Alicia’s POV“Thanks, bye,” I waved at the manager as I closed for the day. It was my first day at work. I had finally caved and gotten a job closer to my college. It was a part time job, but still quite nice to have something else to do other than study and lounge around in the apartment all day.My phone sat in the pocket of my leather jacket as I refrained from calling Dominic or any of the other men to pick me up. I had shown up to the small cafe without my car, not wanting to make a bad first impression.Lingering on the side of the pavement for a second, I pondered on what I should take: taxi or bus?I still had my bus pass from the times I used it religiously to get to my former job so I quickly made the decision and began to walk down to where I remembered the nearest bus stop to be.“Oh, Alicia, is that you?” I heard a familiar voice that stopped me in my tracks a couple of meters from the bus stop.I turned around, my lips parting as I saw my best friend… or rather, my forme
Acker’s POV“Javier, report,” my voice was akin to steel as I talked with my one and only friend.“Relax, Acker,” Javier sounded calm and I could hear the sounds of cars passing by his location as he replied to me. “I have been keeping an eye on her since I arrived. And none of the men have seen or heard from Cross either.”I grit my teeth, squaring my jaw.That wasn’t enough.It was only last night that I got the word that Cross Serpenti was back in the US. He had hidden away and scurried from the States after his manipulative tactic to hit back at Serrano and myself using Castro. When that hadn’t worked, clearly he was back for more.The flight attendant placed the glass of wine on the table in front of me and I stared at the red fragrant liquid, decidedly angered that I had made the wrong decision.I had not even contacted Alicia after I had left, thinking it would be a distraction to me.My fingers tapped on the armrest of my chair and I turned to glance at the clouds. This high u
Alicia’s POV The professor droned on like a robot programmed to make everyone fall asleep.Looking around me I could see he had been successful.I however was paying rap attention, although I didn’t speak. I was more of a non-participant in this lecture which was on an elective I chose to take.“This fucking blows,” one student next to me whispered in the loudest voice I could adequately call a whisper. “When’s this class ends again? Has he taken attendance?”“Dunno.” The guy’s friend shrugged.I ignored the noise about me and focused on taking the meager notes that I was capable of at that moment.For most of them, being in college was a no-brainer, yet I hadn’t a chance of getting admission if I didn’t have the help of Acker and Mikael. So I wasn’t planning on slacking in any way. It was my way of proving that o belonged here no matter what anyone thought or said.Daya’s sneering face flashed in my head, and I exhaled sharply. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the horrible
Alicia’s POV Only after I was placed in the backseat of the getaway car watching the building of my college growing in the distance did I realize that I had been abducted again. Again.Dammit I thought. Whas my life just full of twists and turns designed to drive me mad?I couldn’t imagine that I would end up being placed in such a situation again. Except this time it was because of Acker. Acker Madden.I let out a sigh, turning to gaze at the city’s scenery as the car passed by through the window. My life has become nothing but a pawn to use at any given opportunity by enemies and friends like this was a game. How would I get out of this now of this?Would anyone come tos ave me?Acker was in Germany, last I heard, I was reminded by the memory of speaki mg with Mikael, and that led to disturbing thoughts.I was alone.Cross was right, that time he met me when I was only outo exercise.As much as I wanted to ignore the idea of being in danger or being important enough to require 24
Acker’s POVI stepped in before Mikael could pull the trigger - a task I knew for sure he would be up to. He was very much not pleased, just like I was.“Mikael.” The warning lay in my firm tone. Not commanding, but firm regardless. “Don’t kill her.”He turned to me in surprise, clearly taken aback by my words.“Oh?” He then scoffed and tilted his head in an almost mocking sort of confusion. “Don’t tell me you’re getting soft, Madden.”I cocked a brow at him and replied in the same tone as before. “Not one bit. I need her alive, Serrano. And that’s all you need to know.”He looked put out and liwlered the gun. I knew it grates in his nerves the way I had all but ordered him to drop the gun.Then I turned to the other man, blonde and looking like the picture of a disheveled mess. “But you…” I spoke again, trailing off.“Please,” the man’s voice was shaky now, chock full of nervousness. “Don’t kill me. I… I had no choice.”Choice?I wanted to laugh, but I was not in the mood for silly
Alicia’s POVNeither men answered my question as I had somehow expected. They were both similar and it made me pour at how they ignored me and ushered me into the car. Mikael went ahead and opened the car door for me and Acker was sat right beside me, while Mikael’s took a seat at my other side.As the car began to move I knew that I couldn’t stay in the oppressive silence any more“So… how was Germany?” I turned to Acker, ignoring Mikael. I still felt embarrassed at how our last phone call had gone and just because he had been a part of my rescuing didn’t change a damn thing.Acker raised a brow, looking surprised.I quickly asserted, “Mikael told me about it.”“Did he now?” His voice was just as deep and shiver inducing as usual and I flushed when I felt eyes biting into the back of my skull.“Wonderful Tesoro,” Mikael’s scolding was light and his voice still contained a humorous tinge to it. “Selling me out to Madden of all people?““Well. Uh…” i trailed off, spluttering and lost f
Mikael’s POV I stepped into the room, opening it as soon as I heard Alicia ask that question.I had only come upon her waking up by chance but I wasn’t going to lose the opportunity to have some time alone with her. Acker was hogging her all to himself, the bastard.“You’re in my home, Alicia,” I said as she looked at me in shock. She was half-dressed, as I had the one of the maids change her into a comfortable silk gown. Some hours ago Acker had taken one look at the gown and asked me how the hell I had a gown just sitting in my home.The memory made my lips quirk up into a smile and I stared unabashedly at the straps of the blue satin gown that fell over her shoulders, and exposed more of her cleavage.She hadn’t realized yet.“M-Mikael-“ She finally got her voice to work but before she could continue I raised my hand and she stopped immediately. I turned to Anton, the son of my former butler and gave him a meaningful look of dismissal. He got the gist immediately and bowed to me,
Acker’s POVI finished the call and returned to the Serrano’s house, and just as I walked into the foyer, his young butler, Anton, came in through the other entrance and he bowed to me.Hearing that Mikael had asked me to take charge of Alicia was a surprise; the blonde man always showed signs of jealousy and while it irked me, it was predictable. This wasn’t.I brushed aside the questions arising ib my mind and quoted for Alicia to arrive. And so, she did, and when I saw her downcast expression in her pretty face, I knew something was up.“Darling,” I stood eyeing her from top to bottom. She was still wearing that gown that Mikael had the maid dress ber up in and I had to admit, it looked fetching on her. She wore a coat over it as well, and the butler carried a small bag of what I assumed to be her clothes. “Are you alright?” I asked her, trying to gauge how clouded her mind might be.To my surprise she reached for me and put her arms around my torso, pressing her face into my chest
Mikael’s POVShe was being way too quiet.I eyed Alicia out of the corner of my eyes, gazing worriedly at her as she sipped at her coffee.She had returned a little earlier in the morning the previous day, I recalled. And she was more somber than her usual self.Where had she gone?The question was pushed to the back of my mind as Dante began to cough, likely as a result of some water going down the wrong pipe. I reached for a napkin and made to stand up from my chair, but Alicia was blessedly faster, and she grasped our son’s chin gently while patting his back.“There there,” she murmured softly. I relaxed at the warmth in her voice. She was fine. Perhaps she just needed some space like Madden liked to insist on.Leaning back into the chair I observed her, my mind full of thoughts of her. She had been acting this way ever since Madden and I had fucked her. Was that the reason why?Regardless, there was nothing I could do by wondering.My phone vibrated in my trouser pocket and I glan
Alicia’s POVMy dream was of a house in the countryside, somewhere where the sun was nice and warm yet not too hot. I played in the meadow with my two sons, like I was in a fairytale. Suddenly dark clouds filled the sky and my vision went static. Rain began to fall.~Buzz~~Buzz~I winced, shaking my head and only a little aware of the dream fading from my mind.My eyes were unbelievably bleary and my limbs heavier than I’d expect after a good night's sleep.Opening my eyes after another second, I saw darkness only broken by the little light from my phone.Someone was calling.With a soft grunt I reached for the phone which continued to vibrate as it rang.‘Safehouse,’ the caller ID said.Noticing the time to be only 12.13am, I inhaled sharply. This had to be important.Immediately the sleep cleared from my eyes and I answered the call.“What is it?” I demanded to know.“Good you’re up,” it was Matt’s friend breathing heavily over the phone. He didn't sound too happy.“I was asleep,”
Alicia’s POV “Holy shiiiiit,” I hissed with pleasure, my eyes rolled back. My legs parted wider as Mik’s slick, thick manhood thrust in and out of me in a beautiful deep rhythm. It HAD been a long time; no one could blame me. I lost myself in another series of moans, feeling hands all over my body. “Be careful,” Acker warned, and I wasn’t sure who he was warning in my sex-addled brain until I realized Mik was chuckling as he moved his hips to mine. “You don’t want me to break her in for you, Madden? Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll be the same by the time you’re up.” I heard something that sounded like a curse come from Acker but I didn’t care. Despite both men bickering, they were incredibly focused on one thing and one thing only: me. I had long lost track of where I was. We had moved from room to room like horny teenagers and now, I was in a chair, or a desk, or wherever. All I knew was that my hands and hair were held back by Acker as I took Mik’s cock like a good girl. Hands
Alicia’s POV “She is right here.” I replied loudly to the man that was speaking to someone whom I neither knew nor cared to know, making my presence known at the party entrance. As if by a spell all eyes turned to me, and I took advantage of the spotlight. I knew exactly how I looked. I had taken my time all weekend to clean up my looks to make sure I wouldn’t appear too shabby as Ash’s and Dante’s mother. I was practically the most desired woman to be in terms of position, having the children of two of the most powerful Dons in the world. And I was going to enjoy it. The spotlight wasn’t usually what I searched for but I reveled in it now, a dark glee in my heart as Mikael and Acker’s eyes were like flames burning my skin. The glittering red gown I had chosen was fired to my body, held up only by spaghetti straps with pearls as an accent. My hair was up in a stylish updo and showed off my neck and décolletage, which spotted a lovely necklace I picked for myself with care. In al
Acker’s POV“Make sure it is done. No excuses this time. And use another supplier if this one doesn’t make things according to our requirements,” I cut off one of my executives before he could go on another rant during our call. I was already fed up and late for a very important engagement - picking up my sons from the house to attend their birthday party.Unbuttoning my shirt with one hand while I walked into my home office to grab the box I had left there wrapped and ready for tonight, I noticed Javier was seated on the armchair close to my desk, and giving me a serious look.I ended the call and sighed heavily. I hated handling business sometimes. It was easy work in theory but human beings and bureaucracy could make every little thing difficult.“You clearly haven’t gone for a shower yet,” Javier helpfully pointed out, tutting in a manner that was exasperated. “You still have paint on your face.”My jaw ticked.“I’m well aware of that, Javier. Thanks for pointing out the obvious.”
Alicia’s POVThe party hadn’t occurred yet and it already gave me a headache. My scowl prominent, I listened to the chef and event planner - Duran, what an odd surname, I thought absently - as they discussed the event.“Whatever you have to decide, so it with their fathers," I stated when I could get a word in. I wanted nothing to do with this or them or this farce of a damn party that was forced on me.The pair glanced at each other wide-eyed and I didn’t wait for a response, instead storming off to my room for some much needed alone time. Slamming the door shut down othbeicj force that the walls shook, I let out an agonized yell.“I hate them both,” I hissed through my teeth. Why did it feel like the entire world was against me? I sat in the edge of the bed recalling Andy’s discussion with me earlier.2 hours ago:I was furious, seeing red. Hardly able to contain myself.“Alis, wait,” Andy called, her footsteps fast paced. I whirled about to face her.“You TOLD them about the boys’
Mikael’s POVMy hands clenched and unclenched, while my mind struggled to make sense of the report that the police commissioner gave me mere seconds ago. My blood was effectively boiling.How could this have happened right under our noses? For the girl, the only connection we had at this crucial time to my bastard half-brother, to escape like that… I couldn’t fatho it for the life of me.Madden turned to Alicia, his signature cool and collected veneer on full display as he replied, “This is not the time to discuss such things. You should focus on your breakfast love.”Endearment aside I thought he had the right idea. We shouldn’t talk about this when the children were around, no matter how urgent it seemed to be.“And the party,” Ashford piped up in the wake of Madden’s words which made his mother whip her head around to stare at him unblinkingly“What party exactly?” Alicia sounded confused, tired and— was that relief I heard in her voice?“Our birthday party!” Dante too the opportun
Alicia’s POV Two days later: Tonight was the night. 10:47 pm. My room was dark but I could still spot the letters on the alarm clock, glowing distinctly. I sat up on the bed, checking my phone every couple of seconds as though that would make a difference. I had to be patient. Because tonight, Daya would escape police custody. Matt had been of more help than I had previously anticipated and he had sent one of his ‘good friends’ skilled at evading law enforcement to pick Daya up. While I wished I could be there myself to see it going on, I knew it would be next to impossible. Mikael, for one, would notice that I had left the house. The sound of footsteps drawing close to my door alerted me. Damn it. I was supposed to be asleep! Feigning a stomach ache in order to leave the dinner table early had its drawbacks. Swiftly I pulled the covers up, hiding my phone underneath the blanket and laid down, turning my head to the side and closing my eyes. The door opened, and multiple foots
Mikael’s POV “Whatever, it’s none of my business,” she had said. Yet even as she said that she appeared the opposite. Her posture was rigid, her lips drawn into a scowl that looked more appealing than it did intimidating. Honestly I’d never met a woman so stubborn in my life and perhaps that’s why I fell in love with her. Against my better judgement, of fucking course. I had no issues playing this game of hers. “Alright,” I responded lightly. “Just making it known. You should have your breakfast.” “I think I’ve lost my appetite,” Alicia’s words were just as cutting as I expected, and she huffed, her shoulders shrugging as she turned around to walk out of the living room. In a dizzying instant I saw her stumble, and I reached to grasp her by the waist and pulled her closer as her knees buckled under her. “Ugh,” she groaned, shutting her eyes tightly. “I really need to get some more sleep.” She hadn’t slept? That explained the worrying eye-bags under her eyes, and how pale she l