Mag-log inTESSAI headed back to the main building first, a smile still playing on my lips despite my efforts to hide it.The house was still quiet as I slipped in and I let out a little sigh of relief that my parents weren't up yet. I didn't want to start explaining where I was last night.I tiptoed up the stairs, carefully opening the door to my room to avoid it creaking loudly and eased in, trying to close it as quietly as possible. I exhaled slowly, my shoulders relaxing as though I'd just pulled off the perfect break-in.“Where have you been?”I jumped, my heart lurching into my throat as I whipped around to the sound of the voice.“Christ! Ella, you startled me!” I exclaimed, pressing a hand against my racing heart. “What are you doing here?” I asked, watching her throw her feet off the bed.“I came to return these a while ago…” she said, pointing at the heels and the handbag she borrowed yesterday before her eyes met mine again. “...but I realised you weren't here. Where were you?”I tr
TESSA The soft morning light spilled in through the window, casting a warm golden glow on the side of Leonardo's face. His eyelids were shut, his breathing evened out but even in his sleep, his arms wrapped protectively around my waist, pulling me closer to his chest. I couldn't help myself from tracing the slightly overgrown stubble on his chin, letting my fingers wander across his face. He looked effortlessly flawless and breathtaking, like perfection in human form. My hands moved lower to his bare chest, trailing the center of his chest till they came to rest above his heart once again. I slowly shut my eyes, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart on my palms. My chest squeezed painfully as the vulnerability I saw in his eyes last night resurfaced in my memory. I could never imagine what he had to go through as a child no matter how hard I tried. Being born into this type of life that already took the fun out of his childhood before he could even experience it was
LEONARDO No amount of words could describe how she made me feel. Before her, I merely existed. I was brought up to find solace in the darkness and danger all around. It was all I ever knew. The bloodshed and betrayals were always a part of my life and I never knew life could be worth living till she came along. Somehow, she'd managed to breathe life into parts of me I thought had died a long time ago. She made me want things I'd never allowed myself to want. Things that make ‘made men’ seem weak. With Tessa, there was no weakness. She made me want to be a better man. One more deserving of her. I never knew how it felt to be this madly consumed by someone until her. She captured my heart the very second I saw her ID that night and I never wanted her to give it back. There were no words sufficient enough to explain it, so instead, I let her feel it for herself. I guided her hand to rest right above my heart, letting her feel how hard my heart beats for her. Her fingers trembled
TESSA The knife slipped from my fingers for the fifth time, clattering against the chopping board. I glanced towards the closed study door for what felt like the hundredth time since dad and Leonardo disappeared behind it. I picked up the knife again, trying to concentrate on slicing up the vegetables but they ended up falling once more. “Honey, you're going to lose a finger at this rate,” mum said, gently taking the knife from me and handing it to Ella to carry on with the task. I let out a shaky breath. My nerves were getting the best of me and I couldn't hold still anymore. It's been close to an hour since they've both been in there having a ‘talk’ after they all saw me hugging him outside. This wasn't how I wanted to introduce him to my family but certain things were out of my control and now I was literally about to pull my hair out, trying to imagine what they would both be talking about for this long. I should knock, right? Perhaps cause some sort of distraction,
LEONARDO The moment I ended the call, I turned to face Matteo. His expression hardened, though a flicker of concern remained in his eyes.“Prepare the jet immediately,” I ordered, already making my way towards the exit.He nodded in understanding, pulling out his phone. “What do we do about him?” Matteo asked, referring to Enzo.I glanced at the pathetic bastard still muffling beneath the hood.In a blink of an eye, I raised my gun and fired two bullets straight to his head, watching his body slump before blood pooled around him.“Dispose of the motherfucker,” I said, not sparing another goddamn second before leaving the warehouse.Matteo muttered quick instructions to my men before following me out, walking ahead to hold the car door open for me.I got in and he rounded the car, getting in at the other side before the driver pulled into the road, fueling the accelerator as fast as he could. “Boss, this just came in for you,” Matteo said in a tight voice, handing me the tabletI too
LEONARDO These past twelve days have been the most painfully slow and insufferable days of my life. I couldn't believe how empty and easily fucking agitated I felt as a result of her absence and now this lying bastard kneeling in front of me was getting on my last fucking nerve.I lit the cigarette in my hand, taking a long drag before puffing out the smoke.“You of all people should know better how this will end. But…” I took a long drag. “I'm feeling a bit generous today,” I said, letting the smoke swirl through my lips as I spoke.Two more fucking days and my woman will be right back in my arms, exactly where she belongs. “So I'm going to let you choose your death.”I managed to rise to my feet, using my walking stick as support while ignoring the dull ache that shot up through my spine.That bastard, Enzo. He fucking thought he could escape us after hoarding our shipments without being accountable but now, here he was, tied up to the floor like a cunt and pleading like a fuckin
TESSA I hummed softly, stirring as fingers brushed through my hair. My eyes blinked open, adjusting to the light. A dull ache shot through my neck from sleeping in such an awkward position, and I winced as I tried to lift my head. “Watching you sleep just became my favorite thing to do,” a deep,
TESSA Even over lunch, my thoughts kept drifting back to Leonardo. His face, his body, his voice whenever he was being flirty and teasing me. He looked shut off from the world, like he had built a wall nobody could scale through around himself. One second he'd be looking at me like a desert he c
TESSA I bit on my lower lip, resting my back against the couch as I rubbed my fingers against my folds, amazed by how wet I was. The feeling was both dangerous and electrifying. Touching myself in front of him and to make it more intense was the way his eyes never left mine as if holding a silent
TESSA Shame hit me first. Then fear. Fear at how he was my undoing. My body still tingled from his touch, but my mind screamed at me, ‘what have you done?’ I reached for the towel, wrapping it around my body, but he stopped my movements. “A second ago you were screaming my name and you're regr







