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The Truth Behind The Illegal Trade.
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UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) A Deal To Obtain Freedom.
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
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Testing Her Patience Or Sanity?
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
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) The Black Gloves He Wears.
ALESSANDRA A few minutes later, Rocco finally closed the door with an unconscious Marcella in his arms. His eyes were filled with anger when he glared at me but I ignored them all. When the door closed shut, I turned to the only man I truly feared and questioned him, “Where the hell is my sister-““What am I going to do with you, Lexi?” Leonardo murmured, his hands suddenly grabbed my neck, the pressure digging into my flesh. His voice was devoid of any mention as he continued, “I can't have you pulling this stunt at will, baby. With the way you are behaving, you will surely get us killed.”A burning sensation spread through my chest as I struggled for air. Considering the tightness of his grip, a part of me worried Leonardo was truly trying to kill me but we both knew that wasn't going to happen. I wheezed a few times and stopped struggling as I replied, my voice heavy with boldness and defiance, “I was serious when I asked you not to bring your mistresses to the house. Why is it so
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Having Him As Her Enemy.
ALESSANDRA My mind was stuck in a state of shock after I heard Rocco's confession. It felt like my entire world has just shattered around me, leaving me standing alone in a dark place. Nothing could have prepared me for what I had just heard, and the fact that I was hearing it from this person made it even worst. My mouth went dry, as I shook my head in denial. “You are lying,” I accused. Leonardo was only 19 then. How could his father be so ruthless to do such a thing to his own son?As the tense silence continued, a voice spoke from the end of the hallway, “He's telling the truth, Alessandra.”I turned to see Dante and Mia standing a few feet away. My strength immediately drained, causing my heels to bend awkwardly. With shallow breaths, I asked, “H-How did this happen? I told him not to go back to New York City.”Dante opened his mouth to speak when he suddenly realized that we were not alone. He turned to Rocco and said, “You can take Mia back to her room. I will speak to her.”
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) A Little Talk With Massimo.
LEONARDO After arguing with Alessandra, I stayed in the office, staring at my black gloves. I eventually took them off, revealing my strong, long fingers, except for my pinky. The missing limb had been replaced by a prosthetic, but it was still different from the others. For some reason, I can't stop thinking about my fight with Alessandra. Her accusing glares and her hurtful words are imprinted on my mind, causing to sink deeper and deeper in the dark chasm of my mind.This was my biggest secret, now exposed to my wife. I heard them talking behind the door, but for some reason, I didn't stop them. A part of me felt ashamed, but it was necessary for her to know the truth.I didn't want to keep lying to her. If she didn't despise my work, I would have taken her with me on every damn operation.The feeling of self-loathing threatened to consume my very soul, yet I had no intention of leaving her. Alessandra was the reason I didn't feel pain all those years in my father's house and in p
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Orders To Kill Alessandra Scavelli.
ALESSANDRA I searched the entire mansion for my husband, but he was nowhere to be found. Guilt consumed me when I thought about how I had treated him, like a heartless monster, incapable of feeling any human emotion because of the lives he took. But he was no different from me, a victim of the world he was born into.After a while, I gave up and decided to go to Mia instead. She was the one I always confided in with all my problems, mainly because she was such a great listener.When I reached her room, I noticed guards stationed outside, which immediately set off alarm bells in my head. They greeted me and allowed me to pass through, but I noticed the door was locked. I turned to them with a stern expression and asked, “Why is the door locked?”They share a look with each other before one of them responded, “It's being locked from within. Dante instructed us to come fetch you to join her and guard the door until he returned.”“Why? Is there something wrong?” My eyes darted between u
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Leonardo Is Awake.
ALESSANDRA “What?!”Mia walked out of the bathroom fully dressed as her eyes flickered between Dante and Rocco. Before I could say anything, she stepped in front of me and raised her arms in the air in a protective stance. Her eyes blazed with fire as she declared, “No one's going to kill my sister!”Warmth spread through my heart as Dante and Rocco shared a look between themselves. I understood what that meant from afar, and the sight alone made me push my sister behind me just before Dante could approach her. ““Please explain what you just said,” I implored. But it was clear that Dante wasn't going to speak as long as Mia was present. I had a feeling he hadn't expected her to still be awake at this late hour. So I turned to Mia and asked, “Mia, could you give us a moment to talk?”Mia shook her head defiantly, her stubborn gaze locked on the two of them. Even though her voice cracked with fear, she still said, “No way, Alessandra. I'm not going to let these men take you away from
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Visiting Him In A Safehouse.
ALESSANDRA Dante drove me blindfolded to a safe house, far from the De Castello mansion. I had no idea where he was taking me, but I wasn’t scared. He had let me keep my phone, knowing Mia would be frightened if she woke up and I wasn’t there.When we finally arrived, I stepped inside, scanning my surroundings for any clues about our location, but there were none. Leonardo was clearly smart enough to keep this place a well-guarded secret.Dante led me to the stairs. We walked silently, each of us lost in our own thoughts. His steps were quick and eager, revealing his desire to see his older brother.He finally stopped when we arrived in front of a room, door closed. He turned to me and said, “Wait here, I will go and find out what's going on first.”I slowly nodded, watching surprise flicker across his face. He didn't expect me to agree so easily to his request, but all I wanted was to confirm Leonardo's well being with my own eyes. After Dante entered the room, I leaned against the
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UNDER 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
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Suspicions About Her Betrayal.
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
UNDER 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
UNDER 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
UNDER 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. “
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
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Alessandra's Dilemma.
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
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Dante is Getting Married?
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
UNDER LEO'S COMMAND (The De Castello Family #1) Approached By A Stranger.
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
