LucienHe stared at his woman, amazement and anger warring within him. She looked magnificent, in the full bloom of her pregnancy, her hair hanging down her back, freshly washed; he could inhale the fragrance of vanilla on her body. Her eyes were sparkling with fury and ah…those full breasts, pushing against him. His body reacted to her nearness as it always did. He was furious with her, and yet her nearness, the warm body, it did things to him.And the realization of how much she held him in her power, made him mad with anger. He gripped her throat, relishing the pain he was causing as her face whitened.***ProserpinaI was shaking inwardly.I had seen Lucien before when he was enraged but never had I seen him so furious, so uncontrollably livid. He was breathing hard, his eyes glinting and I could feel the waves of anger radiating from his big, thickset body. For a fleeting moment, I wondered, was this the same man who had made love to me, just a few hours ago? My lover, who had cl
LucienHe held his woman as she doubled over in pain, a pain so great that she was screaming, sobbing. And her fingernails dug into his arms as she struggled to fight the pain that was wracking her body, causing her to gasp wildly.‘Water…’ she cried and he held the jug of iced water to her lips once ore but this time, she shook her head, smiling slightly through the pain, amused at his foolishness.‘Lucien…my water… My Water...’He stared at her blankly. What the f*k was she talking about? Almost incoherently, she moaned, unmistakably in great pain now, as she gasped,’’Call…get the doctor, Lucien. My water has broken…’And then he noticed the puddle of water between her legs. Her dress was wet too and herealized in horror that it was something to do with the child in her womb. She was going into labor, way before the full term of their child. His body went cold with fear as he noticed the way her eyes were shut, her pallor, white and bloodless…She was breathing with difficulty, an
The MonkHe sat back, his fingers steepled as he smiled to himself. Truly, the ways of God were strange, he thought as he smiled maliciously.He had heard of what had transpired at the house of Lucien Delano; it always paid to have moles in the opposite camp. Paid spies. And sometimes, threatening them, made them ferret out information for the monk with alacrity.Now he rubbed his hands together as he stood up and began to pace about the room. Seven steps one way, seven steps the other way. Back and forth he went, as he calculated, humming a hymn to himself tunelessly as he walked.Either way, he stood to win. If Delano’s wife died, it would be a massive blow to him; if the wife survived and the child died, well, would his family stand with him, and support him?There would be blame that would be hurled at Lucien, the Mighty Delano!The monk chuckled, an evil sound. His men looked around. It never meant good if the old man laughed.*Ria.She stared at the door in trepidation as the s
RiaThe moment they entered the hospital, the smell of disinfectant and medicines hit her nostrils and Ria winced.They were led, flanked protectively by the men, to the hall facing the Operation Theatre. There were no patients around and Ria wondered fleetingly what her father had done with them. The sound of their heels clicking on the polished tiles was the only sound and the low hum of the machinery. The place was almost deserted except for…‘Pappa…’ said Ria softly. Her father sat alone, on a couch, his grey hair ruffled as though he had been rifling his hands through it, his face was grey and gaunt and she felt a deep feeling of remorse swamp her. If anyone had had any doubts about whether the great Don loved his wife, this was proof, this bleak look in his normally fierce hawk-like gaze, the emptiness staring out of his eyes as he looked at them, uncomprehending. Even his powerful muscular body seemed smaller and with a sob, she ran to him. She did not want to see her Pappa, he
The doctor stepped out of the theatre tiredly, exhaustion on his face. He looked at the sea of anxious faces in the waiting room and the lobby, the Mafia Don and his immediate family, six children or was it seven, he thought as he rubbed his forehead wearily, and a host of other people including a number of men who were obviously the Don’s guards.All of them had turned, as one, to look at him. He could see the fear, the way the elder children watched him with bated breath. And he thought of the young woman inside the operation theatre he had just left, who had fought so valiantly, despite going into a preterm labor which had in all probability, been brought on by stress.He sighed as the Mafia Don strode to him, his expression enough to make anyone feel alarmed. The doctor discreetly took a few steps back but he was not frightened, just cautious, he told himself.“She is ok, your wife is still unconscious but the surgery went off well.’ He said it quickly and felt vindicated when he
They had been informed that the baby had been shifted to the NICU, the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit. The Delano children hung about, looking in through the glass partition, in awe of the little fellow who had decided to ‘pop out early,’ as Beatrice had put it when she came to visit Proserpina. The children knew that their mother had gone through a lot and it had taken a toll on her. Ria sat on the sofa now, outside her mother’s suite, her hands tightly locked . Melissa Lord had stayed behind although her husband had left, promising to return in a few hours.*Later, after Melissa had gone, and the dark , snowy night was whipping a storm around the hospital, Ria sat comfortably leaning her head against her father’s strong shoulder. They had all taken turns to go back home to wash, change into a fresh set of clothes and return, even the younger boys. Lucien Delano was adamant; all his children would be with him, under the same roof as his wife.As their father was reluctant to leave hi
ProserpinaWhen I opened my eyes, it was because I was feeling thirsty, my mouth felt dry, sandpapery and rough. I had been dreaming, of darkness, of voices that faded and then again, came closer. People talking. I opened my eyes and let the surroundings register.For a wild, fearful moment, I wondered where I was; was I back in the hands of Dmitri Rudenko? I tried to sit up, panicking, and the beeping sound of some machine, a monitor of some sort, attached to a multitude of tubes that went into my arms, went off loudly and the door flew open as a doctor rushed in, followed by three nurses. One of them was Camille and I almost sobbed in relief as she came to me. But I was very weak, I realized so when I tried to stretch out my hand to her, I could barely lift it. Recollection flooded my brain and I tried to ask about Lucien, Ria , my unborn child…But I could only croak.Camille laid a work roughened hand on my forehead as the other nurses and the doctors- for another man had joined th
LucienHe knew that it was possible to meet his wife that day.Finally.He had tried everything he could but the old doctor had perversely forbidden him from being allowed into the room where Proserpina was recuperating.The doctor seemed to take a sadistic pleasure as he refused curtly every time.Now, this morning, the old man had grudgingly said,“Mrs. Delano is feeling vastly better. She will meet you.’*It had been Ria who had suggested the flowers. so, he had had truckloads of them delivered to the hospital. Camille, the wife of Tony Beston, had managed to get the blossoms into Proserpina’s room although the old doctor had been anything but pleased.Meanwhile, his youngest son was thriving.A real fighter said the nurse in awe. Lucien had felt the pride of knowing that he had sired this little miracle. But he longed for just one thing now, to take his Woman in his arms, to crush her lovely mouth, to ask for her forgiveness.He knew he had done the unspeakable by hurting her.He
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