ROSALINEI woke up with a light headache that made me keep my eyes shut for the next few seconds. “Love.” I heard Russo’s deep and comforting voice. His voice was almost quiet, almost like a whisper and yet so deep that it soothed my soul.The memories of last night flashed before my closed eyes but somehow it didn’t affect me so much. Maybe it was because of Russo’s hand gently circling my right arm as I opened my eyes slowly.“Russo” I called his name as his face came into view. I tried to pull myself to sit up but Russo aided me with it and as soon as I saw sat, my back against the headboard, I looked more carefully at Russo’s face.“Hug me” I uttered the first words that came into my mouth.He immediately pulled me into his warm arms and I rested my head on his broad chest that was clad in a light shirt. I snuggled closer to him, his presence around me making me feel a hundred times better. He kissed my forehead, a gesture that made my heart flutter before I pressed my forehead
AUTHOR’S POVRick glanced at his uncle in the backseat from the mirror, his hands steady on the wheel.“You are awake” Rick said casually. “Hmm” Dark Caster groaned, pulling himself to sit upright.“Now, can I have an explanation as to why I have been driving for the past four hours and only taking very short breaks? What is going on?” Rick questioned. He had gone to see Dark Caster to beg him to let go of Rosaline and trash the video of Rosaline kissing Russo but the situation he had met had been completely different from what he had expected.His uncle had seemed like he was running away and immediately he set his eyes on Rick, he had hopped into the car and asked Rick to drive away. Though confused, Rick knew just how things could take a dark turn at times sso he had known to obey first.“Give your phone to me” Dark caster demanded instead of answering Rick’s questions.“My phone? For what?”“It would be great if you could be less whiny than you are right now” Dark Caster groaned
ROSALINE“She’s asleep now” I said quietly, a hand still patting her hair gently while Russo’s steps approached me. His hand gently moved to the back of my head in a gentle, soothing pat“Russo” I pulled my hand away from Damien and looked up at him. His eyes were gentle and immediately I rose from the bed, he pulled me into a warm embrace that I very much needed. Diane made me remember my younger self so much but I was a bit luckier. I had Russo and I also had this generational wealth that my family had left for me.“She’s so helpless” I mumbled.“I know” His deep voice soothed me as he patted me comfortingly. I felt so warm in his arms. It was like my own personal safe space that I could always run into.“Russo” I pulled back a little from the hug.“Does she have any other family? Her mum is dead and Karl is dead too. Is there any other person for her?” I asked.“According to the records, Karl has no relative anymore but who knows if he was lying about that just the way he lied abou
ROSALINEI was more than surprised to see that Rick was calling me after the fight we had had the last time. He had made it quite clear that our friendship was totally over. Had he heard about what happened to me somehow and decided to check up on me? If he had heard about it, then the call was definitely valid because the Rick I knew would call to make sure I was okay no matter how huge the fight we are having. Still unsure of the exact purpose of the call, I picked the call and put the phone to my ear. "Rick?" I called his name. "Rosa" he mentioned my name like he was out of breathe. "Are you okay?""No, are you okay?" He shot the question back to me, an indication that he somehow knew what had happened to me last night. "I am fine. How do you know about what happened?" I asked because I was pretty sure that Russo didn't do things for the public to find out. And I hadn't called any of our mutual friends to inform them about this either. "Listen, Rosa. I am very sorry" he ap
NOTE: This chapter contains elements of violence. RUSSO EL MASSIMO “Where is Dark Caster and Rick?” I asked the first question as I walked into the torture chamber. “They are yet to be brought here, boss. However, the men contacted me few minutes ago and they know the precise location of Rick. It is only a matter of time before he is brought in.” Sian explained. “Fasten things up. He has to be dead before the end of today. None of them are going to be alive by the end of today.” I let my gaze travel around the tied down men. I undid the first two buttons of my shirt and rolled my sleeves up. “You and you…” I pointed at two of my men who were standing in the torture chamber. “You are yet to perfect your chopping skills, right? Get to it but pull out each of their teeth first. I want to hear every scream that comes from each tooth being pulled off. Then you sew their mouths close and proceed with the chopping. Learn well from using these lab rats.” “Yes, boss” They chorused in r
ROSALINE “Russo, pick up the goddamn call!” I yelled at the phone but again, my call wasn’t picked. There was no doubt that Russo was ignoring my calls. He intended to kill Rick and he didn’t want to be stopped by me. But I needed to stop him. “Get a car” I puffed out, a hand returning to my waist. If Russo had said he was going to be back in an hour, then that meant he was very close by. He definitely had to still be in the estate. In some other building entirely, in one of those buildings that seemed more like ornamental buildings cause no one ever lived in them. “The car” I mumbled as a car pulled over in front of me. I pulled the door open and got into the car, feeling slightly dizzy. I groaned and held my forehead for a second before getting an idea. “Where are we off to ma’am?” The guy in the driver seat asked. “Every notable building in this estate until I find Russo but before you start driving, let’s try something out. You are going to have to do something for me.” I s
ROSALINE I pulled my blood stained shirt off gently and looked at Russo who was getting rid of the blood soaked shirt he had on. I hadn't let him go back in there to finish up like he had said he wanted to. I had insisted that he come home with me right away because I needed him and I was glad he came home with me. Diane was still asleep and I wanted us both clean from the blood before the little girl would wake up. "Cara" Russo's hands gently touched my waist and I shut my eyes lightly at the feel of his fingers. It made me feel at peace and I didn't hesitate before leaning in to his bare chest and feeling the warm of him. He wrapped his arms around me."Russo" I whispered his name. "Let's take a bath together" I whispered and he took a step back almost instantly. I grumbled the loss of his warmth around me. "No, Cara. You go take a bath first and I'll go in after you or I'll go use another room." He said and my brows furrowed. I turned back to face him, the look of confusion
ROSALINE I was frozen against the wall, my ears ringing and my heart thumping at the words I had just heard. I knew it. I just knew that it wasn't supposed to be a date only! "You..." I found my voice under his searching eyes. "You were going to ask me to marry you? Not just become your girlfriend officially?" I asked and he pressed up against me, making me feel the hard on from his completely drenched trousers. "I know what I want, Cara. And you also want me, there's no need to take the longer route, is there?"My heart was pounding. He was right. I was never going to let go of him so why in the world should we take the longer route?!"I... Well, you said you wanted to ask me to marry you. Do you still want to ask me to marry you? I mean, is the proposal still valid?" I asked, my words a jumble. My brain was turning into a mush at this point and it wasn't my fault!"You know that proposal is forever valid" he lifted my chin up with a finger. I couldn't take the burst of joy in m
PIETRO GIACOMETTI I hated the noise. No matter how quiet they tried to be, they could not be quiet enough for me. I didn't just hate the noise, I hated the smiles on their faces and I hated how free they were, running around. If there was anything I wanted to do right now, I wanted to tie them all to a tree and drench them in fuel and watch them shake in fright while I played with a lighter. The children of the workers in our home. My mother was the reason they were here, she was the only one who thought it was a good idea to have a home built for all our workers, where they could live with their family. I shaded the drawing I was making. A drawing of a dying man with his toes chopped off. The inspiration for the drawing? Watching my dad chop toes off a pathetic man last night. "Who are you?" I heard the children ask in one loud voice. I raised my gaze and saw them gathered around a tree. A little girl was sitting under the tree, a drawing book in her hands too. I had never not
The Wedding ROSALINE MASSIMO With gentle and steady steps, I walked down the aisle. Every step I took was calculated. The wedding organising had included the aisle walk training. My dress flowed down and with every step, the several yards of dress flowed after me. A sparkly white dress, with red roses splashed all over the flowing part of it. My gaze was fixated on Russo who was standing at the altar, waiting for me. He was staring at me with a loving look on his face and I couldn't stop the smile on my face too even though my smiles could not be seen under the veil I was wearing. In the past, if I ever pictured a wedding, it would be Russo walking me down the aisle to another man but it was the opposite now and I couldn't be happier. The venue had been beautifully decorated to specifically match my taste. A warm golden light lit up the place and the aisle, long and spread with rose flowers. I was holding a bouquet of Juliet roses. I finally got to Russo and he reached a
ROSALINE "She's so adorable, isn't she? I had so much fun today. Making her happy made me happy too." I giggled as we walked into our room, Russo's hands on my waist. "Seeing you this happy makes me happy too, fairy godmother" Russo said with a chuckle. I was still dressed in the fairy godmother costume and still had the wand in hand. "Come, come over here" I motioned him to come stand in front of me.His hands slid, changing position until he was in front of me, holding my waist still. The fact that he wasn't letting go of my waist made me feel sweet. "This sweet fairy is going to bless you" "Hmm, and how am I getting blessed?" He asked, a hint of smile on his face. "With a beautiful sprinkle of happiness" I waved the wand all over him. "The wand isn't enough to give me happiness""Really? Then what will make you happy?""The fairy herself" he replied and picked me up from the floor. I laughed softly as he lifted me and didn't let go until he dropped me on the bed and got ab
AUTHOR'S POVRick sat at the diner, phone on the table and a bag by his side. It took only about a minute of waiting before Melinda walked in the diner door. Her eyes looked around for a second before they settled on Rick. She walked over to him and sat opposite him. "Are you okay?" Was her first question. She had a worried expression on her face. "Well, quite so" Rick shrugged his shoulders lightly."You've been distant for the past few days and you don't look too good" Melinda noted out, referring to the bruises on his face and Rick simply pressed his lips into a thin line for the next few seconds. "Should I have remained close, then?" He finally spoke, directing his gaze to her. "Tim is no longer with me. He... He is unwilling to let go of what happened." Melinda sighed softly. "As it should be. You ruined whatever was left of this entire friendship, Melinda." Rick accused. "Don't put the entire blame on me" Melinda shook her head lightly. "Then whom do I put it on? Tim? Fo
ROSALINE I was frozen against the wall, my ears ringing and my heart thumping at the words I had just heard. I knew it. I just knew that it wasn't supposed to be a date only! "You..." I found my voice under his searching eyes. "You were going to ask me to marry you? Not just become your girlfriend officially?" I asked and he pressed up against me, making me feel the hard on from his completely drenched trousers. "I know what I want, Cara. And you also want me, there's no need to take the longer route, is there?"My heart was pounding. He was right. I was never going to let go of him so why in the world should we take the longer route?!"I... Well, you said you wanted to ask me to marry you. Do you still want to ask me to marry you? I mean, is the proposal still valid?" I asked, my words a jumble. My brain was turning into a mush at this point and it wasn't my fault!"You know that proposal is forever valid" he lifted my chin up with a finger. I couldn't take the burst of joy in m
ROSALINE I pulled my blood stained shirt off gently and looked at Russo who was getting rid of the blood soaked shirt he had on. I hadn't let him go back in there to finish up like he had said he wanted to. I had insisted that he come home with me right away because I needed him and I was glad he came home with me. Diane was still asleep and I wanted us both clean from the blood before the little girl would wake up. "Cara" Russo's hands gently touched my waist and I shut my eyes lightly at the feel of his fingers. It made me feel at peace and I didn't hesitate before leaning in to his bare chest and feeling the warm of him. He wrapped his arms around me."Russo" I whispered his name. "Let's take a bath together" I whispered and he took a step back almost instantly. I grumbled the loss of his warmth around me. "No, Cara. You go take a bath first and I'll go in after you or I'll go use another room." He said and my brows furrowed. I turned back to face him, the look of confusion
ROSALINE “Russo, pick up the goddamn call!” I yelled at the phone but again, my call wasn’t picked. There was no doubt that Russo was ignoring my calls. He intended to kill Rick and he didn’t want to be stopped by me. But I needed to stop him. “Get a car” I puffed out, a hand returning to my waist. If Russo had said he was going to be back in an hour, then that meant he was very close by. He definitely had to still be in the estate. In some other building entirely, in one of those buildings that seemed more like ornamental buildings cause no one ever lived in them. “The car” I mumbled as a car pulled over in front of me. I pulled the door open and got into the car, feeling slightly dizzy. I groaned and held my forehead for a second before getting an idea. “Where are we off to ma’am?” The guy in the driver seat asked. “Every notable building in this estate until I find Russo but before you start driving, let’s try something out. You are going to have to do something for me.” I s
NOTE: This chapter contains elements of violence. RUSSO EL MASSIMO “Where is Dark Caster and Rick?” I asked the first question as I walked into the torture chamber. “They are yet to be brought here, boss. However, the men contacted me few minutes ago and they know the precise location of Rick. It is only a matter of time before he is brought in.” Sian explained. “Fasten things up. He has to be dead before the end of today. None of them are going to be alive by the end of today.” I let my gaze travel around the tied down men. I undid the first two buttons of my shirt and rolled my sleeves up. “You and you…” I pointed at two of my men who were standing in the torture chamber. “You are yet to perfect your chopping skills, right? Get to it but pull out each of their teeth first. I want to hear every scream that comes from each tooth being pulled off. Then you sew their mouths close and proceed with the chopping. Learn well from using these lab rats.” “Yes, boss” They chorused in r
ROSALINEI was more than surprised to see that Rick was calling me after the fight we had had the last time. He had made it quite clear that our friendship was totally over. Had he heard about what happened to me somehow and decided to check up on me? If he had heard about it, then the call was definitely valid because the Rick I knew would call to make sure I was okay no matter how huge the fight we are having. Still unsure of the exact purpose of the call, I picked the call and put the phone to my ear. "Rick?" I called his name. "Rosa" he mentioned my name like he was out of breathe. "Are you okay?""No, are you okay?" He shot the question back to me, an indication that he somehow knew what had happened to me last night. "I am fine. How do you know about what happened?" I asked because I was pretty sure that Russo didn't do things for the public to find out. And I hadn't called any of our mutual friends to inform them about this either. "Listen, Rosa. I am very sorry" he ap