I wake with Lorenzo wrapped around me. I see the blood on his arm from where my nails had cut him. Clearly, they keep bleeding.Sliding from the bed, I walk to the bathroom. Getting into the shower, my mind goes back to how much Luciano has changed. I missed so much.I feel his presence before seeing him. Glancing up, Lorenzo is leaning against the door, smiling and watching me." I need to fix you." I glance at his chest, now seeing more marks. "Sorry." I hadn't realised I had gone that deep."No." He steps towards me. "You don't apologise, little kitten; the marks scream I'm yours, which is right where I want to be.""Even so, they're bad."Chuckling, he steps closer. " I have had worse."My eyes widen. "Really?" I can't see how."Yes, so don't worry about it, little Kitten." His arms wrap around my waist. I stoke my fingers down his chest and he smiles at me. "We need to talk about a few things this morning, little kitten." He looks at me, and I don't like it; I don't like his expr
I watch her rush out of the room. Her father looks at me, and I feel for him. It can’t be easy to know. Essentially, his daughter going missing was partly his fault. Ann was clearly pissed over the affair, and while she took on Alice as her own, something tells me she resents Alice now she is older.“I should have told her years ago about her real mum. Maybe this wouldn’t have hit so hard if I had?”He’s wrong. “No, had you told Alice, who knows what Ann would have done? You gave her the childhood she deserved, even if things are fucked up right now.” She’s an adult. She at least had a good childhood.“Thank you again. I know I keep saying it, but she would be lost for life without you and your brothers. I know I gave you a hard time, but I won’t going forward.”I laugh slightly. “You didn’t give me a hard time. You were protective of her.” I can’t hate him for that. She’s his little girl, his only child, so of course, he was going to flip when he realised who I was. In his mind, he s
Carlos smiles at me. “You’re a good little boxer.”‘Little’ I want to laugh at that. “Thanks, Carlos.” “He’s not wrong. Most don’t get this good doing it as a hobby.” Dario grins at me as I pull the gloves off.“I enjoyed it.” I shrug, I did. Sure, it began as a way to defend myself against Harry, but I put a lot of work into it.“You should go to the gym, help out.” Carlos looks at me. “We have a few women there training. You’re better than them all, so you could come in use.”“Thanks, but I’m not sure.” I don’t know what I am going to do with my life anymore.“Consider it, Lorenzo will be working there more.” He walks out and I watch Lorenzo walk in.“Let’s talk.” He sits, and I join him. “I’m sorry. My mind was focused on the bad that could happen. I didn’t consider how you feel. I didn’t consider the fact to you she’s your mother.”Sighing, I nod. “I won’t, Lorenzo.” While fighting with Carlos, I realised even if she was my mother growing up, she isn’t now. She knew everything. S
I watch her walk off. God, I can’t wait to fuck her. Sighing, I carry Luciano upstairs, getting him sorted and in bed.I walk back down and stop when I see Dario.“In here, little bro.” Dario looks at me from the office. This isn’t about the kids' club. Something has happened. Rushing through, I stand, looking at Marco.“We might have more links to Rocco and the men who were watching Alice.”I sit and smile. “Okay, so who?”“Some old Soldiers of ours. Don’t worry. We’re ensuring those in New Zealand keep a close eye on them until it’s fully confirmed.” Sitting, he explains how he found them and the links.She will be safe soon. “Those pictures from online, you said Rocco took them right. After Graham helped him get access.”“Yeah, what of it?”“Was it only Graham? If our old soldiers have gone to Rocco, how many are here that have?” I’m not sure everyone is fucking innocent.“I’m running checks on all the soldiers, Capo, maids, everything, Lorenzo. I considered it, so I have been chec
I stay wrapped around his body, mine on fire. This is new, I searched his room before, and he didn’t have a room like this, so it’s new. Why?He places me down.“Why do you suddenly have a room like this?” He didn’t before.“I never brought women back here, little kitten, so what would be the point?”I laugh. “So you plan to bring women back now?” I turn and smirk.“Just one, to be fair, she isn’t leaving.” He steps closer to me. “Masters Lounge is great, but this is more private.”“So who is she?” I laugh slightly. “You will need a schedule to keep up with all these women, Lorenzo.”“Little kitten, don’t taunt me anymore.”“Or what?” I step towards him. “Are you going to fuck me to the point of an orgasm, sir, then stop?”“I can do worse.” His voice goes deep, and my body shakes.“I like worse.” I step closer. “Worse is better, sir. It’s where I scream, beg, and lose control of myself.” He groans, pushing me back. His hands grasp mine and lift them. I feel the cuffs wrap around me.“
I walk down with Luciano to the dining room; I get him sat in his chair and hand him food."You never updated me on the kids." Marco looks at me from across the table."Seems like it's stopped. No new marks. He didn't mention anything. Other workers will keep an eye on him. Jasmine will do her usual call-in today as well."They all seem to have gotten on this. It was my idea; I made it happen, but they are all keen to see how it impacts the kid's lives.We sit talking, and I see her walk in, unable to stop myself from smiling. She sits next to me and eats. My eyes go to her, and she smirks."Behave, little kitten.""I was, but now you're expecting me not to..." Her smile widens. God, she's crazy, I laugh slightly. As she eats, she keeps smirking at me."You seem happy, little kitten." Far too fucking happy, I feel like she is planning something. After her tormenting me last night with the video, I'm not sure I'm looking forward to it.She leans forward, kissing me."Why wouldn't I be?
I stand feeling uneasy."Look, I am sorry if I made you feel unwelcome at home. I apologise if I acted like you weren't good enough for Lorenzo, I just worry for him." Marco kisses my cheeks. "You're family. You have my approval for this wedding." He turns and walks away."So, we apparently can't go for the meal I planned." Lorenzo sighs. "I now regret letting you wear that dress."I laugh at his words. "It's just a dress, Lorenzo. There's nothing different between me wearing it for a meal and here.""It's entirely different, a meal you're sat. Here, you're standing, and I can see it perfectly." His eyes drop to my leg. "Especially when you stand like that." He pulls the dress and covers my thigh."Alice." I look up to Lucia. Lorenzo kisses my cheek and walks away. "I apologise. I realised today I became cold. I guess Marco's hidden emotional attitude is rubbing off on me." She sighs and hugs me."I thought you hated me." I laugh slightly."No! It's been a weird year. Lorenzo is like
"So, I was thinking that we should have a lady's night one night this week. Me, you, Lucia, Iz and some of your friends. We can talk weddings." She grins at me."Sure, why not. Apparently, I only have two weeks." Which is fucking crazy."I only had a week." Lucia looks at me. "You at least got two." We laugh at words."She agreed. I will sort it out with Marco and Lorenzo and give you a date." I watch Felicity skip off.Turning, I look at Lucia and feel bad."Congratulations, I don't think I have said it." She wasn't pregnant when I left, I don't think?"Thanks." Her word wavers."Are you okay?""Yeah, just..." She sighs. "I don't know what to expect when the baby comes. I'm ready for him to be like Carlos was when they were kids.""No, Marco won't be cold and distant. He loves you." He won't disappear."Not me. How the fuck will he cope with a baby? A child? He hides everything."I get her worry. "You told me he is different with you. So maybe he will be with the baby?" I glance at w
I'm so fucking happy. This is the best Christmas ever. She's pregnant, Alex is officially ours, and she's marrying me! Tonight! I left her for a bit. Her dad is here, so they are talking everything out. I wanted to be there but knew she needed space to do it herself. I look across the chairs and other things. She wanted to come outside, but we banned her. She can't see this, not until later. "It's looking good." Lorenzo smiles at me. "Have you considered this, Dario?" Marco looks at me. "She said yes! She said she would marry me." She said yes. "I know, but I mean the whole surprise wedding; she said yes, but that doesn't mean now." "Yes, it does!" She wouldn't say yes if she weren't ready now. She's ready. She will say yes. She will love this. "Okay, calm down, you're too high." Marco chuckles, but I can't. I feel amazing right now. "How is it going with her dad?" Matteo looks at me. "No idea. I gave her space." I'm giving her space. "Matteo, he's staying at your house toni
I walked out of the room feeling sickened. Not so much that he had slept with my mother, more he slept with me purely because I looked like her. Like in his mind, I was her. I need to check on Alex. Walking into his room he's sat up on the bed looking at the book. "Read it?" He holds out the book, and I laugh. "Move over." I climb onto the bed, and he cuddles into me as I read it to him. Today is Christmas. I didn't realise, but Lucia had the baby on Christmas day! It's nearly three. I read to him, watching as he fell asleep. Slowly, my eyes slip closed. I wake feeling someone wrap their arms around me. Glancing behind me, I see Dario. I open my mouth to talk, and he shakes his head. "No. Leave it, little rabbit. Let's just sleep for a couple of hours." He holds onto me, and I fall asleep, with him and Alex cuddling me. I need to get answers later. I wake up in bed alone. Neither Alex nor Dario are here. Climbing from the bed, I go to our room and begin to get ready. "Little ra
So far, this guy hasn't been forthcoming. It's Christmas, and we're wasting time on him. Sure, we could just forget him and go to bed for as few hours as possible before getting up, but he's a risk. Alice came to get the baby, and Lucia is currently resting. So this needs sorting now. He's not someone who can be trusted alone, even with soldiers. "I never would have hurt her." I look up, confused. "Evaline, my plan was never to touch her or harm her. Weirdly, she is just like her mother. She's amazing." "How did you meet her mum?" I want to get her answers. "I had just taken down a target and was ready to leave when I saw her. I was twenty-eight, and she was thirty-nine. She was so different. She was so amazing I just went over and said hi, which is how it began. At that point, Evaline was born." "Did you see Evaline?" "No!" His head shakes. "I never did; we had been sleeping together for years. She wouldn't let me see Evaline. She spoke of her. He found out about the affair and
I look at Marco. He's heard nothing. "It's Christmas. Maybe just leave it until after today?" Lorenzo looks at me. "I can't do much, Lorenzo." I can't do anything without information that we don't have. "This is your first official Christmas with Evaline, don't fuck it up." Our dad looks at me, and I know he's right. The gunshot has us all jump up and rush out. I watch as a window smashes and smoke begins to flood the hall. "Get the women and kids!" Marco screams, rushing upstairs; I grab Luciano, Lorenzo grabs Alice, and I see soldiers follow Marco up to Lucia and Evaline. Carrying Luciano down, I sit him in the safe room. Rushing up, I see someone carrying Alex. "Put it on." I see something throw a mask at me. Placing it on, I rush up and see Evaline fighting to get to Alex's room. "Alex is downstairs, little rabbit, go." I watch as she disappears. Rushing through, I get to our room and see him. Throwing myself at him, someone grabs me and stops, and I watch them grab him. "D
I wake hearing a bang, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. I reach out to Dario, but he isn't there. The sound of gunshots has my body jump up and out of bed. Rushing, I get the gown and wrap it around my body as the windows in the room smash, and smoke begins to fill the room. I rush for the door and hear something. Turning, I look behind me and see someone jump through the window. Running out the door, I get grabbed. Screaming, I go to hit him. "Evaline, go with him!" Marco? I feel them pull me, but I try to get to Alex. I need to get Alex. Screaming, I fight against him. "Alex is downstairs, little rabbit, go." I don't get a chance to respond. I'm just pulled further away. As we reach downstairs, I'm thrown into a room and the door locks. "Evaline, thank god you're okay!" Lucia rushes and hugs me. I look around, Alice, Lucia, Alex, and Luciano are in here, and I believe it's James. I'm not sure which soldier it is. "What is happening?" I look around us. This room has no windo
Dario's arms stay around me as we dance. He started out fine, but in the past week, he's been slowly drowning and getting lost in his mind. I know he's constantly overthinking what is happening. Everything I try fails. Sex works while we're having sex, and then he's back in his head. It's taking so much effort to keep him here and with us. The last thing we need is for something to happen and for him to slip away in his mind and not wait for answers. So, I need to keep his mind off Mad Hatter or Tim, as they haven't been able to find anything. Marco even tried to send a message out for my dad in the hope he would reply and give us something, but it's been silent. I lean up and kiss his lips. "We haven't spoken about how many kids you want." I smile, and he looks at me so damn confused. "Babies, Dario, how many do you want?" "I just want you." My eyes roll. "You have me. We have Alex. I want to know about us making babies. How many?" He seems to be considering it. "I would be hap
It's too quiet, and I don't like quiet, not in this way. Quiet in my head, fine, but this feels wrong. He's gone quiet. He's stopped sending messages out. He's ignoring us. He's planning, he's planning something, what is he planning? I pace the room. Today is Matteo's engagement party. Tomorrow is Christmas. It's too fucking quiet. Quietly, quietly, not a sound. I'm listening and listening. "Dario!" I turn, and Marco is staring at me. "You're singing." He holds out his hands. "We were waiting for you!" "I..." Something is wrong. Quietly, quietly, not a sound. I'm listening and listening. "Dario!" I glance at him. "Get out of your head, focus." I can't focus. It's too quiet. "Okay, tell me what is in your head. You keep singing quietly, quietly, so speak." "It's too quiet." It's too quiet. "Right, and I agree it is. It's unusual. He's gone quiet; he's not responding, but stay out of your head. It's been half an hour. How long have you been standing here pacing and singing in yo
I sit with Dario. His brothers and his dad are facing me. "You slept with him, just say." Marco laughs. "I did, but that isn't it. That time, I never returned; about a year into it, Dale had bought a holiday home. He sent me to it alone and told me not to leave as it wasn't safe. I stayed there for maybe six months. A few weeks after I got there, the guy showed up. He basically moved in with me." I see Carlos' mouth drop open. "He never stayed in one place!" "He stayed with me. Dale would send maybe one message a week saying I wasn't safe and to stay hidden. If I tried messaging him, it wouldn't go through. I told him I couldn't keep calling him Mad Hatter, so he said to call him Tim for now. That wasn't his name, I don't think. He confided in me, told me about his childhood and things, and I know I should have said, but I saw him as a friend." Which was stupid. "And now you don't? Why?" Marco looks at me, waiting. "Because now I realise he was trying to get information from me.
Dario pushes me to sit in a seat and faces me. He's looking at me like I'm about to blow everything up. I feel like I am. I didn't tell him everything, not because I didn't want him to know, but because I had no idea how or if he would handle this. Then, I just figured out things while he was getting Alex in bed. "Little rabbit, please." He looks at me, almost begging. "I didn't tell you everything. I stayed at a small holiday home without Dale for about six months. I have no idea where he went. Tim, or Mad Hatter as we know him, stayed with me." "You knew his fucking name!" "No! I told him I felt awkward calling him Mad Hatter, so he said to call him Tim, which could be his name for now. His name isn't Tim. It's just a name he said to call him, so I didn't have to call him Mad Hatter." "You don't know for sure, little rabbit, why the fuck did you live with him for six months!" "Dale was gone. I don't know where or why. He was just gone. Tim isn't a bad guy, or I thought. Dale h