blood on my face.“Wrong answer!” I drove my knife into the same spot I had been stabbing for a while on his lap and his screams filled my ears.“Jesus!” Mark shivered as I turned my gaze on him. “Jesus isn't here with you, dear Mark, I am.” I wiped my face with the kerchief Marcus offered me.He tried to get off the chains by binding his hands but he couldn't. They were too tight. “Did you really think you could escape?” I grabbed a chair and took a seat in front of him.“Hey, man. I don't know what you're talking about. Let me go.” Mark's eyes darted aro
Valentina's povI watched mom pass me a cup of coffee with a look of concern etched on her face. “Are you alright, baby?”I put the mug to my lips and took a sip to avoid her question. I've been avoiding this question all morning and she goes asking it again. “Val,” she reached out to touch my arm. “What's wrong?”Looking at her made me feel more guilty. For as long as I can remember, I've always brought trouble to her door step. Was it when I cussed at dad and ran away from home? Or when I got into a fight with the neighbor's kid? Or when I first stole with my first ever boyfriend. I have always been trouble to me and she'd always welcome me with open arms. Was it because she was the one that gave birth to me or was this just a side effect of divorce? “Val?” She called again and I snapped from my train of thoughts. I cradled the mug in my hand, staring at the brown ripple I made when I moved the mug. With a light exhale, I lean back in the dining chair. “Do you remember how you f
Valentina's povAs I walked back to mom’s house, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was being watched. I slipped into a dark alley and cupped my hand over my mouth. Just then, a dark hooded man walked past me. Christ, I was right. I was being followed. Quietly, I leaned closer to take a peek. He was nowhere in sight. After waiting a heartbeat or so, I stepped out of my hiding place and broke into a sprint. I didn't look back till I got to the house. “You’re home early,” she said with a small smile. Her smile fell when I slammed the door behind me. “Are you alright?”“Yeah.” I held out my hand and she took it. “Why did you run?” She put her hand on my forehead.“I…uh…need to use the bathroom.” I ran past her.She stifled a laugh. “This is why I’ve always told you to never hold your pee. Why do you do that?”“I’m clumsy, remember?” I reply with a nervous chuckle running my way up the stairs. I got to my room and bolted the door just on time for Mark's phone to ring. The calle
Russo's povThe whiskey left a burning sensation in my throat and I inhaled softly. Tonight was Sir Bianchi’s birthday and everyone will be at the club.“Don…” came a quiet knock on the door.“Have you retrieved the phone?” I asked without receiving who was behind the door.“Not yet, sir, but I have a development.” The guard said.“Enter.” I said, not taking my eyes off the view of the city.“Good evening, Don,” the guards bowed his heads. I gave him a languid wave of my hand. “Get to the point.”“I did not find Mark's phone but I know who has it.” I instantly knew who he was talking about. “Valentina.”“Yes, sir. But that's not all.”“There's more?”“Yes, sir. Apparently, one of Mark's associates has his eyes on the phone and contacts Mark for it. I managed to apprehend him and had him make an arrangement for the phone. Tonight at the club by 8.”“Valentina will be here with the phone in person?”“Yes, sir.”I thought hard for a second. I don't want Valentina to be involved in my w
Russo’s povMark was yelling the same thing he had been blabbing about for the past 6 minutes. “Leave Valentina out of this.”“For the dude who had a bitch locked up in his house and partnered with the mafia, you sure are the hope mankind needs.” I said with an eye roll.Marcus, too, joined him in narrating the same thing to me. “Sir, Don Bianchi is about to begin. Your father needs you in the upper room.” “Tell them I'll attend the party on my own time.” I dragged my hand through my hair. Why was everyone frustrating me?There was a loud bang on the door and a guard entered, his face all flushed as he caught his breath.“Sir, we have Mark’s associate.” the guard said and Mark struggled with the chains holding him back.“I told you lying to me was useless, boy.” I flashed Mark a grin.Mark was offended by my nickname for him. He growled at me, baring his teeth like the dog he was. “Don’t call me boy, you piece of - -”I grabbed his jaws and squeezed hard, stopping him from speaking.
Valentina's povI didn't cower or move my face from his.My chest heaved with strong feelings of anger and pain from seeing my boyfriend being shot to death, despite the terrible things he had done.We stared at each other for what seemed like minutes, and Don Russo did not look like he would be giving up anytime soon.I clenched my chin as his words repeated in my head. “Death? Or a life of hell with me?”I wanted neither! I wanted to get the hell away from here and return to my mother.“I need a glass of whiskey,” I managed to say through my parched throat.He seemed taken aback by my response but he eventually straightened up, eyes still fixed on me, and then gestured to one of the guards with his fingers to get what I asked for.“Now can you let go of my arm,” I said to the guards still holding me down and watched as they all looked to Don Russo for his permission.“Take her away from here,” he finally turned away from me. “And clean up this mess.”The guards pulled me up and led
Russo's povShe hadn't still learned her lesson, had she?My brows were furrowed with annoyance as I approached the room.“I don't know who the hell trained that girl, but she needs some discipline!” Marcus growled, squinting at me with blood red eyes. I could almost smell the dislike in his voice.“Where is she now?” I asked the guards.“In one of your special rooms, Don,” a dutiful guard answered and I followed his lead.Valentina was panting heavily when I walked into the room; a room that had been arranged majorly for the purpose of satisfying my sexual urges, a room where I brought in my best strippers on some nights to give me a special show, a room that held nothing but sexual images in my head. And she was here.I shut the door behind me, leaving only the both of us present.“You know, dear Polema, I don't like when my patience is tested,” I began as softly as I could muster. “And you have decided to egg me on in ways that no one has ever dared to.”She was staring up at me fr
Valentina's Pov"Beautiful, dangerous, innocent. That's exactly what I want." His tone lowered like stone dipped in water. His voice wrapped around me like a cloak.He wrapped a hand around my neck before yanking me closer to him. His hot breath sent thrills through my body.His grip got tighter as the string I was wearing was doing very little to cover me up. My chest heaved and I knew he liked it."She's one of our best strippers bosses. You can have her for as long as you want. My hand tried to release the grip he had on his neck.He looked down, with a very dangerous smirk on his face. I shrunk under his gaze."I...I have to perform soon. I'm...I'm next..." I stuttered while he leaned in closer."Oh no sweetheart, you're serving me tonight." I yelped when he lifted me so I was hung over his shoulder."Mr Russo." I struggled against him. "Please let me go. If you don't I might lose my job." I complained. I heard a loud smack that stilled me. "You just...""Behave." He warned. The
Russo's povShe hadn't still learned her lesson, had she?My brows were furrowed with annoyance as I approached the room.“I don't know who the hell trained that girl, but she needs some discipline!” Marcus growled, squinting at me with blood red eyes. I could almost smell the dislike in his voice.“Where is she now?” I asked the guards.“In one of your special rooms, Don,” a dutiful guard answered and I followed his lead.Valentina was panting heavily when I walked into the room; a room that had been arranged majorly for the purpose of satisfying my sexual urges, a room where I brought in my best strippers on some nights to give me a special show, a room that held nothing but sexual images in my head. And she was here.I shut the door behind me, leaving only the both of us present.“You know, dear Polema, I don't like when my patience is tested,” I began as softly as I could muster. “And you have decided to egg me on in ways that no one has ever dared to.”She was staring up at me fr
Valentina's povI didn't cower or move my face from his.My chest heaved with strong feelings of anger and pain from seeing my boyfriend being shot to death, despite the terrible things he had done.We stared at each other for what seemed like minutes, and Don Russo did not look like he would be giving up anytime soon.I clenched my chin as his words repeated in my head. “Death? Or a life of hell with me?”I wanted neither! I wanted to get the hell away from here and return to my mother.“I need a glass of whiskey,” I managed to say through my parched throat.He seemed taken aback by my response but he eventually straightened up, eyes still fixed on me, and then gestured to one of the guards with his fingers to get what I asked for.“Now can you let go of my arm,” I said to the guards still holding me down and watched as they all looked to Don Russo for his permission.“Take her away from here,” he finally turned away from me. “And clean up this mess.”The guards pulled me up and led
Russo’s povMark was yelling the same thing he had been blabbing about for the past 6 minutes. “Leave Valentina out of this.”“For the dude who had a bitch locked up in his house and partnered with the mafia, you sure are the hope mankind needs.” I said with an eye roll.Marcus, too, joined him in narrating the same thing to me. “Sir, Don Bianchi is about to begin. Your father needs you in the upper room.” “Tell them I'll attend the party on my own time.” I dragged my hand through my hair. Why was everyone frustrating me?There was a loud bang on the door and a guard entered, his face all flushed as he caught his breath.“Sir, we have Mark’s associate.” the guard said and Mark struggled with the chains holding him back.“I told you lying to me was useless, boy.” I flashed Mark a grin.Mark was offended by my nickname for him. He growled at me, baring his teeth like the dog he was. “Don’t call me boy, you piece of - -”I grabbed his jaws and squeezed hard, stopping him from speaking.
Russo's povThe whiskey left a burning sensation in my throat and I inhaled softly. Tonight was Sir Bianchi’s birthday and everyone will be at the club.“Don…” came a quiet knock on the door.“Have you retrieved the phone?” I asked without receiving who was behind the door.“Not yet, sir, but I have a development.” The guard said.“Enter.” I said, not taking my eyes off the view of the city.“Good evening, Don,” the guards bowed his heads. I gave him a languid wave of my hand. “Get to the point.”“I did not find Mark's phone but I know who has it.” I instantly knew who he was talking about. “Valentina.”“Yes, sir. But that's not all.”“There's more?”“Yes, sir. Apparently, one of Mark's associates has his eyes on the phone and contacts Mark for it. I managed to apprehend him and had him make an arrangement for the phone. Tonight at the club by 8.”“Valentina will be here with the phone in person?”“Yes, sir.”I thought hard for a second. I don't want Valentina to be involved in my w
Valentina's povAs I walked back to mom’s house, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was being watched. I slipped into a dark alley and cupped my hand over my mouth. Just then, a dark hooded man walked past me. Christ, I was right. I was being followed. Quietly, I leaned closer to take a peek. He was nowhere in sight. After waiting a heartbeat or so, I stepped out of my hiding place and broke into a sprint. I didn't look back till I got to the house. “You’re home early,” she said with a small smile. Her smile fell when I slammed the door behind me. “Are you alright?”“Yeah.” I held out my hand and she took it. “Why did you run?” She put her hand on my forehead.“I…uh…need to use the bathroom.” I ran past her.She stifled a laugh. “This is why I’ve always told you to never hold your pee. Why do you do that?”“I’m clumsy, remember?” I reply with a nervous chuckle running my way up the stairs. I got to my room and bolted the door just on time for Mark's phone to ring. The calle
Valentina's povI watched mom pass me a cup of coffee with a look of concern etched on her face. “Are you alright, baby?”I put the mug to my lips and took a sip to avoid her question. I've been avoiding this question all morning and she goes asking it again. “Val,” she reached out to touch my arm. “What's wrong?”Looking at her made me feel more guilty. For as long as I can remember, I've always brought trouble to her door step. Was it when I cussed at dad and ran away from home? Or when I got into a fight with the neighbor's kid? Or when I first stole with my first ever boyfriend. I have always been trouble to me and she'd always welcome me with open arms. Was it because she was the one that gave birth to me or was this just a side effect of divorce? “Val?” She called again and I snapped from my train of thoughts. I cradled the mug in my hand, staring at the brown ripple I made when I moved the mug. With a light exhale, I lean back in the dining chair. “Do you remember how you f
Russo's povApart from my phonk playlist, the kind of music I enjoy listening to are the sound of metal scratching against the wall, the sound of a gun when it goes off and most certainly the blood-curdling screams of my victims. I gripped his jaw one last time, staring at him squarely in the face. “The tattoo on your chest is from the Al Aziz Brotherhood. Who sent you? Ah Kash? How is your older brother?”“Fuck you!” He spat his blood on my face.“Wrong answer!” I drove my knife into the same spot I had been stabbing for a while on his lap and his screams filled my ears.“Jesus!” Mark shivered as I turned my gaze on him. “Jesus isn't here with you, dear Mark, I am.” I wiped my face with the kerchief Marcus offered me.He tried to get off the chains by binding his hands but he couldn't. They were too tight. “Did you really think you could escape?” I grabbed a chair and took a seat in front of him.“Hey, man. I don't know what you're talking about. Let me go.” Mark's eyes darted aro
Valentina's pov The moment I bolted from Russo's mansion I didn't stop till I got to our apartment building. The elevator was occupied so I took the stairs not minding my heavy breathing. Mark. You better be alive, asshole.I punched the keycode to the door and pushed it open. I walked into the apartment not recognizing it anymore.Specks of white material and foams laid dormant on the red couch. No one needed to tell me it was sliced open. The lamp I had gotten Mark for Christmas last year stared at me, the delicate glass broken into yellow shards, pictures of us ripped and portraits in ruins. Whoever ransacked our apartment was looking for something. It could be a thief or it could be Mark. I crossed the glass heap gently and leapt to the other side of the room though the kitchen. The next place to check was our bedroom. I rushed to the room and found it in the same mess as the living room. Without thinking, I walked to the drawer and pulled out every last one. All of my jewelry
Mateo's povThey all offered me appealing gazes but I knew that was a mask underneath their menacing looks. It was safe to say that no one in the mafia could trust each other but with the way things were moving, my height of paranoia would stretch to its limit and my patience was wearing thin. “Matteo has delivered the painting… but uh, is it safe here now that girl is around?” Angelou linked his fingers together. The man has more rings in his fingers and a scar on his left eye, evidence of five failed marriages. His eyes darted left and right as he spoke as though waiting for someone or backing him up.Jonathan cleared his throat before leaning in. “She won't be caught wandering around. Besides, it would look like an ordinary painting to her. She would never know what it contains, right, don?”Everyone who had their attention on Jonathan turned to me, waiting for me to speak and I gave them what they wanted to hear.“The painting is right where I want it. Who would wander right in