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THE PAWN'S AWAKENING
Last Updated:
2024-09-04 22:20:53
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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 POVRusso’s smirk lingered in the air, and I could feel his eyes burning into me even as I tried to ignore him. The tension in the room was thick, a heady mix of anger, confusion, and something I didn’t want to name. My heart was still racing from what I’d overheard earlier and the conclusion I came to, but here he was, half-naked and dripping wet, completely unfazed by the storm raging inside me.As I turned to leave, my foot slipped on a puddle of water, and I lost my balance. I stumbled forward, arms flailing in a desperate attempt to steady myself, but before I could hit the floor, strong hands caught me, pulling me upright. My heart leaped into my throat as I found myself pressed against Russo’s chest, his grip firm on my waist. His touch was electric, sending a shiver down my spine that I couldn’t suppress.I looked up, our faces just inches apart, close enough to feel his hot breath against my skin. His dark eyes held mine, and for a moment, the room seemed to tilt, the
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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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Cleo's POV The announcement of the family trip had come out of nowhere, catching me completely off guard. Nonno had declared it over breakfast, his tone final and his gaze sweeping over everyone at the table. “We’ll all head to the private beach this weekend,” he’d said, his voice brokering no argument. “It’s been too long since the family spent time together. It’s time we remember what matters.”My heart had skipped a beat at the news. A beach trip meant wearing swimsuits, relaxing by the ocean, and being surrounded by Russo’s family, the very people I was still trying to convince of our perfect, loving marriage. But it wasn’t just the pressure to keep up the act that bothered me; it was the fact that I hadn’t come prepared for any of it. I had packed the basics when I was taken to Paris, but beachwear? Not a chance.After breakfast, Russo had caught me staring out at the city from the balcony, my mind racing with the logistics of this unexpected getaway. “You seem lost in thought,”
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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
The Mafia's Pawn AT THE RESTAURANT
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
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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
The Mafia's Pawn DO YOU LIKE IT?
Cleo's POV I pushed the cart forward, heading towards the clerk. “I’d like to see this one, please,” I told the sales clerk, pointing to the necklace in the glass. She nodded lightly, pulled it out and handed it to me. A bright smile played on my lips and I could already picture it around my neck, something small and beautiful that might remind me of who I used to be before everything became so complicated. I held the necklace between my fingers, tracing the delicate pendant as the soft store lights reflected off its polished surface. It was simple—nothing extravagant—but something about it made me feel… seen. As if, for the first time in a long while, I was looking at something meant for me, not dictated by anyone else’s needs or expectations. The sales clerk smiled. “It’s a beautiful choice. Would you like to try it on?” I turned back to the clerk and nodded. “Yes, please.” She unfastened the clasp and handed it to me. I lifted my hair and secured it around my neck, then
The Mafia's Pawn IT'S NOT WORTH THE ARGUEMENT
Cleo's POV I took my time getting ready, still weighing my decision to go shopping with Russo. My emotions were a mess, equal parts anger, hurt, and reluctant hope. I glanced at myself in the mirror, smoothing down my dress. Whatever this day brought, I’d be ready for it. When I walked downstairs, Russo was by the door, his keys in hand. I could see Isabelle standing outside by the car, leaning against it as though she didn’t have a care in the world. My stomach churned at the sight of her. Russo turned when he heard me, his expression softening. “You ready?” “Let’s just get this over with,” I said, brushing past him and heading to the car. As I approached, Isabelle straightened, her gaze locking with mine. She gave me a tight, fake smile before opening the front passenger door and sliding in. I froze, my hand tightening on the strap of my purse. Russo reached the car a moment later, looking between me and Isabelle as if he sensed the storm brewing. “Isabelle,” I said, m
