Writer's Note The story is slowly undergoing edits.
AlthaiaThings at work had calmed down. I was taking a lot of stress off my mother’s shoulder now that I was back because, other than her, I was the only one skilled enough to sketch customers’ wishes. We had seamstress workers, not always in the boutique with us, but present when it got busy.Time was going by so fast and before I knew it, three weeks already went by. It felt like time was going by even faster because as soon as I would get home from work, I would pass out as soon as my head hit the pillow.I haven’t been talking to Damiano as much, only squeezing in a text message here and there. He called me last night, and I was so tired that I fell asleep while talking to him, but he knew how busy things have been. I felt guilty that I barely had any time for him when he always made sure to have time for me. And he was the one with multiple businesses and running a Mafia.Lately, I was feeling like I couldn’t get enough sleep, even though I was sleeping for over eight hours. It wa
AlthaiaWe were slowly making our way back to the house. I didn’t want to go back, but I had to if I was going with the excuse that I was in the shower because I knew he would call again. I just had to calm down entirely and make sure my voice didn’t sound off when I talked to him. Hopefully, I could end the call by saying I’m too tired to talk just to keep it safe.“Do you think he will be mad, or…?” I asked them quietly while keeping my eyes down. Maybe they would be able to prepare me for his reaction when I get the courage to tell him.“Why would he be mad?” Luca asked, and I shrugged at his question.“I don’t know… It’s not like this is planned.” I murmured. Hell, I didn’t plan to fall in love with a Mafia Boss either.“I don’t think he would be mad.” He said, thoughtfully. “He’s not allowed to be mad when he was the one who got you pregnant.” Luca tried to lighten the mood. He even got a pathetic chuckle out of me.“Damiano as a father… Shit, I didn’t think I would live to see th
AlthaiaI quickly sat up and wrapped my arms around his neck. Damiano held me tightly in his body with his strong arms as I sobbed into his neck.I couldn’t believe he was here. Right in front of me and holding me.He caressed my back as we were in each other’s arms. Something I had missed so much for the past three weeks. Something I desperately needed right now,“Althaia…” Damiano spoke softly and had me look at him. He cupped my face, wiping the tears away. He looked around my face with concern before meeting my eyes. “Tell me what’s wrong.”I looked at him with teary eyes, not knowing how to even tell him. Where do I even start? This whole thing had gotten out of control, and I didn’t know what to do.“I -” I bit my lip when my voice cracked and I looked down, trying to breathe before I continued. “I had a fight with my mom…” I decided to say, and I let out a breath before I looked back at him.He looked at me with furrowed brows, waiting for me to elaborate, but I didn’t know how
DamianoI couldn’t stop smiling as I continued to gaze at her as she slept in my embrace. Finally, after so long, she was back where she belonged, in my arms, where she fit so perfectly.Althaia went to sleep after I made sure she ate something, and I made sure she ate enough. Another thing I noticed was her decreased appetite. She could barely finish her plate.One of the things I adored about her was her love of food. Her eyes would dance with excitement every time she was about to savor something she loved. The way she would close her eyes and wear an expression of sheer joy when it exceeded her expectations.It never failed to bring a smile to my face. And, fuck, it frustrated me endlessly that she hadn’t been looking after herself, whether she knew about the pregnancy or not. But I was here to take care of her now and make sure she was safe and happy. Not like how I found her.I had to take a deep breath to calm down as I remembered that phone call.“Luca.” I said as I accepted hi
Althaia“Trust me, Damiano. I’m fine to go to work. I’ve even slept so much that I’m awake this early.” I said as I got dressed in a pair of black leggings and one of his t-shirts.I had to get back home to grab clothes for work because what Damiano packed was not work-appropriate. We didn’t have a dress code per se, but we definitely needed to be properly dressed as it was still a high-end boutique.“Keep it closed.” Damiano had a frown on his face as he sat at the end of the bed, watching me get dressed.“You’re a businessman. You, out of all people, should know that it’s bad for business if I just keep it closed.” I raised a brow and walked towards him. I stepped in between his legs and his hands rested right on my ass.“I will write a check for your losses. Keep it closed.” He insisted.“Look at you; throwing money at the problem.” I laughed.“Usually works.” He smirked.“Yeah? Well, it doesn’t work for me. People have their orders ready, and I kind of need to be there to hand them
AlthaiaAfter staying in bed for two days, I could finally get the boutique open. Damiano wasn’t happy about it and insisted on covering any losses so I could stay in bed and rest.Guess who won that round?Then Damiano insisted on staying with me in the boutique, and that started another round of discussion. I couldn’t have him or my assigned bodyguards in the boutique because I knew they would make my customers feel uneasy. I had to remind him he looks scary as fuck to other people.“Good.” He said.“Good for you, but not for my business. Don’t you have a Mafia to run or something? Go do that so I can work in peace.” I told him.That may or may not have resulted in him spanking my ass until it was as red as a cherry, saying I need to be fucked into obedience. A reminder that I was also dealing with a Mafia Boss.Damiano chose to do some work, while Luca and Giovanni stayed close, but not too close to the boutique to not look shady. I promised I would call if I needed anything.Luckil
AlthaiaI handed Laila a bottle of water after she had calmed down a bit. We were still sitting on the floor, under the desk, as it was better to stay down here so she wouldn’t have to witness the awful sight of that man.“Are you okay?” I asked her quietly. She clutched the water bottle to her chest as she kept glancing at Damiano but would quickly look away again.She nodded, taking a deep breath before speaking.“You have blood on your face…” She whispered.“Oh…” I said in surprise and blindly tried to wipe my face with Giovanni’s jacket.“Did…” Laila swallowed hard, then whispered. “Did he do this to you?” Her wide eyes darted quickly to Damiano. I followed her gaze, forgetting his hands were covered in blood.“Oh, no! No, he’s with me. He won’t do anything to harm me. Don’t worry, we’re safe with him.” I promised with a smile.She let out a breath of relief, and her whole body seemed to relax. I forgot Damiano looked intimidating if you didn’t know him, and she was probably fright
Althaia“Please, take care and stay safe. Call me when you land and remember, you can always call me no matter what, okay?” I told Laila as I hugged her tightly.We were at the airport, and I had packed a bag for her with money and all the necessities she needed. I didn’t want her to worry about anything so she could be with her family.“Thank you so much. I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough for everything you have done for me.” Laila hugged me tightly as she cried.“No need to. Just promise me you will stay safe.” I leaned back and smiled. She promised with a teary smile.“Giovanni will be with you and make sure you get to your family safely. I know he looks scary and grumpy, but trust me, he is harmless.” I grinned at Giovanni, and he looked at me with a scowl.“I’m just happy I get a break from your annoying ass.” He scoffed, making me pout at him.“I know you will miss me.”“I really won’t.”“It’s okay, Gio. I know you will. I will miss you too, Uncle Grumpy.” I teased.“U
Althaia“Maybe we should have gotten me a change of clothes before coming here.” I said as I walked out to them while looking down at the tank top I had taken from Damiano, pretending to be fixing it. I was actually fixing it because my nipples were almost showing.Damiano looked up from his phone. His eyes slowly trailed down my body and his gaze stopped at my barely covered breasts. Whatever he was doing on his phone could wait as he carelessly tossed it on the couch.He gave me a lazy smirk and motioned for me to come closer to him. With a gentle yet firm grip, Damiano wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his body.“What’s the need for clothes when I plan to have you naked the entire time?” He said with a mischievous grin on his lips. I blushed, not expecting him to say something like this in front of them.As if remembering there were other people in our room, he looked at them with a blank look.“What are you still doing here? Get out.” He told them sharply.
Althaia I huffed and looked at the time. It was a quarter to four in the morning, and I was wide awake. Feeling horny. I turned to look at Damiano, who was sleeping peacefully next to me. I wanted him, but I didn't want to wake him up just to take care of my needs. He had a long day ahead of him, flying out to a meeting with Mr. Roberts, and other high-end restaurant owners. They saw the custom-designed wine bottles for Mr. Robert's restaurants, and how they attracted more customers. Customers loved the whole idea of taking a unique wine bottle home with them as a souvenir. Some even started to collect them. The sales went crazy and landed us a few more deals. I suggested that each restaurant have its distinct design as a trademark, but with Damiano's wine business name engraved. And he was going to meet them all and show them my sketch ideas. I would have gone with him, but since I was heavily pregnant, I couldn’t fly. Maybe it was because I knew he would be gone, and wouldn’t b
Five months later The sun was high up in the clear sky, shining over the crystal blue water in the most enchanting way. Calilo was always a beautiful island, but today, it was even more breathtaking. The beach was elegantly decorated and rows of chairs lined up endlessly on the bright green grass. A mirrored aisle had been set up in the middle with either side decorated so stunningly with Angel’s and Devil’s trumpet flowers. At the end of the aisle was a grand gazebo with pillars decorated with colorful flowers. A crowd of people was present, chatting and finding their seats. By the gazebo stood Damiano, overlooking the crowd of their friends and families. Everyone had flown out to make sure to witness this special day. Damiano had a small crease between his brows, shuffling around on his feet for the first time in his life as he kept fixing his tie, double-checking to make sure he at least looked decent enough on such a meaningful day. “Nervous, brother?” Lorenzo walked up to him
Althaia Ellie was already at the clinic, waiting for us when we arrived. The closer we got to the examination room, the more anxious I got. I was dreading it more than ever. To get that confirmation that it was another miscarriage. That another life was lost in me. I felt suffocated. Damiano, Antonio, and Giovanni were just as worried. No one bothered to mask their emotions as they were concerned for my well-being and what was going to happen. “So, what are we dealing with?” Ellie asked once she closed the door to give us some privacy while Antonio and Giovanni waited outside. “I took a pregnancy test, it was positive but… I’m bleeding and cramping.” I swallowed hard as Ellie listened carefully to me. Damiano stayed close to me, holding me as if I would collapse at any moment. What I loved about Ellie was that even though she knew us, she was still being professional and not letting us see if she was concerned as she listened to me. “Okay, we will do a blood test and do a transv
Althaia My eyes welled as I could feel the pain, and my heart ached for them both. The fact that my mother was going to tell them, maybe even holding onto the hope that they could finally be together. But no. For her own protection, mine even, she had to accept that was how her life was going to be. And I couldn’t even imagine what Alexei must be feeling now. To know he was close to being told he was going to have a child with the woman he loved. But his own mother stood in his way and took the truth with her to the grave. Nestor looked completely taken aback as he looked at my mother and followed Alexei once he came to his senses. I was sure Alexei needed some time to think it all through. I didn’t say anything, giving my mother some time to gather herself. I looked at Damiano, he was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, already looking at me. I couldn’t tell if he was truly interested in the story or not as he wore a straight face. Then I knew he wasn’t interested wh
Althaia As soon as Alexei drew out his gun, Damiano pulled me behind him and he and his men pulled out their guns as well, finger on the trigger and ready to fire. But then Nestor quickly pushed Alexei away when a knife flew right in between them, missing Alexei’s head by a hair. Surprised and confused, everyone turned to look in the direction where the knife came from. My mother had her brows pinched with her gaze locked on Alexei, ready with another knife in her hand. “Did you forget how she loved to do that to you?” Nestor sighed at Alexei. But he was too focused on my mother with a furious gaze. “Seems like her aim is off.” He sneered. “It’s not off, it was simply a warning. I got you once, and I can do it again.” My mother spoke calmly but had a whole different demeanor to her. My jaw was on the floor as I looked at them back and forth in pure shock. This whole damn thing had me completely dumbfounded. Wasn’t Alexei the one who had demanded to see her, and almost started a
AlthaiaI didn’t think it was possible to feel more miserable than this. But I kept being dragged down into an endless, dark hole while drowning in fear and pure devastation.I was exhausted.Exhausted from everything that happened and exhausted from every single piece of information thrown at me. I still haven’t even processed the fact that Gaetano wasn’t my father. And then everything else followed as if trying to give me a heart attack by exposing the brutal truth to me.That my entire life has been a fucking lie.Twenty-five years old and I was suddenly having an identity crisis that appeared out of the blue. For so many years where it has just been me and my mother, living life together. But it turned out I didn’t even know who she truly was.My mother, who I thought I witnessed die, was somewhere in this safe-house.Well, and alive.I thought I was hallucinating when I saw her. Or maybe I was seeing a ghost. Or maybe I ended up in hell and this was my punishment. To be tormented
Damiano“No. Stay here.” I stopped Jacinta when she tried to go after Althaia. I knew she would be shocked and in denial but I wasn’t prepared for this kind of reaction and run away.I gritted my teeth, walking as fast as I could in the direction she ran off. This fucking gunshot wound was limiting me too much.I stepped outside to the garden, watching her leaning against a tree to catch her breath.“Althaia.” I frowned, looking at the state she was in.“Stop! Just.. please stop. Don’t come any closer.” She closed her eyes, trying her best to control her breathing. I clenched my fists in frustration. Frustrated with me that I was the cause of this. I stood still, watching her cry and gasp for air. And I would rather get shot a hundred times more than see her like this.“How… How could you do this to me?!” Althaia shouted at me with so much anger than I had ever seen from her. Her innocent, green eyes turned into ones with a rage-filled storm.And betrayal.“I did what I believed was t
DamianoAlthaia was shocked.Shocked to the point her body gave up under her and collapsed to the ground. I grabbed her and pulled her into me, gritting my teeth as I ignored my own pain when I saw the state she was in. I didn’t give two shits about Alexei at this moment, only worrying about her. She looked numb, lost, as she tried to comprehend what I just said. For once, Alexei kept quiet and had his men stand by as he looked at Althaia.His daughter.He hadn’t expressed what he thought of the situation. About him having a daughter. But he was pissed at her mother for keeping away and not telling him. Twenty-five years had he lived on with his life without knowing he had a child out in the world. And to make it worse for him, his daughter thought Gaetano was her father.An Italian man who married his woman“Come on, breathe, Althaia… There you go… Breathe.” She gasped for air and I felt how her entire body was shaking against mine. I held her tightly, even though I was struggling to