Proserpina We entered the small store that was tucked at the corner of the lane leading off into a narrow, cobbled road that seemed to be climbing up to more houses and then swerved away. Picturesque, I thought but the beauty of the scene was lost on me.On entering the shop, we discovered that it sold things like soap and other necessities. The afternoon sun was waning, and we just had a meal at the local restaurant, a quaint little place. Perhaps in another time, I would have been fascinated by the old-world charm of the polished wooden chairs and the small room with the furniture that seemed to have been collected from many parts of the world.The coffee they served was aromatic and out of this world, bringing a welcome warmth to my tired body. Cupping my hands around the mug, I pulled the hood of my coat down and surveyed the place. Aiyana was sipping the Kofola, a spicy sort of Slovakian coke and she seemed to be enjoying it. Schwartz was tense and watchful as he sipped his ca
Proserpina“Don't mind her. Our Ivica is a strange one.” murmured the cashier looking vaguely annoyed as she began to return the old woman’s purchases to the counter.”Where does she live?” asked Aiyana, curiously.“Oh, by the river, far into the woods.” the woman sighed in exasperation and went on. “She lives alone with her father-in-law, a crazy old man. Not that she’s any less eccentric.”And she continued, oblivious to our heightened interest as she chattered away,“Doesn’t come down very often does our Ivica. But lately, she has been buying a lot of food. Too much for two people, I would say.”She smiled and turned.“Now, how can I help you?”*Phillippe had darted out of the shop and had bounded after the bus. But it had already trundled off. The two teenage girls who had been making eyes at him in the store stood around, leaning on their bicycles, giggling and gossiping. Without waiting to think, he darted across to them and said,“Please, can I have your bike?” he cried brea
IvicaShe stood in the doorway, her face red with exertion and fury. The rage that had been growing in her steadily as she plunged down the slope, coming to a stop before the little house, made her feel anxious and upset.He was going to leave her. Stefan, her husband, was about to leave her again.Both Lucien and Gustav looked up in some surprise as she loomed in the doorway, the late afternoon sunlight flooding into the room, making her seem larger than she was, more menacing, somehow.Lucien was watchful as he studied her expression.The chain around his ankle was heavy and restricting as he stood up, feet planted on the ground, bracing to handle the mad woman who stood, shoulders heaving, glaring at him.Something had made her unsettled and even frightened, not a good sign, thought Lucien. Frowning, he scratched his beard, the grey beard that made him look more uncivilised than ever. His wound was healing, the stab marks were visible, but the wound throbbed sometimes. It hurt no
ProserpinaThe man who had given us the directions was bundled into the car by Toth’s man, and we set off at a swift pace. I sat, clutching my hands, wringing them together.Please, God, I prayed fervently, Please, let Lucien be safe.For in my mind, I had no doubt whatsoever.the old woman had Lucien in her clutches. The way she had looked at me, venom in her eyes when she heard my name, the vehemence of her reaction on overhearing the reason behind our asking questions; yes, I knew with all my heart that she had to be the one who had kept Lucien with herself for some reason in her crabbed, demented soul.I was going to beg, to plead, to do anything and everything in my power to bring my lover out of this horrible situation alive.Schwartz glanced at her.His love for her remained as steadfast as ever, as his eyes gently caressed her taut white features. The plump mouth appeared to be pink from her having bitten her lips and he longed to kiss her softly. In his heart, he knew he woul
PhilippeHe heard the sounds and his heart, pounding furiously, almost stopped for a beat. He had now managed to creep up to the side of the broken-down shed beside the house. Peering around cautiously, he heard the shrill treble of a woman and another voice, an old man. The father-in-law, he thought suddenly. They were speaking excitedly and then, a sudden loud sound penetrated his thoughts, making him jump. Breathing feverishly, the young boy listened intently.And he heard his Boss groan loudly.Phillippe clutched the worn-out wooden panels of the shed, his eyes round in fear.A feeling of fury coursed through him.Were they too late?’ he thought anxiously. A memory of Proserpina and her piteous expression as she heard of how the old woman they had seen in the shop, might be holding Lucien prisoner, seemed to appear before his eyes, swimming in his vision.Steeling himself, he stood, looking around wildly for a weapon.*ProserpinaThe car did not seem to be going fast enough. Chew
SchwartzHe crouched low in the undergrowth and trained his gun on the hill, the rise where the vehicle would appear. All about him, the massive trees stretched their bare arms to the sky in supplication. The harsh winter wind whipped through the dry leaves, causing them to shower onto the ground. The eerie sound of the wind as it wailed added to the desolate feeling. A land of emptiness despite being so rich, he thought as he waited. The stories these trees could tell, he thought as he glanced around quickly, the tales of wanderers going hiking, never to be found again. James Schwartz had positioned himself in such a way that he could see the slope from where the car would emerge. Having donned his camouflage jacket, he blended well with the dull brown of the world around him. Having been a sure shot snipe in the US Army for many years, he was already calm and watchful, alert as ever, his mind clear as he focused on sounds and movement. He shut an eye and peered through the scope. H
LucienIt was the sound of the voice of his beloved woman that made him raise his head with a start. Proserpina ?He heard her and then saw her, the familiar, lovely woman he loved with all his heart. She was racing down the hill, the momentum causing her to tumble down and she rolled down and landed there, a little way off.She was before him, almost kneeling before them, hands raised in supplication and he roared in anger, in dismay, his heart swelling as he saw how distraught she looked, white-faced, her soft mouth trembling, the brown eyes overflowing with tears as she whispered,‘Please, No,”. Proserpina“NOOOO!!!‘ I screamed and set off down the hill, waving my arms. I was barely aware of falling and rolling down to within a few feet of the three people who stood in the doorway, staring at me. Lucien raised his head sharply as I landed on the ground, crying out helplessly as the sharp stones dug into my body. His eyes blazed and at that moment, I knew once again how much I lo
They left the scene of the crime quickly. Old Gustav had collapsed, dead with the force of the blow. Though Phillipe had hit him with the blunt end of the axe, the old man had died instantaneously.Proserpina hugged Philippe and wondered silently why he seemed to feel no remorse for having killed a man. But the youth seemed frozen and exhausted. Would he become like Lucien, she thought, holding him in her arms, pitiless when it came to his enemies and anyone who threatened his loved ones? For she had watched in horror as, with his hands bound, her lover had tackled the woman holding the gun and brought her to the ground.Siek Toth had reached the spot, by now and had taken stock of the attack. Enfolding Lucien in a hug before barking orders to his men, he insisted that they leave at once. Lucien needed medical help. His wound was bleeding again, staining the rough cloth around his chest a deep crimson. As they raced away from the place, Proserpina glanced back. The menacing dark silho
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