[Juliette’s POV] Didn’t take long for them to find me. But I can’t make it easy for them. Or they’ll know. They’ll know that Ben is coming back with help. I swam on. I worried that the boat might ram into me. I might get a head concussion and die. Or worse, lose my memory… and forget Ralph. Even so, I kept pushing through the currents. Moving my arms and legs. Is this how Ralph felt back then? Trying so hard, doing whatever he could, just to move forward by an inch. Even if it was less than an inch, he kept moving, going, trudging on, pushing forward. A strong shove on my back. And then, four strong arms came around my waist and underarms, and I was hauled up—fresh air rushed into my lungs and then—. ‘The Don’s wife!’ A rough voice shouted. ‘It’s Don Ralph’s wife!’ ‘Goddamn it!’ My wrists were pressed together. ‘We need to get to the boss asap!’ A cable tie came around my skin. Then, a soft zipping sound and my hands were bound. Tightly. This is it. ***** [Ben’s POV] As
[Ralph's POV] I stood in front of the speedboat, and in a flash, guns were out, their barrels shining under the early noon sun. They know who I am. And they are worried and scared. Yet they still point their weapons at me. They must've sensed a threat equal to mine. I've underestimated Alfeo. I should've known better than to mess with his daughter. I could've just gotten that girl with me on this trip, have her convince her father to let Juliette go. But I can't have that fifteen year old see this. It's already tough having a father who sells drugs for a living. She deserves the peaceful normal life she has now. I stared at the black circles in front of the anxious faces. 'I know you're being forced into this. I won't take this to heart.' I raised both hands and flashed my palms to show that I'm unarmed. 'Take me to your boss and you have my word, you'll stay alive after this. And you'll get a normal job with the family.' The two men on the boat and the other four men s
[Ralph’s POV] Fucking bastard. He’s trying to get a reaction from me. I should give it to him. Humour him so I can distract him and find a way to get the women out. ‘How about me?’ Alfeo was as shocked as seeing a man naked and twirling himself around a pole. ‘What da fuck are you suggesting, Don?’ He cackled even harder and glanced at Juliette. ‘In front of your wife? You sure?’ ‘Come on, Alfeo.’ I fixed my gaze on the face that would soon crush under my knuckles. ‘You have a lot of grievances. No amount of drugs can hide it. I give you the third option—me. Do whatever you want for five minutes.’ Something clicked in his eyes. ‘Five minutes is a very long time—I can find out the taste of your woman in five minutes.’ Sick bastard. ‘Or you can beat the shit out of me—cut off my legs or some fingers—or even my balls—in five minutes.’ ‘NO!’ Juliette screamed in horror. ‘Choose Jewel! Just choose her, goddamn it, Ralph!’ SLAP!—my jaw clenched hard—the junkie bulged his angry
[Juliette’s POV]BANG! Explosion burst my ear. Earthquake shook me. And then freeze. I’m hit! I’m going to die! ‘ARGH!!!’ A bellow of rage and pain tore my ear drums. Then—. ‘I said NO ONE MOVE!’ And the rain of footsteps halted. ‘HANDS UP WHERE I SEE THEM!’ ‘MY HAND! YOU FUCKING PIECE OF—-!’ BANG!‘ARGH!!! ARGH!!!’ I covered my ears, my body trembling with raw fear and pain. Where’s the pain? I should feel it. On my back. He was behind me. I felt a gun pointing at my back—. ‘Juliette.’ A deep voice and then heavy breathing. ‘Juliette. It’s alright. Look at me.’ Ralph! I jerked up and pain shot to my eyes. ‘Urgh….’ A groan slipped through. Then, I realised that even my lips were quivering. My hand was already on the back of my head. ‘He shot me….’ ‘No, he didn’t.’ Ralph reassured me in a calm voice—but I could detect intense worry beneath it. ‘Pain.’ I winced again. And he reached to the back of my head. ‘Jesus… you hit him hard. You whack him in the face, remember?’ Oh—
[Juliette’s POV] ‘I’ll see you later.’ Ralph took a step forward— and I crashed into his back, my arms around his waist, hugging him tight. He stiffened and spun around his waist. ‘For God’s sake, Juliette! Are you trying to give me a new headache?!’ ‘Stay, please. For a while more.’ I snuggled my face into his shirt, inhaling his masculine scent, and he relaxed with a helpless sigh and covered my hands with his. Finally, he got to scoop me up in his arms. Mine went back around his neck and I clutched onto him and buried my face into the crook of his neck. ‘Didn’t you say you’re handling it alone?’ He tried to lay me down on the bed but I wouldn’t let him go. I could feel something coming and it made me scared. I need him to be around. ‘Juliette….’ I rubbed my forehead against his collar. He sighed again and laid down with me. I snuggled into his embrace and his body covered mine like a blanket. I clamped his legs with mine and heard a chuckle above my head. ‘I’m sorry,’
[Ralph’s POV]As soon as I stepped off the limousine, Randy’s housekeeper greeted me—a man as old as Margaret but twice as crafty—those eyes, the eyes of a vulture, they never miss a detail. So I’m always on alert whenever I visit this place. ‘Good evening, Don Ralph.’ The thin lips spread into a condescending smile. Fuck this old man—he’s using my name to differentiate me from my father because he sees a difference. I kept my chin high and focused on the entrance to the mansion. ‘I’m here to see—.’ ‘Master Randy is in Miss Jewel’s quarters, Sir. You may have to come back later.’ I scoffed at the marble floor my feet were stepping on then turned my cheek casually to flash an ordinary kind smile at the elderly—the kind that would pissed him off. ‘I have not met a staff of the Virtus clan who would order the head of the clan around.’ I purposefully left out his name, to show him its insignificance. ‘Perhaps it’s your wish for me to remember your name?’ I heaved a sigh and chuckle
[Ralph's POV]Cold water from the shower rained hard on me. I needed it. The reminder of my cruel reality; one where I was doubted; one where my possessions were ripped from my palms; one where everyone got their benefits from burning me alive. Ever since Juliette, I seemed to have forgotten the violent streak in my family line. The belief that violence will and can solve anything is hard wired in every single person down the bloodline. Who am I to change it? BANG!I glared at my palm flattened on the slick walls. All those eyes devouring what belonged to me. It's mine. Juliette is mine. That soft, flawless skin is meant for my eyes only. WHAM!Pain shot from my knuckles to my skull, but it was useless. The urge to kill was still strong. *****I threw the towel on the sink counter and moved to the exit of the bathroom of the presidential suite. Fuck, I miss her. I want her to imprint on my skin, become a part of me. Sick. The door slid open and I entered the living room. Yo
[Randy's POV]'Ke, ke, ke…!' The limped figure in the shadows cackled a satisfied laugh. 'She's finally come to her senses.'Randy didn't like this, her baby girl being used as a fucking pawn by a pathetic druggie—he raised his daughter to be a princess, not some fucking rag—and a rag for the likes of a rat from the gutters. He nodded and the black suit tore open a tiny bag of cocaine.White powder sprinkled right between the dirty toes of the badly battered creature. Instantly, the desperation sprung into life—his feet kicking and clawing in fierce hunger. Shackles of the other retrained limbs clanked furiously like gunshots. 'ARGH!!! GIVE ME THAT!' Saliva spurt from the lips trembling with sheer need. A smirk appeared on the clean aged face. Randy removed the cigarette from his lips and smoke blew through the metal bars of the cage that imprisoned the junkie. Then, the smirk spread into a satisfied smile. 'Gotta applaud your guts, Alf.' The tip of his leather shoes crushed out
[Juliette’s POV]”Jesus Christ….” Ralph stared in wide shock at the truth revealed in Elizabeth Lux’s handwriting. His shock was as good as mine. I realised my mouth was agape and closed it, my shock finally ingested in a gulp and an inhale. I found my voice and muttered, “She had his baby.” I turned to Ralph and swallowed again to maintain my voice. “Milo’s not the first.” I grabbed Ralph’s sleeves and shook him out of his daze. “Milo’s not the first to have the Lux and Virtus blood! Do you know what this means?” The swell in his throat finally came alive, bobbing nervously between the collar of his freshly put on shirt, and he murmured with heightened worry. “This means Milo is in grave danger.” I felt my face fall deadpan. That wasn’t what I had in mind. “No, silly! Milo isn’t the first. That means he’s safe! Daddy wouldn’t mind having him.” I pointed at the journal. “Daddy knows this all along—.” “And he hates it.” Ralph’s fierce gaze bore into mine, trying to make me see what
[Ralph’s POV]And I slid my fingers through hers. I pinned her hands above her wonderful expression of bliss to sink deeper into her. She wrapped around me unconditionally while I stroked her the way she wanted, stretching her desires beyond that cliff so she’d want—no—burn for that tip. I pushed in further, driving her body to the brink of madness as our lips almost touched, my nipples pressing hard against hers, grinding, yearning for her the same ways her blood boils for me. “How badly do you want me, kitten?” I licked her quivering, intoxicated upper lip. I knew the answer, but I couldn’t help but tease her. My damn, damn pride. Her insides were hot like lava, twitching fiercely with a need for me to move. But her slender thighs were wedged securely between our warm bodies so she was completely immobilised, afraid that the slightest touch would take away everything, and she didn’t want that. So she resorted to hiking that sweet voice of hers. “Ralph, please!” I seized her
[Juliette’s POV]“Don’t worry, Miss Julie!” Thomas’ voice rang as the car bolted forward. “No one will know a thing!” Outside the window was pitch darkness. Even the headlights were off so that they wouldn’t be spotted. “You’ll be killed if Papa finds out,” I murmured, my heart racing as fast as the car. Thomas chuckled. “I’ll be fine, Miss Julie. There’s one thing I know for sure about Master Lux: he doesn’t care about small fries like us.”I felt my lips curled up in a smile. That’s true. Papa wouldn’t even know of Thomas’ existence. “But he’ll know when a car’s missing.” I sighed. “We’re so fucked. We’ll be discovered. And we’ll both have to pay for it—.” God, I’m whiny. “This is a gift, Miss Julie. From Mr. Ralph!” Thomas proudly patted the steering wheel. “The old Master hasn't visited the garage since his return. I bet you a hundred dollars, he doesn't know about this baby. Besides, it’s mine. I don’t put it with the other cars he used. So he’ll never know.” So this is wh
[Juliette’s {POV]He raised a brow. “Was?” And I nodded. “Before my vacation.” I looked down at my feet, the way I always do when I regret my actions. “I was struggling… I’m sure you can tell–I mean, you know… I couldn’t tell what’s real. I was living a lie for so long that I had started to believe it.” “That’s why you asked for a vacation.” A statement that sounded like a question, Papa’s condescending way of telling someone that he knows better. And I ran along with it. “Yes.” “And your head is clear now.” “Never been clearer.’ I glanced at Agatha who’d been standing behind Papa, her knowing gaze told me she'd laid the groundwork. So I casually explained, “That’s why I got curious, Papa. Ralph had access to everything you owned, including this room. And I remember how much you treasure this place.” The scepticism was still locked in his gaze but my confidence didn’t falter like before. “That’s why you never let anyone in. Only Agatha cleans this place, and she’s always supervi
[Ralph’s POV]“A break in?” Robert gasped, and anxiety was banging against my skull, threatening to burst through. “Goddamn it, Ben!” I roared. “What the fuck is wrong with you? We use it, we throw it away. It’s just a fucking burn phone—you didn’t use one, did you? You kept a second phone.”“It was for Jewel.” There was regret in his voice. But I couldn’t let it go. “And you left it in the office? Can you be any dumber? Now two lives are in danger because of you!” “ME?!” He finally flew off the handle. “You let the love of my life take care of your stupid child! Do you know how dangerous that is? That child’s a fucking shooting target!” My eyes turned murderous. “What the fuck did you just say?” Suddenly, Ben was as calm as he’s ever been. “I was wrong. I apologise.” At my silence, he continued, “I know you can’t chill” “The fuck I can.” My voice was running on its own. “So I won’t ask. But listen, will you? A shadow’s already on his way.” My fingers raged through my hair, sh
[Harold’s POV] “So he was there.” The owner of Lux empire, known to all as the Business King, Harold Lux, was tapping his finger on the antique desk back in his office at Lux Corp, listening to the P.I. reporting on the voice speaker of his phone, when rage took over. “And my daughter was there.” His voice was unusually calm. But his best friend and veteran lawyer, Jerry, could detect the livid undertone, and a sigh of exasperation let out into the air. His old brows slowly gathered. “Did they meet?” What a question. Of course, they did. Of course, they would! Harold’s fingers gathered into a clutch—within it, is Ralph Virtus’ neck. After the flipping of pages, the P.I.’s voice was back on. “No.” Everything slid off those tensed shoulders. Harold leaned forward, interested for the first time. “Are you sure?” More pages flipped to highlight the professionalism and then the voice returned. “Positive. She stayed in her villa. He stayed in his.” “And you surveille
[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.’