[Juliette’s POV] Ralph was in Tommy’s playroom—he was cross-legged on the floor while Tommy was lying on his chest cycling those small feet—and they were working on a puzzle together when I entered. “Where does this one go? Oh, there… fantastic, little buddy,” that rich bass cheered gently before the large hands patted the little boy’s head. Tommy looked at his idol with a proud grin. I swallowed my pride and said in a mustered casual tone, “Hey, you two.” Ralph refused to turn to me, whereas Tommy jumped up and flew into my open arms. I hugged him tightly and asked, “How’s Rolfie feeling today?” “Sad. But he said he’s fwine.” Tommy stroked the ends of my long hair and asked, “You made Rolfie mad?” I looked at Ralph who was now shifting the puzzles around, clearly listening to our conversation but trying hard to not give it any attention. “I believe I did.” I closed my eyes and hugged the little boy tightly, hoping to borrow more strength. When I opened my eyes, Ralph
[Juliette's POV]The next morning, when I arrived at the office at eight, Ralph was already in his office. Strangely, even though Ben was now his PA, he was a roving one—he moved around the building and out in the streets. When Ralph needed him, he'd show up. And when the deed was done, he'd disappeared. It was almost like he had a personal teleportation system. So Ben didn't take my desk. But that didn't mean nothing's changed. My desk was shifted inside Ralph's office, facing the door. From where I was positioned, Ralph had the full sight of every movement I made. Such was the Mafia King's idea of 'not letting you out of my sight'. He certainly kept his word: things weren't the same as before. He was much colder and more ruthless to me—and only to me. Anyone in my place would feel absolute remorse and let go of whatever that's been holding the feelings back. Believe me, I really wanted to. But with all that I know, and everything I've been through, I have to choose between
[Juliette’s POV]“Sorry I messed up at the police station. We didn’t get to see Casey Finney,” I murmured and turned my cheek to put my lips on the side of Ralph’s neck. We were still in the CEO’s office, but all dressed up. He was seated in his chair while I was snuggled against him—our fronts moulded into one, with my arms around his neck, chin on his left shoulder, his arms around my waist, making scribbles on my back. “They found him.”I lifted my head off him to face him. “They did? This fast? He’s rather elusive. Hard to catch.” Ralph traced the contours of my left cheek and gazed at my face. “They have help.” The frown was back on my face. “I don’t like her.” He chuckled lightly. “You’re damn honest with everything but how you feel about me.” “Don’t try to change the subject. Do you like her? Even for one bit?” He sighed in exasperation. “No.” I grabbed the sides of his face and then stroked my thumbs across his brows when he asked, “Do you like Luke? Even for one bit.
[Luke’s POV] Luke was in rage. His innocent and naive bunny had become a whore. And it was all Ralph Virtus’s doing. He had turned her into a full time slut—just like the ones who’d been throwing themselves at him… those skimpily dressed nymphs. ARGH!!! A familiar rage burst through like a wild animal from its cage. Luke grabbed the back of Melissa’s head and shoved her forward. “Take it all you bitch,” he hissed and a menacing grin touched his fine lips as a strained gurgling sound slipped from below his waist. He found his release and the slut on her knees drank it all. “Yes…,” he whispered gently, his fingers in her hair massaged her scalp. “Take it all, my slut.” “Mmm!” Melissa squeezed her eyes with a smile and took her last gulp before she released him. Staring up at her Prince Charming, she purred, “I think I’m soaked down there, Luke baby.” “Get up. Put your hands on the wall.” He watched as the girl—his slave—got to her feet and did as he had ordered, and his
[Juliette's POV] I stared at the man holding onto tag 3, on the other side of the two-way mirror—his hair falling defeated in all directions, thick grey crescents under those hooded, lost eyes, and jaw like an unmowed lawn. His stale jacket and creased shirt and pants of outdated design told me he was still in touch with his gambling addiction. "No. 3." "You sure?" Detective Dan asked, slanting his gaze suspiciously at Barbie beside him—posing haughtily as though she was at the end of the runway—then he turned to me. And I nodded. “A hundred percent.” Jewel Virtus coughed a dry chuckled. “Why do you need her to verify what I said? Didn’t I lure him out? Pointed him out to you? I told you that he approached me with a business opportunity and I worked with him. If I didn’t want to get my name off your damn record, I wouldn’t go through all that trouble, wouldn’t I?” The detective scribbled in his small notebook. “No offence.” He lifted a serious gaze at Jewel and then turned t
[Juliette’s POV] “What’re you gonna do, Juliette?” asked Ralph, in an executioner’s non-sympathetic voice. I couldn’t move. Ralph stepped closer. When he spoke again, his voice was slightly gentle but firm. “You can’t panic, Juliette.” “E-easy for you to say…” Pure fear was in my quivering voice. “You’re h-holding the g-gun.” “I know it’s not easy. But you must stay calm.” “But he’s gonna shoot!” “No, he isn’t,” Ralph countered calmly. “He is!” “He will if you show him you’re scared!” Ralph barked. “BUT I AM SCARED!” He inched closer and muttered, “Think, Juliette.” “I CAN’T!” “YOU HAVE TO! YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!” Ralph glowered at me as though he wanted to kill, which… scared the bejesus out of me. I was trembling inside out. “Think, Juliette. Focus on the person, not the situation—who’s got the upperhand?” What kind of a stupid question is that? “HIM!” He’s got the damn gun! “NO, YOU.” I told Ralph that he’s an idiot, with my eyes. He ignored me
[Juliette's POV] “You can’t make me stay!” I cried out in vexation. “I will go to the office tomorrow!” After the ice application, we were back in the dining room for a quick supper. Ralph glared at me. “Half of your face is already swollen, goddamn it! Do you want Jewel to take the other half? What the hell’s wrong with you?” I jolted closer to him, my hands on the table gripping with indignation. “I DON’T WANT YOU NEAR HER!” Tha Mafia King blinked. His face jerked away to stare ahead. A slight tint crept up his cheekbones. “You said that given her response earlier, she’s sure to drop by the office tomorrow. So the more I should be there, shouldn’t I?” I pointed at the crimson handprint on my right cheek. “To return the courtesy!” He swallowed then lowered his gaze and muttered firmly, “You’re no match for her, Juliette. All the women of the Virtus family were taught a trick or two of the martial arts since they were four. That—” He pointed at my raw cheek. “Is evidence.”
[Juliette’s POV]As our tongues battled passionately, my hands slid down from his neck and across his broad shoulders, feeling the contours of those fierce muscles, kneading its firmness. And a groan of pleasure vibrated from his throat. So I moved lower, down the front, to his nipples. I brushed my thumbs across both and his body shuddered a little. He broke apart and whispered huskily, “Fuck, kitten.” I smiled at him and said, “Now I’m going to verify how sweet you taste.” He swallowed anxiously and laid back as I replaced my right thumb with my mouth and teased that tiny bud. His hand came up to the back of my head to guide me on how he wanted to be kissed and touched by my lips, and I followed and learned, and then applied that perfect timing and amount of pressure to his abs. Soon, his moans filled the cocoon of air around us, which was heating up with our bodies. I lifted my face from the side of his hips and looked at him. “I forgot to ask you, Ralph. Does this mean I’
[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