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THE CONTRACT OF CONTROL
Last Updated:
2024-08-31 12:18:32
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Cleo's POVMy legs felt heavy as I followed Viktor back to my room, every step echoing with the weight of what had just happened. The papers and IDs Russo had handed me earlier were clutched tightly against my chest, their crisp edges digging into my skin like a thousand tiny needles. Each document felt like a piece of my freedom stripped away, a reminder that every aspect of my life was no longer mine but controlled by the man who had made himself my captor.When Viktor opened the door to my room, I stepped inside, feeling the cold, indifferent space close in around me. He didn’t say a word as he shut the door behind me, the soft click of the lock echoing in the silence. I was alone again, but it didn’t feel like solitude, it was more like isolation, the kind that eats away at you from the inside out.I let out a shaky breath and walked over to the bed, dropping the stack of documents onto the covers. The white sheets of the contract lay on top, staring up at me like a taunt. Russo’s
Last Updated : 2024-08-31The Mafia's Pawn DRESSED IN DECEPTION
Cleo's POV The drive was tense, filled with a silence that felt louder than any words could have been. Russo sat beside me in the backseat, his presence commanding even without speaking. I kept my eyes focused on the window, watching the world blur past, each street a reminder of the freedom just out of reach. Viktor drove, his eyes occasionally flicking up to the rearview mirror, ever the watchful guard dog. As we pulled up to an upscale boutique, Russo’s hand rested lightly on my knee, an unsettling gesture that made my skin crawl. “As we go in now, you’ll pick whatever you want,” he said, his voice smooth but laced with the underlying threat that always lingered. “You need to look the part. Our story has to be convincing.”I nodded, forcing my expression to remain neutral, even as anger simmered beneath the surface. To him, this was just another power play, another opportunity to mold me into his perfect puppet. I followed him into the boutique, my steps robotic, every movement
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Cleo's POV “I brought her, as you requested” Russo continued, his tone steady, though I could sense the slight edge of impatience. “The woman I've chosen.”Nonno’s eyes flicked over me, appraising, searching for any sign of weakness. I forced myself to meet his gaze, offering a polite smile that I hoped conveyed more confidence than I felt. I was playing the part Russo had forced on me, the obedient fiancée, and I had no choice but to see it through.“Ah, Cleopatra,” Nonno said, his voice gravelly but sharp. “Enzo has told me much about you. It is good to finally meet the woman who has captured my grandson’s heart.”He had told you so much about me? Did he also tell you how he took advantage of my father's huge debt to force me into marrying him? I doubt he did tell you everything then. I nearly choked at the absurdity of the statement but managed to keep my composure. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir,” I replied, my voice steady. I could feel Russo’s eyes on me, watching my every mo
Last Updated : 2024-09-02The Mafia's Pawn THE PAWN'S AWAKENING
Cleo's povI stood in the dim hallway, trying to steady my breathing as Russo’s command echoed in my mind. “You are not to see any man without my consent.” He hadn’t yelled, but his voice had carried the kind of weight that could crush a person, and I was already buried under enough pressure. He had turned and left me there without waiting for a response, as if my compliance was as natural as breathing. I gripped the smooth banister, my nails digging into the polished wood as I tried to keep my anger and fear at bay.I heaved a deep sigh and took a right turn but it was a dead end. It was my first time in the mansion and every hallway looked the same, cold, lavish and utterly unfamiliar. I tried retracing my steps but each turn seemed to lead me deeper into a maze of rooms that felt like they were closing in on me.I took a last turn, and there he was, leaning against the wall near the entrance. He looked up, his brows knitting together when he saw me, surprise flickering across his f
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Cleo's POVRusso’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing toward the doorway. “Did you hear that?” His voice was tense, suspicious.I panicked, adrenaline surging through me as I looked around for somewhere to hide. My heart pounded as I ducked behind the heavy curtains just beside the window, pressing my back against the cold wall. I held my breath, trying to still the tremble in my hands. From my spot, I could just make out the edge of the doorway, Russo’s shadow stretching ominously as he moved closer to investigate.Viktor spoke up, trying to dismiss the noise. “Probably just the wind knocking something over. The windows are always slightly ajar in this old place.”Russo hesitated, and I could feel the weight of his scrutiny, the way his eyes swept the room and lingered on every darkened corner. I squeezed my eyes shut, praying he wouldn’t look too closely, praying I’d blend into the shadows.“Maybe,” Russo muttered, though I could hear the doubt in his voice. “But I don’t like surpr
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Cleo’s POVDinner had been a whirlwind of teasing and tension, each flirtatious comment from Russo slowly unraveling the anger that had built up inside me. As we made our way back upstairs, I was determined to maintain some distance, to remind myself that his charm was just another weapon in his arsenal. But as I reached the hallway that led to my room, I noticed that Russo was still right behind me, his steps echoing mine in the quiet corridor.I stopped, turning to face him with a confused expression. “Why are you following me, Russo?” I asked, my voice laced with suspicion. I was in no mood for more games tonight.Russo met my gaze with a casual shrug, his eyes betraying a hint of amusement. “I’m not following you,” he replied smoothly, stepping closer. “We’re going to the same place. We’re sharing a room, remember?”His words hit me like a bucket of ice-cold water. I hadn’t realized, or perhaps I had simply hoped that we would have separate rooms. The thought of being so close to
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Russo’s POVThe darkness was thick, suffocating, pulling me under like quicksand. I was back there again trapped in that night I could never escape, no matter how many years passed or how much power I had gained. The flames roared around me, angry and unrelenting, their heat searing my skin as I stood frozen, watching the car engulfed in fire. I could see the car, twisted and broken, engulfed in the fire that raged like a beast with an insatiable appetite. The heat was unbearable, scorching my skin even from a distance, but I couldn’t move. I was rooted to the spot, helpless and terrified, watching the only people I’d ever loved disappear into the inferno.My parents were inside, trapped and unable to escape. I was only nineteen, too young to understand why this was happening but old enough to know that it was my fault. I was supposed to protect them, supposed to be strong, but all I had done was watch. The flames licked higher, and the car exploded in a burst of light and heat, thro
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Cleo’s POVThe second I stepped inside, I came to an abrupt halt. My entire body went rigid as my gaze landed on Isabelle.She sat comfortably on the couch and the sight of her made me realize how foolish I had been to think the house was now free of her presence. She was wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and a thin spaghetti-strap top, curled up with a bag of chips as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Isabelle sprang up from the couch, her bag of chips forgotten as she rushed toward us.“Welcome back, Enzo!” she squealed, throwing her arms around his neck.Before I could even process what was happening, she pressed a quick peck to his neck, lingering just a second too long before pulling back with a smirk.“How was your day? And….. did you have enough fun with her?” she asked, her gaze flicking toward me with barely concealed amusement.My entire body went still.“Excuse me?” I took a deliberate step forward, crossing my arms. “Could you please step back a bit?” My voice wa
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Cleo's POV I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep until I felt a soft brush of fingers against my cheek.“Cleo.” Russo’s voice was low, gentle, like he was afraid of waking me too suddenly.I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the dim lighting of the private theater. The movie had ended, the screen frozen on the credits.“You dozed off,” he said, amusement tugging at the corners of his lips.I stretched, letting out a small yawn before narrowing my eyes at him. “Maybe you’re just too tired of being cranky all day.”Russo smirked. “Or maybe you just feel safe with me once again.”I scoffed. “Don’t push it.”He chuckled, standing up and stretching before offering me his hand. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”I hesitated for a moment before taking it. His grip was warm, familiar, steady. As he led me out of the theater, a comfortable silence settled between us.Outside, the night air was crisp, carrying the faint hum of the city. The streets weren’t too busy, just a few cars passing by, thei
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Cleo's POV He smirked slightly. “Wouldn’t be the first time neither will it be the last.”That caught me off guard. A laugh bubbled up before I could stop it, and Russo’s expression softened, like he had been waiting for that exact moment.He reached for my hand again, and this time, I let him. “Forgive me?” he murmured.I exhaled, shaking my head at him. “I hate you, Russo.”He grinned. “Is that a yes?”I rolled my eyes. “…Yes, you idiot.”He let out a relieved chuckle before getting up and pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “Thank you, princess.”I sighed dramatically. “You owe me dessert for this.”He smirked. “Done.”And just like that, the tension eased again.Halfway through our meal, a notification dropped on his phone and he excused himself, and I watched him disappear inside the restaurant. I frowned slightly but didn’t overthink it, instead focusing on the city lights twinkling below.A few minutes later, I heard footsteps approaching.I turned—and my breath caught.Russo
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Cleo's POV The tension that had hung between us for weeks had eased.I wasn’t over everything that had happened, but I couldn’t deny how good it felt to just be here, to have his full attention, to feel like I mattered to him again.Soon, the waiter returned with our meals, placing our plates down with a flourish. The food smelled divine, the steam curling into the night air.Russo glanced at my plate, his lips twitching. “You and pasta.”I shot him a look. “Pasta is elite. You wouldn’t understand.”He chuckled. “You do know there’s a whole steakhouse on the other side of this rooftop, right?”“And yet,” I said, twirling my fork into the creamy truffle pasta, “I have exactly what I want.”Russo shook his head fondly before slicing into his steak.For a while, we ate in comfortable silence, the only sounds between us being the clinking of silverware and the faint music playing in the background. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I took my first bite, the rich, buttery flavors m
The Mafia's Pawn PRINCESD
Cleo's POV After leaving the Rage House, Russo drove us to an arcade—one of those massive, neon-lit places filled with flashing lights, loud laughter, and the sounds of games being played.I wasn’t expecting it, but the moment we stepped inside, nostalgia hit me.“You remembered,” I said, glancing at him.His lips quirked up. “How could I forget? You used to drag me here all the time.”A small smile tugged at my lips. I did, back when I couldn't seem to be at peace with myself after locking Aunt Lydia and Ella up. This was before Russo travelled here, before he became so entangled with Isabelle that he was ready to fight for her at anytime. How did everything get so messy?Russo grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the basketball hoops, jerking me out of my lost state. “Alright, let’s see if you’ve still got your magic.”I scoffed. “Please. I always beat you at this, you know that.”“That was long ago,” he challenged, grabbing a ball. “Show me what you’ve got, princess.”That was al
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Cleo's POV I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “That’s all you have to say?”He stepped closer, reaching out to twirl a strand of my hair around his finger. “You look stunning, Cleo. But then again… when do you not?”I scoffed, pushing past him. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”He chuckled, following me down the stairs. “Oh, I think it’s working just fine.”I shook my head, grabbing my purse. But before I could reach the door, Russo grabbed my hand, spinning me towards him.His fingers brushed against my jaw. “You really are beautiful, you know that right?”My cheeks warmed, but I masked it with a scoff. “Are we leaving or what?”He grinned, stepping aside. “After you, Princess.”I rolled my eyes but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at my lips as I playfully ran out to the car.The drive was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that lingered between two people who had been through too much in too little time.Russo’s hand rested on my thigh as he drove, his
The Mafia's Pawn DAMN!
The suitcase felt heavier than it should have. Or maybe it was just me, feeling the weight of everything I was about to leave behind.Russo’s grip on my wrist tightened slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to stop me in my tracks.I squeezed my eyes shut. “Russo—““I know I messed up,” he said quickly, his hold tightening. “I was blind, selfish, an idiot. I should have stood up for you. I should have never—” His voice broke slightly, and I felt his head drop against my shoulder. “I don’t want to lose you, Cleo. I can’t afford to.”I swallowed hard, hating how much my heart ached at his words. “Let me go, Russo.” I managed to say, avoiding his gaze.But he didn’t. Instead, he stepped in front of me, his expression unreadable. “I messed up,” he admitted, his voice strained. “I shouldn’t have hit you. I shouldn’t have let Isabelle treat you that way. I know I don’t deserve to ask you for anything right now, but… please. Don’t leave like this.”I closed my eyes for a brief second
The Mafia's Pawn DON'T GO
Cleo's POV The room was quiet, save for the soft rustling of fabric as I packed. Each fold, each carefully placed item, felt like a silent goodbye—a farewell to the girl who had spent far too long trying to be enough for someone who never saw her worth. I zipped up my suitcase and grabbed my bag, stuffing it with everything else I owned. I didn’t care about the things I was leaving behind, none of it mattered anymore. All that mattered was getting away from here, from them, from the toxic mess that my life had become. With my suitcase in hand, I walked out of the bedroom without a second glance. I wasn’t crying, at least thought I would be. I could feel the tears burning in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. All I felt was exhaustion, a bone-deep fatigue that settled into my muscles as I dragged my bag behind me out of the room. I heard the front door open. A part of me expected it to be Russo, but when I didn’t hear his voice calling out for me, I knew it
The Mafia's Pawn IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ISABELLE
Cleo's POV For a moment, everything stood still. The store, once filled with distant chatter and the faint hum of background music, had gone eerily silent. All eyes were on us—on me—as Isabelle lay on the floor, clutching her reddened neck like she had just been gravely wounded. Russo’s face was unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders was undeniable. His gaze flickered between me and Isabelle, taking in the broken chain dangling from my fingers, the pendant lying at our feet, and the shallow mark on her skin. “What the hell, Cleo?” His voice was sharp, laced with disbelief. I let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of every emotion—anger, betrayal and exhaustion pressing down on my chest. “She took my necklace, Russo.” Russo ran a hand through his hair, exhaling like he was the one suffering. “God, Cleo, you didn’t have to kill her for it. It’s just a necklace!” His words hit like a slap. Just a necklace? Just like it was just a seat in the car earlier? Just
