[Ralph’s POV]Subtly, her head tilted the other way and the alluring curve of her neck emerged from the shadows of her luscious, fragrant curls. I planted my lips onto the pulsating spot below her earlobe and she sighed in contentment. “You can’t cheat, Ralph.” I smiled against her silky skin and she shuddered a little. “How many more days till the aunt leaves?” She chuckled her glorious chuckle and drew her arms around my neck to pull herself closer. “Two more days.” I glided my lips across the downside of her jaw. “Fuck.” I moved up and took her lips for a long, leisure kiss, which ended with us breathless. I kissed her forehead and hugged her. “So what’s the second thing you came here for?” She laughed and slapped my back with the file in her hand. “This is the first thing on my agenda, not the second.” I pulled back and cradled her cheeks, smoothing them with my thumbs. “I thought the first thing on your agenda was me.” Her face was back to that stupid deadpan-ess. “Ca
[Juliette’s POV] Something clicked. I opened my eyes and sat up. I was in bed, in one of the guest rooms of the Lux mansion. I grabbed my phone and checked the time: it’s eleven thirty p.m. Hastily, I threw the covers aside and jumped out of bed, then sprinted to the door and exited into the hallway. True enough, the strapping frame of my husband, all dressed up, in suit and all, was moving steadily towards the stairs that lead to the ground floor. Where’s he going at this hour? Damn it! Is he going to see one of his mistresses? I wanted to go after him. But I halted and slipped back into the room. Calm down, Juliette. Think! I have been avoiding the question each time he brings it up. So maybe he’s upset with me and seeks comfort somewhere else. A man can only show that much patience, especially when his pride is at stake. It did take him a lot to say it first that he loves me—in the past, he’d want me to say it before he did. Some of Papa’s business associates do
[Ralph’s POV] “Jesus Christ, Juliette, just tell Thomas to stay on my tail and keep out of plain sight!” I disconnected at her ‘But Ralph’ and removed the phone from my ear. “She’s a grown woman. She can handle herself,” Ben muttered. The car zoomed through the valley, shooting towards the jetty, where Alberto is meeting his seller. “ARGH!” I slammed a palm at the door. “What the hell was she thinking, coming at me like that? Another woman? She didn’t even answer my question when I asked her to marry me. And she dared to accuse me of having another woman. AM I A JOKE TO HER? GODDAMN IT.” “I’ve seen that kid’s driving skills.” Ben stared at the road ahead. “Gotta take your wife’s side on this. It’s good to give him a test drive.” I glared at the dumbass. “IS MY WIFE’S LIFE A JOKE TO YOU?” And he laughed like a dumbass. “He looks up to you, you know—that kid. I see the way his eyes lit up when he talks about you. Come to think of it, the whole lot of them do. What did you d
[Ralph's POV] Damn it! They're taking off with their stuff! Stop the runners first! I must get back the cash! I aim the gun at the boat's motor and—. SWING! Mmph! I avoided a flying punch. I looked up and one of Alberto's bodyguards was about to swing another fist at me. "Urgh!" he cried. I lowered my upper body to dodge and shot back up to jab my right fist at his jaw. PUNCH! And the man crumbled to the ground, unconscious. Huh? Ben is going after the runners—SWIPE! Urgh! The other bodyguard came at me. In the corner of my view, Alberto was sliding into his car. I jolted to my left to avoid a punch then uppercut the fucker. "Urgh!" He flew away from me. I dashed towards the limousine—and the dark blue sedan was shooting down the hill like a bazooka, heading for the slope's opening. No, no, no…. They are going to crash. JULIETTE! I halted and aimed my gun at the car—. Not the tyres—the car will skid and slam against the sedan. I need to slow down the l
[Ralph’s POV]She drew in a sharp breath and settled on her knees, arms stretched to grab the back of the couch on each side of my shoulders, then lifted her breasts to my face. I stared at them, gripping my hands into tight fists to stop my tongue from sticking out to lick those cute tiny buds. When there was no reaction from me, she drew in more stuttering breaths—probably to kill the embarrassment—and moved the tip of her breasts forward, kissing my lips with them. Surprise widened my eyes. Goddamn fuck… A gasp of delight slipped from her and she started rubbing those warm pearls along my lips, teasing and begging at the same time. “R-Ralph…,” she whispered. “P-Please…..” She pulled back slightly to look down at me, her breathing heavier than before. I stared up at her and asked, “You want this?” Not looking away, I drew her nipple into my mouth and sucked on it, earning a soft moan from her, and then I released it to make my point. “Mmph…,” she whimpered. “Yes….” “Make me
*WARNING: This chapter contains details and imagery of violence which one may find disturbing. [Ralph’s POV] Ten days later… I stood before the pale creature cowering in the corner, in shivers. Sweat had soaked through his shirt, sticking to his skin, revealing his entire skeletal frame, as sniffles and whimpers of yearning echoed in the cold, dimly lit space of the cell in the basement of the Virtus HQ building. “Can he still understand me?” I asked Ben, who was beside me, also watching the creature who still resembled the Alberto we know by his shirt and hair. Ben nodded. “I still think we should send him to rehab.” “He doesn’t want to go there. Says he’ll meet Sandy and be enticed again,” I replied quietly. “Fucking hell….” Ben tucked his hands into his pockets. BANG! Alberto gripped the steel bars of the gate that was caging him in the cell, his trembling fingers strangling the metal rods with superhuman strength that could only be possible of an immense craving.
[Ralph’s POV]“So you’re saying, we’ll no longer be called ‘Second Tiers’,” repeated Gerardo Virtus, the eldest son of the newly retired Second Tier Liandro Virtus, descendant of the First Sergeant of the fighting force of the old government of U.R.T. “Instead,” his cigarette eroded voice added, “We’ll be known as ‘Directors’.” I stared firmly at him, seated on my left, on the white leather couch in front of my desk, and said, “Director Gerardo, yes. That’s what I said.” I tapped my finger on the glass surface in a slow, steady beat and elaborated, “I’d like to offer you our media business.”To his squinted gaze of caution, I inhaled sharply and explained, “You have a degree in communications.” “Yes, I do.” “And you’re active in the grapevine.” The twenty-five year old grinned with a twinkle in his eyes. “So you’re the best in the family for the job,” I concluded. “What’s in it for me?” Smart boy. I drew in another silent breath and stared at my tapping finger and replied, “Yo
[Juliette’s POV]“Yes….” I sighed and gasped. He was sucking the pulsating skin below my earlobe as his finger slipped in. I closed my eyes and leaned back, propping on my elbows to stretch my neck wide open for his better access, and he gladly took it, kissing and nibbling the curve joining my neck to my shoulder. “The whole time I was there…,” Ralph breathed, his warm breath tickled my skin and a shudder coursed through me. “I thought of you….” Another gasp slipped from my lips—another finger had just slipped in to caress my insides. “I thought only of you, kitten…,” he whispered against the base of my throat before kissing the skin there, then shoved my keyboard and files aside and gently pushed me down on the table.I admired him through hooded eyes as he watched me. His finger continuously stroked the slick velvety folds beyond the swelling lips between my thighs, eliciting streaks of pleasure up my spine and forcing whimpers of pleas through my lips. His free hand cradle
[Chatri’s POV]The EMERGENCY sign was still lit up. Chatri couldn’t tear his gaze away from it, making sure the light doesn’t go out Across him, seated on the row of plastic chairs, nestled safely between his wife and his mother, his precious fourteen-year-old daughter was praying hard for her saviour too. It was near his heart. Guilt burned the back of her eyes. Ralph-kun… I blamed you for destroying the peace that we’ve paid with our blood and sweat to get. Yet, you did not leave me alone. You fought by my side. You kept your word. With your life. Is this the root of your men’s loyalty? Three hours ago, when they got to the van, her daughter was a crying mess, her almost naked body would have been in full display if it weren’t for that bloodied jacket. Ralph Virtus was sprawled at the van’s entrance, hanging on by a thread. Chatri had to get in the chopper. Footsteps snapped him back to the silent hallway. The ex-mob leader turned to them and Ralph-kun’s right-hand man was mo
[Juliette’s POV]“My father has brought us to the next level—there’s no doubt about it. But as you can see, the charts do not lie. Lux Corp will not survive the casino’s first quarter if we sit back and do nothing.”I gazed firmly around the room. These so-called shareholders of Lux Corp. I need to break their resistance and knock some sense back into them. The oldest one of the group cleared his throat and muttered in a haughty slow pace, “So what you’re saying is: remove Harold Lux as Chairman and put you in charge.” Another guy quickly added, “We don’t do this sort of thing.” Then, the third man snorted in derision. “I’m actually surprised that you gathered all of us here today without the Chairman. If he gets wind of this—.” “He won’t if none of us talk about it,” I snapped, frustration in my throat. What’s with the surprised looks and frowns of disapproval? Aren’t they as much of a businessman as Papa? Can’t they see the signs? The fucking obvious signs! Suddenly, Papa’s de
[Sarah’s POV]She can’t believe it. The unbeatable, ever invincible Don Ralph—the monster in the devil skin; a heartless murderer with the killer sense of an Olympic shooter; king of the world’s most ferocious mafia groups—is completely useless against an infant that’s less than an hour’s old. If it weren’t for Sarah’s fierce insistence and fearsome glare, he wouldn’t even hold his own child. ‘What if I break his neck?’ whispered the poor man, his eyes unable to stray from the tiny creature in his frozen arms. ‘Stop it,’ snapped the caretaker. ‘Sway gently, and you’ll be fine.’ She glanced at the bed and Juliette, who was sleeping soundly, and then back at the man, who would probably feel as though he’s on top of the world right now. Is he going to cry? ‘So what’s his name?’ asked Sarah, swiftly diverting those tears from crystalising. Without looking up, he muttered, ‘Milo.’ Then, he glanced at his sleeping wife and a proud smile appeared. ‘Milo Virtus. The first of the many.’
[Juliette’s POV]‘I am not selling anything.’ Papa’s eyes were filled with so much distaste, I felt ashamed for calling myself his heir. ‘I’m surprised that I have to remind you of the rules now. You wanted a vacation, and I gave you one. Now, you can’t even remember the simplest thing.’ My mouth opened, my explanation ready like a debate team, but I clamped my lips tight. He doesn’t want to hear anything right now. Right now, he only wants to vent. We’re losing money fast since twenty of our suppliers had suddenly asked for a price review.‘I do remember them, Papa,’ I murmured sourly. ‘Then why are you even suggesting that we sell off our least money-making businesses?’ he demanded angrily. Because that could stop more money from going out! My mind was screaming like a child being blamed for something that she didn’t do. Isn’t it common sense? When things get rough, tighten your pockets! Or is this yet another test? But I’m so done with all the tests! With the baby about to co
[Harold’s POV]SLAM!The sixty-ish fist slammed on the antique desk with the strength of a forty-year-old boxer. Even in his experience, there’s a limit to how much he can take. How did this happen? How did it slip by him unnoticed? The casino. He’d lost track. Damn his old man’s genes. They’re so useless, they made him useless as well. ‘You had no problems with the price for decades. Now, out of the blue you want—not one percent, not two—but a three percent hike?’ His knuckles were paling, bearing all the rage which only kept spiking. The calm voice at the other end of the phone irked Harold further. ‘My apologies, Mr. Lux. But you know how this works—we can’t hold down the price for any longer,’ replied the thirteenth supplier. ‘It’s been three decades since our last review. We hope you understand.’ Everyone wants his understanding. What about theirs? He’s cash strapped! Whose fault is it? If he didn’t build the casino for these bloodsuckers, he wouldn’t be stuck! If they weren’t
[Juliette’s POV]And then it crashed onto me. Like a boulder. I observed those golden swirls in his eyes burning with hurt and that hurt clenched my chest. Utensils down and my mouth wiped, I reached across the table and covered his hand with mine. ‘Growing up, I imagine the Virtuses as cold-blooded monsters,’ I began. Those brown irises dilated with fury, and I slipped my fingers through that large hand and rubbed my skin against his to calm the fire. ‘Because of all the stories I’ve been fed—we’ve all been fed.’ To his tensed jaw, I muttered softly, ‘I must speak for everyone, Ralph.’ ‘You’re not telling me that your father was fed the same story. He came to me with the aim of stealing my family’s land, Juliette.’ ‘I’m not saying—.’ ‘Stop defending him!’ Ralph jerked his hand out of my grasp, fuming. But his eyes never left me, which was a good sign. So immediately, I leaned forward and pleaded, ‘I’m not defending him.’ ‘Then what the fuck are you doing?’ ‘I’m trying to te
[Juliette’s POV]I smiled at the man gently resting his hand on my belly, so careful, so timidly, I almost couldn’t recognise him. Is this Ralph Virtus, the Mafia King? The one whom everyone calls The Devil? The handsome beast with the wits of a chess master. Those cold, fierce eyes were filled with so much fear that I wanted to hug him and squeeze those bad thoughts out of him. Those same golden brown eyes now widened in amazement as they swung up to me. ‘It moved.’ I chuckled and covered his hand with mine. ‘Of course it does, silly.’ He gazed at my stomach, his pupils dilating some more. ‘It’s kicking.’ He looked up, worried. ‘Does it hurt?’ I shook my head. ‘My chest just feels tight when it happens.’ Then, his ears were on my belly, listening intently. As amusing as it was watching his face change colour every second, I can’t help but worry that the next second something will happen to destroy this peaceful moment. As though he read my thoughts, his attention was back on
[Ralph’s POV]‘D…Did you just—I knew it.’ Her eyes were shaking with such low confidence, I almost couldn’t recognise them. ‘You find me annoying now….’ Her hands slid off my chest in defeat. Is this what a baby does to a woman? ‘I did not say that.’ As soon as I heard my voice, I froze again. Shit—that was cold. Quick—correct it. ‘I mean—I don’t mean what I said.’ I tried to grab her hand but missed it. ‘Juliette….’ Her shoulders were shaking too. ‘Jesus… you’re not crying now, are you?’ What? No. That came out wrong again. What the fuck is wrong with me? She spun around in full rage. With tears gushing down her steamed face, she jabbed a finger at my shoulder. ‘YES! I’m crying like a clingy pathetic woman! And whose fault is it? Who put this thing inside me?!’ She pointed at her round belly protruding proudly through her skirt. “WHO?!”I laughed. It was unplanned. Before I knew it, I was already holding my waist to steady myself. My shoulders were shaking, my chest was rumbli
[Ralph’s POV]I blinked at the Hong Kong mob leader and his voice returned. ‘... do you think?’ What were we discussing? Something that reminded me of Juliette and the baby. Of my fears. Of the baby dying inside Juliette’s stomach… or Juliette dying with the baby—yes. We were talking about that old fox and his shady business. My finger stopped tapping. ‘I’m closing all of it down.’ ‘No offence, nong Ralph.’ The Thai leader burst through. ‘My elders love khun Lux. It won’t be easy to shut them down.’ Chinh was frowning too. ‘You close down one, another will pop up. Who’ll say no to money?’‘Money and power,’ mumbled Andrei. ‘I’ve told you before. Harold Lux is well-connected. I can’t have the boys going against me. There are many who’ll have my head and you said that you’ll handle it. So all I have to do is focus on protecting my family from the ollies.’ ‘And this doesn’t change that,’ I repeated firmly. ‘I failed to see how,’ muttered the cool and collected Isamu. ‘Harold-san gi