Arya had her mind made up. There was no way she was standing by the side while the others treated her like a delicate creature. “Go ahead. Tell me. What are you trying to hide from me?”, she asked. “That is the problem. I don’t want to lie but, it does not mean I want you to know”, he answered. Arya blinked. “It’s that bad, right?”, she asked. “It’s not bad. It’s just better with you not knowing”, he said. “Still does not change the fact that I’m coming with you. I know you think you are almighty, and strong, and ruthless but I know, I know you can get hurt, be betrayed or worse set up”, she answered. “And you’re going to save me?”, he asked, amused. “Yes. I’m going to kick butts. Now, what are you hiding?”, she asked. “If you must know, we are going to Frigiliana. You don’t know this, but, it was your mother’s village”, Leonardo answered. “Camilla’s village? She said her village is in Italy. She’s Italian, right?”, Arya asked. “Yes, but I m
WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SEXUAL CONTENT AND MAY BE TOO SENSITIVE FOR SOME READERS. SONG: NO CHILL BY PARTYNEXTDOOR AND GET YOU BY DANIEL CAESAR & KALI UCHIS Arya slumped into the seat of the jet and let out a tired sigh. She left the babies to their grandparents. Camilla also insisted on staying in the Villa for the twins and her brothers promised to pop in once in a while. She was grateful her children had people who loved them endlessly around. Amelia made them little caps with their names on it and they looked so cute she began to have second thoughts about going to Spain. She looked at their pictures on her lock screen and held back the tears that threatened to pour out. Leonardo sat opposite her. “How do you feel?”, he asked. “Good. A bit tired but nothing a spa date can’t fix”, she responded and pressed her forehead with her finger tips. “It will be hours before we land. And even more hours to drive to your mother’s town. I can be your masseur, mi amore
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT AND MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR SOME READERS/ LISTENERS/ VIEWERS SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: LET THE WORLD BY CHRIS GREY, AND HAUNTED BY CHRIS GREY “There is one more thing I must do before we start”, Arya said and he rolled off her. “I guess I’d just change the condom”, he said, taking it off. “I’m sorry but since the twins, I have not had a drink because I was breastfeeding. Now that they are on the formula, I can drink as much as I want”, she replied, excitement oozing from her voice. She returned to the bed with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. He opened the drink and served them. “To our family”, she said. “To us”, he said and took a sip of his wine. “That’s the stuff”, she said as she took a sip and another, and another. In a couple of seconds, her glass was empty and she picked up the bottle for a refill. Leonardo smiled and shook his head. He walked to the wine cabinet and took a bottl
Arya and Leonardo had spent the few hours on the plane cuddled up and making love. “The car is waiting”, he said as he clasped her necklace behind her neck. “I don’t want this to end”, she whined as he bent and slipped on her Christian Louboutin. She was wearing a red body con dress and it accentuated her curves. Training with the soldiers everyday had made her body snatched back very quickly. “The kids are with family. We have all the time to do this, okay?”, he asked. “Yeah, I guess”, she replied with a sigh. “Let’s go”, he said and led her outside. True to his word, a car was already waiting for them. He opened the door and she stepped in, flashing him a smile. He entered after her and gave directions to the driver. The security cars were behind and in front of them, heavily armed. He hit the partition before pulling her into his arms. “We should be there in no time”, he said. “I hope so. I would not like to get car sick”, she replied. “You wouldn’t. We ar
Arya’s brows furrowed. “Excuse me?”, she asked the nun. “Adrianna, right? You’re Adrianna?”, Mother Superior asked. “No. I’m not. I’m sorry. Who are you?”, Arya asked. “I knew her before she left Spain for Italy. You look just like her, every single detail of her”, the Nun responded. Arya glanced at Leonardo who nodded. “She is - was my mother”, she said. It was the nun’s turn to be confused. “Was?”, she asked. “Yes. She died days after my birth”, Arya responded. Raúl shocked face drew her attention. “I’m sorry about that, Dona”, he said. “Adrianna is dead?”, Mother Superior asked. “Yes, sister”, Arya responded. “Oh, my. I did not know. I should go now, I have some new girls joining the convent today”, Mother Superior said and she hurriedly walked out. “I don’t think she reacts well to bad news”, Raúl said. “I can’t blame her. I would also feel bad if someone I knew died”, Arya said. Leonardo held her hand and they walked towards the main room. * * *
“We are happy to have you here. If you had told us about your plans to visit we would have told you about the terrorist attack that happened recently”, Manuel, the mayor, said. “Terrorists?”, Arya asked. “It’s what we want to call them. No child of this town would do that and they aren’t from Spain or any Spanish speaking countries”, he answered. Arya and Leonardo exchanged looks. “I say this because the villa, where you live, is a target point as it is the most expensive and good looking building in the town. So you might not want to stay there”, Manuel said. The rest of the council nodded. “I knew about that. We will stay at the villa, regardless and hope the terrorists have gotten bored of this place. For their own good, of course”, Leonardo said. The council, except Isabel, laughed awkwardly. The energy had shifted from the moment he said those threats. “We will be on our way now if there is nothing else we should know of”, he said. “Of course, Don. It’s been n
“So no one can find us here?”, Arya asked. They were in a compound secluded from the city. It had more than fifteen cabins with three bedrooms each. It was more than enough for the thirty soldiers with them. Each room had a sound proof software that can be activated when needed. Rob was carrying in their bags along with security. “It’s completely off the grid. There is a terrorist camp a few miles back so the town people would never come this far”, Leonardo answered. “Oh, I see”, Arya responded. They turned to see Rob running towards them from one of the cabin. “We have your cabin sorted out, Don. And you have a call from the town council”, he said and handed the phone to Leonardo. Leonardo picked up the phone. “Manuel?”, he asked. “No. It’s Isabel, Mother Superior”, the caller said. He put the call on speaker. “Go on.” “You should not stay at the villa. Some of the council members have planned to attack the place. They will send about a hundred killers”, she s
WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT AND MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR SOME READERS / VIEWERS / LISTENERS RATED 18 SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: SUCIA BY KEHLANI feat. JILL SCOTT AND YOUNG MIKO CANDY BY DOJA CAT His free hand, the one that wasn’t up her shirt, took her hand and placed it on his cock. She could feel his hardness through his trousers. He moved his free hand higher up her thigh, and her legs spread even wider on the couch. The fire cackling in the background was nothing compared to the flames of desire that consumed them. He reached her panties, and she knew he could feel her wetness through the lace. Embarrassment left a pink tint on a her cheeks. He held eye contact and went down in front of her. His metallic eyes are on hers as he slide her skirt up ever so slowly. He leaned down and placed his mouth against her knee, his lips lingering for a moment before he kissed up her leg. “So wet for me, princess.” His fingers slide her panties to the side,
Isabel cradled the baby close, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as the infant’s soft cries filled the room. Her daughter. She traced the baby’s tiny features with trembling fingers—her button nose, her soft cheeks, and the tiniest fingers she had ever seen. A fierce protectiveness gripped her heart, unlike anything she’d ever felt before. But the moment of tenderness was fleeting. The cold, harsh reality of her situation came crashing down on her. She had no home, no job, and no way to provide for herself, let alone a newborn. The room reeked of decay and dampness, its peeling walls and rat-infested corners a far cry from the safe haven a child deserved. The baby’s cries grew louder, piercing through Isabel’s haze of despair. “Shh, shh, I’m here,” she whispered, rocking her gently. But the cries didn’t stop, and Isabel realized with a sinking feeling that the baby was hungry. She looked around the room, her heart racing. There was no milk, no clean water—nothing. Panic cla
Arya gasped, her eyes wide with shock. “You got impregnated by your mother’s boyfriend?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Isabel nodded solemnly. “I did. I did all I could as a pregnant teenager with no home. I wish I’d known about the convent back then—it would have made my life so much easier. With little to no source of income or support, I was miserable and alone in the trenches of this town after I had to leave the old one. I won’t bore you with all the details. But when I was in labor, I had to make some difficult decisions.” FLASHBACK Isabel sat in the corner of her dimly lit room, chewing on the last bit of food she’d managed to scavenge. Her stomach cramped painfully, but she wasn’t sure if it was from hunger or something worse. It had been four days since her last meal, and her body was weak, her limbs trembling with every small movement. The cramps intensified, radiating through her body, and a wave of nausea swept over her. She pressed her hands again
“By the time I turned sixteen, much had changed in my life, though little for the better. I was the scorn of the town, whispers trailing me wherever I went. It wasn’t just the shame of my past that followed me like a shadow; it was the doors that slammed shut in my face, the jobs that paid me barely half of what they should, the side-eyes from those who thought they knew my story. And then there was Mama’s boyfriend, Stanley, who moved into our already-cramped home.” FLASHBACK Isabel stumbled into the house after a long, grueling day of work. The sun had long since set, and her body ached with exhaustion. She immediately headed to the kitchen, her stomach growling in protest, but her heart sank when she found the pans empty. She had prepared the food earlier that morning before leaving, but as usual, there was nothing left for her. Not a scrap. Her younger siblings, Amanda and Jacob, had already gone out for their own work, leaving the house silent save for the faint rustling
Arya burst into the room, emotions swirling in a storm of frustration. Leonardo, shirtless and in sweatpants, lay on the bed with his laptop, his brows furrowed in deep concentration. When he looked up and saw her, his expression immediately softened. “What’s wrong, babe?” he asked, concern evident in his voice. “Fuck! I’m so tired of all of this! When does it actually end?” Arya's voice was thick with anger and despair as she shouted, letting out everything she had bottled up inside. Leonardo remained quiet, letting her vent, and placed a gentle hand on her back for support, feeling the tension in her shoulders. “We can talk about it when you're ready,” he said quietly, his voice calm and steady. She took a shaky breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Isabel said she’s my grandmother,” she blurted out. He froze, stunned by her revelation. It explained so much—Isabel’s secretive behavior, her willingness to help them even at great personal risk. “How do you fe
Arya walked into the Mayor’s office, her mind still swirling with thoughts of her time at the convent, which had ended permanently. Henry had called her the day before, insisting that someone come to the Townhouse to collect a certificate for her volunteer service. She had kindly turned him down, but Henry was insistent, not taking no for an answer. Arya found herself wondering where this sudden niceness was coming from. She didn’t trust a single soul in this town, not even after everything she’d done to protect herself, including running a secret background check on Ricardo—though he would never find out about that. “Ah, Dona, welcome to my office,” the Mayor greeted, his voice oozing charm as his secretary led her into the room. Across from him sat Isabel and one of the council members, Frederick. Arya couldn’t bring herself to look at Isabel, her gaze fixed firmly on Henry instead. “Thank you for having me,” Arya said, offering a smile that barely touched her lips. Henr
She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. “It’s… it’s all too much, Leo. Everything. Isabel, the Sisterhood, my parents—I never even had the chance to mourn them, and now all of this…” He squeezed her hands, the warmth of his touch grounding her. “You don’t have to carry this alone. I know it feels like the world is crumbling, but we’ll get through it. We always do.” She gave a bitter laugh, wiping away a tear. “You warned me about this life. You told me it would be hard, that it would come with pain and danger. And I thought I was ready. But now…” He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his expression softening. “You are ready. You’re stronger than anyone I know. And you’re not alone.” She broke down into even harder sobs, and he just held her close, letting her cry against his chest. His arms were wrapped around her tightly, and he whispered soothing words, his touch gentle and comforting. As her body shook with grief, he fought the urge to share what had happe
By the time they finished work, dusk had settled over the city, casting long shadows across the streets. “I need to get back to the cabin,” Leonardo said, gathering his things. “My wife’s there, and we’ll wrap things up once we’re back.” He knew Arya had gone to the convent earlier to confront Isabel, and although his instincts told him she was safe, a faint sense of urgency nagged at him. Working here, dealing with everything else, had given her space, but he couldn’t help wanting to check in on her. Behind him, Ricardo and Rob were in yet another argument, voices rising and falling as they debated. Leonardo had long since learned to tune them out. Instead, he let his thoughts wander. Spending most of his childhood alone, with only the company of books he’d memorized cover to cover, he’d become accustomed to living inside his mind, finding peace there. But something shifted. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of movement, something or someone moving too delib
Leonardo walked into the room to find everyone already seated, waiting expectantly. He took his seat, and Rob slid a few files across the table. “These are all we could gather, boss. I double-checked—it’s everything they had,” Rob said, his tone firm. Leonardo picked up the files, scanning through them quickly. Setting them back down, he looked up, addressing the room. “Someone is playing a twisted game with my wife. She suspects it might be the Mother Superior, but I’m not convinced,” he began, his voice steely. Rob tensed beside him. Usually, they didn’t discuss these matters openly, especially with others around. But Rob must have trusted Leonardo’s judgment since he didn’t attempt to question it. “Of course, we don’t suspect any of you,” Leonardo added, glancing around the table. “We trust you all completely, especially after the support you’ve shown. And if we need further assistance, we’ll reach out.” He nodded at Ricardo, who took the cue. “You heard the Don. We
Arya could hardly believe Isabel’s audacity. Her voice trembled with anger as she glared at the Mother Superior. “Don’t sit there on your high horse, pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about.” Isabel sighed, placing her reading glasses delicately on the table. “I get that you’re the wife of a very powerful man, a Don, but Arya, I don’t need to hear about the issues in your marriage. I have done nothing wrong, and I genuinely have no idea what you’re accusing me of.” Arya recoiled, taken aback by the indifference in Isabel’s tone. “What? Why would you say that?” “Why shouldn’t I?” Isabel responded sharply, her expression unreadable. Arya narrowed her eyes, studying Isabel's face. “No. Why would you assume this was about my marriage, Isabel? What makes you think that’s what I came here for?” Isabel raised an eyebrow, her mouth curling in a faint, mocking smile. “Oh, it’s not? Then I’m truly sorry for the misunderstanding. But tell me, Arya—what exactly are you accusi