AGOSTI“I think I like her” Luca repeated for the umpteenth time.“I am sure to do” I grimaced.He had not stopped talking about Rachael… Isabella… I had to stop calling her Rachael or thinking about our night in Las Vegas.Anyways, all of our conversations had been about her ever since the night of the dinner and as much as I wanted to shut him the fuck up, I did not.It was a good thing he liked her. It only meant that there would not be any more arguments about how he did not want to get married to the girl but I also was angry at the fact that he liked her which I considered weird.This arrangement was not so he could fall in love with her, it was just so I could have access to the Romano’s diamond mine.I had heard a lot about it and although there has been no formal conversation between Angelo and I, he knew how interested I was in this just as much as every other person in Spain was.It was no wonder I found it surprising that he could not pay back the money he borrowed from me
ISABELLAI wasn’t a child having her first crush… I was an adult woman about to get married and somehow the sight of this man was enough to knock the breath out of my lungs.His tattoos peeking out from rolled up sleeves was enough to elevate my pulse and I was sure my blood pressure spiked when our eyes met.The air was charged but it would seem that we were the only ones who could see this.“Shall we?” The deep rumble of his voice jolted me and I thanked God I was sitting far away from him although it wasn’t far enough in my books.“Are you okay?” Luca, who had taken a seat in front of me asked.He looked amazing, like an absolute gentleman and…Your husband, I reminded myself.Of course I had to remember that and not let the estrogen and my stupidity get the better of me.“I am fine… you look amazing” I told him.He smiled, his eyes flashing with delight and I felt better about ogling his father while they walked in.I turned to my food, making sure to not look in his direction eve
AGOSTII led her away from the courtyard and straight to the kitchen for water or maybe something stronger since she was still shaking.I was livid… the blood pounding in my veins at what had almost happened…she had almost fucking died.“Sit” I ordered.She slid into the chair while I reached for a bottle of water which I passed to her while tapping my fingers rhythmically on her back.I waited until she was done and her shaking had subsided to an extent before I spoke.“What the fuck was that?” I snappedShe blinked, jolting at the harsh slap of my words but I was too far gone in my rage to stop.“I am sorry, I just wanted to…”“You wanted to get yourself fucking killed on my premises? What happened to the command I gave about you staying in that room till it was all over?”She said nothing, merely kept her eyes on me but I could see the beginning of tears in them.“You could have been killed or worse kidnapped and fucking tortured and all because you want to disobey orders?”I was h
ISABELLAI could still feel the cold press of the gun against the side of my head… the fact that my life had flashed before my eyes in an instant as the man whispered death threats in my ears.Tears pricked the corner of my eyes but I swept my lashes forward and sniffled to stop them from falling.I wasn’t going to cry… I would not show anymore that I was some blundering mess of weakness.“Are you okay?” Luca’s voice interrupted my racing thoughts.I had not heard him come in and it jarred me to think I was so in my head about what had just happened.“I am fine” I said instead, casting him a small smile.“You should not have followed me, for goodness sake… you almost died”“I know” I murmured.I allowed him hold me, patting my back gently while I thought about how his father had berated me.I could still feel the pain where he had tightened his grip on my hand.Fucking asshole, I thought“Can you walk?” Luca asked, his voice soft.“I should stay here for a while” I told him instead.H
AGOSTIIf the El Dorado cartel was after any mere man then he would be dead but quite fortunately, I wasn’t a mere man.I did not earn the tag of the devil by being one that was fucked with and although attracting their attention was bad for business, I had it now and therefore had to deal with it before it got any worse.I heard the soft patter of Luca’s footstep and reclined in my seat as he stepped into the dimly lit study.“What the fuck was that, father?” He asked, approaching me.“Foul language, Luca” I warned.“Take a seat” I muttered, pointing in the direction of the chair in front of me.He slid into one, his eyes steady on mine and I could almost hear the grinding of his teeth. It was something he always did when he was totally upset about something or totally furious and I could tell he was both at the moment.“I made a mistake” I stated matter of fact.“What have you done?” He asked me, sighing.“I have mingled with the wrongest of company and it is now coming to bite me i
ISABELLAI found it hard to sleep after my encounter with Agosti and although I would love nothing more than to blame it on the fact that I was still thinking about the gun to my head, I knew I was thinking about him.The way his dark eyes had caressed my body.The last thing I had wanted to do was cover it up… I wanted to be worshiped and he seemed like he could do that quite well.I turned over, sighing as I drew the duvet under my chin, my fingers slipping into it to touch my throbbing pussy.It did not help that it was a cold night and the object of all my fantasies and desires was a stride away from me.I wondered if he was thinking about me just as much as the thoughts of him ravaged the recesses of my mind.My legs parted of their own accord and I let out a pent up breath, my fingers wrapping around my clitoris and massaging it gently.I could still remember how his tongue had rendered me incapable of speech. I blew out a frustrated breath as I tried to capture the feeling of h
AGOSTII was smiling… like a lovestruck fucking idiot.I straightened in my seat, the pen I was twirling while I thought about her exact reaction to what I had done thrown to the side.What was this game I had decided to play?The plane ticket to her best friend and the roses with the stupid little note I had made sure to write myselfWhat was my play?There was nothing except that I could not stop thinking about her. I was like a junkie going through my withdrawal phase and feeling I could die if I did not have that one drug… just one taste.She was like a drug that I was stupidly not immune to.I had fucked a lot of girls and most of them her age but never had I been stuck up on one for the whole of a day not to talk of days.Rachael, I thought… no, she is Isabella… and she is your son’s property, I reminded myself.“They are here and waiting” Santiago, my butler announced.I cleared my throat“Thank you, Tiago” I told him.He nodded briskly and closed the door behind himself.He co
ISABELLA“I am sending this back” I announced, rising to my feet.“Oh come on, Isabella… what is one bouquet of flowers” Audrey protested.“I am getting married to his son” I exclaimed. “He should not be sending me roses or notes or anything at all. The only communication he and I should be having are about his son’s favorite colors and favorite food and what not”“But you have to admit that this is as romantic as it gets. With the last asshole you were in a relationship with, you only got trauma and heartbreak. I would really love to see this man and who knows we might hit it off and I can get him off your hands” She smacked her lips.“Really? That is all you can think about right now? Fucking my soon to be husband’s father?”“What? You cannot blame me for wanting a Spanish charm of my own besides what is the harm? I am the single one and you are the about to be hitched but still stuck up on a one night stand one”“I am not stuck up on anything with him” I muttered, the indignation i
ISABELLAIt was pointless to sit up here and cry or to think that hiding would somehow make it all better.I had to speak with Agosti.I had to know what the fuck Luca meant by a diamond mine or if it was just the drunken words of a man.I raced down the stairs and to the party, my eyes darting around for Agosti. He was nowhere in sight and neither was Luca but I saw my father signaling me with the wine glass in his hand. I turned around, ignoring him completely and making my way to the study which was the only place I knew he could be.The door to the study was slightly open and I could hear voices coming from inside. No, it wasn’t exactly… it was more like moans.As I neared and placed one hand to the door and then an ear, I heard him and whoever he was going at it with.I took one step closer, tripping on my own dress and falling forward whilst trying to catch myself. A scream erupted from my lungs as I plunged head first into the study door, pushing it forward and tumbling inside.
AGOSTIFucking prick, I fumedIf he wasn’t my son, my fist would be buried in his damned face.I sighed, slamming it into the wall instead wincing at the pain that shoots up my arm.I turned around, staring at the broken vase on the floor. It weirdly explained my sorry state at the moment and I was infuriated at this silly feeling of helplessness.“Oh, you are here” Angelo approached me. “Your guests are waiting wondering what happened to the hosts and I am of the mind that that daughter of mine ought to receive some spanking for being such a terrible…”“Not right now, Angelo” I stopped him.I did not want to hear any of his rude and uncouth opinion about Isabella or he might bear the brunt of the wrath coursing through my veins.I walked away from him and back to the party and then I picked up the microphone, calling everyone’s attention to myself.“I am calling an end to the partying” I announced.There was protest from the guests.“We should leave the newly weds alone, don’t you th
ISABELLAMy smile cracked again for the umpteenth time but I maintained it. They wanted me to smile and I was going to.It was my wedding day after all.My father was standing with Agosti and they appeared in serious conversation. I did not doubt that it was about me.Agosti looked furiousWhat do I care? I asked myself.I was now officially the wife of his son.I could hardly feel the sting where I had been hit. Audrey had done a great job of covering it with makeup and so to everyone who was at the wedding, I was a beautiful and happy bride.“Are you okay, my love?” I heard Luca’s voice behind me.He grabbed my arm, drawing me closer to him and I was repulsed at the alcohol I could smell on his breath.“I am fine” I muttered, trying to free myself from his grasp.“Did you think about what I said?” He asked, whsipering into my ears.“What are you talking about?”His fingers tightened around my arm and I tried not to wince at the pain that shot up my spine.“You are here on your weddi
AGOSTI“You do know that it is bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, especially in her wedding dress” I stopped Luca who was headed in the direction of Isabella’s room.“I only want to check on her and who believes that superstitious nonsense.” He chuckled.He looked better this morning, in a much better mood than I have seen him in a while.“I will check on her for you, you should be heading to the church”“I would love Isabella to ride with me. Maybe she and I would get to talk about… you know everything that has happened in the last 72 hours and come to an agreement of a sort”“Like I said, son… badluck” I laughed when he rolled his eyes.“I will have her ride with her parents. You need to immediately be at the church so off you pop”He nodded, straightening his tie and then climbing down the stairs while I knocked softly on Isabella’s door.I pushed it open, my breath hitching in my lungs as I beheld her. I did not think she was created to walk this earth alongside us… a f
ISABELLAYou would think that with an event as drastic as my marriage that the skies might let out a downpour but no, not even a drizzle.When I opened my eyes the next day morning, the bright skies mocked me. I could almost hear her laughing at the futility of my request for a cloudy or dark day.I did not get up from the bed, I had no energy to. I laid there and stared at the bright light coming in from the windows until my eyes spurn and watered.“Isabella, thank God… I was so fucking worried” Audrey’s shrill voice interrupted my self pity.She rounded the side of the bed, stopping with her mouth agape.“What the fuck happened to your face?” She asked, her eyes clouding over in tears. “Did he hurt you? That fucking bastard”“You should have seen it yesterday” I smiled, raising my head a bit to look at her. “And he did not hurt me… one of the men who tried to abduct me yesterday hit me in the face so I could pass out” I explained“What an… he should be punished for doing this to you
AGOSTI“Which one of you bastards hit her?” I glared at the men in front of me.They had their heads bowed as they should because no sane man should lay a hand on any woman.I had called for them as soon as retreated from Isabella’s room. Santiago had sent only three men but somehow one of them had managed to be a complete imbecile.“I am not going to ask again so I suggest you all start fucking talking” I warned, slapping my gun to the table.I was glad that they all jolted, their eyes reaching the weapon and then themselves as if to urge whoever had hit Isabella to step forward immediately.It wasn’t long before one of the men stepped forward, his eyes on his shoe. He must have been the one that knocked her out and left the bruise on her beautiful face. I had asked them to retrieve her not beat her to one inch of her life.He did not seem remorse, merely perplexed as to why I was making a big deal out of how they handled someone who was trying to fuck my plans up as I am sure Santia
ISABELLAI wasn’t sure of what was happening by the time I opened my eyes. It would seem that the man had hit me too hard because what I felt at first was pain, blinding pain behind my eyes followed by a dull throbbing at the back of my head.I was even having visions of Agosti which was funny because I should not be thinking about him right now when I had no idea where I was.I smiled up at the apparition before me either ways, bringing a hand up to touch its arm.It felt like living, hot flesh so maybe it wasn’t...I snapped up, a scream erupting from my throat.“What the… you are safe, calm down” Agosti pinned me before I could get up.“Let me fucking go, you animal” I snapped.He stilled, not letting go of me until I had spent all my energy and collapsed back unto the bed.I turned away from him, hoping he would go away but he remained standing beside me, his eyes on the side of my face.“What do you want? I want to be left alone” I muttered.“So you can kill yourself?” He asked“
AGOSTI“You must be mistaken” I rose to my feet, holding the phone in a fist.“I know what she looks like, sir. I researched her remember and I can confirm for sure that she is the one I am sitting across right now” Mario insisted.But he had to be mistaken.There was no way Isabella would take the risk by trying to run away from marriage with my son, Luca. What the fuck had he done to her?“Keep watching her and reporting back to me” I ordered. “Do not keep your eyes off her for a minute. I will have some men down there soon to rectify the whole situation” I told him.Yes sir although I have to say that she is not alone. She has someone here with her… the best friend?”“She is no problem. I want Isabella back here within the hour and as for Audrey, you will escort her back after Isabella has been contained”I said the word contained with as much amusement as I could muster.She was bold, I had to give her that but she was too fucking reckless. She had to know that there was no way sh
ISABELLA“You are not going to go through with this, are you?” Audrey asked, following me around.I had told her of my plans the next day and she was still looking at me like I was very much mad“I am not going to marry the man and I do not care if you try to discourage me from fleeing. If I go to the UK, he cannot find me and I will be much safer there than here.” I explained.I had packed a few of my belongings but now I was thinking if it made any sense to pack. If I was fleeing, I would not want anyone to notice that I was gone and that included my mother and father.“He sent me an invite all the way from here to the UK” Audrey tried to make me see sense.“So?” I muttered, not paying attention.I was still considering taking a small bag, at least something that contained my toiletries. What if I met up with Joaquin when I got to the UK, I mean he owed me for cheating on me with God knows who and he had been blowing up my phone.“So he is going to find you, think about it” Audrey b