Alora's POVI had just finished routine checks on the injured men as per the doctor's orders and was about to leave the medical bay when I bumped into Dante."Hey, Dante, they're resting now, so you might have to—"I didn't complete my sentence as he seized my wrist, pulling me along with him."Dante, what the hell do you think you’re doing? Let me go!"Could it be he had a surprise for me? I wondered, but on getting a closer look at him, I noticed he was enraged, and his grip on my hand was so tight that I winced."Dante, is everything okay?" My voice calmed to a low whisper, my mind spinning."Will you shut up?" he growled, making me flinch and stagger back. If not for his grip on my hand, I'd have hit the floor.What was happening? Had I done something? No… I believed it was nothing, right? Maybe he was just in a bad mood.Deciding to keep quiet and not anger him further—since I didn’t even know the cause—I let him pull me along.We reached the living room, and he shoved me hard. I
Alora's POVI didn’t spend up to five minutes in the dungeon, or at least it felt like just a few seconds before there came a jingling at the door and Vittoria walked in. Great, just the person I needed."Alora, it's okay, you can come out now," she said.I hesitated, seeing that we could best discuss everything in here."Vittoria, can we please talk?""Alora, we can talk in your room. Come on, let's go."She chuckled, but I shook my head. "No, it's private."Her face grew serious as she saw mine."Vittoria, I want you to understand that this doesn’t mean anything, okay? Luciano and I are still your allies."Her brows creased together. "What do you mean, Alora? Is Dante right? Are you the one selling the information?" she whispered. "If you are, tell me, and I’ll look for ways to hide you.""No, no. I think there’s someone here who is working for an enemy.""Oh, hello. No shit, Sherloc
Alora's POVDante called Vittoria for something, leaving me alone in my room for the rest of the day. We hadn't seen each other ever since he had me locked up in the dungeon again. It was not a beautiful experience the first time, but the second time, I was numb. I didn't feel scared or terrified as I'd have thought.Maybe because the events happening had my mind distracted.My door opened, and the softness of the feet on the floor indicated to me that it was Gianni before he even spoke.“Hey, Alora,” he chirped, jumping on my bed.“Gianni. How was school?” I forced a smile.The kid stared at me as if I was crazy. “Alora, are you fine? Do you have memory loss?”I stared back, deadpan. I'm perfectly alright. Or do I look bad? Maybe being in the dungeon made me look tired and weak.I was about to walk into the bathroom and check myself out in the mirror when Gianni said, “It's December, Alora. We are on break. It'll soon be Christmas.”Oh. How did I miss that?“That is why I came here,”
Dante's POV"Where are the reports about everything that has been going on? Start presenting now." I motioned to Luca, who sat typing away on his laptop, his brows creased as he focused. He leaned back against his seat."I think we are getting somewhere, Dante. We are so close to ruining all the plans they have made for so long. We just need to be tactical. Look at this."He turned his laptop to me and started showing me different things he had been working on for the past week. While I was listening, my mind suddenly blanked out from his conversation, taking me instead towards Alora.Dang it. Even when I was tense and working hard, she could not leave my mind alone. I needed to be focused on this mission, get it out of my system, and then continue leading my mafia.But then, one girl kept disturbing my every action and every thought.Dang it, Alora. Get the hell out of my mind."Dante!" Luca's voice snapped me back to the meeting."Oh, sorry. Yes, you were saying?""Dante, I just lai
Chapter 85Dante's POV Marco snorted beside me, making me wish I could pull out my gun and end the idiot so this wouldn't get out. Although I knew Vittoria and Luca would know about this before midnight—Gianni was a little rascal, after all.But why had I blurted out something like that in the first place? It wasn’t a lie, though. Alora indeed looked more beautiful than ever. Maybe it was because I hadn’t seen her for so long. Still, I had been trying to memorize her face in my mind every time.So how was it that she kept getting more beautiful? Was it the heavens trying to punish me for avoiding her? What if she became even more stunning and then got interested in someone else?No, hell no. There was no way I was letting her end up with another man. Not under my watch."Alora, what are you doing here?" I asked in a voice softer than the soft one I was using with Marco and Luca during the meeting."Great to see you too, brother," Gianni said, rolling his eyes.Oh, shoot. Had I forgot
Alora's POVVittoria told me she was surprised Dante had allowed me to go to the party. She said this party wasn’t really something Dante would allow me attend and that, for the past years, he had gone with Bianca on his arm.Now, going with me, she knew it would stir up even more drama.The only downside we had was that time passed quickly. This meant that immediately after the party, she was leaving, and we had gone nowhere with our plans.Marco, on the other hand, told me everything on his end was working out smoothly and that, in no time, we'd figure out who our spy was.Despite the fact that Dante had apologized to me in his office, I was still set on avoiding him. It now seemed like a routine—one minute we were fine and teasing each other, the next minute we were cats and dogs."Stupid mafia don. Why am I still thinking of you, dammit?"He hurt me. I shouldn't be thinking of him in this manner. I'm going crazy.He also apologized, and he did sound genuine. Maybe I should have fo
Alora's POVWhen Dante got toward us, Anton separated himself from me, probably expecting Dante to take me away. I also expected that, but it seemed we had given him a passageway instead because he just swiftly moved past us and toward the door.My brows furrowed, and so did Anton’s, as we turned to stare at him.What the hell?I felt my heart plummet when Dante walked straight toward the door and, with a smile, held the hand of a blonde, attractive woman who had just walked into the hall. He landed a kiss on her hand—just like Anton had done to me earlier.Ouch.I tried not to stare, even as he held out his elbow for her to place her hand in. Awkwardly, I took a drink from a passing waitress’s tray.No, I don’t drink.I just took it because I was trying to cover my face from the embarrassment that follows, especially from men in our mafia."Are you okay?" Anton just had to ask. Damn you, man. Of course, I'm not okay."Don’t ask me that.""I know that hurt.""What hurt? Of course, I’m
Alora's P.O.V. Potential spy headed my way? Oh, God, no. Not again. I was still in the restroom. Memories from the time of Alfonso flashed before my eyes. It seemed like I had a personal problem with restrooms. Why is it always restrooms? I rushed into one of the stalls and hid there, although I knew it would do little to shield me if someone were to come in here. "Vittoria, where are you?" I rushed out in a hushed tone, my pulse spiking out of control. "I'm coming, okay? I'm trying to get a hold of Marco, but he seems to be busy with Dante, and there is really no way we can talk to him. Don't worry, I'll be there in no time." I willed myself to remain calm, but my heart wouldn’t let me. My palms got sweaty, so much that my phone almost slipped from my grasp. Oh, God, help me this time. I've gone through a lot of pain already. Why couldn't the mafia let me be? My mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Maybe I could still escape from the restroom before the person arrived. Just
Alora's POV I was crying again while Marco and Luciano looked at me, both panicked, a tinge of concern all over their faces. Vittoria was laughing her ass off on the couch, and Gianni still seemed unbothered, typing away on his phone while his AirPods filled his ears. Dante marched in, his face already twisted with concern and anger because he suspected what was going on. "What is it, baby?" I jumped into his arms, letting my tears soak his crisp white shirt. I felt sorry for him. He was just about to go to a gala, but at this point, I doubted he was going to go anyway. "What is it, Alora? Who? Just tell me the name." I lifted a shaky finger and pointed at both Marco and Luciano, who were shaking their heads. Once Dante’s eyes fell on them, they both pointed at each other. "It was him, not me!" "I have told you guys to stop. You're grown men, for shit's sake. You know what? You are going to get punished for this." "Wait, what? Come on, Dante, it wasn’t even that serious!" Luci
Alora's POVI still couldn't believe I had two brothers. And that Bianca was my sister. We looked nothing alike.I was chubby; she was slim. I had black hair; she had blonde. I was good. She was evil.See? Nothing alike.Marco and Luciano, too, took it upon themselves to make me miss growing up with siblings. Yep, you guessed that right—annoying me."Marco, Luciano, if you don't get out of this room, so help me God, I am going to castrate you and feed your balls to my alligator! Get out now!"Vittoria screamed, making them stop snickering and start walking toward the door with their heads bowed.Both of them had something for her—I could feel it. But she hated Luciano and tolerated Marco, according to what she had told me."Luciano, give me the brush before you leave."Marco laughed at Luciano, who pouted and brought out the comb he was hiding in his pocket. They both walked out, and I turned to Vittoria, who huffed.“These men act like children. Tell me, how are they even in the Mafi
Alora's POV"Wait, what?"The men holding Dante back stepped aside, moving backward with their heads bowed. All the men who had entered with Dad did the same, placing their guns at their sides, leaving the guests to stand up—except for a few, who I now knew were working with Dad.The elders. Not surprising."What the hell is going on? You're supposed to have them at gunpoint until I say we leave. What is happening?""What is happening is that you, Giovanni, have just been outsmarted. You thought you were the most intelligent, you thought you were the wisest, and now what? You have been reduced to nothing. Boys, you can come out now."Marco and Luciano emerged from the corner, Marco giving me a small wink and a nudge on my shoulder."I never wanted to betray you. It was all part of the plan—infiltrate him, get his men on our side, and win," he whispered to me, making me nod, though I was still dazed."Yes, sister, it was tough, but with your help, we managed to do everything as we shou
Alora's POVNo.It couldn't be.Bianca froze, same as me, and everyone else, as we watched the man I thought was my father—and whom she thought was hers—walk up to us. He had glasses on, but I knew my dad, even if I hadn't seen him for some years, thinking he was dead.His words were still ringing in my mind."One of my children."Daughters? We were his daughters? Bianca was my sister? No. I shook my head. No, it couldn't be."What the hell do you mean, Dad? What do you mean by children? Do you mean...?" Bianca trailed off, disbelief etched on her face."Of course, Bianca. You are a very intelligent girl—catch up quickly. I am your father, and I am Alora's father. Just a few years apart and two different women, and I got both of you." He explained calmly, as if discussing the weather."Wait... so, all my life, when you left saying you were going on business trips, you were with her?" Bianca cried, tears slipping from her eyes.For me, shock was all I could feel—no other emotion. He ha
Alora's POVI ran my hands over the delicate ends of the mask I was wearing. Black. Paired with a black dress, black shoes. Everything on me was black. The dress was floor-length and hugged my curves.This was never me. I don't think I had ever dressed like this before. But Vittoria said, "The sexier, the wiser." Whatever that meant.I was coming in with Luciano as his date so that no one would suspect who I really was.My black hair was covered up by a blonde wig. Everything about me had changed, and only someone who knew me extremely well would even suspect I was still the same person.Black lip gloss as well. I didn't know if I was going for a Halloween party or a masked party.This ball was by Bianca's father, Giovanni—to celebrate his daughter's engagement to the Italian mafia don. How he thought that was going to happen baffled me.Grand. Elegant. Those were the words to describe the hall. The crowds were gathered, showing off their finest. And thankfully, Vittoria's choice of m
Alora's POV"Hey, little man, don't scare us like that again," I told Gianni as soon as I sat down by his hospital bed, where he was receiving his last infusion before being discharged.All in the same house."I didn't scare you, but that scary aunt—gosh, I hate her now. She just told me she wanted to show me something, and I followed, a-and—"My heart broke alongside his voice."It's okay, it's okay, don't say any more," I whispered, trying to stop him from talking. That kind of memory should be left behind. How was it that she had planned to kill a kid? It baffled me."Are you feeling any pain? Are you strong? Do you want something? I can get anything for you."Gianni rolled his eyes. Yes, he rolled his eyes at me. Again."Come on, Alora, I'm not dying. I'm just a bit weak, but I'll sleep, and I'll get stronger when I wake up.""If you're weak again, you should eat something. Let me go get something for you, alright?""No, I won't eat now. I'll eat later. Let's just—"A knock on the
Dante's POVI strolled into the dungeon, a small smile on my face.They thought they had won. They thought we would never know. Unfortunately for them, it was too late.Luca, upon seeing me, smirked, making Carlos turn to me with a smug smile. They had been chatting as if they were in seventh heaven, not knowing what fate awaited them. Or maybe they knew, but they thought they would take my happiness away with it.Hell no."Nice to meet you again, guys. How are you coping in this beautiful place?" I asked as they dangled from the chains in the ceiling."We are enjoying it just fine, aren't we?" Carlos sneered. "Making funeral arrangements already?"They had no idea that we had caught Rosa yet, and it was going to be painfully exciting to watch them see her drown in the same way she had planned to drown Gianni. Fortunately, something had distracted her, and she left the bathroom. That was how—why—we met him still fine."Oh, no, no, no. Don't worry. There's no need for a funeral. Why sh
Alora's POVThe world was falling apart, and it was all my fault. I shouldn't have kept quiet. I should have said something. All of this would have been avoided if I hadn't been such a scaredy cat. Now lives were endangered, including Gianni's. The one person I swore to take care of.As we ran down towards Vittoria's room, as the cameras had shown us, my heart was almost beating louder than the numerous footsteps hitting hard on the floor.Since the kid hadn't placed cameras in people's rooms, well, private areas, none of us knew what we'd find there.It could be an unconscious boy. A badly beaten one or, worst-case scenario—a corpse.I would never forgive myself if he was killed because of my stupidity.My nerves spiked as we ran in. Dante kicked down the locked bathroom door and went inside. Marco held me back from following them.I was the nurse. I was the one who was supposed to go in first. I glared at him. He probably thought he was safe. Ha! There was no way I was going to keep
Dante's POVEver felt like your heart was going to be ripped out of your chest? Or that it was beating at 250 beats per minute? That was exactly how I felt as we ran down towards Gianni's room. I had been a fool.The signs were there, but I chose not to believe them. I should have been wiser. I am the Don, for goodness' sake. If anything happens to Gianni, I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself.The moment we barged into the room, it was all chaos, making my mind buzz even more. Clothes were scattered around, his gaming instruments lay on the floor, and blood—so much blood that I couldn't comprehend what my eyes were seeing.Worst of all, there was no Gianni in sight."Gianni? Gianni?"Silence.Utter silence. Except for the noise from the corridor as everyone ran around, trying to spot him or the shooters, if they were still around."Gianni!"Alora's voice was shaky. When I looked at her, my heart clenched even more at the sight of her red-rimmed eyes. Marco stood beside he