[Juliette’s POV] Oh God.... He was embedded deep inside me as I straddled him in the middle of the enormous bed, our bodies locked tightly together, my arms around his neck and his around my back. My body felt so hot and numbed with electrifying bliss, I could hardly hold myself up and had to lean against him for support as we kissed long and hard. Finally, Ralph tore his lips away and pressed his forehead against mine. We gazed into each other's eyes as our warm breaths mingled. "Ralph…," I whispered breathlessly, barely able to form a sentence in my head, much less remember how long ago since he took my clothes off. "What is it, kitten?" he asked hoarsely. "Please…," I pleaded, not knowing what I was begging for. His gaze grew fiercer. "Shall I stop?" No! My mind screamed. But this slow pace is killing me! I need him to go…. "Faster…," I squeezed out a tiny sigh. "I can't, kitten." His gaze darkened. "You made me wait so long… It’s only fair that I savour every bit
[Juliette’s POV]“I wanted to play a trick on Margaret,” I lied under my breath. His eyes grew in bewilderment. Hastily, I jumped into explaining. “I know it’s childish of me—.” “Goddamn right it is!” “Well, she started it!” And I told him everything that has happened to me in the past three days, the pranks and the meals I’ve missed because of them. As I talked, Ralph calmly sipped on his wine and listened wholeheartedly. “...so I hid myself in the one place she wouldn’t think I’d be, hoping to send her into a frenzy. I swear I was about to leave when I heard you and Ben coming in.” He snorted a chuckle. “So you hid in the store.” “That was a store?” I jokingly pretended to be surprised. “No wonder it smelled weird.” His right brows raised in pique. “There are no dead bodies in there, if that's what you're insinuating.” I hastily clarified, "I wasn't insinuating that." We gazed at each other with the same curiosity and compassion, and then arrived at an even understanding.
*WARNING: This chapter contains explicit mention and disturbing descriptions of violence.*[Juliette’s POV]I arrived at Ralph’s side and finally saw Mandy Virtus—and he reminded me of Papa’s pompous ass business partners; those who brag and bray but never sign a damn deal because they’re too scared to commit. Standing in the middle of the lobby like the conductor of an orchestra of men in black suits and shades, with both hands grabbing each side of his hips like a runway model, Mandy bore an uncanny resemblance to Sandy Virtus. Except for his Beethoven white hair, Mandy is what would become of Sandy should he finally switch to a diet of human food and sunbathing. I bit my lower lip to contain a giggle. Goddamn it, Juliette! Not now!“Good morning, Mandy,” Ralph’s deep voice thickened the airwaves. Instantly, all sound and movement halted, even the slightest twitch of a muscle. I swallowed my giggle, while Mandy looked as though he had just witnessed his own death. And then he
*WARNING: This chapter contains explicit mention and disturbing descriptions of violence.*[Juliette’s POV]That grin on Ralph’s face says he had indeed murdered those people in cold blood. But, I refused to believe it. Something just didn’t add up. I turned back to Mandy, and he was back to being the Devil’s minion—small, insignificant, and very much defeated. As the Mafia King moved towards his direction, I could tell that he already regretted taking the stage. But Ralph was focused on Big Nose. “What choice do I have, Nostriano?” his deep voice rumbled calmly. So the nickname ‘Big Nose’ wasn’t because of an abnormally large nose but the combination of a large stature and an mafia-inefficient four-syllable name. Then, his face fell grim. “You made a promise to me, and you broke it. And I’ve told you, every action requires a payment.” “But that’s my family!” squalled Big Nose, using every bit of his remaining strength to break free from the men holding onto him. If he wasn’t
*WARNING: This chapter contains mention of violence and drugs.* [Sandy’s POV] “You dumbass piece of shit!!!!” I roared at that chicken face of my stupid younger brother, standing at the entrance of my living room. In a fit of anger—and possibly the effects of cocaine—I flung the thing in my hand at him. A crystal glassware lasered past his shut eyes, hit the door, and smashed into a million bullets of glass shards that struck him repeatedly like a machine gun. “Steeerike Three!!” I cackled hard, bowing over to release the giggles. “... AAH!!” Cries and grunts of pain pierced my ears. “Umph! Argh!... My finger!” “Shut up, Mandy!” I straightened my back and glared at the man on the carpet floor, crouching and trembling like a baby. Two men appeared to help him up but I held up a palm to stop them. “Let the baby feel the pain!” I stomped over and placed the tip of my shoes on his cheek and pressed it down, steadily and firmly. “Feel it, Mandy. Feel it, so you’ll never forget th
[Juliette’s POV] Ralph glanced at me and then back at the road ahead. “That’s not the look I expected,” he said as the sports car zoomed through the beautiful scenery of the sky-scraping mountains resting amidst the calm forest, covered by the strong blaze of the late morning. But nature couldn’t stop the vexation in my chest from turning into a hulk of frustration. I felt the scowl on my face, and I didn’t give a shit about it. I could sense Ralph taking quick glances at me in the next two minutes of silence until he finally asked again, “Aren’t you glad that I’m taking you home?” “Didn’t someone say that I’m a Virtus now, and the place that I just left is my home?” I retorted grouchily. His jaw clenched, and he fell back into silence for another three minutes. We exited the landscape of natural serenity and entered an expressway that cuts through a vast flatland of yellow parched grass, swaying unanimously and acquiescently. And all of a sudden, the sports car swerved
[Juliette’s POV] Ralph remained silent. “Ralph!” I cried out in frustration and cursed in my head, what’s with the hesitation, damn it! “It’s confidential, Juliette!” He was gripping the wheel as tight as the veins on his arms were showing. “I don’t believe this.” I slumped into my seat with crossed arms and the look of grouch. Then, an idea came to me and I jolted upright. “Tell me the parts that aren’t confidential. How about that?” He glanced at me like I was both brilliant and crazy, then snorted in disbelief with a smile. “Alright, Juliette. You win this time.” It felt like I won because he let me. But I’ll take it. “So what is it?” I asked eagerly. He pondered for a quiet moment until his eyes lit up in recollection. “You may not like this… but it was actually your father who came to me with the contract.” I opened my mouth to refute it but then closed it again. What proof do I have to argue that Papa didn’t? Having a business connection with that dubious Micke
[Juliette’s POV] “Because it’s a McLaren,” he explained softly. “And she’ll be upset if we soiled her leather seats.” She? I blinked a few more times. He feminised his car? Frustration shooting up fast in my chest. I frowned. "You mean you'll get upset if we dirty the seats." "It's all the same," he said with a boyish grin. I groaned inwardly. What’s up with guys and cars! “I can’t believe you chose this car over me.” He flinched, looking slighted. “It’s not just any car, Juliette.” “Oh, so we’re back to ‘Juliette’, huh?” I groaned in annoyance and lifted myself off him to crawl back to my seat, when his hands landed on the side of my thighs to stop me. I glared at him like a disgruntled wife. “Oh, you changed your mind now? I’ve already lost the mood, RALPH.” Chuckling, he caressed my cheeks tenderly and said, “Let’s take a stroll.” Irritation pulled my features into a deadpan look. “Along the dusty highway? No, thank you.” “In the daisy field, kitten.” He presse
[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