Dante's POVIs it possible for a man to feel butterflies in his stomach? Because if not, then I need to see a doctor as soon as possible. The minute our lips touched, I felt a warm simmer in my veins, taking my breath away.Even though I was the one who initiated the kiss, I froze for a few seconds before moving against her lips. All her struggles ceased as she lost herself in the moment—a moment I didn’t want to end.I bit her bottom lip, trying to assert dominance, and Alora let out a moan that sent a rush of heat to my groin. Fucking hell. Even Bianca could never bring out a response from me like this. What is this little nurse doing to me?After a minute, I reluctantly pulled away from her but leaned my forehead against hers, her warm breath hitting my face.I used my finger to pull away some strands of her hair from her face, then in a swift movement, lifted her to sit with her legs on both sides of me. She gasped, her legs hitting m
Alora's POVDante didn't look okay. Whatever had been said to him on the phone had made him pale before letting out a string of curse words while tugging at his hair. When he and Luca exchanged glances and then stared at me, my heart lurched.Whatever had happened, it involved me. Cautiously, I asked, "What's going on, Dante? You don't look okay."He didn't immediately respond but held me by the waist and pulled me towards him. Once I was wrapped in his warmth, he uttered the words that had goosebumps erupting along my skin as a shiver crept down my spine."Alora. I want you to be calm, okay? We are going to handle everything, and all will be well.""What do you mean by that? Why should I be calm? I'm already very calm. Is there a reason for me not to be?" The questions tumbled out of my lips as I detached myself from his arms and gazed at him with curiosity etched on my face."Just know that all will be well, okay?"I hated this, going around in circles instead of just saying what wa
Alora's POVMy heart was pounding, my palms getting sweaty. I tried to scream but was stopped by the man's hand landing on my mouth."Shhh. You don't want to attract the wrong attention now, do you?"My eyes, which were closed due to fear, snapped open, and a smile broke out on my face as I looked into the eyes of my brother."Luciano, what the hell? We've been looking everywhere for you. Are you crazy? Disappearing out of the blue. Come on, let's go. The others have been worried sick for no good reason. Don't try this again, brother. It's hella annoying."The words spilled out of my mouth faster than I could control. I was relieved, knowing that my brother wasn't kidnapped and probably being tortured somewhere."Alora, listen. I have a lot to tell you."Luciano whispered, cutting off my words. He sounded worried, and my doubts were confirmed when he moved towards the open window and pulled the curtains together, causing the room to descend into pitch darkness."Luciano, what's going
Alora's POV"You were looking for me, Don?" Alfonso muttered, strolling towards where I stood with Dante, an aura of authority radiating from him. I think the only people who weren't fazed were Dante, Vittoria, Marco, and me.The rest of the men bowed their heads and stepped backward to make way for him to pass through. Uh-oh. This means he's a highly respected mafia man. Will they believe me if I tell them the truth?"Where were you, Alfonso? I sent you to be with Alora for her protection, and yet you left her alone? How could you be so reckless?"Alfonso glared at me before bowing his head. "I'm sorry, Don. I had an emergency and needed to use the restroom. I pleaded for her to wait for me, but she ran off by the time I came outside."What the hell? He's lying so confidently. Such a stupid lie, I know nobody's gonna believe him.Or maybe I was wrong. Because Dante's head snapped to my face, his eyes growing darker. "Alora, why would you do that? Your brother is missing, and you go a
Dante's POVAs the cars disappeared in the distance, I turned to Marco, whose eyes I had noticed on me the whole time. Vittoria was standing by him too, both staring at me with twisted faces."What?" I asked in an annoyed tone, feeling frustration biting at my chest.They both exchanged a glance before turning to me. Marco cleared his throat. "Don, I don't know what to say, but I don't feel too okay about this."I quirked a brow, nodding for him to explain himself."What Marco is trying to say is that, um... well, do you think Alora is lying? What if she isn't?"My gaze drifted to Alfonso, who was standing and talking with some of the men in a corner. I observed him for quite a while, as if I could decipher if he was guilty from just looking at him.As if noticing my gaze, he turned towards us, and his usual stoic expression transformed into a smile—a rare sight he only showed to his close friends."Hello, everyone. What's going on?" he asked, moving to place a hand over Vittoria's sh
Alora's POVIf someone had told me that on the day I discovered some of my family's deepest secrets, I'd also lose my life, I’d never have accepted it. I’d have laughed in their faces and told them to get a life.But here it was happening right in front of me. I couldn’t save myself. I couldn’t even scream because Alfonso’s large hand was placed firmly over my mouth, muffling my cries. I tried to bite, but his grip was so tight I could barely feel my teeth.“Shhh, don’t scream. I like my girls screaming only when I’m buried deep inside them, my darling Vittoria. So be quiet, honey.”I froze, my eyes filled with unshed tears, bulging wide open. Vittoria? He just called me Vittoria. I couldn’t have made a mistake. What in the world is going on?“Oh darling, I love how you’re quiet now. Very obedient. Very nice. I’m going to take my hand off your mouth, okay? Promise not to scream?”I didn’t respond, still in too much shock to grasp what was going on. Alfonso didn’t like my silence becau
Dante's POV.Rage.Fear.Which one was I feeling? I had no idea, but one thing was sure: I was going to murder Alfonso this night. Friendship be damned.His audacity, though, was the least of my problems. Not when my woman was bleeding out, slumped against the wall, while he stood over her like someone who had the ultimate power. His eyes had gone round as he stared at me, his lips parted."Dante? You're here. I'm so happy," he said. "You will never believe what Alora did. Oh my God, she tried to attack me when I came to her room to ask why she lied." He tried to explain himself. By lying.However, I was done being foolish. My foolishness had almost cost Alora's life. Never again would I do that. So I pushed him out of the way and walked past, lifting her into my arms and rushing out of the room, to the medical bay, where Vittoria was already shouting orders at the staff.It's a good thing Alora expressed this idea to me—to have medics stay here—because what would have happened now? I
Alora's POV Maybe I should have responded to him. He wouldn't have tried to come closer. Now he has found my evidence of trying to run away. It's all there, clear. There's nothing to say about it. So, instead of acting scared or panicked, I just turned my face back, gazing out the window into the dark blue sky that had descended upon the afternoon. "Alora, what's going on?" Dante finally asked after a long and painfully silent moment where I could feel him staring at me. I pretended to be deep in thought, all the while still staring out the window. He already has the proof. Why is he asking me what is going on? It's obvious. "Alora, please answer me. What's the meaning of all this? Were you, by any chance, planning to leave?" Oh, Dante. "Leave" is a very easy word for what I was planning to do. If only he knew that I am going to take Gianni with me one way or another. Even if I have to kidnap the kid, I'm doing it. Seeing that my silence was only going to make him ask more ques
Dante's POV"Where is Vittoria?" I asked two men who were in the gym. Normally, this was her gym time, as she didn’t train with everyone else."No idea, boss.""We don’t know, Don," they responded.This was the fifth time I had looked for her in the mansion. What is going on? Her movements had just been… weird and too frequent.The Vittoria I knew only went out when there was a mission. She didn’t even have much of a social life, had no female friends, or anyone she would want to hang out with. I know her first female friend is Alora, which is why she values their friendship so much.Maybe I could ask Alora about Vittoria? Girls gossip, right… so she’d know something.Who am I kidding? Both of them are the same. Ever since we came back from the date, Alora has been avoiding me. Now, I had taken it to heart. It is definitely my fault.What could I have said during the date that would make her so worried and scared of me? Damn it, I knew it. I shouldn’t have spoken so much. Now, I have
Alora's POVDespite all the pacing I had been doing up and down in my room, I still hadn't calmed down. The time was ticking by, and she was nowhere to be seen. I wonder what could be delaying her arrival.I don't know what’s wrong with this girl. She just seems a bit off these days. But that is beside the point now. I need to focus on this emergency, and then I was going to ask her what exactly had her so occupied that I barely saw her, even though we basically lived rooms apart from each other.Finally, after another excruciatingly long wait, I heard a knock on my door before she pushed it open, strolled into my room, and slumped down on the bed like she owned the place."Who dares summon her royal highness? How mayest I be of help to you low—""Vittoria, this is not the time for jokes, okay? We need to do something now.""Oh, Alora, I'm tired. I didn't sleep last night. I was out the whole time.""That is none of my business, Vittoria, okay? Get up. You need to help me out here. Co
Alora's POVMy laughter slowly died when I noticed that Dante was glaring at me. I scooted closer to Gianni, who wass justl staring at our exchange as though he was in the most boring moment of his life. How can this kid put on such a brave facade at such a tense moment when the Mafia Don's icy eyes are digging our graves already"Alora, for the last time, I'll ask-""Brother, I went out with Alora. You should also ask me where we were, right?" Gianni cut in, making my eyes widen.Is he having a death wish?"Gianni, stop!" I exclaimed, horrified at his nonchalance.But he just turned to me and rolled his eyes."I'll tell you where we were," he said to dabte, and my heart started thuddingng.Oh, shit. I just hope he doesn't throw me under the bus. We made an agreement That if I took him out, he was going to keep my own secret."Yes, I took him out. We went to see Cherry," . "I haven't seen her in a long time.abd I promised I'll pass by today," Gianni saids, confirming my words.Dante
Dante's POV No. It can't be what I'm thinking. Alora can't have escaped and taken Gianni along with her. She has no reason to. Yes, I understand she wants to leave the Mafia at all costs. But Gianni? That's my brother. She wouldn't dare. She cannot take away the Prince of the Mafia. I'm not involving him in it, but he's still a member. A valuable one. The men were returning from the sites where I had sent them to check on her. Everywhere. And no one could find her. Not even one person. The gardens had been checked. The gym. The medical bay. Every place in the Mafia. Going right to the computer room. And lastly, the dungeon. Alora hates that place. She wouldn't go there for any reason. Where the hell is she? Did they really step out of this mansion? With all the danger looming around, it's certainly the last thing I expected from her. Marco stood beside me, clicking fast on his laptop, trying to trace Gianni and Alora. I don’t know how, but it seems they have removed the bracele
Dante's POVEver since I saw Alora's bag packed and realized she was ready to leave by escaping or something, I haven't been fine. I mean, it is my fault, yes. But I don't want her to leave.Although Luciano has been kidnapped, even if he were still around, I doubt that I would have let Alora leave.When he showed up, that was my biggest fear. Am I a bastard for being happy that her brother got kidnapped? Although I wish we could find him sooner because she's heartbroken and scared.I just don't want anyone to take her from me. Even when I've messed things up so badly. Yes, I am a selfish bastard, but do I care? No.Alora makes me feel things that I never thought were possible, and I would be a fool if I let this one go. Dad always used to tell me, "Hold on to what makes you happy, son. The fact that you're in the mafia doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your happiness. You can still be happy and fight for what's right."He had laid a strong emphasis on the mafia. Despite it being a d
Alora's POV Maybe I should have responded to him. He wouldn't have tried to come closer. Now he has found my evidence of trying to run away. It's all there, clear. There's nothing to say about it. So, instead of acting scared or panicked, I just turned my face back, gazing out the window into the dark blue sky that had descended upon the afternoon. "Alora, what's going on?" Dante finally asked after a long and painfully silent moment where I could feel him staring at me. I pretended to be deep in thought, all the while still staring out the window. He already has the proof. Why is he asking me what is going on? It's obvious. "Alora, please answer me. What's the meaning of all this? Were you, by any chance, planning to leave?" Oh, Dante. "Leave" is a very easy word for what I was planning to do. If only he knew that I am going to take Gianni with me one way or another. Even if I have to kidnap the kid, I'm doing it. Seeing that my silence was only going to make him ask more ques
Dante's POV.Rage.Fear.Which one was I feeling? I had no idea, but one thing was sure: I was going to murder Alfonso this night. Friendship be damned.His audacity, though, was the least of my problems. Not when my woman was bleeding out, slumped against the wall, while he stood over her like someone who had the ultimate power. His eyes had gone round as he stared at me, his lips parted."Dante? You're here. I'm so happy," he said. "You will never believe what Alora did. Oh my God, she tried to attack me when I came to her room to ask why she lied." He tried to explain himself. By lying.However, I was done being foolish. My foolishness had almost cost Alora's life. Never again would I do that. So I pushed him out of the way and walked past, lifting her into my arms and rushing out of the room, to the medical bay, where Vittoria was already shouting orders at the staff.It's a good thing Alora expressed this idea to me—to have medics stay here—because what would have happened now? I
Alora's POVIf someone had told me that on the day I discovered some of my family's deepest secrets, I'd also lose my life, I’d never have accepted it. I’d have laughed in their faces and told them to get a life.But here it was happening right in front of me. I couldn’t save myself. I couldn’t even scream because Alfonso’s large hand was placed firmly over my mouth, muffling my cries. I tried to bite, but his grip was so tight I could barely feel my teeth.“Shhh, don’t scream. I like my girls screaming only when I’m buried deep inside them, my darling Vittoria. So be quiet, honey.”I froze, my eyes filled with unshed tears, bulging wide open. Vittoria? He just called me Vittoria. I couldn’t have made a mistake. What in the world is going on?“Oh darling, I love how you’re quiet now. Very obedient. Very nice. I’m going to take my hand off your mouth, okay? Promise not to scream?”I didn’t respond, still in too much shock to grasp what was going on. Alfonso didn’t like my silence becau
Dante's POVAs the cars disappeared in the distance, I turned to Marco, whose eyes I had noticed on me the whole time. Vittoria was standing by him too, both staring at me with twisted faces."What?" I asked in an annoyed tone, feeling frustration biting at my chest.They both exchanged a glance before turning to me. Marco cleared his throat. "Don, I don't know what to say, but I don't feel too okay about this."I quirked a brow, nodding for him to explain himself."What Marco is trying to say is that, um... well, do you think Alora is lying? What if she isn't?"My gaze drifted to Alfonso, who was standing and talking with some of the men in a corner. I observed him for quite a while, as if I could decipher if he was guilty from just looking at him.As if noticing my gaze, he turned towards us, and his usual stoic expression transformed into a smile—a rare sight he only showed to his close friends."Hello, everyone. What's going on?" he asked, moving to place a hand over Vittoria's sh