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
VALERIAThe air thickened as if the walls themselves were holding their breath. I couldn't stop staring at Victoria.So much of what I thought I knew about her shattered the moment she uttered those words. ‘And now… so are you.’Her voice didn’t rise. It didn’t need that quiet weight she carried sank deep, like stone tossed into still water, rippling all the way through me.I swallowed hard, trying to find something to say. Anything. But my throat felt dry, like ash was lodged in it.“You were… dragged,” I murmured finally, repeating the word like it would somehow make sense of all this. “And you didn’t fight it?”Victoria turned to me, eyes cool but not cold. “I did,” she said. “In every way I could. But when you’re young and someone like Jack sees something in you, it doesn’t matter how hard you kick. He doesn't pull you in. He lures you… until you think you’re stepping into light, only to realize it’s just fire dressed as gold.”Her words settled inside me like smoke.I looked
CELESTINAIt’s been a week since the three of us took shelter in this mansion, our supposed sanctuary, though peace has always felt like a borrowed luxury in this life.Everything felt… normal again, at least on the surface. Victoria had returned to her usual poised, icy self mask on, spine straight, and words that are carefully calculated. Valeria still carried the weight of our shared trauma, but in her own way, she remained the same—sharp-eyed and remained skeptical.I lifted my teacup, sipping the warm liquid before placing it back on the porcelain saucer with a quiet clink. “I plan to return,” I said simply.Victoria didn’t even blink. She calmly placed her own cup down with that same elegance she always carried, as if nothing could ever rattle her. “Are you certain?” she asked, her voice was searching for certainty. “You think you can handle it now?”Her gaze pinned me, unwavering, the kind of stare that could strip you bare if you weren’t ready. But I was. “Yes,” I answere
SEVASTIAN“Sevastian, let him go!” Aunt Priscilla’s sharp voice echoed in the whole room. But I didn’t move nor follow her words. My hand was already fisted in Hector’s collar, dragging him up just enough for his feet to lift slightly off the floor. My jaw clenched so tightly I could feel the tendons stretching down my neck. My blood boiled, and my rage pounding in my ears louder than anyone’s voice.Yet this bastard dared to smirk. That smug fucking smirk like he hadn’t just signed his death certificate.“Didn’t you hear her?” Hector taunted, lips twitching in amusement, his voice thick with mockery.I wanted to crush his windpipe. Right there. Right now.I glared at him, as I tightened my grip. He chuckled like I was a goddamn joke to him. “It seems your godson doesn’t want to collaborate with the Savelli,” he said, glancing over his shoulder.My gaze followed.And there he was.Jack Kostov.Sitting comfortably on the leather couch like he owned the entire fucking city. One han
CELESTINAA gentle touch brushes against my face, it was light and careful.I felt the warmth spread through me, it was so familiar that I felt so hurt. Slowly, I opened my eyes and for a moment, everything was hazy and blurred. But I didn’t need a perfect vision to know who stood in front of me.“Found you,” she said softly, poking my cheek like she used to when I was little.I blinked as I adjusted my vision until the haze cleared. There she was, the same woman I used to see when I was a child. The woman who appeared in my fragments of memory and fading dreams. A phantom I once believed was just a trick my mind played to comfort me when no one else would.I shot upright, my breath catching in my throat, and without even thinking, I threw my arms around her.God… I clung to her like I was drowning and she was the last thing keeping me above water.I don’t understand. I didn’t understand why my eyes were suddenly burning, and why my shoulders trembled, or why I felt like something
VALERIAAfter Celestina found out the truth about our father, and his connection with the Ortega's, something inside her shifted. No, not just shifted. She changed completely.The weight of it was too much. Knowing that Jack Kostov, a notorious Russian mafia figure with his hands in nearly every syndicate imaginable, was not only our father but also tied to the Ortega family. Even I, who heard about it, makes me tremble. Because I also know how powerful that man is. No, he’s no longer human but a devil in disguise. His works, his business are all in-human. It is widely known how that man was haunted by the government yet they couldn’t even put him in prison because Jack was also protected by some governor, mayor, and even some personnel in police. That’s why he was known as the King of Mafia’s. Some of them admired him and other’s hated him, he had so many enemies yet he was still alive for some reason. And I knew, just like how I felt. Celestina also felt the same, we’re twins a
SEVASTIANIt’s been three months since I followed Hector all the way to Celestina’s apartment, and I still remember every second of that night like it’s carved under my skin.There are memories that blur over time, yet it’s still vividly reminding me that Celestina doesn't trust me or see me as her husband. I clench my jaw tight as I recall how her hand gently touches his face. I buried myself in alcohol hoping it could lessen but none of it eases the one I felt. Rather, I felt more resentful and hated everything that came into my mind. That night left a mark, and no amount of distraction or alcohol could scrub it clean.“You seem to be lost in thought,” Aunt Priscilla said, her voice slicing through the fog in my head. She sat beside me on the long velvet couch like we weren’t waiting for a goddamn lunatic to walk through the door.I barely turned my head. “Isn’t that normal these days?”She raised an eyebrow but said nothing.“He’s coming today,” Natasha chimed in from across the
CELESTINAThe silence felt unbearable.Victoria sat motionless, except for her hands gripping the blanket on her lap so tightly I swore the fabric would tear. Her knuckles had gone white, and the quiet weight in the air gnawed at my chest like a slow, twisting knife.Then Valeria broke the silence that consumed the whole room. “There’s one thing I want to know.” Her voice was low but sharp, different from what she usually sounds. That even I, was turned to look at her and startled by her sudden shift demeanor. Victoria lifted her gaze. Her expression didn’t shift, but something in her eyes flickered like she already knew what Valeria might ask. “Who is our father?” Valeria asked.The moment the words left in her mouth, I saw a raw reaction which I hadn’t anticipated. Victoria’s entire body stiffened, her shoulders rising slightly before trembling like a leaf clinging to a dying branch.It is the same reaction of fear and feeling I felt when I was inside of Neo secret room. “Don’
VICTORIA“Do you think this woman could make it out alive?” Celestina’s voice cut through the fog of my unconsciousness like a jagged blade. It was sharp, blunt, and cold.“She’s breathing,” Valeria murmured beside me, her voice softer, tinged with restrained concern. I felt her touch against my arm. It was light and careful as if she didn't want me to wake up. My brows furrowed as a faint sting throbbed behind my eyes. My lids felt heavy to open, but I still forced them open to see the faces I thought I would never see again. The moment I opened my eyes, the world around me came into slow. There they are, my daughters, my own flesh and blood staring at me like I am some kind of dead person who came back alive. Valeria sat close beside me, she was calm but watchful, her gaze scanning my face like she was looking for signs I’d disappear again.And Celestina stood just behind her, her arms crossed, and her jaw set with that same fire I used to carry in the field.“You sure are we
JACK I sat in the backseat of my car, fingers tapping against the armrest, my patience thinning with every second that passed. The air inside was thick with the scent of tobacco and leather, the slow-burning cigarette in my hand smoldering between my fingers.The night was calm, deceptively so, but my instincts had been sharpened by years of this game. I knew better than to trust stillness.Then the call came.I answered without a word."Boss! Two women came and rescued Victoria! They're heading toward the shore!"I inhaled deeply, the cherry of my cigarette glowing red-hot in the dim light.Two women.I already knew who they were.A slow smirk curled on my lips."Then let them run," I said smoothly, flicking the ash off my cigarette out the window. "There are plenty of ways to get my muse."Victoria…My muse.My obsession.My fucking addiction.I could still hear her moans, the way they used to tremble between gasps, half pleasure, half defiance. She was the only woman who had ever