I’m thrilled when my shift ends at seven am. I waste no time going to my locker, grabbing my things and hightailing it out the door. I take the bus to my little one-bedroom apartment in an average part of town. I try to avoid the wealthy part of the city and the not so wealthy part of the city. I find the average parts of the city are where I prefer to hideout. I have a cozy standard one-bedroom apartment with a bedroom, kitchen, full bath, and a living room. There’s also a small dining area that I have set up with a small table and one chair.
My little apartment is my safe place. My mind is spinning, so I need my safe space so I can come down from the adrenaline pumping in my veins from tonight's shift.. Once I enter my apartment, I lock my door and drop my backpack by the front door before I kick my black sneakers off. I make my way to my bedroom and grab my cotton cream nightgown and a pair of fresh panties before I head to my bathroom. I pop on my shower, lay my clothes and fresh towels out, and then undress. I make sure I take out the phone in my pocket that Anthony gave me. I stare at it in frustration before opening the bathroom door and chuck the burner phone on to the soft carpet of the hallway. I recluse to the bathroom, shutting the door determined to not be intimidated by a stupid phone.
After I strip from my scrubs and undergarments, I toss them in the dirty clothes hamper before stepping into the warm shower. I let the warm water pebble over my skin as I try to sort my thoughts. I don’t have work to distract me now. I shouldn’t be surprised that my father would foolishly promise me to two very powerful men determined to make me theirs. All I want is out of this life and I’m being sucked back in. I knew I wasn’t truly free, but I wasn’t hoping to earn it somehow.
Now I’m faced with two fucking men who want me as their wife. It was bad enough when I thought it was just Nico. Now I have Anthony who is swooping in like some superhero to save me from the control freak that Nico can be. However, I don’t know Anthony. Although, can I say I know Nico anymore, either? Five years I’ve spent trying to not let thoughts of Nico consume me. I was so in love with him at one point, and maybe a part of me still is. Now there’s Anthony who definitely makes my heart flutter and heat my core. I can’t pretend Nico doesn’t set my lady parts on fire, either. For a brief moment, I picture what it would be like to have them both at the same time. It would be hot to be owned by two very powerful men who would make my head spin until my body was jelly.
Pushing the sexy, tempting thoughts away, I focus on getting showered. I am desperate for some sleep and I have three glorious days off. I plan to hide away in my apartment and figure things out, but before that I need to eat some breakfast or dinner, technically, for me. Then I need some rest. I can’t think anything over well if I’m dead tired. I’m coming off four days of 12 hour shifts. I’m spent.
After I finish my shower, I dry off and get dressed in the clothes I plan to sleep in. In the hallway, I pick up the stupid phone and put it in the drawer of my bedside table before taking my sleep meds. I have anxiety and I need help sleeping. How can I not have anxiety with two crazy ass mob men stalking me? With my meds now working in my system, I head to make myself a tasty bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on an everything bagel from the local bakery I enjoy. Like a good Italian woman, my father made sure I knew how to cook. My Nonna taught me how to cook. I would often spend my weekends with her when she was alive. She made sure I learned Italian, that I could cook, bake, sow, and even taught me to crochet. I can literally make pasta from scratch and homemade gravy to go with it. Well, other people call it pasta sauce but growing up in a heavily influenced Italian home, I call it gravy.
Those were simpler days. My Nonna was able to keep my father inline. She was a pigheaded Italian woman and you did not mess with her or she would beat your ass with a wooden spoon. When she did pass, my father went off on his own insane path that got him killed. He almost got me killed or worse, sold into sex trafficking. I am glad Nico saved me. I owe him that and perhaps that's why I feel some sense of loyalty to him. However, just because I owe him doesn’t mean I want to be his wife even if there is apart of me that still loves him. Still, I’m presented with a conundrum. One I will worry about later on.
I enjoy my breakfast and then curl my ass into my double bed and bury myself under my blankets. For the next eight hours or so I’m going to get some much needed sleep. The rest of the world and the two mob men stalking me will still be a problem. However, it’s a problem to figure out later on. I close my eyes and let my mind drift into what I hope is a peaceful sleep.
I’m running on four hours of sleep, but I don’t care. I’m going to Violetta’s apartment. I hate where she lives, but of course she would pick some cheap, basic ass apartment complex to live in. Violetta has always been a stubborn dove. She would defy her father at every turn. Her mom died when she was young in some mafia involved violence, well, that’s what Mario claims. My theory is that Mario killed his wife because after Violetta was born, her mom started fooling around with one of the men under Mario. I don’t know all the details, and to ask my father about it now, I doubt I would get the truth. My father used to tell me everything. I was in on all his plans and secrets. Two years ago my father started to become paranoid that everyone was trying to kill him, even me, which at the time I thought was crazy. Over time, it’s gotten worse. I think he’s losing his mind from years of doing terrible deeds. My father has done some serious fucked up things that I never agreed with. My fath
My heart beats hard as paranoia begins to fuel my adrenaline. The first thing I do is grab the burner phone from my side dresser. Then I grab a pair of my skinny jeans with a red rose colored t-shirt before I grab a cotton black bra and pantie set. I dash to the bathroom and make sure I lock the door. My hands fumble with the phone. It’s a black flip phone that brings me back to being a teenager for a moment before the panic of my reality takes back over. I flip the phone open and text Anthony. 911! Nico just showed up in my apartment while I was sleeping. He’s forcing me to leave with him. What should I do? I hit send and set the phone on the counter and begin changing my clothes while I wait for Anthony to text me. Why am I texting Anthony? I have no fucking clue, but I feel like a stray dog who just got caught by animal control. As I finish dressing, the phone lightly vibrates. I snatch the phone up desperate for a way out. Of course he fucking did He’s impulsive when it comes to
I sorely underestimated how quickly Nico would react to me visiting Violetta. He’s desperate to marry her, but why now? I think it has something with him getting Don from his father. It makes the most sense. It’s not ideal that my violet is back with Nico. At least, she had the good sense to text me on the burner phone. She might not trust me, but she did reach out to me in desperation. So, I’ll take it. Nico acted impulsively, which means he must be feeling desperate. I might be able to use that to my advantage. The hard part is going to be getting Violette away from him. I know he is going to keep her under lock and key. I might have a chance to steal her back at Nico's grand birthday party, but that’s months away. Even then it might be hard. He clearly knows I’m in pursuit of Violetta. The feud between the three families has been going on for decades. The three Italian families have been fighting for control over the Italian parts of the city for far too long. The Russian, Japan
Against my better judgment I let Nico take me out to dinner instead of getting the food to go. I realized that would mean going home sooner with Nico, and I prevented that for as long as I could. However, now we are home, well, Nico’s home. Nico has four homes. One, a condo in the best part of the city. It’s his private place and that is where he has has taken me thankfully. The Second home, is also in the city, but it’s the Ronka home where his parents reside. Nico is an only child which is partly why I think he liked having me around when we were kids. I'm an only child as well, so I guess in some way we bonded over having no siblings . The third, is the Ronka’s family manor in the country. It’s beautiful. The fourth is the Ronka family villa in Italy. Nico takes my backpack and begins making his way to his bedroom. I know the lay out of this condo well. Part of me thinks Nico intends this to be our place. When he bought it he made sure I liked it. He has brought me here every chan
I’m in my study nursing some vodka on the rocks while I flip the burner phone in my hand contemplating what to do with it. The truth is, I know I need to talk with Anthony. There’s a lot at stake right now and I’m not talking about me getting passed Don by my father. There’s enemies lurking waiting to take down the top dogs. Unfortunately, Mario’s greed and poor choices continues to effect us. He gave the other underground families the key to wedging themselves in our operations. The Russians and Irish have always primarily been gun and other illegal weapons. They fight over weapon territory and distribution. The Mexicans obviously have their drugs that they use as their main operations. The Italians stick to illegal gambling, brothels, and those types of scenes. Of course, there are other underworld families like the Japanese that prefer to keep to themselves and do their own thing. Mario wanted to be the top dog, the top family, the top everything. His goal was to be the only ruler
After my bath I change into the silky black nightgown that has been laid out for me. There’s no panties or thong so I guess that means Nico wants easy access to his goods. Although, he did say that he wouldn’t have sex with me until our wedding, however, that doesn’t mean he can’t touch me in sexual ways. Not that I would be mad about the sex part with either Anthony or Nico. Both of them, though, that appeals to me, but there is no way that will ever happen. They hate each other. It’s only eight o’clock. I’m not tired. Usually I would clean my apartment, do my food shopping to have it delivered to me because it’s what’s easiest for me, and probably doing laundry. Adult things that I currently find myself no longer needing to worry about as my warden will make sure I’m taken care of. Nico is definitely my warden, but he’s more. I hate that he's more, but I can’t help my heart from wanting him. I love him even if I try to deny it, which is why I find it so strange that I’m equally dr
I have to admit I was surprised Nico reached out to me. I thought for sure I was going to have to trap him into a meeting using Violetta to do so. However, it seems Nico is aware of the threat we face. That’s a good thing because I’d like to avoid elimination, which is the only way that the other families of the underworld would be able to take our reigning position. So, if the two of us can come to some compromise where Violetta is concerned and have a united front, we might stand a chance of preservation instead of intinction. Of course, this whole thing could be a trap, but somehow I doubt it. While the Ronka’s and Deluca’s might not always see eye to eye, Nico hasn’t personally attacked my family. HIs father has but my father also is guilty of attacking our so-called enemies. The problem is the Italians need to get over whatever pretend fake civil war that has been going on for decades. Our enemies have noticed our divide and they simply waiting to strike. The Russians love to at
My mind has been blown from this evening. Completely blown. Never in a million years would have imagined that Nico and Anthony would be friendly with one another let alone forge an alliance where they share me. Fantasy wise, I’m down for being used by two powerful men in a sexual way, but I want freedom outside of sex. I want a say, a place at their side, and I definitely don’t want to be shoved into the background like my opinions don’t matter. They both have promised to treat me as their equal in that sense, but this whole thing is twisted in ways I didn’t even know were possible. Let’s not add the fact that I found out the truth that my family truly is one of the main families that started the Italian American mafia. It explains my father’s thirst for power. He was trying to reclaim what he thought belonged to our family. I don’t care about the political bullshit of who should own what when it comes to Italian territory. The guys can deal with that, but I don’t want to be kept in
This is a surreal moment in time. Max sent proof of my father’s dead body a mer minutes ago and I’m still staring at the picture with a bag of mixed emotions. Relief is the biggest emotion coursing through me. My whole life my father has forced his control over my life. I’ve never even known what it was like to embrace my own self because I had to bury it deep down to survive. When my father sent me to cozy up to Max, he was supposed to be just a target. A means to end. My father was promising me freedom, but I know now it was all a lie of manipulation. I don’t know the full story behind my father and Misha, but they were friends at some point. Then one day they become more enemies. I’m sure it was my father who did something he shouldn’t have against Misha. The first moment I saw Max, I was attracted to him and it made sex easier. It’s hard to have sex with someone you don’t find attractive. I ended up keeping coconut oil or unscented lube to make myself easily wet so the men I was
“Good morning, Toni.” Nat greets. We decided to only use our nicknames when we are playing. Except for Max and I because we are married and clearly in a romantic relationship. “Morning, Nat.” I reply, flipping the french toast. “Is that French Toast?” Nat questions with a smile as she walks over to where I’m cooking on my built in skillet that is next to the stove. “It is. You earned it.” I wink at her. I told her last night that her reward for pleasing us like a good girl that I’d make her favorite breakfast. She earned it all right. “Good because I was really hoping I’d wake up to it.” She says as she moves over to make herself a cup of coffee. I giggle at her as Max walks freshly showered from his work out. He strides over to me and kisses me on the lips. “Morning, Princess.” He says breaking our kiss. He glances over at Nat. “Morning, Nat.” “Morning, Czar,” I reply, flipping a couple of pieces that need it. “Morning, Max. So, is today the day you think?” She questions as sh
It’s been a couple of weeks since Natalia essentially moved in with us. She is staying in one of the spare rooms. Our house has six bedrooms, and while I do want kids, I do not want more than two. Maybe three, but that’s my limit. Of course, all of that depends on how easy it is for me to get pregnant. Although, I’m glad I have the option to even try. As a woman, I’m outraged at what Chatworth did to Natalia. He had no right to take her womb for her. He stole her chance to be a mom and he did it in such a dirty way too. However, Natalia is at peace with the fact that she can’t have children. That doesn’t mean I won’t make sure Chatwroth doesn’t pay for his crime. No one has the right to make that choice for someone else.Natalia picked the room she wanted. I made sure she got a new wardrobe and she was happy to get a new one. Turns out, Natalia isn’t terrible in her taste in clothes, but clearly her father is. She’s also a pretty nice house guest or she might be trying to kiss my ass
“Alright, Czar, what is going on?” Toni demands when she stops in front of me. “Mona asked me not to kill her, and I realized I can’t be her executioner.” I confess. “Why the fuck not, Max?” Toni aggressively questions, tossing her one hand on her hip. “Do you love her?” “What? No! It’s not like that at all. I promise you, Antonia, you are the only I love. I care about her. I hate to admit it, but I did get to know her a bit over the two years. It just happened naturally in platonic friendship way. That’s the best I can explain it. I hate myself for even saying these words to you, Princess. When I told you she meant nothing before we got married, I meant it. I truly believed it until I was faced with holding her life in my hands. I’m so sorry, I’m sure you feel betrayed and I wouldn’t blame you if you did. However, I promised I’d be honest with you, so that’s what I’m doing.” I honestly explain, hoping we can somehow work past this. Toni’s demeanor softens and the hand that was on
I can’t believe Mona is between Leo and I as we ride to stash house, and it’s the type that houses drugs. No, we have integration stash houses that we take people to integrate them. Some make it out alive, and others not so much. It’s not surprising Mona went after Toni since she’s looked at Toni as her enemy since day one. Toni is of course well trained in defending herself, it makes sense given who her parents are, but especially her bio dad, Anthony. Those two are some dark horses. Sometimes I think Toni is more morally grey than me and that just only makes her hotter. In all our scheming to take Chatworth down we never really discussed what to do about Mona. In the end she wasn’t the enemy that threatened us the most. She has always been this weird side show on her own. I spent two years fucking her, and while I never developed romantic feelings for her, I hate to say it but I got a soft spot for her. Maybe it’s because I saw the vulnerable side of her that no one else did. Mona
Once I’m done checking on everyone I head toward the kitchen and double check things. Lucy and I have hired trustworthy bakers that hold up to our standards. As much as Lucy and I would love to bake everything ourselves like we did when first opened, it’s no longer practical. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t get our time in the kitchen. After I check the kitchen, I finally head to my office to go over the next couple of weeks donut flavors since we do rotate some of the flavors, but always keep the classics. I used to the schedule for the kitchens and the front, but thankfully I was able to pass that duty to my managers who got a raise for the extra work. Lucy and I make sure our employees are fairly treated and that they are paid what they are worth. I don’t always love going to my office because of the drab behind the scenes stuff. Some of it isn’t too bad, but the office is still not my favorite place to be. I like to move around. It’s probably why I enjoy the bounce around I d
A couple of weeks ago a news article was published by a disgraced journalist on Chatworth that was only the beginning of a trail of news stories coming out to disgrace the Senator. Chatworth’s PR team is working overtime trying to save his ass, but every time they put out fire we start a new one. They are struggling to keep up and it’s starting to show, which is good for us because if we set him a blaze long enough he will have no choice but to resign. I can only imagine the spiral Chatworth is on and it makes me happy that he’s suffering because he murdered Misha. Misha was a third father to me. I adored him for treating me like I was already his daughter in law. I pictured him being a grandpa with my two dads. Max and I might be freshly married, but our families have been entwined for decades. Misha’s loss will be felt forever. I enter the bakery from the side entrance where all the employees, vendors, and other services we have like washing for all the towels, aprons, and various
Thanks to Shane for providing us with everything we need to slowly disgrace Chatworth. Trey, Leo, and I. The great thing about corrupt politicians is the chances they have pissed someone off is high. The high numbers man there is a high chance that there is someone who wants a little revenge. Leo was able to find a journalist that Chatworth seduced to get her to not publish a terrible story on him. After she slept with him, he reported her to her boss and said that she was unprofessional making advances on him. The poor woman was fired, and now she is eager to have a piece so good she can sell to her old newspaper rival. We are in the works with her and potentially a couple of others that we might be able to use to disgrace Chatworth. There are many that want to see him gone for one reason or another, so I look at it as we are doing a civil service taking out a corrupt politician. Once he’s disgraced enough, he will have no choice but to resign from his position. Once that happens he
Today is the day for the Senators birthday donuts to be picked up. I have no idea if Mona is going to pick it up or not. However, I do think she will. She will not miss a chance to harass me. She made me her enemy and that was her fault. It’s bad enough she tried to drive a wedge between Max and I, but the fact that she probably had a hand in Misha’s death is what is going to earn her a one way ticket to morg. Shane came through with dirty on Chatworth. Leo, Max, and Trey have been plotting all their movies against Chatworth. It’s only a matter of time before we disgrace Chatworth and force his hand in stepping out of office. Chatworth and his daughter have no idea the fury of revenge that is coming their way. As predicted Mona strides into the bakery wearing some trashy outfit that looks like she came from white trash trailer park show. I get that she is the shameful child because her mom is not Chatworth’s wife, but still for her to dress so trashy makes no sense. I don’t know why