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Broken Serenity
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Kaugnay na kabanata
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS The unseen shadows
DANTE'S POV The ride home seemed to take forever, my head spun flying down the highway to the racing heartbeat in time with each throb of the reviving car. Whatever Anthony found. It just didn't feel right. There was something in the tone with which he spoke over the phone, reserved as if he didn't say too much until I saw it myself. No sooner had I stepped into the mansion than Camilla and Anthony were waiting for me at the foyer. Camilla leaned casually against the wall, crossing her arms over her chest, but all the while her eyes had not left mine since the moment I came into their view. "Dante." Her voice was soft, yet a drop of concern was clearly indiscriminate in it. I walked up to them, and the feeling of tension in the air was as thick as an ax. "What did you find?" I asked Anthony in a voice as flat as possible, while my stomach seemed to have a storm brewing inside it. Anthony nodded toward the hallway. "Let's go to the control room, and I'll show you." It was a
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Surprise connection
CAMILLA'S POVDays in the mansion had all started to blur together. Since the kidnapping attempt, Dante had been practically forcing me to take some time off from work to take care of Jasper, but being home was slowly eating me alive. Jasper, -was just so full of life, but weeks confined inside crippled me. I needed an outing.I turned back to Jasper, who lay on his play-mat staring in wonder at the dangling toys, his little hands swatting at them. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of him. At the same time, part of me was really coveting fresh air and adult conversation. Whipping out my phone, I tapped out a quick text to Kate. We haven't had time to see each other since I started working at the company. She and I had only recently clicked, so it seemed nice catching up with her.*Hey Kate! Was thinking of getting out for a bit. Want to catch up over lunch?*It wasn't very long before she did reply. “Oh, absolutely! I could do with a break myself. How about that little Italian pl
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Close Enemy
CAMILLA'S POVThis drive back to the mansion felt longer than usual because the tension between Anthony and me filled the space. Jasper slept peacefully in his car seat, oblivious to the awkward energy swirling around us.It just wasn't computing in my head, and I was stuck within it. Kate? Anthony's wife? What was the possibility of such a crazy coincidence? And to crown it all, that look they'd given across at the restaurant, things which at that time I wouldn't have given a second thought but were now nagging me as if there was more to them than met the eye.A few minutes of complete silence later, I couldn't help myself but turn to him and ask:"Anthony," I said, my voice tentative. "Why didn't you tell Kate about your work? About… everything?"He stiffened a fraction, his eyes on the road ahead, yet for one second I actually thought he wouldn't say another word."It's better she doesn't know," he finally grumbled in that deep hoarse voice of his.I arched my brow. "Better? You th
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Silver Skull
DANTE'S POVCamilla had been begging to go back to work for weeks, and I finally relented. It wasn't easy to let her out of the house, much less out of my sight, not after everything that had happened. That kidnapping attempt on Jasper still haunted my every waking moment. But Camilla wasn't made to sit at home. I knew that. And so, I increased Jasper's security detail, instructing the nanny, as well as every last one of my men, to call me at the first hint of trouble.As we pulled up to the hospital, I glanced over at Camilla in the passenger seat. Intent on her phone, no doubt checking emails, like all was right with the world. But nothing had been since that night. I blew out a deep breath and forced myself to push down the unease crawling up my spine. We were going to see Alex first before heading to the office. We stepped through the doors into the hospital, into that world of disinfectant and quiet hum of activity. I clench my jaw as we head down the hall."There he is," Camill
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Next to me
CAMILLA'S POVDante, really, I don't think that's such a great idea that we show up together," I said for what felt like the hundredth time as we pulled up to the company parking lot. I glued my eyes on the window as employees trickled into the building, my stomach twisting with nerves. I still have a hard time fitting in since I started working here.Of course, Dante didn't care. He shut off the car and turned toward me with that annoyingly calm expression of his. "And as I've said, no one will bother you if they know you're in a good relationship with me, at least.""I'm already having trouble fitting in," I grumbled, crossing my arms. "You showing up with me, after I've had a long break, isn't exactly helping.”His hand had brushed mine, and I looked up to catch him grinning, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "If anyone says anything, I'll take care of them. They wouldn't dare."I huffed. With Dante, there was just no arguing. His overprotectiveness stifled me at times, though I knew
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS I’m Done
CAMILLA'S POVDante slid into the seat beside me like it had always belonged to him, utterly and completely oblivious that every last soul in the cafeteria was staring. I sat in wordless face-on-fire deep fire of heat and wished on every available star that the universe would just spare me from this. I kept my head down and hoped he'd just eat quietly and leave.Of course, that was just a bit too much to hope for."Afternoon, ladies," Dante said smoothly, voice slicing through murmurs of quiet. "I hope you're treating Camilla well. She's quite important around here, you know."I choke on my drink, eyes wide with surprise, as Sarah exchanges excited glances with Hannah, and I want to melt into the floor."Of course, Mr. Draven," Megan cooed the words out, the mood doing a complete turn as sugar dripped from her lips while she batted her eyelashes up at him.Dante's eyebrow rose; those lips hooked in that smug grin of his. "Glad to hear that. Make it stay that way. Camilla's part of the
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Crossing Boundaries
CAMILLA'S POV"I don't give a fuck what any of those people think," he whispered low, the skin of his forehead pressed firmly against mine, the warm breath tangling with mine in dizzying waves. The light in his office was dimmed down, softening the contours that were otherwise sharp, casting shadows over his jawline, the eyes that seemed to drill into my being with so much intensity. "I'm done pretending, Camilla."His words sent a shiver down my spine, and fear and undeniable thrill knotted in dead heat. The tension thickened, stretched between us like a live electric wire ready to snap as my heart hammered, holding his gaze. And before I could gather my thoughts even, his lips had descended on mine-possessive, claiming, and filling the space between us with a hunger I hadn't realized was mutual until that moment.I was slipping, my resistance crumbling against the overt, blunt force of his kiss. His hands-rough, yet gentle in their intent wrapped around my face, angling it, so the k
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS More than a contract
CAMILLA'S POVAnd then, without any warning at all, his lips branded mine-hard and unrelenting. It was as if my body had its own mind, my hands found their way to his shoulders to steady myself as he kissed me, and I could feel his heartbeat racing against my own. I melted into him, letting my body take over where my mind was too dizzy to keep up.I was a heartbeat behind him in my response, matching him in the violence of a kiss that let our fire burn wild and free as our last barriers dissolved. His hands slid down my sides, his touch sending waves of heat through me, and I lost it as he swung me into his arms."Dante," I whispered low, not really off the kiss. "We…“Tell me to stop, and I will," he whispered against my lips, challenging, urging, yet his hands didn't listen, his fingers dancing down my sides, trailing fire.But I couldn't. I didn't want to. I wrapped my arms around him, my fingers diving into his hair, silently pleading for him to keep going. Any caution just melted
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SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 99: A Proposal of Peace
DANTE'S POVThe door softly shut behind us, nestling us into the silence of the hotel room. There was still friction from tonight hanging in the air, but at least some of the weight was off my shoulders at any rate. It was huge, and Rocco agreeing to go to Chicago was just a major first hurdle of many different obstacles going forward. Twenty years of hate and all the reasons that it had created were never going to get solved overnight.Camilla stood at the window, staring out at the Italian city below, where the lights sparked on like diamonds in a polished velvet case. That soft glow came alive in her silhouette, and for a moment, I simply looked at her. There was something about Camilla where convoluted situations seemed doable.She muttered to herself, in the otherwise silent room: "I just can't believe it. Rocco actually agreed to meet your father. It is not real."I crossed the room, leaning against the edge of the bed and folding my arms as I watched her. "Wouldn't have happene
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 98: Vengeance in the Shadows
CAMILLA'S POVI heard the sharp shatter of glass as the room froze in place; it was as if the air formed into ice. My pulse thundered in my chest as instinctively, I pulled Annie's arm back from this stumbling man and his predicted random movements. He sneered, his frame unsteadily swaying, but a dangerous mixture of arrogance and intoxication gleamed in his eyes.The scrape of a chair leg across the floor cut through the silence before I could get another word out. I whirled to see Dante storming toward us, an expression blacker than I'd ever seen on his face. Every step he took was deliberate, as if some sort of predator closing in on his prey."Dante…" I started, but the words died in my throat.In an instant, he was beside us, his towering figure completely blocking me from the man's line of vision. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" Dante said in a low, controlled voice full of threat.The man was either utterly unaware of the serious peril he found himself in or simply
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 97: FRIENDSHIP AND ALLIANCE
CAMILLA'S POVThe bar was in twilight, heavy with the smell of ages of whiskey and cigar smoke. The low murmurs of conversations and clinking glasses alike seemed to fade into the background, my attention was on Dante and Rocco - they sat at a corner table, but a single lamp cast sharp shadows across their faces. The tension between them was palpable from my seat: Dante hunched forward, his knuckles grazing the table; Rocco leaned back, his face impassive, save for the gleam of ice in his eyes.I sipped my wine slowly, the coolness of the glass a balm against the palm of my hand, but doing little to settle the queasy twist of my belly. Next to me, Annie seemed placid, but I noticed how her fingers gripped the stem of her glass just that little bit too tightly.“Why do they always look like they're about to kill each other?" I asked, trying to sound light.Annie smirked. "You're witnessing history in the making. Rocco doesn't listen to anyone-except me, sometimes. If he's even conside
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 96: SEEKING CLOSURE
CAMILLA'S POVThe moment the door to our room clicked shut, I blew out a very long, deep breath that I didn't realize I was holding. Dante sprawled across the room, yanking off his jacket to toss it onto the armchair in a spiky movement. His silence was deafening; the tension crackled between us in the air."Dante—" I began, but he sliced the word off.He whirled on me now, his eyes seething with anger and disbelief. "So you're saying she's the same woman" he snarled. "The Annie you practically threw yourself in front of a bullet for.” I crossed my arms over my chest and met his glare. "I didn't know who she was. She was just a woman in danger. I did what anybody with a conscience would have done."Dante snorted, passing a hand through his hair. "Anyone with a conscience wouldn't have flung themselves in front of a bullet!"The memory of that night tumbled back into my mind in a rush. "I didn't think," I whispered. "I just acted." Those words, like a threat of a storm, seemed to set
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 95: UNPLEASANT WEDDING GUEST
CAMILLA'S POVBefore us was the stretched Italian countryside-endless rolling hills of vineyards bathed in shades of gold by the afternoon sun. If anything, the villa where the wedding was held wasn't less than magnificent, a true melting pot of old-world charm and modern-day elegance. Marble columns framed the entrance, while a string quartet floated its music across the open courtyard.I really should have been utterly mesmerized by the view, but Dante's tense attitude was impossible to overlook."Relax," I whispered, tugging at the hem of my silk dress as I leaned in toward him. "Why are you so tense over a wedding?"Dante's jaw clenched, his sharp features lit for a moment by a flash of annoyance. "This isn't just some random wedding.""What do you mean?" I pressed, my curiosity getting the better of me as far as letting him stew in silence went.He said nothing for a second or two, his dark eyes scouring the crowd ahead of us. "This is Rocco Cafaro's domain." he finally said; his
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 94: MIND GAMES.
TOM'S POV.I had been confined to a wheelchair for weeks, because of these symptoms. Whereas earlier I used to tower above all others because of my unbridled force, now I sat in this damned chair, legs useless weights, arms losing strength day by day. Irony indeed was bitter. People feared my dominance; now they pitied me. I hated it. Hated them.My fists knotted, my nails digging into my palms. The pain anchored me in the now. It wasn't some random event that had happened. My body hadn't betrayed me of its own volition. There'd been a puppet master yanking on strings, and I knew full well who was on the other side of them.That afternoon, My assistant wheeled me into my office, her soft footfalls barely audible over the dull roar in my head. Now she treated me as if I were glass, her voice perpetually soft, and guarded, as if some wrong word might shatter me."Anything else for you, Mr. Lockwood?" she asked, honey dripping with pity from her tone. She jerked at the blanket on my lap
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 93: TOXIC ENCOUNTERS
TOM'S POVIt had started as no more than a whispered unease, a faint haze across my sight that cleaned itself a second later, and I'd been sure I'd just imagined it. But as days slid by, that haze grew darker, creeping into my mind, weaving itself into my body like a parasite.I sat in my office, staring down at the contract I'd spent the last hour trying to read; words on the page blurring and swimming before me until they finally dissolved into nonsense. Frustration prickled along my spine, and I closed my eyes, pressing my fingers into my temples. "Mr Lockwood?" I jerked my head up, to find my assistant, standing in the doorway with a look of concern."What?" I growled, sharper than I meant to, but I didn't care. There was just something wrong, off-the-charts disturbingly wrong-and I wasn't in the mood for questions.She stepped back, her hand releasing the door as she took a second to recompose herself. "You asked for the quarterly reports by this afternoon. I wanted to check to
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 92: FAMILY'S PEACE
Camilla's POVSoft light from the chandelier bathed the sitting room in a warmth that casts a gold sheen over plush furniture and polished hardwood floors. Jasper sat center of it all, his tiny fingers digging into the edge of the coffee table for balance as his eyes locked onto Dante and me with that determined glint I was starting to recognize as pure Draven spirit. My heart swelled as I looked at him-my beautiful boy.“Come on, Jasper," I cooed, holding my hands out to him. "You can do it, baby. Just one step."Dante knelt beside me and set his gaze in the middle of our son. "Just one, little man," he said softly, filled with excitement and warmth. "One step, and your mom and I will give you the biggest cheer of your life.”Jasper wobbled, holding onto the edge of the table with chubby hands and a fierce grasp that spoke volumes to someone who was determined not to fall. His great big grey eyes, mirrors of his father's, stared at us with such concentration and excitement. He wanted
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 91: CRACKS IN ALLIANCE
ELLA'S POVI slammed my glass down, the echo slicing through the silence of my apartment. Red wine splashed onto my fingers, but I didn't bother wiping it off. All that lined my vision was Tom's face, his smug expression, as if he held the upper hand—as if I was the one failing. As if I was the problem.How dare he.My phone buzzed on the coffee table, lighting up Tom's name. A single word text: "Meet me. Now!"I rolled my eyes and took another gulp of wine, reaching for my coat, the cabernet tasted bitter like the failure. If Tom wanted to talk, he better come prepared. Because I wasn't letting him brush off his failures on me.I found him waiting in the shaded corner booth of his favorite club, fingers drumming impatiently on the table. The sound of my footsteps made his head snap up. Dark eyes locked onto mine with that far-too-familiar spark of control he seemed to think he had over everybody. But tonight, I wasn't here to play nice."Ella," he greeted without preamble, the tensio
