Did he kiss her or did she pull him in? Neither was sure as they met in the middle.Like fire to ice, Adonis and Cara clashed against one another.He sucked in her bottom lips, giving it a painful nip, and earning himself a soft gasp. Taking his chance, Adonis forced his tongue into her mouth. He explored every corner of it, drinking her in like a man that has been starved of water for days.Suddenly Cara felt herself being pulled up. For a moment she was sitting; the next, she was roughly pressed against the wall with her neck in a choked hold.She pushed at him. Closer or away? She wasn't sure. Adonis gripped her tighter, his nails digging into the flesh at her neck, and Cara released a choked sound at the overwhelming feeling.She tapped on his arm as she struggled free, but he didn't let up. His chest was pressed firmly against hers. It took a great difficulty to pull her hands up and she pushed at him once again, but it was futile.He didn't move an inch.Adonis bit down hard o
"Sei pazzo?" Luca exclaimed."Dimmi Adonis! Are you crazy? Uhn? A war? Your coronation is just a few days away, but you want to start a war? You must be crazy." "Keep your voice down!" Adonis hissed."Keep my voice down. Are you even hearing yourself?"Adonis looked away.This was exactly why he wanted to keep it to himself."Your grandfather mustn't hear about this!" Luca concluded. "Forget it, Adonis. Don't start anything." He paused. "You haven't started anything, right?"Adonis remained muted."Mio Dio Adonis. Tell me you haven't done anything stupid and I don't mean literally." All Luca got in return was silence. He stared at Adonis, a disappointed and frustrated look on his face at his nonchalance. Adonis was sprawled out comfortably on the sofa, his arms folded to his chest as he avoided Luca's gaze like he hadn't just dropped a bombshell.This was bad. Very bad. Breaking the treaty could threaten Adonis's position in the family. He might not get a chance to be Capo anymore.
Luca staredAdonis stared back.He raised an eyebrow at him.Adonis nodded"You've got to be kidding me. What is this? A Telemundo series?"This was too complicated for a girl living a simple life. H*ll, it was all too much for him to take in, and he'd seen worse.Gambling and the Grecos in one sentence? The Grecos would do anything for money. Their separation from the family is a testament to that. Surely it was going to be a catastrophe. The wheels kept turning in his head. He unconsciously cracked his knuckles. "How exactly did he get involved with the Grecos? I don't think gambling was the only reason they crossed paths." Adonis hummed in agreement."The gambling facade is just a major trick in reviving their plans. From what I found out, I believe Kane approached Cara intending to fuel her father's gambling habits. His past activity showed that he had always been a gambler, but it became worse when he lost his wife." "She's also not her biological mother?" "No. She isn't.""F
Cara stood by the wall, staring at the closed door. If it wasn't for the pain she felt from her bruised lip, she'd have thought it was all a dream. Did he just do that on purpose?What a psychopath! No. Psychopath isn't the right word. What a sadist!She began to pace around the room. Was she sure she made the right choice? Yes, she was here for revenge and revenge alone. Not for a crazy, annoying, sexy...Sexy? No way! He might be extremely hot and very, very, very good in bed, but the truth remains he was a narcissist.Adonis had just proven a few minutes ago that he didn't care what happened to her. He's just an arrogant and domineering liar. How else could she explain all the lies and things he kept from her? He knew she was going to be in danger if she associated herself with him and look, her father had been killed.Cara mentally prepped herself.She was here for revenge and nothing else. She mustn't get sidetracked. She needed a plan. A plan to make them all pay. These peo
Antonio burst into laughter, cackling like a madman who was high on marijuana. His loud voice echoed through the speakers of the phone, irritating Cara. Had she cracked a joke?Ever since she'd put this call through, he'd laughed at almost everything she said. Willing herself to be patient, she waited a while for his laughter to die down."Nice one, amore, but I would know if Adonis is getting married. My men would have reported that to me."She scrunched up her face at the word amore."Maybe they aren't as skilled as you thought then." "If this is a joke, you had better stop now. I do not appreciate being toyed with." "Why would I want to toy with you? Have you forgotten you killed my father?" "Ahhh... yes." Antonio sighed as though he'd forgotten. "So you're being serious then?" "You can tell your men to ask around. I'm sure everyone will get the news by tomorrow." Antonio hummed, and from the tone behind his voice, Cara knew he was suspicious. This was her chance to convince
Adonis followed the direction of Cara's gaze to see Luca looking like a dear that had been caught in sheer light. He glared at him."I don't know. Why don't you tell us, Luca?" Luca smiled sheepishly, looking between them."Sorry. It's just weird seeing a strange person here. Especially when the outsider's a lady invited by Adonis himself." Cara scoffed."Well, it's reassuring to know that he doesn't naturally surround himself with women. It'll make this more believable. I'm guessing you know our arrangement, Mr.?"Luca. Just Luca." "Okay, Luca. I'm Cara. I already said that before, right?""Yeah. I'm Luca Romano. This dufus best and only friend." He replied with a face-splitting grin, extending his hand towards Adonis, who was still sitting silently with his arm crossed over his chest."He has a friend? What a wonder!""I know. I'm just a lovable person." Luca replied, earning a small smile from Cara. At first, she thought he'd be arrogant and annoying, just like Adonis, but she
It wasn't until noon of the next day that Cara was woken by the urge to pee. Still sleepy, she rolled out of bed with a big yawn, her hair a fizzled mess as she blindly located the restroom. She forcefully plopped one eye open as she did her business, staring at the transparent bath cubicle in the combined bathroom.Cara sat upright. All traces of sleep vanished from her eyes. Transparent bath cubicle? In her home?She hurriedly finished her business and dashed out of the restroom. She had almost pulled open the door of the room when memories of the previous day came flooding into her mind.The lightness she felt disappeared and was replaced with the gloomy feeling from the day before. She turned back towards the queen-sized bed and caught sight of some clothes laid out by the side.A black pair of sweats and a new set of underwear in her size were kept neatly, and by the side, a new toothbrush. She felt exposed at the fact that someone came in while she was asleep and mentally rem
Cara trailed behind Adonis as he pulled open one of the closed doors, a frustrated pout on her lips."I would not lie and say I've not thought about it, but is it really necessary?""Yes.""Why? No one would notice anyway." "Yes, they would. The mansion is like a chill house for the guys. Luca stayed over yesterday and he does that whenever we have pending work or his girlfriend is out of town. Moreover, the other guys would be suspicious if we claimed to be married but are staying in separate rooms.""Luca has a girlfriend?" Cara asked incredulously."Yes. Been engaged for over a year now." "Oh. Wow."No wonder he sounded like a sap the night before. She peeked at Adonis, a calculating look on her face. How exactly were they friends when they were totally different? A small ding echoed and she watched Adonis pull out his phone from his back pocket, scrolling through it. He looked up when she refused to go into the room."Are you coming in or what?""Coming coming." A gasp escape
Cara's POVAll through the drive to the hospital, I couldn't stop imagining the what-ifs.What if his case had worsened? What if his case was already beyond the point of recovery? What if he doesn't regain consciousness at all?I didn't know what to expect, and the fact in itself was sickening. Literally speaking.At the hospital, we found my father and Doctor Bruno talking at the reception and were immediately escorted to Adonis's room."What happened? He was fine before I left." I asked, my eyes zeroed in on my husband's unconscious form. "I don't understand either. We stood up to see Diavolo out when fluid suddenly began to leak from his nostrils—My face contorted, "Excuse me, what? Fluid?""I wouldn't say it was sudden. The fluid is from his brain. I believe there's a leak somewhere." Doctor Bruno cut in, "Remember, we have left this untreated for long, so adverse effects like this are bound to occur."My heart skipped a beat. At the end of the day, it was due to Adonis's stub
"To warn you." Was all Cara said, but those three words were enough to get his full attention if it was still divided. "Diavolo's at my father's." Luca leaned forward, clasping his hands in concentration."The time has come then?" "Yes, it has." She confirmed. Both were speaking in parables... half words. Despite not using complete sentences, they understood each other."I'm surprised Adonis let you leave the house at all." "He didn't have a choice. My presence there would only cause chaos. It was better for me to be away, believe me." "Still, you could've sent someone. It's not safe for you to be moving around unprotected. Adrian had recruited a lot of people. The threat would be too overwhelming for a mere dozen guards.""I don't have a dozen and have you forgotten what I said?" Cara stressed. "I needed to warn you." "Yeah. From what? Adonis couldn't come himself to do so?" He scoffed, rising to his feet to get his pills.One of the few things he was grateful about for Cecelia
Cara's POV One would think arriving at the mansion I'd missed so much would bring me joy, but it only made my anxiety turn sour.What are the odds that I'd meet Tina at the door just as I was about to walk in?"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in..." she taunted.As usual, I was taken aback; it would take a million years for me to get used to this version of her. She used to be the only reason I looked forward to working at the restaurant... one of the sources of my rarely enjoyed happiness. Now she was... different.She gave me a once-over, her face scrunched up like she was disgusted. "You look fat... I must say. And how is life treating you, now that your rich husband is not so rich? Did you think all your problems would go away when you married him?" Tina laughed mockingly.I eyed her outfit, composed of the latest pieces of Louis Vuitton from her head down to her feet. "Are you sure you're not projecting yourself on me?""Excuse me?""You're the one who changed because you
Cara's POVI didn't go down immediately. Adonis wasn't a child or a stupid man; the fact that he brought Diavolo to our home meant that he was trying to achieve something.Whatever it was, I was not interested. As we had indirectly decided months ago, he could do as he pleased. I was already doing the same.Diavolo's acceptance of the invitation made me uneasy. Living with men who had mastered the act of manipulation and psychology in their work dealings had taught me more than a thing or two.He wasn't here to play.Making my spine as straight as possible, I began heading towards our room."Come along with me. I'll need your help." The maid didn't argue and silently followed. One of the attributes one must have to work for a man like my father.Never ask questions.I went straight into our dressing room, moving over to the section of clothes I hadn't touched for months. Adonis's side of the dressing room seemed to be more comfortable than mine, so I lived wearing his clothes.Not to
Cara's POVThere isn't much to say. Literally, there isn't. I'd never been to a theatre to watch a play, but I've read tons of novels where the saying, 'The show must go on' was used. That was the best description of our current situation.Life took unexpected turns, the unusual becoming the new normal... and in my case, the lines between what's real and unreal become distorted, yet we live.Two months have passed since that day... the day the first group of Adonis's men was taken. Since then, more have followed.Now, we're just living like things are normal; life at the mansion was crumbling. Luca barely shows up at my father's home anymore. He calls only when he has important information, and the call is never two-way. Day and night, I'm surrounded by complaints about his unavailability. Even when I tried to reach him, I was met with the same silence.'The number you're trying to call is busy; please try again later'.I think we broke him. Although Cecelia seems to believe the 'w
Cara's POV I watched with worried eyes as Adonis shrugged off the two pairs of supporting arms that prevented him from falling face flat as he found his footing—to my utmost disappointment, he didn't pass out."I'm fine." He grumbled.I was reaching my breaking point. How long could it take a man to lose consciousness?Was his brain truly in control of his body system like all normal humans, or was he the one controlling it?However, my patience was wearing thin, and the limit was soon reached."We should get you admitted." I deadpanned, ready for the disagreement that would spring up."You know my answer to that." He rasped, taking a seat. "I have a few days more to go.""Nothing is likely to change. You heard the bombshell Luca dropped. The symptoms are worsening." My mouth stated points I believed were valid enough to get him to change his mind, but this was Adonis.He was as stubborn as a goat. "All the more reason why I should be home."Despair washed over me. I looked at him,
Cara's POV The cutlery, halfway to Adonis's lips, fell from his hand at those startling words. Slowly, very slowly, he lifted his gaze, once emotionless, now hard, pinning it on his second-in-command."What the fuck are you talking about?" His voice was deadly calm, yet I felt the chill in them.Luca began to pace, unfazed by his friend's shift in emotion. "My phone had been blowing up with calls and texts from the guys." He ran a hand down his face, a flicker of something that looked like regret crossing it. "I didn't get to check it until a few hours ago, but I dashed to the mansion immediately after I got the news."Adonis narrowed his eyes at him, a brewing storm in them. I could hear his teeth grinding together, the sound clawing at my skin.He was mad! Extremely... mad.The rest of the people in the room were just as shocked as I was. They stared speechless, peering eyes watching the movements of both men. All except for my father, who pushed away his almost empty plate, taking
Cara's POVAfter leaving Doctor Bruno's office, I spent the rest of the day stuffing myself in the hospital cafeteria while I waited for Adonis to be done with his examinations.At the end of it all, we left in separate cars, a stark contrast to our arrival. The emotions, the atmosphere, everything down to the littlest details was different.The heavy tension, born of fear for the news we might receive at the hospital, gave way to an awkwardness neither of us wanted to acknowledge.Talking about it meant compromising, which we weren't ready to do. Not he, nor I. It was better that way."I'd be back," Adonis said in a low voice as he drove off with an extra car packed with about five guards behind him. The dark circles underneath his eyes spoke volumes about the stressful poking and prodding he'd endured all day. His usually proud posture had a slight slouch yet I acted oblivious as I was escorted to the other car, surrounded by my guards,"I'll be waiting back at the house." Was my o
Cara's POVSilence hung heavily in the room, the thick smell of antiseptic, suffocating despite being in an office. The leather chair felt as cold as the diagnosis made me feel as my husband and I took in Doctor Bruno's last words to us. Our lives felt like a labyrinth of chaos; with every step we took forward, there was more trouble waiting to jump in our faces.It seemed like there was no end to this.Adonis's sickness seemed too convenient, just like the other unplanned and unforeseen problems. One after another. Yet I couldn't show how I was feeling. I was always the dramatic one—the one amongst us who couldn't hide her emotions and would display exactly how it was, leaning on my man's broad shoulders.Not this time. Adonis did his best to hide it, but I could see how shaken he was about losing his memory. He had taken the crown from me. It was my turn to be there for him and support him as he always did me. It was like wearing his suit, too large and heavy, but necessary.I sup