Adonis POV
Inhaling deeply, I drew in a calming breath as I started my mental count once again, resisting the urge to tap my feet. It's official. She's insane. No sane person, after receiving a death threat, would still choose to defile the order given, but she did. I've never met anyone as infuriating as that little girl in my entire life, and now she has me wondering if she was actually the best fit for this. I resumed my count, my left little finger twitching rapidly at the amount of self-restraint it was taking me not to burst out through the door and drag her to the alter myself. "Relax. It's normal." Luca whispered to me. I threw him a blank stare, as I had completely forgotten that he was by my side. He was shaking with nerves in his grey tuxedo; one would think he was the groom. I glanced down at my black tuxedo, which I had to force myself into this morning. Left to me, a dark pair of jeans and a white polo would've been just fine, but for some reason, everyone was against it, and I agreed since Luca promised I would be able to change in an hour. It's been thirty minutes since the ceremony was supposed to start, but Cara was still not here, yet. I looked up to see the guests—mainly my men and some of my grandfather's most trusted allies—exchanging small talks with a smile on their faces. Was I the only one finding the wait uncomfortable? My eyes closed as my mental count hit hundred for the umpteenth time. I started again. One, two, three, four, five— Oh to hell with it! I think it was time I visited the late bride myself. I had just taken a step forward, a startled Luca asking where I was going when the huge doors of the hall were pulled open. "Sorry, we're late, everyone. We had some unforeseen issues." Cecelia announced apologetically as she rushed in and then rushed out, but not before I saw the nervous look she threw my way. What was it this time? My question was answered shortly as the wedding march began and the bride walked in. Everyone gasped. I stiffened. Cara walked down the aisle, following the rhythm of the wedding march with the brightest smile on her face. She didn't have a veil on as expected, so I could see the entire features of her face and the tight, low bun she had her hair in. I felt my jaw slacken for a minute before I caught myself, returning to my usual stoicism. She looked even more beautiful, but my eyes couldn't dwell on her beauty alone. No. My mind wouldn't let it, and it trailed down her body, giving her attire a full sweep. In her hand was a bouquet of freshly plucked daisies, but my eyes settled on her dress. A spark of anger ignited within me. Was that a red gown, or were my eyes deceiving me? I looked over to Luca for confirmation again, but he was staring with his mouth agape and wide eyes at Cara. It was indeed a red gown. My hands balled into fists, and I returned my gaze to Cara. My eyes drifted to the ladies behind her. There should be some sort of explanation for this because I wasn't going to let this go easily. I specifically explained how important it was to have Cara wear the traditional Bernardi wedding gown and instructed Nadia and Cecelia to pass the point across, but she chose to wear a blood-red gown instead. My eyes flickered between the two women, and from their worried glances, I already knew Cara was the orchestrator. Her friend Tina, on the other hand, had a big smile on her face. I clenched my jaw to prevent a low growl from escaping my lips. The wedding march stopped just as Cara halted her walk in front of me. My cold gaze met her mocking ones—a promise of retribution for the disgrace she had brought upon me—and the priest started. "Dearly beloved..." **** "Excuse me," I said with a tight-lipped smile. "I'd like to have a word with my wife." Pulling Cara away from the conversation she was having, despite her protests. "I can walk fine; stop pulling me." She argued, but I ignored her, gripping tightly onto her wrist until we were alone and out of earshot. "You're lucky we have company. I wouldn't have been so gentle with you." I sneered. "What did I do this time?" My eyes narrowed at her question. "What did you do? You humiliated me and my family. You wasted my time, but that wasn't enough for you. You decided to scoff at our tradition and show up in a bright red dress. Of all colours, Cara!" "Oh! That..." She replied like it was no big deal. "That? You just challenged me in front of my men and allies, and you say that? I warned you. Whatever you do, don't cross my part." "And you expected me to listen?" Cara retorted. "I am not a doll that you can just push around. I will do what I want, and how I want it!" I felt my breathing increase as the flicker of anger in me grew into a surge of rage. Taking her wrist in a tight grip once again, I tugged her towards me. "You will do no such thing!" My nostrils flared. "You will do no such thing or I'll kick you out." She closed the remaining space between us, meeting my glare with a look of contempt. "Go ahead. Kick me out and see who loses out." Who was this girl? What happened to the timid girl who rarely talked back to me? She certainly could not have found out about my plans to use her against the Grecos, so why was she acting this way? Running my hand through my hair in frustration, I gritted out. "Vorrei poterti rinchiudere da qualche parte fino alla fine dell'anno (I wish I could lock you away somewhere until the end of the year)." "English ple— "There you both are! Guess who got you a three-day getaway ticket for your honeymoon?" My grandfather announced as he was wheeled towards us. Oh, h*ll no!Adonis and Cara both whipped their heads towards Dimitri in shock!"What?"Dimitri smiled."Oh. I didn't know you guys would be so happy about it. Should I see if I can extend it to a week?""No!" They echoed together. "Why?" He looked between them both, and Cara signalled Adonis to speak up. She didn't think she was ready to spend three whole days in an unknown place with him. At this point, she wanted no distractions, and I've been doing fine for the past week. Being cooped up in a room with him was a temptation she wasn't sure she could overcome.His eyes darted to Adonis's, then pointed to his grandfather. Adonis stared back with a bored look before giving in."The coronation is next week." He plainly stated, and Dimitri waved him off."Of course. We have a lot of time before then.""I have things to do. Preparations to make.""Preparations that can wait, Figlio (son). Take your wife for a vacation. She's been through a lot these past few days and deserves it." Cara brooded on
"Mr. and Mrs. Bernardi. We'll be landing shortly. Please fasten your seat belts and prepare for touch ground." Cara awoke to the announcement from the pilot, letting out a big yawn.Had they reached already?She looked to her side to see Adonis passing the last of some orders on his phone before he ended the call and adjusted himself."You're up."A simple statement. No emotion whatsoever."Yes. Is there a problem?" She asked."No. I just wanted the men to be ready for anything." "You have men in Italy too?" "I told you, Cara. It's home." He dipped his head to the side, a smug look on his face. "You know what? Why don't I show you around on the first day? We can explore after that." Cara couldn't help the giddiness she felt."You have time for that?""Like I said, we're on our honeymoon. We might as well act like it." His voice went dangerously low, and she didn't miss the implication behind his last words.Before she knew it, they were landing, and excitement bubbled up within her
Cara's POV "Nonno (grandfather)." I heard Adonis's voice as I blinked my eyes open. He was on a call. "Why didn't you tell me? Is this why you sent me home?" It had an accusatory tone and he paused for the other person, who I'm guessing is his grandfather, to speak before replying."No. Their little threat is nothing. You know it's normal during times like this." He paused again, and I shut my eyes quickly when I noticed him turning towards me. He released a deep sigh then a grumble before he spoke again."I just hope you're not hiding anything more from me. Cara's fine. No, we didn't have sex yesterday. Why do you even want to know that?" He paused again, and I wondered when the call was going to end. My face had turned into a blushing mess. Since when did he start having conversations like this with his grandfather? Maybe they were closer than I thought."You're not angry she didn't wear the traditional gown?" Adonis asked, and I could hear surprise in his voice. "Yeah. She's
Cara's POV"Get up; we're leaving now," Adonis ordered as soon as he ended the call. I acted like I wasn't listening; my food suddenly seemed more interesting.He had just taken a few steps when he noticed I wasn't behind him."Didn't you hear me? I said, We're leaving?""To where?""Back to the US." I pouted— like I actually pursed my lips together pouted."But we just got here, and you're yet to show me around like you promised." Adonis groaned in frustration. "There was a break-in at the mansion. We can always come back later. Now let's go." I refused to stand up. Folding my hands to my chest like a spoiled child. "No." "What is wrong with you, Cara? This is serious." "I'm not going." I remained adamant, hoping my childish tantrum would save me an extra minute or two. But Adonis was more quick-witted than I thought. His eyes narrowed into thin slits."Is there something you're not telling me? Did you have something to do with the break-in?""What? How can? Pshh... no. I'm
Adonis slowly opened his eyes, sitting up gently. He stretched his sore body and felt his bones pop in places he never knew was possible. His eyes took in the familiar white walls, his nose picking up the stench of concentrated antiseptic; even without the continuous beeping of the machine by his side, he'd recognize this place anytime.He had been here more times than should be considered healthy.He stretched once again to be sure he felt no underlying pain. If the throbbing ache in his ribs and light headache were all the injuries sustained, then he was in luck. Honestly, he expected more. The door to the hospital room quietly slid open as though the person on the other side was avoiding making unnecessary noises, and Luca stepped in with a jar of water and a cup in hand.His eyes met Adonis's, and he paused in his steps. He was pissed. Adonis could tell that much from the lack of words the moment he stepped in."You're up. Good for you." Luca walked over to his bedside and dep
Cara's POVI don't know how many hours I slept for-but I knew I drifted in and out of consciousness a few times.The first time was after the accident. I wasn't fully awake, but I knew I was being carried by Adonis.I'd recognize his masculine, woody scent anywhere. My vision was blurry, and the pain was stabbing into my bones all over, but I could feel his rapid heartbeat as he breathed heavily. He was injured too. That much I could tell. Then he stopped and gently set me down on the grass before settling beside me. I didn't understand what was going on, but whenever I tried to think about it, my head hurt, so I stopped. Another wave of pain hit me, and just as I was about to lose consciousness again, I felt a soft, warm press on my nape as he pulled me closer.The second time I gained consciousness was only for a short while. My heavy eyes opened for just a minute, and I could see people frantically running around me. I couldn't hear a single thing due to the loud ringing noise in
"So she'll be fine if she just takes her medication. I advise that she take a lot of rest to allow her bone to heal." The doctor said to Adonis, who was sitting beside Cara on the bed.It was the next day, and they were about to be discharged."Are you sure it's okay for her to leave?" Adonis glanced at Cara; she looked worse than he did. Her left leg was wrapped in a crutch, her head in a bandage, and her arm in a cast. "If you're going to be discharged, then I want to be discharged too." Cara harrumphed.The people in the room had silently been watching them bicker back and forth as Adonis had been trying to convince Cara to stay back for the past thirty minutes, but she wasn't having it. He had work piled up from the few days he wasn't around and had yet to fully investigate the break-in scenario, so he decided to head back home. The moment Cara found out, she also decided to leave.Adonis sighed in frustration. He couldn't believe she was already back to arguing with him so quick
A young, beautiful lady lay stark naked on the bed in a room coated with red and black paint. She was on all fours, each hand and leg chained to a hook at each corner of the bed.Her fair skin had several lines of red and was bruised all over, and her head bobbed violently, influencing the moment of the bed as it slammed against the wall, saliva dripping down her chin.From the back, you could see wetness dripping down her legs, and whenever she tried to pull it together, the chains prevented it.Choking sounds and breathless moans could be heard all over the room as her eyes continually rolled to the back of her head.At the foot of the bed on a sofa sat a naked man, watching the scene in front of him with so much pleasure as he stroked himself."Wider." He instructed, and the lady spread her leg further as far as it could go. A satisfied smirk spread out on his face, and his hand moved faster as he could feel the start of an orgasm.He shuddered in delight, ordering"Faster."And th
Adonis's POVI was stuck in an unknown place—I'd been stuck there for a while. Living through the same horror over and over again.The crazed look in Natasha's eyes as she aimed for Cara and gow I jumped in without a second.The repetition caused me to keep reliving the pain.The pain and anxiety I felt when I thought Cara was going to die.The pain as the shot pierced through my chest.At first, it was all I kept seeing until that one time when I heard her voice. 'Adonis. I need you.'It reminded me of that night in the room. I wanted to go to her but couldn't. In the empty hollowness of my mind, I felt lost.Once in a while, I'd hear her voice and other times; it was just blackness. Then, the very day, I saw her in the void, and she reached out to me... the moment I took her hands, my eyes fluttered open. They lazily fluttered about the space. What I laid on felt extremely soft and comfortable.I recognised it as my bed; then my eyes took in the familiar sight of my room.Everyth
Whoever had said love doesn't bring pain had lied. After our intimate night together, I'd tried everything I could to get Cecelia to leave, but it just always ended in just a fight.We were both walking on eggshells around each other, yet she refused to leave.It got me thinking: Does she love me that much to stick by my side, or have I made her used to toxic situations?There was a sizzling tension between us that was threatening to explode anytime soon. The fact that I was also busy making arrangements at the mansion made it easier to avoid her, but that meant I had to see Cara.She, I knew, I had to avoid at all costs. There was no use acting like I was pissed at her; she'd see right through me. Unlike Cecelia who kept overlooking everything I did, and I couldn't be more glad when Miguel reached out to me to begin the plan.It was going to be the last straw for her, and as I anticipated—it was.Approaching Tina was overrated. I already knew it'd be easy, but it was too easy.How
"Sebastien again? Why didn't you do anything about it then?" Miguel shrugged, pouring himself another drink."Because I wasn't sure. He was yet to show his true colours, so I couldn't follow up my suspicions." "What makes you so sure now?" "The truth." What truth again?Maybe I should take him up on his offer to sit after all. So, without asking for permission, I picked up the second glass that was brought in for me when I came in and poured myself a shot, too. He eyed me with a small smile."I thought you said you were fine." I threw it back at once, pouring another that I took with me to my seat."That was until I heard all these. You're yet to answer my question. How sure are you?""You told me you suspected that Antonio knew of my daughter's Spanish roots. Turns out his father had once given him a clue, but he wasn't broad-minded and only saw the close-up, not the whole picture. Sebastian wasn't trying to tell him to come after my throne. Mine and Dimitri's is just a step in
Flashback: The day after Adonis's rescue..."You're back." Miguel eyed me, taking a sip out of his whisky glass.I couldn't blame his attitude. If I were in his shoes, I'd be more hostile. With the encounters and revelations that happened the day before, weariness was allowed. Especially since his long-lost daughter agreed to go back with me instead of staying with him.But I also couldn't care less.After our intense discussions yesterday, a lot of questions began bugging my mind. Things didn't add up, but I didn't want to worry Cara by opening up another void she wouldn't be able to fill."I have questions." One of his brows shot up, and amusement displayed across his face. He took another sip."That's why I'm sitting here. You don't think you have the power to summon me whenever you like, do you?" I ignored the question, refusing to drop my hardened expression. Until I got the answers I wanted, this man still wasn't to be trusted.Cara's father or not.Suddenly, he sat up, downi
Cara's POV"I'm sorry for the discomfort, Mrs. Bernardi. The baby seems to be hiding away, and I can't seem to get a good position." The doctor said jokingly, moving the wand-like device all around my bump.I just gave a small smile in reply, waiting patiently to hear the news. If anyone had asked me, this wasn't how I expected to find out the gender of my child. I'd imagined my huge hulk by my side, nervously twitching his fingers every five minutes as he sat quietly for the reveal. There'll be that slight pull down of his brows that he thought no one noticed when he was anxious. But as fate would have it, I was doing it alone.It was better than doing it with an unconscious Adonis anyway.I didn't feel motivated to find out the gender and wouldn't have decided to do so if it hadn't been for the unusually rapid growth of my bump. Just a month ago, it was barely there, and now, it had doubled in size. Then the severe discomfort began."My!" The doctor gasped, snapping me out of my t
Cara's POV "This isn't what we agreed on."Unfortunately, that wasn't me but Sarah, yet it was exactly what I had in mind. Luca becoming Capo?"I pondered over it and decided it was best mama. It'll be easier that way." Tina replied."That sounds all shades of wrong. Why would you want to crown him instead of Adonis?" I turned to the man himself. "Do you want to be Capo?"He shrugged. Like, actually moved his shoulder with an indifferent expression. Nothing was nonchalant about this issue!"I see no reason why."My mouth fell open."You see no reason—Luca, this is a position that is meant for Adonis. Your friend. Your brother! And you want to snatch it away from him.""You know why. It's better that way.""It is not! No one knows about it. Everything would be fine if the four of us in this room kept our mouths shut. What's so hard about that?""The mafia isn't as simple as you think, Cara." His face hardened. "A secret isn't a secret if it is beyond two persons. Do you want to wa
Cara swallowed.Her mind spun, looking for a quick save, as she immediately thought to create a diversion, and her mouth blurted out the first thing it thought of."You decided to show up for the first time in weeks and you did that with your mistress?" She accused, portraying so much confidence, contrasting totally its state of mayhem.How was she to reply to something she wasn't sure about when she wasn't also sure that the person asking was on her side?Luca frowned,"I still am the second-in-command. I can be here whenever I want.""I completely doubt that. What are you doing here with this sly b*tch?" She argued, gesturing towards Tina, who had moved from clinging to Luca to practically sitting on him. Hissing in disappointment, her eyes rolled at their unnecessary display of actions. "You don't need to do this. We already know you're a whore."Luca's head jerked up at her words."You would not speak to Augustina that way!""I will speak to her whichever way I like. If you've
Cara let out a deep sigh, taking a seat at Adonis's desk as she turned over to the men who had escorted Sarah up."Thank you. You can leave and tell everyone I would not like to be disturbed."The two men paused with an apprehensive look, considering if it was a wise thing to leave their Capo's wife with an unfamiliar face."We have orders that—"I give the orders now, remember?" She interruptedHowever, her stern gaze said, 'I'm safe for now.' Other than that, she gave nothing away, so with a subtle nod of their head, the men filed out of the study.She turned to address Sarah, who was so busy admiring the room, with shameless astonishment drawn all over her face."I don't think I've said this to you before, but you're one shitty mother. Adonis deserves better, and you're only here because I want you to be. I only brought you up to let you know that. Be constantly reminded and keep your mouth shut." A brief thoughtful look crossed Cara's face.Maybe it wasn't about the position. May
Cara walked into the living room to meet a woman who didn't look as old as she'd expected her to be, raving like a person high on cocaine.If the stories she'd heard about her were true, it wasn't less of a factor to consider.Her saggy skin and dry bones looked to have seen better days. Still, she could see the family resemblance.She didn't need DNA to confirm that the woman was indeed related to Adonis.But that didn't mean that Cara was going to accept her easily. She stood with a hard look, crossing her arms over her chest, eyeing the woman who was sitting comfortably, loudly exercising her lips in a game of gum wrestle."Who let a madwoman into my home?"One of the men stepped forward."Mrs. Bernardi. She claims to know the Capo—Slap!Cecelia sucked in the air in shock, reminding everyone of her presence."Just because a nobody claims to know your Capo, you let her in?" Cara yelled in anger."Excuse me—"Is that how you were trained?" She continued ignoring the voice that chime