ALESSANDRA After my sister's words, I immediately rushed down the stairs along with my father to see Leonardo standing in the living room with a small army of men. The room was filled with quiet sobs as everyone watched him wielding a knife at my cousin's neck. “What the hell do you think you are doing? Put the knife down, Leonardo!” My father's furious voice cut through the suffocating silence in the room. I knew all hell was about to break loose when my eyes spotted some men moving across the room from the other end, silently trying to close the distance between them and their target. Leonardo's eyes did not stray from me even one bit but his men kept their vigilant eyes on their surroundings. The way his eyes locked onto mine, cold and unyielding, sent a jolt of fear through me. I could tell he was very furious about my sudden disappearance but there was something darker lurking in his eyes. Something raw and intense. “Since my wife decided to visit her family without telling
ALESSANDRA The next day, we flew back to New York City on the earliest flight we could get. Leonardo had not spoken a single word to me since he retrieved me from my father's house, and I was grateful for it. The smell of blood permeating from his black gloves made bile rise in my throat, but he insisted on interlinking our fingers together throughout the entire journey. When we finally reached the apartment, I immediately scurried to the kitchen without wasting another second. I washed my hands under the sink, trying to get rid of the blood stains imprinted on my skin but nothing could erase the memory in my head. My uncle was dead and now, his son was fighting for his life in California. Despite the fact that my uncle had never been good to me and my sister, he was still my family. Ilaro had taken care of me when I stayed in their house and the fact that I was responsible for his demise hurt a lot. As I sank deeper in my sorrow, I suddenly felt a pair of strong hands encircle m
ALESSANDRAA week passed by after my argument with Leonardo, each day stretching endlessly in the silence of his apartment. He hadn’t returned after that day, leaving me alone with Luigi, my bodyguard. Though I told myself to be grateful for the small victory I had won, the crushing boredom weighed heavily on me, gnawing at my insides and filling me with restlessness.After two more days, I decided that I couldn't continue like this. “Take me to Leonardo,” I demanded one night, my voice firm and unwavering as I addressed the six-foot figure, packed with muscles. With my arms crossed defiantly over my chest, I added, “He said I could go anywhere, as long as you accompany me.”Luigi studied me intently, his sharp gaze sweeping over my dress, and returning my glare with his own. The silence hung heavy between us, charged with unspoken tension. He replied firmly, “Leonardo doesn't want to see you.”I already knew that because I was there when he called, asking for permission but another
LEONARDO What have I done?As I stared into Alessandra's eyes, all I could see was the pain I had caused her. She tried to look strong and unfazed by the discovery of my affair with her best friend but I knew deep down, she might never forgive me for this. I shot up from my seat immediately to reach her, knowing that she could disappear like the wind but she was already out of the door. “Fuck,” I cursed under my breath. I grabbed my gun from the table and caught after her just before she exited the VIP area. “Alessandra, please let me explain,” I pleaded. She jerked away from me like I was carrying a freaking disease that was contagious. I had never heard her scream until now, “Don't you dare touch me, Leonardo! Not with those hands you used to caress your whore!”“I did it all for you,” I knew how pathetic my words sounded, but I didn't know what else to say except the truth. She still had no idea about my hardships and sacrifices so I tried to tell her, “When I returned to the
ALESSANDRA After breakfast alone, I paced back and forth in the living room, scolding myself for being impulsive again. I should have never reacted that way when I saw Valentina and Leonardo together, but I guessed the pain of betrayal from a friend hurt a lot. There was no way I would care if my husband slept with another woman. In our world, men weren't usually faithful to their wives, but I always imagined that Leonardo would be different. I guess it explained the tightness in my heart, a feeling that was stuck in my chest like a hot knife. I was really naive in the past, wasn't I? The Leonardo I once knew as a young girl seemed like a completely different person now. Back then, he was quiet but reckless, often finding himself in the middle of fights for some unknown reasons. Despite his intense exterior, he had a gentle side when it came to me, showing a sweetness that made me feel cherished amidst his antics. But now, he had turned into someone I could hardly recognize. I ra
ALESSANDRA I jolted from the bed, every fiber of my being protesting this absurd deal that had taken place without my knowledge. "You can't be serious! Mia is only 16, Leonardo!" I screamed with frustration and desperation. My husband remained unfazed by my outburst, flicking the edge of the cigarette onto the Persian rug. He seemed not to care about the situation at all and it made me furious how he thought he could acquire us so easily like we were livestock. He replied coldly, "I expressed my dissatisfaction about our marriage to your father and he offered Mia instead. He told me that I would have to wait until she was of legal age before I could have her so I agreed." My heart turned into ice after hearing his words. I had met many ruthless men in this world, some of them were even heartless to sacrifice their own mothers for their greed and ambition. But to see the man I once loved break my heart over and over again was a first for me. "You are talking about my baby sister,"
ALESSANDRA “How could you do this, Patrizio?” I screamed into my phone, anger bubbling in my chest. I paced back and forth while speaking to my father, “I thought we had an agreement. How could you sell your daughter like she was one of the cargoes you traffick across the Atlantic Ocean?!”After my talk with Mia, she immediately returned to her room with the excuse that she wanted to rest. I knew she was disappointed in me but I didn't know how to tell her that she had been sold off by her own father. My father scowled, “It's your fault, Alessandra. Leonardo complained about your inability to please him and demanded your sister. If only you had done your job, this would have never happened-”“Did you know Valentina was sleeping with my husband?” I asked him, holding my breath for his response. My question caught him off guard, and I could tell that he was thinking about how to respond to me. After some quiet seconds, he replied flippantly, “Yes, I did. But I don't see how that woul
LEONARDOAfter dinner, I lingered longer than I probably should have, engrossed in conversation with Mia, who had just arrived to spend some time with us. She radiated excitement about the vibrant city, her eyes sparkling as she shared her plans to explore the city. In contrast, Dante and Rocco sat nearby, expressions flat and disinterested. I couldn’t really fault them for it. We had just finished dealing with a few small-time troublemakers who had attempted to encroach on my territory. They turned out to be more resilient and cunning than I anticipated but I managed to make sure they won't forget my warnings again because I carved it on their bodies.“I think I'm going turn in for the night,” Rocco announced, after checking his wristwatch. As my most trusted Capo, he was the one who handled the aftermath of the mess I created. His tone dropped a few inches as he whispered, “Oh, that reminds me, Luigi told me he was taking a leave to see his sick sister this week. So I'll send someo
ALESSANDRAThe room was deathly silent between us, broken only by the sounds of our harsh breaths echoing in the air. My legs gave way, and I sank onto the bed, my voice trembling as I asked, “How long have you known the truth about Marcella's death?”“Since I turned fifteen,” he replied darkly. “I overheard my father scolding Bianca for sneaking out to a party. He reminded her about her ‘mistake’.” Leonardo scoffed bitterly.Seeing the pain in his eyes, my heart ached, and I reached for him. “I'm so sorry about your sister, Leo-”“How did you know what happened to Marcella?” he cut me off, his eyes narrowing. “Who told you?”I gulped nervously, scrambling for a lie. I couldn't risk revealing my connection with Bianca, which would jeopardize everything I'd worked for. My lips moved faster than my brain, blurting out, “I heard it when I was married to Giovanni. He mentioned it during an argument with his sister, calling her a heartless monster or something like that.”“I see.” Leonardo
ALESSANDRA It was late when we finally returned to the mansion. Apparently, all the chaos at the yatch had turned Leonardo into a sex monster, someone with a relentless and insatiable hunger. He barely let me catch my breath throughout the car ride, ravishing my body until I was nothing but a sweaty mess. My legs felt shaky when I tried to come down from the car, causing me to shoot him a dirty look for the way he had left me completely undone. My husband's lazy smirk remained unaffected as he offered his hand to help steady myself. I caught my breath, smoothing my dress and fixing my hair, when I heard a low chuckle rumble from his chest.“What's so funny?” I snapped, trying to maintain my pissed appearance, but it was helplessly falling like a house of cards when I saw him. He looked too damn good, his hair tousled and shirt unbuttoned, exposing his broad chest adorned with tattoos. Right now, I was starting to think that I was the one who was the sex monster, because all I wante
ALESSANDRAAs we entered the cabin, my eyes darted around, instinctively searching for an alternative exit in case the yacht was compromised, but there was none. The place was furnished simply yet elegantly, with a large oak table dominating the center and lights from the ceiling casting a warm glow.Leonardo took his seat first, his eyes following Ivan as he walked to the mini bar to fetch some drinks. Then, with a small tug, he grabbed my hand and pulled me onto his lap. I landed with a faint gasp, the slit of my dress widening to reveal my long legs.“What do you want to drink?” my husband asked, smoothing my dress as he rearranged my legs across his own. His soft caresses sent a jolt of electricity through my body, so I slapped his hand away, giving him a stern look."I'm not thirsty, thank you," I replied, keeping my back straight as an arrow. My nerves were jittery in the heavy silence that filled the room.After a few minutes, Ivan reappeared, carrying a tray with glasses and a
ALESSANDRA In the end, I chose a classic black gown that fell to my knees and wore flats for more mobility. I styled my hair into a tight low ponytail, adorned with hairpins on the side. Leonardo wanted to show off my beauty to his associates, but I had to prioritize my safety since I wasn't sure where we were going."Are you done, babe?" My husband's voice echoed from across the room, making me pause as I put on my earrings."Yes, I am," I replied.Leonardo emerged from the walk-in closet, adjusting his black tie. He looked incredibly handsome and powerful, dressed in an expensive black suit with his hair slicked back.Our eyes met in the mirror, silently examining each other's outfits. My breath hitched slightly when his lips curved into a smile. He said, "You look beautiful, Lexi."Despite hearing this throughout the afternoon when he was worshipping my body, my red-painted lips still curved into a smile. "You don't look too bad yourself, Leo. Now, I can't help but worry if this i
ALESSANDRA The room was thick with tension as Leonardo interrogated me, his eyes searching mine. I was so caught off guard that tears streamed down my cheeks, momentarily clearing my vision as I struggled to find the words. But Leonardo's stern demeanor cracked when he saw my tears, and he immediately closed the distance between us."What's wrong?" he asked, holding me tightly as sobs wracked my body. He shot a helpless look at Dante and Rocco before turning back to me. "Tell me why you're crying, mio amore. Did Bianca bully you?"I shook my head slowly, unable to speak as grief choked my throat. Leonardo couldn't know that I was aware Ilaro was dead, so I simply kept quiet and cried my heart out.Eventually, my sobs subsided, but Leonardo continued to stroke my hair gently. I realized that Dante and Rocco had left, probably to find out why I was crying so much.Once he sensed the tension leaving my body, he gently forced me to face him, but I kept my eyes glued to the floor. I could
ALESSANDRA As I racked my brain about how to find an opportunity to confront Bianca, a sudden knock on the door grabbed my attention. I went to the door and opened it, thinking it was Mia who had come to see me but I was wrong. “You better have a very good reason for calling me here,” Bianca walked past her. “I have to return downstairs before Massimo starts looking for me so you have any new information about the secret Russian trade?” she asked. My blood boiled by her presence, but I forced myself to reply calmly, “I have something even better.” I grabbed a glass of water from the nearby table and threw it at her, drenching her completely.“What the hell, Alessandra?!” Bianca gasped, eyes wide with disbelief and shock. She retreated, her dress soaked. “This dress is very no expensive. Why did you do that?!”“That's what you get for lying to me!” I snapped. Her face switched from genuine confusion to realization and surprise. I planted my hands on my hips and I asked her, “Did y
ALESSANDRA Today was finally my first day of work. Last night, I kept trying on different outfits, each one carefully chosen for the day ahead. Leonardo had assured me that the job interview was just a formality, but I still wanted to impress the restaurant owner and show I was more than capable of handling the position.Although I was very happy to finally leave the house during the day, my spirits were a little dampened because of my fight with Mia. I finally remembered that I didn't tell her about my new job. She would have been so happy to hear I was going to be working if she wasn't so mad with me about Dante. I just hoped Leonardo was able to convince Dante to leave her alone. For both our sakes. The thought of Leonardo also reminded me that I had also gotten into a fight with him. I tried my best to tell him about the secret affair his brother was having with my sister but he seemed too busy with his mistress than listen to me. Deep down, I wondered why I was so possessiv
LEONARDO This motherfucker was really trying to piss me off. As I turned off the auto-mode and took control of the steering wheel, I cast a look at the black car through the rearview mirror. The car was no longer alone but it had three more cars accompanying it. My blood boiled in my veins as I gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white.Whoever these people were, they must have followed me from my office which meant that my headquarters' location had been exposed. The first black car rammed into me again, causing my car to skid against the asphalt but I quickly regained control this time. My senses became more sharper and attuned to the situation as I avoided being flanked by all three cars. The last car hit me harder this time, but I quickly countered the skid to avoid the close call. I slammed on the brakes, letting the SUV shoot past me, then floored the accelerator, ramming its rear bumper with all the force I could muster. The SUV swerved, momentarily losing control.Taking
LEONARDO “Fuck!”I slammed the phone on the table and threw a glare at the woman standing by my side. Marcella flinched away from my angry eyes, her body rigid with tension. She asked me, her voice quavering slightly, “What's wrong, Leo? Did I do something wrong?”I opened my mouth to speak, but the harsh words in my mouth clung stubbornly to my throat. Marcella was one sly bitch who loved to use others to do her dirty work but I just couldn't reprimand her harshly like I wished. Not with that name. Not with that face. “Look, if it’s about Alessandra…” She raised her hands defensively, “I didn’t fight with her. I only told her you were busy because you looked so frustrated when you couldn’t track down Orlando’s cousin…”As she continued to defend herself, I sifted through my thoughts, trying to understand why my wife was so upset. Dante’s affair seemed to be a major issue, but it felt like there was she was also angry with me for some unknown reason. My eyes wandered to my wristwa