CHAPTER 2 

JOVAN 

"My sister is a young, innocent girl with a life ahead of her. But you charmed her and she fell for your looks and deceptive tongue. i will not let you ruin her, not the way you've done to the other ladies you slept with last week. I have come to warn you to stay away from her." 

"But you are mistaken," I answered struggling to keep my quivering lips in place. "I do have feelings for Donatella. We went on an expensive both cruise last week, then to concerts and lavish dinners." 

I doubt she's ever spent that much money in her life you broke vagabond. I wanted to add, but the guns pointed in my face sent the words back to my throat. But seriously, who was this man to go around with guns and henchmen? And who would have thought Donatella had a brother as unhinged as this. 

" Besides," I included, forcing a quirky smile. "I don't think it is an ideal to judge me based on my sexual adventures. You see, it's just part of living, and trust me I know how to separate my work life from my emotional life." 

"You mean sex life, because that is all you seem interested in Jovan Rosfrith." 

Lorenzo’s eyes darkened as he said this— but it wasn’t just anger I saw in there. Something else flickered beneath the surface. Sharp, and knowing. And worse—it unsettled me more than the guns.

My gaze dropped to his mouth before I could stop it — the way his lips curled slightly, like he knew something about me I didn’t. A strange heat crawled up my spine.

I shifted back instinctively, my pulse misbehaving in ways that had nothing to do with fear.

"Leave my sister," Lorenzo said, standing. "Or I'll make you regret the day you were born." Just as I opened my mouth to respond, he fished out a dagger and placed it under my throat. "Don't toy with me Rosfrith. Don't even dare." 

As the cold metal pressed on my skin, my breath got caught in my throat. 

"Ye...yes, I'll heed. I'll stay away from Donna, starting from now. Please."

"You'd better." 

He shoved me to the ground and walked out of the warehouse. 

I immediately ordered Eric to pick me up, and the instant I got home, I called my lawyer and and requested a ceased and desist certificate. Lorenzo gun fighter my foot, these papers will be the first thing wakes up to tomorrow. How dare he? I am one of the youngest billionaires in the country, why would a low-life, lout threaten me.

"Why are we going to work with bodyguards today?" Eric questioned after two days later.  "When did you even hire them?" 

"You wouldn't understand Eric." I answered with dismissively, replaying the incident with Lorenzo now felt like death itself. But when Eric appeared stunned, I apologized for my curtness. "Let's just get to work. 

When we eventually got to my company, I didn't wait to settle down. I fished out my phone and sent a message to Donatella. 

*Hey baby. How have you been?*

I tossed the phone aside but she replied in the next few minutes. 

*You abandoned me Jovan, why?*

I realized then. Donna had no idea what her brother had done. I knew it, she was such an innocent soul. Fucking Lorenzo had simply waited for me to visit Donna, then he abducted me. How sick! 

*I'm sorry baby. I had to fly out of the state for an emergency conference. If I'd known beforehand, I would have taken you along.*

*Whoa! Where did you go to?*

*It's quite the tale. Why don't we discuss it over a glass of red wine at the Sunset Serenade. I've missed you Donna, and I can't wait to make it up to you.*

The response came a little later, but it bore the exact words I was expecting to hear. 

*Okay Jove, I've missed you too. See you later today. Xo.*

A small smile tugged at my lips as I replied with a love emoji. If one thing, Lorenzo was right wanting to protect his sister from me. The poor girl was already heads over heels in love with me. 

I wasn’t sure what happene, whether it was the tingling feeling in my groin, or whether it was simply the aura ambience of the night. But the instant I sighted Donatella walk into the private lounge, I grabbed her by the waist and kissed her hard, long, soft. 

"I love you Donatella," my voice came out raspy, clouded by want and desire. "I promise to be a better man. I’ll stand by you, love you, care for you, fight for you. My heart is yours."

We were alone in that place under the neon lights, slow R&B playing in the background, but I couldn’t do it. Not when Donatella’s reciprocatory moans signified consent. I couldn’t bring myself to pull down her zipper.

And why? 

Lorenzo.

His face came to my mind and his musky tanned scent, the one from early in the warehouse wafted to my head, unsettling me and twsist

"Jovan, are you okay?" Donna asked as I stumbled backwards breaking the embrace.

"Hmm... I’m fine, it's nothing."

"Are you sure?" she pointed to the bulge in my trouser giggling. "I don't think you are." 

She took off her coat and threw her arms around me, locking her lips with mine. But I pried her hands off my arms and moved back again.

"It's getting late." I muttered. 

Her face fell. "What? Why?" 

"I think I should take you home Donna." 

"But is everything fine?" 

No, your big brother has invaded my mind, and I don’t understand what he is doing to me.

"We’ll see tomorrow."

I didn’t see her. Not the day I promised or the one after. I kept my romance with her up on the phone though— sending gifts, facetimes and all, but I refused to meet with her.

Then Trisha came along. She was hot, curvy, and very freaky. She gave the vibe of a pornstar and I was all up. Within two days of our meeting, I book reservation one of the hotels in the suburban parts of the city, ready to hook up—ready for the time of my life.

I met Trisha waiting in the lobby, her legs crossed elegantly as she scrolled through her phone. When she saw me, her lips curled into a knowing smile — the kind that promised a long night and no regrets.

“Hey pappy” she greeted, kissing my cheek.

I flashed the keycard between my fingers. “Penthouse.”

Her eyes lit up.

We didn’t speak again in the elevator. We didn’t need to. The tension sat thick between us, her perfume sweet and intoxicating, her fingers brushing my arm deliberately as the lift climbed.

The moment the door clicked open, she was on me — laughing softly against my mouth as I backed her into the suite.

Hands roamed, jackets fell, buttons snapping. Her lips traced my jaw, slow, practiced. She was hot and wild— just the distraction I need now. From my racing mind, my Lorenzo.

“Oh, someone’s eager,” she gasped as I grabbed her bra and ripped it off. 

"Of course." 

I exhaled a low chuckle, my hands settling on her hips as I guided her toward the bed.

For a moment, just a moment, my mind went quiet.

No Lorenzo, no threats, no warehouse memories.

Just heat. Skin. Breath, and arousal. 

I leaned down, capturing her mouth again, deeper this time, letting instinct take over as my fingers found the zipper at the back of her dress.

It slid down halfway, then stopped, not because I wanted it to.

But because something cold prickled the back of my neck.

It was a distinct feeling, something was wrong. I could just feel. 

I frowned slightly, pulling back.

“You okay?” Trisha murmured, already reaching for my shirt buttons.

“Yeah… just—”

A sharp metallic click cut through the room. Before I could turn, the closet doors burst open.

Wood slammed violently against the walls as armed men flooded out, guns raised, chains glinting under the chandelier light. 

And then he stepped out last.

Calm, and Immaculate.

Lorenzo.

“I knew you wouldn’t listen, Jovan,” he said quietly, voice smooth as polished steel. “I knew you would dare me.”

Trisha gasped beside me.

“What the hell—?!” She scrambled off the bed, grabbing her scattered clothes, hands shaking so badly she could barely dress herself.

No one stopped her, no one even looked at her.

All guns, all attention, and cold glares stayed on me.

“I—I didn’t know—” she stammered, bolting for the door barefoot. It slammed behind her.

Silence swallowed the room. 

My heartbeat thundered in my ears as Lorenzo walked forward slowly, each step measured, unhurried — like he had all the time in the world.

Like I was already caught.

“You really have a death wish,” I muttered, forcing bravado into my voice despite the way my pulse spiked. His gaze dropped briefly to my half-open shirt… then lower.

Not hurried, not embarrassed, assessing in a way that made my skin prickle.

“I warned you,” he said.

“And I told you to stay the fuck out of my life,” I shot back, though my voice lacked its usual bite.

He stopped just inches away, too close.

I could smell that same musky cologne from the warehouse — warm, dark, intoxicating in a way that made my thoughts blur for half a second.

His hand rose, not to strike, but to grip my chin.

I shot back but his grip was firm, possessive. He tilted my head and forced my eyes to meet his.

“If other women can have you…” he murmured, voice dropping lower, more dangerous.

My breath hitched — not entirely from fear.

“…why can’t I?”

"You—" my stomach flipped violently.

“You have two choices,” Lorenzo said, undoing his cufflinks.

“One: take your pants off. Let me see what you used on my sister.”

“Two: I call Donatella and have her come watch what I do to you.”

“You’re sick,” I whispered.

“Am I?” His thumb brushed lightly against my lower lip — not gentle, not rough… testing.

My body reacted before my mind could stop it — a traitorous jolt of heat shooting down my spine.

I jerked back, breaking his hold.

He noticed, of course he noticed. A slow smile ghosted across his face.

“You felt that,” he said softly.

“I felt disgust,” I snapped.

“Liar.”

The word wasn’t loud, but it landed heavy.

He stepped closer again, invading my space until the back of my knees hit the bed and I dropped onto it.

“Does your sister know you’re a fucking pervert?” I snapped, slapping his hand from my face. 

He smiled.

“She doesn’t need to,” his hand settled on my belt.

“She only needs to know you betrayed her.”

"What! I thought she hadn't been privy to all this." 

The buckle clicked open.

You think this is about my sister now” Lorenzo asked.

I didn’t answer, because I wasn’t sure anymore.

His gaze roamed my face slowly, studying me like a puzzle he intended to solve piece by piece.

“You don’t get to play with what’s mine,” he said.

“I’m not yours.”

His smile deepened slightly — darker this time.

“We’ll see.”

He straightened, adjusting his cufflinks calmly as if we were discussing business, not… whatever this was.

“Dress properly,” he ordered. “You’re coming with me.”

My chest tightened.

“Or what?”

His eyes flicked toward the door Trisha had fled through… then back to me.

“It's pretty simple, you die