ARMANDO Alessandro dropped his head, staring hard at the floor. He was barely holding himself together, and when he finally spoke, his voice was rough, breaking with each word.“I’m… I’m sorry, boss,” he said, like the words cost him everything. “I never wanted it to be like this. I honestly never thought it would've gone this far. It… it was all Don Salvatore. He’s the one who led me into all of this.”He shifted a little, glancing up at me before his gaze darted back down. “The sabotages, the… the men we took out… I swear, boss, it was him who pushed me to it.”“Really?” I asked, my voice cold and skeptical. “He just happened to pull you into this? How?”He exhaled a shaky breath, swallowing before he spoke. “Some stranger approached me. I didn’t know who he was at first, but I knew he came out of nowhere, as if he had been following me all along. He said he had someone who wanted to meet with me. Said there was business to discuss. And then he offered me thirty thousand dollars ju
ELEANOR There was this loud, piercing ringing in my ears. I’d barely registered what had hit me, but I found myself flat on the floor, my cheek throbbing and my head spinning. The pain was blinding—a sharp ache radiating through half of my face, and it took me a few seconds to push myself up. I could feel my hair tangled around my face, strands sticking to my cheek where it was hot from the slap. My vision was hazy, but it was starting to clear, and the first thing I saw was Armando, his hand wrapped around the neck of the man who’d struck me, holding him against the wall like he could squeeze the life out of him.But I didn’t care about that—not right now. My gaze went past them and landed on the other man bleeding helplessly on the floor—barely conscious. I felt a jolt of horror, and without thinking, I scrambled over to him. Blood was streaked across his face, his clothes immensely soaked with sweat—looking like he’d been dragged through hell. I didn’t know his name or who he was,
ELEANOR Armando's voice broke through again, calm yet cutting. "Alessandro, you need to let her go. You're only making things worse for yourself."His steady tone shocked me, a different kind of fear rippling through me. How could he stay so calm as if my life wasn't on the line? I wanted to scream at him to take this seriously, but one glance at the knife on my skin was enough to keep me silent. I couldn't help but wonder if he was really willing to risk my life just to hold onto his pride."Pick up my cigarette," he said in a flat and casual tone, gesturing to the man who had hit me.With a flick of his lighter, Armando lit up the cigarette and took a long, deliberate drag, inhaling the smoke before letting it billow slowly into the air.He looked at Alessandro with a smug and almost amused expression as his eyes narrowed."You didn't hear me did you Alessandro?" Armando asked, his tone as relaxed as if he was asking about something as casual as the weather. "Probably not. I guess
ELEANOR The gunshots still echoed in my ears as the sight of the two bodies lying lifeless—blood pooling beneath them—brought a sick, heavy feeling to my stomach.I was frozen, rooted to the spot, and all I could do was stare wide-eyed as Armando—without a flicker of remorse—lowered his gun.When he finally looked up, his expression was as cold as ever. There was no trace of regret, not a single sign that he had even flinched at what he had done. Just that unsettling, nonchalant calmness he always seemed to have. Before I could fully realize what was going on, he began to step toward me, slow and steady.Every instinct screamed at me to back away—to keep a safe distance, so for every step he took forward, I took one back. I wasn’t sure what he intended, and that uncertainty only made me more afraid. But the look in his eyes, they held me like a command that couldn’t be ignored.“Stop.” He said in a low and commanding tone, his voice possessing a force behind it that froze me in my
ELEANOR The world outside passed in a blur, but I focused on it anyway, hoping it would somehow calm the thoughts racing through my mind. It had been a while since I’d seen the outside world, a while since I’d felt anything close to freedom. The last time I tried to escape didn’t end well. Not only was I found, but also dragged right back to Armando’s mansion like I never even left. It wasn’t exactly something I wanted to relive, especially not now with all the tension and uncertainty hanging in the atmosphere.The silence in the car was heavy, and I wanted to keep it that way. But apparently, Enzo had other ideas.He leaned back against his seat, tilting his head slightly in my direction. “Still giving me that attitude of yours huh?” he said, his voice low but edged with something that made my skin prickle.I didn’t respond, keeping my eyes fixed on the dark blur of the city outside the window. I was in no mood to talk to him, and I hoped he’d take the hint.But of course, he didn’
ARMANDOThe silence in the room was heavy, and it didn't take too long before Matteo stepped in, greeting me with a single nod. He didn't waste any time because he already knew why he was here. Lorenzo and Alessandro were still sprawled on the floor with blood pooling beneath them.I looked at Lorenzo’s body for a moment longer, not saying anything. Death wasn’t new to me. Hell, I’d seen it more than enough times to know it was just part of the deal. I’d watched men die, ordered the killing of some, pulled the trigger myself more times than I could count. But this… seeing Lorenzo there lying lifeless, struck something different. He hadn’t just been any man but one of my best—a man who never asked too much questions, was always loyal to the cause, as well as always being available when I needed him. The loyalty he had given me… that kind of loyalty was rare.I glanced up at Matteo, who was watching me. He knew better than to ask questions, but I could see the way he studied me. I co
ELEANOR The pounding in my chest grew a lot louder as I heard a hard voice command us from outside. “Whoever is in there should get out of the car slowly and with both their hands where I can see them.” The tone left no room for doubt that whoever these men were, they were dead serious and fully prepared to make good on any threat. I stole a glance at Enzo, praying he’d understand that this was the time to just do whatever they asked—hopefully they'd take whatever they wanted sooner and let us be.“Enzo,” I whispered, voice shaking. “Please… don’t do anything stupid. Put the gun down. Let’s just… let’s just go along with it, okay?” I didn’t even know what I was saying—just that I was scared out of my mind, terrified that any wrong move could end in disaster.His eyes were fixed on me, hard and unmoving. “Eleanor, you don’t understand,” he murmured, tightening his grip on the gun, as if holding onto it would somehow fix this. “Let me handle it.”“No,” I said, pleading. “You’re not ha
ARMANDOThe sun had set a little over an hour ago and the night was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of wind against the windows. The quick flick of my lighter had a flare of light reflecting off the cigar in my hand before I brought it to my lips, smoke curling around me and drifting lazily towards the ceiling as I let out a slow exhale. It didn’t do much to ease the pressure weighing on my chest, but at least it was something.I stared out into the darkness, watching the faint shimmer of the stars against the black canvas of the sky. Normally, a view like that might’ve been calming, but tonight, it felt like a cruel joke—a serene backdrop to the chaos brewing just beneath the surface. The air in the room was still a bit heavy and thick with suspense as I waited to see when Enzo would finally return my calls.I had stopped calling his phone after the fifth attempt, each ring ending in silence. Although I didn’t want to admit that I was irritated, I definitely was. I mean, Enzo
ELEANOR“You’re lucky I’m not the kind of man who doesn’t ask for consent,” Armando continued, his tone low but cutting. “Or I’d have had you right here and now without a second thought.”My heart skipped, and my pulse spiked at the subtle threat laced in his voice. I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to breathe. I wouldn’t let him see how his words rattled me, how much they cut straight to the core of my fear.I swallowed hard as he lifted my chin. “You’d end up in jail.“ I shot back, my voice sharper than I felt inside. “And honestly… that doesn’t sound so bad for someone like you.” I added, letting spite creep into my tone.For a second, there was silence. Then Armando let out a low, dangerous laugh—a sound that sent chills down my spine. He tilted his head, his smirk sharp and mocking.“Well,” he said, dragging the word out, “if you want me to go to jail so badly, I might as well use you as my free pass.”He then moved his arm suddenly, bringing it close to my chest in
ELEANORAs I stepped further—still clutching the tray in my hands, the only light in the room was the dim glow of the skyline seeping through the large glass window, and the faint orange ember of Armando’s cigarette.I hesitated for a second after I managed to find the light switch—wondering if turning on the lights would push him over the edge, but I flicked the switch anyway.The room lit up instantly, revealing the disarray I’d expected. Empty glasses cluttered the side table and an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts sat beside them. Armando was on a large rounded chair by the window, staring out at the city as if he was trying to count every building in sight. He didn’t even flinch when the lights came on, not a single movement.His face was rigid and blank from where I stood and the way his jaw set and his hand held the cigarette so tightly sent a clear message; he wasn’t in the mood for company.When his voice finally broke the silence, it was cold and threatening.“Who th
ELEANORArmando had been acting strange for the past few days and I couldn’t help but notice it. It had been three days now since he took me to the hospital and ever since then he hadn’t left the mansion, not even to step outside the front door into the compound. It was really so strange for someone like him—who always moved around with purpose—to suddenly become so stationary.The mansion was unbearably quiet and it wasn’t the peaceful kind of silence either. This silence was suffocating, heavy, and stretched across every corner of the house like a thick, invisible fog.Yesterday I had accidentally dropped a spoon while I was in the kitchen and the clattering sound that came from it echoed so loudly throughout the mansion—making the stillness even more pronounced—to the extent that it startled me as though I’d disturbed some fragile balance. That was how quiet everything had become.I had always wanted space—some peace and quiet—away from Armando, yet now that I had it, I wasn’t as r
ELEANORThe gentle hum of the limo filled the silence as we drove out of the hospital's compound. I leaned back against the plush seat—the outside world blurring into nothingness—as I stared outside the window, feeling hollow as though a piece of me had just been left behind.What made it worse was the glimpse of that nurse. I was almost certain she was the one but I couldn’t approach her because Matteo just had to be there like a shadow trailing me everywhere.The doctor’s words began to replay—like some sort of whisper—in my head. She seemed to be a kind woman—middle-aged with sharp glasses perched on her nose—and her demeanor was assuring as she’d handed me a prescription list, speaking in a tone that made it sound like she genuinely cared.“You’ll need to take these as directed,” she had said in a tone that was both soft and firm at the same time. “Three times a day after meals. Don’t skip a dose. And also try to get good rest as much as possible.”Then she’d given me a small, enc
ELEANORThe receptionist waved over a male nurse—gesturing toward where we had sat—and he approached quickly, a polite but professional expression on his face. “Right this way, sir,” he said, his voice calm and steady.Armando stood—adjusting his coat with a deliberate motion—and then he glanced at me. His look wasn’t harsh, but it carried a silent command. It was clear he expected me to walk ahead of him.I stood slowly, feeling the weight of the awkwardness I’d been carrying since we arrived. Matteo—ever silent and watchful—followed closely behind as we began to walk. The nurse led the way—his strides steady and purposeful—and I found myself matching his pace, though my gaze kept drifting.The further we moved away from the reception area, the more relieved I felt. The burning stares and muffled whispers of the queue had left an imprint on me, but at least now I could breathe without the judgment of strangers pressing down on me. Armando had a way of making every public moment feel
ELEANORI glanced at Armando cautiously—hoping to catch some clue in his expression—but his eyes were fixed outside his own window, his posture as rigid and composed as always.It just didn’t make sense. Well, sure I wasn't feeling too strong—my body ached, and the fever hadn’t let up since the rainstorm—but this was Armando Luca. He wasn’t the kind of man who cared about whether I was healthy or not. The only thing he cared about was his control, his power, and making sure I knew my place.The car slowed as the chauffeur guided us toward the hospital’s entrance, weaving through the compound to find a parking spot. Armando had brought me all the way here across the city—putting me through the stress of getting all dressed up and everything—just to visit a hospital.But why?“Why are we here?” I asked as I still couldn’t help myself, my voice barely above a whisper. It cracked slightly, but I pushed through, forcing myself to meet his gaze even though I already knew it was a risk.Arma
ELEANORArmando’s words kept playing over and over in my head as I hurriedly rummaged through my wardrobe. The tone he used left no room for argument, and I didn’t need anyone to tell me that if I didn’t act quickly, his temper would explode. The massive mansion—which sometimes felt like a labyrinth—was suddenly suffocating once again, its walls closing in as the weight of the previous evening’s events pressed down on me. My mind flashed to the blood, the screams, the gunshots—all too much that I could barely think straight.I pulled out a sleeveless white gown—simple but neat—and slipped it on. I didn’t have time to fuss over accessories or the perfect look, especially because Armando wasn’t exactly the type to wait and I didn’t want to test his patience today. I quickly applied a light layer of makeup—enough to mask my tired eyes and pale complexion—and glanced at myself in the mirror. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do.Taking a deep breath, I made my way downstairs. Each s
ELEANORI couldn't seem to find any sleep because each time I closed my eyes, the images came rushing back—sharp and unforgiving—like shards of glass cutting through my mind.I sat up on the edge of my bed staring at the shadows dancing across the wall. Sleep wasn't just far, it felt impossible. My body felt too heavy, my mind too restless, and I couldn't even lie down properly all night.After Armando had gone upstairs last night, I forced myself to mop the living room floor just like he'd asked, even though my hands wouldn't stop trembling. The cold seeped into my bones, and my clothes stuck to my skin as I worked, but I still pushed through. When I finally dragged myself upstairs, my room was exactly as I'd left it—cold and silent.Don Salvatore's words haunted me. His threats still hung over me like a storm cloud even though I was now miles away from him—wherever he was.Still, I couldn't dwell on it now. If Armando sensed even the slightest shift in my behavior, he'd know somethi
ARMANDO The ride back to the mansion was silent, but my head wasn’t. I couldn’t shake the image of Enzo’s face—cold and lifeless—in that bag. It played on a loop in my mind, every detail—the stiffness of his features, the unnatural stillness—etching deeper with each passing second. It wasn’t just grief that gripped me. It was anger—burning, unrelenting anger.I sat in the back seat, staring out at the rain-dotted windows with my jaw clenched so tightly that it ached a bit. The thirst for revenge was clawing at me—demanding I act, but I couldn’t afford to be reckless just yet. The police sniffing around my operations was something I just couldn’t afford at the moment.When the limo pulled into the driveway, Matteo jumped out even before the chauffeur had fully parked. He opened the door for me—holding an umbrella in one hand. “It’s starting to pour boss. Let me—”I waved him off and stepped out into the rain, ignoring the drizzle that quickly turned into a steady downpour. The cold wa