I have never been to a casino before but, the one Vincenzo took me to was just magnificent. It had everything and more with rich and powerful looking men everywhere.
“This is nice, whoever it belongs to must be really rich.” I said to Vincenzo, astonished as I looked around the huge place while we walked further in. “Yeah. I am really rich.” He said and I whipped my gaze to him. “It’s yours?” I asked with wide eyes. “Yes and about four others.” He replied, casually as he settled us into a table. “Are you really a drug dealer?” The question was out before I could think of it. I watched his handsome face for an annoyed expression but there was none. “Do you really want to know?” He asked with a smirk. I thought for a moment and then shook my head no. “Hi boss. Good to see you.” A pretty red haired girl in black and white cooperate short dress was suddenly at our table with a menu. She eyed me a little before turning to smile at her boss. “Château Cheval Blanc.” Vincenzo said to her and then turned to me. “You must be hungry after that orgasm I gave you in the car. What would you like to eat?” He asked me and I was seriously mortified. Did he just say that out loud!? “Um.. anything.” I whispered, blushing hard. “Anything is nothing so make a choice or do you want another spanking session, mi amor?” “No… daddy.” I muttered, ignoring whatever judgmental look the waitress must have been giving to me. I wanted this, I had to enjoy it without feeling ashamed. “That’s my girl.” Vincenzo smiled at me. We were served exotic dishes which I guessed were more expensive than all of the meals I could eat in a year. You know, it didn’t hurt being with a sexy billionaire mafia boss actually. I was dabbing my lips, stuffed full of food when a document was held out to me. An unsettling feeling resurfaced in my gut when I realized what it was. The contract! “Did you have this prepared already? Have you done this before?” I asked, getting anxious again. “Don’t worry your pretty head about that.” He said as he handed me a fountain pen too. “What about my family, they’ll be worried. I need to speak with my sister at least.” Not even the best sex in the world could make me forget my family for thirty one days. I thought about my foster mom, Lola. She would die of heart attack if she got to know I was missing. “Behave for twenty four hours and I might let you call your sister.” He shrugged. “What would you do if I don’t behave?” I asked him, daring a reply. He smirked and bit his bottom lip. Something fluttered in my tummy. “Just sign it.” He gestured at the document. I briefly read through the document, my head was filled with conflicting thoughts as I slowly wrote down my name and signed where it was required. “Now what?” I asked, the pen held tightly in my shaky hands. “Now, you give me your panties.” What!? I blinked. “Here?” I stammered in disbelief. “Yes.” He nodded. Oh my God! This was just like in fifty shades of grey! Was I really living out my favorite movie!? I swallowed and slowly took my hands into my dress and pulled off my panties. I squeezed the damp lacy material in my hand and handed it to him. He took it and surprised me by taking it to his nose and— Oh my God! Did he just sniff my panties!? “Like moist heaven.” He growled, seductively. “When we get home, I’m going to tie you up and eat you out till you see stars.” He told me with a lustful look that sent shivers down my spine. “I can’t wait.” I rasped, biting back a smile. We were just at the exit of the casino when Vincenzo received a text, halting our movement. “Wait here.” He told me and I nodded. He gave me a hard kiss and squeezed my ass a little before going back into the casino. I smiled, all mushy. How did I go from being scared of dying in the hands of a dangerous Mafia boss to anticipating a mind blowing sex with him. “Hey sexy, nice dress.” A coarse masculine voice said behind me. I quickly turned around my eyes met with a huge heavily tatted bald man in black clothes prowling to me. He looked scary as hell in a bad way, not in a hot way like Vincenzo. I decided to say nothing in reply to him and just head back to the limo. “Come on, at least say thank you.” He sniggered. I began to hear his footsteps getting closer behind me. So, I walked faster but unfortunately, he caught up to me. “You little bitch!” He snarled as he suddenly pulled me to himself and grabbed my ass through my dress. I squeaked in horror at the bold act. “Get away from me!” I screamed. “Shut up!” He spat and started forcing his way into my dress. “You’re a dirty little slut, you must be all wet and naked underneath this slutty dress.” I wanted to say something back but the sound of a loud gun shot startled me and then blood spluttered on my dress. I reeled back, terrified and I fell to the ground. At first, I thought I’ve been shot but the feeling of a heavy mass of lifeless body on me told me otherwise. There was a dead man on me! “Oh my God!” I screamed, scrambling to push him off me. Suddenly, someone pulled him off me. I looked up and saw Vincenzo with a deep scowl on his face. I caught the sight of a gun in his hand and then, everything clicked. “You shot him! You killed him!” I whispered, harshly like the cops were already surrounding us. “No one touches what is mine!” He growled and fixed his gun in his holster before picking me up like a doll and handing me over to one of his men. “Get her to the car now!” He ordered and immediately, I was taken into the limo. Just as the car sped off, loud sounds of gun shots filled the air. What was happening? Was he shooting up the whole place? My stomach fell into a pit when I realized something horrible; This was the life I just signed up for. A dangerous life. Could I survive thirty one days in the arms of my new mafia daddy?Luca Cross was buried the next day.It didn’t feel real, standing there in the cemetery, watching his casket go into the ground. The sky was gray, almost dark—like my heart. The rain tapped softly on the umbrellas. Vince stood beside me, holding me firmly so I wouldn’t fall into Luca’s grave as I stared blankly at it.But I couldn’t stop crying. Not once. Not for a second.I cried as I laid a white lily on his casket.I cried as Lola held my hand and asked why I was crying.I cried through Vince’s heart-wrenching speech.I cried while I struggled to say mine.I cried through the prayers.I cried until there was nothing left inside me but raw, shattering pain.My Luca was gone. Forever.How could I live with this?And Vince—he tried to be strong. He tried to hold my hand, hold me up, keep me from collapsing. But he was a mess too. His eyes never stopped watering; he cried silently. His voice cracked every time he tried to speak.Once, I caught him holding Luca’s childhood photo to his
Luca was bandaged like a mummy set to be put in a tomb—I could only see his closed eyes and his straight, pointy nose.It was the most heartbreaking sight.I sat beside his hospital bed, clutching his bandaged hand and rubbing an open patch of skin, trying not to cry again. But I couldn’t help it—I couldn't not cry, because my heart was broken into pieces. He'd barely escaped the explosion while the others exploded with the building.The steady beeping of the monitor was the only proof I had that he was still here, still fighting for life. Because my Luca was a fighter.“You’re going to survive this,” I whispered, brushing my fingers over his cold knuckles. “You have to.”He was as stiff as a rock. But the machine still beeped. That meant something. That meant he was breathing.I pressed a kiss to the back of his hand, then stood and walked out of the room. I needed to breathe.I met Bianca standing in the hallway, arms crossed, her eyes red and puffy. She looked up and immediately ad
~~VINCENZO~~I sat in the middle of the cold, dark warehouse, my body leaning heavily on my crutches, but it was my heart that bore the real weight. The silence around me gave too much room for my thoughts—too much space to replay every moment with my wife, every time I hurt her, every time I pushed her away when she only wanted to love me.And Lola, my baby girl. Our daughter. My daughter. My tiny miracle.What would she think of me if things went south?I stared at the dust-filled air, thinking about how she smiled when she lost her first tooth, how Jessica would comb her hair every morning and sing her silly songs in the car. I could see it now—Jessica driving, Lola asking a million questions, the sun pouring on their faces.That was what I wanted. That was all I needed.I wasn’t going to let my past take that from me again. Not this time. Not after everything.“I’ll make everything right,” I whispered into the quiet, clenching my fists. “I swear I’ll protect you both. Even if it’s
When I got home, the house felt empty, and in a few minutes, I realized why—Vince wasn’t there. His car was gone, which was unusual; he hardly went out, except when he was taking me out for dinner. There was no note. No message. No sign of him at all. I felt very worried, but there was something else that transcended that feeling—my daughter's safety. I didn’t waste any more time. My fingers trembled as I reached for the suitcases in the closet. I grabbed two—a small and a large one. I started in Lola’s room, packing anything I could find that she might need. Her pajamas. Her favorite stuffie. Her little socks she couldn't do without. I threw them in without folding. I didn't care how it looked. I had limited time. I moved to my room and packed up—mostly black. As I zipped the bags shut, I glanced down at my wedding ring on my finger. Shutting off my emotions, I took it off and left it on the nightstand. I zipped the bags and dragged them down the stairs. Every sound made me ju
The night drifted by and not once did my eyes flutter. I couldn't sleep.Lola clung to me like she hadn’t done since she was a toddler. Her small body curled up against mine, her warm breath brushing my chest as I stroked her hair. She was used to sleeping next to Daddy. But not tonight.I couldn't stomach sleeping next to him with her snoring softly on him.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that list. It tormented me, ripped apart my sanity.I didn’t speak to him after I slammed the door. I didn’t cry either—not in the way he would expect. Not sobs and tears and shouting. The hurt I felt was deeper. A silence that felt like drowning in still water.For the first time since we got married, I didn’t sleep beside him. I didn’t kiss him goodnight. And I didn’t care if he stayed awake waiting for me to come out.When morning came, the deep hurt was still there.I got up quietly before Lola stirred, brushed my teeth, changed into a black top and jeans, and made breakfast. When Vince knock
~~VINCENZO~~The moment I heard the front door open, my heart skittered because I knew she was home.I’d been sitting in the living room, the TV running on low volume. I tried and failed to focus on some documentary I couldn’t even name. My mind had been spinning all day, wondering where she went the night before, who she was with, and if things were changing.I dreaded that thought—the thought of her changing, turning into a woman I didn't know, a woman who didn't love me and not my baby girl.She stepped in and paused for a second when our eyes met. Her face looked pale, drained like life had been sucked out of her. Her lips were dry, and her eyes… God, her eyes looked like they've seen the worst.“Jessica,” I said, slowly rising to my feet, gripping my crutches tightly for balance. “Baby, are you okay?”She didn’t answer. Not even a nod. She just turned and walked toward the kitchen like she didn't hear me at all.I jerked forward and followed her as best as I could. The rubber tip