Novel-novel oleh Bernice

SHANE'S POV:Henrique stumbled backward, his expensive shoes scuffling against plush carpet. Catching his balance against the wall, his chest heaved. For the first time, the mask of the untouchable Don had cracked, shattering into a thousand pieces on my office floor.For several long moments, the only sound was the hard sound of our breathing.Caleb stood beside the door, his hand still near his holster.Henrique looked at me. There was nothing in his eyes now of the pomposity of a crime lord. He stared at me with the wearied clouded eyes of an old man who had met a wall he couldn't bully his way through.He stooped, with audible cracking in the joints, and reached for his cane. He dusted it off with a shaking hand."You have fire," Henrique breathed. The venom was gone from his voice now, his words low and gravelly. "I haven't seen fire like that since… since I was your age.""This is about boundaries,” I said, straightening my suit jacket, and my heart was still hammering a war dru

SHANE’S POVSilence lay thick between us, tensed to the breaking point like a wire about to snap. The air-conditioning hummed, the only sound in a room suddenly too small for the two egos crammed into it.Caleb followed him inside, closing the door soundlessly and standing with his back against it, a quiet guard. Henrique didn’t notice him, chatting with us as if we were meeting for a cup of tea.“You’ve done well for yourself,” Henrique said, gesturing with his cane toward the city below.“Respectable. It’s clean. Lucy always wanted a clean city.”“State your business,” I said. Even my words were monotone, devoid of any hooks for a conversational lifeline.Henrique pulled out the chair directly across from my desk. He didn’t even wait for permission to sit—just lowered himself into it with a deliberate slowness that belied a man who owned the space around him.“Cold,” Henrique pondered, placing his cane across his lap. “I like that,” he mused. “A man who runs an empire must be cold,”

SHANE’S POVThe air inside the house had altered. I watched Lucy run into our bedroom and heard the lock click shut behind her. Lucy is safe, and I can get my work done.I went to the window in the hall, making sure to conceal myself behind the thick curtains. I peered out through the slit.The black car remained, parked like a vulture patiently awaiting carrion.My phone vibrated with an incoming message. It was my head of security, Caleb.“Sir,” Caleb’s voice was tight with urgency, “we’ve got visuals on the car. There is only one vehicle and three persons inside. The registration is tied to a shell corporation in Nevada. It’s clean, but it definitely screams ‘professional.’”“Is he doing anything?” I asked.“Just sitting there. Watching the house.”“Let him watch,” I said, my jaw clenching with anger. “If he sets one foot on the property, you take him out. Do you understand? Lethal force is authorized.”“Yes, sir.”The car lingered for ten more minutes. Then, I opened the window an

LUCY'S POV“He's what? How?” Shane's calm yet confused voice threw the questions around.He noticed my shaken hands and touched them. “Talk to me, Lucy. What's his name?”My eyes met his and I hated my father again for showing up. He could have remained buried in jail for all eternity. “Henry Ludien. But he's known as Don Henrique.”Shane frowned, a confused look on his face. He recognized the name. All people in both the legitimate and illegitimate worlds knew the stories about the old family.“The drug kingpin?” Shane repeated, his voice perilously low. “The one who controlled the whole supply chain on the East Coast in the nineties?”“Yes,” I sobbed. “He has been in maximum-security federal prison for eighteen years. He was sentenced to life. I don’t understand how he is out. I don’t understand!”“Eighteen years,” Shane repeated, his mind racing. “He must have made a deal. Or someone called in a favor.”“He texted me,” I said, nodding toward my phone, which lay dead against the wal

LUCY’S POVMy bloodstream turned cold. The phone I was holding felt like an ice cube, burning my skin. The words on the phone screen refused to fade. The text sat there, pulsating eerily with ill intent, taunting my belief in my own security.I am coming to claim what's mine.The quiet in the living room had seemed peaceful before, but now it was oppressive. The darkness in the corners seemed to be growing and shifting.Another vibration.Unknown Number: Get on the third floor. Come to the balcony.I shouldn’t have gotten up. All the logic in the world was telling me to stay where I was, to call the police, to scream loudly enough for the guards. But fear, the puppet master, had other ideas. I stood up, my legs shaking so much I had to hold onto the side of the armchair.“Mommy?” Aria called in a small, faraway voice. “Where are you going?”I turned to look at them. My beautiful, innocent children sat under the soft blue glow of the television. They were safe there. “Stay here, baby,

LUCY'S POV"Again?" I laughed. "You had that two days ago."He nodded vigorously. "The one with the little corn inside."He meant the Chinese-style chicken stew I made sometimes, which was mild, savory, and had baby corn and potatoes in it. It was his absolute favorite."Okay," I said, standing up and picking him up. He wrapped his little legs around my waist. "Rice and chicken stew it is. But you have to help me.""I’lll help!" he cheered.We entered the kitchen. It was a large, modern kitchen with marble countertops, but at this moment it felt cozy. I set Ethan down on his special stool near the sink."First, we wash our hands," I said.He soaped up his hands, making way too many bubbles, but I just laughed and helped him rinse them.I took out the chicken from the fridge and started to chop up the vegetables."Can I wash the baby corn?" Ethan asked, reaching for the bag."Yes, but be gentle," I said, handing him a small colander.He was very serious about the job at hand. He washed

Alessia's POV Dominic held the boy, while I scooped the little girl in my arms. The moment I walked in to my house I saw the decoration."Congratulations mom. Welcome home!"I had no tears left to cry as I looked from the decorations to Marco , who scooped Ella into his hands, to Elijah who kept grinning from ear to ear."This is beautiful genuinely," I said, my voice god must betraying how I felt inwardly."And here are your pineapples ma" Dominic said, after keeping the babies in the nursery.They wouldn’t stop teasing me about the pineapple. Equally, Marco handed me a small gift basket—overflowing with pineapples. Dried, candied, canned, juiced, even a plush toy shaped like one.“Really?” I asked with a smile, raising an eyebrow.He smirked. “A token of honor. For the Queen of Cravings.”Dominic added, “Don’t forget the midnight tantrums when we ran out. That’s history right there.”The twins gurgled in my arms like they were in on the joke. I rolled my eyes dramatically, but could

Elizabeth’s POVStanding frozen in the basement, Adam’s arms around me, his hands still sticky with Enzo’sblood. Corinth’s laugh echoed in my ears, and the faint crash of glass upstairs sent a chillthrough me.My hand gripped my belly, the baby kicking hard, as fear clawed at my chest. The villa wassupposed to be safe now, with Corinth caught and Enzo dead, but that sound was sharp,deliberately told me we weren’t out of danger.Adam’s face hardened, his gun still in hand, and he turned to Raphael, who was alreadymoving toward the stairs.“Stay with her,” Adam barked, his voice sharp.“I’m checking it out.”I grabbed his arm, my voice shaking.“No, don’t go. What if it’s another attack?”He cupped my face, his eyes fierce.Raphael.”“I’m not letting anyone get to you. Stay here withBefore I could argue, a sharp pain shot through my belly, so intense I gasped, doubling over.Adam caught me, his face pale.“Elizabeth? What’s wrong?”I clutched his arm, breathing hard.“I don’t k

Adam's POV Raphael knocked on the door.“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, stepping in. “But we have a problem.”Elizabeth straightened immediately. I stood, instinct kicking in. “What kind of problem?”“Movement on the perimeter,” he said. “Cameras caught Corinth’s men circling the east side. We’ve already tightened security, but…”“But if Corinth’s still pulling strings, he’s not done.” I finished.Elizabeth’s breath hitched. “I thought this was over.”I turned to her. “It is. For you. For the baby. I’ll handle the rest.”“No.” She stood slowly, wincing slightly from the weight of her belly. “We handle it together.”I hesitated, but she looked resolute. And I knew better than to argue with her when she was like this.“All right,” I said. “But you stay near Raphael.”We moved downstairs, the tension sharp in the air. The villa’s halls were dim, the security team alert and silent. I could feel it in my gut—something was off.“Anything from Corinth directly?” I asked Raphael as we approac

I should’ve known the second round of pregnancy would hit harder. I wasn’t twenty-three anymore, I wasn’t hiding from the mafia, and I certainly wasn’t ready to swell like a balloon all over again.I knew Dominic was taking his time to be a father he wasn't when I was pregnant with the twins. He was absolutely dotting, never complaining and understanding. Sometimes, I feel bad for talking to him in horrible ways, but I couldn't help it. I had to blame it on the hormones.By the third month, my belly had already begun to show. It wasn’t huge per se—just enough to make every pair of jeans feel like betrayal and every fitted top a personal insult. The moment I waddled into the kitchen wearing Dominic’s oversized hoodie, Ella gasped like she’d seen Beyoncé.“MOMMY, YOU’RE ROUND!” She screamed with wide eyes.Dominic nearly choked on his coffee.“Thank you, darling,” I said dryly, rubbing my stomach. “I was hoping someone would point that out.” I said sarcastically.Elijah peered around th

Dominic's POV “Kids,” I said, crouching down in front of the twins. “We’re going to have to head home early.”Ella's face dropped dramatically. “But why? Ee are not to leave until Monday.” she said sadly, her eyes dropping."I'm so sorry, but your mum is not feeling to well," I said deadpan. I hate to be the one announcing a bad news.“Is Mom okay?” Eli asked, suddenly serious.I glanced toward the closed door of the bathroom where Alessia had been locked in for nearly half an hour. The sounds of retching had stopped, thankfully, but the worry hadn’t.“Let's just say she’s not feeling great,” I said gently, brushing Ella’s hair back. “So we need to get her to the doctor. We’ll come back another time. Promise.” I said truthfully.The disappointment in their eyes faded quickly when Alessia stepped out, pale-faced but managing a smile. “Sorry, guys. Looks like the the vacation is ruined”Elijah gave her a quick hug. “Get better soon, Mom.”Ella nodded. “And maybe next time we won’t let

Dominic’s POVMarco didn’t say much the next morning. He stood in the doorway, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, a plane ticket to New York tucked into the front pocket of his jacket. Alessia lingered beside him, arms folded across her chest, trying to hide the chaos of emotions swirling behind her calm.“You don’t have to go yet,” she said quietly.Marco gave her a faint smile. “I think I do.”He looked at me with a smirk.He looked healthier now, more focused. The circles under his eyes were still there, but they were less haunted, like he had finally let go.“We both know my presence here is too much,” he continued. “You’ve got your family now. Your peace and I won’t want to disturb that.”I respected him for that. For knowing when to step back. But I also knew how much it cost him to walk away from his sister again. He had barely gotten to know the twins. And Alessia, well, she never said it, but I knew this goodbye was breaking something in her.“You’ll visit?” she asked, her

Alessia's POVDominic held the boy, while I scooped the little girl in my arms. The moment I walked in to my house I saw the decoration."Congratulations mom. Welcome home!"I had no tears left to cry as I looked from the decorations to Marco , who scooped Ella into his hands, to Elijah who kept grinning from ear to ear."This is beautiful genuinely," I said, my voice god must betraying how I felt inwardly."And here are your pineapples ma" Dominic said, after keeping the babies in the nursery.They wouldn’t stop teasing me about the pineapple. Equally, Marco handed me a small gift basket—overflowing with pineapples. Dried, candied, canned, juiced, even a plush toy shaped like one.“Really?” I asked with a smile, raising an eyebrow.He smirked. “A token of honor. For the Queen of Cravings.”Dominic added, “Don’t forget the midnight tantrums when we ran out. That’s history right there.”The twins gurgled in my arms like they were in on the joke. I rolled my eyes dramatically, but couldn

Allesia povI should’ve known the second round of pregnancy would hit harder. I wasn’t twenty-three anymore, I wasn’t hiding from the mafia, and I certainly wasn’t ready to swell like a balloon all over again.I knew Dominic was taking his time to be a father he wasn't when I was pregnant with the twins. He was absolutely dotting, never complaining and understanding. Sometimes, I feel bad for talking to him in horrible ways, but I couldn't help it. I had to blame it on the hormones.By the third month, my belly had already begun to show. It wasn’t huge per se—just enough to make every pair of jeans feel like betrayal and every fitted top a personal insult. The moment I waddled into the kitchen wearing Dominic’s oversized hoodie, Ella gasped like she’d seen Beyoncé.“MOMMY, YOU’RE ROUND!” She screamed with wide eyes.Dominic nearly choked on his coffee.“Thank you, darling,” I said dryly, rubbing my stomach. “I was hoping someone would point that out.” I said sarcastically.Elijah peer

Dominic's POV“Kids,” I said, crouching down in front of the twins. “We’re going to have to head home early.”Ella's face dropped dramatically. “But why? Ee are not to leave until Monday.” she said sadly, her eyes dropping."I'm so sorry, but your mum is not feeling to well," I said deadpan. I hate to be the one announcing a bad news.“Is Mom okay?” Eli asked, suddenly serious.I glanced toward the closed door of the bathroom where Alessia had been locked in for nearly half an hour. The sounds of retching had stopped, thankfully, but the worry hadn’t.“Let's just say she’s not feeling great,” I said gently, brushing Ella’s hair back. “So we need to get her to the doctor. We’ll come back another time. Promise.” I said truthfully.The disappointment in their eyes faded quickly when Alessia stepped out, pale-faced but managing a smile. “Sorry, guys. Looks like the the vacation is ruined”Elijah gave her a quick hug. “Get better soon, Mom.”Ella nodded. “And maybe next time we won’t let D

Dominic’s POVMarco didn’t say much the next morning. He stood in the doorway, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, a plane ticket to New York tucked into the front pocket of his jacket. Alessia lingered beside him, arms folded across her chest, trying to hide the chaos of emotions swirling behind her calm.“You don’t have to go yet,” she said quietly.Marco gave her a faint smile. “I think I do.”He looked at me with a smirk.He looked healthier now, more focused. The circles under his eyes were still there, but they were less haunted, like he had finally let go.“We both know my presence here is too much,” he continued. “You’ve got your family now. Your peace and I won’t want to disturb that.”I respected him for that. For knowing when to step back. But I also knew how much it cost him to walk away from his sister again. He had barely gotten to know the twins. And Alessia, well, she never said it, but I knew this goodbye was breaking something in her.“You’ll visit?” she asked, her

Dominic's POVAlessia had always been insatiable. She was always looking forward to do it anywhere at all. I had to keep her sane for the sake of our children.I was yet to agree to fully go down on her, but we definitely tried to have phone whenever we can. We had already made plans to go to the UK, but we had to consider the children's education and we planning to go there during the summer.Marco, who I had expected to leave decided that he was going to stay for more days to reconnect and reunite with his sister. I couldn't blame the poor guy. He had been underground for years when he could just come out and see his sister. He had also been making remarkable progress with the twins. They are always in his hair, everywhere, and always making fun of his hair. I think he enjoys being an uncle that much.We have had so many challenges, but right now, I just want peace and quietness. And for the first time in my selfish life, I wanted to settle into it. Not just for Alessia. But for me

Dominic’s POVI never knew this was how freedom smelt like. Victor had always been a part of my life, without me even knowing. I finally knew what I was finally free.There are certain kinds of silence that speak louder than words. The kind that comes after battle. After you’ve seen the ugliest parts of yourself reflected in someone else’s eyes and still, they stay.That was the kind of silence in the room when Marco stepped through the threshold and met the twins for the first time.He didn’t say anything at first. Neither did they. Alessia stood just a little to the side, like she couldn’t breathe. Like the air that was shared between them was too fragile to touch.Elijah, bold and curious as always, tilted his head. “Are you mama’s brother?”Marco knelt slowly, not tearing his gaze away. “I am.” His voice cracked. “I didn’t think I’d get to see you. Either of you.” He said, holding their both cheeks.The girl, Ella, frowned cutely. “Are you gonna go again?”“No,” he said, shaking h