LUCA"We are here," Luca said as the car rolled to a stop in front of the most beautiful villa I had ever set my eyes on.For someone who had been planning for a long time to go on a trip, I had certainly done a bad job making my own dreams come true. I turned to Luca to see him turn off the engine of the car that had been waiting for us at the airport. He had taken the keys from the driver and told the man to go home. If he weren’t my husband, I would have certainly been scared for my life.Although that didn't mean much because my big and sexy husband could still... whatever."Do you own this?" I asked, unbuckling my seatbelt.Luca rolled his eyes, then nodded. "Yes. But this is the first time I am ever using it." And with that, he was out of the vehicle.My eyes widened, and I didn't wait for him to turn around before I was opening the door and catching up with him. "What do you mean you have never used this villa? This is beautiful!" I exclaimed as we made our way to the entrance.
ELENA"No!"I found myself stating, my voice, loud and as defiant as I felt inside."Enough with you stupid game, Luca! First, you take me, as your own part of an agreement I had no hand in, then you bring me to your home and throw your rules at me! Now, now you play with me, tease me, and discard me like I am a toy you can do what you like with, and I'm done with it Luca."My chin was up, and I stared him daggers, while he just casually sipped from his cup."And? What are you going to do about it? I mean, I call the shots here." Luca said easily, making me more angry.Gosh! I was sexually starved. And for a virgin, this was the highest form of arousal I had ever reached, and I was sick of it. Donavan had never made me crave being touched like Luca did, and Luca had barely done anything!That was what annoyed me the most.A thought bean to form in my head."No. We need to revisit those rules."His eyes fllled with interest. "Yeah? And what part do you want to revisit? Because it all s
ELENAI squealed the moment Luca swept me up in his arms and bounded for the stairs that would lead to the bedroom.We hadn't even toured the villa, but I couldn't care about that, as all I could concentrate on, was the burning need in me, which only Luca could quench.He pushed the door open, while I clung to his neck for support, lest I fall. Although, with arms as strong his, I knew there was no way he would let me fall."Luca!" I squealed again as he set me down, then sat down on the bed, before pulling me down so I was laying accross his lap. That was definitely not what I was expecting."What are you doing?" I asked, confusion swirling inside of me, as he pulled my dress up so it overed my head and all I could see was the material of the cloth. Well, that, and the floor.I squirmed, trying to get off, but he pinned me down with what I could only guess was an elbow."Quit squirming, woman!" he growled above me as I felt him pull my thong down. I stilled instantly, wondering what
ELENA"Hey." I said shyly, walking over to the table where lunch had been laid out.Everything looked delicious. I nodded, muttering a thank you, as Luca pulled out a seat for me to sit dow, then went back to his. In one of his hands, was a news paper. Who read newspapers when there were various news outlets on the internet?"You smell good." Luca said, eying me, then winking when I blushed. "C'mon, eat up. I want to show you something." His tone was light, lighter than normal, making me feel so comforable.I nodded, and started to load my plate. "So, when did you buy this property?" I asked, wanting to fill the silence as we ate.He set the newspaper down, then shrugged. "It has been in my possession for a few years, but was owned by a friend. But I only bought it officially, a few months ago, when said friend wanted so badly to sell it off."I raised a brow. "Why will anyone willingly want to sell a property as beautiful as this one? I haven't seen it all, but I have seen enough to
ELENAI opened my eyes, and groaned when the light hit my eyes which were a little sensitve.When exaclty had I taken a nap?With a small groan, I pushed myself up on the soft bed and groaned again, feeling the aches in my joints make themselves known.What the hell?I turned, blinking to get my vision clearer, and looked around my surrounding, trying to remember where I was and how I had gotten on the damn bed.My eyes landed on the hamper in the corner of the room, where the clothes I had been wearing earlier sat, and then the memories came back.The last thing I remembered was Luca running me a hot bath, and then tucking me into the bed, while scolding me, before my eyes had closed and darkness had enbraced me.A blush rose to my cheeks as I pulled the sheets away and found myself completely nude. I got off the bed, ignoring my headache and nearly cried in relief when I saw the tablets waiting for me on the bedside drawer.Speaking of Luca, where was he?I almost missed the not tha
LUCAI picked Elena up, carrying her straight to the bedroom, where I placed her on the bed. "Where did he hit you?" I asked, lifting the arm she held on to gently.I pushed up the sleeves of the big shirt she was wearing and cursed at the bruise that was beginning to form on her arm. "Fucking hell.." I was going to kill him.Whoever it had been."I'm fine. It isn't as bad as it looks." she said, trying to pull her arm away, but I held on, touching the area gently to see if there was swelling undeneath the skin. "Now is not the time to be stubborn, Elena." I hissed, then made my way to closet. I had brought an ointment Rosetta had made for me. I picked it up, then went to sit next to her, and applied some on the affected area. "This will hurt a little." I told her, before applying pressure, and tried to ignore her whimper of pain."Thank you." she said, eyeing me, and pulling her bruised arm to herself. I closed the bottle of ointment and placed it on the bedside table."Did you see w
ELENA"What is that?" I asked, inching closer to the table as Luca pulled out a piece of paper that had been folded really neatly.Luca didn't answer me straight away and instead unfolded it, then read whatever was inside.As he did so, I could see the lines drawn on his forehead pull together, forming a frown I wasn't sure I liked. His eyes darkened to a shade I knew was very much not from amusement. And his shoulders? They stilled, the muscles bunched up as he gripped the paper and glanced through.Whatever was in there, had to be serious. "Luca..." I moved closer, stopping just a few inches from the table.Tension cracked in the quiet room, my inital complaint of not wanting a bodyguard, forgotten.I wondered if the note was left by the man who had broken into the villa. Was that why he had come straight here? Now that I looked at it, the study didn't look like anything was out of place. I mean, I wasn't sure since I had not come in here, but I could remember that he didn't look li
ELENAI forced my legs to take me inside the house, and heard from behind me, the sound of the car pulling back, and driving away.He really wasted no time dumping me here huh?I still couldn't help but be curious about what had been in that paper. I hated that he kept that from me. Wasn't that the whole point of being paired up with him? They could at least carry me along in what I signed up for!"Welcome, ma'am." Rosetta said, taking my suitcase, and rolling it inside, and up the stairs. I gave her a small answer, before following her up the stairs. But instead of going to my room, I lingered in the hallway.I walked towards an old frame, and stopped in front of it. It had been one of the first things I had noticed when I first cmae up the stairs. From below, you couldn't see it. Not until you reached the first landing.Martinelli De Santis.I could recognize that face anywhere.My father's house was scattered with newspapers from back in the day, until when he died. Even some pictu
LUCA"Mind your business, Hakeem." I hissed, pushignback the passenger seat of my car so I could stretch my long legs. I didn't even want to ask why the chair was pushed forward in the first place because I knew I wasn't going to be pleased with the answer.We were currently parked outside of a casino, waiting for our informant to give us the go ahead on whether we should go in or not.According to him, the Casino was packed with buyers, and what other way to get things running, than playing a game or two with them.But there was a particular person I needed to see."Well, you have been looking at that phone for the past three hours, and I can tell you would rather be with her, then here." Hakeem said in a sing-song voice.Dante snorted form where he sat at the backseat."Shut up." I hated when he decided to talk. I preferred him professional to the t, as he actually mostly was. But sometimes, when he was in a good mood, he behaved differently. Like now."I mean, he's not lying." Dant
ELENAThe papers I was carrying weighed more than they were supposed to.Donavan hadn't been lying.It was true. All of it.My phone rang, shattering the silence in the car.Samuel looked at me through the rearview mirror when I didn't bother answering it and let it ring two more times.I eyed him, then turned my face to the car window, focusing on the passing buildings instead. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. Especially after what I had just found out.I hadn't been able to get through to Alberto, making me wonder where he had kept his phone."Are you alright, ma'am?" Samuel asked, making me look back to see him giving me a worried look through the rearview mirror."Since when did we start caring for each other, Samuel?" My tone was bored and filled with sarcasm.We never had discussions. It was always silent in the car. Sometimes, too silent.Samuel's eyes showed amusement and he peeled his gaze away, back to the road. "That's basically my job ma'am." His tone matched mine.
ELENA"I'm really sorry for the inconvenience." Dorathy Stevenson said with an apologetic look on her face. In her hands were numerous company files.I waved my hand. "Next time just make sure things are in order, to avoid pulling me out of the house like that." I replied, not really offended, just tired.When the door had opened, I hadn't been expecting to see my assistant panting like she had run a marathon. Although I won't be suprised she if she had.None of my father's shipments had gotten the approval to pass. We had had to act really fast.Now though, I was tired as hell and just needed to go home.Who knew that a last minute decision to wear snakers, was gonna save my legs from a lot of pain.I dismissed her and began sorting through the documents in my office. I hadn't had the time to do so, and had told Dorathy not to worry about them, preferring to do them myself.Nothing beat arranging your own document and knowing where you kept what.I was head deep in a box, when I felt
LUCAThe room was almost as silent as a grave yard, thirty minutes after I had assembled my brothers and told them of Fabio.I had intentionally left Valeria out, because I knew it would be easier to tell my sweet forgiving sister, than to tell the two men in front of me.Dante finally spoke first. "So you are telling me, that that father of yours, not only played half a role in our lives, but was able to go start up another family, with another woman?" he was angry, and rightfully so.Dante never got along very well with Martinelli, but he never bumped heads with him. He rather prefered to stay aloof.Alessandro on the other hand, followed our father like a sheep, although he did voice out his opinions when necessary.As for me...."I don't know about starting a whole family, because according to Fabio and his mother, I don''t think Martinelli was present in their lives." I had spoken to the woman who was kind enough to answer soem questions. She had told me, that she was only doing
ELENA"You have been fiddling with that since." Valeria's voice dragged me out of my thoughts, and when her words registered, I snatched my hand from my necklace and managed a small smile.I had finally given in and worn my mum's necklace. And I hadn't been able to stop touching it.Maybe it was the closest I ever felt to her. "It's just a habit." It wasn't a lie. Even before, I had always played with the gem on it. If it weren't a real stone, I'm sure I would have worn it out, with so much friction."Well, it's beatiful." she said, eyeing the necklace with a small frown etched on her face."Thank you. It was my mum's." I plopped into the couch next to her and picked up a throw pillow, wedging it between my legs.Valeria was hardly ever around, and even when she was, I usually wasn't aware. That is, until she came to drag me out of my bedroom. Like today.I had decided not to go to the office, much to Alberto's chagrin, and Luca's excitement. The truth was, I was feeling a bit under
LUCAI squeezed the steering wheel of the car tightly seething silently. I had told Hakeem that I was just strolling out, just so that he would not insist on following me, or be suspiscious and alert either Alessandro or Dante of my whereabout.The message had been clear this time.A text message to my phone.Someone was playing with me, and I was going to find out who.We had relaxed after the run in with those men in the club, but I still hadn't believed it was over.He wanted to meet, that was fine.I honked at a car that was turning too slowly in the bend I needed to enter, impatient as hell. When he finally moved, I flipped him a finger and continued on my way.It was a small house. A cottage to be honest.I looked at the adress on my phone's gps again, to make sure I was in the right place.It showed that I was in the right place.I parked the car, opposite the house, on the other side of the road, then brought out my gun, makign sure it was fully loaded, before sticking it in th
LUCAI couldn't get her out of my mind.I had taken her to my bedroom, and made love over again. Rosetta had brought us a late lunch in the bedroom, after which we had made love again. This time, it had been slow and long. I just didn't want to stop.The only reason I had even left the room was because I knew she was going to be sore, and needed rest.Seeing her in my bed.What had I been thinking taking her there? Now the only place I had to myself that had no trace of her, was now filled with memories of our love making.I poured myself a cup of whiskey, not bothering with ice cubes and just gulped the liquid down.I had never ever, slept with a woman in my bed. I prefered to sleep alone. Yet, after we lay spent, I had drifted into sleep. Not once, in those few hours, had I been jolted awake by the dreams that usually tormented me. In fact, if my phone hadn't vibrated contniously, I would have still been entangled with her, in my bed.I had lingered for a few minutes, just watching
ELENAI looked behind me, feeling a slight chill down my spine."Is there something wrong?" Samuel asked, looking in the direction I was looking at.I shook my head, blinking and turning back to continue towards where Luca had parked his car. He had called and asked me to meet him in front of his restaurant. I wasn't surprised though, since his new forte was removing me from work at any time of the say.This time though, I welcomed it. Anything but the humiliation I had gone through in that office with my father.The tests, came back negative. All three of them.I didn't understand why, but I felt disappointed too, but not for the same reasons Alberto was.Luca was leaning on the car, his features alert. "Alberto." he nodded, reaching out to shake my father's hand firmly. "Luca." My father replied.I cast my gaze down, waiting for them to say whatever it is they wanted to say to each other, but my name was mentioned. I looked up to see Luca casting me a concerned look. "Get in the car
ELENA"You did not tell me you were coming." I hissed as my father guided me by my arm into my office. He pushed me inside, and I dismissed Samuel who looked ready to pounce."I don't have to tell you when I'm coming to my own office, dammit!" His tone was more biting than usual. "And tell you bodyguard to mind his damn business!"I looked at my father, then as Samuel who had not backed down. "It's okay, Samuel. Please just wait outside." I pleaded when he continued to stand in the doorway. "Really, it's okay."Unlike his normal aloof self, it took him a few moments before stepping away from the door. "I'll just be right here, ma'am." It was one of the few times I heard him speak.I smiled, then closed the door, before turning around to see my father smoking."That thing will kill you." I said distastefully as he took a deep puff, and massaged my arms where it ached.I had barely stepped out of a meeting with a ground supervisor, when he had literally ambushed me and dragged me all the