ProserpinaWhen I reached home, it was to discover that chaos ruled over the Delano kingdom.Nothing new, I thought with a sigh.Little Claude had poured water over one of Ria’s precious dolls. She had dunked him in soapy water in retaliation, aided and abetted by her twin. The maids were almost in tears and Beatrice was threatening anyone and everyone she saw.“It’s high time I packed you off to some residential school, kids.’ I said in a steely voice as I supervised Claude’s cleaning up and scolded the twins.Ria’s head went up, her golden curls bobbing.“In the mountains, please!’ she cried clapping her hands, eyes dancing. She began to waltz around the room, arms raised in joy.I shook my head in exasperation. The girl would turn a punishment into a party.*I noticed young Philippe at the kitchen door, shifting uncertainly from one foot to the other when I entered the kitchen later to take care of lunch and set dinner preparations going.‘For you,’ he said, his ears turning pink i
SophieJose listened to her, They were on their second coffee. Paddy was sitting, huddled beside his aunt, humming and singing in a tuneless way under his breath. Obviously, the hearty breakfast had settled him. He was even sliding furtive looks at Jose when he thought the man was not watching him.Now Jose looked at Sophie and asked quietly,‘Are you sure about this?’Sophie burst out, furiously.“My sister was killed by that PIG, don’t you see?’ And taking a deep breath, she went on, ‘She was captured and handed over to Worthington on the orders of Proserpina f*cking Delano.’ And then, triumphantly, she added, brandishing her trump card,“Worthington told me as much.’ she declared.Seeing the disbelief in Jose’s face, she stood up, almost making poor Paddy fall down. Leaning across she sneered,“Oh, I see. So you are as besotted by her as the rest of them!’And she turned to march out, dragging her startled nephew by the arm. Jose hurried after her.“Hey, hey, listen,’ he said gentl
ProserpinaI sat there, my heart pounding as the rage flooded through me. A hand went to my stomach protectively. I knew enough to know that for all his street smart wiles, Lucien could be quite dense at times.I had also seen how manipulative Catalina could be at first-hand as well.The woman had never been able to get over the fact that I was the only woman who was going to be in Lucien St.Claire’s life. Well, I thought, clenching my fists, I was damned if I was going to wait for her to walk all over me.Coming to a decision, I stood up.*I was now three months along and was constantly in touch with the doctors, following Lucien’s strict instructions. In fact, I had an appointment scheduled with the doctor for this week. This time around, it was with a new doctor who was from India, a friendly woman named Dr Priti Agarwal. She was small and cheerful and was quite friendly. She had assured me that everything was going on just fine, after examining me last month. Since she put me a
LucienThere were glitches and then some. Nothing seemed to be going on the way he wanted it to. He scowled and swore at the men who were overseeing the final touches on the cage. He wanted it to be just so; enabling the audience a good view of the action, no matter where they were seated. The giant screens erected on the walls were also not functioning well. Some circuit trouble, stammered the electrical crew foreman, sweating profusely although the huge hall in the basement had the air conditioning working well. he avoided meeting the eyes of the Boss who looked angry enough to throttle him.All the men there were afraid of Lucien Delano. They were all familiar with his reputation; he was like a dangerous lion, prowling around, roaring and creating fear in the men who were working.Even though he was dressed like a gentleman, they knew he was an uncivilised thug when it came to things going wrong.Every man in the room wanted to leave the hall alive, not in a body bag.*Danielle mar
ProserpinaAs I entered the foyer of the Club, the cold air hit me and I shivered. It was cloudy and I squinted up at the sky. It might rain; I hoped that young Philippe would take in the baskets of chopped vegetables we had left to dry in the sun. I was trying out a recipe for an Indian pickle and I needed to have sun-dried vegetables for that.The cool interior of the Club was dark after the brightness of the day and it took me a minute to recognise the woman who had appeared before me. Shrugging, I walked forward and entered the elevator. The men with me had dropped back; this was after all, Lucien Delano’s territory. No harm could come to me if I was making my way alone to my husband’s rooms.Before the door slid shut, Sophie stepped in and I glanced at her in surprise, but having been at the receiving end of her machinations for far too long, I did not feel the need to exchange pleasantries with her.I frowned as she stepped forward, blocking my way.Startled, I met her eyes, as s
LucienHe heard the blood whooshing in his ears, and then he was on Sophie.Grabbing her hair, he hit her across the face. Before she could scream, he gripped her jaw painfully. “Where is my woman?’ He snarled, and then, “TALK!'There was a menace in his tone.His hand snaked to her throat, but Danielle stopped him.‘Boss,’ said Danielle urgently, and Aiyana stepped forward, gripping his arm.‘Leave her,’ said Aiyana softly.“There are people around. We do not draw unnecessary attention.’She nodded at the bodyguards, who had created a tight circle around the group, effectively obscuring the view of many interested spectators.‘Hey ya, folks!’ Cried Danielle,’ You could move on. We gotta get a little thief into the room to ask her a few questions, is all, okay?’Her commanding tone and the glare she gave everyone as she stood, surveying them, hands on her hips, made the few people who had stopped squirm uneasily and caused them to scurry away.Lucien was on the phone, desperate but ic
LucienHe was like a man on fire, a man possessed, although his mind was now moving coldly and clinically. He was reaching out to all the people he knew—the ones who had any idea about Dmitri Rudenko’s whereabouts, the ones who had agreed to stand with him if a gang war broke out.But he kept drawing blanks. Raking his hand through his grey-white hair, he turned sharply as the door was flung open.First things first, he thought as he nodded at Schwartz, who had run in, straight from the airfield. The younger man looked dishevelled and heartbroken.He snapped at the person on the other end of his phone coldly.“Yes. Keep me posted.’'Proserpina...' whispered Schwartz, and Lucien saw the pain and anguish, the fear that he was controlling with a superhuman effort, mirrored in his underboss’ eyes. Both men were bound with feelings for the same woman, who was lovely, kind and generous ProserpinaHe had known all along that Schwartz loved Proserpina. Lucien enfolded the other man in a bear
Lucien He stared at the wall in front of his eyes but in his mind, he was thinking of Dmitri RudenkoThe man with the bright red beard and bald head, the tall, thin man who had been his rival, who had only been a business rival till both of them began to eye the same contracts. Things had gotten out of hand when Lucien Delano had been able to gain an edge over the East European gang lord. Dmitri had never forgiven him. He had decided to go after Lucien by hitting where he hurt, attacking and killing the family of his Underboss, Schwartz. it had been his only recourse, after all. Lucien had discovered that Shark had been in cahoots with Rudenko. That only left Schwartz, who had been happily married.Lucien who had been unattached and busy moving from woman to woman, whore to whore, unattached and hard of heart, had been harder to hit.So he had taken out Schwatz's family.An incensed Lucien had gone after him.He knew that Dmitri's younger brother was very close to the gang lord. S
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