LEONARDO An hour later, Dante and I decided to take Mia to one of our warehouses in the area, instead of taking her home. I insisted on keeping her gagged and tied for private reasons until we reached my office. Dante placed the unconscious girl on the couch near the door and cut her binds, an action that did not go unnoticed. My hands felt slightly sweaty under the black leather gloves, the material growing slick under my palms. However, I resisted the temptation to remove it and simply rubbed them against each other to steady myself. “Okay, you can go now,” I dismissed him, rolling back my sleeves to reveal the black inked tattoos underneath. “I need you to buy some clothes and other essentials she might need. Take one of the girls with you.”My brother sensed my intentions and cast a hesitant look at the girl lying on the couch. He turned back to me and said, “Go easy on her, Leo. She just went through a traumatic experience and needs to-”“Why the hell do you care?” I snapped,
LEONARDO After we confirmed who was behind the attack, Dante stayed with the women to help them pack their stuff while I stayed in the office to make a call. As soon as the person answered, I released a stream of curses in Italian before switching back to English. “You mothefucker, you dare betray me and attack my woman?”“What the hell are you talking about?” A thick, accented voice responded, filled of confusion. The fact that he was trying to deny it made my blood boil. He was like a brother to me, and his betrayal cut deep like a hot knife through butter. I snarled, “I know what you did, Ivan. Your men left one of his weapons in my apartment and I'll be using it to pull out your guts when I find you.”“Don't you dare threaten me, De Castello,” he snapped, his voice cold as ice. “You might be a dangerous man, but don't forget that I'm just as dangerous.”I chuckled sinisterly. “Is that so? Then you can expect me to return the favor, especially after I cancel our little business.
ALESSANDRA The next day, Leonardo took me and Mia to another mansion. He had not spoken to me since the day he saved me in his apartment. I gazed at him, observing every minute expression on his face. He had furrowed eyebrows, tensed jaw as he maneuvered the car on the road. His silence added to the tension around us, and I could tell that something was disturbing him. I shared a look with Mia before I turned to him and asked, “Where are we going, Leo?”“You'll see,” he replied curtly. I fell silent as we approached the mansion, stopping in front of the big, fancy gate. My eyes widened slightly as a spark of recognition lit up in my mind. I knew this place. I was sure about it because I had lived her for three years. This was the De Castello mansion. A security guard stopped our car but when he glanced at the license plate, he immediately rushed out and came to greet us. Leonardo exchanged pleasantries with the old man when we stepped down from the car. I took opportunity to gla
ALESSANDRA After thirty minutes, I returned from the bathroom to meet Isabella leaning against the wall on the hallway. My mood sank further when I saw her walking towards me. It was obvious that Leonardo shared a deep sibling bond with her, but the truth was that I was still pissed about the trick she pulled on me. If it wasn't for her, I would have never ended up in bed with Leonardo that night. He must have crafted that plan by telling her I was a lightweight. Isabella blocked my path, holding a small box in her hands. She glanced at me carefully before offering the box, batting her lashes in a remorseful manner. “I don't think I have officially apologized for what I did. I'm very sorry, Alessandra.” "Yeah, I've heard you," I replied coldly. When I tried to walk past her again, she grabbed my hand to stop me. My expression turned into frost as I glared at her. "Look, I have to go to my husband now. You know him, right? He's the one who offered you a house in Hudson Yards
ALESSANDRA My eyes widened in surprise at her words, and I turned to my husband for an explanation. “Marcella? As in your sister's name?” I asked.Leonardo's lips lifted at the corner, but the smile didn't reach his emerald eyes. He explained, “When my younger sister died due to my father's negligence, he immediately adopted a little girl after a week and named her after my sister. Marcella is part of the family.” My aversion towards Marcella instantly deepened as I watched her eyes crease with happiness at Leonardo's words. She said, “Oh, thank you so much, Leo. You don't know how long I have waited for you to say that about me.”“I see,” I replied, my gaze drifting down to her outstretched hand as I processed the information. Davide De Castello had clearly treated this woman well, judging by the way she interacted with everyone, and Leonardo seemed to have a soft spot for her. When Marcella saw that I wasn't going to shake her hand, she sent a distressed look to Leonardo, who ign
ALESSANDRA I spent the entire day locked up in our new bedroom with Leonardo. When I woke up again, my eye fluttered open to see Leonardo sleeping beside me. Here I was, lying on my front with his arms draped over me protectively. With his handsome face in view, I couldn't help but admire him quietly. I traced his features with my fingertips, from his relaxed eyebrows to his Roman nose and full lips, down to his sharp jawline. He seemed so surreal in this moment, especially since I had specifically told him not to come back for me eight years ago.It all started when my father ordered my mother to bring me to social events. During dinner, he glanced at me and said I was growing into a woman, so it was time to start looking for a husband. Distressed, I called Leonardo and begged him to save me. I was talking about eloping with him but the truth was that I had a different plan in mind. I gave my virginity to Leonardo at the age of 16, hoping that it would force my father to marry him
ALESSANDRA It was hard to wrap my head around the news I had just received but there was one thing I was sure about, it was the fact that I wanted nothing to do with this operation. This whole situation was much bigger than I had anticipated, and it was the kind that would surely get me killed. I shook my head, trying to gather my thoughts, and then said, “I'm really sorry, Bianca, but I can't do this. Do you have any idea what would happen to me if I get caught? Ivan and his men already attacked me a few days ago.”Bianca set her teacup down on the table as she faced me. “No, that wasn't Ivan,” she said. “It was your father who hired those men to attack Leonardo's apartment. Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now, would we?”“Are you telling me that my father sent those men to attack the apartment?” My body trembled with anger as I saw her nod calmly. Clenching my fists tightly, my voice rose, “Mia lives with us. What the hell is wrong with you people?”Bianca
ALESSANDRA Bianca and I returned to the De Castello mansion in the evening, carrying some shopping bags filled with brand clothes and shoes. Although we had known each other for a long time, this was the first time we had entered a brand store together. Our shopping tastes were quite different. I preferred simple clothing with light colors and flat, while Bianca liked sophisticated dresses with high heels that made her look like a lady even though she knew how to kick ass. She also wasn't fazed by exorbitant prices, but I nearly had a heart attack swiping Leonardo's card at the checkout. Giovanni had beaten me many times for it. In public, he would always pressure me into buying the most expensive things but he would beat the shit out of me when we were alone. Claimed that the only thing I was good at was spending his hard-earned money. As we stepped into the foyer, Bianca suddenly halted. "This is where we part, dear," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I hope Leonardo
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
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
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
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
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. “
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
ALESSANDRA My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I stood frozen before Rocco who was now standing before. I had no idea what to tell him and I was a hundred percent sure that he wouldn't believe a word I said. My mind remained black even when Bianca shot me a look, silently willing me to do something but I couldn't. “I should have known you were not to be trusted but now, I have proof,” Rocco's snarled, turning away from me. “Just wait and see what Leo would do when he finds out you are nothing but a traitor.”Guilt and anxiety flashed through my eyes as I tried to stop him. “Rocco, wait! It's not what you think-”“How boring,” Bianca commented dryly. She blocked his path and faced him. “If you want to tell him, then go ahead. But the truth was that I gave Alessandra a mission to find out if her hot chef colleague is single. She was supposed to ask him out for me, right, Alessandra?”I cleared my throat when I caught Bianca's look and replied, “Y-Yes, but I told you that Leonardo
ALESSANDRA That evening, I decided to pay Mia a visit. When I entered her room, I found her lying on the bed, her entire figure hidden beneath the sheets. Concern etched across my face, I dropped my bag to the floor and moved my tired body toward her. “What's wrong, Mia? Are you feeling unwell?”“D-Dante...” Mia sobbed, clutching the sheets tightly as I tried to pull them away from her.I stilled, my heart racing with anxiety and worry. “What happened to Dante? Is he dead?”“No,” she shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “He's getting married!”“What?”“Mamma just called me, and she said Valentina and Dante are getting married!” she informed me. I sank into the bed, trying to wrap my head around the idea that my former best friend was getting married to my brother-in-law. With both their personalities, I was sure they would never be compatible with each other but that was not my business anymore. “Well, maybe this is what is best for everyone,” I remarked. I knew Mia was n
ALESSANDRA After that night, Leonardo never returned to the house. He stopped calling and texting me, and I lacked the courage to reach out to him. He had every right to be angry, but I wished he would give me a chance to explain.A few days later, I started working at the restaurant Le Jardin Des Saveurs as a gourmet chef. My employer, Mrs. Dubois, was very pleased with my dishes and always took good care of me. According to her, it was Leonardo who helped her start a new life after being abandoned by her husband and children.“I had stage 3 cancer once,” she confided. “My husband, who was Capo working for Davide, didn’t want the world to know the truth, so he locked me up in a hospital for treatment. When I finally recovered, I returned home to find he had taken a new wife, a new mother for my children.”My heart ached as I saw tears well up in her eyes. I grabbed a couple of tissues from the desk and handed them to her. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Dubois,” I said softly.She dismissed my