The world seemed like it took a standstill and why wouldn't it? Even I was at a standstill, I could bet my eyes were wide open and I look like I have seen a ghost. But then again, why wouldn't I be stuck to a spot? When a man this gorgeous and breathtaking is standing awfully close to me and looking me directly in the eyes. He bright blue orbs pierced into my hazel ones and looked like they could see right through the ocean of honey colour and bright brown lights. I know it’s the man from outside who helped me get in because of the familiarity of that blue eyes. I saw it only for a moment but it was something I couldn’t forget for a lifetime to come. The cologne that wafted from his body into my nose too was a reminder of how fresh and intoxicating he smelt when I was caught in his hands a moment ago. But most importantly, I knew he was Don Dada because the name was boldly tattooed onto his exposed neck. It made me gulp at the fucking odds of meeting the man I was meant to delive
I lied to myself when I said I was going to forget Don Dada. It had to be the biggest lie I have ever told myself or maybe the biggest lie my heart has ever told me. My heart has told me a couple of lies that I have to believe wholeheartedly only for me to be met with disappointment at the end. Like when I told myself I wasn’t weak and that I could escape from Luciano if only I tried hard. And when I told myself I could lead a normal and decent life if Luciano at least would lets me go. Well he did. And it turns out that all I’m good at is lying to myself. Nothing ever became normal about my life ever since then. I was still the same girl he had in captive for the longest of her life. My heart still wouldn't stop lying to me even at that. Because ever since I left Don's bar and met with Don himself, I’ve not being able to get his face off my mind or anything else about him off of my mind since then. His face appears every now and then when I’m alone and thinking about somethin
I blinked rapidly a couple of times, expecting for the image in front of me to disappear like a mirage and just like a figment of my imagination. Everything in me hoped that none of it were real and that I have started hallucinating and seeing things because of my inability to stop thinking about him.My eyes only stung as I kept blinking my eyes. The image of the person sitting on my chair, in the middle of my room, clad in a all black suit, isn't disappearing like a mirage and no I wasn’t hallucinating, it was as vivid as anything could ever be.My legs stood grounded to the spot by the door , unmoving and suddenly rigid. All of the bravery I summed up, ready to hit the intruder with a mop stick melted out of me as I processed the scene before me. Don Dada is in my room. In my house! My mind raced with a million things that I could possibly do. I contemplated running out of here and shutting the door but this is my house! There was no other place I could run to. Then I thought ag
Nick is at my door. Don is in my house. And me? Well I already jumped out of the sandwich situation Don put me in and I’m freaking out. I ran around the room panicking. Don’s eyes followed me and looked at me as if I was crazy. He seemed so unmoved. So calm about the situation but then again, this is all on me. He has no idea that I lied to my best friend and he has absolutely no idea what his being here could cost me. Nick would get so pissed at me.My brain ran short of all the possible lies I could tell him about a strange man that he has never seen before coming out of my house. The knocks got harder. “Common open up! I’m sorry I’m late, I brought snacks!” Don turned to me. “Aren’t you going to open the door for your girly boyfriend?” He used the same words as Luciano but I was too panicked to ask. “And what? Have him come in here and see you inside my apartment?” I grounded out. “Why cant I be seen?” he queried. His mouth forming a pout. Seriously? How could he no
Whenever Don is this close to me, close enough for noses to touch and for our breathing to mix freely, I lose my sense of reasoning. And I think he knows this too because even if we’ve only being in this kind of situation a few times, he’s always daring so close to me and I can’t decide on one reasonable thing to do whenever he does that. Just like right now. Both of us were cooped up in my tiny closet. I could hear every of the breath he let out and the ones he drew in. His blue eyes was the only thing I could see in the darkness of the closet and they had me trapped in them so much that I couldn’t look away. “What are you doing?” I asked with wild eyes.“You should leave already. Nick left three minutes ago”“Not until I get what I want”“What do you want?’“You”I squinted at him in the darkness. “Forget I asked”At this rate, I am going to conclude that Don is going crazy up there and I won’t sit with him and listen to him say things like that to me. I’ve only known this man
That day when Don left, I felt like he took a piece of me with him because all of a sudden, I felt myself and my resolve crumble all at once. Everything felt so unreal. I woke up a few times in the middle of the night after he left and willed myself to believe that his coming here was just a nightmare and that what transpired between us didn’t happen at all.His smell was everywhere in my room and it left a lingering feeling to stir inside of me.As much as I found Don Dada controlling and manipulative, I couldn’t deny the pull I had to him ever since the first night I met him. The desire had been present right from that night and I couldn’t deny my attraction towards him.I couldn’t deny it and yet I couldn’t admit it to his face when he made his own desires clear to me.I couldn’t deny it but it scared me. It scared the hell out of me in ways that’s more than just one.First off, I have never felt that way with anyone. The giddy feeling, the flip-flops of your belly, the supposed b
“What do you want?”I fired at Luciano.Just the sight of him makes my stomach turn. And the fact that it’s all his fault I had to go meet with Don and now he won’t leave me alone, annoys me. Yet he just shows up by the road where I and Nick stood waiting to call a cab, in a fancy car. It’s the first time I’ve seen him outside of my apartment after all these years. And it made me wonder what caused the sudden change of him appearing in a car and stopping by me at the side of the road.Beside me, I could feel the rage and anger that radiated off Nick’s body. Nick has only seen him a few times and he never ceases to get crazily mad at him each time. I can even say he hates his guts more than I do. But Luciano as expected wasn’t moved by both our glares that was pinned on him. His eyes was trained on me.“Hello to you , Claire”He said ignoring my question from earlier. I rolled my eyes at him. I didn’t know what it was that he wanted from me but deep down, I hope it doesn’t involve wan
"Ha bambina, I thought you'd never come""So? Aren't you happy I did? It's what you want isn't it? To take advantage of my desperation".I fired at him.He might not be the current cause of my misfortune and I should probably direct my anger and frustration somewhere else but he was the only one I could think of firing and directing all of my anger at.My heart was full of so much hatred and hurt that I didn't know who else to take them out on. And since he's no better than the devil who did this to me, then he might as well be at the receiving part of my anger.He shook his head, still unmoving from his seat."Questa Ragazza, always having ideas in your head. You've got it all wrong Bambina. I didn't force you to come here though I contemplated it when you didn't show up for days" he stopped and chuckled."But once again, Gattino, I am a very patient man. My patience paid off". He stretched a hand to gesture towards me. "Here you are, on your own" *(Questa Ragazza means "this girl")
Romano's POV "And what the fuck is wrong with me going to my wife's party and kissing her?" Don bellowed.It was the next day, he wouldn't let me come into the room all through the night. I knew he had sneaked into that party and Claire was right."What is risky about showing my identity?""Because the news might get to a certain person who put you in this condition and you're not in the exact position to exert the revenge you want on him." I barked also.He was silent, for some while, before he finally opened his door. "Tell me all about this certain person? Is he a threat to my marriage?""Don, if you had enough rest like you were told, you probably would have remembered my now. Brad specifically said your memory would come in days, but you're stressing too much and making things worse."He paced the room for a minute and then turned back to me. "You're fucking my sister" he bellowed angrily, and that caught me unaware.He grabbed me by the trousers, almost squeezing my scrotum. "Do
Claire's PovDon!It was Don. No one else kissed like that, no one else gripped me in such a way. His scent, no one else had it. I was hallucinating, right? Don was dead. It has been months. I needed to get this off my mind. But no, I couldn't. Even if I wanted to, tonight wasn't the right time because I felt his body, his build, only one had that.I had just taken Davidson to the toilet and dropped him off with his Nanny when I was heading back inside for the birthday party. It was time I announced Don's death to his friends, but now my mind had been changed.I ran towards Romano when I saw him coming with Elyse. "Don" I panted. Elyse came over to my side, easing my breathing."What happened?" Romano asked."I saw Don. I met…I…it was Don…he kissed me. I recognize his smell, he's…Don""Claire, be calm," Elyse said. "You said you kissed who?" She asked with a little frown on her face like she couldn't believe what I said and was concluding I had made out with someone else."I promise
Don's Pov"You cannot go!" Romano yelled. He had been doing a lot of yelling lately and I didn't like it. "Don, look" his voice was back to normal and calm now. "No one can see you like this. I already informed you, your memory first before stepping out of here" he said."Why don't you just tell me what happened? I trust you.""Brad asked me not to. You need to remember yourself. You know all the details, the anger would be fueled in you if you remember yourself."What anger? Why did I need to be angry? Did something bad happen? He wouldn't tell me."It is my wife's birthday today. There is a party and you asked me not to go. I am not hurt anymore, I am healing from the wounds, what else is making me stay back? Claire would be delighted to see me!"All my efforts in convincing Romano proved futile. In minutes, he had dashed out of the house for Claire's party. I shared this treatment and hated that I couldn't see any of my family. I needed to remember something. To fucking remember w
Claire’s POV I sat in front of my mirror, doing my routine skin care as usual. A pregnant woman still had to look pretty and peng. Tomorrow is my birthday, by the way. Intermittently, I caressed my bump, feeling how rounded and big it was. I also couldn't wait for my baby boy to get here. My EDD was due anytime soon. I just hope it doesn't happen tomorrow. Just as I reached out to grab a pimple popper from the vanity table, my phone on the bed rang. That should be the baker. We had agreed that she should deliver the cake today so that there would be no unnecessary delay tomorrow. Only my hair stylist and makeup artist were going to come tomorrow as early as possible. By the way, the dress I was going to wear tomorrow was also ready. I couldn't wait. Before I could push the stool backwards and fetch my phone, the ringing was already exhausted. Fortunately, whoever the caller was called again and I picked up on the second ring. It was Davidson. “Hellooooo, Claire!” Her cheerful voic
Romano's POV I was back with Brad and we both watched and listened, waiting for Don to start talking. It seemed kind of difficult at first because it looked like he was putting a strain on his ability to remember but eventually, he began to talk. Brad stood nearby, concern written all over his face. “Take your time, Don. We’re here for you” He encouraged, his voice reassuring. I nodded in agreement, eager to hear him speak already, so we would know how far his recovery had gone. Don’s eyes closed for a while, then fluttered open some moments after. “I remember, Claire. She was my wife. I remember her scent. It was like….fresh flowers, maybe lilacs, or even lilies” He recalled. My heart swelled with emotion. He was indeed getting better. “Okay, what else do you remember?” I pressed, hoping to hasten his ability to respond He closed his eyes, trying to struggle. But Brad calmed him. "It's okay. Perhaps you remember something about a lodge?" He asked.He was stretching his memory
Don’s POV Darkness, light, darkness, and then light again. My eyes flickered open as I saw the ceiling of where I was. This wasn't anything like…Wait…The banging in my head and a buzz ringing in my ears and I had to lay back. There was an oxygen tank beside, it wasn't just that, a lot of other medical equipment followed.This wasn't our honeymoon, was it? I tried to search my memory for how I got here. The thing I could remember was a group of men attacking us on our way to the helicopter on the rooftop.Claire and I had planned to go for our honeymoon and, I was… attacked, shot in the arm. Claire had been bleedingI slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in the view of the room I was in. Everything was a blur. I had no idea where I was or how I got there. My mind was a complete blank.I tried to sit up, but dizziness washed over me again, forcing me back onto the pillow. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths to calm myself down.As I lay on the bed, feeling lifeless, I started to
Claire's POV "Why are you here?" I asked when I opened the door to my room. "How did you get in here Salvatore? How did you find me?"His eyes, were softer this time. "Somehow, I found you, Claire."My heart raced when he began to unbutton his shirt. "I was a fool to be upset with you. You did all you could to stay away from me and I have no judgements. I was wrong, Claire, I was."As he spiked, all I wanted to know was how he found me in the penthouse. Or was this the penthouse? As I turned back to look at where we were, the room changed - into Salvatore's room.I was confused… but Salvatore's voice brought me back. "I know you want me Claire" he had pulled his short this time. "And I want you too" he approached me, trailing his hand on my body.I was wearing my light nightwear. "Don't be scared, Claire* he said.In a swift move, Salvatore cocked my head to the angle he wanted and kissed me hard. Hard and rough. His tongue devoured mine, seeking authority. Surprisingly, I kissed ba
Claire's POV I knew Elyse suggesting that we should go to Romanthe's house to discuss a baby shower was a ploy to see her man.Getting to his entrance, I caught both of them giving each other a familiar look and a blush on Romano's face. His gaze met mine and I raised my eyebrows, not believing Romano could blush.He ushered us in without hesitation and offered us a glass of juice."So, what's the plan for the baby shower?" Romano asked."We were thinking of renting a multi-purpose hall," I said. "But then we thought, maybe it would be better to have it, at your house, Romano," I said, according to Elyse's idea."My house? Why's that?" Romano asked."Well, it's a family celebration, and we thought it would be more intimate and cozy at your house," Elyse said. "Plus, it's a lot safer than a public hall.""That makes sense," Romano said. "My house it is, then." Was he responding only because Elyse wanted it to?"Great," I said. "We can set up the backyard or the living room or whatever
Claire's POV"I'm so excited for the baby shower," Elyse said, looking up at me with a smile. "We need to start planning the details. What's your theme? Have you thought about games and food?"Elyse and I were resting on the couch in the penthouse, enjoying a lazy afternoon together. We'd just finished lunch, and Elyse couldn't get over her excitement about the baby shower I was planning.I laughed. "Slow down, Elyse. I've barely had time to think about it. But I do know I want something simple and intimate. Maybe just close friends and family."I was almost due…oh, I could feel this baby coming and I was excited at the thought of going into labor and birthing Don's son.Elyse nodded. "That sounds perfect. And I've already started thinking about baby names. I have a few favorites for a boy."I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What are they?"Elyse grinned "Well, I think 'Atticus' is a great name. Or maybe 'Ethan'?"I chuckled. "Those are both nice names. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. W