AUTHOR“You won't take this off, no matter what?” He warned, his tone dead serious.“And why is that?” “You won't want to know. Just do what you're told.”Nadia nodded and moved away from him, as if running away from a predator, as his gaze on her grew heated. The smirk on his grew wider and got up, about to leave but paused before he could get to the door. “I'd be away for some days, call me if you miss me or need anything.” he said, and with one last glance, he exited the room.Nadia reached her hand to the necklace, catching the pendant between her fingers. She instinctively got up from the bed and went to stand In front of the mirror stand, admiring the tiny beautiful necklace. A necklace to justify his misdeed? She thought, frowning slightly. Only if she knew the truth behind it.*****Damon kept his plan to meet Nadia at bay, since he had more pressing matters to attend to, outside the country. He had deceived and lied to Mia, using her feelings for Luciano, only to use her t
AUTHORTime slipped by quickly, with weeks blending into a haze. Nadia was growing accustomed to the light workload Jeff handed her—primarily backing up files, arranging business meetings, and noting down key points from business proposals. Luciano had deliberately kept her away from any files tied to his darker dealings, ensuring Jeff only gave her minimal and non-sensitive tasks.Yet, Nadia had begun avoiding him ever since she received a cryptic message from an unknown number. Luciano noticed her change in behavior almost immediately. She avoided his gaze, flinched when he spoke to her, stepped back whenever he approached, and stuttered through her replies. At first, he brushed it off, but the fear in her eyes gnawed at him.For a man like Luciano, who thrived on the power his presence commanded and relished the fear he instilled in others, Nadia's reaction should have satisfied him. Instead, it infuriated him. It wasn’t fear born of respect or awe—it felt like rejection. And for r
NADIAMy fear for Luciano increased after what happened earlier today. Just because the girl had tried to go against him, he set her up, not with any other person but a gigolo, and now she's pregnant. No, that was way too extreme. Yet I couldn't sit well with the thought of him being the father of the child. I had searched through the internet, trying to know more about Black Death and why he was called that, but I can't seem to find the exact information I was looking for. Who had I gotten myself entangled with?Yeah, he hadn't done anything to hurt me or try to hurt me, in fact he's truly protecting me, just like he had promised. But that can't guarantee he wouldn't try to, in the future. I wasn't sure if he was helping me or wanted something from me, but now, I am sure. I'm sure, he must have a reason for approaching me, just what could it be?From what I heard earlier, he has a brother, but they seem not to be on good terms. Just, who was this man exactly? No one visits him, has h
NADIAWhen I woke up the next morning, Luciano was already gone. Hatred and anger gnawed at me, as I could still remember what happened last night. I went for a quick wash, and returned to the room. It wasn't long before Layla came, her face was all smiles, making me wonder what she had to say.“Good morning, Layla. You seem happy, hmm?” “Yeah, I never thought Mr. Luciano would agree to my little request, but he did.” Her smile grew wider.“Ohh really? What request?” I asked, eyeing her expression. “I requested to take a leave for a month or two.”“A leave? Is everything okay?” “Yeah, but not really.” Her smile slowly faded, I frowned and moved closer to her.“What happened?”“My son got into an accident, the doctor said it isn't serious, but I have a feeling it is.”I felt bad for her, Layla is a nice woman, and her sweet smile shouldn't ever leave her lips, it is welcoming and contagious.“I'm sorry about that. Don't think too much about it, he'll be fine.” I smiled cheekily.Sh
NADIAThe atmosphere in the car was suffocating, almost unbreakable, with Luciano's features dark and unreadable. He was still holding my wrist, but not as tight as before, i stole several glances at him, but he didn't return any of it.With my heart thumping and pounding hard, I wondered what had gone wrong. “Luciano..” I called, my voice barely a whisper, as I glanced at him.“Shhh, kept it shut. I didn't ask you to say anything.” He cut me off coldly, not even glancing at me.I swallowed the lump forming in my chest and looked away.Immediately the car was pulled to a halt, Luciano's grip around my wrist tightened and he pulled me out of the car, dragging me inside the house. I'm certain a bruise is forming on my wrist, tears welled in my eyes, but I fought them back, as the pain was becoming unbearable. He pulled me into the living room and paused in his steps, finally releasing my wrist. With tears brimming in my eyes and blurring my vision, I raised my face to look at him. “Luc
DAMON After finding out that Luciano had tricked Mia and I, he saw through my plan. My next agenda was to meet the late Emperors' doppelganger, the one rumored to be staying with him. It would be fun. Luciano was sorely protecting her, making it difficult to get to her, and that only piqued my interest. If Luciano is protecting her that much, then she really must be important and have more to her. I had some men, camp close to his estate, to feed me information about him and to inform me, once the girl was out. I'm really going to make Luciano pay, not just for the money I lost, even for my men, who are now dead. And that girl seemed to be my bait on him. It was my lucky day, when I got to meet with the doppelganger, and all I can say and think is that I'm going to take her for myself. Looking at her alone felt like I was looking at that asshole Emperor, and the thoughts of making her suffer was extreme. While I thought about how to adopt her, my father's footsteps echoed in
DAMON Sophia had left in a fit of rage, after our argument, but my decision remains resolute. She could've said that to Luciano before he took her.The club was now filled, and these sluts stared hungrily at me, while I downed my wine. Sophia was the reason I came here, because I also had thoughts of fucking her tonight, but her unending argument and points, did nothing but turned me off.My eyes fell on a brunette, who stared intensely and lustfully at me. Maybe she would do it for just tonight, I winked at her– a gesture to come over. As expected, she smiled seductively, and made her way, slow and deliberate towards me.Before she could get to my table, I received a call from my father, which instantly turned off any urge for sex, I had within me. I grabbed my car key from the desk and got up to leave, my gaze turned to the brunette, who was now close, I pulled out a few cash and threw it at her, before storming off.Reaching home, the atmosphere in the room was thick and heavy. My
LUCIANOAs usual, Nadia had begun avoiding me again. She only came down when she was sure that I've left for the office. When Luke told me about that message, I was furious. The phone I gave her was connected to one of my devices and I can access her phone through mine. Luke was in charge of that, although it had issues and was sent for repair, which he retrieved not long ago, before he saw the message.I tried to hold in my anger, not until Jeff Informed that Damon and his men had infiltrated the restaurant, meanwhile, Nadia had gone out to wash off the stain on her dress and was taking too long. I knew how extreme Damon could be, and I knew he had only come for her.But her replies when I'd asked her what took her long, infuriated me more. Maybe I'd been too soft on her, which made her overestimate herself and thought I wouldn't do just anything to make sure she remains by my side.Then again, I dislike that emotion that crawls into my chest, when her tears spill and it's painful.
NADIAThe house felt like a hollow shell without Luciano. For a month, he had left without a word, leaving me to wonder if it was because of that night. Although I still bore the scars, not on my body, but deep in my heart, and everytime i passed his closed bedroom door, the memory of his drunken rage haunted me.Yet, there was a part of me that couldn’t help but yearn for him, a part of me that couldn’t let go. Something in his eyes that night had looked broken,desperate and betrayed, and that’s what made it so hard to resent him fully.With Luciano gone, it was easier going outside, venturing beyond the walls of the mansion, although his men never ceased to follow me around wherever I went, but they gave me breathing space. On one of those outings, I met Damon, the man from the restaurant.I had just finished walking through a local bookstore, holding on to the small bag of novels, when he appeared. “Hi Nadia, we met again.” he smiled softly, waving at me.I waved back and looked aw
AUTHORLuciano's anger was triggered by his father and brother, at his mother's memorial service.A day Ago,Luciano stood at the vast, ornate hall where his mom's memorial service was being held. His jaw was clenched so tightly that it ached. He knew that behind the facade of those gathered belied the insincerity of their whisper. Not any one of them had a single sympathy for the woman who they claimed to mourn, they only cared about their power, appearance and no one was more obvious to flaunting those than Luciano's father, Silas Moterno.Dressed proudly in a black suit, Silas held court at the center of the room, a picture of a grieving widower. His words were laced with honey, his demeanor composed, yet the sight of him filled Luciano with fury and hatred, so intense it made his vision blur. Silas, standing tall, had stolen everything from Luciano, his mother, his childhood, Damon, and every semblance of his peace.Luciano's hand clenched tightly into fists by his sides, his rag
NADIAI was already done with the business files Jeff returned home. I'd told him to increase it a bit more which he did, working on this file for a while. I could only say that Luciano was intelligent and professional with the dealings of his company. Time flew by and it was night already. Luciano wasn't home yet, so I returned to my room. Later in the night, I woke up because I was having a nightmare. Amidst my thoughts, I heard slow, and unsteady footsteps approaching my room, before I could react, the door burst open, revealing Luciano's imposing figure.He staggered through the door, muttering under his breath. The heavy whiff of alcohol followed, consuming the air, as soon as he walked into the room.Was he drunk? I frowned and got up to help him. “Luciano, are you okay?” I asked, for some reason, feeling deeply worried.He laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. “Am I okay?” his words slurred, his voice mocking. “Why wouldn't I be? My family's circus, my brother's snake, my father,
NADIAI still couldn't believe that Luciano would murder my adoptive parents and take Vanessa. Why didn't he kill Vanessa also? The more I thought about it, the more confusing it was. If I hadn't seen him kill Sophia, maybe I wouldn't believe it, but I was there when he killed Sophia.Logan might be my Ex and the last person I'd ever want to talk to, but he couldn't make up such a lie. He was sure about what he was saying, even over the phone.There's a way to find out.Luciano was in his study, when I went up to him. I wouldn't lie, I was scared, I was afraid, the courage I had managed to gather, all faltered in the face of his intense gaze.“This is my study, not your room.” “Luciano, did you kill my adoptive parents?” He paused what he was doing and turned to look at me. His gaze darkened, a flicker of surprise dancing in his stormy eyes, as he took a deliberate step towards me. His calm demeanor only served to heighten the tension in the air.“Who told you that?” he asked, his
NADIADespite Luciano's normal attitude, I still couldn't shake off the sight of Sophia's dead body. Few days back, he returned home very late and I happened to go to the living room to retrieve my phone which I left there earlier. The first thing I heard was hurried steps, I hid to see who it was, only to find out it was Luciano's men, Jeff and Luke. They were heading to his room. Their faces etched with worry, but what caught my attention was the blood stains on their hands.Once they had gone a very good distance, I made sure to not make any noise and followed them. The door was slightly opened and I could hear whatever they were saying. Luciano seemed to be deeply hurt, his voice was laced with pain, yet rage. He had a clash with his brother and some other groups, I didn't quite remember their names. It was because of Sophia's death. They'd attacked him, to eliminate him. At this point, I needed no more evidence or words to believe that Luciano was a Mafia boss and did shady bus
NADIA By the time I was awake, Luciano was already gone. After what happened in his study, he had come to the room last night, and only let me be, when it was already daybreak. I could remember that, plus when he cleaned me up and applied some ointment. Cleaning me up after intercourse, was something he never forgot to do, after which he'll tuck me back to sleep.The workload Jeff returned home was getting lesser each day. I'll have to remind him to bring back more work. Later, while I was watching a TV show in the living room, an idea popped into my mind. The sudden thought of it only made my heart race, since no one was at home, and Luciano might not find out, I headed to his study room. Maybe I could find something that'll give me more clue about who he really is, or what exactly he was into. I went into his study, checking out every document I saw there. I had no knowledge that there was a device installed in the office, which would notify him when someone apart from him went i
NADIALuciano didn't leave the house for the rest of the week. Jeff brought over some files for him, and he worked from home. Although he is not going to admit it, I knew it was because of my injury. The thought of it brought a warm feeling to my chest. I already told him it was gone, but he chose to act deaf on it, so I let him do what he wanted.This time, I was the one trying to start a conversation with him, trying to talk to him. But each time, he finds excuses to dismiss me, probably still angry about me trying to cook. But that doesn't make sense, I can't keep making food orders for a long time. I'd wanted to prepare a quick dish, to fill myself, who knew the knife was going to slip from my hand and slit my leg and who asked him to home to witness it?Feeling fed up with his cold shoulders, I decided I was going to talk to him, no matter his excuse this time, I'm going to find a way to talk to him. A part of me decided against it, but I shrugged it away. Despite his cold attit
LUCIANOAs usual, Nadia had begun avoiding me again. She only came down when she was sure that I've left for the office. When Luke told me about that message, I was furious. The phone I gave her was connected to one of my devices and I can access her phone through mine. Luke was in charge of that, although it had issues and was sent for repair, which he retrieved not long ago, before he saw the message.I tried to hold in my anger, not until Jeff Informed that Damon and his men had infiltrated the restaurant, meanwhile, Nadia had gone out to wash off the stain on her dress and was taking too long. I knew how extreme Damon could be, and I knew he had only come for her.But her replies when I'd asked her what took her long, infuriated me more. Maybe I'd been too soft on her, which made her overestimate herself and thought I wouldn't do just anything to make sure she remains by my side.Then again, I dislike that emotion that crawls into my chest, when her tears spill and it's painful.
DAMON Sophia had left in a fit of rage, after our argument, but my decision remains resolute. She could've said that to Luciano before he took her.The club was now filled, and these sluts stared hungrily at me, while I downed my wine. Sophia was the reason I came here, because I also had thoughts of fucking her tonight, but her unending argument and points, did nothing but turned me off.My eyes fell on a brunette, who stared intensely and lustfully at me. Maybe she would do it for just tonight, I winked at her– a gesture to come over. As expected, she smiled seductively, and made her way, slow and deliberate towards me.Before she could get to my table, I received a call from my father, which instantly turned off any urge for sex, I had within me. I grabbed my car key from the desk and got up to leave, my gaze turned to the brunette, who was now close, I pulled out a few cash and threw it at her, before storming off.Reaching home, the atmosphere in the room was thick and heavy. My