LEIGH-ARI
Consciousness 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-painteWell, well, well! Looks like the twins made quite an introduction. What do you guys think about that one? Let me know in the comments and lots of love! RARE
LORENZO POVAfter our little conversation, things got a little heated when reality settled in that there was no turning back! Leigh-Ari had asked for her phone, Vernero flat out told her no; she looked at me thinking I'd put in a good word for her but I just shrugged and continued drinking my wine.She had then fled out of the lounge running back to the room she was sleeping; temporarily.Vernero and I planned to take her to our bedrooms soon. Things were really looking up and I was loving every minute of it. Vernero turned with a phone in his hand, punched some digits, and then placed it on his ear:"Valerie, prepare Madam's room." He informed shortly and then hung up the call, walked towards me, and perched himself beside me."She is pissed." He called out, deep furrows forming on his forehead."She should be. Let's give her some time." I interjected giving him a manly slap on his back.I checked the watch on my hand and realized I was running insanely lat
LEIGH-ARIAfter my little conversation with the hooligan, he insisted I take a bath, and seeing as how he was on the edge of losing it; I had no choice but to comply with him.Something about him was vaguely off, and no matter how much I knew to calm people down, there was no calming him down. He was insane in his own way and I didn't want to tick him off, not while I was still clueless as to why they captured me. He seemed to be a very well poised psychopath who would skin you alive while he had a poker face.So nope! I wasn't playing anywhere near him.After eating, he took me down the staircases and beyond the lounge. I was really in awe of the interior and everything about this place. The room which I woke up in, seemed to be in a tower. and I had chuckled to myself when I realized they had locked me in a tower, like some kind of a princess in tales. After walking non-stop, rounding corners, and climbing up and down the stairs, we came to a very big and opulent h
WARNING!!! "THIS IS A BONUS CHAPTER COMPILED FOR FUN ONLY! PLEASE DON'T CONFUSE IT WITH THE REAL CONTENT AS THE STORY WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED BY IT. READ IT "SEPARATELY" WITHOUT REFERRING BACK TO THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER AS IT IS NOT RELATED TO IT ALL" LEIGH-ARI The six-inch-thick snow gloved the land in its glorious white, the green pine trees marring the land with their branches carrying heavy snowflakes that piled together on them.The Christmas song can be heard swirling in the air, reminiscing the events of the long, sad year, while also soothing and lulling away the pain caused by the unfortunate predicaments that had befallen us. The song beckoned the coming of a new year, carrying in its melody the promises of a better year full of love, unending happiness, and all the blessings in abundance the universe had in store for us.A soft click on the door
VERNERO POVSitting in my big leather seat in my office, my eyes were glued to the desktop screen in front of me. The red dot moved from the spot where Dark Woods layed until it reached right within the city.I reclined into my seat and watched steadfastly as it went round and round in circles, assumingly from this shop to the next! Just when I thought things were going to be less... fascinating, the spot took off hurriedly and ran in a different direction.A smirk pulled up on my face and I leaned my arms on the table and watched it, things were about to get interesting!A sudden vibration of my phone pulled my eyes off the screen; it was Ciello. I clicked on the receive button and placed the phone on my ear:"Boss, I am so sorry. I lost her." Ciello rattled in the speaker causing me to deepen my smirk;"I know!" I replied shortly, my eyes moving back to the screen, the dot moved in the direction of the police station and I couldn't help but swell up with pride. M
LORENZO POV"The Marketing Director has already reviewed this plan President. And we would like to know what you think of it." One of the employees called out from the end of the boardroom desk. I was sitting at the head of it with my big giant seat nodding my head while my mind was evidently out of this place."Hmmm." I hummed softly and they passed the folder to Valerie who quickly opened it and presented it before my eyes. I went through the first page and turned to the second. Suddenly, my phone vibrated inside my pocket and I quickly fished it out! The text was from Vernero and it read: Your little Tesoro is on the run. "Redo the plan and submit it tomorrow," I informed closing the folder, and quickly got out of my seat and left the boardroom with people scratching their heads.Valerie was quick behind me and soon, the driver was swerving through the roads back to Dark Woods. Upon our arrival, I found Vernero already dressed in this two
LORENZO POVThe drive back to Dark Woods was haste, very rushed and Verzi stepped on it like he was chasing the wind. The silence was heavy in the car, the tension so thick you can cut it with the steak knife. Only the hard, savage pounding of my heart could be heard.Leigh-Ari hated me. And I got myself to blame for that. She was right about everything she spouted and yes I deceived her and disguised myself as someone else. Someone kind, loving, decent and cool. I took advantage of her memory loss and played her because I was just as shrewd as it gets. I was selfish, inconsiderate, and very possessive of my own shit!And I did what I did because I had to. Is that too much to understand? I did it because I had no choice. She belongs in Dark Woods with us. Not in some small crappy and tiny apartment in Cyprus.She belonged here, with her two men. Why couldn't she understand that? Why run away from us as soon as she arrived here?I turned to look at her to find her
LEIGH-ARIConfusion, frustration, pain, and rage were the only things I felt. I had so many questions that needed answers. I had to know why, out of bazillion people in the world; why did they choose me? An ordinary woman from Cyprus who has never offended anyone since the beginning of ever! Why did they have to lock me up in this furnace? And why did they feel entitled to punish me?What sin did I commit?The steam in the sauna was unbearable. When Vernero brought me here, it was okay. I felt like I could sit in here for a long minute. It was hot, yes, but the heat wasn’t bad. However, a few minutes after he took off, the temperature rose by a hundred. I began sweating buckets until I shredded the little clothing I had on. I breathed it in with my organs, allowing it to fill my lungs like a gallon of fresh air. I was no stranger to the benefits of steam to the body and often recommended sauna visits to some of my patients. It soothed the burn on my cheek and lulled the pai
VERNERO POVIt was a little after 7 when I decided it was time to leave Leigh's room. She was sleeping soundly and I felt like watching her was just going to disturb her peaceful rest. Enzo had long gone, left me to myself as I insisted on watching over her.Somehow just sitting here, watching as she took small peaceful breaths gave me a sense of relief, made me forget for a minute how badly I fucked up. I didn't want to put the blame on anyone or anything else. It was with my ignorance that she passed out. Had I checked the system well, things wouldn't be like this. The harder I thought about it, the more I felt like I needed to skin someone alive,With that, I left.I went straight into the monitoring room and checked the surveillance. I had to be sure of what happened. And if someone actually dared to turn up the temperature... Oh Lord, help them!To my surprise, there really was no one. The only people who went to the sauna today were Enzo, and me. Even Valerie sa
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