[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
[Juliette’s POV]I felt confrontational, yet, somehow, I found myself spreading my lips into a smile before lifting it to him. "Very funny," I remarked sarcastically. His brows knitted in concern. "OK. Let's hear it. What's wrong with my idea?"Strangely, irritation seeped in. I chuckled to hide it. "Nothing's wrong with it, silly." His brows arched in the same astonishment that widened my gaze. Silly? I chastised myself. What are you gonna call him next—sweetheart?I blinked and was back to staring at the table top. Ralph lowered his voice slightly as he spoke. "Juliette, is there something you're not comfortable with? If there is, spit it out now."God, I groaned inwardly. Here goes. I looked up with a sweet smile and battered my lashes. "So how was that?"He was back to squinting at me. "I was practising." I glanced at my finger adjusting the fork slightly, then looked up again. "We're supposed to be 'very much in love', aren't we?"Those brown eyes studied me as he slowly r
[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.’