RiaBut then her mother’s words sank in.A wave of fear swept through her. Had her mother sounded…strained?Impulsively, she looked at the man towering above her and she said in a small voice,“Philippe, is everything all right at home?” and her breath hitched as she went on,“Mumma? Is she…’Ria could not bring herself to ask. Philippe felt the tenderness he had for her well up.He took off his glasses and said in a soft, warm voice, ‘Princess,’It made her stiffen. He had always called her Princess while they were growing up. Mafia Princess, the others would tease her and she would toss her golden curls and declare,‘Yes, I am a Mafia Princess!’Now the usage of that familiar nickname made her feel warm. And …loved?She looked into his eyes as he said, the black eyes glowing with honesty,‘Your Parents. They want to see you. Something has come up. ‘Replacing his shades, he made to step away but as she opened her mouth in alarm, he went on, soothingly, his voice gentle,‘They are ok
ClaudeHe looked up as the trainer, who was helping him approached. Barry Kent was a large man, his dark skin and his pock-marked face along with the fearsome tattoos on his body made him a formidable figure. But he was close to Lucien Delano and had willingly agreed to train Claude. And Claude had lived up to his expectations. Of course, the fact that Claude had been caught in bed with Barry’s chief assistant’s wife, who was easily ten years older than Claude, had annoyed Barry, and the assistant trainer had come close to beating up Claude too. But then, even Barry’s wife had spoken out in support of Claude and apart from a firm warning, he had allowed the younger man to continue.Claude had moved on to other women by then. He took after his father in that. When he looked at someone, the recipient of his dark gaze shivered in fear, for his cold, deep grey-blue eyes fixed in earnest on his prey. They called him the Wolf for when he was sizing up people, it was like a dangerous apprais
RiaShe was out of the car the moment it stopped. But Philippe was out of his seat and beside her. He caught her arm and said quietly,‘ Princess, don’t be upset. ‘She looked up at him, wide-eyed. So he knew what the matter was. He knew why she had been summoned. And he had not said a word? Even as she opened her mouth furiously to shout at him, he placed his finger on her lips.Softly, leaning closer, making her aware of his large figure and the heady, musk scent of his body, he said,“It is for your parents to tell you. But don’t judge them too harshly.’And with that cryptic message, he was back in the car; even as she stood there, open-mouthed, he was zooming off.Beatrice’s sharp voice broke into her chaotic thoughts;“You gonna stand the all the day gal. gawping?’ And she turned to the one figure she was so very familiar with, throwing herself into the old woman’s arms to be engulfed in a hug.‘What’s happening, Bea?’ she said in a small voice as she entered the dim side entran
ProserpinaMy voice broke as I stared at the floor, unable to see the looks on the faces of my children. Paddy’s fingers tightened as I continued,‘No, it happened a long time ago, the boy…he’s older than Claude, I think but younger than you.’ I looked at the twins, appealing to them.Piers was still holding my hand in his but I could feel the anger coursing through him.He spun around abruptly,“The f*cking old GOAT!’ he shouted and whirling about, went to stand beside the window, his shoulders bunched tightly with the effort of controlling his fury.*I saw Tara turn to Ria and ask in a stage whisper, eyes rounded in shock,‘Is Piers calling Pappa a goat?’I stood up and said my voice trembling with the effort,“Piers. Don’t you DARE speak of your father in that way!’He spun around and burst out.“Mumma, you are …he doesn’t deserve you!’And I saw to my sorrow that my eldest son was almost in tears. He crossed the room and took me in his arms, holding me close, ’Mumma, Mumma, ‘ he
A couple of years agoThe years had been kind to him, thought Lucien Delano as he looked at his family around the table. It was dinner and he was enjoying the meal with his family. And of course, James Schwartz, who was more family than friend, who spent more than half of his life here, at Lucien’s mansion. Handsome James, who was still the only man he truly trusted, was his loyal friend who still wore his heart on his sleeve when he gazed at Proserpina.“Get yourself a woman,’ thought Lucien in irritation. every time he caught Schwartz’s almost worshipful gaze resting on Proserpina. Though he knew that his wife would never think of Schwartz in any way but as a friend. He smiled to himself.He would not let her, he thought, his eyes blazing. She belonged to HIM, only him.Even after all these years, he could not keep his hands off her. The moment they were in bed, it was explosive. Just last night, she had been sobbing as he had finished pumping his seed into her again.The sight of t
ProserpinaWhen she came awake to the familiar feeling of nausea, she swung her legs to the floor and made it to the bathroom just as the sickness hit her. After she had finished retching violently, she leant against the wall, panting.Morning sickness, she thought bitterly. She was getting too old for this she told herself and glanced in the mirror. The face that gazed back at her was pale, deathly white and only the dark bruises under her eyes added any colour to her face. Splashing water on her tired eyes, she reflected on her conversation with Brian.He had suggested that she take a few days off and fly to Bhutan. Stepping under the shower, she thought about it as the warm jets of water pounded her body. Why not? she asked herself.But in her heart of hearts, she knew she would not run away. She was the one who held the family together, her children needed her.Yes, perhaps in a few months, she could decide. But right now, she had to stay and fight. She would meet Lucien’s ‘son’ a
ProserpinaWhen she came awake to the familiar feeling of nausea, she swung her legs to the floor and made it to the bathroom just as the sickness hit her. After she had finished retching violently, she leant against the wall, panting.Morning sickness, she thought bitterly. She was getting too old for this she told herself and glanced in the mirror. The face that gazed back at her was pale, deathly white and only the dark bruises under her eyes added any colour to her face. Splashing water on her tired eyes, she reflected on her conversation with Brian.He had suggested that she take a few days off and fly to Bhutan. Stepping under the shower, she thought about it as the warm jets of water pounded her body. Why not? she asked herself.But in her heart of hearts, she knew she would not run away. She was the one who held the family together, her children needed her.Yes, perhaps in a few months, she could decide. But right now, she had to stay and fight. She would meet Lucien’s ‘son’ a
LucienWhen he came awake, he was alone in the sprawling townhouse penthouse bedroom, the luxurious master suite. It must be around four in the afternoon, he thought, rubbing his gritty eyes. After a rough night here at the Townhouse, he had gone across to the Delano mansion to inform his family of the decision to bring his son, Cole, to the of for a round of introductions. Only, things had soured and he had left immediately, returning to the townhouse and drinking himself house into a stupor, sick with guilt and the look on his lovely Woman's face.His man, Gustav, was moving around softly but he felt relieved to see that he had managed to get rid of Britney who had seemed to think that he had come to the townhouse last evening to be with her.No amount of persuasion seemed to convince the woman that he had no interest in her body anymore; that what they had shared if it could be called so, was dead. He had used her body at one time on a regular basis; he had never had feelings for