“Not all that good in the kitchen my ass,” Elena moaned as she stuffed her mouth with more cookies. Luckily, I was standing close enough to catch what she said.I laughed shyly. “That good huh?”“Good? Girl this is freaking amazing, José couldn't beat this even if he tried,” Jenna gushed, sniffing another piece before wolfing it down.“Well ouch, I feel offended Jenna,” a new voice joined in as the two boys walked in through the balcony.“Oh my love, you know I love you and I love your cookies but you have to try one of these,” Jenna said, walking towards them with two pieces in hand.They both greeted me before taking a piece each. I didn't miss the look of satisfaction on both their faces as they bit into it, nodding their heads.“I really can't beat that,” José said with a boyish grin before taking a few more pieces as they left the kitchen.Jenna piled the cookies on a plate while I sat and watched her. Elena slid a medium sized glass jar in my direction. “You should take some fo
“Where's your wedding ring?” I heard Luca ask me the minute I stepped out of my room.“What? No compliments, no nice words, the only thing you have to say is that?” I asked him with a raised brow and a frown.He ignored me, pointing at his ring finger again to remind me of his question.Sighing, I said, “I took it off, the jewelry set I have on has its own ring and I can't wear both at a time.”“Put on your ring, Nazlynn.”“What? No, I don't want to,” I argued, holding my hand away from him like that would change the fact that I didn't have the ring on. He snatched my hand, pulling the ring I had on out and throwing it down the hallway and out of sight. I gasped in horror. Those were real pearls.“That must have cost a lot, why would you do that?” I exclaimed, pulling my hand away from him.“Why do I have to wear the wedding ring? It's just a stupid ring for this fake marriage.”He took two steps closer to me and I took two steps back until I was backed up into the door. “This is not
Luca's POVI tried not to stare too much at Nazlynn when we were seated comfortably. She really did look beautiful and the dress matched the color of her eyes. She easily outdid every woman that I had seen so far.I tried to hide my frown when I saw the three men approach me “what's this about?” I asked them.Daniel bent and whispered in my ear. “The cargo and everything in the warehouse in Dublin has been cleared.”My blood ran cold, that warehouse had confidential information in it.“Stay where I can see you Nazlynn, I'll be right back,” I said to her before standing up.The second we stepped into a secluded area that was away from prying eyes and curious ears.“I want to hear what happened and I want to hear it along with solutions. What happened, Daniel?” I asked the middle aged man. Daniel was the man overseeing my second largest warehouse that was located in Dublin. His forehead was creased with worry. "It happened too fast, boss. One minute everything was secure, the nex minu
Nazlynn’s POVI woke up with a light buzz in my head, courtesy of the two or three glasses of champagne I had the night before. “Maria?” I called out the moment my feet touched the cool tiles on the floor.I was about to call out for her again when I heard her little footsteps approaching my room. “My apologies Signora, you called for me.”“Oh no, that's alright, could you run me a hot bath and then get me a glass of lemon juice. Thank you,” I said with a small smile. I sighed deeply, placing my hand on my temples.“Are you alright, Signora? Would you like me to get painkillers for the headache?” She asked with concern etched on her face.I politely declined and she entered the bathroom to get the bath running. I took a well needed soak, only coming out of the bathtub when the water started getting cold. Luca hadn't responded to my question last night and now, without sleepy eyes and with a clear head, I didn't know how to ask him again.The glass of lemon juice was waiting for me b
A day had passed since I learnt about Luca's mother's death anniversary from the twins and from what they said, the next day was the day she died. Luca and I had crossed paths twice from the time of the call. And every time we did, I resisted the urge to reach out and hold his hand in mine, instead, I murmured a greeting to which he grunted in response.His hooded eyes seemed to be calling out to me. I didn't know what to make of how I was feeling towards him and so I just wrote it off as empathy. I noticed the atmosphere in the house change that evening. The staff walked with stiff backs, like they were afraid of even breathing any louder than they should.If the twins had not already told me what was going on, I would have had to force Gabriel to tell me. Speaking of Gabriel, he had come to give me some sort of warning that afternoon.“The boss is not really in the best place this period, it would be in the best interest of you both if you just let him be for now. He'll come aroun
“You killed your mother?” I asked, struggling to mask the judgment in my voice.In a split second, Luca's lips set into a thin line and his face hardened. “Get out! Now,” he roared, his hands shaking from anger. I scrambled out of the gym as quickly as my feet could take me, hearing a loud bang as his fist made contact with whatever was nearest to him. Just as I was hurrying back to my room, I missed my step and tripped. Closing my eyes, I waited for the impact but it never came.“What do you think you're doing upsetting him today of all days?” Gabriel said, steadying me on my feet.“I…”“Come with me, so you don't get yourself hurt,” he said, guiding me down the stairs and to the living room. My lips were sealed shut and my mind was in a spiral. He killed his mother so why is he mourning? Or is it guilt? The thoughts were making my head ache.Exhaling loudly, I fell back on the couch with a plop.Gabriel was sitting on a stool beside the couch. He sighed.“Nazlynn, you shouldn't h
My phone rang loudly, causing him to draw back and scoot away from me.Enzo’s name flashed brightly on the screen as I silenced the call. “I'll call him back later,” I stated even though Luca hadn't asked me. “No, you can take the call. It's your brother,” he said, not looking at me. The call ended and my screen went blank again. The man before me was not the same man that forcefully brought me to his house a month ago, he was also not the man that led a whole mafia. The man before me was a son who had lost his mother and was still grieving her death.“Do you know that when people die, you can sometimes summon their spirit in their favorite places?” I asked him, breaking the silence that had fallen between us. My aunt had said that to me after my mother died.Lucas' gaze traveled back to me and he looked at me skeptically. “How?” I stood up, stretching my hand out to him. Luca glanced from my face to my hand and back. I gave him an encouraging nod and he sighed before standing up
Jenna, Elena and Sabrina walked in front of Luca with their heads hung low and their tails between their legs until we got back inside the house.“You three, go to your rooms,” Luca said sternly.I stifled my laughter at their long faces as they walked down the hallway and up the stairs.“You should go back home, get Maria to prepare something for you. I'll come soon,” Luca said when they had left.I drew my eyes to the floor, suddenly feeling very self conscious with his gaze completely on me. Nodding, I pursed my lips, thinking of how to ask him about Gabriel.“Actually, I have no way of coming back here. Gabriel was the one who brought me and he left so he could drop the car at the house before….” I trailed off with a frown etched on my face. “Home,” Luca corrected.My eyes widened, “what?”“You said ‘the house’, it's your home Nazlynn,” he said, looking anywhere but me.I nodded slowly, right, home.“Can Gabriel come back please?” I finally blurted out the question I wanted to a
Luca's POV“We've been driving for quite some time. I think we would have found her SUV if it were here to see.” Gabriel said, taking the words right out of my intrusive thoughts. I've been forcing myself to ignore the fact that my wife's car was clearly not in sight. “I'll just drive around this street one more time then,” I said, stepping on the gas to increase my speed. “She's not here, boss,” Gabriel said, and I only hummed in response but showed no sign that I had heard him.“She's not here!” He said, louder this time, causing me to step on the brake so hard that our bodies lurched forward in the car. I glared at him so hard until he cowered. “I'm sorry, boss. You were driving at a speed that was going to get us pulled over by the police.”Scoffing, I shook my head in disdain. I was irritated with myself, with the fact that I couldn't even protect my own wife. “I can't have a repeat of what happened a year ago, Gabriel. I really cannot,” I said, feeling my tough facade slipp
Alice struggled against her restraints, gnashing her teeth at him. “Who are you, and what do you want with us?”The man's face came into view, and I frowned slightly. It was a boy actually, he didn't look a day over fifteen years old. His voice sounded a lot more mature, I would have guessed he was in his late twenties if I hadn't seen his face. “Please let her go. She has nothing to do with me, and she doesn't know anything,” I pleaded on my friend's behalf. Alice looked scared shitless, like she would piss her pants any time soon.“Way to go, Nazlynn. You meet your friend for the first time ever and get her kidnapped,” I said to myself mentally. I couldn't let them hurt her. Alice could already clearly see that she's missing something about my life.The boy just stood there and stared at me. “Do you know him or something?” Alice whispered to me.I shook my head, “I've never seen him before.”He stared at me for a long time without saying a word. His face was void of any facial exp
She scrunched up her nose, and her eyebrows pulled together in a manner that screamed confusion. “You mentioned it when you told me about your nightmares some time ago,” she said.I nodded. “I think you should do what you think is best for your child. You know it's not just yourself that you have to take care of or look out for,” she said, giving me a look that my mother would give me when she was trying to make me see a point that I am intentionally blind to.We talked some more, and I told her everything about everything, going into more details than I did when I sent that long text message. For some odd reason, I felt really calm around her, like I could tell her anything at all. Which was surprising considering how much I was freaking out when I got here.I had come to meet with her to get some advice on what I should do and how I should do it, but here she was telling me that the decision was all mine to make. Just sitting down and talking to her did help me feel better, thou
I agreed to meet up with Alice two days after she had sent that text. Coincidentally, we were in the same city, so it wouldn't be too much of a hassle. She said it was important we met up, and I was curious as to why.“I already fed her, but in case she gets whiny again, give her water in her bottle,” I said to Tracy, crouching down so I could give Hailey a big kiss.The only thing I hated more than being away from my baby was being away from my baby.“I'm going out,” I said to Luca when I saw him in the hallway. He was speaking to some of the members of our security team. He frowned, giving me a once over. “Where are you off to?” “I'm going to meet with someone,” I responded briefly, checking my reflection in the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. Luca dismissed the small gathering of men before turning his attention to me. “Who? You don't have any friends. You're not exactly the most social person,” Luca pointed out. I froze. He had a point. Considering everything that has
Luca walked towards me in a predatory type of way. “Hi princess,” he greeted Hailey before taking her off of me. I stilled as he passed by me, keeping my eyes on Enzo at the other side of the room, who looked half as uncomfortable as I did. “Judging by the fact we've been married for almost two years, you should know that I know you better than yourself,” I heard Luca say from behind me before hearing the door shut and then the sound of a luck turning.I whipped around and was shocked to see an empty space behind me. “What just happened?” I asked Enzo, who was just staring at me.“Your husband just locked us in,” he stated simply.“Yes, I can see that. But why?” I asked as my panic level started rising. Enzo hopped off the chair he was sitting on and started walking towards me. “I asked him how I could get you to talk to me. He said you have a thing for eavesdropping on his conversations, so we decided to see if it'll work. We left the door open a bit, sprinkled your name into the
You're really not going to talk to me at all?” I heard Enzo ask, making me sigh.I had come down the staircase the next morning only to almost bump into him at the bottom. I increased my pace so I could disappear from him as quickly as possible, but Enzo just wouldn't let me be.“I thought I made that clear enough, but apparently I didn't, seeing how you're currently trying to talk to me,” I replied with a fake smile.“Nazlynn,” he called out softly, taking a step in my direction.My eyes searched his. I could still see fragments of the little boy who had left for Atlanta years back, but I could also see something darker. The kind of darkness that you are bound to be exposed to while working with the mafia.I was one to talk, considering how I'm married to a mafia don who is the rival to my biological father who is also a mafia don.“I'm not ready for the conversation you're trying to have, Enzo. I would like to get through one day without reminding myself of how I failed you as a si
I was going to respond to the message Alice sent, but then I got distracted by something that Gabriel said, and I kind of zoned out from everything until we got to the house.I knew when Enzo arrived because half of the staff went into a frenzy, trying to prepare a room for the guest. I wonder what he would be referred to as someone who works for the boss or the boss’ wife's brother. Either way, he's getting a wonderful welcome party.Once I got home, I picked up a sleepy Hailey from her nursery and headed to my room. I wanted to take a nap, and I always slept better when I was smothering Hailey in my arms.Some hours later, a knock woke me up. I saw that my girl was already up before me and was staring at me with her eyes that were an exact copy of mine.I swung the door open with a scowl on my face, ready to have a go at the person who has just interrupted my sleep and possibly, Hailey’s. I was certainly not expecting to be met with Luca's expectant face.My face softened visibly.
“Enzo,” I breathed out without turning back.“I'm home, sis. Not at the best of times, but I'm home,” he said, taking steps closer to me.I pressed a hand to my lips to conceal the sob that was threatening to break out. Slowly, I turned back to see a face that I had not seen physically in about eight years. Enzo was right there, standing in front of me.“How did you….?” I said, making a beeline for him, but then I stopped. Memories of the events from the past few weeks came flooding back into my head at once.“Nazi, please, don't turn away from me. I just want to give my big sister a hug after all these days,” he said, his eyes searching mine for any form of forgiveness. I made sure he wouldn't see any.He took a step closer to me, but I held a hand up to stop him. “How did you know where to find me?” I asked.“I called the boss when I landed at the airport. He told me you had just left the house and were headed here. Turns out, the trip from the airport here takes less time than fro
“Thrilling isn't it? To have found out that everybody had been lying to you,” the message read.“Who are you?” I typed in a frenzy. “Why are you doing this?”“Just a concerned citizen who doesn't like getting lied to. Something I figured you and I have in common.”My nostrils flared. Whoever this was, the person clearly knew a whole lot about me, and I didn't know anything about them. “I want to know who you are. Do you want to meet up?” I asked, biting down on my fingernails.“Making friends is not a part of my job description, sweet pea.”I kissed my teeth in irritation. “What job description?”“You.”That one word chilled me to the bone. I swiped away from the chat and quickly blocked the number from calling or texting me before I could allow myself to give it an extra thought. And that was the end of that chapter for me. I completely closed my mind to everything the person had said to me.It's been almost three weeks since Luca and I had the biggest and most emotional argument t