(ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW)A few days passed and the awful near-death experience was put behind me or I tried to sleep without letting a glimpse of those malignant eyes gawking back at me. I stepped into the training room and instantly my eyes dropped anchor on Enzo at the corner of the room, with boxing gloves and punching a bag, wearing nothing but a pair of pants while his upper body was naked.I halted and with a tilt of my head, I watched him, drinking him in. I watched the way his muscles flexed with each powerful hit of the bag. I watched the way sweat trickled down the inks on his back and arm like water. Delicious.I tilted my head to the other side and watched the straight v-line that went straight to his pants. He looked mouth-watering, I could barely look away.Suddenly he stopped and turned to face me. I flinched and straightened my head and nervously ran my fingers through my hair. He smirked and began taking off his boxing gloves, putting them away. "Come here, Doll
[ANASTASIA’S POINT OF VIEW]It was a Saturday. And the sun was blazing up in the sky, liberated, but I should have known that the last part of my day wouldn't be so brilliant. The day, too, gave way to the night. Except for the soldiers that waited at almost every corner one turned with their hawk-like eyes, the mansion seemed deserted. I ignored them as I made my way to the bottom floor, continuing straight until I strolled into an open pool. I realized I'd never gone to this side of the mansion before. The pool is surrounded by grey, brown, and black walls and flooring with a blue accent hue. There was a white pole in the center that stood out against the dark surface. On the other side of the room, there was a window with a houseplant placed in front of it for decoration and there were chairs around the edge of the pool as well as other furniture pieces scattered throughout the area. It was stunning. I went to the pool's edge, the desire to jump in was as high as a fan as the
(Anastasia's Point of View)I didn't even need to look in the mirror to know that I was incredibly pale because I still felt like I was under water, helplessly drowning.My lips trembled and my fingers twitched as I brought my knees to my chest. It has been an hour since I was saved, and even though I was wearing Enzo's thick sweater, my body was still trembling, and the gentle breeze that was peeping in through the glass windows was also not doing any good, but I was too weak to get out of bed and slam the windows shut.However, I realized I wasn't trembling because of the cold; it was the second near-death experience. Rue.That bitch! She must have known I knew nothing about swimming. She was out to get me! I firmly bit my bottom lip as I realized how cruel she was, but if she thought this sh*t was over, she was in for another surprise. I was going to exact my revenge on her and damn the consequences if Enzo found out about my plans; We would both pay the price because nobody stab
(Anastasia's Point of View)I should have known there were repercussions for every action, but I am to blame for this. I experienced the worst kind of cruelty in life. I was just a victim, but nobody cared that I had no other options, and neither were they listening.I knelt there in front of the Mezzelsalmas like some common criminal, hands bound behind my back and head bowed, covered in the blood of the man I would just kill.I was being evaluated, and my fate was being decided. All of them, minus Enzo, were present.He would come to my rescue like he always did, right?"Lift your head," came the order I could not ignore, and I slowly lifted my head.They looked at me as though I were the world's most difficult puzzle, one that they were desperately attempting to crack. I studied each person's face in turn.Galileo watched me with one leg crossed over the other and a smirk on his lips and an odious gleam in his eyes. Giovanni also flaunted the same luminesce in his eyes that scream
(ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW)I did not notice when I became numb from crying, or when I stopped crying whenever the whip passed across my back, or when my body finally gave out and I collapsed on the floor, with little puddles of blood forming around me.As I lay on the floor, every sound that came to my ears was distant and fading, and the world around me blurred, but then I felt it, the feeling of warm and gentle hands lifting me off the floor after untying my hands and holding me to his chest, and with the last inhale of his addictive cologne, I finally gave in the darkness.*~*The next time I opened my eyes, I was met with unfamiliarity. I blinked at the sheets since my face was pressed against the mattress. I tried to turn but was met with pain that made me wish I was dead, but I managed to sit on my ass and scan my surroundings with my lazy gaze. I was surrounded by the painted grey walls of a cozy bedroom with a large bed in the center. On my right were shelves with books an
[Anastasia’s Point of View]When I opened my eyes, my vision was blurry, and there was a constant ache in the back of my neck. I groaned, and when my vision returned, I took a moment to scan my surroundings. It was a dark, empty room with little light; it had an old door and no window. The room had concrete and plaster walls, a tall ceiling above my head, and a foul vomit odor permeated the room. The ceiling had several surface cracks from aging and decay. Where was this?I tried to get up, but I could not because my legs were tied to the chair I was sitting on and my wrists were bound behind me.I almost let out an exasperated groan until my gaze was drawn to Enzo, who was equally tied to a chair with both hands and legs. His head was lowered, indicating that he was still unconscious. “Enzo," I called, hoping he would wake up, but I got no response. "Enz-" I began again but was cut off when the door slammed open with a loud cracking sound, revealing a man in a suit walking in with
(Anastasia's Point of View)I do not know why, but I screamed, loudly, and Enzo stared at me as if I had an extra head growing on my shoulder. The intended humor in his expression was ruined by my increasing scream.He drew nearer and nearer until he was standing in front of me holding the bloody dagger. My heartbeats accelerated and became more painfully painful as he held it in front of my face, while my screams got louder and louder till I could feel my throat hurting.My death was imminent. I was going to die!The words were repeated a dozen times in my head, and when he drew nearer, I squinted my eyes shut and braced myself for the slide of the knife on my throat. However, it never came, and instead, I felt the restraints around my body loosen."Get up, sweetheart, we do not have all day."When my eyes reopened, Enzo had moved back and was picking up the discarded gun. I gulped as he checked the bullets before flashing his eyes over me, causing me to flinch and bolt to my feet.
[ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW]I had no idea where we were, but I pulled over to the side of the road, jumped out of the driver's seat, and opened the door to the passenger's seat, where Enzo was still conscious...fortunately. As soon as I sat down next to him, I undo his shirt's buttons, revealing the messy stabbed wound on the side of his stomach. I stifled a violent shudder at the gruesome sight of it, “This is going to hurt.” I muttered as I reached for the first-aid kit.“Get on with it, doll. This is nothing," he declared, and I assumed he was joking. However, his face evinced no signs of pain as I started to clean the parched and fresh blood off the wound, and his expression remained blank as I continued to clean it with alcohol. I was almost tempted to press hard on the wound in the hopes that he would feel more human, but he was still a human, despite how good he was at masking the pain and giving the world an air of nonchalance.I helped him take off his bloody shirt before st
I want to use this medium to thank all of you for reading this book. I know there are a lot of books out there that are better than mine yet you chose to take your time and finish this makes my heart flutter with warmth. Thank you for starting and finishing this journey with me, you have no idea how you've made me so happy. It makes me content and complete. So thank you. And please, don't forget to vote, comment, and review your thoughts to this poor author, it would mean the whole world to me. And please, do check out my other works when you have time, I hope you will like them too. I love you all and bless you. Hope you'll have a wonderful day! Bye!
(KHIONE'S POINT OF VIEW)I locked my gaze on the pregnancy kit, which returned my gaze with two bold red lines.I was pregnant.I sighed and dropped my hands to my lap, making no attempt to rise from the toilet seat."Khione, Khione, Khione. "How can you let yourself get pregnant again?"The guilt of losing my first pregnancy was still swollen on my chest, and it had no intention of leaving anytime soon. and now, another baby was on its way."Khione, are you okay in there?"Giovanni's voice came from the other side of the bathroom door. When I finally stood up with the pregnancy test, my legs wobbled. I felt drained when I shouldn't be.I stepped out of the bathroom and into my bedroom, where Giovanni waited with a worried expression."Are you okay?" He inquired before his gaze was drawn to the pregnancy kit in my hand. His pupils dilated as they met mine. "You're preg-""I am afraid of having another child, Giovanni." I interrupted him before he could continue. "Wha
(ENZO'S POINT OF VIEW)I tried to stop myself from pacing, but I couldn't, not when Anastasia's loud screams were coming from behind the door in front of me. She was calling for me; giving birth to our child, but I couldn't go in; I wasn't allowed to, and she had to bear all that pain alone.I despised the feeling of being useless and helpless.I was about to become a father. The thought both excited and terrified me. I knew nothing about being a Father.It had always been drugs, guns, and trying not to go insane. I never imagined bringing a child into my chaotic world, but this child was on its way. Would I make a good father?Damnit!"Did you know that the longest English word contains 189,819 letters?"I turned my head, glaring at Kai, who was leaning against the wall. He shrugged. "I was trying to cheer you up, but that'd be a badass word, isn't it? Fortunately, I dropped out of school." He chuckled."Be quiet." I snapped."You worry too much. It is not flattering on you. It tarn
(ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW)"We are here, Ma."The sound of the driver's voice made me turn my head and look out the window.We were in front of a dilapidated apartment building in a busy and active neighborhood. I cocked my head to the side as I observed kids running around and laughing heartily. There were a few men carrying objects and three tattooed men smoking outside the corner.I noticed two neighborhood stores right next to the building. I averted my eyes as I fixed them on the tall, old building. Would I really find my parents here?Max had better not mislead me. I told the driver to "wait here" before getting out of the car without thinking, and fastened the buttons on my coat to cover my growing stomach.Yes, I was four months pregnant, and despite my concerns, Enzo had been exhilarated about having a child.I felt like everyone was looking at me the moment I stepped out of the car, but I chose to ignore them as I heaved a sigh and entered the building.I
(KHIONE'S POINT OF VIEW)A few days passed, and I'd avoided Giovanni like he was some plague and struck Charlie's side like glue; he even wanted me gone, but Giovanni seemed to have taken it as a hint that I'd chosen Charlie over him and decided to leave on his own.I remembered the tears in his eyes as he told me to be happy, and I wished I'd stopped him when he walked out of my home, but I was a coward. Even Charlie scolded me for it, but I was scared.I was afraid of giving in again. What if everything went wrong again? What if something happened to separate us again? I couldn't help but feel insecure. I sighed for the nth time that day, glancing at the door again and again, hoping Giovanni would appear with the smile that melted my heart and the smirk that created a pool of wetness between my legs, but I knew it was wishful thinking. I knew that no matter how many times I looked at the door, he would never appear; after all, it had been two weeks since he had given up and walked
(KHIONE'S POINT OF VIEW)When I walked out of the school and into the parking lot, I was surprised to see Charlie and Giovanni talking with their backs to me.I paused, my mind telling me to turn and walk away before they noticed my presence, but another part of me told me to get closer, especially when I heard them say my name.I did not move any closer when their words became clear, and fortunately, they had not noticed me yet."Don’t you think you have been a nuisance lately? If I were Khione, I would have gotten rid of you." Charlie spoke.Giovanni scoffed. "Since you're not Khione, that's not your call, and I'm going to be around for as long as she wants me to be.""But she is not interested in you. Isn’t that self-evident? She is already in love with me, and your presence only adds to her pain from the past she wishes to forget. I believe Khione is being overly nice and is unable to say no when she clearly wants to." Charlie stuffed his hands into his pants pocket.I averted my
(ANASTASIA'S POINT OF VIEW)I stared as the smirk on Godfather Gattani's face deliberately subsided and gushing from his mouth was blood gradually, he lowered to his knees before falling to the ground with his blood coupling around him.I jerked up my head, meeting the malignant eyes of Enzo as he clenched his gun so tightly I could see the veins on his wrist and forehead."Enzo," I called softly, snapping him out of it.He let the gun plunge from his hand and rushed over to me, cupping my face and for the first time, I was able to graze terror in his eyes and expression. "I wasn't fast enough, I'm so sorry, doll." His voice lurched.At that moment, I shirked I was punctured on the shoulder as the pain somehow seemed to cease. I cracked a full smile. "I'm fine, It's not that deep.""Fuck." He exhaled, seating his forehead on mine and I took the opportunity to inhale his alleviating scent. It was intoxicating. "My own death does not frighten me but yours? That's my greatest and deepest
[ANASTASIA’S POINT OF VIEW]The most effective way to control a man is to make him believe that he was using you.Rue kidnapped me, knocked me out, and now I was tied to a pillar. She got me because I let her. She grinned at me as she stood in front of me, and I gave her the same vaporous look in return.“I can't wait to peel off your skin.” She winked at me, and I rolled my eyes. Her gaze fell to her watch. "Godfather Gattani will arrive in a few minutes; as soon as I receive the go-ahead, I will begin with that face of yours."I tsked, tilting my head and scanning her from head to toe before looking her in the eyes. "How does it feel to be a pawn, knowing you will eventually lose everything? I heard he asked you to get rid of Miranda; what makes you think you will not be next on his list when this is all over?" She reached out and grabbed my hair firmly, bringing her face closer to mine, her eyes red with rage. "You know nothing, so why don't you shut up before I kill you sooner th
(KHIONE'S POINT OF VIEW)I thought Giovanni had gotten the hint and was gone for good, but I was dead wrong, and I wish I had been prepared when the idiot showed up at my place of work.Being invited to the principal's office, I thought I'd done something wrong, only to find Giovanni there. I paused, and my eyes turned into a glare."What are you doing here?" I exploded. Giovanni flashed me a grin. "Judging by your expression, I believe you know this man." The principal wore an unimpressed expression. "He insisted on not leaving till he saw you, and that has been like an hour ago; please get him out.""Yes, sir." I turned to Giovanni, grabbed his wrist, and yanked him to his feet. "Let's go."We left the office, and I didn't stop dragging him by the wrist till I found an empty classroom and shoved him in, shutting the door behind me before turning to him with a sharper glare. "What the fuck were you thinking? I could lose my bloody job!""I'm sorry, but I needed to see you." He respo