SEVASTIANI reached the parking lot and it was the dimly lit who welcomed me. The halo of orange light casting eerie shadows on the sleek black paint of my car.I moved slowly, while thinking the weight of Roman’s call was still heavy on my shoulders. Celestina, burned the club the same day that our shipment in Russia was attacked. “Huh!” I scoffed. What a dirty scheme. Did the Valeztina father and daughter really think they could trample the Ortega’s so easily because of the union we made? They clearly underestimated us. Well, it’s time to show them exactly what it means to make the Ortega’s their enemy.I reached for the door handle of my car, but suddenly a voice stopped me cold.“Ortega.”I turned, my jaw already set in irritation when I saw the owner of the voice, was Donovan. He stood a few feet away, his posture too calm for my liking, his expression unreadable.“What is it?” I snapped, my voice made a low growl.There was a fleeting hesitation before he asked, “Is she r
DONOVAN I watched Sevastian leave, his arrogant strides and the mocking edge to his smile still grating against my nerves. "She was a virgin when I took her last night."It shouldn’t have mattered. I shouldn’t have cared. But the sheer confidence in his tone, the way he claimed her like she was some prize… it grated against my every nerve.I let out a sharp breath, running a hand through my hair. Damn it. Why did it bother me so much? Was it jealousy? Rage? Or just the bitter taste of failure knowing I had been close to finding her all these years, only for Sevastian to claim her before I could?My hand moved to my pocket, retrieving my phone. I dialed a familiar number, my thumb pressing hard against the screen as though it could ease my frustration.“Winston,” I barked as soon as he picked up.“Donovan,” he drawled, his tone both amused and cautious. “What’s got your temper flaring this time?”“It’s Celestina Valeztina-Ortega,” I said, cutting straight to the point. “What’s wit
CELESTINAI sat behind my desk, the quiet hum of my office filling the air as Bianca, my loyal personal assistant, walked in. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor, each step a reminder of the world I now controlled, and the world I was still escaping from.“Ma’am,” she started, her voice steady but laced with concern, “Your husband, Sevastian Ortega is using every resource to find you.”I barely looked up from my laptop screen, instead bringing my wine glass to my lips, savoring the smooth burn as the red liquid slid down my throat. A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. I’d been expecting this.“I know,” I replied coolly, keeping my eyes on the screen. “But he won’t find me.”Bianca's expression tightened, though she remained silent. She knew I didn’t say things I didn’t mean. But I also knew she must have her doubts, because not everyone understood what I was capable of.Everyone seems to know I was just merely a flower to be displayed but that was a lie. That wa
CELESTINAThe weight of the world seemed to press down on my shoulders, and yet, the calm I carried in my chest was the most dangerous weapon I had. I couldn't afford to lose control, not now that Sevastian is looking for me and Donovan was so eager to dig my secret. He became more of a threat than I had expected, and I needed to handle this with precision. If I couldn’t play the game then I had to break it, to crush it beneath me.I turned my gaze to Bianca, still standing at the edge of my desk, waiting for my next command."Call Bryan Reynolds, Isaac River, and Vittoria Morgan. Have them come here immediately," I ordered, my voice clear and steady, despite the fury that burned within me.Bianca nodded without hesitation, the sense of urgency in her movements telling me she understood the gravity of the situation. Without a word, she turned and exited the office. The moment she left, I leaned back in my chair, allowing myself a single breath to center myself. The weight of Dono
SEVASTIANThe moment the call ended. I tightened my grip on my phone, I grinded my teeth tightly until my jaw ached. Celestina was so good at peaking my anger by toying my emotions. She dared to call me knowing full well the kind of chaos she left in her wake. “Enjoy while you can, my wife. When I catch you, you’ll beg for mercy you won’t get.” I muttered under my breath as my lips curled into a snarl of mockery. I couldn’t shake the frustration that had been eating at me for hours. I’d thrown every resource I had, every connection, every tool in my arsenal to track her down, yet she had slipped through all of it like smoke. How the hell was it possible?My blood boiled as I reached for the intercom on my desk. “Get Travis in here. Now,” I barked, my voice was cold and sharp. Minutes later, the door to my office opened, and Travis stepped inside, his expression calm but wary. Smart. He knew better than to test my temper when it was this volatile.“She called me,” I said flatly,
CELESTINAI couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled out of me as I leaned back in my chair. My eyes were glued to the live feed on my laptop screen, where Sevastian sat in his office, a storm of rage and frustration swirling around him. Every movement he made, every tight grip on his desk, and the murderous look on his face, it was all deliciously entertaining.I sent him my cropped photo, a body on full display, marked and claimed by him. His reaction didn’t surprise me, but the raw intensity of his anger was almost exhilarating. I leaned forward, resting my chin on my hand as I studied his face. “Oh, my dear husband,” I murmured with a sly grin. “You entertained me today.”I couldn’t imagine what he must be thinking right now. Was he cursing my name? Was he doubting everything about me? Or was he thinking of killing me? I couldn’t help but be thrilled on what consequences I will face to provoke someone like Sevastian Ortega. The idea of him unraveling, piece by piece, mad
SEVASTIAN After Travis informed me that the CCTV in my office had been infiltrated by BlackEagle, a surge of rage coursed through me. My jaw tightened, and I gritted my teeth, barely containing the fury bubbling inside me. Suddenly, Travis' voice echoed in my head. ‘Sir, the CCTV feed in your office was hacked. We’re tracking the breach, but whoever it is, they’re good.’A mocking smirk curled my lips.Good? No, they weren’t good. They were fucking provoking me. My lips twisted into a sinister smirk. I leaned back in my chair, staring directly into the CCTV lens. If they were watching, I wanted them to know that I already knew that they were watching me, and I refused to let them win. Suddenly, a notification popped up on my laptop. Clicking it open, my smirk froze, replaced by a murderous glare. The screen filled with Celestina’s image. She was sitting on a plush couch, ropes binding her wrists and ankles. Her wide, frightened eyes stared straight at the camera, and fuck! She
CELESTINAI watched the screen with an amused smirk as Sevastian’s men scrambled, their faces a mixture of frustration and fleeting hope. They thought they’d found me, that their relentless search had paid off.Fools.The false location I planted was enough to send them into a frenzy, like dogs chasing their tails. Their celebration was pitiful. When I leaned back in my chair, crossing one leg over the other, and chuckled to myself. They didn’t know I’d been watching them this whole time. Travis, Sevastian’s underlings, had his monitor wide open, giving me an unfiltered view of their entire operation. Their mistake? They underestimated me. Their arrogance was a delicious weakness, ripe for exploitation.“Bunch of Idiots.” Lilith Brooks’ voice came from behind me, laced with dry humor. She held a cigarette between her fingers, taking a long drag before exhaling a plume of smoke. “They’re trying to hunt down one of the most notorious hackers in the world,” Lilith continued, her
SEVASTIANThree days had passed since Celestina collapsed, slipping into a state of unconsciousness that felt as heavy as the guilt I refused to acknowledge. The silence in our home was louder than my pride, but I was too stubborn to let it crack me open.Since she hasn't returned to her original state. I called our family doctor. To be precise, my cousin Natasha Ortega. She had her medical bag slung over one shoulder, a stethoscope draped like a noose around her neck as she examined my wife. When she was done, she turned to me, her dark eyes sharp enough to cut through bone. “Stress,” she said bluntly, slipping the stethoscope into her coat pocket. “And, judging by the bruises on her arm, I’m guessing you had a part to play in this.”I didn’t flinch, but her words were a bit harder than I wanted to admit. “She brought it on herself,” I replied shamelessly, my voice cold and unrepentant. I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms over my chest. “If she had just begged like
SEVASTIANAs I pulled the torn fabric free from her wrists, her hands dropped limply to her sides. The red marks I’d left on her skin were stark against her pale complexion. For a moment, I lingered, waiting for her to speak, to say anything, but she remained silent, her glare sharp enough to cut.I turned on my heel, ready to leave. But before I could take another step, something soft struck the back of my head.A pillow.I froze, my shoulders stiffening, and slowly turned to find Celestina glaring at me with a mix of defiance and fury. If I wasn’t already consumed by anger, I might’ve been amused by the sight of her. My fierce wife, bristling with indignation, upset that I hadn’t finished what I started.But the humor was short-lived.Her past loomed like a shadow. I couldn’t bare the fact that the person who’s close to me has a past with her. The truth is, it doesn’t matter to me if she were a virgin or not. She’s not wrong when she said that she was once Savelli's wife and I d
CELESTINAI flinched when the belt struck my thigh again, it was sharp and precise, the sting shooting through my skin like a fire. How long do I have to endure this kind of punishment? Does he really think that I will kill those two just because of his petty jealousy? “Ahh!” A soft moan escapes from my lips when he hits me. In peripheral vision, I saw him smirk when he heard my voice. With a satisfying smile on his lips, Sevastian struck me again with his leather belt. My teeth dug into my lip as I held back my gasp. His face turned dark sullen when he saw me trying to hold my breath as I accepted his madness. He loomed over me, his gaze was cold and piercing through my flesh. “I’ll give you one more chance,” he said in a low voice laced with warning. “Beg for mercy.” He added, as he grabbed my hair roughly and forced me to meet his eyes. The pain radiating from my scalp made my eyes sting, but I refused to look away. Instead of cowering, I smirked. “Why?” I asked, the wo
SEVASTIANThe belt struck her thigh with a resounding crack, and I watched as Celestina flinched, her body tightening in response. Yet, even now, even after the searing lash of leather against her skin, she didn’t cry out. Her silence was maddening and her stubbornness infuriated me beyond reason.I tightened my grip on the belt, the leather creaking under the strain of my clenched fist. The sight of her, kneeling there getting bruised yet so stubborn, ignited the fire inside me. Every strike I made was met with the same infuriating obstinacy, as if she were daring me to break her.I scoffed. She would rather endure my wrath than submit and beg for my mercy, huh?I made another lash, this time across the curve of her backside. Her breath hitched, but she bit her lip, trapping the pain behind clenched teeth. My chest heaved with the force of my rage, the storm of emotions threatening to consume me. How could she choose this? How could she willingly endure my fury, my punishment,
CELESTINAI watched Sevastian return to the couch, his movements deliberate and unhurried. When he reached it, he sank into the plush leather, his arms stretching out along the top of the couch in a posture of effortless command.He crossed one leg over the other, his gaze bearing down on me cold, detached, and utterly unreadable."Crawl to me," he commanded like a fucking sort of king.A surge of reluctance flared within me. I glared at him, as my body tense with resistance. But the glint of the gun in his hand, aimed steadily in my direction.And because of that, I erased any thought of rebelling in his commandSwallowing my pride, I lowered myself onto my hands and knees, the hard floor pressing painfully against my palms.Each movement was a struggle, my muscles protesting as I inched forward, the weight of humiliation bearing down on me.Sevastian watched me in silence, his expression inscrutable, as I made my way toward him.The room seemed to stretch endlessly, the distance betw
CELESTINAI watched Sevastian return to the couch, his movements deliberate and unhurried. When he reached it, he sank into the plush leather, his arms stretching out along the top of the couch in a posture of effortless command.He crossed one leg over the other, his gaze bearing down on me cold, detached, and utterly unreadable."Crawl to me," he commanded like a fucking sort of king.A surge of reluctance flared within me. I glared at him, as my body tense with resistance. But the glint of the gun in his hand, aimed steadily in my direction.And because of that, I erased any thought of rebelling in his commandSwallowing my pride, I lowered myself onto my hands and knees, the hard floor pressing painfully against my palms.Each movement was a struggle, my muscles protesting as I inched forward, the weight of humiliation bearing down on me.Sevastian watched me in silence, his expression inscrutable, as I made my way toward him.The room seemed to stretch endlessly, the distance bet
CELESTINAAs Sevastian turned his back and returned to the couch, I noticed a glint of metal on the table before me, a knife seemingly within reach. My heart raced as I contemplated seizing it, a desperate bid for control in this perilous situation.Summoning my resolve, I inched my hand toward the blade, my fingers trembling as I reached it. Just as I was about to grasp it, a deafening gunshot shattered the tense silence.The bullet struck the knife, sending it clattering across the floor, well beyond my reach.Startled, I snapped my gaze to Sevastian.He was now seated on the couch, one leg casually crossed over the other.In one hand, he held a revolver, its barrel still smoking; in the other, a glass of whiskey.His cold, unyielding eyes bore into mine, a chilling reminder of the man I was dealing with."Interesting," he drawled, his voice laced with mockery."You hesitate to kill Donovan, yet you don't think twice about attempting to kill your own husband."His words dripped wit
CELESTINAI must have drifted off without realizing it. The noise outside jolted me awake. Rubbing my eyes, I hurried out of the room. Agent Rivera's face was tense, and my friends Cleo, Marge, and Lilith were anxiously preparing to leave."What's happening?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.Lilith glanced at me, her expression grim. "The Ortega group is on their way. Somehow, they've discovered our location. We need to move, now."Confusion and fear twisted inside me. How could they have found us? Unless... Without wasting a moment, I inspected my clothes. There, hidden at the back, was a tiny tracking device. I cursed under my breath."Sevastian," I muttered, anger boiling within me. "He must have planted this on me."Agent Rivera's jaw tightened. "We need to evacuate immediately.""No," I said firmly. "Have your men leave. You and my friends should stay.""That's out of the question," Agent Rivera replied."Please," I insisted. "If they find us all here, none of us will b
CELESTINA I waited until I heard the heavy thud of Sevastian’s footsteps fade away as he stormed out of the apartment. A chill ran through me, but I refused to let myself break. I couldn’t afford to. Not now, that I must protect someone so important to me. The moment I was certain he was gone, I stumbled to my laptop, my hands trembling as I sat down at the desk. My body felt weak, but my mind was racing. I had to act fast. I couldn’t let Sevastian go through with this. I can’t allow Sevastian to kill Leo’s father, Donovan hasn't seen his son neither my twin sister, Velaria. I opened a new message, quickly typing in my friends' names: Lilith, Marge, and Cleo.“I need you to do everything you can to save Donovan,” I typed as quickly as my fingers would allow, my anxiety building with every word. “If possible, hide him. He can't die. Leo and Velaria need him.”I paused for a second, the weight of my words sinking in. I had never asked them for something this dangerous, but it was