Mikael’s POV:I sighed out loud as the sound of another loud jeep driving past made my head hurt slightly. What is it with Americans and large cars, I wondered.The presence of Madden made me stiff. Calling the tension between Acker Madden and I awkward was an understatement to say the fucking least.I grunted out loud, my fingers flexing as I debated the chances of me getting a smoke right then. It was only going to be for a second…My fingers inched towards the cigars in my right inner pocket. Maybe a smoke would get rid of the damn stiffness I felt.“Don’t even think about it, Serrano,” Acker Madden, the famed fucking Madman of the United Kingdom, Europe and the most of Asia, warned in his British burr. He was also the only thing standing in my way.“It was just a thought,” I kept my tone light and innocent.“Just reminding you,” he replied. “You act like you’re above the rules, after all. You’re practically royalty in our circles.”My ire was ignited and I barely kept my hands in
Alicia’s POV:The conversation with my dad had been… something I never quite thought I would experience.I was reeling from it all, including his promise to make sure I was safe no matter what, when the door to the apartment suddenly flew open.Unsurprisingly, Acker and Mikael walked in, but so did another woman, one whom I had met before. She had been there in the club when I had met Mikael for the first time under terrible circumstances.What was her name again?“Magda, meet Alicia,” Mikael introduced us formally, and unwittingly answered my unasked question.“We’ve already met,” Magda replied to Mikael without even glancing at him. The shopping bags she was holding made rustling noises as she gestured towards me. “In the club right?”I nodded. So she did remember me as well.“Nice to meet you,” I said meekly, feeling her intense gaze more intimidating than any other woman I had met.Her face didn’t display any blatant emotion, and probably with good reason. If she worked for Mikael
Alicia’s POV:Hearing her only gave me more questions, and I groaned. It was like entering another world, like one of those dramatized movies from the 90s.Only now, it was real life and I was in the middle of what I couldn’t control.“I think I need some rest,” I finally said with a sigh. I hadn’t had a good night’s rest for some time now. Getting abducted CERTAINLY was not my cup of tea.“Where’s the bedroom?” I asked Magda.“Down the hallway and the first door on your right,” she said in that accented voice of hers.“Thanks. Goodnight,” I bade her with a small wave as I stood up.“I’ll be here when you wake up,” she said, and somehow that sounded more comforting than anything else I had ever heard today.Even though it was just afternoon, i yawned several more times as I walked down the hallway, easily finding the darkly washed wooden door on the right. I went into the bedroom.The sight of the luxurious looking bedroom and cream cotton sheets made me wish I was back in my old, stu
Mikael’s POV“Oh my God!” The blonde screamed loudly as I grabbed her canting hips and pulled them flush against my own. Her breasts bounced as she rode me, and the hazy feeling of pleasure filled my body. My breaths were controlled enough, and my body still as the girl from the casino squirmed and whined from her place on my hips. Her warm heat enveloped my cock nicely but not enough to drive me over the edge.I was aware of when Magda barged in through the door and stared at the scene before her. She looked a little disappointed and shook her head as I turned my attention to her, leaving the girl on my lap to do her work.“What are you doing here, Magda?” I asked her, as she barely gave the girl a glance. She was used to my antics by now and I was sure nothing would faze her.Then she dropped a bomb.“Alicia’s here and she demands to see you at once,” Magda said in a smirk.What?It didn’t take long for me to process those thoughts and all ideas of lust or finishing off left my min
Alicia’s POV:Uh…I was flustered and momentarily taken aback by Mikael’s visuals, and how she could hardly take her eyes off of him.The sound of his roughened voice set my heart racing, and my face felt hot.His eyes were gleaming, staring at me with such intensity that any woman would swoon, and I found myself wishing I could just take a step or two closer.Dangerous, Alicia.Don’t fall for it.Shaking myself from those thoughts I cleared my throat and tried to focus my eyes on something else other than his entrancing eyes and just how NICE his skin was.“Well?” Mikael’s voice startled me again and I swallowed audibly before sitting down and continuing.“W-why did I have to find out about my job like this? Who resigned on my behalf?” I asked him.His brows furrowed briefly before he then smirked wider.“Ah,” Mikael replied. “It was my suggestion, marina.”Hearing the pride in his voice made me frustrated.“Well, why?” I asked him.“Why not? You have no use for it anyway, after all
Alicia’s POV: “We’re here,” I looked up at the sound of the voice, and saw it was one of the men Mikael had accompany me that had opened the door for me.Wait.When did the car stop? I had been so deep in thought, I hadn’t even noticed.Dazed, I stepped out of the car carefully, and noticed the building we were in front of.Intricately designed, it stood out. And the bronze plaque above the front door- What? I was hardly able to conceal my surprise. It wasn’t just any building; it was Terazzo’s, one of the luxurious boutiques so exclusive it required a waitlist to get a chance to shop in.Heard that courtesy of Daya anyway. I didn’t know whether it was true or not but that Terrazo didn’t take in just any sort of clientele still stayed. What was I doing here? Wasn’t I supposed to be going to some place called Jamie’s?I voiced out my question to the three men, one of whom went to the door to knock. “Boss’s orders, Miss,” one of the other men responded, and I was equally shocked wh
Alicia’s POV:I opened her mouth and closed it, gaping like a fish as I saw my friend for the first time since before I was abducted.Yet the expression in Daya’s face wasn’t exactly what I had expected. There was a gleam in them that stung, causing a burning sensation in my chest. What was this..?I began to explain, “I… a lot happened. How are you?” I tried to change the subject.“Yes I heard a lot happened. You quit your job didn’t you? What happened to your glasses? Where are they?” Her rapid fire questions made me blink just as quickly, and I pursed my lips.“I didn’t need them. I guess I just… got rid of them..?” I shrugged uncomfortably as her eyes gave me the once over I was used to. But there was no approving glance, and instead there was a tinge of jealousy in her eyes.It was there and I could see it clear as day.If only I could tell her that I never wanted this, that I would give anything to have my old life back. “Right, were you headed into the park? We can go together
Acker’s POV:My grip on the paintbrush loosened. I was about ready to dive deep into the newest inspiration that struck me when Javier had called in. My painting interrupted, my mood worsened.“What happened?” I demanded upon seeing Alicia's photo. She would have looked fine to anyone but I was trained in the art of reading body language. And I saw the way her body was tense, coiled away from the Mikael’s standing with her, and her face which showed that she was mentally far away, staring off into space. She was upset about something.Had that Serrano done something to her?“She returned like this, Acker,” Javier called me by my first name whenever we spoke in private, as he wasn’t just my second in command, but also a friend. “Apparently the men took her out shopping on Mikael’s orders and well… i can’t say what the fuck happened to her then. She has gone to sleep and barely said a word to anyone since she got back.”Something must have happened that I wasn’t aware of and I didn’t l
Dante’s POV Two years later: Dad Mik always had the best stuff. I heard the signal from his fingers. The click. And Ash and I immediately closed our ears. The sound of a loud boom reverberated in the air and the field suddenly burst into chaos. It was glorious to watch. The bomb decimated everything it had been wrapped about. So cool, I Wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. But Dad Mik had said we should be quiet or else Mom would– “MIKAEL SERRANO‼” I Swallowed. Mom’s screech sounded like trouble. I was glad it wasn’t me and Ash and I exchanged glances to commiserate with each other. Dad Mik looked a little pale but he smirked a little as Mom came barely a second later. She turned round the corner and advanced on us as we stood at the edge of the large field next to the garden. We rushed to stand and dust their hands and clothes, looking innocent as Mom strided as gently as she could with a full and round belly. I really wasn't sure about how pregnancies work, but
Alicia’s POVThe knocking didn’t stop. My head pounded from the force of it. I stumbled to the door, bleary-eyed from lack of sleep. I opened the door to find Andy, her face etched with worry, holding a sleeping Bella. Magda followed close behind, her expression stern."What were you thinking, Alicia?" Andy demanded, her voice low but firm. "Leaving the house again in the middle of the night?"I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the sleep. "What are you talking about?"Magda's voice was sharp. "Do you know you nearly caused chaos this morning? Mikael nearly ran mad searching for you. Acker had to calm him down. And they nearly fought."My heart sank. I had no idea Mikael had been searching for me. "I...I just needed some air," I stammered.The guilt pricked at the edges of my consciousness again. This time I had caused more trouble just by leaving. I was foolish. I lowered my gaze in remorse.Andy's expression softened slightly. "Alicia, you can't just disappear in the middle of th
Alicia’s POVI woke up with a start, my heart racing and my sheets drenched in sweat. The maid's gentle voice and concerned expression only added to my distress. But it wasn't just the nightmare that had left me shaken - it was the crushing weight of my own guilt.As I lay there, trying to catch my breath, I couldn't shake the image of Cleo's face, twisted in a cruel grin, and Cross's gleaming green eyes. My nightmares were haunting. They taunted me with the reminders of the mistakes I’d made. My own oversights were massive.But it was my own actions that haunted me. I had tried to kill Acker and Mikael, the two men I loved. The thought sent a wave of self-loathing crashing over me.How could I have been so blind? So wrong? The guilt was suffocating, making it hard to breathe. I felt like I was drowning in my own shame. I thought about all the times I had pushed Acker and Mikael away, all the times I had doubted their love for me. And for what? Because of a misguided desire for reveng
Acker’s POV This was unexpected. I exchanged a glance with Serrano after seeing Cleo Abrams breathe her last breath. The syringe in my hand was empty and I dropped it on the ground where it lay to rest beside the pale corpse of the woman who had sought to use it at her weapon and had inevitably ended up dead by it. "How is she?" The words left my lips without preamble as I gazed at Alicia’s shivering form wrapped in the Italian Don’s arms. A part of me stirred with jealousy at the sight but I let it go. She belonged to him as much as she did to me. "Asleep for now. Or rather unconscious. She’s quite the dramatic one isn’t she? Cried herself to sleep just like that," Serrano tutted as though he was angry with her but in fact I could tell the relief in his face. I felt the same way too. In the end we had somehow neglected her. Of course it was just a stroke of luck that we figured out who it was at the last minute that had caused such troubles on our lives. It started aft
Cleo’s POVI had always been a survivor.From the first time I knew what death was, I had always been a survivor.An orphan girl, with no one to depend on but herself.I knew my skills long before I could understand them; my beauty was a privilege I welcomed.It helped me get away with things when I was younger and I learnt that a smile and little tilt of my head would help whenever one of the other kids accused me of stealing their belongings. None of the stupid nuns cared that I was never doing chores on time because I’d act so innocent and my cherubic expression gave me a fucking sweet pass.The attention always made me feel powerful and the way I got away with so much made the other kids either fear me or want to be my friends so they could benefit from it.As I got older I began to notice how much stares the boys would give me more than the other girls. Even the adult men weren’t far from trying to act like they were vying for my attention. And so I discovered another use for my
Alicia’s POVI stared out the window, my eyes tracing the outline of the trees as they swayed gently in the breeze. It was my birthday, a day that should have been filled with joy and celebration. Instead, I was trapped in this prison, a captive of the two men I had once loved.The sound of the door opening broke the silence, and I turned to see Andy walking in, a bright smile on her face. But it was what she was holding that really caught my attention - baby Bella. I felt a surge of emotion as Andy handed her over to me, and I held her close, feeling a sense of peace wash over me.Bella peered up at me curiously, her big eyes sparkling with innocence. I felt a pang of guilt for putting her in this situation, for bringing her into a world filled with danger and uncertainty. Perhaps I wasn’t the best one to take care of her. Perhaps I should have given her to a loving family."Thank you for taking care of her," I said to Andy, my voice awkward with emotion.Andy's expression softened,
Mikael’s POVShe was different. She looked like a wounded animal. My left grasped Dante’s shoulder gently. It was an assurance that our sons had returned to us. And a promise that this wasn’t for nothing.Madden at the very least was able to contain his emotions unlike myself. His voice came out like a crack of a whip. “Take her to her room. There won’t be any chance of her escaping, do you understand?”“Yes Don.” The men chorused.Yet I didn’t feel sane. I felt like I wanted to kill something. I felt like I wanted answers.…The sound of the clock ticking grounded me from spiraling in the study. I listened while seething with anger as Magda and Javier delivered their report.Bella, the newborn baby that had been caught along with Alicia and our boys, was Cross' and Zendaya's child. And to make matters worse, Alicia had already obtained a birth certificate that stated she had adopted the baby.That baby was currently in the care of a bewildered Andy who was mourning her friend’s acti
Alicia’s POVI crept out of my motel room, my heart racing with every creak of the floor. In a few short hours paranoia had become my constant companion, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I just needed to grab some snacks from the store next door, but even that simple task felt like a risk.As I browsed the aisles, my eyes wandered to the TV playing in the corner of the store. The news anchor's voice was a distant hum until I saw the footage of the warehouse explosion. It was on the news.My breath caught in my throat as I watched Cross Serpenti's face flash across the screen. His death was confirmed and the news anchor continued with stating all the known crimes the Serpenti Mafia had committed. He deserved to die and that was certain.The cashier's muttered comment about "those mob people" and how easy it must be to have their kind of money barely registered. My mind was reeling with the implications of what I'd just seen. Acker and Mikael were still alive.
Acker’s POVToday had not gone as fucking expected.I tried to hold back all the thoughts swirling in my head as we left the police officers and flashing sirens behind.It appeared to be a terrible dream. But it wasn’t over yet.The scent of burning and flames was in the air still. I must have inhaled a lot of smoke in there, I thought with disgruntlement as I gave the orders for us to return. My throat hurt badly enough that speaking was a chore I didn’t feel the need to indulge in. Serrano sat silently beside me and I knew it had to do with none other than her. Our woman. And supposedly the one that betrayed us.His hands gripped the phone that Cross had thrown at us tightly. That the Serpenti Don was dead finally was good. We had watched his… body, for lack of a better word, being carried out. He was charred beyond repair. Not even a lick of unburnt flesh on him and he had died in pieces, the explosion tearing him into chunks that had to be pieced together.It had been by the skin