Matteo’s Pov The last seventy two hours has been the most excruciatingly painful hours to say the least. After my takeover was announced, I had to travel to all the warehouses owned by the Denaro's. After that was done, I had to meet up with very prominent men and business partners and those fuckers couldn't keep their mouths shut about my wife. Lately, it seems to be her face and name everywhere. I've made every attempt to avoid her as much as I can which seemed to be working until she flashed me with her tits. Fuck. That fucking bitch. First, she lies and now she's invading my thoughts in the most unholy ways. I was supposed to return a day before but made a decision to visit my underground fighting ring. I had to go get myself involved in an extremely physical activity in hopes that it helps me forget my wife whom I'm not supposed to be thinking of. But the thoughts of her still remain. Jesus Fucking Christ. Now back in Sicily, I decide to go home fingers crossed t
Mirabella's PovFor a moment there, I was beginning to think that Matteo felt any sort of attraction towards me but all of it; that night was a lie.I wonder why I allowed myself get carried away.Exactly one week since he walked into my room and touched me in ways that lit a certain kind of fire in my soul, Matteo has put in extra effort in making certain we don't cross path.Such an asshole.He instructed that my personal guard makes certain I remain on my own side of the mansion at all times. Went as far as instructing my maid to make sure every meal of the day is served to me in my room.All this effort and rules just so he's unable to see my face.First, he leaves me high and dry, and now he's making sure to rub his rejection of me all over my face.I hate my fucking self.Today has been exceptionally quiet and peaceful around the estate. Peace and quiet that gets me thinking about the possibility of Matteo not being present.I smile at the thought of it. Finally, I can move arou
Matteo's Pov There's been a lot of changes. Changes that I do not desire. My wife. . .she's something; something that'd ruin me if I'm not careful enough. I've done everything humanly possible to keep my distance from her, still there's no running away from her. She's my shadow and I can no longer deny the fact. But like I said, I'm not a fool. And eyes don't lie. I know and I see it in Mirabella's eyes that she's tired. Tired of keeping up her act, tired of the lies and everything in between. She wants to open up to me but she seems scared of what my reaction might be. Nonetheless, I wanted her to come to me. I want her to come to me. I must be a fool, expecting that she'd come clean to me. But no, my wife decides that the only way out of her devious ways is to seduce me. Like I said, Marcelo and everything related to him are one in the same. Fucking lying, deceitful piece of shits. Instead of telling the truth, she decides to let me touch her in very unholy ways. And for wha
Matteo's Pov That feeling of dread. The knowing that things are about to change drastically and there's no way out of it except embracing that change even if it would cost your life. That's what I feel as I board the yacht with the boys. The crew members welcome us on board and lead us straight to the cabin where we'd meet with the Colombians to talk business. The smoke from their burning cigarette sticks fills the room as we walk in, naked girls walking around and taking whatever disgusting treatment those fuckers dish them. Strippers sliding up and down the strip poles and a good number of the men and women drugging themselves up to a point of unconsciousness. What the fuck. I clench my jaw and manage to remain as polite as I can be as I greet their Capo. "I hope this isn't the reason I was invited out for this meeting; getting drugged up and cruising around the Mediterranean." Irresponsible fuckers. If I wasn't so taken by my wife's body, I'd be more than happy to have some
Mirabella's PovTwenty four hours.Forty eight hours.Seventy two hours.I should be named as an accurate time keeper by now.Fuck!I heave out a sigh of distress as I pace back and forth in my room.Nerve racking.That is the only description I have for how the last few days has been. Seventy two hours since Matteo walked out the front door and he's not walked back in.There's no explanation to how I'm feeling but I'm feeling it. Every form of discomfort and worry, like a lump caught up in my throat, like my heart is unable to beat at its normal rhythm. Like a strong conviction that something has gone terribly wrong.Thinking about it, what business meeting takes this long to conclude?It’s stupid. I’m stupid. But somehow, I’m worried sick for my husband and I’ve cursed myself out more times than I can count for it but my worries are not just going away.My feet slap against the floor as I make my way out to my balcony. I pull the double door wide open and take a long calming breath
Mirabella's PovThe last few minutes was me getting ready to commence surgery. I scrubbed, put on my gloves, sterilized the surgical tools I’ll be needing, checked Matteo’s blood pressure and Airway to be certain that I’m on the green side.Pretty decent, and it’s time to go big or go home.I clean Matteo up and disinfect the areas around his wound. “Hey,” I lean down and speak in a hushed tone and he grunts in response. “You’ve held your ground so far but I need you to do this with me. In no time, we’ll get that little shit out of you, okay? Just breathe and stay awake; you stay in control of the pace at which you breathe, hmm? You can do that, can you not?” I ask and he slightly nods his head and muffles a ‘yes’.Good.“I need O Negative blood available; we need to commence blood transfusion. He’s obviously lost a lot,” I say to no one in particular but Pablo speedily leaves the room to go grab as many blood bags as he can.“Matteo, make sure to stay awake, talk to me if you have to
Mirabella's PovThirty six hours; that’s how long it has been since I performed a successful surgery on Matteo. Successful because he woke up a few hours later and was responsive to touch and everything in between. However, he went back to sleep after that and hasn’t woken up until now.It doesn’t bother me. He’s as stable as can be and his blood work came back clean.I’ve been by his side the last twenty four hours, unable to shut my eyes or take my hands off him. I know he’s stable but there’s an intense feeling to hold on to him just to be sure.“Matteo?” I call out his name in a questioning manner when he let out a groan in his sleep. He whimpers as a tear rolls down the side of his face. I clean it off with my thumb. Matteo’s grip on my hand tightens and I wince as I get off my seat, leaning down so that my face is inches away from his.“Are you okay?” I pat his hair and his body somewhat convulses as he mumbles a few words under his breath.“No, no, no. What did I do? Bianca!” H
Mirabella's Pov I jerk awake with a wince. Slowly but steadily, my eyes begin adjusting to the environment and I find myself completely naked, hands bound to the headboard of a bed. I pull on the cuffs but It's tightly secured against the headboard. I pull harder and harder until the cuffs scrape my skin, causing me to cry out in pain. "You're pathetic," a voice mocks from the shadows and I halt my movement, waiting for someone to appear. A minute turns into two then into three but there's still no movement; anticipation almost causes my blood pressure to reach its all time high. “So fucking pathetic.” The light in the room is turned on revealing my father and sister; naked. Jesus. "Annabella, what are you doing?" My heart begins pounding so hard that I hear its rhythm. I choke at the sight before me. Why am I naked? In the same room where my sister and father are naked? My mind turns into a madhouse. "Oh my. . .did you?" I look down at my bare body and back to my father and si
Mariana’s Pov“Why did you bring me here?”My voice is accusing as I ask the question, my eyes tight, void of emotions. Alejandro’s Adam's apple bobs, an indication that a thick lump just slid down his throat.Then he smiles. He doesn’t know it, but the smile seems forced. “I’ve told you a million times, Mariana,” he says, his tone firm, robotic, “I want us to live freely for at least one week.”And that’s how I know he’s lying.Alejandro might be dangerous, but he has a casual persona. The type of man to wear a matching set of sweat shirt and pants in a room full of formally dressed men. The type of man to pull a trigger with a smile on his face. But his sudden seriousness when I ask my question is enough to sell him out. He’s suddenly defensive, and when one becomes defensive, something is amiss.“Cut the crap,” I murmur, my voice inaudible.“What was that?” Alejandro’s voice is low, sharp. It cuts through the air like a blade. His eyes are on mine, waiting, daring me to answer.I
Alejandro’s PovEating is done, and the basket is discarded to the side, leaving enough space for Mariana and I to share in each other’s warmth.We’re lying beside each other, finger interlocked, our gazes faced towards the sky. We revel in the silence, feel the depth of our connection without actually speaking.And it surprises me how Mariana is so receptive to this newness, to this softness.The intensity of her beauty, the authority in her words, and even her gracefulness will have anyone who doesn’t truly know her believing that she’s such a tough woman who has no emotions.Lies.She’s just as soft hearted, and she craves gentility.The night is still, the sound of the waves the only thing breaking the quiet. I’m staring up at the sky again, but I can’t help it—my mind keeps drifting back to her.What does she feel about me? What does she feel now that we have our finger locked, and our eyes faced towards the same direction?I roll onto my side, propping myself up on my elbow so I
Alejandro’s PovDay one on the Island.I jerk awake to heat, my muscles straining. Mariana’s body is perfectly molded into mine, her mass of dark, silky hair falling over my chest.A feeling of satisfaction fills my heart and I kiss the back of her head.She groans, and shifts back, wanting to disappear into me. But she wakes something else. Her ass locks around my growing bulge and a strained grunt escapes in my throat.“Shit, baby,” my voice comes out gruff, “you need to move a little.”I go to gently push her legs when she suddenly arches her back into me, causing my hand to land between her thighs. She moans.Fuck me.I move my hand, my fingertips grazing the skin of her inner thigh. She stirs, a small cry eliciting in her throat. I can’t tell if she’s fully awake, but her breathing is too uneven for someone who is still asleep. My hand squeezes her thigh, waiting for her to stop me. She doesn’t. I take that as a sign to continue. The hand buried between her thighs travels furth
Mariana’s PovWe’ve had quite the journey, moving from flying, to riding in the back of a truck, and now, we’re boarding a boat.I have no complaints.This somewhat reminds me of my days of active duty, the days when I was going on dangerous missions. The feeling is exhilarating.“You can’t keep ignoring me, my lady,” Alejandro’s whiny voice resounds beside me. And it warms my heart. Still, I sidestep him and make my way into the boat.I sit in the plush leather seat, feeling the warmth of the sun-kissed leather envelop me. The boat's engines roar to life, and we set out, gliding across the turquoise waters, leaving the world behind.I inhale and exhale a breath, calming my heart.My hair whips back, the strands dancing in the ocean breeze. I laugh, feeling carefree, alive. The wind carries the sweet scent of saltwater and the faint hint of Alejandro's cologne. I throw my head back and breathe a relieved sigh. The blue of the ocean catches my eyes. The shininess of it, the glow cast
Alejandro’s PovResistance. That’s all I see in her eyes. She’s fighting her pleasure—a war between her flesh and her mind. And I’ll tell you for sure that the flesh will always win.My face buries deeper, my tongue swirling around her bud. Her skin tightens, but she holds back her voice.“Let go, baby. . .Let go. . .” I urge, my tongue pushing into her entrance, curling. She doesn’t budge. I push a finger into her, and another, and another, and another. I curl all three fingers and she lets out a cry.“There you go,” I praise, “there you fucking go. . .”And then I’m fucking her recklessly with my fingers and my tongue. She cries harder, her body jerking. Her sweet, melodious voice draws a moan out of me. And suddenly, it’s no longer a fight of pleasure.She’s full on fighting me.I see how much my words affect her, but I know it’s not just about the words. It’s the confirmation. She always has been curious to know if I hold a grudge against her over what transpired between our pare
Mariana's Pov“It was you?” I ask, unsure, “the soldier who stole from the family?”“Bingo,” he smiles broadly, “we’re going to have a blast, baby.”I lean back into my seat and allow my brain fall into silence and calmness for a moment. Just a few minutes. And then laughter erupts in my throat.My chest quakes with the frequency of my laugh, tears gathering at the corners of my eyes.“You’re a fucking genius aren’t you?” I ask, cackling, “all that calmness you exude, all that patience and endurance. . .you had it all figured out.”Alejandro’s eyes are on me, observing, careful. The movement of his arm is slow, deliberate as he puts his gun down.“You’re not mad at me?” He asks.I tip my head to the side, my teeth diving my bottom lip, nibbling sensually. Alejandro throws his hips in the air, a small grunt resounding low in his throat.“Is there a reason to be angry?” I ask and wait.He hesitates for a moment before tucking his gun away. And that’s when I strike. He doesn’t see me com
Mariana's Pov“It was you who put him in that state after all. How did you do it, Maria, huh? Was it the cookies you couldn't stop serving him? Or your special teas? How the fuck did you, right under our noses, succeed in reducing Don Vladimr Zakone Vaslav to a vegetable?”My brows twitch and a muscle feathers in my jaw. I throw my back against the backrest and heave out a sigh, my eyes locking with his.“I’m still waiting, Mariana,” Alejandro presses. He tries to sound serious, but I notice the slight upturn of the corner of his mouth and the look of awe in his eyes.He’s not angry.Good.Perhaps he is but is exceptionally good at concealing it: the logical part of my mind warns.My brows twitch. “Mind your business, Alejandro,” I mutter, my tone bored.His chuckle rumbles. “Your business is my business, amore mio,” he replies, “especially when my name was mentioned. “And that mad son of yours, his punishment will be doubled for ever putting hands on Alejandro. . .” I didn’t think a
Mariana's Pov“My love should be enough for the both of us, Mariana.”His words shake me to the core. And what shakes me more is the emotion swirling in those orbs of his. Why won’t he get angry at me?Why won’t he scream at me? Do something that shows me how much I drive him to the point of anger?“You’re a fool,” I mutter, a hand raking through my hair. “Come get my bags, soldier!” I command. A smile coats his lips as he approaches. He picks up my bags as though they weigh nothing and then he turns around, intending to exit the room.The door creaks open and Radimr walks in, his eyes on me, tender. He flashes me a smile and I mirror his smile.Huffing out an angry breath, Alejandro storms out of the room. But he doesn’t leave—he stands by the door, his eyes peeking through the small space.He watches as his brother’s arms envelope me in a hug, he watches how I reciprocate that hug with so much enthusiasm. His eyes cloud over with rage. And then Radimr’s mouth crashes on mine, rava
Mariana's PovI puff out a breath and squeeze the last of my clothes into the small travel bag I intend to go on my travels with.A little backtracking here: earlier today while Alejandro, my husband, and myself sat in my office deciding how to track down the soldier who dared to steal from the family and run off, Alejandro had volunteered to track him through the countries the fucker has been in and out of in the last few days.And at that moment, my stupid little heart thought it was an opportunity. An opportunity to experience those seven days Alejandro promised me without dealing with my husband’s suspecting eyes.What did I do? I made a declaration that I regretted right when the words left my mouth.“I’ll go with you,” I blurted, surprising both brothers.“What?” My husband had asked, eyes wide.“You know how good I am with words, baby,” I responded as I slid my hand into his. “Sending Alejandro alone for something like this might turn out to be a mistake. He lacks in communicat