"The desire of the man is for the woman; the desire of the woman is for the desire of the man." - Madame de StaëlMARCO "I was beginning to assume that you have turned vanilla," Gage chuckled before checking out Aurora. Clearly, he remembered her because you don't really forget a pretty face as hers who busted your nose.I recalled how pissed and confused he was, sitting in my office, holding a pack of ice to his bleeding nose while I went through the CCTV footage. For my part, I didn't know what to feel – to be mad at her or worried because I could have lost her entirely.But she was here now, by my side, and it made all the difference in the world."Me and vanilla?" I snorted. "Hell fucking no."Laughing, he dragged a barstool closer and perched on it, while I helped Aurora onto another one and stood by her. The bartender offered us the usual that Gage happily took in, unable to refuse a glass of whiskey while I waived off mine."You are doing any scenes today?" Gage asked conversa
AURORAThe last thing I remember about the night was the self-effacing laugh of Marco and the kiss on my forehead before I fell asleep in his arms with no sense of time or place even when I roused up the next day.Were we at the club or the house? Nevermind.I managed to pull myself off the bed and reach for the phone. As soon as the screen unlocked and came alive in my hands, I cursed. "Shit." There were 31 voice messages, at least half a dozen missed calls, and a very angry best friend on the other end.I have almost forgotten that I had promised Sammy I would go out with her and now I was horribly late. Why the hell Marco didn't wake me up?And most importantly, where the hell was he?But I had no time to speculate. Sprinting into the bathroom, I got my business done in record time. And thanks to my rash driving skills and lesser-known routes of Chicago, I somehow managed to pick her up by the skin of my teeth. But even that didn't save me from all her pouts and eye-rolling taunts.
AURORA 3 months laterIn all honesty, I never wanted it to come to this. I never wanted Viktor to find out that his youngest brother was involved with drugs.But life in Chicago was fucked up as hell. You either choose this life, or this life chooses you. Unfortunately for Stef, it was both.He did manage to effectively lie to us for months until a few weeks ago, he overdosed. And all hell broke loose. But, like every male Romano I know of, he was stubborn and a pain in the ass. And like I had already feared, he dug a hole too deep than he had realized.When everything else in the book failed to drag him back, Viktor decided he was better off in rehab because the home was too close to his heart to bring a change. It must have been the toughest choice Viktor had made in the longest time, but it was needed.It was needed to keep his brother alive.But the cocktail of drugs wasn't the only threat to Stefan's life.Viktor and his family have harbored enemies for a long time, and there wa
MARCOMy hand was as red as her ass.Jesus, Aurora was a sight to behold. Even on her hands and knees, that woman could bring down my world down to her feet, and I could only give in. Her skin was coated in sweat, her mouth parted, and her back arched in anticipation of the next blow.Allowing a slight reprise, I trailed my palm toward the inside of her thigh and felt the velvet of her skin. It took a mere flick of my wrist to part her legs and touched her sex, letting my fingers explore her body in ways which my sins demanded. And as soon as my fingers grazed against her clit, and she whimpered, my dick throb with equal impatience."Ugn!" she screamed, wagging her ass more and more."Are you saying something?" I teased, circling her bundle of nerves.I knew her body too well. I knew how to make it fucking sing and dance like the way I wanted it to.And my stubborn girl wouldn't just admit it.I maintained the tempo for a long beat, just enough to allow her mind to get immersed in the
VIKTOR"Thanks. I will text you the details." The moment I got off the phone with Marco and turned around, there was Dominic. He made no effort to hide his frown, and his whining was the last thing I wanted to hear. So I just walked past him, but the asshole couldn't take a hint.Dominic quickly stepped up, blocking my path. "I could have met Giovanni on my own.""Marco will take care of it.""I could have taken care of it," he almost growled.Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Dom, you need to stay here. You are of no good if you can't stand beside your family during tough times."He wasn't done pushing my limits for the day. "You weren't the only one who heard these lectures growing up. I was there too," he sneered. "As for the tough times, it will never tide over for us."I grabbed his shirt and pushed him against the wall before he could raise his defence."Then why the fuck do I have to spell it to you every fucking time?" I gritted through my teeth. "I have two brothers,
AURORASam looked like shit, and I didn't even have the heart to say it. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, her skin was dry and pale, and her hair...when was the last time she had brushed? Sadness was so much unlike her. Sam has a natural radiance, one that has the ability to illuminate every facet of darkness.I watched her enter the bedroom, completely unaware of my presence as she lazily slammed the door shut and turned..."Jesus Christ! Are you crazy?" Sam screamed, staggering back."That's debatable," I smirked in a pathetic attempt to make her smile but later gave up. "Are you okay?"She didn't need to spell out the words. I could already see them etched on her face. Then, without a word, she joined me on the couch, throwing her head back to stare aimlessly at the ceiling.I haven't really gotten my head wrapped around the concept of 'family' while I was growing up. But spending time with these people...Viktor, Dominic, Sammy, Stef...the idea was abundantly clear to me. They had eac
VIKTORI slowly pushed the door and entered his room. The lunch tray was lying by the side of his bed, untouched while my brother sat on the bed with his face turned away.Stef did register my presence, but he simply refused to acknowledge it and stubbornly looked away. Stalking closer, I perched on the side of his bed and exhaled heavily. The road to his recovery was getting tougher every day now with his defiance."This madness has to stop now," I sighed. "You need to eat, Stef."He didn't move a muscle and continued to stare blankly. As much as I wanted to keep my anger in check, it lashed out every second with this unappreciative brat.Pissed, I grabbed his jaw and forced his attention on me. "You know the silent treatment won't work with me.""Fuck you." He wrenched his face away and looked away once again.It made me chuckle a little. "Yeah, that's more like my brother. Cursing is better than your brooding silence."This time, he turned to me on his own accord. "If I am cooped u
"It was words that I fell for. In the end, it was words that broke my heart." ~ Lang Leav, Memories. A U R O R AMy eyes slowly fluttered open as I stared blankly at the ceiling without bothering to look around. Not less than three seconds ago, I came to my senses, and I was already in denial. Not wanting to see, feel, or think.I didn't need to look around to realize where I was. It was Sam's room, and I was lying on her soft Queen size bed because the nauseating aroma of coconut and vanilla assaulted my nasal passages.The woman has an unhealthy attachment to strong fragrances."How are you feeling?" Sam appeared in the periphery of my vision as I winced and tried to avoid.Pity was something I refused to accept in any circumstances. Even when I turn ninety and fucking invalid. And if I ever live up to that age. But not now, not today."Aurora, please talk to me," she implored.I figured that just like every Romano in this house, she can't take a damn signal and shut up. So I shove
AURORAIt was not my first rodeo in a BDSM club. Hell, I had lived this life a few years ago, and yet it felt like ages. As I sat there, motionless and holding my breath, I watched Marco raise his arm at a certain degree and land a measured yet bone-chilling smack across the poor submissive’s bare ass, catching the sensitive skin where the thighs sloped down. He immediately arched, careful not to break his posture because whoever was watching the scene and knew Marco, knew the consequence of breaking his rhythm. Oh, yes. He was as vicious as articulate, and any deviation resulted in severe penalties. “God, please!” I heard the submissive moan into the cushion, the littlest complaint he could make without offending his master and the master whipping his ass. The second and third blows crisscrossed over the ass cheeks, while the fourth and fifth took his breath away. I followed how he cringed every time the soft swish of the belt rang in the air before it landed on his back. “Hmm,
AURORAI stormed into Viktor's office, the door slamming against the wall with a deafening bang. My anger surged as I spotted him behind his desk, casually sipping on a glass of whiskey as if he hadn’t just dropped a bombshell on me. He looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in my furious expression. “Aurora,” he greeted, his voice calm and collected. Too calm for my liking. “I’ve been expecting you.”I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “What the hell, Viktor? You decided behind my back that I’m going on this job with Marco? You know damn well I can handle this on my own.”Viktor sighed, setting his glass down with a soft clink. “Aurora, this isn’t about your capability. You’re one of the best enforcers I have, but this job is too important to risk anything less than perfection.” Fuck his perfection. I scoffed and my blood was boiling. “And you think Marco is the answer to that? That asshole, who you know I haven’t worked with in years?”“Yes, I do,” he replied firmly, lea
MARCO I had seen her hours ago, hiding behind the glass separator of the Romano mansion, and every bone in my body wanted to drag her out and kiss her lips blue and paint her ass red to make her feel every agonising hour I’d spent without her for these three years. Three fucking years. She took up and left, without so much of a goodbye. Not that I deserved it but I would have eventually given her the truth once the dust had settled. Aurora needed to know that there was another side of the story of what had really happened that night, and all I was doing was protecting her, but as always, she did not wait. I was so angry, so hurt and broken that I’d have taken her scorching rage and indifference any day rather than not seeing her at all. I knew she was hurt, too, for that night three years ago. And she deserved to know more than what the four-minute and seventeen-second video clip had shown, but she could have given me the time. Instead of doing something so brash and reckles
AURORAI have dealt with men far dirtier, more lethal and criminal than the whore I have been asked to capture and torture. It was like one of those warm-up matches you play before you get to the big one. Not that I minded playing the warm-up, but I was bored. “Will you fucking shut up?” I asked, kicking her chair before landing a punch against her jaw. There were black shadows around her eyes already that I had deepened with time, but what I hated the most was her crying all the time. I liked her for a brief second when she gave me the small chase but other than that, she was no fucking fun. And I really wanted to have that fun.But I also had to heed Viktor’s warning that she should not be so broken because he had plans for her and when Viktor Romano has plans for anyone, even the Devil would not interfere. And then when Viktor barged into her cell with his woman, I knew my job was done.XXXSammy, Mia and I chatted alongside the pool, making me realise how clueless Mia was rega
AURORA I didn’t know the name of the magic pill Sammy gave me the next morning but somehow, I felt fresh as a daisy. Considering the night we had, I wondered if I was going to lie in my own vomit the next day. Thankfully, it didn’t happen. I grabbed my phone, going through the messages Viktor had left me last night and also a bunch of files detailing some chick named Nora. Apparently, she slept with Dominic and got close to the family. I didn’t bother how she pissed Viktor off but given the way he wanted me to ‘take care’ of the problem, I was guessing that she had royally fucked with Viktor to incur his wrath. Strolling down to the office, I didn’t bother knocking and barged in. Dominic and Viktor were hunched over the table, frowning over something. As soon as they registered my presence, Dominic rolled his eyes. “Do you ever fucking knock?” He wasn’t least bit surprised to see, especially when he nagged me the entire time to come back probably because Viktor had already inf
A U R O R AI stepped out of the airport and stood out there for a long moment.When the cold wind touched my skin, I absorbed the familiarity of the feeling. This was Chicago. This was home, even when the haunting memories kept me away, I longed for it. I just didn’t realize until now. I hailed a cab and headed for the first destination I had planned. It would not be an easy one, I knew, but I had to. I searched for the right words all along the cab ride, coming up with nothing when the cab came to a halt. Grabbing the small duffle, I paid and got out. I thought of calling or dropping a text, I didn’t know how it would be received. Also, what would I say? What could I possibly say that would make three years worth of the mess go away? So I waited around, lounging on the chair of the small room and hoped for the best.I had almost dozed off when I heard the door unlatch and turned around. Sammy, too, paused at the threshold, surprise etched all over her features before she blinked it
A U R O R AThree years later.It was just one of those days in Mexico.The entire room was a mess and I did not make it a point to clean the same. Partly because I had never stayed in one place for far more than necessary and also that I never wanted any apartment to feel like home. I had pushed myself so far out of my comfort zone in the last three years that mundane life made me restless. I never wanted to be comfortable again or relaxed. Been there, done that. I’d fear that if I do, I’d end up shattered or dead. Three years ago, I chose to be sent to this country to eliminate the threat in Chicago and slowly, I did. After I had left Chicago, there were two more attacks and the third was taken care of by Marco, as I was informed. The setback send a rippling effect in Mexico as the Carillo Cartel set up new strategies. Unfortunately, they did not realize that their fucking villas were wired. I’d been employed as a maid, getting the easy access into their homes. I had a few years
A U R O R ATwo days laterThe phone rang incessantly as I drove through the streets of Chicago. It is from Viktor’s office. Since he was in no position to deal with the daily shit, Marco and I decided to take up the matters but individually. We divided the responsibilities geographically and took up the issues as and when required so that neither Viktor nor Dominic has to bother themselves. But, apparently, the idiots at Viktor’s office did not understand the difference between taking orders and executing them. They would call a hundred times a day, seeking instructions on frivolous things and would strum the last of my nerves until I would pick up a damn baseball bat and struck against their empty heads.I ignored the first few rings but when they did not stop calling for 10 minutes, I picked up.“What now?”“Ma’am,” came a stammering voice from the other end. “There has been a blast at the warehouse.” I slammed the brake so hard, my body jerked forward and the car came to a halt.
A U R O R A What is the definition of loss and suffering to people like us? A few weeks ago, my misery had peaked to a primed spot. I had mourned, raged and cried over the loss of a man whom I loved, marinated in grief and wallowed in self-pity. There were so many stages of my suffering that I had believed it to be real, but the one unfolding before my eyes transcended all the other horizons of loss and suffering. Before me, there were two parents, howling over their son’s body. Mrs. Romano cupped his boy’s face as if she were trying to coax him into waking up while Alessandro Romano, the man known to be invincible to Chicago, were bested down by Stefan’s death. He stood stoically, but it was his red, void eyes that spoke volumes. The sight was harrowing. I did not even have the strength to reach out to Sammy. She could barely stand or even breathe in the wake of her loss. Stefan was everything to her, to this family. The youngest, spoiled and beloved. She shook violently, cryi