LORENZO
I had previously received some news from St Andrews Hospital that they wanted to host their annual party. Not only was I a surprise guest to the party, but it was going to be held at CATT Hotel this year. You can imagine my happiness when I realized that I was going to have more of Leigh-A*i to myself because of it! To top it all, the hospital management agreed when I asked them to put her on the guest management for the ceremony so yeah! You guessed it! Things were going to be lit!
I had laid the news to Verzi and man was he jealous of me! I teased him a lot just so as to rub the salt in the wound that I was near our girl; and he wasn’t! His reactions when I told him what had transpired always managed to kill me!
The day of the party rolled over quickly and before I knew it, the hotel was busy preparing for it! It was going to be held tomorrow night and I honestly couldn’t wait to be there! Just like usual, I invited “my neighbor” for dinner but sadl
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LEIGH-ARIThere was no way in hell I could have imagined that Lorenzo Cattanio aka my neighbor who cooks panty dropping spaghetti was our party’s surprise guest who donated gazillions to our hospital. When I mounted the stage and called out everyone who made the donations, I had been so curious as to who graced us with such an impeccable endowment!There was no way I thought of him. I didn’t even know he was here today. Imagine my surprise when my eyes landed on his name after opening that damn envelope. My jaw flat out dropped. And then when he appeared from the far corner in his mighty glory, I just… I couldn’t. He was so hot. Like insanely hot. No man was allowed to look that way. Especially a married man! I mean that wasn’t fair in all ways!He was dressed neatly in the maroon Armani three piece suite with a black tie that made him look like something that just jumped from a magazine. I had watched him as he gracefully made his
LORENZOAri and I quickly left the ballroom hand in hand and dashed towards the lobby where my driver and some of my guys were waiting for me. Upon our appearance, they made their way to the limo and we got in after them; then drove off!Being next to Ari made me painfully hard and I wanted to cool off before I could do something very sinful! Without Verzi! I settled with some wine while the limo stretched through the small but glamorous city of Cyprus. The sexual tension was so thick you could cut it with a steak knife; I could almost smell her arousal from where I was seated, which was opposite from her!We sat in a very uncomfortable silence and I continued fixing my tie which was suddenly way too tight! The sudden vibration of my phone was a perfect distraction and I was quick to accept the call even
LORENZO The following weeks passed with a blur and Leigh-Ari Montreal was nowhere to be seen! Or at least that's what she thought!I had a very perfectly vivid image of what she was trying to paint in my mind and decided to humor her. Yes, she played “hit and run” on me! She came so hard on my fingers and was limp and half-dead in my arms; then the following morning she had disappeared like water in the sand, with no traces of her.As I said, that's what she thought! Little did she know that I was very aware of every single step she took in her day. I had my men following her all over and knew that she was crushing at her friend’s place. She would sneak into her house to get a few files when she thought I am not watching and then silently leave; my front door camera would catch every single move. Even when she slightly leaned over my door to listen to whatever was going inside!The first few days after the limo incident, I had called her and texted her; knocked on h
LEIGH-ARIMy conversation with Laura had made me think of my decision and everything i have done ever since that incident. And i knew for a fact that i was really being yellow, running away from my own mess which i sadly, would have to fix at the very end. Because truthfully, i couldn’t stay at Laura’s house any longer. Not because my girl wanted me out or she was complaining about my very unwanted and disturbing residence at her house.Thus after a very long minute of deep thinking, I concluded on going back to my house and just see what life has in store for me. If Neighbor Dearest came to address what had happened, then I would be there to give him answers and even ask questions of my own. Although I really didn’t know what I would say if he happened to ask!I arrived at my house late at night and luckily, I didn’t run into him in the corridor or anywhere and for that; I was very appeased! In the morning, I woke up early since I had a
LEIGH-ARI“Dr. Montreal, there has been a change in the plans pertaining to the workshop!” My HOD informed me as soon as I stepped into his office. Right after I settled in my seat in my office, I was summoned to his office where he didn’t waste time but spill the news.“Okay?”“You are the only one in our department who will be going. Dr. Elijah isn’t coming with you anymore.” He informed fixing his glasses on the ridge on his nose.“Oh? Where do we leave again?” I didn’t know how to feel about the change,“Its tomorrow!”“Oh my god. It totally slipped my mind!” I called out slamming my palm on my forehead. Lately, I have been highly destructed by my neighbor dearest that I didn’t even realize that the workshop was in a few hours. And to add the cherry on top, the workshop was actually outside the country and we needed to fly there.“I understand
LEIGH-ARI The anticipation of what waited for me in First Class cabin was suffocating, and as soon as I stepped into the First Class Terminal, my whole changed! It was as if I had stepped into a whole new different world and it’s crazy how the adventure started right even before I boarded the plane. My poor self always thought First Class is on in the cabin. I walked to the check-in where I quickly dealt with the process and even before I could turn to leave, a neat poised gentleman with a khaki pilot suit and white fabric gloves was waiting for me patiently and stoically. He ushered me to walk and that's what I did, he walked in well-manicured and practices steps in front of me, leading us to the doors which revealed a giant airport lounge as soon as he opened them. Now this wasn’t just an ordinary airport lounge. This lounge was astoundingly smashing! There were comfortable luxurious loungers and chairs, as well as a huge ass large spread of gourmet food wa
LORENZO POV “Can you tell me why you are here?” Leigh-Ari intoned from the seat opposite mine. The dinner table was the only barrier between us and the light from the candles danced, causing ghost shadows to flicker on her face. Her eyes would flutter close when she blinked, she would occasionally wet her lips by swiping her moist tongue on her bottom lip then bite on it when she was lost deep in thought. I took my wine glass and took a small sip, savoring the taste of highly fermented grapes which took years and years to reach the savory taste. I placed it gently on the table and looked back at her: “I told you, I am the sponsor of the workshop. And in the business world, sponsors are present during the workshops. We just want to see that we gave out money for a good course, to something that would bring us profit. Because as harsh as it may sound, business people care about nothing, except profit!” I explained briefly bringing my arms to the table, then pla
LEIGH-ARIConsciousness slowly dawned on me and I became vaguely aware of my surrounding. My eyes were pinched closed and I seemed to be lying on my back with my head snuggled cozily on a plush pillow. However, it didn’t feel like I was waking up from a long sleep; it felt like a sedative was wearing off in my bloodstream and I was back to the land of the living.I groaned out aloud as I turned to my side and searched the side table for my phone. My hand came into contact with a hard dang ass frigid post and I let out a curse. What in the actual hell? I got up to a sitting position with my eyes still closed. Somehow they fell so heavy that I couldn’t even open them. After some brief negotiation with them, they slowly peeled open and I took in my surrounding.I was sitting on a huge four-poster king-sized bed covered in white sheets and a deep grey blanket was draped over my body. The white curtains of the bed were neatly cuffed up the metal posts, revealing the cream-painte
VERNERO POVI was sitting on one of the couches in our bedroom flipping through channels, ever so relaxed after a long day. My mind drifted back to when Leigh messed up the gun training so bad, but I had found that so cute I couldn’t bring myself to tell her to stop. Had it been anyone, they would have been six feet underground for wasting my time. But watching the determination on her face as she aimed the target, only to miss it so terribly or just continue pulling the trigger without the gun going off; that had been the highlight of my day.Right when I was lost in thought the door slit open and in came Enzo whose eyes found me first.“Hey, bud.” He said warmly and walked towards the couch where he plopped himself next to me and stared at the TV with me,“Rough day at work?” I inquired staring at him,“Not really. Why are you alone in here? Where’s Tesoro?” he asked with his eyes still glued to the TV.“She's mopping and sulking in the bathroom. Refused when I t
EXTRACTED FROM CHAPTER 69 LEIGH-ARI“The bosses are going to love the little transformation. It looks so good on you. Right baby?” Val called from the passenger’s seat before gently squeezing Ciello’s hand that was rested on the gear lever and looked at him dreamily. I smiled from the backseat where I was sitting, watching the little interaction between the two little birds that were just so in love with each other.“Definitely. That little taint looks good in her hair.” Ciello replied with the little knowledge he has in woman’s beauty espionage causing me to guffaw with peals of laughter.“They are called highlights. Not taint. But I think they are going to bite my head before really accepting that I did a little change to the hair. And just know you will carry the blame if they complain about the length.” Following the recent rundowns, Val had asked me to join her on a spa appointment which was way too tempting to deny, so I had pleaded with the guys w
EPILOGLeaving Dark Woods felt so foreign and oddly queer that I felt like I was leaving the biggest part of me behind. I couldn’t help but steal glances as the cab that Val had gotten me stretched further and further from the castle, and I didn’t understand why my heart hurt so painfully when I was actually doing the right thing for the three of us. Surprisingly, Dark Woods had grown on me so much that it felt like home, and one always cried when leaving home. I wanted to laugh because I used to resent this place so much, but now I was in pain for leaving.Was it because I left without saying goodbye? Was it because I didn’t even see the look on their faces when I turned my back and left? But this wasn’t a goodbye. It was not! And seeing the look on their faces would have shattered me into pieces and I wouldn’t be leaving, that's why I sneaked out when they were still sleeping. I glanced down at my finger where two rocks that became one were nestled so big and proud. A sm
LEIGH-ARI The morning rolled over more quickly than I anticipated and I found myself thinking of my life before and after I came to Dark Woods. It has really been a crazy, epic ride. From being a straight-A student and putting on the dang long coat, being addressed as Dr. Montreal and doing what I loved the most; to being kidnapped by hot ass dudes who are insanely obsessed with me, claiming to be my men, and then being locked in the steam and triggering the mines that nearly split me open, I mean heck! My life was indeed one for the books.But one thing I gained in this crazy dissension of hearts and guns was the love I had never fathomed possible. Love that consumed me whole and made me feel so strong and bold like I could take over the whole world. Love that burned so fiercely deep inside me I felt like I would combust at any moment. The Cattanio twins gave me that kind of love, and I could never ask for more. They made me feel so complete, and that's crazy because the
LORENZO POV“Did we really have to do it ourselves?” I asked glaring around at the busy-as-shit mall where people were milling for Christmas shopping. Christmas was just 2 days ahead and the whole town was fully packed with people. I don't know why today of all days, but Ari insisted we came to get some gifts for ourselves and do a little bit of shopping. And by gifts, I didn’t think she meant a thousand shopping bags in a cramped shopping mall where you bumped into a person every second and breathed in their stinky sweat.“Yes. It is called living.” She replied from across me and reached out for my hand. I quickly stretched my hand out and she squeezed it mellowly, surprisingly calming me down. I wasn’t expecting to be so anxious to be out in public with just her and Verzi, not even a single guard in view. But If you asked me, it was truly thrilling to be living like normal civilians. It was safe to say we were missing out on a lot of things!Right when I was still lost in
LEIGH-ARIA full week has passed since that incident. After receiving the old Verzi in my heart and soul, we had pulled ourselves from the heap of limbs off the floor and took a very steamy shower, things really got heated right away and they were too good to even think about. Fast forward, we made love the whole night and I can tell that the puzzle was complete.And from then on, the change in the boys was very evident. It was as if this whole weight was lifted from them, and they were so light on their feet and bodies. Verzi smiled and laughed often, he was the happiest version of himself, and Enzo, my big guy was also on cloud nine. Lorik had been the force that weighed them down for so long; for so long that they just stopped living, and just existed.And now; things were so different!And because of that, I felt like it was time, I felt like the time was right to tell them what I needed to tell them. With that thought in mind, I called them out to the Tower Loun
LEIGH-ARIThe nauseating stench of burning flesh had reigned through the night in Dark Woods, making my bones clutter and tremble from underneath my skin. I had known this day was to come, I had known very well that he was going to pay for all he has done, and I wasn’t against it! Lorik had it coming!The only thing that unsettled me the most was what his death might do to my boys. I feared for them that they will lose themselves, for as much as it was so weird and very hard to believe, Lorik was their father!Yes they didn’t have the best relationship but the blood ties, that blood running through their veins was Lorik’s, and as much as I wanted to sweep the issue under the rug and be glad he was out of their lives, I was scared. Scared for them; but mostly, scared and terrified for Verzi.I didn't even want to being to think what he was going through when he ended Lorik's life. I didn't want the details, should he want to share with us how he did it then we'd sit besid
VERNERO POVA wall-shattering scream tore out of my lungs, as my body sunk into a deep bottomless sea of cold water. I watched as the air leave his body, his soul departing with his black eyes still glued to my face. For the very first time since I have known my father, this was the time he looked at me with fatherly love, the one kind I have longed for, for as long as I can remember; and my heart hurt so much. I didn’t understand it! Why did it hurt so bad? Why did I feel weak in the knees for killing him while it has been the one thing that I have dreamed of?Tears streamed down my face as I turned the dagger, eliciting a squelching sound as it tore deeper and deeper through his heart. He was dead already because he wasn’t moving. But his eyes were as open and as clear as day! I screamed! God, I screamed so hard that my cry made the walls of the dungeons tremble.With a very defeated body, I slowly pulled the dagger from him, and then robotically watched as it dropped
BONUS CHAPTER 1LORIK POV“I forgive you.” The words charged at me like a sharp dagger that gatecrashed through my heart leaving me breathless. Heat rose from my neck and settled just right above my head, creating a cloud of intense self-loathing that made my ears deaf. With blurred vision, I watched as she slowly sashayed out of the damp dense cellar where I was chained.My eyes followed her movements until she was out of view. My mind reeled with all sorts of thoughts recalling all the evil things I have committed. She had forgiven me, despite everything I had done to her. She forgave me and bathed me clean, after being tortured by my son for how long... Heck, I didn’t even know how long I have in here without food, water, let alone taking a bath. I reeked of death and all the things I have done in my past. Vernero always brought him a small bite of protein bar just to keep me alive, nothing more than that. I was famished, my throat so patched it felt like it was burn