ProserpinaI lay on the bed, listlessly.I felt Camilla’s eyes on me. She knew that I was feeling upset but I had realised that the big woman with the strong features and the brusque manner, was actually a kind, caring soul.She came closer, holding my littlest child in her arms.“Do you want to hold the baby?” she asked, “I know he is your favourite.”It was untrue, I loved them all equally but I could see it was a clumsy attempt to make me cheerful. I looked up at her, meeting her bright black eyes and smiled. *The smile faltered as I saw the concern in her eyes and I began to cry.Suddenly I was sobbing, great wrenching sobs, torn from my chest.“It is alright, it is going to be alright, girl.” she cooed, holding me to her chest. I shook my head wearily.“No,” I mumbled, “it is never going to be all right.” I thought of Lucien, the steeliness in his eyes as he had said he would not share me…SHARE me? With Schwartz?The shame, the pain in me on hearing that! It had been immense.I
Lucien He stared at the phone.It suddenly seemed to him that he was watching, like a disinterested bystander, as his life unravelled.First, his wife who had seemed to look at him as though she abhorred his very presence.Not surprisingly, he thought, pouring himself another stiff drink although he had had way too much already. He scratched his powerful, hirsute chest and brooded.He had spoken in an unspeakably unforgivable manner to her. Yes, he knew it had been his insecurity speaking. But he had chosen to hurt her when she was most vulnerable and he hated himself for it. With a loud oath, he threw the glass across the room where it shattered into smithereens. The strong smell of rum filled the air almost at once and he scowled. He would need to get someone to clean the mess.But he was too disturbed.*Now, his daughter, the one child who was his favourite…Ria had been crying as she slammed the phone after screaming at her father. She had accurately read the equation between Pro
ProserpinaThe doctor had finally agreed to let me go back home. I was excited; God knows I was dying to meet my children. Every day we spoke for hours, at least, Ria spoke for hours, monopolising the conversation. Piers would finally, in exasperation, snatch the phone from her and talk. Claude would also be allowed to join in where he would blow me raspberries.*Claude was now beginning to say “Mumma “ in a clearer manner. So he would also be given his time. After that I insisted on saying Hi to poor Paddy who shuffled around in the background, looking shy and indecisive. Then, of course, there was Beatrice to greet and then Philippe, who would steal into the kitchen when he knew Beatrice was going to be talking to me. Seeing them, the family who had been with me through thick and thin, gave me a sense of peace.Watching everyone on video calls made me feel thoroughly glad that it was possible to view the person you were speaking to!My children at home were waiting to see me and
ProserpinaI was aching to see my little ones, Ria, Piers and Claude and introduce them to the babies. Ria had already decided that they would be choosing the names of the little ones. THEY meant, of course, herself. Piers was overruled when he came up with what she called ‘stuffy sounding’ names.Danielle and Aiyana had been to see me the previous afternoon. They were leaving and they had come to say goodbye. As Aiyana, whose arm was still in a sling, stepped to me, she said quietly,‘You need to forgive Delano.’As I raised my eyebrows and looked at her, she said, controlled and dispassionate as ever,“He’s a great fighter and a tough Boss. But he’s hurting now.” Danielle took up the thread of the conversation, and continued,” And Schwartz was to blame, you know; him and his flirty ways.”And seeing the mutinous expression on my face, the ever loyal Danielle growled,“Kid, that man of yours loves you. Seriously.”She sighed and groped for a cigar, then remembered she could not smok
LucienHe was already thinking of putting off his trip; how could he resist this woman who wanted nothing more than his love? She who had endured so much pain for him? Lucien Delano began to put the wheels in motion; he would leave in a day’s time, after spending time with his beloved Woman. Ultimately it was Ria’s pleading that made Lucien put off his trip to East Europe for a few more days.She spoke to him, her pretty golden hair and blue eyes creating a charming picture.‘Pappa,’ she pleaded, her eyes shining with tears,“Pappa, please, come and meet us...please. After that, you can go to work. Pleaseeee….!’ ***ProserpinaLucien had melted. He was a big softie when it came to his firstborn daughter, I thought as I nursed the tiny boy, who was the hungriest; I winced as I shifted him as he kept tugging at my nipple. I sighed and looked up, meeting Lucien’s eyes. We were on the plane, his large private plane, with the sleeping area. I reclined against a pillow and sighed involu
ProserpinaWe touched down in the early hours of the morning.The drive home was uneventful. Lucien and I rode in the large vehicle with the babies and Nurse Camille sat behind us. I was tired but the babies were cantankerous after the journey. They insisted on being fed almost continuously and I had to take turns moving them from one breast to the other. I reflected on the doctor’s advice; he had suggested that I start them off on formula very soon since they showed signs of being voracious in their appetites.“Besides, Mrs Delano,” he had added, his warm brown eyes sympathetic,’ you have had a very stressful experience. So you …’ I sighed and looked away.*Beston rode in the same vehicle. I glanced at my husband.Lucien looked older and tired. There were lines of exhaustion on his face and the lines from his nose to his mouth were more prominent, making him look cold and frightening. He sat beside me, deep in thought as he studied his phone, the other two phones in his pocket, o
AiyanaThe morning sunlight was filtering in through the curtains in the apartment where Aiyana stayed.She glanced over at Schwartz who was sleeping beside her. It was early in the morning and she noiselessly slipped out of bed and padded across to the bathroom, intent on getting herself a cup of coffee after that.A few minutes later, she was sipping her hot black coffee and checking her phone. The news from her farm, her late husband’s farm actually, made her smile. The man in charge, her trusted manager had written to inform her about two foals that had been born. He went on to talk about other matters related to the farm, mending fences, and things that went over her head. Cupping her chin in her hands, she thought of her late husband. The farm had been his baby. He had loved it. She sighed. Aiyana was a person who thrived on the action. Farming was definitely not HER thing.*Schwartz walked in yawning hugely, clad in a pair of low slung jeans and nothing else. He had a lean and
ProserpinaI settled into a routine of sorts. It was difficult to return to the old way of life; I had undergone too much of pain and suffering. Nothing could turn the clock back and make me the happy young mother of three I had been before I had fallen into Dmitri Rudenko's hands.*I had little trouble blanking out my dreadful experience when I was awake. My babies and my older children kept me awake. My friends called from all parts of the world; Alex Wu from Japan, and Brian from Paris where he was on a lecture tour of Europe. And of course, Rachel. She had promised to come and meet me when she was returning from Scandinavia.Grace came to spend time too; she had given up her job because she was taking up a new one at a school closer to her home. She spend hours with us. And yes, my staff, the nannies who had been with us since Ria and Piers had first arrived here with me, Beatrice, dear Bea and now Camille as well. She had also been easily and effortlessly merged into our unwield
Piers's loud shout made the hall fall silent. For a minute, every head in the room swivelled to stomp in the doorway.Even Lucien Delano and Proserpina, absorbed as they were in their burning need to lose themselves in their desperate need for each other, stopped. Proserpina blinked as she turned to look, safe as she was, nestled in her lover’s strong embrace. And the Mafia Don scowled in annoyance, muttering,“What is with that fool boy?’Piers whipped his head to face his parents across the room, an arm around Hila, holding her to his chest as he cried, "Mumma! Pappa!’And when he was hurrying to them, his eyes were wild with excitement as he cried in joy, dragging his lover beside him,‘I…you… I mean… Mumma, I’m going to be a dad!”Proserpina was out of her husband’s protective arms as her son whooped and threw his arms around her, laughing with him. Lucien watched drily as Claude and Ria immediately crossed to him, pulling him into a huddle. Tara joined them, and after a pause, so
LucienHe began to make his way slowly through the milling throng of his guests to where his Woman was standing, in a daringly backless gown, her beautiful body making his staff harden with desire. Ria and Tara had chosen the slinky gown for her. When Proserpina had protested in embarrassment, her hands on her pink cheeks, the girls had declared,‘Mumma! Even after eight kids, you still look WOW!’It had been one of those rare weekends when Tara had come home. Ria had little Jamie on her lap, jiggling the fat little girl who was cooing at her Pappa, for the Mafia Don was hands down, her favourite person. Jamie was the apple of the Don’s eye, as Ria often teased her father.Lucien, who had been in the bedroom working on his phones and tablet, had been watching them in amusement.After the heart attack, mild though it had been, he had taken to spending time at home, working from his office or sometimes, his spacious bedroom.‘Please…but it’s BACKLESS!” Proserpina had gone on, her eyes m
A love like the kind her parents shared was almost like a fairytale…She sighed and touched her small belly. Big Philippe placed his large warm hand over hers and whispered concernedly in her ear,“Princess?”She looked up into his dark eyes and felt the rush of affection, of love that kept them bound to each other. Philippe, the Capo would bring the Moon and place it at her feet if she asked for it, she thought and unmindful of the crowds milling around her, the sound of glasses clinking, the chatter of people as, Ria reached up and pulled his head down. Murmuring against his lips,‘Philippe Diaz, I love you,” as she kissed him.***Piers Delano was staring at his phone. His mind was on other matters, although he had turned up for the party after his twin’s wedding ceremony. It had been a brief ceremony; Philippe had been born a Catholic, so there had been a small wedding service at Church. Old man Diaz had passed away a few years ago, and Philippe’s brothers, both of whom had been a
A few years later.The years have been kind to him, thinks the Don fondly as he surveys the guests at his daughter’s wedding party.Lucien Delano has aged but in his predictably indomitable manner, he looks and of course, his wife is testimony to the fact, that he still behaves in the same manner as he used to.His still-muscular physique belies his years and he continues to practice in his gym and has a friendly bout of boxing in the Ring, off and on. His son Claude is now an established name in the world of boxing, simultaneously running the underground fight clubs he has set up, and partnered with Paddy. The two of them work in tandem, Paddy with his enviable skills on the computers, has managed to make the Fight Clubs very lucrative indeed! thinks the Don.The Mafia Don is still actively handling the matters of his mob, which has branched out to become a powerful organisation, but one that is totally against human trafficking. He has made his millions through his arms dealings, a
LucienHe looked at his Woman fondly. She was on the bed, her head lowered to the baby at her nipple, the little child whose brown curls were bobbing as she sucked hard at her mother’s swollen teat.Proserpina wore a look of divine bliss, and Lucien moved over to her, taking her chin in his hard grip and kissing her.It was all he could do, for she had been spending almost a month at the hospital now. A month during which the Mafia Don had practically lived in the hospital too, his only concern being his Woman.And of course, the littlest child of his, who had charmed him already, though she was too small, too tiny to utter a word. Yet she could be ear-splittingly loud, too!He found himself staring in wonder as the baby yawned, exposing her small toothless gums, pink in colour, as he watched her face adoringly. And when Proserpina laughed at him, at the way he fawned over his youngest daughter, the Mafia Don growled at her, his eyes hungrily wandering over her.“Woman, I want to bree
RiaShe was running down a corridor that stretched out endlessly. The sound of the man’s footsteps thundering after her made her pant in fear. He was after her. She stumbled and fell, picked herself up, and kept running, her hands reaching out in the dark for some door, some way out of this place. And then, suddenly, out of the blue, she grabbed a shirt sleeve.The face of the man looked up in front of her.She screamed as Dusak’s face appeared out of the gloom, grinning maniacally.He had blood pouring down his forehead and a large hole in his cheek where he had been shot. But he opened his mouth and spoke in a guttural voice she knew she had heard before.“LOVELY Ria, my Ria, I am going to be with you forever now...'He reached out a long skeletal hand with talons, and that was when Ria screamed.Dusak Rudenko began shaking her throat ungently, and she felt a gurgle of panic erupt within her. A deep fear, unnamed and unknown.And then Philippe’s voice came into her consciousness, be
Lucien stood, staring in shock as a beaming Camille reached out to hand over the little baby to him. He stared in confusion for he had never held any of his newborn kids; it was a first for him.But even as he hesitated, the little child, its skin pink and puckered, a thatch of dark hair on its tiny head, opened one eye and looked at him quizzically an eyebrow raised questioningly, weighing him up critically so to speak, before shutting her eye firmly and ignoring the people around her, her mouth blowing a red raspberry pout.Ria and the other children began to laugh as Lou cried, with a shout of laughter,“Pappa, Sir, she is not impressed by you!’But it was Ria who declared, wonderingly, as she leaned against Lucien, who was holding the precious bundle cupped to his chest fiercely,“Pappa, I think she has Mumma’s colouring!”***ProserpinaI opened my eyes slowly. It felt as though there were weights holding my lids down. It had been a dream that seemed to go on forever, tumultuous
Lucien looked around at his family who were in the large waiting room. The younger boys, Dom and Lou, were piled on a sofa, their mouths open as they snored softly; Tara was curled up in an armchair with Aiyana beside her, an arm draped protectively around the child. The ex-FBI woman sat, her legs folded elegantly even in sleep.James Schwartz was sitting in another chair while the Capo dozed uncomfortably, Ria’s golden head on his lap, Rudy nestled beside her. Lucien’s face softened slightly as he looked at James. As though his thoughts had touched his second in command, the Scotsman stirred and stretched, sitting up, alert in an instant.He looked around himself and met Lucien’s eyes, an unspoken look passing between them.Snoring loudly, Claude was sprawled in abandon, sleeping on a mattress someone had thoughtfully provided, which was spread on the floor, his arms thrown wide, while Paddy had chosen to settle in an armchair close to the corridor leading to the theatre door, positi
She mumbled,"Yes Sir...' and her molten brown eyes, clouded with desire and want, with pain and pleasure, misted over as she looked at him, beseeching him to release her from her need.Her absolute submission aroused him tenfold, and the big man growled shakily, for the sight of her large breasts with the evil clamps fastened to her tender nipples was too much for him.“I shall f*ck your t*ts today, wh*re,’ he said hoarsely, "to punish you. Pain, wh*re, and pleasure."She made a sound, her breasts wobbling as she tried not to shift too much, but he lowered his head to sink his teeth into the fleshy mounds savagely, and she cried out.He tugged lightly at the clamps with his teeth, and she met his eyes, her own filled with tears of pain but she dimpled slightly as she said breathlessly,'Master... I am yours, Lucien Delano..."He grunted.F*ck, but he could never have enough of this delectable offering laid before him: this lush body, the thighs wet with her want, her shining pink c*n