The silence inside the limo was deafening. Isabella huddled close to the door, shivering slightly. She didn't dare look up at Antonio. She didn't dare move, nor breathe out. He was silent, his left foot tapping restlessly. His kept his gaze outside, but from the hard clench of his jaw, it was obvious that he was annoyed. The silence lengthened until they arrived at the villa. The limo pulled to a stop in front of the mansion and she stepped down immediately. Antonio didn't spare her a glance. He just stormed into the mansion and headed upstairs. Isabella followed behind, her eyes lowered. She quietly climbed up the stairs, dreading what would happen. If Antonio had yelled at her all through the drive, it would have been better. She always thought his temper was terrible, but his silence was worse. She didn't know what to expect. She stepped into the room timidly, searching around for him. He was beside the bar, pouring a drink. Was that a good sign? She entered the room comple
Antonio marched back to the mansion, his face set in a scowl. This was all his fault, he thought. If he hadn't hit her, none of it would have happened. He burst into the room, spotting Mario bent over Isabella. Mario turned and faced him, and the look in his eyes was resentment... or was it? "What's wrong with her?" He asked. "She's burning with a fever." Mario answered as he moved away from the bed. "I tried to give her some pain reliever for the swelling, but by the time I returned, she was unconscious."Antonio lowered to the bed and leaned over Isabella. He placed the back of his hand on her temple, and the heat scalded him. She had a burning fever. She was still in her wet dress, and the side of her mouth where he hit her had a purple bruise. "Signòre what do we do?" Mario ventured. He never got worried over anyone, yet seeing Isabella on that bed, looking so pale and fragile, it tugged at his heart. And looking at Antonio, he new the Don was affected too. "Get Doctor Emilio
Isabella was unconscious for days. She drifted in and out of consciousness, most times sobbing in pain, other times muttering incoherently. Doctor Emilio said it was because of the fever. She had nightmares, the type that would make her scream in her sleep, thrashing in bed. The maids took turns in giving her sponge baths and changing her clothes. Isabella was vaguely awake, even though she wasn't aware of it. Most times when she broke out of her unconscious state, she would seee Antonio's silhouette, but never his face. He was always beside her because she felt his presence. She knew how he smelled, and each time she perceived that spicy manly smell, she would know he was beside her. One day, she had a dream. It wasn't really much of a dream, but was more of a memory flashback. She was back in her living room, huddled behind the couch. Her mother crouched beside her, holding her close, while her father pleaded with the Don to spare his family. Suddenly the scene changed and she
Isabella thought she would experience the exhilarating feeling of freedom, because that was what she always wanted. That was why she tried to escape, twice.But hearing the words from him now only made her feel depressed, sort of. She stole a glance at him, wondering why he suddenly wanted her to leave. "Why?" She asked. Her question surprised Antonio. "Why?" He repeated. "Isn't that what you always wanted? To leave me?""I.. yes, but..." She stuttered, unable to craft a complete sentence. Why was she hesitating? She should be packing her stuff, screaming for joy. Yet she felt... reluctant. "I'm not stopping you anymore, Isabella." He continued, his tone low. "I realize I did keep you here agaisnt your will, and I am not one to force a woman to stay with me. They come to me willingly. So enough with the escape games. You're free to go. I won't stop you, and I will never look for you."The more he said it, the more Isabella panicked. She tried to understand the sudden sadness she fe
The Rolls Royce slowed down the familiar street of the country road, and Isabella peeked through the tinted glass. It was mid afternoon, almost dusk, and the sun was slowly heading towards the horizon. It was hard to believe that barely three weeks had passed since she and her aunt left their small apartment, intent on meeting a relative for money, only for her to be sold off. Now she was back there like it never happened, like the last three weeks were a blur. Mario stopped the car in front of the apartment, then turned around. "We're here." He said softly. Isabella nodded, trying to force a smile. But her lips only twitched. She leaned across the seat to pick the suitcase, but Mario stopped her. "I'll help you with it. I just want to know if you're sure about this. Coming back to the same person who sold you off."Isabella leaned back on the seat and stared at him. "She's the only one who can give me answers." She murmured. "There are a so many questions I stopped myself from
Antonio was standing by the window in his study, staring at nothing in particular when Mario returned. "Well?" He asked without turning around. "She asked me to take her back to her old apartment." Mario reported. "She went back to her aunt?" Antonio asked, slightly surprised."Sì, signòre. She said she needed answers." There was a short pause before Mario continued. "She wants me to tell you she's grateful for the money and everything else."Antonio didn't answer. He knew Isabella was chaos the moment he saw her at that auction. He knew she wasn't the type of women he went after, yet he had blindly purchased her. Now she was in his head, like a drug, refusing to leave. This was why he had rules. The longest a woman has ever stayed with him was three days. Yet he had been so reluctant to let Isabella go. There had been something about her innocence that made him crazy over her. He had wanted to break her and watch her bend to him, but in the end, he realized he should have stayed
"I'm going to kill you myself." Sophia whispered, holding the bottle like a weapon as she stalked towards Isabella. Isabella didn't let her fear stop her from defending herself. She was done being treated unfairly. She grabbed another empty bottle, turned her face away and smashed it on the floor. Glass flew everywhere and a piece cut her hand. She didn't care though, didn't even feel the pain. She raised the jagged edge and held it up, protecting herself. "Don't come any closer, aunt Sophia." She said, her voice strong and determined. "I won't hesitate to cut you.""Dio mio! You've grown wings, haven't you?" Sophia spat. "You now challenge me.""I'm done letting you treat me like I'm worthless." Isabella shot back. "All those years, all I ever thought of was going to college, then getting a degree so I can open my own dress shop. I wanted a better life for both of us. But you... you only kept me with you so you could sell me off.""A big mistake I made." Sophia retorted. "If I had
Isabella remained in her curled position for so long that her legs cramped up. She finally lifted her head and stretched her legs in front of her, massaging her calves. Night had completely fallen and a cold wind blew after the rain, making the air chilly. Apparently, crying had lessened the heavy feeling in her heart. She could think clearly now, and she wondered what to do next. She couldn't remain out there in the open, alone. It was dangerous and she could get robbed, or worse, attacked. She had to leave. She thought of Sophia, and as her thoughts strayed back to what happened, so did her heart burn with anger. The betrayal of that woman had awoken something within her.She rose to her feet, her mind racing with a million thoughts. She knew what she had to do. Revenge. Yes! On everyone who contributed to the hardship she went through. Sophia, her deadbeat uncles and aunties who didn't give a damn if she was alive or dead. Those were the people she had loved and trusted, and i
"I have no plans of behaving." Isabella whispered. Antonio was silent for a moment, his gaze burning into hers. He released her hair and fished out something from his pocket. "You're not going to behave, right?" He murmured thickly. "No.""You want me to fuck you right here? Right now?"She arched into him, her hands locked around his neck. "Maybe." She whispered. A moment later, she felt the stimulator vibrate against her clit and she threw her head back, moaning loudly. "You still won't behave?" He asked, cranking the remote to the highest volume. "Please." She whimpered, leaning weakly agaisnt him. "Mario can hear me.""I don't care." Antonio rasped. He trailed the remote down the side of her neck to the swell of her breasts. "You'd like me to fuck you in here, right? While you try to hold back your cries of pleasure?"He pressed the button when she remained silent and she cried out, her body shuddering and convulsing. "Answer me." He growled. "Yes." She breathed. "Oh God,
Isabella gasped and tried to regain her balance, knowing well that Antonio would go into a fit of rage if he saw her in this stranger's arms. The blonde man appeared surprised for a moment, then he smiled. "Are you alright, bellissima?" He uttered in thick Italian accent. His hand lowered down her back as he tried to push her up. "I'm fine." Isabella forced a smile and tried to move away from him, but he held her in place. "I'm sorry I...""Va bene, signòra. I am Bruno." His smile widened. He was completely drunk. "Nice to meet you, Bruno. Please let go of me." Isabella tried to move away, but his grip around her was like a vise. She looked behind her and panicked when she spotted Antonio coming towards the lounge. "I will let you go if you tell me your name." Bruno continued in a teasing manner, pulling her to sit beside him. "Let go." She snapped suddenly, snatching her hand away from his grip and moving away from him. A second later, she felt Antonio's strong arm curl around
"How long have you known Antonio?"Isabella stared at the blonde woman before her. She could smell the chocolatey fragrance from her cologne, and when she flicked her hair over her shoulder, she perceived a whiff of lavender."Uh, a month now." She answered, trying not to sound awkward. Compared to Caterina and the other woman seated around, she felt like a rag doll. "A month?" Caterina repeated, clearly surprised. She lit a cigarette, sucked in the smoke and blew it straight into Isabella's face. "That's surprising."Isabella felt the smoke scratch her throat but she tried not to let it show. "Why... why is it surprising?" She asked, breathing through her mouth.Caterina's smile widened and she blew another cloud of smoke on Isabella's face. Then she took a sip of wine and leaned back on the seat. "Because you're really not his type." She answered. "I've known Antonio for years, and trust me, you're not the kind of woman he finds interest in."Isabella felt her rebellious streak s
While Isabella tried not to squirm on top Antonio's lap, one of his acquaintances excused himself from the women seated beside him. He made his way over to Antonio's lounge, sucking on a cigar stick. He was buff, his wide shoulders filling out the brown tuxedo he had on. He had a faded scar running from the top of his left eye to his jaw, and when he flashed a smile, gold incisors peeked from his mouth. Isabella recognized him from the casino. He was the same man who sat beside her on the roulette table, the one she told to bet on a different number. "Don Antonio." He said with a wide grin, easing into the lounge. He puffed out the smoke and lazily glanced at Isabella. "Signòra, I doubt you remember me."Of course she did. When she opened her mouth to speak, the stimulator vibrated against her core and she shut her mouth immediately. She turned and glared at Antonio, but he had his eyes on the acquaintance. "Vincenzo Bianchi." Antonio murmured in greeting. "The club is never compl
Isabella sat stiffly beside Antonio as Mario backed the Rolls Royce out of the villa. She looked at him, noticing the smug smile on his lips, the way his stormy eyes danced with mirth. She thought back to the scene that played out in the room seconds ago. After he told her to lie on the bed, he gripped her legs himself and pushed them apart. Then he knelt between her thighs, holding the device up. "What is that?" She asked again, panting hard as he pushed her dress up. When he spotted the red thong, his eyes darkened with desire. He didn't give her an answer. His finger brushed her clit through the thong and she moaned, biting her lips. However he didn't touch her. The next thing she felt was a coldness against her skin and she gasped. Antonio clipped the device on her panty, the magnetic clips cinching immediately. Then he pulled down her dress and helped her up. She straightened, feeling the device rub against her inner thighs. Though it wasn't comfortable, she was dying to
It had been too easy for Isabella to find the perfect gown, the type she knew Antonio would love. It was the first thing she saw when she walked into the mall. Black, glittery, short with a sinful high slit, topped with a silver bow. She found the perfect heels to go with it and by the time she stepped out of the mall with Mario behind her, her face was hot with a blush. The ride home was silent. Mario didn't talk much, but the silence around him didn't feel intimidating anymore. Isabella sat at the back of the sleek maybach sedan, watching the other cars blur as they zoomed past the express. Her shopping bag lay beside her on the seat, the sides digging into her waist. She had added a pair of red lacy bra and matching thong, and now that she thought about it, she wondered what Antonio would say when he saw it. She had intentionally bought it because of him, to cause a little trouble. She envisioned it on her body as Antonio led her to the pleasure room. He would restrain her
Isabella sat cross legged on the couch, waiting for Antonio to come back from the bathroom. The spot beside her felt hot, giving her a hard time forgetting what occurred moments ago. A girl has to do anything to get what she wants, she thought to herself. Slowly but steadily, Antonio was getting wrapped around her fingers. He came back to the room after washing off. His pants were back in place, but he had taken off his shirt. His body gleamed like bronze as he stopped beside the bed and tossed his phone on it. He got on the bed and leaned against the pillows, his legs stretched out before him. "Come here, amore." He called to her. Isabella slowly got up and walked to the other side of the bed. She crawled on top, intent on lying beside him. But he held her hand and pulled her across his body so she straddled him. She felt his crotch twitch, despite the release he just had. His hands rested lightly on her hips while his thumbs stroked her thighs. "Are you comfortable?" He aske
Isabella stood in front of the mirror, inspecting the side of neck. Dark red spots dotted her skin, from beneath her ear to her shoulder. It didn't hurt when she touched them, and a moment later, she realized what they were. Hickeys. Proof of Antonio's sinful lips on her body last night. She touched the spots, her finger grazing over them. It brought back memories of that wild night. How he restrained her with chains and tortured her body wickledly, and how he bent her over the couch and fucked her from behind, his lustful groans, the spanks... She shut her eyes, soaking in the memories. The thought of having such wild, erotic sex every night excited her immensely. She could already picture herself in the pleasure room, suspended with the chains, helplessly submissive to him. Her train of thoughts embarrassed her and she quickly changed into the t-shirt and shorts just as Antonio entered the room. She took one look at him and knew immediately that he was pissed. A deep frown furr
Surprised at seeing Antonio appear out of nowhere, Isabella slipped and fell back into the water. Antonio's smile disappeared when she didn't surface. He immediately discarded his jacket and dove into the pool, fully dressed. By the time he grabbed her and pulled her to the surface, he was totally soaked. She coughed, choking slightly as the water got into her air way. "You shouldn't go in the water if you can't swim." Antonio muttered, walking over to shallow part. "I... I can swim." She replied, breathing heavily. "I just... you startled me and I slipped."She pushed the wet strands of hair away from her eyes and gazed at him. "Why did you jump in? You're all wet. Were you so worried that I'll drown?"Antonio lowered her into the water beside him and stood back staring at her. "Maybe I should have let you drown." He muttered. Isabella laughed, swirling her hands in the water. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you had a pool. I would have come here sooner, rather than stay indoors all