Timothy stood fuming with rage as he watched Cara break off the kiss with the unknown man, reflecting on her last words.
Babe. You're here? Babe. You're here?!
His hands balled into fists as he simmered in anger.
"You've been cheating on me?" He spat out distastefully, and Cara let out a cold laugh.
"I guess we can call it even then." She entwined her fingers with that of her pretend boyfriend's. "...or maybe not. This is your fourth time, right?"
Timothy, visibly annoyed, took a step towards her.
"Are you crazy? Come over here while I'm still being nice, and let's go home."
Cara let out a hollow laugh.
"Home? You mean the apartment I paid for?"
"I never asked you to! You did that on your own." Timothy replied with a snarl.
Cara felt foolish once again. After everything she had done for him, he was just going to brush it off like none of it mattered. Like it didn't cost her a lot.
She was always the one giving, even with the little she had.Was she really foolish?
Memories of the time they've spent together flashed through her eyes. She was the one who always offered to pay whenever they ate out. She was the one who offered to pay the lease of his apartment. She also did all his cleaning and cooking.
God! She felt pathetic!
Did she really have to do all that to keep him? He wasn't even worth it!
"You never really loved me, Tim. If you did, you would not have treated me badly. I'm done." Cara replied unfazed. Still holding onto the hand of her surprisingly quiet pretend boyfriend, she turned around to open the staff room door when Timothy's next words stopped her.
"Well, how do you plan to pay back the thirty grand your father owes?"
"What?"
Cara turned back to him.
"Come with me, and I'll help you."
Cara's face remained cold and distant. To say she was surprised would be a lie; she had suspected it all along. Whenever things started to get better for her, a problem greater than she could mentally handle on her own would occur. That's how he has been able to keep her by his side-he'd make her believe the entire world was against her and he was the only one who cared. Moreover, her father once mentioned how Timothy promised to give him some money to make their lives better during one of his drunken shows. She suspected but decided to believe it wasn't her Timothy. Now, everything was starting to add up together. She had once wondered where her father got the funds to fuel his gambling addictions. Now she knew.
What a psychotic bastard!
Cara stood up straighter, her cold and proud demeanour totally contrasting how she felt within. She wasn't going to let him see through her, and this clearly irritated Timothy who took another step closer.
If she wasn't going to come back to him, then no one else can have her.
He made a move to reach for her when the stranger, who had quietly been watching it all, pulled her behind him. Stepping out of the dim light, he stood in front of Timothy, staring him down.
Timothy was a tall man himself, but he had nothing on the six-foot-three-muscle man who stood in front of him. The man seemed to be struggling to hold himself up, and his once deep grey eyes were now bloodshot, but Timothy would recognise him anywhere.
"Adonis." He whispered softly, unconsciously taking a step back.
Adonis squinted his eyes at the mention of his name. He was correct to think that the lousy guy whose voice had been aggravating his headache had a slight pinch of Italian accent. From the look on his face, Adonis could tell he recognised him. He tried to recall where he had seen his familiar face, but he couldn't will his brain to.
He felt hot! All he could think of was getting a release, and the kiss from earlier only fuelled his desire. He still hasn't figured out if it was in the beer or water he drank earlier, but he was sure that once the culprit was caught, he/she would paid dearly.
Tainting his drink with an aphrodisiac was a low blow.
Adonis let out a small groan, thick beads of sweat running down his face, as he ordered
"Leave."
Timothy didn't need to be told twice; throwing a final angry glare at Cara, he stalked away. If the rumours were true and Adonis is who they've described him to be, it was better he addressed Cara another day.
Adonis swayed on his feet, placing his hands on the wall just in time to stop himself from collapsing, and Cara rushed to his side.
"Oh my God, are you fine?" She searched his face frantically, watching in confusion as he recoiled from her touch. He stood to his feet, taking a step back from her.
"Go. Leave here."
"No. I can't do that. You clearly don't look well." She stubbornly refused.
Adonis let out a painful, loud groan, wiping his hand down his face.
"You have to get out of-" was all he could say before he swayed once again. In an attempt to save him from falling, Cara placed a hand on his bicep, earning a soft groan from Adonis as his head fell to her nape.
He littered light kisses all over, taking the skin between his lips as he sensually sucked at it.
Cara let out a small embarrassed moan, wetness instantly pooling between her legs. As much as she was confused, she felt extreme desire.
Is it possible to feel desire for a man you just met?
Momentarily snapping out of it, Adonis pulled away from her. Gripping her shoulders tight, he spoke with the little strength he had left.
"Leave bellissima, or I won't be responsible for my actions."
Cara remained unknowingly adamant.
"I know we're strangers, but you just helped me. You're sick, and it's my turn to return the favour. I want to help you."
Adonis chuckled darkly, pushing her against the wall.
"You want to help me?"
"Yes." Cara replied in a breathy whisper and wondered if that was her voice. She was meant to be helping the sick man, not getting turned on by his little touches and groans.
It was as though her reply broke the last restraint Adonis had left. Tapping her butt twice, he whispered.
"Jump." As he bunched up the material of Cara's skirt around her waist, her thick legs clinging tightly to his.
"Wait!" Cara tried to stop Adonis; the realisation of what was about to happen was just occurring to her, but Adonis was long gone.
Pulling his trouser just low enough to free himself, he gripped her chin in between his hands. Staring into her eyes, he instructed.
"Try not to make a sound."
And then he took her.
****
Italian Vocabulary
Bellissima means gorgeous
Cara's POV"So we do not just live for today..." Adonis said, rounding up his speech, "We live for tomorrow, too. People say do not be stuck in the past; we're not. We're just bringing a part of it that we never want to forget." He placed his hand against his heart, the raw pain in his eyes betraying his composed self. "My brother would forever be remembered for his tenacity and courage in the face of trouble. He made this happen." He gestured all around, referring to our family. "And that's why I'll step down with one last word." Adonis's eyes met mine, and I gave him a smile of encouragement. This was the moment—the highlight of his speech. The words we'd been practising for days. He was going to say them..."I love you, Luca Romano. Rest on."The atmosphere was sober, not tearful as I expected, but at the same time, we've all shed a handful of tears during the last few weeks; I didn't think anyone had more in stock.Weeks had passed since the raid, and now, under the Italian sun,
As soon as they filed out of the study, the guard waited till he heard the elevator ding close before slipping out. He immediately dialled Luca's line."Hello? Are you here already? Hold up, I'll meet you at the reception.""No! The mansion is being raided. Diavolo..."Luca, who was already walking out of the waiting room, halted. Oh shit... what perfect timing!"What's going on there?"The guard proceeded to fill him in on everything he had heard, and Luca patiently took them in, some familiar, some new."What did they mean by transfer of ownership?""I do not know. But I think whatever it is, it has to do with Sarah, and they're going to kill her. He already instructed that all the men in the house be killed. What do we do, boss?"That was a question Luca wanted to ask himself. He never noticed any transfer. They were cornered, and walking into that house without a plan was suicide.He glanced back at Miguel, who was whispering harshly over the phone. He had been doing that for a w
Cara's POV As soon as the words left my mouth, all necessary documents were brought to me, and Adonis was wheeled off.Standing in the waiting room while I nearly ran out of my mind felt like a luxury with everything that was going on, and I was somewhat grateful for that.I needed to get to my father, but my phone was broken. Reaching into the bag on the sofa, I pulled out Adonis's phone, which I had intentionally hidden and lied that we left at home, immediately dialling his number.First ring. Second ring. Third ring.The call didn't connect. Who then sent the text that Adonis saw? Perhaps...My finger pressed on his contacts, scrolling through until I settled on the one I had an inkling about. The first ring didn't even complete as the receiver picked up the call."Freddie. What the f*ck is going on? What did you say about Luca?""Cara? Dio, siamo fottuti (god, we're screwed). I don't know what to do." He cried, sending a pang through my heart, but I cleared my throat."What do
Cara's POV"Any news?"Frustrated, I clenched the fabric of my gown to control myself from snapping at my stressor of a husband, gritting out between clenched teeth."No." He stared at me for a second more before turning his face the other way.I began a mental countdown.Three, two, one—"Shouldn't they have reached out by now?""No. No, they shouldn't have." I replied with a tight smile. "It's been barely an hour since they left." "Just an hour?" Adonis breathed heavily, showing how weaker he was getting by the minute. "It feels longer." Yeah. Definitely weaker. The normal Adonis wasn't this talkative."It wouldn't feel that way if you stopped asking. You've asked five times since they left. The phone is on the table." I gestured to my device, which I had placed on a desk I had dragged between the sofa and the bed to prove to him that I wasn't hiding anything when he asked the second time."Look at it. The moment it beeps, you'd know." "Yeah, I would." He murmured. "I just feel
Cara's POVAdonis and I paused, staring at their wide eyes—well, Luca's. The atmosphere immediately switched into one of urgency. "For heaven's sake! Why did he choose to attack now?" I cried out."Because we're occupied at the moment? What better time to strike the sheep than when the shepherd is away?" "What did the men say?""He has over two hundred men with him, and they're heavily armed. I believe it's a takeover. About fifty were ours.""The takeover we've been expecting." My father clarified and I gave him a pointed stare."But everything is set right?""Everything but Adrian's sample.""That shouldn't be a problem, I'll find a way to get close to him and snip one." Luca offered."That isn't necessary. I already did."We all paused, staring at Adonis in surprise. "You... did? When?""Just before I collapsed, remember I fell on him?""Dude... you're crazy," His second-in-command commented. "Hmm... you're very competent." My father supported. "That's settled then. We should le
Cara's POV"Cara." I jerked awake at the sound of my name, blinking away the sleep in my eyes. "You can see him now." Doctor Bruno said. Exhaustion displayed across his face, showing how draining the last few hours had been."He's awake?" I rasped, stifling a yawn. My entire body felt sore from sleeping on the chair.How many hours had it been?Eyeing the big clock on the wall—5am. Thirty-one hours. Sun rays were beginning to stream in from outside lighting up the hallway. This was the second sunrise since Adonis had his...I sighed, pulling myself up when I noticed something odd. Before sleep finally claimed me last night, I was sure there were two men passed out on the chair opposite me. Now I could see just one.My brows knitted in a frown, "Where's my father?""He left to get a cup of coffee. He woke up a while ago." Doctor Bruno replied. My eyes darted to Luca, who still had his head bent, eyes closed, and arms folded over his chest. From the weird position he was in and the