“Open the fucking door or I’m kicking it down.” Yellow light flooded through the windows. There was a scuffle inside before I could hear Lorenzo breathing behind the door. I stepped back, expecting to be let in but the door stayed shut. Still as welcoming as ever. “Didn’t you give me your word never to come into my house?” The words came out muffled but I could hear the sound of his gritting teeth. “Yeah well, you’re old enough to know words meant shit. You’re a lawyer, shouldn’t you know that by now?” There was a momentary pause before he spoke again. “She’s not here.” I was glad he was aware of the spectacle his wife had caused but I could feel my patience losing by the second as I continued to face the mahogany door. “I know. I have her location. I came to talk to you so fucking open the door, Enzo.” Lorenzo finally opened the door. A scowl was already on his face, partly because I called him by his childhood nickname, but he knew better than to ignore my warnings. He stoo
"When did it start?” I moved my gaze away from the window. Rain splattered against the thick surface which blocked its ceaseless sound from entering the room. A dull ache pulsed inside me to hear the noise. Anything to drown out this mind-numbing stillness. I stared emotionlessly at Dr. Abagnale. “What did?” In the corner of my eyes, an imposing frame shuffled from the wall. I could feel Dante’s disapproving stare. The corner of Dr. Abagnale’s lips quirked up impatiently. He would have released that sigh he had been holding for a while if it weren’t for Dante’s hovering figure behind him. “Your nightmares, dear.” I pursed my lips. I didn’t want to give more information that Dante could hold over me. This was supposed to be between me and the doctor but even if I requested it, I knew he’d tell him anyway. I didn’t see the point of making a big deal out of it. He’d know one way or another. “I don’t remember but I was told it was right after my mother’s accident.” “Do you rememb
Julian Wright was his name. The man I was going to marry. Okay, maybe I was getting way too ahead of myself. We only had a couple of coffee dates together and he told me that I was beautiful a total of three times in the short time we've known each other but I don't know, I think I'm in love. Yep, obviously male contact wasn't a normal thing for me. His stories of travel adventures and undivided attention were enough to get my hopeless romantic heart swoon. It's not every day that a pretty guy like him visited this town where nothing remotely interesting ever happened so sue me for acting like such a schoolgirl. I was whistling happily on my way to the living room, fiddling with the ring Julian gave me, when the sight of my dad stopped me. He's usually on his bed on weekend mornings, his aching joints keeping him confined there. He was sitting on the recliner, staring intently at some picture
My body went into shock as I was hoisted like a sack of feathers onto the lap of a stranger who was currently stroking my hair like I was a lost pet of his he saw on the streets while the car smoothly navigated the road. The familiar buildings rolled by the windows as though mocking me that they’re the only witnesses to my abduction. “Caterina,” the man whispered, his breath coated the back of my ear which was enough to bring shivers down my spine. I could feel every inch of his hard chest against my back and the strength of his thighs squeezing me between them. Every breath I took brought my skin to almost touch the prickling stubble on his chin. I didn’t dare move. “Did you think you could hide from me forever with a bad dye job?” The arm wrapped around my waist tightened. My senses were overwhelmed by his strong masculine scent along with the clean luxurious smell of the car. I thought I was going to pass out any minute now. &
I wasn’t able to hold it in. I laughed. The hard line of his mouth didn’t budge. When it dawned on me that he was really being serious, that there’s no hidden camera and that all of this was not part of some elaborate sick prank, my laughter faded. I stared at him incredulously. “You’re joking.” “Do I look like a man who cracks jokes?” No. Not even a little bit. I escaped from his arms and hopped out of the bed. “You’re crazy.” He just watched me backed myself into the corner as he calmly sat on the spot I occupied before. “I’ve been told far worse names, fiorellino.” The coldness from the tiles creeped up into my barely covered body. He wasn’t helping matters as he ran his dark eyes over the length of my body as if just seeing what I was wearing. A shiver rolled down my spine and I turned away. There was noth
I blame the silk sheets and the plump cushions. For the first time in a while I had a dreamless night. I was usually assaulted by nightmares in my sleep. Granted I forget about them in a day, there’s a gaping fatigue that accompanies me in my daily life. It’s ironic that I felt more rested here in an unknown place than in my own home. Home. Was my father waiting for me at home? Did he stay up late thinking that I’ll be back and just went to clear my mind? Or had he already called the police and they’re looking for me now? The pain in my gut ached at the way I left things between him and me. How could I have known that I’ll be kidnapped right after? If I had, I wouldn’t have left his side and would have continued to be his perfect little daughter, never doubting his words. Would it have been better? All I wanted was to get to know my dad a little more. Now, I’ve been told that he offered me as payment
Plate after plate smashed against the white walls. “Miss Caterina please, you’re going to hurt yourself!” Another one, a heavy bowl this time, flew across the room. It didn’t break to pieces as I expected but it bounced on the solid surface. I heard a squeal, followed by hurried steps fading out. I lifted another bowl and threw my arm back, flinging it to the wall like a baseball, its silver bits joining the scattered pieces on the marble floor. A feeling of satisfaction surged through me, the sounds of breaking glass quenching my frustration and the need to violate the purity of this house when the owner was anything but. It all soon melted away as I sensed a threatening presence nearby. True enough, Dante was already standing by the archway with his arms crossed. I didn’t even hear him come in. His eyes were silently watching me, the hard expression on his face immediately made me drop the
Dante’s POV. No one knows what happened to Caterina Caruso. But that’s not important. What matters is that I have her now. Lucy. As she liked to call herself. I tried not to scoff out loud. As if I’ll call her that name when she has that face. Whatever. The truth will soon come to the surface and the traitors will pay. Caterina will come back to me and everything will fall into their rightful places. However long it takes. Only patience isn’t a virtue that most men in my line of work possess. The empire that my father and I built with