Alora's POV"Don't let me stop you. Carry on with your 'training,'" Dante reiterated, laying emphasis on the word training.Marco and I just stood awkwardly, looking at him, trying to gauge his emotion. The guy's face was set as stone, making it difficult for us to decipher his emotions."Marco," he called out in an intimidating tone, sending chills down my spine."Yes, Don," Marco answered immediately."Get out before I lose it," he growled, his face calm as if the words came from someone else.My eyes widened. Why was he being so rude?Marco didn’t hesitate, nor did he glance at me. He just walked up to where he had thrown his shirt, picked it up, and walked out.When he got to the door where Dante stood, Dante gripped his bicep, pulled him harshly toward him, and whispered something in his ear before shoving his arm off.What could he have said to him? I wondered as Marco left, closing the door softly behind him. My mind started to drift toward possibilities but immediately halted
Alora's POVThe silence stretched across the room as Vittoria stared at me, wide-eyed, her mouth almost touching the floor. I ran my hands through my hair, frustration washing over me."Vittoria," I called out gently, trying to coax her back to life because she seemed like she was out of this world.She blinked rapidly before exclaiming out of the blue, "I knew it! It all makes sense now. I knew it!"My lips curled into a frown. Knew what? I wondered, gazing at her as she danced across the room, still shouting out the words.When she finally calmed down, she turned to face me, a happy glint in her eyes. "How did you do it, girl? I can't believe this! You, my dear, are one sneaky bitch!"I furrowed my brows. "I don't understand you, Vittoria. What do you mean? How did I do what?"She shook her head, her ever-present smile still on her lips. "You came to the Mafia and didn’t even snag the younger or lower-class men. You just had to steal the heart of the Mafia Don? Goodness, what charm
Dante's POV"How do you always get shot, even if it's a small wound?" Marco chuckled, but when he saw the glare on my face, his laughter stopped. He cleared his throat and then stepped back. "I'll go get a nurse to handle that." He gestured to my injury."Don't disturb any of the nurses," I snapped. "Let them take care of the injured men.""Okay, and then what about you?" He questioned, raising a brow as if I had just said the most stupid thing in the world."What about me? I'm fine. It's just a scratch; I'll be okay. And I have to go out now for the meeting at the club.""Uh, I don't think that's a good–""What?" I cut him off, my brows arched, daring him to repeat what he had just said."I meant that I would go now. That's what I said." He rushed out before practically running out of the room as fast as his legs could carry him.He was lucky. Nobody tells me what to do. I am Dante Bellini, the Don, and I decide when I want to go out and when I can't.A few minutes later, the door cr
Alora's POVAs Dante walked into his bathroom, I groaned, gritting my teeth.Marco and Vittoria, you guys are so going to pay for this. Gosh, I can't believe they locked us in. Locking me in Dante's room? I wonder who among them thought that would be a good idea. We hate each other. This guy detests me and will not hesitate to kill me.I'm pretty sure what he meant when he was threatening me earlier was that he would kill me in this room.Dang it! I kicked against the bed, sending a jolt of pain to my toe. I bent to massage the toe. "Ouch! Sorry, my poor toe. I'm just so mad right now.""I didn't know talking to body organs is one of the character traits of a nurse... or is it just you?" Dante muttered behind me. I froze in my spot, realizing that the way I was bending was exposing my ass to his gaze.Just when I thought I would wake up before he noticed, he blurted, "Oh, don't wake up. I'm quite enjoying the view. It's so enticing. I guess this is why you wanted to be locked in, righ
Alora's POVThe sun's rays streamed through the kitchen window, casting a bright glow around the room.I lived on the outskirts of the city. Although quite lonely sometimes, I had grown accustomed to it since I was raised here. And the loneliness always seemed to fade when I immersed myself in my numerous books.However, the fates seemed to have a vendetta against me today as the sharp and unmistakable sounds of gunshots pierced through the silent atmosphere.Instinctively, my legs dropped to the floor, as I sought refuge underneath the table. My heart raced, the banging heartbeat hitting my ears with each shot.Realizing that the sound was coming from a little distance, I stood up and moved to the window, peering out towards the direction.Even from afar, the sight caused a shiver to course through me. Smoke curled in the distance, creating a dark plume against the bright blue sky. A moment of indecision gripped me. As a nurse, my instinct was to help—treat the wounded, save lives.
Alora's POV"Open the door!”The sharpness of the voice rang out through the living room. Sprinting hurriedly towards the living room, I picked up a blanket and laid it carefully over the boy. A useless attempt at shielding him.My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the door, my heart racing. I instinctively clutched Gianni’s hand. Who was outside? What did they want? And how did they find us so fast?I didn’t move. Instead, my eyes darted across the room, seeking a safe place.A louder knock followed. “Open the door now, or we’ll break it down.”We? There were many people outside? Oh shit.I stayed seated, trembling in my spot. Whoever was out there didn’t really think I'd open up, right? I wasn't a fool.I glanced toward the small closet across the room, then back at Gianni. It seemed like a perfect hiding spot for a small person like him.So, adrenaline pushing me forward, I grabbed Gianni’s arm and dragged him off the couch as gently as I could. His body was limp, heavy, b
Alora's POV“Get down,” Dante hissed, his voice jolting me from my frozen state. My heart pounded, palms slick with sweat. As a nurse, I helped people, I didn’t get caught in shootouts.I dropped to the floor, crawling toward Gianni and laying my body over his, trying to shield him. “They found us,” Dante said, his tone hushed.“Who?” I whispered frantically, but he didn’t answer. His focus was entirely on the threat outside.Dante moved toward the door, glancing over his shoulder. “Stay with him, I’ll be right back.”I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.A few seconds later, Dante rushed in, picking Gianni up and running toward the door. Without waiting for an invite, I followed him.Once he opened the door, my eyes found another horrifying sight in less than three hours. Countless men, in similar black attire, stood around five black vehicles, shooting toward the other side, where other cars were approaching.“We need to move,” Dante growled, his eyes flicking toward one of the men,
Alora's POVLuciano—my big brother—always told me to stay out of trouble. My whole life, I had been shielded from dangerous situations. And now, I just managed to drive myself into the most dangerous one of all."You’re in the Mafia now, Alora."My breath caught in my throat. "Mafia?" I blinked, struggling to process his words. "You’re telling me that Gianni… you’re all… in the Mafia?"Dante sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yes.I am Dante Bellini, Don of the Italian Mafia."My eyes were at wide as saucers. Why am I always getting into trouble? I should have stayed indoors and minded my business, but no. I had to be the heroine. But still, if I hadn't gone, Gianni would have died. So I guess God called me there."Gianni is my younger brother, and our family is deeply involved in the Italian Mafia. Gianni, being too inquisitive, stumbled across something he shouldn’t have—a secret that made him a target. They wanted him dead for it."His eyes darkened. "Unfortunately for them,
Alora's POVAs Dante walked into his bathroom, I groaned, gritting my teeth.Marco and Vittoria, you guys are so going to pay for this. Gosh, I can't believe they locked us in. Locking me in Dante's room? I wonder who among them thought that would be a good idea. We hate each other. This guy detests me and will not hesitate to kill me.I'm pretty sure what he meant when he was threatening me earlier was that he would kill me in this room.Dang it! I kicked against the bed, sending a jolt of pain to my toe. I bent to massage the toe. "Ouch! Sorry, my poor toe. I'm just so mad right now.""I didn't know talking to body organs is one of the character traits of a nurse... or is it just you?" Dante muttered behind me. I froze in my spot, realizing that the way I was bending was exposing my ass to his gaze.Just when I thought I would wake up before he noticed, he blurted, "Oh, don't wake up. I'm quite enjoying the view. It's so enticing. I guess this is why you wanted to be locked in, righ
Dante's POV"How do you always get shot, even if it's a small wound?" Marco chuckled, but when he saw the glare on my face, his laughter stopped. He cleared his throat and then stepped back. "I'll go get a nurse to handle that." He gestured to my injury."Don't disturb any of the nurses," I snapped. "Let them take care of the injured men.""Okay, and then what about you?" He questioned, raising a brow as if I had just said the most stupid thing in the world."What about me? I'm fine. It's just a scratch; I'll be okay. And I have to go out now for the meeting at the club.""Uh, I don't think that's a good–""What?" I cut him off, my brows arched, daring him to repeat what he had just said."I meant that I would go now. That's what I said." He rushed out before practically running out of the room as fast as his legs could carry him.He was lucky. Nobody tells me what to do. I am Dante Bellini, the Don, and I decide when I want to go out and when I can't.A few minutes later, the door cr
Alora's POVThe silence stretched across the room as Vittoria stared at me, wide-eyed, her mouth almost touching the floor. I ran my hands through my hair, frustration washing over me."Vittoria," I called out gently, trying to coax her back to life because she seemed like she was out of this world.She blinked rapidly before exclaiming out of the blue, "I knew it! It all makes sense now. I knew it!"My lips curled into a frown. Knew what? I wondered, gazing at her as she danced across the room, still shouting out the words.When she finally calmed down, she turned to face me, a happy glint in her eyes. "How did you do it, girl? I can't believe this! You, my dear, are one sneaky bitch!"I furrowed my brows. "I don't understand you, Vittoria. What do you mean? How did I do what?"She shook her head, her ever-present smile still on her lips. "You came to the Mafia and didn’t even snag the younger or lower-class men. You just had to steal the heart of the Mafia Don? Goodness, what charm
Alora's POV"Don't let me stop you. Carry on with your 'training,'" Dante reiterated, laying emphasis on the word training.Marco and I just stood awkwardly, looking at him, trying to gauge his emotion. The guy's face was set as stone, making it difficult for us to decipher his emotions."Marco," he called out in an intimidating tone, sending chills down my spine."Yes, Don," Marco answered immediately."Get out before I lose it," he growled, his face calm as if the words came from someone else.My eyes widened. Why was he being so rude?Marco didn’t hesitate, nor did he glance at me. He just walked up to where he had thrown his shirt, picked it up, and walked out.When he got to the door where Dante stood, Dante gripped his bicep, pulled him harshly toward him, and whispered something in his ear before shoving his arm off.What could he have said to him? I wondered as Marco left, closing the door softly behind him. My mind started to drift toward possibilities but immediately halted
Alora's POVAlthough I froze, Dante didn’t stop. His lips kept moving against mine, building momentum. I placed my hand on his shoulder to push him away, but he gripped them firmly in his own, pressing me further against the wall and pressing his body against mine as his lips continued to devour mine.I couldn’t believe it. I was too dumbfounded to react. His lips tasted sweet, like pineapples, but there was a hint of alcohol in his breath. Was he drunk?After what felt like hours but was just a few seconds, I finally gathered the courage and pushed him off me. I turned on my heel and bolted into the bathroom, shutting the door quickly behind me. I leaned against it, my heart pounding wildly in my chest like it would burst out at any second.What the hell? I placed my hand on my chest, trying to calm my racing heart, but nothing was working. I ran to the sink, turned on the tap, and splashed my face with cold water. What just happened?I scurried to the mirror. My lips and face were r
Alora's POVDante took his time, wiping his mouth with a napkin before leaning back against his seat and tapping the wooden table gently. His eyes didn’t stray from mine for a second.Deciding to test the waters, I arched a brow at him. "Are you sure that I can ask what I need and you'll give me? Or are you pulling my leg?"“Alora, I am a man of my word. That’s one thing about the Mafia. We do not go back on our word.”Great. I smiled, feeling a sense of relief. “That means anything I ask, no matter what it is, you’ll give me?” I nodded, peering at him from under my lashes.Dante chuckled, his deep voice giving no hint of what emotion he was feeling. “Well, a man of my word doesn’t mean a fool. I won’t give you anything you ask. I’ll only give you what’s reasonable.”“Fair enough, because I could still ask you for something stupid.” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “So what I want is…”Dante raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for me to continue. I took a deep breath.“I just want a li
Alora's POV“Well, are you going to say anything?” Dante’s deep voice increased the tension in the room. His piercing gaze locked onto mine as he stood directly in front of me.I cast a quick, panicked glance at Vittoria, hoping for assistance. She subtly shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. My brow furrowed in confusion as I stared at her. She seemed to be sending me a silent message, one I couldn’t quite understand.After a moment, her gestures started to make sense. She didn’t want me to deny Dante’s words.“I don’t know what you are talking about, Don Bellini,” I finally replied, pretending like I didn’t know.Vittoria gave me a small nod of approval, her lips curling into a faint smirk. I managed a small smile back before turning to face Dante’s towering, brooding figure again.“Alora, don’t act naïve,” Dante growled. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. You said you didn’t want to see me but preferred Marco or Luca. Is that a lie?”“Well, I... I don’t know. It
Alora's POVI groaned as the light hit my eyes, making me squint. The familiar beige and white walls of the medical bay at Dante's mansion greeted me.My eyes widened, and I shot up from the bed with the speed of light. I shouldn’t have done that. The action sent a surge of pain rushing through my back as if someone had hit me a gazillion times with an iron rod.I screamed loudly as tears crinkled at the corners of my eyes. The door burst open, and two nurses, along with Dante’s doctor, rushed in, their eyes wide and weapons drawn.And no, I don’t mean syringes and stethoscopes—I mean guns. What the hell are nurses doing with guns?Seeing no danger, they withdrew their weapons, stared at each other for a few seconds, and then the doctor walked toward me with a small smile.“Miss Marino, we are happy to see you awake, ma’am. How do you feel?”I managed a small smile. “My back hurts like hell.”The doctor nodded. “Yeah, you took quite a hit on the back, but it’s nothing painkillers won’
Dante’s POVAfter dropping Gianni off in his room with a very reluctant Vittoria to care for him, Marco and I headed down to Bianca's room. Alexei and Luca met us on the stairs, and Luca looked the most excited. I couldn’t stop him, knowing how much he would love what was about to happen. Unfortunately for him, it wouldn’t end the way he hoped.I didn’t allow Vittoria to come because I knew her. She hates Bianca so much that she would have gone on a killing spree, and that’s the last thing I need—more problems with Bianca’s father.When we reached her room, I motioned to one of my guards, who knocked loudly on the door.Bianca’s shrill voice rang out from inside.“What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you knocking on my door like that? Are you crazy?”Her voice grew closer as she pulled open the door. When she saw us all standing there, her irritation melted into a wide smile. She jumped onto me, wrapping her legs around my waist and placing her head on my chest.“Baby, I’ve missed