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Alessandra's Dilemma.
Last Updated:
2024-11-24 19:40:37
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UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Meeting An Admirer of Italian Cuisine.
ALESSANDRA The next day, I had just finished preparing my first dish of the day in the restaurant when my boss called me over from the exit. The unexpected summon made me slightly anxious, but I quickly wiped my wet hands on a nearby napkin and hurried over to her.“Is there something I can help you with, Madame?” I asked.The old woman paused, staring through the door at the crowd of customers enjoying their meals. After a moment, she turned back to me and said, “There's someone who wants to meet you, Alessandra. He claims to be a friend of yours.”“A friend?” I repeated, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. Leaning over her shoulder, I scanned the room for a familiar face, but saw no one I recognized.Mrs. Dubois gently pushed me back, shielding me with her body as she spoke, “If you don't know anyone over there, then just tell me. I will go and fetch some of Leonardo's men over and-”“Wait, Leonardo's men are also here?” My heart skipped a beat as I stared at her with wide eyes. I
Last Updated : 2024-11-24UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Confessing The Truth To Her New Friend.
ALESSANDRAThe next few days passed like a soft breeze, dispelling the boredom and loneliness I had felt before. I spent most of my days working at the restaurant and my nights exchanging stories with my younger sister, Mia. Although she was still depressed with the news of Dante's incoming wedding, she seemed slightly better now that she had gotten a new internet friend. However, I had also acquired a new friend who always dropped by the restaurant to come and eat after work hours. Orlando was a very sweet man who constantly praised my cooking, sharing stories about his days campaigning for the position of the mayor of the city and he always left with an extra helping for his mother. One day, he asked, “I'm having dinner tonight with someone important, and I wanted to know if you'd like to be my escort for the evening.”I could tell he admired me, which was unfortunate since I already belonged to someone else. Noticing the faint blush on his cheeks, I couldn't help but tease him. “
Last Updated : 2024-11-24UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) An Unexpected Meeting In A Gambling Den.
ALESSANDRA I still have no idea how I managed it, but somehow, I reappeared before my husband in just thirty minutes. Dressed in a stunning green dress with a fitted bodice and a sweetheart neckline, I made my way toward Leonardo. The A-line skirt cascaded to the floor, sweeping gracefully across the stairs as I approached him.“All set,” I announced, still smoothing the curls pinned at the back of my hair, awaiting my husband's judgement. “How do I look?”He glanced at me, his expression impassive. “Good. Let’s go,” Leonardo replied curtly, grabbing my hand and turning to walk away. His words left a dull ache in my chest, and I couldn’t shake the pang of disappointment as I watched him disappear out of the house.His quick change of attitude left me extremely baffled as we rose the car ride in silence. At first, I thought he was acting like this because of a bad business call, but my unease increased when he started giving me one-word responses. “Is everything okay?” I shot him a q
Last Updated : 2024-11-25UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) The Monster She Just Discovered.
ALESSANDRA I felt like a complete fool staring at the face of my friend who pretended like he didn't know all through the dinner. Even worse, when I discovered that he could speak Russian as he conversed with my husband about secret matters. This situation only reminded me of the words that Bianca had been repeating since she met me. All men were liars and cheats. I couldn't help but make a face when I took the first bite of my meal. The pasta in my mouth felt rubbery and dry, something that even my younger sister would never cooked in a thousand years. “What's wrong, Alessandra?” Leonardo noticed my expression and turned his attention to me. “Do you not feel well?”“I think I need to use the restroom,” I rose from my seat, not casting a glance at either one of them. Leonardo immediately beckoned a nearby waiter and asked her to guide me so I left without looking back. After hiding in the restroom for a good thirty minutes, I decided it was time to come out before Leonardo came l
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LEONARDO I paced back and forth outside my office, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I awaited Keith's diagnosis about my wife. Every fiber of my being wanted to burst into the room and confront the politician, but I forced myself to remain outside the door.“He's all tied up now,” Dante informed me, arriving with my new Capo, Rocco. “Do you want to meet him now?”I shook my head. “No, I need to stay here for Alessandra. Just keep the bastard conscious enough for me to deal with him later.”Dante, sensing my turmoil, placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “She’s going to be okay, mio fratello.”My heart clenched at the memory of finding her so beaten and broken. She had looked so lovely this evening before we left the house, but now her body was bruised and battered. Her face, once unblemished, was now swollen and covered in cuts and bruises.I felt like I was losing my mind each minute that passed without Keith's appearance but just when I was about to burst, the doctor fina
Last Updated : 2024-11-26UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Leonardo Doesn't Want Her Anymore?
ALESSANDRA I woke up in the late in the night with a throbbing headache and pain over all my body. It took me some time to realize that I was lying on the couch in an office. The heavy scent of medicine told me that I had been treated, and memories rushed to me. Orlando...beating me....trying to rape me.A single tear slipped down my cheeks as I released a pained sob escaped my lips, when I tried to move a bit. Compared to the incident with Noah, I felt like this one topped the my list of traumatizing experiences I had gone through. I really thought Orlando was going to have his way with me until Leonardo arrived. As I continued to cry, a pair of arms suddenly pulled me up, drawing me closer to a warm body. When I recognized his body scent, fresh tears poured down my cheeks and hugged him tighter.Leonardo stroked my hair tenderly and spoke, “Don't worry, every thing is alright now.”I pulled away and asked, “What will happen to him? Is he still alive or...”“Do you really expect
Last Updated : 2024-11-26UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Confronting Bianca And Her Twisted Plans.
ALESSANDRA “For goodness's sake, the veal shanks are getting burnt!” a voice echoed dimly in the background. “Alessandra!”“Hmm?” I jerked back into reality, my eyes drifting down to the burnt meat. “Oh, Santo Cielo!”As I hastily carried the pot from the fire, I avoided Mrs. Dubois's judgemental eyes and went to prepare another set of veal shanks to cook. Unfortunately, the old woman followed me and remarked, “You have been very absent-minded lately. Is everything alright?”I hummed softly, patting the veal shanks with paper towels and began to season them. The truth was, I hadn't been able to function properly since that incident with Orlando. My nights were filled with nightmares, memories about the things he had done to me. “You also look kinda pale and thin,” The restaurant owner added. I stopped working when I felt her touch on my arms and turned to her. “Is everything alright, dear?”“Yes, I'm fine,” I replied. Although the nightmares were the culprit responsible for my slugg
Last Updated : 2024-12-01UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Taken Away By A Stranger.
ALESSANDRA Since I was little, my father had always integrated the principle of strength in me and my sister. He told us never to show our weakness to anyone, even our spouses because the feeling of love didn't exist infinitely. He was right. Bianca's face twisted into fury as she grabbed my arm and yanked me up. “You have no idea who you are messing with, Alessandra. If you dare renege on our deal, your husband won't be the only one to suffer.”Anger surged through me when I heard the implications of her words. I snarled, “No, you are the one who has no idea who you are dealing with. We both know you can't do shit without my father's help and all that favor would disappear very fast if you touch a single hair on my younger sister.”“Are you behaving like this because of Leonardo?” Bianca gritted her teeth. “Do you actually think he's worth losing your freedom for? Is that it? You think he loves you so you want to grow a conscience and-”I slapped her hard before she could even fin
Last Updated : 2024-12-01
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UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Our Story Deserves A Happy Ending Too.
ALESSANDRA One month later... The hot midday sun shone upon the city as we clicked glasses with each guest at the party. Today was the grand opening of my new restaurant, Il Comando di Leone, and it was supposed to be a private event. But Leonardo decided to kick it up a notch by inviting every prominent figure in the city. Or so he claimed. While I stood at the entrance to welcome the guests inside, Leonardo kept the guests inside entertained with practiced ease. Our eyes met for a short while and then, we smiled before we returned to our various activities. The atmosphere in the restaurant was filled with an elegant and sophisticated vibe as an array of different gourmet dishes filled the tables for our guests' preferences. After spending some time chatting with some friends and local business owners, I finally felt a hand wrap around my waist. A small smile tugged my lips as I leaned into the solid chest behind me and teased. “If all my supplies run out today, then it's you
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Are We Finally Safe?
ALESSANDRA Several minutes had passed since Giovanni called Leonardo and gave him our precise location. According to him, he had taken me to an abandoned metal workshop outside the city. He swore he was going to cut me up if Leonardo didn't arrive in one hour. I wasn't very good with numbers, but I was pretty sure that over thirty minutes had passed. Giovanni seemed to be counting too. Once in a while, he would check the time and glance at me to make sure I wasn't doing anything funny. My heart jumped in my chest whenever I heard him laugh after checking the time, causing me today tighten my fists. Leonardo had to know that this was a trap. That's why he was taking so long. I didn't want him to walk here alone like Giovanni demanded but my intuition told me that he was more than capable of doing that. I had to find a way to stall for time. Enough time for Leonardo to come to rescue me. “What happened to Sofia? Why's she not with you?” I asked. After several minutes of searching
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Let's End This Once And For All, Shall We?
ALESSANDRA I woke up with a loud gasp, in a dimly-lit room, bound and tied on a cold, metal table. The single light hanging on the ceiling shone directly over me, nearly blinding my eyes so I shut them immediately. Fear coursed through me as I struggled against my restraints but this one's were much more tighter than the ones Bianca used when she kidnapped me. Handcuffs. This time, I knew it was pointless to try and free myself but that didn't stop me from feeling so scared. I had no idea what Giovanni planned to do with me. Well, except luring Leonardo here so he could finish him. “Shit,” I muttered. There was no way I could let Leonardo come here because of me. I turned my head to the side, squinting my eyes to see if I could recognize any familiar signs about the place. But my attempts were cut off by a single cough at my other side. My head instantly whipped towards the direction of the sound to see someone sitting on a chair in the shadows. “You're finally awake, Mrs. De Ca
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Abducted By Giovanni's Spy.
ALESSANDRA After a whole day had passed, Rocco finally appeared. He looked so guarded and cautious that I tried hard to stifle a laugh despite my fuming deposition throughout the previous night. I didn't blame him for acting that way, though. Everyone knew how dangerous I could be when I was really pissed. He warned me sternly before closing the distance between us. “Don't do anything stupid, Alessandra. You know Leo's only doing it for your sake.”Like hell, he was. The only reason he had imprisoned me here was because he was afraid that I'd run to another country. I guessed he has traveled someplace very far, and he feared that he wouldn't return in time to catch me. Regardless, I still nodded with an innocent expression. Sometimes, men were very easy to fool if one played their cards right, so I had to adapt to the situation. I replied, “I understand. It's just that I also want to do what's right for him too.”Rocco's shoulders relaxed slightly as he brought out the keys of th
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) His Last Card To Play.
LEONARDO As the bright moon settled in the sky, I stood at the entrance of the dimly-lit warehouse located near the dock, personally overseeing the last batch of shipments being delivered to the Russians. The quietness of the night was broken by the sounds of my men loading the weapon crates into the ship. Ivan, who was also dressed in a black shirt and pants, barked out orders to the Russian men on the ship. After most of the shipments were loaded, he finally descended from the ship and came to the warehouse. “Remind me why you are here again?” I asked him a few seconds before lighting my cigarette. Ivan pulled the cigarette out of my lips and flung it away before replying. “Because your stepbrother is still alive, and I don't want to take any risks with this deal. After tonight, the deal will be finalized, and I'll stop nagging you about it.”I glanced at the little army he brought along with him and smiled. “Ah, that must be the reason why you decided to tighten security. Is Gi
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Let's Talk About This Properly.
ALESSANDRA I gently drank the warm soup Isabella brought for me, intentionally ignoring my husband's gaze as we sat down in silence. The hot, soothing liquid slid down my throat, spreading warmth throughout my cold body. Leonardo waited until I placed the bowl down before he slowly closed the distance between us on the bed. Seeing the anxiety and concern on his face hurt a lot because the last thing I wanted was for him to be so worried about me. “Why are you here?” My voice felt a bit stronger this time, but I still refused to meet his gaze. Leonardo reached for me, but then his hand froze midway when he saw my expression. He dropped his hands quietly and stood up from the bed. “I just wanted to explain what really happened back then, Alessandra,” he replied. He started pacing back and forth as he spoke, his hands buried in his pocket. “Look, I know you won't believe anything I tell you now, but I really didn't marry you because I thought you were Stefano's daughter. The truth i
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Please Listen To Me, Alessandra.
ALESSANDRA I entered my room with shaky legs, my mind reeled from the revelation I had just discovered. From the very beginning, I had been somewhat suspicious of Leonardo's motive of marrying me, but I never expected that he was only doing it because he mistook my identity. He must have planned to take over the California mafia after exposing my father for killing his older brother, but then he changed his mind when he found out the truth. Now, it all made sense why he brought Mia to live with us. He claimed he was doing it to protect her from our father, but he must have wanted her to be his woman instead! The feeling of betrayal and hurt burned into my chest as I sat on the bed. Everyone in my life only ever stayed with me because they thought I was useful, and they left when they were disappointed. Even Leonardo. That night, I cried myself to sleep and woke up with a throbbing headache. My eyelids felt too heavy to even lift, and my throat hurt a lot. I figured I should ju
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) The Reason He Married Her.
LEONARDO After making the phone call, I got up from the bed and grabbed a packet of cigarettes and a lighter from the bedside table. I walked to the balcony to clear my thoughts and plan my next steps for handling some unfinished business. The night sky was starless, clouds covering half of the bright moon.I lit a cigarette in my mouth and took a long drag. The nicotine sent a heady rush to my brain, making me feel much light-headed than before. The throbbing headache began to fade away as I released a puff of smoke into the air. Giovanni, my dear stepbrother. I had to admit he had done a very good job hiding in the dark like a cockroach. But if he thought he could reap my pained efforts and take over my mafia organization, then he clearly had a death wish. Now that I have talked to Charles, one of my clients who worked in the city's administrative office, there was no way he was going to survive past the week. As the mayor's defense secretary, Charles had major connections with
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Leonardo's Finally Awake!
ALESSANDRA A week later...I ate breakfast and was reading a novel when I suddenly received a phone call from Rocco. Anxiety gripped my heart as I picked up the call and said. “Hello, Rocco.”“Leo has woken up, and he's been asking for you.” He announced. “I'll text you the address so you can come visit him immediately.”I shot up from my seat. “Really? I'm coming!”My heart pounded in my chest as I changed my clothes and rushed into the waiting car. When we finally arrived at the location Rocco sent us, I was already a bit dizzy from anticipation as I entered the house, ignoring the guards’ greetings. I just wanted to confirm it myself. I needed to see him with my two eyes and touch him with my fingers to convince myself that he was truly awake. After taking several turns in the large house, I finally found Isabella in the hallway. As I closed the distance between us with hurried steps, I called out to her. “Isabella, where's he?”Isabella pointed at the door near her with a smile
