Elena's Point Of ViewI woke up to the dull throb of a headache pounding behind my temples, and the bright light streaming through the curtains didn’t help. I groaned, pulling the duvet over my head to block out the assaulting rays of sunlight. But then it hit me, the pillow under my head wasn’t soft. It was warm and… breathing.My eyes shot open, and I froze. I was sprawled across Nicholas’s chest. His bare, hard chest.“Shit,” I whispered under my breath, the memories of last night slamming into me like a freight train. The wine. The laughter. The kiss. My cheeks burned as I pieced it all together.Carefully, I shifted to sit up, clutching the duvet tightly around me. The realization that I was naked under it sent another wave of embarrassment crashing over me. How the hell had this happened?Just as I was about to slip out quietly, an arm snaked around my waist, pulling me back.“And where do you think you’re going?” Nicholas’s deep, husky morning voice stopped me dead in my tracks
Elena's Point Of ViewI didn’t know how I had ended up here again, wrapped in Nicholas’s arms for what felt like the millionth time in the past two weeks. His fingers combed through my hair with slow, deliberate strokes, as if the rhythm alone could calm the chaos in my mind. It almost worked. Almost.The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast shadows across the room, highlighting the strong lines of his jaw. I tilted my head slightly to look at him, his face unreadable but serene. My thoughts churned, too loud to ignore, and before I could stop myself, the question escaped my lips.“How did you end up with the Mafia?”The moment the words hung in the air, I felt his body tense beneath me. For a heartbeat, I regretted asking, but I needed to know. I needed to understand.Nicholas’s hand paused in my hair, then resumed its gentle motion. He sighed heavily, his chest rising and falling beneath my cheek. “It’s not a story I like telling,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.“Pleas
Nicholas Point Of ViewThe sound of waves crashing against the shore was almost hypnotic. For the first time in what felt like years, there was no noise from the outside world, no phones ringing, no gunshots, no shouted orders or whispered threats. Just the ocean, the breeze, and her.I glanced at Elena, who walked beside me, her bare feet sinking into the soft sand with every step. She looked out at the horizon, where the sun was beginning its slow descent, casting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. She was quiet, her usual fire dimmed by the weight of everything we’d been through lately.She deserved this. A break. A moment of peace.Hell, we both deserved it.“You’re quiet,” I said, breaking the silence.She glanced at me, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Just trying to take it all in. It’s… beautiful here.”I nodded, shoving my hands into my pockets. “It is. I figured we could use a change of scenery.”Her smile widened, but there was something hesitant in her gaze. “And wh
Elena’s Point Of ViewI woke up to the rhythmic rise and fall of Nicholas’s chest beneath my cheek, his arms wrapped protectively around me like a cocoon. For a fleeting moment, the world felt distant, a faint echo beyond the safety of his embrace. He looked peaceful in his sleep, a stark contrast to the man who commanded an empire with sharp words and colder actions.I traced the faint scar on his jaw with my finger, wondering about the stories he’d never told me. How many battles had he fought, both physical and emotional to get to this moment? A smile crept onto my lips as I imagined waking up like this every day. Maybe, just maybe, this could work.Not wanting to wake him, I slipped out of bed, the cool floor beneath my feet grounding me. I decided to surprise him with breakfast, something normal amidst our not-so-normal lives. As I tiptoed down the grand staircase, the scents of coffee and sizzling bacon wafted through the air.The kitchen staff was already at it, bustling like a
Nicholas’s Point Of ViewThe room smelled of blood and sweat, a sickening combination that clung to my skin as I leaned against the cold metal table. The man before me, tied to a chair, was a trembling mess. His face was swollen, his lip split, and his breathing shallow. Yet, he refused to talk.I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white as I fought to keep my temper in check. “You’ve got one last chance,” I growled, my voice low and deadly. “Who were you working for, what have you been feeding them about me and what do they plan to do ?”The mole spat blood onto the floor, his defiance almost admirable if it weren’t so fucking infuriating. “You’re already finished,” he rasped, a twisted smile tugging at his lips. “The Castillos know everything there is to know about you. Your empire? It’s crumbling, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”I slammed my fist into the table, the sound reverberating through the room. “Wrong answer,” I hissed. Grabbing the knife from t
Elena’s Point Of View The chilled morning air bit at my skin as I wandered down the empty path leading from Nicholas’s estate. Each step felt heavier than the last, my thoughts spinning in endless circles. The world I had willingly stepped into, for love or madness, was far darker than I had imagined.The image of Alejandro rushing down the hallway replayed in my mind, paired with the fragmented pieces of the conversation I had overheard. "The Castillos are back. Elena is the key." Those words had rooted themselves deep in my chest, suffocating every breath I tried to take.I needed air, space to think and clear my mind But even as I walked, my unease grew. The quiet was too absolute, too unnatural.The sound of footsteps behind me made me pause. My heart stuttered, and I spun around, but the path was empty."Get it together, Elena, stop hallucinating for pits sake!" I muttered under my breath, forcing myself to keep walking.A few more steps, and then it happened so fast, a hand cla
Nicholas's Point Of View The weight of my decisions pressed against my chest like a vice. Elena's retreating figure haunted my mind as I paced the sitting room, each step echoing in the silence. I needed her away from here... for her safety, for her sanity, and for mine. But Elena wasn’t one to back down, especially not when she believed in standing her ground.My hand instinctively reached for the wine bar. I grabbed a bottle of Martini, poured a generous amount into a glass, and downed it in one go. The liquid burned as it slid down my throat, igniting something within me.. A resolve, perhaps, or desperation. I poured another glass and stared into the amber liquid, willing it to give me the clarity I so desperately needed."I can't let her stay," I muttered to myself, the words barely audible in the empty room. My reflection in the window stared back at me, as hollow and uncertain as I felt.Elena didn’t deserve to see the side of me that was about to resurface, the side that thriv
Nicholas's Point Of ViewThe morning sun filtered through the heavy drapes of my study, but its warmth did little to thaw the icy rage simmering in my chest. I had spent most of the night after Elena had slept off strategizing, trying to tie up loose ends before sending Elena away. I hated the idea of her leaving my side, but the constant threats from the Castillos over her head were becoming too frequent, too reckless. Keeping her here was no longer an option, it wasn’t safe.I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. A half-empty coffee mug sat on the desk beside a stack of reports I hadn’t even glanced at. My focus was on Elena and the promise I had made to her the night before.She deserved better than this chaos, better than me. But I'd be damned if I was going to let anyone harm her.Looking at the time it was barely 7am, It was time. I had woken Elena up earlier to pack her things, and Alejandro and the men were already stationed outside, waiting to escort us.
Elena’s POVI don’t expect Marco to bring him to me.I had asked him to keep this a secret.The rest house is quiet, tucked away from the chaos of the city, surrounded by nothing but open land and the occasional whisper of the wind through the trees. It was supposed to be a safe space, a place to clear my head, to convince myself that leaving was the right choice.And yet, the moment I see him standing in the doorway, all those carefully constructed walls I built around myself begin to crack.Nicholas.He looks like hell. His sharp suit is wrinkled, his usually perfect hair is disheveled, and dark circles shadow his eyes. He’s always been so put together, so untouchable, but right now, he looks like a man on the edge. A man who hasn’t been sleeping. A man who’s been… suffering.I tell myself not to care. Not to feel.But my breath catches anyway.“Elena.”My name on his lips is hoarse, raw. There’s something almost hesitant in the way he says it, like he isn’t sure I’ll want to hear i
Nicholas’s POVI haven’t slept in days.She had done everything possible to be on my good graces but u didn't care, all I did was vent out my anger on her, I didn't even give her the chance to breath, now she was gone and all I could think of was my heart breaking in piecesThe weight of exhaustion presses against my skull, a relentless drumbeat of fatigue and frustration. The silence of the house is suffocating, the walls closing in on me with every passing hour. My hands tighten into fists as I pace the length of my office, the air thick with the scent of whiskey and regret.She’s gone.No matter how many times I try to push that thought away, it crashes back into me with the force of a wrecking ball. Elena is out there somewhere, hiding, disappearing into the world like a ghost. And I hate it. I fucking hate it.Marco was supposed to find her. He was supposed to bring her back. But it’s been days, and there’s been nothing.No calls. No updates.Nothing.My patience snaps the moment
Elena’s POVI had told myself I wouldn’t look back.Not at the city, not at the past, and especially not at him.But as I stepped out of the car and took in my surroundings, I realized how much I had underestimated the weight of my own emotions.The rest house was tucked away in the countryside, a stark contrast to the chaos I had left behind. It was a secluded sanctuary, surrounded by towering trees that swayed with the whisper of the wind. The air smelled clean, untouched by the scent of smoke, whiskey, or regret. The sky stretched endlessly above me, painted in deep shades of indigo as dusk settled in.For the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe.Marco shut the car door and turned to me, his sharp gaze assessing. “Not bad, huh?”I let out a small breath, nodding. “It’s… quiet.”“That’s the point,” he replied, motioning for me to follow him inside.The inside of the house was warm, but not in a way that felt welcoming, more like a place built for solitude. A hideout, not
Nicholas’s POVI slam the door behind me, breathing hard.My hands are still clenched into fists, my pulse a chaotic mess beneath my skin.That kiss.What the hell was that?I press my fingers against my temples, trying to steady the storm raging inside me. I should have stopped her the second she leaned in. I should have pulled away before our lips even met. But I didn’t.Because for a fleeting, stupid moment, I wanted it.I wanted to feel her again.I curse under my breath and shove a hand through my hair, pacing across my room like a caged animal. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to stay angry, stay distant. I was supposed to punish her for what she did.But every time I try, something holds me back.Her eyes.Her stubbornness.The way she’s been pushing herself, breaking herself, trying so damn hard to prove something to me.And I hate that I care.Hours pass, but sleep doesn’t come.I sit at the edge of my bed, staring at nothing, wrestling with my own pride.Why ca
Elena’s POVThey say actions speak louder than words.If that’s true, then maybe... just maybe.. I can make him see me again.Because words don’t work.Not with Nicholas.Not anymore.He doesn’t hear me. He doesn’t even look at me.His silence is worse than his rage.I’d take the shouting, the accusations, the bitter words laced with anger. At least then, I’d know he feels something. But this? This void, this nothingness between us?It’s killing me.So I do the only thing I can.I prove myself.The morning air is crisp as I step into the kitchen, the scent of fresh bread and brewing coffee wrapping around me like a warm embrace. The staff, a mix of cooks and housekeepers, pause mid-task, their eyes widening in surprise as I roll up my sleeves."Miss Elena," an older woman, Maria, starts hesitantly, "what are you doing here?""I’m helping," I say simply, reaching for an apron.She exchanges a look with the others before laughing nervously. "That’s… not necessary. This is our job.""I w
Nicholas’s POVThe moment the front door shut behind them, I felt my pulse skyrocket. I stood in the middle of the sitting room, fists clenched at my sides, my body coiled so tight I could snap. The air in the room was thick with tension, the silence deafening except for the sound of my own breathing, deep, slow, controlled, but only barely.I had been standing there, waiting, drowning in the sheer fucking anxiety of not knowing what they had been up to. And now that they were back, the sight of them, smug and victorious, did nothing to ease my fury.I turned sharply, facing Marco, my voice slicing through the silence like a blade."What the fuck were you thinking?"Marco barely flinched, his expression unreadable as he shrugged off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch. "Nice to see you too, Nick.""Don't give me that shit, Marco!" I barked, stepping toward him, my jaw so tight it ached. "You should never have let her do this! Do you have any goddamn idea what could have gone wrong
Elena’s POVThe city lights blurred past the car window, neon streaks of red and blue casting fleeting shadows over my face. My hands rested on my lap, clenched together, the smooth fabric of my dress cool beneath my fingers. I could feel my heart pounding, a steady, insistent rhythm against my ribs. Nerves. Excitement. Dread.I had to do this.Marco, seated beside me in the driver's seat, glanced over. "You're awfully quiet," he remarked, his voice laced with something between curiosity and concern.I forced a small smirk, though my stomach was in knots. "Just mentally preparing myself to sell my soul."He huffed a laugh, but there was no humor in it. "You're really going through with this, huh?"I turned to face him. "You thought I’d back out?"Marco kept his eyes on the road, but his grip on the steering wheel tightened. "No. But a part of me hoped you would."Silence stretched between us, heavy and unspoken.Backing out wasn’t an option. Not when Nicholas still saw me as a liabili
Elena’s POVI had forgotten what fresh air felt like.For days, I had been locked away, my world reduced to four suffocating walls and the weight of my own regret. I had hidden from Nicholas’s cold, indifferent stares, from Marco’s careful glances, from the suffocating knowledge that I had ruined everything. But hiding wasn’t going to fix this.So, for the first time in what felt like forever, I stepped out of my room.The house was quiet, the kind of eerie stillness that made my skin prickle. The scent of polished wood and expensive cologne lingered in the air, familiar yet strangely foreign after my self-imposed isolation. My bare feet moved across the cold marble floor as I made my way down the hall, past the grand staircase, past the walls that had witnessed my downfall.Then I heard it.A voice. Low. Tense.I paused.The door to Nicholas’s office was cracked open, and from inside, I could hear the smooth hum of a newscaster’s voice filtering through the air. Normally, I would hav
Nicholas’s POVI stared out the window of the dimly lit office, watching the rain trickle down the glass. Each drop, like a tear of its own, fell to the earth, eventually joining the rest of the misery below. The city felt colder tonight, darker than usual. It wasn’t the weather... no, it was the storm brewing inside me. I could feel the weight of everything pressing down, suffocating me in a way that no amount of liquor or distractions could alleviate.Marco stood at the table across from me, his eyes glued to the monitor as he pulled up the latest intel on Alejandro’s movements. Every word he spoke was calculated, every gesture purposeful. This was necessary, and nothing... not even my tangled emotions.. could derail him from it. It was the only thing he knew how to focus on when it came to me, but tonight, something else was gnawing at him.He flipped through the files, not looking up as he spoke. "Alejandro's been busy. He's moving men into position, preparing his stronghold for t