ClaireRocco came to me that morning telling me my flight back home was ready. I hadn't seen Vincent after last night. He'd suddenly left the villa last night and didn't come back at all. I spent a sleepless night, waiting for him to come back but he never did. "Vince won't be coming Claire, I have a lot of things to do but I have to safely drop you off first. Let's just go now."After waiting for hours and hours without any signs of Vincent coming to see me off, I finally relented and got into the car with Rocco. He drove me to the airport I boarded the plane that flew back to LA. Rodrigo picked me up at the airport after the long exhausting flight.I sighted the tall figure of my brother leaning against his car, dressed in a long blazer jacket, he stood with an undeniable elegance on his six foot four height."Hey sunshine." He smiled revealing one dimple on his left cheek. I couldn't help but notice how much more handsome he'd become. "Rod." Tears filled my eyes and I ran into h
Rodrigo"Rod, I'm off to work." Claire poked her head into my office with a suddeness that startled me.She always did that even when she was younger, almost walking into something she shouldn't see, something I was protecting her from.I tilted my body making sure she wouldn't see the blood stains that covered my white shirt."Have a lovely day sunshine. I'll pick you up at five." She smiled brightly, nodding obediently before running out of my home office. I watched her from the windows as she got into the designated cab I'd called to take her to work that morning till the cab drove out of our home, knowing my sister was finally away, an expression I'd never show in front of her eyes overtook my features.To Claire, her brother was a saint, a peaceful man who saved lives. Her image of me has always been clean, untainted, she respected me, adored me and I would never ruin the image she has of me.Claire was born when I'd turned fourteen years old, a late child for our parents who ha
ClaireWhen I arrived at the hotel, the staff seemed to have been expecting my arrival. Seeing how respectful the staff were acting, it made me wonder just how much power Vincent had in places all over the world.When we were in Rome he'd been able to command a random stranger we met on the streets, they'd all tremble and nod vigorously before giving in to whatever he asks of them. It was astonishing. And now he seemed to have mobilized the hotel staff to send me up to his room when I arrived, the surprising part was how everyone looked up at me and quickly changed their demeanor to that of respect when I informed them that I was here for Mr Morano.The elevator stopped at the highest floor, and the staff walked me down a secluded but luxurious looking hallway to the last room which was an exclusive VVIP hotel suite. She handed me the key card and bowed respectfully."Mr Morano is expecting you inside." "Thank you." I swiped the card and entered the suite welcomed by an expansive s
ClaireHe stood at the edge of the bed for a long time staring down at me with his chest rising and falling with each breath. After a while he leaned down, both hands braced on either side of me on the bed, his face right in front of mine. "You said...your body doesn't crave mine?" There was a dark danger in his tone. Something that made me shiver with chills.Those words were a big lie that had spouted out of my mouth in anger, but I couldn't take them back so I nodded hesitantly.He chuckled darkly, the sound devoid of amusement but rich in something sinister. "I'll gladly make your answer to that change." He said tugging my hair to make me look up at him. His mouth descended on mine without warning. His kiss this time was one of seduction. When his mouth moved against mine, it was like something hot and delicious was searing it's way through every fiber of my body. I couldn't resist kissing him back, sucking on his mouth as heatedly as he was on mine. He broke away from the k
ClaireThis was the sweetest sleep I'd had in days. I stirred awake with a smile on my lips. Strong arms around my waist pulled me deeper into his chest, his warm breath landing on the side of my face as I felt his lips drop a kiss on my cheek. "Be good, stop moving else I won't let you sleep again." I was about to respond when I felt the hard thing poking me from behind, I quickly realized what he meant and laid still, my body still felt sore from last night. I let myself enjoy the nice warmth of being in his arms with a smile on my face feeling his peaceful breathing. He'd fallen asleep so deeply as if it was the first time he was getting any sleep after weeks.I was about to close my eyes and join him, just the feeling of being in his arms felt so peaceful that I was on the verge of falling asleep again when I suddenly remembered something and my eyes snapped open.The sky outside was still dark, but far in the horizon a faint light purplish hue indicating the coming of sunrise
Claire"I... I'm sorry I missed all your calls and texts, I went to meet a friend, had too many drinks and I dozed off at her apartment." The lie came out effortlessly, I'd already practiced this excuse while in the cab. Rodrigo was a very astute person, he could easily detect lies in an instant if I so much as blinked while telling that lie.If I told him about Vincent, apart from the fact that he would certainly research about Vincent's background to find out if he was fit for me or not, he would automatically decide Vincent to be a bad influence. I was already an adult, I could do whatever I wanted, but Rodrigo has always acted like my father, he certainly seemed to forget that I'm all grown up now. He got up and approached me, circling me like a hawk."You passed out after having too much to drink, yet you don't have the faintest smell of alcohol on you." Shit! I should have grabbed a quick glass of whiskey from Vincent's bar area in the hotel suite if I knew Rodrigo would cat
ClaireI nervously waited at the side of the road in front of the Acer's gaming court in the city until I saw Vincent's black SUV driving into the parking lot. A bright smile split on my face and I ran towards his car just in time as he stepped down. "Hello Blue." My heart skipped a beat when he flashed me that dazzling smile as he stepped down. I felt the urge to run into his arms and bury myself in his hug but I held back the urge not knowing if it would make him uncomfortable."Hi." I greeted instead fiddling with my hands. "Actually I..."His finger suddenly stopped my mouth from saying more. "Before anything, don't you think a mere hi is too bland to greet your boyfriend?" I was more than happy to run into his arms and embrace him tightly. I wasn't expecting him to hug me back but he did, and I closed my eyes momentarily at the feel of his powerful arms around me. "Vincent, you know how to play games like bowling don't you?" "Hmm." He replied affirmatively with a hum, tigh
Claire'...so when will you let me meet your brother?' I couldn't stop thinking about what Vincent said. I'd let those words pass after we were interrupted by the others, Vincent didn't ask about it again and I never brought it up because I didn't know what to tell him. Rodrigo wanted to meet him, only to confirm if he loved me and would take care of me, but what I didn't expect was that Vincent would want to meet him too and if they met, Rod would quickly figure out if Vincent has true feelings for me or not.And if he finds out Vincent doesn't love me, he wouldn't approve of me being with him.The next day when Lea and I met for lunch at a restaurant, my mind was lost in thought even as she kept talking."I can't believe that Sean. He kept convincing the guys through the group chat that your boyfriend seems to be hiding something. He thinks Vincent is some sort of drug dealer or something, he even kept telling them that he would expose whatever criminal records Vincent might have
ClaireThe red lights in the ER flickered on and I crumbled to the floor in a weak heap.I could hear Vincent's guards conversing on the phone with a thick Italian tongue. Everything happened in a rapid blur around me, my heartbeat was unbearably loud in my ears, so loud that I began to form words with them.'This will kill him, he was shot in the heart.''Vincent is going to die!''Vincent is going to die!'Fear struck me like a lightning bolt and more tears streamed down my face. I rapidly shook my head against the unbearable words forming in my mind."No, he's not going to die. Nothing will happen to him. He's going to live and I'll stay by his side, I'll always stay by his side." The thought of losing him clenched my heart with an unbearable pain, I couldn't harbor that thought for longer than the few seconds it had surfaced in my head so I chose a mindless optimism.Wiping my tears I composed myself, stood on my feet and began to pace.The memory of blood pooled around Vincent g
Claire'...so when will you let me meet your brother?' I couldn't stop thinking about what Vincent said. I'd let those words pass after we were interrupted by the others, Vincent didn't ask about it again and I never brought it up because I didn't know what to tell him. Rodrigo wanted to meet him, only to confirm if he loved me and would take care of me, but what I didn't expect was that Vincent would want to meet him too and if they met, Rod would quickly figure out if Vincent has true feelings for me or not.And if he finds out Vincent doesn't love me, he wouldn't approve of me being with him.The next day when Lea and I met for lunch at a restaurant, my mind was lost in thought even as she kept talking."I can't believe that Sean. He kept convincing the guys through the group chat that your boyfriend seems to be hiding something. He thinks Vincent is some sort of drug dealer or something, he even kept telling them that he would expose whatever criminal records Vincent might have
ClaireI nervously waited at the side of the road in front of the Acer's gaming court in the city until I saw Vincent's black SUV driving into the parking lot. A bright smile split on my face and I ran towards his car just in time as he stepped down. "Hello Blue." My heart skipped a beat when he flashed me that dazzling smile as he stepped down. I felt the urge to run into his arms and bury myself in his hug but I held back the urge not knowing if it would make him uncomfortable."Hi." I greeted instead fiddling with my hands. "Actually I..."His finger suddenly stopped my mouth from saying more. "Before anything, don't you think a mere hi is too bland to greet your boyfriend?" I was more than happy to run into his arms and embrace him tightly. I wasn't expecting him to hug me back but he did, and I closed my eyes momentarily at the feel of his powerful arms around me. "Vincent, you know how to play games like bowling don't you?" "Hmm." He replied affirmatively with a hum, tigh
Claire"I... I'm sorry I missed all your calls and texts, I went to meet a friend, had too many drinks and I dozed off at her apartment." The lie came out effortlessly, I'd already practiced this excuse while in the cab. Rodrigo was a very astute person, he could easily detect lies in an instant if I so much as blinked while telling that lie.If I told him about Vincent, apart from the fact that he would certainly research about Vincent's background to find out if he was fit for me or not, he would automatically decide Vincent to be a bad influence. I was already an adult, I could do whatever I wanted, but Rodrigo has always acted like my father, he certainly seemed to forget that I'm all grown up now. He got up and approached me, circling me like a hawk."You passed out after having too much to drink, yet you don't have the faintest smell of alcohol on you." Shit! I should have grabbed a quick glass of whiskey from Vincent's bar area in the hotel suite if I knew Rodrigo would cat
ClaireThis was the sweetest sleep I'd had in days. I stirred awake with a smile on my lips. Strong arms around my waist pulled me deeper into his chest, his warm breath landing on the side of my face as I felt his lips drop a kiss on my cheek. "Be good, stop moving else I won't let you sleep again." I was about to respond when I felt the hard thing poking me from behind, I quickly realized what he meant and laid still, my body still felt sore from last night. I let myself enjoy the nice warmth of being in his arms with a smile on my face feeling his peaceful breathing. He'd fallen asleep so deeply as if it was the first time he was getting any sleep after weeks.I was about to close my eyes and join him, just the feeling of being in his arms felt so peaceful that I was on the verge of falling asleep again when I suddenly remembered something and my eyes snapped open.The sky outside was still dark, but far in the horizon a faint light purplish hue indicating the coming of sunrise
ClaireHe stood at the edge of the bed for a long time staring down at me with his chest rising and falling with each breath. After a while he leaned down, both hands braced on either side of me on the bed, his face right in front of mine. "You said...your body doesn't crave mine?" There was a dark danger in his tone. Something that made me shiver with chills.Those words were a big lie that had spouted out of my mouth in anger, but I couldn't take them back so I nodded hesitantly.He chuckled darkly, the sound devoid of amusement but rich in something sinister. "I'll gladly make your answer to that change." He said tugging my hair to make me look up at him. His mouth descended on mine without warning. His kiss this time was one of seduction. When his mouth moved against mine, it was like something hot and delicious was searing it's way through every fiber of my body. I couldn't resist kissing him back, sucking on his mouth as heatedly as he was on mine. He broke away from the k
ClaireWhen I arrived at the hotel, the staff seemed to have been expecting my arrival. Seeing how respectful the staff were acting, it made me wonder just how much power Vincent had in places all over the world.When we were in Rome he'd been able to command a random stranger we met on the streets, they'd all tremble and nod vigorously before giving in to whatever he asks of them. It was astonishing. And now he seemed to have mobilized the hotel staff to send me up to his room when I arrived, the surprising part was how everyone looked up at me and quickly changed their demeanor to that of respect when I informed them that I was here for Mr Morano.The elevator stopped at the highest floor, and the staff walked me down a secluded but luxurious looking hallway to the last room which was an exclusive VVIP hotel suite. She handed me the key card and bowed respectfully."Mr Morano is expecting you inside." "Thank you." I swiped the card and entered the suite welcomed by an expansive s
Rodrigo"Rod, I'm off to work." Claire poked her head into my office with a suddeness that startled me.She always did that even when she was younger, almost walking into something she shouldn't see, something I was protecting her from.I tilted my body making sure she wouldn't see the blood stains that covered my white shirt."Have a lovely day sunshine. I'll pick you up at five." She smiled brightly, nodding obediently before running out of my home office. I watched her from the windows as she got into the designated cab I'd called to take her to work that morning till the cab drove out of our home, knowing my sister was finally away, an expression I'd never show in front of her eyes overtook my features.To Claire, her brother was a saint, a peaceful man who saved lives. Her image of me has always been clean, untainted, she respected me, adored me and I would never ruin the image she has of me.Claire was born when I'd turned fourteen years old, a late child for our parents who ha
ClaireRocco came to me that morning telling me my flight back home was ready. I hadn't seen Vincent after last night. He'd suddenly left the villa last night and didn't come back at all. I spent a sleepless night, waiting for him to come back but he never did. "Vince won't be coming Claire, I have a lot of things to do but I have to safely drop you off first. Let's just go now."After waiting for hours and hours without any signs of Vincent coming to see me off, I finally relented and got into the car with Rocco. He drove me to the airport I boarded the plane that flew back to LA. Rodrigo picked me up at the airport after the long exhausting flight.I sighted the tall figure of my brother leaning against his car, dressed in a long blazer jacket, he stood with an undeniable elegance on his six foot four height."Hey sunshine." He smiled revealing one dimple on his left cheek. I couldn't help but notice how much more handsome he'd become. "Rod." Tears filled my eyes and I ran into h