ARMANDO Faces I recognized were everywhere—some more familiar than I’d like. Most of them were my enemies, but that was the thing about the families—whenever we were called to gather, we all sat together until the goal was met, then we could go right back to killing each other another day. It was one of the unspoken rules, a part of the life we lived.Knowing that, and knowing I’d be surrounded by these same enemies, was exactly why I showed up tonight. I liked keeping my enemies close because watching and reading them always gave me an edge—that way there were no surprises. If I could find even the smallest clue as to who was sabotaging my business tonight, I’d be out of here the minute I got it.After Don Alessio greeted me and moved on, I started to make my way around the room with my head held high. I was a powerful man in a room full of powerful men, and I carried myself like it. Nothing about my demeanor would suggest I was worried or suspicious, even though I was watching ever
ELEANORThe night had been going smoothly, and to my surprise, I was actually starting to feel a little comfortable. The room was luxurious in a way that made you forget where you came from—the cool air, the fine tablecloths, the vibrant colors, and the guests who looked like they had never worked a day in their lives. It was overwhelming at first, but after sitting for a while, I let myself relax just a little.I shouldn’t have.Just when I thought I could breathe, the organizers announced a dance—a waltz, of all things. Tension gripped me instantly, I didn’t know how to waltz. Hell, I barely knew how to dance in general. My heart skipped a beat, and I silently prayed they wouldn’t ask us to join.But then, as if she had been waiting for the right moment, Don Fabio’s wife leaned over and smiled—the kind that said she was about to enjoy watching me squirm.“You two should dance,” she said, her voice sweet but full of intent. “You’d look lovely out there.”I forced a polite smile, sha
ARMANDOThe moment the music ended, I noticed Don Fabio shift in his seat. It wasn’t the kind of shift people made when they were settling back into their chairs. No, this was different. One of his men had leaned in, whispered something in his ear, and just like that, Fabio stood up. It was quick, almost too quick, like he didn’t want to be seen leaving the table.I didn’t hesitate to send Eleanor back to the table. She had served her purpose for the night, and I didn’t need her tagging along anymore. These parties weren’t just for appearances. I had long suspected that behind the music, food, and fake smiles, there was always something going on. The dons didn’t gather unless they had a reason. Most of them were too paranoid to be around each other just for social niceties.As soon as Fabio left, I maneuvered through the crowd, keeping my eyes on him. The lights were dim enough that I could slip through the hallways without drawing much attention. It didn’t take long to catch up wit
ELEANOR We finally arrived back at the mansion and I could feel the tension rolling off Armando. He stepped out of the car without a word, his face hard and his eyes distant as usual. I trailed behind him, unsure of what to expect next.The moment we entered the living room, he turned to me with a cold look on his face. “Prepare something for me to eat,” he ordered, “And it better not be as tasteless as the trash you made the last time.”I blinked, utterly surprised. Me? Cook again? But that wasn’t what he wanted before. I kept my tone polite, even though my heart was pounding. “But you told me not to enter the kitchen last time Armando. You said I wasn’t allowed, and that the maids couldn’t even bring me food either.”He didn’t miss a beat. “Are you stupid or just arrogant!?” His voice dripped with condescension, his eyes narrowing. “Just because I gave an order before doesn’t mean I can’t change it. I can do whatever I damn well please in my house.”I felt my hands clench slightly
ELEANOR "You hadn’t even started yet," he finally said, his voice sharp. "I came to watch how you were planning to make my meal, but it seems you were just standing here wasting time."I flinched, the sting in my finger now forgotten in the face of his presence. "I’m sorry," I said quickly. "I wasn’t sure what to make for you since you didn’t like the last meal I prepared. And then... I cut myself while dicing the tomatoes. I’ve been trying to work through the pain."He looked at my hand, unimpressed. "Move aside," he ordered. "I’ll show you how to cook actual food."I blinked in surprise. Him? Cook? I nearly laughed, but I held it in, forcing myself to look apologetic instead. This was going to be interesting. I didn’t think Armando, of all people, knew how to cook anything. It would be a disaster, and frankly, it would be a little satisfying to see him mess up in the kitchen."Bring a stool," he added, his tone full of arrogance. "You’ll watch closely. If you’re going to be my per
ELEANOR Armando scooped some of the pasta onto his plate, then filled mine as well. The aroma hit me immediately—rich and savory, making my stomach rumble. I hadn't eaten a proper meal in what felt like forever, and this—this looked too good to be real.He glanced at me. "Take your plate to the dining room and wait for me there," he ordered. "And don’t even think about taking a bite until I’m seated."I blinked, taken aback by his tone, but I nodded. "I wasn’t going to," I muttered, picking up my plate. As I turned to leave, I paused, thinking I’d at least try to be polite since he did the cooking. "Do you want me to take yours as well?"He shot me a look that could’ve frozen fire—a look that said more than words could. Did he really think I’d poison him or something? A wave of irritation rolled through me, but I swallowed it down. Why did I even bother?"Fine," I mumbled under my breath and headed for the dining room, trying to ignore the sting of his distrust.The table was alread
ELEANOR The entire living room was filled with soft, echoing melodies as Armando turned on the music. Something smooth, gentle, but somehow suffocating too. I didn’t want to be here. Not in this situation, not in his arms, not anywhere near him. It felt like everything was slipping out of my control—even the littlest of things. My life wasn’t my own anymore—every decision was being made for me. Everyone else had a say except me.I glanced around the living room, noticing the space. It was just the two of us in this massive mansion. Armando’s men were outside, probably stationed like statues around the compound while here on the inside was quiet, except for the music which made everything else louder. The silence between us, the tension in the air—it all seemed amplified by the melody.Armando stepped closer, and before I knew it, his arms were around me. I froze, every part of me going still. He looked down at me, his eyes piercing mine, locking me in place. His grip was firm, like
ELEANORIt all happened so fast. One moment, I was lost in Armando's grip, drowning in whatever this twisted attraction was, and the next, I snapped out of it—like ice-cold water had been poured on my face."What the hell am I doing?" I muttered under my breath, suddenly disgusted by the situation. My skin crawled just thinking about how close I had come to completely losing myself.I pushed him away hard, shoving him back as far as I could. My hands shook, but I tried to keep my voice steady."I... I need to go," I said quickly, not caring how abrupt I sounded. "This is getting out of hand. Goodnight, Mr. Armando." The words felt sharp and dismissive on my tongue. I didn't wait for a response—I didn't care what he thought. I just turned and headed straight for the stairs, my heart racing with every step.But before I could make it, Armando's hand grabbed mine—tight and harsh till all of my body froze. The grip was unrelenting, and when I turned around, there it was—the smile of a
ARMANDO The room was quiet, save for the low hum of the TV. My study was always like this—dim lighting, the faint smell of leather, and silence that made it easier to think. I leaned back in my chair, my eyes fixed on the screen. The news anchor’s voice droned on about the recent police crackdowns. Another raid. Another group of men in cuffs.It wasn’t surprising. The authorities had been tightening their grip for months, thinking they could dismantle everything piece by piece. It wouldn’t work. I had been in this game too long to let it. Still, I watched, paying close attention to the details. You never knew when a name, a face, or a location might give you something to act on.My fingers tapped lightly on the armrest. A bad habit, but one I didn’t bother correcting. It helped me focus. The footage shifted to a warehouse raid—men dragged out with their hands behind their backs, flashing lights bouncing off the walls. Sloppy. Someone had slipped up, and now they were paying for it.T
ELEANOR My phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting me from my thoughts. The screen lit up, and my stomach dropped when I saw the private number. My fingers hesitated for a moment before I grabbed the phone. I already knew what to expect, and that only made my heart pound harder.It was a text. “It’s time. Now or never. Face the consequences if you choose the latter.”I stared at the message, the words blurring as the weight of them hit me. I had been preparing for this moment but now that it was here, I felt paralyzed, my mind racing but coming up empty.I had already decided. I had to do this. There was no way out. Months of torment from Armando had driven me to this point, and Don Salvatore’s threats left no room for hesitation. My sister’s life depended on me going through with this.But there was one massive problem.I didn’t have the poison. I had no idea how to get it, where to find it, or even how to use it if I did. I had spent weeks stuck in limbo, hoping for some kind of so
ELEANORSeveral days had passed since Don Salvatore’s call, but I hadn’t known peace since. My mind was stuck in a constant cycle of worry and my heart heavy with fear. I couldn’t eat because the mere thought of food made my stomach churn and my body began growing weaker—my skin pale and dry. It wasn’t hard to tell that something was wrong with me, but there was no one to confide in—not here.And Armando? Despite the way I looked or sounded, he hadn’t eased up on my duties. I should’ve been a bit relieved that someone was hired to share the workload, but instead, I felt uneasy around her. She seemed off, like she didn’t belong. There was something about the way she carried herself—always watching, always calculating—that put me on edge. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was trouble.Mabel’s presence didn’t lighten my load. Her role was clear—cook whatever Armando wanted whenever he wanted it. Meanwhile, I was still left with everything else—the cleaning, the mopping, the
ELEANORI scrubbed the last dish, letting the warm water run over my hands until my fingers felt numb. The rhythmic clinking of plates against the sink was the only sound in the kitchen, but my thoughts were far from calm. Armando’s words from earlier echoed in my mind, and then there was Don Salvatore. His threats, my sister’s pale face in that photo—it all coiled around my chest like a vice.I kept scrubbing—pretending the kitchen was my sanctuary—and for a moment it almost worked, but then the door creaked. My body stiffened.I turned slowly—the soapy plate still in my hands—and my eyes fell on the profile of Armando leaned against the doorframe, watching me. His eyes were calm, but there was an edge to his gaze—the kind that always seemed to confuse me.“You’ve been hiding yourself away a lot lately,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “I don’t remember giving you permission to turn into a ghost. Not in my house.”I placed the plate on the drying rack, wiping my hands on a towel
ELEANORI sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the drawer where the phone was hidden. The silence in the mansion pressed down on me like a heavy weight and I hated how quiet it was—how every shift of the wind outside seemed louder than my own heartbeat. I just had this lingering feeling that he was going to call.My hands shook as I waited—each second feeling like an eternity—and then it happened. The phone rang.The sound sliced through the quiet like a knife, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. My heart raced as I reached for the drawer—my fingers fumbling to open it—and when I finally pulled the phone out, my stomach twisted into knots.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and answered. “Hello?”The line was silent. Not a sound. Not even the faintest breath on the other end. I swallowed hard, gripping the phone tighter.And then, his voice came—smooth, calm and controlled. “Eleanor.”I didn’t respond right away. My mouth was dry, and my chest felt tight.“Have you been
ELEANOR Armando’s voice shot through the mansion like a whip. “Eleanor!” he bellowed. “Get down here. Now!”I froze mid-pace, my heart hammering in my chest. Did he really just call my name, or was my panic starting to mess with my head? My mind raced, torn between the phone I had just hidden away and the constant paranoia of being found out.Before I could decide, his voice rang out again, louder this time. “Eleanor! I won’t call you again!”The echo bounced off the walls—filling every corner of the house—and for a few seconds, I couldn’t move, my mind spinning with all the worst possibilities. Had he found out i used the phone?My hands trembled as I paced aimlessly for a moment, trying to pull myself together. “Get it together,” I whispered under my breath. “Breathe. Act normal.”I rushed to the drawer, shoved the phone back inside, and slammed it shut. Adjusting my dress in the mirror, I brushed out the wrinkles and ran my fingers through my hair. My reflection stared back at me,
ELEANORThe sunlight peeked through the gap in my curtains and landed directly on my face, pulling me out of sleep. I groaned softly, turning my head to the side, but it was no use. Once the light hit my eyes, there was no going back. I blinked a few times—trying to adjust—and then stared at the ceiling for a moment before dragging myself out of the duvet.As I sat up, I glanced around my room and the mess stared back at me like a taunt. Clothes were scattered on the chair, books—which i usually read as a means of escape—were piled on the nightstand, and a few empty water bottles were sitting on the dresser.It wasn’t that I didn’t care about my space, but ever since I moved into Armando’s mansion, my days had been swallowed by cleaning everything else. His room, his library, the home office, the dining room—anywhere Armando might show up had to be spotless. My room always came last. And every time I planned to clean it, something would come up—some new task Armando would throw my wa
ELEANORAfter Armando left the room, my legs felt weak—trembling from the overwhelming sensations still coursing through me, and my mind was a mess of scattered thoughts.I swallowed hard, taking slow breaths to calm myself, but my body refused to settle. I hated how much control he seemed to have over me. Even now—with him gone, I could still feel him like his presence had somehow soaked into the walls.“Why does he have to be like this?” I muttered under my breath. I tried to focus, to pull myself out of this haze, but every attempt was a failure.Armando was… intense. That was the only way I could describe him. I wanted to hate him for it, but at the same time, I couldn’t deny that when he touched me, it was like nothing else mattered.I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I forced myself to move, heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water helped a little—washing away the tension clinging to my skin, and by the time I was done, I felt slightly more grounded.
Chapter 76ELEANORArmando's voice came low and sharp from behind me, brushing against my ear."Do you have any idea what you're asking for, Eleanor?" His words were slow and deliberate—each syllable wrapped in a teasing chill. "You know what you're about to get yourself into?"I opened my mouth, but my throat felt dry.I barely managed to whisper, "Maybe. I'm not sure." My voice shook, and I gasped softly when I felt his breath against the side of my neck, warm and unsettling.His hand moved then, his left still firm on my waist while his right slid lower, tracing circles just below my hips. My skin burned under his touch, every nerve alive and screaming. He leaned in closer, his lips brushing so lightly against my neck that it felt like they weren't even there.He chuckled softly, the sound low and dark, sending shivers down my spine."Maybe?" he repeated, his tone mocking but somehow laced with something that made me feel small and exposed. His hand on my waist then tightened sligh