BrindaEvery step Francesco took towards me made my heartbeat increase but I composed myself and remained seated on the floor. When he reached where I sat, he cupped my chin with his right hand. “My body is candy that you can't resist. If not, you would not have looked at me till your face got red.” Speaking of getting caught red-handed.“What the fuck are you saying?” I asked him trying to play innocent but he dragged me up gently. His hands wrapped around my waist then he pulled me in closer to his body, his breath brushing past my face repeatedly while he stared into my eyes. If it was five years ago, I would have felt something but not anymore. I can feel nothing but unease while being in his arms. His eyes did not leave mine while he stared into it — Evil, cruel and intense with no good intention.“Damsel, why did you allow Joshua to touch you earlier?” He questioned. I rolled my ears before I chuckled, “He is nice. And of course, he's cool. And with the way I saw him…” I lef
Brinda I dived my tongue deeper into Francesco's mouth and he seemed to enjoy it as he devoured my tongue rapidly. His hands went straight to my left breast. The heat from his body was intoxicating.What are you doing, Brinda?What my mind is telling me to do obviously. Should I stop?Francesco pressed my breast and I let out a low moan before I shut my eyes and let his control take over my body. I rubbed his back down before I tugged at his bathing suit, only wanting him to take it off his body. He broke the kiss — breathing heavily — stared into my eyes and pulled me up, my ass on the divan. A devilish smile played across his lips before he claimed my lips again. I clenched my fist slowly before I threw my hands across his back. I struggled to lose his bathing suit as I already felt his manhood rising. He stopped kissing me and groaned while he threw his head backward. Now that it has come to this, I guess there is no going back. It's either me or him. One of us has to play the
The violent release of gun shots rented the air along the thick forest that leads to the main road just a few kilometres from the Dante’s mansion. The route has always been where the Dante's used to transport their illegal hard drug business since they moved to New York.Scar, Marshall's right hand man, moved swiftly like an agile predator, his assault relentless on Francesco's men. He slaughtered their throats and paved his way to the truck in the middle. Lightning flashed above and thunder struck, hinting at the impending rain which would come with a violent storm. The air was thick with the stench of gun oil, sweat, and something metallic — blood.Five men faced off, their bodies tense, their weapons glinting under the sickly glow of the moon.A broad-shouldered man with a jagged scar running from his temple to his jaw, held a serrated knife in one hand and a pistol in the other. Across from him, another man adjusted his grip on a pump-action shotgun, the barrel swinging between
BrindaThe rain lashed against the pavement, a relentless drumbeat against my skin as I pulled Francesco out of Marshall’s company building. He resisted at first, his feet dragging against the wet ground, but I didn’t stop. If we stayed a second longer, Marshall would have finished what he started.Francesco wrenched free from my grasp. His eyes, wild with fury, locked onto mine.“What the fuck have you just done?” He roared, his voice raw, rainwater dripping from his hair, sliding over his lips.I shivered, whether from the cold or his rage, I wasn’t sure. “Francesco, he could have killed you! You know what Marshall is capable of…”“And who are you?” His laugh was sharp, bitter. “Just a slutty woman playing hero?”The words hit like a knife. But I lifted my chin, refusing to cower. “Francesco, my dignity as a woman lies in my body. And I only give it to those who deserve it.”His gaze darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. “I should have known. You’re a snake that can’t be trust
With Brinda in his arms, Francesco stepped into the grand entrance of the Dante Mansion. Rainwater dripped from their soaked clothes, forming a small puddle beneath his boots. The dim chandelier lights reflected off the marble floors, casting eerie shadows on the walls.Brinda coughed, her body trembling slightly against his chest. As Francesco strode deeper into the mansion, she shifted slightly. “Francesco… put me down. Your mother will…”“Don’t worry about her,” he cut in, his voice firm.She sighed but didn’t protest further, her fingers tightening around his damp shirt as he carried her up the stairs.A sharp intake of breath came from one of Francesco's men. He was tending to Guerrero’s reopened bleeding wound in the corner of the living room.“Should I prepare some warm water for you?”Francesco’s lips twitched into a small smile which is something rare. “Yes, please.”Brinda remained silent, keeping her hold on his shoulder while he climbed the stairs with careful precision, a
BrindaI paced up and down in Francesco's room. Despite the fact that the air conditioner was working perfectly well, sweat still glistened on my face and neck. “Will you keep pacing up and down?” Francesco asked before he sipped some wine. I ignored him, my left hand to my jaw while my index finger tapped my cheek gently. Francesco lit up the cigarette in his right hand, his eyes fixed on me. “Can't you take your eyes off me?” I questioned, throwing my hands in the air. He rolled his eyes sarcastically, “Really?” He arched an eyebrow. “You are not that beautiful for me not to take my eyes off you.”“Seriously? What is going on?” I ranted before I sat opposite him. “Thus far, from my investigations, I have also met a deadend just like your mother told me a few minutes ago. Who killed your father?” “I don't know. I'm lost, just as you are.” He replied.“In that case, why haven't you told me to find out who killed him?” I asked, which after I folded my hands.“We are on it. Aren't w
Brinda “What did you say?” I asked, my eyes darting around nervously. My voice trembled, betraying the fear that gripped me.“What did you hear me say?” He replied coolly, his gaze never leaving mine. “I know you’ve been poisoning me, not long after I forced you to work with me.” He sank into the chair opposite, his tone casual, as if we weren’t just talking about the very thing that could end my life.I dropped my head, avoiding his gaze.I was caught. There was no game left to play. The end had arrived, and with it, the realization that my time might be running out too.You’re stuck, Brinda.So it was true — when I thought I was being clever, trying to seduce him and slip poison into his food, he knew. But he had let me.“Francesco,” I said, mustering the courage to speak again. I lifted my head, meeting his gaze. “You knew I was poisoning you. Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you stop me?”“Are you regretting it now, Damsel?” He leaned back, his voice mocking. “What happene
The gunfire cracked through the air like a thunderstorm on judgment day. Chaos erupted. Grown men, strong and battle-hardened, screamed like frightened children.Francesco locked eyes with Brinda for a brief, electric moment before he turned and bolted from the room.“Bastard! Will you release me?” Brinda’s voice sliced through the noise, but he was already gone.Francesco moved with urgency, his boots pounding against the floor as he rushed to his room. No hesitation. No second thoughts. He yanked open the bathroom door and pressed a hidden button beneath the drawer handle — just like Brinda had when she had sneaked into his space days ago with Bullet.The drawer slid open with a soft click, revealing a lethal collection of guns. A wicked smirk curled his lips. He grabbed a few of the deadliest ones, admiring their weight in his hands.Then, just as he was arming himself, Guerrero crawled into the bathroom, his face twisted in pain, his left arm hanging limply like a broken doll’s.
FrancescoThe morning light filtered through the curtains, but peace didn’t follow it. As I descended the stairs, the moment my foot hit the last step, I saw them.Bullet. Guerrero. Brinda.She was at the center of it all, like the sun around which everyone revolved — even when she was chaos.They were gathered in the living room with some of my men. But the moment I walked in, silence sliced through the room like a guillotine. Their formation shifted. Their conversation snapped shut like a forbidden book.I didn’t need to ask. I knew.Brinda hadn’t liked the finality in my voice yesterday. I knew her too well — and now, I saw it clearly. She must have called them. She was going to take the Santinis down herself if I didn’t move fast enough.I scanned the room, eyes locking onto the one person I could never seem to control — her.She was biting her nails. A nervous tic.I smirked. Got you, Damsel.I
“Francesco, what do we do now?” Brinda’s voice cracked as she gripped his shoulder, her fingers trembling. “Before we even blink, everything will spiral out of control. We need to plan something big. Something Alessia won’t see coming. It has to catch her off guard… it has to.” Francesco’s jaw clenched, the veins on his neck twitching. His eyes were cold — so cold they looked carved from frozen steel. “I don’t know,” he muttered, his voice low, haunted. “I can’t say this is what we should do. I’m… I’m confused, Brinda. Any wrong step right now could destroy us all. One wrong move, and it’s over.” Brinda exhaled, slowly, almost as if her lungs were caving in. “What if I said I had a plan?” “No.” His response cut the air like a blade. “Whatever you are thinking — keep it locked in your mind. I won’t put anyone at risk again. Enough is enough.” Her eyes burned as she stared at him. “How do you know what I’m thinking, Francesco
FrancescoMy hands trembled as I placed them on The Black Book.This isn't going to be easy. But I have to do it.I sucked in a sharp breath and flipped open the cover.Deadly Sins. Wild Secrets. Mafia Rules.Do You Dare To Enter?A chill ran down my spine. What the hell does that mean?I swallowed hard and turned the first page.Nothing.A frown creased my forehead. I flipped to the next.Still nothing.Page after page — Blank.My pulse pounded in my ears. No, this had to be some kind of joke. The Black Book — The book so many had bled and died for, the book that could shift the balance of power in the mafia world… was empty?Impossible.Am I the first human to open it? Or had someone else erased its secrets?My left fist clenched, nails biting into my palm as my breathing turned erratic. Rage coiled inside me, hot and uncontrollable, but I for
Brinda slowly climbed out of bed, her pulse hammering against her ribs as a thousand thoughts raced through her mind. If Francesco had truly pranked Marshall and Alessia with The Black Book, then they were walking a razor-thin edge of disaster. She could already picture the storm brewing on the horizon, a tempest of blood and vengeance waiting to swallow them whole.She turned sharply toward him, her voice low, uncertain. “Is this really The Black Book?”Francesco, lounging against the headboard, stretched his arm out lazily, dangling the infamous book between his fingers. A knowing smirk played on his lips. “Why don’t you check for yourself?”Hesitant yet eager, Brinda stepped forward and took the book from him, her fingers grazing his for a fleeting second. She let out a sharp breath, the weight of secrets pressing against her chest. When she was satisfied, a bright smile of relief tugged at her lips, though it quickly faded into susp
Brinda carefully assisted Francesco, guiding his battered body until he sat upright beside her on the bed. His muscles tensed with the effort, but she was there, her touch light yet steady. As soon as he was settled, she curled into his arms, her body melting against his as if she belonged nowhere else. He pulled her in, his hold instinctively protective, like he was cradling something precious — Something he couldn’t afford to lose again.Their heartbeats found a rhythm, syncing in the quiet intimacy of the moment.“I never thought you would come to save me,” Brinda murmured against his chest, her voice still hoarse but gaining strength. “I thought you wouldn’t want to.”Francesco inhaled sharply, his fingers absently threading through her hair, twining the strands around his calloused fingertips. The weight of her words settled deep in his chest.“You should know better,” he muttered, his voice edged with quiet reprimand. “You should k
Seconds have turned to minutes and minutes have turned to hours and hours have turned to days since Francesco had brought Brinda back to the Dante's mansion. Elizabeth, on the other hand has not returned from her sexcapades while Guerrero has been in charge of Francesco's men who had returned after they heard of the return of The Mafia's Black Rose. Bullet had also urged Francesco to get more women to work in the house, especially in the kitchen. The food cooked by Francesco’s men is nothing to write home about. Bullet had also started to forget about her lover, Mark while she was also saddled with the responsibility of taking care of Brinda. Francesco had also gone back to work to attend to a lot of work he had left undone. He struck a deal with Charlotte Kavanaugh who seemed delighted to work with Dante Group of Companies. Their life had finally taken a new toll of longing for peace. Alessia, on the other hand, was still
Francesco alighted from his car as he clutched the black bag to his chest. His eyes were fixed on the red Range Rover parked a few metres from where he was. A few minutes later, Alessia and Marshall emerged from the backseat of the car with smiles radiating on their faces. Francesco’s breathing quickened as he laid his eyes on his once-upon-a-time lover. He studied her for a moment before he concealed his emotions. “Where is The Black Book?” Marshall asked, while he puffed smoke into the air. “Where is she?” Francesco demanded. “I need to see her before dropping the item.”“Trust is essential in our world. By now, you should know that I don't go back on my words.” Alessia spoke up. Francesco glanced at the bag for a moment. Coming alone to get Brinda from the two bloody past friends of his was already a risk. Would he take another risk of dropping The Black Book without seeing Brinda to know if she was still fine?
“What do you say about the deal?” Leopard Russo’s voice echoed through the room. His brother, Tiger Russo, was seated beside him on the sofa smoking as he enjoyed the conversation his brother was striking with Alessia Santini and Marshall Fernandez. They had come to meet the duo — Alessia and Marshall — With the high hope of getting them to side with them to fight the Dante family. However, can they strike the deal as they had planned? Could it be possible that they have a motive behind the collaboration they want? Will Alessia and Marshall let their guard down and seal the deal? Alessia's laughter was a cold, mirthless sound. “Without anything to offer, you dare call it a deal? I don't see it as one.” “Exactly what I was thinking. What are you willing to offer?” Marshall who had been sitting quietly all along finally let some words slip out of his mouth. “Really?” Tiger scoffed. “Are you going to w
Francesco “Why are you silent? Are you so shocked to hear my voice? It's me. The woman you left broken.”My blood turned to ice.Alessia Santini.Of all my enemies, she shouldn’t be back.My breath came in short, sharp gasps, my legs rooted to the floor. Move, I told myself, but my body wouldn’t obey.“Could it be…?” My voice cracked as I forced the words out.A soft chuckle came from the other end. Cold. Mocking.“You guessed it right. I am the real mastermind. Do you love the plot twist?”A jolt of guilt shot through me. No. No, this isn’t happening.I made a mistake. I made a fucking mistake.Five years ago, when I returned on The Dark Night, I should have killed her.I found Alessia near the mountain’s edge, The Black Book clutched in her hands. The crypt key was with her too. My men overpowered hers. I took back what belonged to me. But later lost the crypt key too