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Five
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2025-01-16 23:00:00His jaw tightens, and he motions for Mateo to untie my wrists. As the bindings fall away, I rub my sore wrists, trying to ignore the lingering ache and the aftershocks of pain from the electrocution. I can barely feel my legs. I wipe my tears with the back of my hand and take a deep breath before letting out a shaky exhale.
"Leave us," Alessandro orders, his tone tolerating no argument. Luca and Mateo exchange a glance before exiting the room, leaving me alone with him. I can see the reluctance in Luca’s steps as he leaves. It is clear that he still wanted to torture me.
I reach to take off the mask but he stops me.
"The mask stays on,"
“What do you want from me?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the terror coursing through me.
He doesn’t answer immediately. He just studies me, his gaze intense and thoughtful. He grabs a seat and pushes it toward me to sit on. I don’t. My knees are killing me and my
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The Don's Forbidden Muse Six
I’m standing in the bathroom, the harsh fluorescent light reflecting off the mirror as I examine my wounds. Angry red burns mark the places where the metal rods touched my skin, leaving painful blisters and scorched flesh. There is still the strong smell of rubbing alcohol from the so-called medic who was called in to tend to my wounds. I wince as I gently probe one of the wounds with my fingertips, feeling the raw, tender skin beneath. I don’t want to think of how I got myself into this unfortunate situation where I just made a deal with the devil who had his friends almost electrocute the skin off my bones.I don’t know if looking for my father is even worth it at this point. I wish I could give up, but this is for my mother. I’ve already gotten myself this deep; I can’t give up now. I turn on the shower, watching the steam rise and fill the small space. The mere thought of the water hitting my burns makes my stomach roll, but I know I desperat
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-01-17The Don's Forbidden Muse Seven
I am sitting in Dell's office at the FBI headquarters, feeling a mix of anxiety and frustration. I impatiently shake my leg while I wait for him to finish his phone call. I watch his lips move with every syllable and have to admit, he has the most beautiful lips. I remember the first time we met when he voiced his attraction to me and asked me out. I made it clear that I wasn’t looking for a relationship and, besides, I knew I would be working with him on my father’s case and didn’t want any complications. As attractive as he is, I boldly told him no.He’s got this mesmerizing blend of features from his Italian mother and Black father, creating a strikingly handsome face. His chiseled features, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline, give him a rugged yet refined look. His dark, intense eyes and neatly trimmed curly hair add to his effortlessly cool demeanor. He definitely attracts a lot of female attention. As much as I hate to admit it, Alessandro
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-01-17The Don's Forbidden Muse Eight
I sit in the backseat of Luca’s car, my heart pounding as the cityscape blurs by. The silence between us is suffocating, and I keep my eyes on the road ahead, too afraid to look at him. He drives with a calmness that unnerves me, as if this is just another day for him. The inside of the car is luxurious, and if I weren't worried about my life right now, I would lean back and enjoy the ride, because this car offers that kind of comfort. I wonder how he can drive so comfortably with me inside when he almost tortured me to death the other day. It’s like he doesn’t have a soul.“Where are you taking me?” I finally ask, my voice shaky.“Someplace where we can talk,” he replies curtly, not taking his eyes off the road.“Talk about what?” I ask, dreading any conversation with him after what he did to me.“You’ll see,” he says.I grip the edge of my seat, my mind racing with possibilit
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-01-17The Don's Forbidden Muse Nine
I can’t exactly decipher my thoughts right now. It feels like a race in there. I don't know why I thought it would be a different proposal when he is literally this close to me. I frown and try to move back, and he takes that as a hint to step back. His face is blank, with no emotion, no expectation, just nothing."What?" I finally find my voice."If we're being fair, you seduced me first. I’m just giving you what you wanted," he says casually, and my eyes widen in shock."I was on a mission," I clarify, as if it wasn’t obvious."Mission accomplished."Oh, he is an arrogant one, alright. I didn’t even know someone could be that direct about wanting someone, not because they like them or have feelings for them, but because he wants me as his mistress. What in the hell gave him the impression that I would be his mistress, let alone be one?I have craved love for as long as I can remember. To be loved right and to be in love with someone so much that I can barely breathe. All my exes nev
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-01-18The Don's Forbidden Muse Ten
I am lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My heart feels like it’s going to explode out of my chest. I have spent the last few hours trying to think of a way out of my current predicament, but I’ve come up with nothing. Sure, the plan of leaving is still the winning plan, but I would hate to give up without finding even a single clue about how to locate him. The only thing I discovered was that he was taken by the Romano mafia group, which Alessandro was so quick to dismiss. I know I don’t trust him, but the FBI hasn’t been of much help either. Every time I think about the man who had his guy electrocute me wanting to make me his mistress, and touch my body and do whatever he wants with it, it sends shivers down my spine.There is a light knock on my door, and when I lift my head, Bella is standing there, looking at me with a mixture of concern and confusion.“Renée, what’s wrong? You have been acting a little different la
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-01-19The Don's Forbidden Muse Eleven
"I am so sorry, Renée. Look, you don’t have to worry because I won’t let him hurt you, I promise,” he says, and I shake my head in disbelief. I can’t believe he knew all that and still put my life at risk. I got tortured, for chrissake. Bella isn’t saying much, but I can tell that she, too, is disappointed in how Dell handled this. I thought he cared about me, but I guess I was wrong. He seems to care more about their case.“How the hell are you supposed to protect her when you didn’t even know she had been abducted and tortured?” Bella asks him, and I am so glad that she is on my side; I thought she would take her brother’s side.“I am the FBI. We will protect you. I would have done something if she had told me then,” he says, and Bella shakes her head.“Because it’s your fucking job to know if one of your people is missing, Dell. I thought you knew better than that. Dad would
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-01-19The Don's Forbidden Muse Twelve
I take a sip of the whiskey and pass it to Bella, who does the same. We've been doing this for the last hour or so while watching a show on TV, but my mind isn’t on the show. We're seated on her bed, and the reason we're drinking here is because her parents have a strict no-drinking rule in their house. It doesn’t matter that we’re both old enough to drink—Bella is twenty-two and I turned twenty-four a couple of months ago. So, Bella stole the bottle from their cellar and brought it to the room. The silence between us is heavy, laden with all the unspoken fears and uncertainties of the past day. Dell said Agent Morales had extended my deadline to midnight, but the clock keeps ticking, and I still haven’t changed my mind about my decision. We keep sharing the bottle of whiskey, taking turns sipping from it, but neither of us feels the need to break the quiet. It is a strange kind of comfort, this mutual silence.The day has passed in a blur since we left Dell’s place. I haven’t been abl
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-01-19The Don's Forbidden Muse Thirteen
I take one last look at myself in the floor-length mirror and let out a long sigh before forcing a smile and adjusting my dress for the umpteenth time. It’s a sleek black number that hugs my curves in all the right places, with a daring neckline and a hemline that stops mid-thigh. The shimmering fabric catches the light as I move, making me feel like I belong in one of those high-end nightclubs I’ve only ever seen in movies. I decided to keep my natural hair, with a slight parting on the side and some curls framing my face, while the rest tumbles freely down my back. My makeup is smoky and bold, giving me a look of confidence that I don’t entirely feel.I rummage through my sling bag, making sure I have everything I need for the night, my fingers brushing against something familiar. I pull out a small, worn photograph of her, the most beautiful woman I have ever known, my mother. Her gentle smile and kind eyes stare back at me, and I feel a pang of guilt. I
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-01-20
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The Don's Forbidden Muse Three
I just stare at her as she walks toward me, too frozen to move even if I wanted to. Motherhood has done Maria good, no doubt. It’s a thought I can’t shake as she gets closer. She’s radiant, more stunning than I remember. Time has softened her, and, contrary to what anyone would expect, motherhood has only made her more beautiful. Her features are sharper but still delicate. Her skin glows, her hair falls in soft waves around her face, and even her casual outfit—a simple blouse and jeans—looks like it was made for her. I hate that I can notice even the tiniest details that make her this beautiful. How much more beauty can one person have?“Renée?” she says again, her brows furrowed in surprise, her lips curving into a half-smile. “I thought I saw someone who looked like you. What are you doing here?”I clear my throat, shrugging. “Nothing,” I reply, my voice clipped.She tilts her head, studying me. “Are you in therapy too?”I remain silent. It’s obvious. This building kind of hosts th
The Don's Forbidden Muse Two
I’m seated in an armchair across from Dr. Hensley; her office is as familiar to me as the scent of lavender she always diffuses. I’ve never been much of a fan of coming here, but when you go through a traumatizing and life-altering event like the one I did, you don’t get much of a choice. It’s been years since I last saw her, but she hasn’t changed much. Her warm smile and attentive eyes make me feel like I’ve stepped back in time.“It’s good to see you again, Renée,” she says in a calm, steady voice, just as I remember. “It’s been what, two years, two and a half years?”I nod, my hands twisting together in my lap. “Something like that.”“And what brings you back to me after all this time?”I shrug. “You’re the only therapist I have in the country,” I joke, and she smiles, nodding.“That’s good to hear. Have you been doing more sessions back at home?”I look away when she asks that. I haven’t been as committed as I was supposed to be. When the nightmares stopped, so did the sessions.
The Don's Forbidden Muse Chapter One
Two Years Later“Roses?” Luca asks in a soft, curious voice.I nod. “Yes,” I say, smiling up at him. “But not just any roses. Red roses.”He chuckles, his arm brushing mine as we walk side by side. “Red roses, huh? Not white, not pink?”I nod again. “I love roses.”“You know, I never thought you’d be a rose-loving kind of girl. Roses seem… too ordinary,” he says, and I shrug.“I’m just an ordinary girl, Luca.”He shakes his head. “Not even in the slightest,” he says. “So, red roses it is.”I laugh. “If I were ever to get married, it would have to be red roses. They’re passionate, bold… beautiful.”“Point taken.” He gives a playful, mock-serious nod, and I nudge him with my elbow.“It’s just a joke,” I tease, grinning. “The marriage part. You don’t have to take notes. I mean, marriage? Who does that anymore?”He stops, turning to face me, his expression suddenly solemn. “I do. With you.”My smile fades, replaced by something warmer, something deeper. “Luca…”“I’m serious,” he says, tak
The Don's Forbidden Muse Chasing After Her Ghost
PrologueTwo Years AgoMy phone is pressed to my ear, my hand shaking slightly as I pace around the room. My wedding dress brushes softly against the floor with every step I take, the delicate lace catching the light streaming through the tall windows.Saying I am nervous would be the understatement of the year.“I feel like I’m going to throw up,” I say in a shaky voice."Renée.” His voice is calm and warm, steadying me even through the phone. “Breathe, amore. Everything is going to be perfect,” he says, and I sigh, smiling.I stop and stare at my reflection in the floor-length mirror, taking in the nervous girl staring back at me. She is beautiful. I am beautiful. This dress is perfection, and it makes me feel beautiful, so I hate that I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach. “What if something goes wrong?” I whisper, voicing the fear that’s been eating me up all morning.It’s not like many people liked the idea of us getting married. Even getting here, we had to fight for it.
The Don's Forbidden Muse Epilogue
One year laterThe soft click of the camera is the only sound in the room as I lean in closer, adjusting the angle to capture the perfect shot. My client is seated on the velvet chaise, draped in delicate lace. Her confidence radiates through the lens, and she is beautiful. The natural light streaming through the tall windows bathes her in a warm glow, highlighting every curve and detail.“Beautiful,” I murmur in a steady voice as I guide her. “Tilt your chin slightly… yes, just like that. Perfect.”This is my world now. My studio, my work, my passion. It’s been over a year and a half since I found my footing in this country, and my boudoir photography has taken off in ways I never imagined. Had someone told me I would stay here and make it my home after all the tragedies that happened, I would have laughed in their face. But here I am. High-end clients, features in glossy magazines—it’s everything I dreamed of an
The Don's Forbidden Muse Ninety Five
I open my eyes, and the splitting headache is a clear reminder of the hangover from last night. I think I might have had a little too much to drink. My body is tangled in soft linen sheets that aren’t mine. I quickly sit up, blinking against the brightness streaming through the curtains. For a moment, everything is hazy—the room, the night, and the nagging sense of regret clawing at the edges of my mind.I push myself up slowly, the cozy carpet beneath my feet unfamiliar. Panic starts to creep in as I take in the space. A strange home. My mind is slowly piecing everything together, and then it hits me—Luca. The bar. The bathroom. His bed.“Oh my god,” I whisper, my hands flying to my face.What the hell have I done?The events of last night quickly come crashing in. What we did didn’t just stop in that bar bathroom. Somehow, we ended up here, and we didn’t stop until... I shake my head, trying to will the memories
The Don's Forbidden Muse Ninety Four
The restaurant is quiet. Too quiet. I’m seated at the center of it, watching the soft shadows cast across the empty tables around me by the flickering candlelight. The dress delivered earlier fits like a glove, hugging my curves and making me feel beautiful, but I’m slowly starting to feel less and less beautiful as time keeps passing by. Sitting here alone in this massive restaurant feels uncomfortable.I swirl the wine in my glass, the rich red liquid catching the light. I sigh and take a sip. It’s my third—or is it my fourth? I’ve lost count. I don’t normally get drunk on wine, but if I keep taking one glass after another, I’ll be tipsy by the time this date even starts. I glance at my phone for the umpteenth time, the screen lighting up with the same message he sent over forty-five minutes ago:I’ll be late, but I’m on my way. Order something, love.That word love feels hollow now. I check the time again,
The Don's Forbidden Muse Ninety Three
Several months laterThis always feels like the first time. I’m straddling Alessandro in the warm, scented water of our bathtub, riding out the pleasure as water laps against my skin. His hands grip my waist tightly, and his head tips back as he groans my name. It’s moments like this when I forget the chaos around us. Here, it’s just him and me—no one else.I let out a soft moan as I finish, my body trembling as I collapse against him. He catches me, cradling me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, before pressing a kiss to my forehead, then to my lips, his breath warm and tender.“I love you,” he whispers softly, tucking my hair behind my ear.Those three words hit me like a wave every time he says them. I smile, kissing him back gently before leaning against his chest, slowly listening to the rhythm of our breathing. His hand brushes through my hair, untangling it with care.“What are you
The Don's Forbidden Muse Ninety Two
I am shaking as I stare at the pool of blood on the floor next to my father’s leg, which keeps growing larger with every passing second. His face is pale, and he is starting to get weaker. I’m trying to hold back my tears, wishing I could help him, but I can’t move. My body feels like it’s chained to this seat, my fists trembling in place on my lap.“Okay, I’ll ask again,” Emilia’s sharp voice cuts through the air, making my heart race even faster. “Who do you have resentment for in this room, Principessa?” she asks in a mocking voice.My throat is dry, my voice barely above a whisper as I stammer. “Maria.”I hear Maria scoff at the other end of the room. “Bitch,” she mutters under her breath, but it’s loud enough for everyone to hear.I swallow hard, trying not to look in her direction. Emilia leans forward, clearly intrigued. “Oh, now this is getting interest
