Antonio stood there, seething.The shop was a war zone—glass shards glinted like treacherous ice on the floor, necklaces and rings lay scattered amidst velvet displays torn apart. He cursed out loud, his hands curling into fists at his sides, nails digging into his palms hard enough to leave crescent marks.Anger surged through his veins like hot steel, pulsing with each rapid beat of his heart."Who the fuck tried to mess with my business?" he spat, tasting the bitterness of betrayal."Someone with a death wish," Sam muttered.Antonio moved deeper into the chaos, eyes scanning the disaster before him. Everything was in disarray, from the toppled showcases to the shattered display cases. It was clear that whoever had done this wanted to send a message. But to whom?He couldn't shake the feeling that this was personal. His mind raced, trying to connect the dots, but anger clouded his thoughts. Maybe it was one of Slava's men, someone who decided to stay loyal even after his death."Sam
Valerie was completely taken aback by Nonna's sudden request.Marry Antonio? The words echoed in her mind, sending a jolt of shock through her body.Her mind whirred with conflicting emotions, torn between the weight of her dying wish and her own feelings. On one hand, she wanted to honor Nonna's final request. She had grown fond of the old lady in this short period of time.But on the other hand, the thought of marrying Antonio so suddenly felt overwhelming and daunting.As she struggled to find her voice, Antonio reached out and gently squeezed her hand. His touch was warm and reassuring, bringing a sense of calmness over her. Leaning in close, he whispered, "You don't have to marry me if you don't want to. I will not force you."Valerie turned back to Nonna. "But you don't know anything about me. What if I'm not good enough for your grandson?" she whispered, making sure only Nonna could hear.Nonna's eyes softened even more, and she managed a faint smile. "Valerie, my dear, I see m
Ellie's joyful cry echoed through the room as she threw her arms around Valerie, squeezing tightly. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement and happiness. "Oh, Valerie, I am beyond thrilled for you!" she exclaimed. A small smile tugged at Valerie's lips. "You are?" "Of course! You're getting married!" Ellie said cheerfully. "I am here to help you with everything. I hope you know that." Valerie's laughter rang out, replacing the knot of nerves that had been twisting in her stomach. "I know. And I think Antonio and I would prefer a more intimate ceremony," she replied fondly. The warmth of Ellie's embrace and her genuine enthusiasm made Valerie feel less anxious about the whole thing. "Wait until River hears about it," Ellie said. And...just like that, Valerie's anxiety was back. Ellie frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't tell me you are worried about River knowing." "River knowing what?" A deep voice made both women jump. "R-River, hi," Valerie said nervously. "
A sharp, sinking feeling pierced Antonio's chest when he watched the slow trail of tears falling down Valerie's face. No, he didn't like it when Valerie cried. He didn't like that at all.He told the driver, John, to pull over so he could focus on her. "Give us some privacy," he ordered. John nodded before stepping away.Antonio quickly pulled Valerie onto his lap. "What's wrong, my love?" he asked urgently, wiping the tears from her face."I... I just..." she choked out."Shh... breathe, mia cara. Whatever it is, you can tell me," he crooned, kissing her forehead.Valerie took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to steady herself. "I... I just feel overwhelmed," she finally admitted.Disappointment washed over Antonio. "You don't want to marry me," he said gravely. "I told you I won't force you to do this, my love."Valerie looked up at Antonio, her eyes wide with surprise. "No, Antonio, it's not that," she said. "I want to marry you."A grin escaped Antonio before he could stop it. "Y
Mary, Antonio's housekeeper, sat in a rocking chair beside Landon's crib, gently swaying back and forth. She turned to Valerie with a warm smile as she entered the room."Was he a good boy?" Valerie asked."A perfect baby, this one is," Mary replied. "Didn't cry much and went right to sleep after feeding."Valerie smiled proudly. "I am glad to hear it.""He is good just like his mother," Antonio's voice boomed near Valerie's ear. Valerie felt Antonio's warmth seeping through her as Antonio wrapped his fingers around her waist and pulled her against his body.Mary got up. "I will return to my room now, Signor Costello and Signora Foster. Is there anything else you need from me?"Valerie shook her head. "Thank you for watching Landon, Mary.""It's my pleasure," Mary said before exiting the room.Antonio kissed Valerie's neck, and a shock of pleasure shook her to her core. "The baby is sleeping already," he whispered."Yes, he is," Valerie said, shivering as he placed another kiss on her
"When I had just turned sixteen, my father sent me to one of his clubs to collect the money the manager owed him," Antonio began. "I hated going to those clubs. The scent of alcohol and perfume made my eyes water and it was suffocating."Valerie listened to him with wide eyes and not interrupting. She realized how hard it was for him to tell her the story just by looking into his eyes."My eyes scanned the room, searching for the man I was looking for," he said. "I found him then, the manager, laughing at the bar with a glass in hand, carefree. He hadn't seen me yet. I approached him, ready to remind him of his debts."Antonio paused and wrinkled his forehead as if to recall the event scene by scene."The man asked me how old I was and who I was so I told him who my father was," Antonio continued. "I called one of my father's henchmen as a backup. This wasn't the first time I wasn't taken seriously because of my age, and it won't be the last. But that didn't mean my father would stop
"Antonio," Valerie said. "Can I ask you something?" Antonio raised his eyebrows, intrigued by her question. "Of course, what do you want to know?" "Why me? Why do you like me? Is it simply because you think I'm pretty? Or is it because you want to be a father and adopting Landon was...easy?" she asked. He looked into Valerie's beautiful green eyes, his heart swelling with emotions he didn't know he could feel. "I liked...no, I loved you because of who you are, not what you look like. And I wanted to be with you because I saw a depth to your soul that I couldn't resist. You're strong, resilient, and full of love. That's why I chose you. Not because it was easy, but because it was right." Valerie's expression softened, and she smiled at him. "You don't actually love me. You're just saying that, right?" "No." His tone was firm. What would it take to convince this woman how much he loved her? He had been smitten with her since day one, and she was questioning whether he was just sayin
The first light of morning trickled through the curtains, and Valerie's eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she lay there, disoriented."Damn," she whispered, her body tensing from the residual sadness she felt from hearing Antonio's story.She could still see the pain in his eyes. They were not much different, she and Antonio. Both had suffered at the hands of someone who was supposed to love and protect them.Antonio must have already left, so she pushed herself out of bed and began her new routine.First, she went to Landon's room, where the baby lay, cooing softly in his crib. As Valerie picked him up and cradled him in her arms, she felt a surge of love for this tiny being. She sat down in the rocking chair, allowing Landon to latch onto her breast as he drank hungrily.Valerie's thoughts kept drifting to Antonio, his caring nature shining through even in the darkest moments of her life."Landon, your adopted father is an incredible man," she whispered softly, kissing his forehead
Lucas couldn’t shake off the feeling of emptiness in his chest as he drove away from Amy’s apartment and back home. He couldn’t understand why he was suddenly in such a bad mood, but the hollowness in his chest only grew stronger with each passing mile. It was as if something was missing.And the car ride was too quiet.Lucas leaned back against the seat, rubbing his temples. His fingers drummed against his thigh, restless, irritated.His mind kept drifting back to the face Amy had made when he had left her at her apartment. She looked so sad, almost near tears.The little Harpy.His jaw tightened as he exhaled sharply. He should be happy she was back home and away from him. He was finally from her constant chattering.Then why did it feel like he’d lost something instead?Silly.He hadn’t lost shit. He could see her whenever he wanted to. It’s not like she lived in another state or something.Lucas nodded to himself. That’s right, he will just go see her. Maybe bother her at the litt
Lucas’s car halts to a stop outside Amy’s apartment building.Amy’s heart raced as she stared at the building, realizing their unexpected adventure was coming to an end. She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry.Lucas cleared his throat. “Well, here we are.”“Yep. Home sweet home,” Amy replied, her voice unnaturally high. She fumbled with her seatbelt, fingers trembling slightly as she tried to unlatch it. The damn thing seemed determined to keep her trapped in this moment.“Need some help?” Lucas asked, his voice laced with amusement.The seatbelt finally released with a soft click. Amy’s hand lingered on the buckle, her mind racing for some excuse…any excuse to prolong their time together.“I, uh…” Amy started, then trailed off, unsure what to say.Lucas turned to her, one eyebrow raised slightly. “Yes?”Amy’s breath caught in her throat as their eyes met.She opened her mouth, then closed it again. What could she possibly say that wouldn’t make her sound desperate or clingy? This
“…and then I told her, ‘If you think that’s bad, you should see what happens when I try to use chopsticks!’” Amy’s words tumbled out in a frantic stream, her hands fluttering like startled birds as she gestured wildly. Her leg bounced incessantly, causing the entire row of airplane seats to vibrate subtly.Lucas gritted his teeth, trying to focus on the e-book displayed on his tablet.Amy had not stopped talking ever since they boarded. At this point, Lucas was used to her talking too much, but this time, it was excessive.“Oh! And did I ever tell you about the time I accidentally used dog shampoo for a month? My hair was so shiny, people kept asking if I’d had work done!” Amy let out a high-pitched laugh that set Lucas’s nerves on edge.He exhaled slowly through his nose, thumb hovering over the tablet’s screen as he debated whether to increase the volume on his noise-canceling headphones. It wouldn’t make a difference, he knew. Amy’s chatter seemed to defy the laws of physics, penet
“Sit down on that little table, and I’ll go get your drink,” Lucas offered, shrugging out of his jacket. “Hot chocolate, right?”“Right,” Amy said with a small smile.Amy turned her gaze to the window, focusing on the view instead of the flutter in her chest. This was just a fun day out. Don’t overthink it. This was one of her many flaws. Overthinking things.A few minutes later, Lucas returned with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, each topped with a generous swirl of whipped cream. “One for you and one for me,” he said, sliding hers across the table.Amy took a sip, the warmth spreading through her and momentarily chasing away her thoughts. “Mmm, this is amazing.”“Told you this place was worth it,” Lucas said, taking a sip of his own. “So, how does it feel to have conquered your first ski slope?”She set her mug down and leaned back in her chair. “Honestly? It feels good. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did.”“Told you you would,” Lucas said, his eyes fixed on hers.“So…
Amy’s eyes widened as she took Lucas’s hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. “Skiing? Are you serious?” she exclaimed.Lucas smirked, enjoying her surprise. “Completely serious.”She bit her lip, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. “But I’ve never skied before. No, it is too scary. I can’t.”He chuckled, tugging her hand gently. “Don’t be a chicken. I will teach you.”She shook her head no. “I will fall down the hill and break something. And then, you will be forced to take care of me for another six months. You will never find the time to woo Alicia at that pace.”Lucas stared at her in amusement. “You have no confidence in yourself, do you?”“ZERO. Now, can we do something else? Like…I don’t know…something does not involve me rolling down from high places?” Amy asked nervously.Lucas tightened his hold on her hand. “Nope. We are going skiing, and that’s final.”Amy groaned loudly, dragging her feet as Lucas led her toward the ski rental area.He rolled his eyes, ha
“What’s wrong now?” Lucas asked.Amy looked at him questioningly. “What do you mean? Nothing is wrong.”“Bullshit,” Lucas said, furrowing his brows. “You look like you are about to cry again. Is it something I said?”Amy shook her head no.Lucas stared at her for a long moment before clearing his throat. “Well…” he started. “Maybe you don’t need to leave just yet. I mean…there’s no rush, I guess.”Her eyes lit up. “Really? I can stay?”Lucas shifted uncomfortably, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, I mean, if you want to. The mansion’s big enough, and it’s not like you’re taking up space.”Amy’s lips twitched, fighting a smile. “Are you sure? I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”He rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress the smirk creeping onto his face. “You’re already a pain, so what’s a little more? Besides, you shouldn’t go back to the USA without doing some sightseeing in Sweden. There are some cool stuff we can do here during winter.”Amy’s eyes widened with surprise, and th
Lucas woke up to the bright sunlight assaulting his eyes and the feel of a plump ass pressed against his groin.He groaned inwardly as he looked at the time. It was already past noon.He couldn’t believe he let Amy talk him into having sex for the second time.And then again this morning.Lucas sighed, running a hand over his face as the events of the past twelve hours replayed in his mind. He had no idea how Amy managed to seduce him so easily.Little nymph.He shifted slightly, trying not to wake her, but the feel of her bare skin against his sent a jolt through him. His cock stirred despite his better judgment.Get a grip, he scolded himself.Amy stirred, letting out a contented hum as she stretched lazily, pressing her body even closer to his. “Mmm, morning, Slut,” she murmured sleepily, her voice thick with satisfaction.Lucas groaned, burying his face in her hair. “It’s noon, and don’t call me that.”“Sorry. I shall call you Timmy’s Dad instead,” she muttered.Lucas sat up. “Tha
Amy had never been taken like this before - with such raw, animalistic intensity. It was overwhelming, all-consuming, obliterating every thought beyond the feel of him inside her, stretching her, claiming her.She could feel the coil of tension winding tighter and tighter in her core, threatening to snap at any moment. Her thighs began to quake, her walls fluttering around his thick length as he hit that sweet spot inside her again and again.“Lucas,” she gasped. “I’m… I’m going to…”“Not yet,” he commanded roughly, reaching between their sweat-slicked bodies to circle her clit with his thumb. “I want to feel you come on my cock. I want to watch you fall apart.”A strangled cry escaped her lips as she came.Lucas didn’t let up, pistoning into her with deep, powerful thrusts.“Oh god,” he rasped. “I can’t control myself.”With a guttural groan, he buried himself to the hilt one final time, finding his own release. She felt the hot spurts of his seed painting her inner walls as he shudd
The kiss caught Amy off guard, her eyes widening as their lips met. She froze for a split second before parting her lips and allowing him to slip his tongue inside.And oh, was she glad she did.Amy’s heart pounded in her chest as Lucas flipped her on her back and deepened the kiss, his hands moving to her waist, pulling her closer. It felt so good—the way his lips moved against hers, his weight pressing on her, the heat that spread through her body like wildfire.This was wrong. So wrong. She barely knew this man. They just met less than twenty-four hours ago!And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to make him stop.His fingers tightened on her waist, his touch possessive.Amy’s hands, which had been hovering awkwardly in the air, found their way to his shoulders, gripping tightly. Every rational thought screamed at her to push him away, to put an end to this madness, but her body refused to obey.When they finally broke apart, both were breathless, their faces mere inches apart. Lucas’