VanessaThere's no way he could keep a promise like that, but I still believe him because what other choice do I have? I guess this is the day my captor becomes my protector. I shriek as the door swings open, announcing an unwelcome visitor. Diego reacts instantly, covering my mouth with a strong, calloused hand, his eyes delivering a stern warning. A chill runs down my spine, a shiver of fear amplified by the gravity in his gaze. The Russian intruder's voice, thick with a menacing accent, cuts through the tense silence. "Come out, Diego. I know you have what belongs to us," he taunts. "Just hand her over, and we won't have to kill more of your men." His voice is like shards of ice scraping against my body, sending shivers through every fiber of my being. They're here for...me? Diego and I share the same look of confusion. And if he's confused, I know I'm truly fucked. He has no fucking business not knowing what's going on right now! Trepidation wraps around me like a su
Diego Leo and I are both in the cold, soundproof basement covered in blood from head to toe, exhausted from our tedious labor. It has been three days since we were targeted and the stubborn motherfucker we captured still refuses to talk. The man I'm standing before is strapped in a metal chair naked, surrounded in his own urine. The mixture of fresh and dried blood adorns his battered body, a canvas painted with the various wounds we've inflicted upon him. Groans of pain escape his cracked lips, echoing deliciously throughout the dimly lit room. Torturing people isn't exactly my favorite part of the job. I prefer to shoot and keep it moving, but the Russians tried to take what is mine and they will pay. One at a fucking time until the entire clan is dead. Until they are wiped out of Nevada. Leo slumps back in his chair, lighting up a cigar. His countenance is cold and indifferent as usual. "Diego, let's just kill the miserable bastard. If we haven't broken him by now, it's not
Diego"Leo, want to take another turn?" I ask, my voice devoid of any emotion, the calmness of it contrasting sharply with the violence unfolding here. Andrei's eyes widen as he frantically looks between me and my Underboss. "Please don't," he pleads, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks. I fix my gaze on him, letting the weight of silence settle between us, purposefully deepening his despair. "Are you prepared to speak?" I inquire with menace, my voice cutting through the silent tension in the room. "If not, I can continue this all night. I'm through playing games. I want answers and I want them now." He coughs, spewing droplets of blood on the floor. "The girl you have...she was promised to Viktor. He won't stop until the contract is fulfilled." My jaw tenses. "Contract with who?" Suddenly, his head lolls to the side, his eyes rolling back in his head. Fuck, he must be passing out from the pain. Or dying from blood loss. Either way, neither is happening until I get my an
Vanessa Three days had passed since I narrowly escaped murder or kidnapping, but Diego has once again confined me within these suffocating walls. Anger and fear mingle within me, a potent cocktail that burns hotter with each passing day. I know he's been busy torturing some guy, but that doesn't justify treating me like a prisoner again. Not when I didn't do anything wrong this time! I've been pestering Danny about my captor's whereabouts all day, but every time I ask, he just grunts and turns his attention back to his phone. Strangely, I think he's starting to grow on me though...like toe fungus you just can't get rid of. The fact that he hasn't hurled a derogatory word my way in a while gives me a glimmer of hope—maybe, just maybe, he's harboring less animosity towards me. I lay on Diego's bed, my gaze fixed on the unyielding ceiling, casually toying with the collar around my neck. The room holds the oppressive silence of captivity that grows tighter by the minute. An hour a
VanessaA low growl emanates from his chest as Diego's jaw tightens in restrained frustration, his piercing gaze intensifying. "Enough! Time to put that filthy mouth of yours to better use," he declares, his voice low and commanding. He utters something in Spanish to Abuela, who remains in the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returns, carrying what appears to be a dog bowl filled with steak bites, mashed potatoes, and corn. Diego takes a seat, and she places the bowl beside his chair on the floor. Her expression remains stoic as she responds in their native language before quietly exiting the room. "Eat your dinner, Mascota," he orders harshly, not sparing a glance in my direction as he begins digging into his own plate. A wave of fear washes over me as I realize he's not dismissing his men. This is another punishment, done in front of others, meant to degrade and humiliate me. I glance around, searching for a sympathetic gaze among the men, but their eyes are averted, unwilling to
Vanessa I wake with him stroking my back. I must have turned over some part in the night, and I guess he thought it gave him the right to touch me. I never see Diego in the mornings, other than the day of the unfortunate shopping spree, so I'm assuming the man he was torturing is dead. I can't help but wonder if I've only witnessed a fraction of the anger and aggression he's capable of. I'm certain that Russian man experienced it in full, though I don't feel sympathy for him. He fucking deserved it. The bed dips as he makes his way to the bathroom. I keep my eyes closed, attempting to control my breathing so he'll leave me alone. The sound of water running in the tub and his footsteps padding against the floor reaches my ears. Suddenly, he yanks the blanket from my body. "Get up, Mascota," he demands, "you don't have to pretend to be asleep." I peek up at him through my lashes and gape at the sight before me. He's completely naked, his intimidating cock standing at attention. I sw
Vanessa His eyes never leave mine as he pulls down my pajama pants along with my panties. Completely exposed to him, heat rises to my face, and I quickly cover my bald pussy. Just as fast, he yanks my arms back down to my sides. "Don't ever hide that pretty pussy from me. It's mine!" he growls possessively. I avert my gaze to the tiled floor. "I-I'm sorry, Sir," I mumble. The bathroom is filled with the sound of him settling into the bathtub, water sloshing around him. "Get in, Mascota," he orders sternly, the command cutting through the air. "Okay." The water, hot but still pleasant, envelops me as I enter the tub across from him. I keep my eyes fixed on the ripples forming in the water, refusing to look directly at him. Even though the tub is unnecessarily spacious, knowing that we're both naked underneath the water is enough to have my skin crawling from my bones. "Eyes on me." I meet Diego's gaze and see him leaning on the other side of the tub, his arms spread on the edg
Vanessa "Open your legs." My eyes widen, and I shake my head vigorously. "I-I can do it myself-" He cuts me off with an icy glare. "Open your fucking legs." I open my mouth to protest, but quickly close it. Defeated, I slowly spread my thighs, allowing him to reach into the water and wash my most intimate part. A soft gasp escapes my lips as he brushes the fabric against my clit; It feels like a jolt of electricity that ignites every nerve ending in my body. His eyes snap to mine, amusement in their depths. "You like that, Mama?" My cheeks flush as I look away. He firmly grasps my chin, compelling my attention back to him. His expression turns ravenous, and I squirm beneath his gaze as his fingers trail down my jawline. A shiver courses through my body, torn between the desire to pull away and the magnetic pull of his touch. "You're being such a good girl for me today," he murmurs with a deep, resonant rumble. "Would you like me to reward you?" I know I should say no, th
Vanessa This was a mistake. I thought I could do this, but how could I have been so wrong? "Eyes on me, mama," Diego growls, his voice low and commanding, yet laced with tenderness. "You're here with me. No one else. It's just us. Focus on the way I feel inside of you." I want to believe him, but my voice trembles as I whisper "I-I can't-" My eyes clamp shut, as if doing so could block out fear crashing over me in relentless waves, threatening to pull me under. What was I thinking? Of course, I can't do this. I shouldn't have even tried. Now, I'm disappointing both my husband and myself. Diego's voice slices through my thoughts like a knife. "You can do anything you put your mind to, mi amor. Focus on me. Ride me and take your pleasure. I know you can do it." His words are an anchor, pulling me from the abyss. I take a deep breath, my hands bracing against his chest as I start to move again, each roll of my hips a defiance against the darkness trying to reclaim me.
Vanessa After washing the remnants of Celeste's blood from my skin, Diego lifts me into his arms and carries me to bed. He gently lays down beside me, his warmth seeping into my body as I rest against his bare chest. "We don't have to talk about what happened tonight," Diego's voice is a low murmur as his fingers trace soothing patterns along my spine. "But how are you feeling?" I take a moment, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath me. "Good. How are you feeling?" I tilt my head to meet his gaze, seeking reassurance. The gravity of what I've just done hangs between us—killing his stepmother and revealing that I thought I was pregnant with his brother's baby. I didn't mean for it to come out like that, but Celeste needed to know just how much she had lost before I took her life. It felt so fucking good. Better than I anticipated, to end her life with my own hands, to see the light leave her eyes as I stole it away. The power and retribution was exhilaratin
Diego Vanessa turns to me, hurt and betrayal clouding her eyes. "Diego, you knew about this?" Shit."Yes," I reply without hesitation. I've known since Alicia was first abducted, but I didn't want her to harbor ill feelings toward her sister. Not while she's still mourning her. "See? As the collar around your neck implies, you are nothing but a pet to him. A piece of ass like your mother."Vanessa's head snaps back to her, and in an instant, she holds the blade to Celeste's throat. "I'd shut your fucking mouth if I were you," she hisses. I can tell it's exactly what Celeste wants. If Vanessa gets angry enough to just slit her throat, she won't have to endure torture anymore. Vanessa must see through it too. She lowers the knife, shaking her head. "I won't let you go out the easy way. It isn't fair to everyone you've hurt," she says quietly. "Vete a la mierda (fuck you)," Celeste spits.As soon as the words are out of her mouth, Vanessa drives the knife into her bound hand. Celes
Diego "Are you sure about this, Mama?" I ask, zipping up the back of her leather jumpsuit, my fingers lingering longer than necessary. She looks so fucking sexy in this. The smooth, black material hugs her curves, and knowing she's about to kill my stepmother makes it nearly impossible to fight a hard-on. Her grey eyes gaze back at me through the mirror. "You already said I could," she points out, her voice steady and unwavering. "I know, just wanted to make sure." When she turns around, I study her face for any flicker of uncertainty. Instead, I find only determination. I should feel fucking ecstatic that she's going to kill my biggest traitor and the bitch that made my childhood hell, but worry gnaws at me. I fear this might bring Vanessa more nightmares, or worse, trap her in her own head again. But I also have so much faith in her. Danny couldn't protect her while he was dying. I got the report from my men: twelve men were taken out, most of them by her alone. My feisty mama.
Vanessa"Your mamá called looking for you. What do you want me to tell her?" Diego interrupts, pulling me into his lap in the chair beside Camila's sleeping form. His mom? I've never heard Danny mention her before. I wasn't even aware he had family, since they haven't visited him. Danny's response catches me off guard. "Don't tell her shit. She'll have a heart attack.""Wait, you're not going to tell your mom you technically died and you're in the hospital?" I ask incredulously. "Nah, she actually might come try to kill Jefe, and I doubt she wants to mess with you. I realize you're kinda loco, Nessa.""Me?" I point to myself. "Yes, or did you forget that you took down what had to be like ten men by yourself?""Oh, I guess that's true," I muse. "But that was only out of desperation. I don't think I could do something like that if our lives didn't depend on it.""I believe you could," Diego purrs in my ear. I shudder at the compliment, making him laugh. "Why would she come after hi
VanessaDressed in all black, Diego and I stand side by side, silently watching the expensive coffin lower into the freshly dug grave. The sight is somber, but the weight of the occasion presses harder on my chest than the physical cold of the day. Diego had assured me that I wasn't required to attend this funeral, just like the four others. It's only been a week since Danny's entire team was murdered, and I feel compelled to pay my respects to each of them. These men sacrificed their lives to protect me. The least I can do is say goodbye to them.I've never spoken to Julio personally, but the sight of his wife and two little children crying over his grave breaks my heart. The raw grief on their faces is a reminder that I'm still alive while a husband and father is gone forever. He's another name added to the long list of those I feel responsible for letting down. After offering my condolences to Julio's family, Diego and I make our way to the hospital. In the town car, Diego sits b
Vanessa "Camila! Danny!" I scream, my voice barely audible over the chaos. Danny's the first to reach me, pulling me to my feet. His face was pale, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. "Are you okay?" he demands, his hands gripping my shoulders. "My head hurts, but I'm okay I think," I reply, trembling from the shock. We both turn to see Camila stumbling to her feet, looking dazed but otherwise unharmed. Danny rushes to her side, helping her up and checking her for injuries. "Are you okay, Camila?" he asks, his tone urgent. "Yeah, what the fuck just happened?" she shouts, her voice shaking with fear. "We need to get you both back to the SUV, now," Danny commands, his tone brooking no argument. As we step towards the vehicle, gunfire erupts, and Danny grunts, clutching his bleeding shoulder. "Fuck, come on," he hisses through gritted teeth. He grabs both of us by our arms and guides us behind another jet. Grabbing his gun from the holster, he orders us to st
Vanessa "I want you home now," my husband's voice crackles through the speaker, filled with anger and concern. "I told you, I'm safe. Besides, it's pouring buckets outside. I don't feel safe flying home in this storm," I insist, trying to keep my voice calm despite the nerves knotting in my stomach. It feels like we spoke the bad storm into existence last night. After leaving the doctor's house, we barely made it back to the hotel before the downpour, lightning, and thunder hit. Even Camila's fashion show was canceled and postponed to next weekend. Diego's frustration seeps through the phone. "I refuse to lose you again, Mama. The second this storm lets up, Danny will have you on a jet back here." "You know what, I'm going to come get you and my sister right now," he grits out, his voice lowering to a dangerous growl. "Diego, stop. You know Danny wouldn't allow anything to happen to us. You trust him, right?" I try to reassure him, though I know he won't calm down unt
Vanessa "Where's Diego?" I grit out, rage boiling in my veins. "I want to speak with him." "Busy at the moment, but he said he'll call once we're back on the jet." Which means he's likely torturing her. "Well, like Camila said, it's nearly midnight. We can leave tomorrow," I argue, defiance lacing in my tone. Danny fixes me with a pointed look. "Do you really want to argue with him about that?" I have to. Time is slipping away. I'm more afraid of continuing this pregnancy than I am of Celeste and whatever sinister plans she's concocted. I tap my right arm where the microchip is embedded. "I have a tracking device in my arm and more security than the goddamn president. I'll be fine. Just tell him we'll leave tomorrow, and you'll be sure to keep us extra safe." He scowls, clearly torn. "I'm not promising him that." "I know you heard what I said, that I have something important to take care of here tomorrow. Can you please come up with an excuse to buy me more time?"