Chapter 44
Her breath caught in her throat. Even if she tried to avert her gaze from him, she couldn’t; his large frame covered her completely.
Anna’s lips parted, cold sweat rolling down her back as his eyes probed for answers. She placed her trembling hand on his broad chest. “People are watching, they would think we’re having an affair.”
Her words were soft, her eyes averted his. Leone chuckled, pulling away from her, and Anna finally got a chance to take a breath.
Her eyes stared at Leone’s hand, which he had stretched out for her to take. Anna hesitated for a moment before taking it, and he helped her out of the car.
Her eyes fell on his bodyguards, who kept their distance away from the car while they waited for them to step out.
With the door now shut, Leone walked up to the head of his guards and they exchanged words in Italian. Anna, who couldn’t understand one word they were saying, swept her eyes around the building—a large skyscraper with Alessandro Group boldly written on it.
She dug her nails into her palm, hoping and praying Leone didn’t bring this up again. How would she start explaining that no one had actually told her, and she had just deduced it from the look in his eyes that night?
When Leone was done speaking with the head guard, the guards got into their car and drove away, leaving them alone.
“Why did you send them away?” Anna asked him when he came to stand next to her.
“Why are you asking, peach? Anyone catch your interest?” One of his brows arched as he asked, his question teasing yet punching at something which wasn’t true.
A small frown came to settle on her face, something which he found rather adorable. “I was just curious to know…”
“Careful there, peach. We all know what happened to the curious cat.” His words had just been to tease, but if he caught even a whiff of truth in it, he wouldn’t hesitate to send the guards to the afterlife.
Anna pursed her lips, staring at him, wanting to retort to his earlier allegation when someone else joined them.
Anna looked to see a slim yet tall man, draped in an expensive suit, approaching towards them. He had a head full of midnight black hair, black eyes which stared intently at both of them. His bodyguard stood behind him, and at this point, Anna worried about the lack of bodyguards on their side, just in case a fight broke out.
The man had an intelligent smile on his face as he outstretched his hand to give Leone a handshake.
“Vicenzo,” the man grinned as they shook hands, and Leone nodded, his face stoic as he stared back at the man who was the same age as his father.
“Salvatore.” Leone retreated his hand, both wordlessly exchanging looks, and Anna felt goosebumps form on her skin. Was this the man they were supposed to meet?
His eyes fell on her—menacing yet tamed—and Anna almost hid behind Leone. “You must be the future Mrs. Vicenzo,” he smiled at her, something that made the hair on her nape stand.
“Miss Lorenzo.” Anna was sure he would’ve reached for her hand to kiss the back of her palm if Leone’s next words hadn’t interrupted him.
“Not a step closer, Mr. Salvatore,” Leone smiled, one that didn’t reach his eyes.
Anna’s eyes widened at how Leone hadn’t bothered to be subtle about his words. A thick silence reigned in the air, one that made her want to enter the ground.
The man laughed, an attempt to wave off the awkwardness, but not a drop of surprise showed on his face at how Leone spoke to him. Everyone knew how he was, after all.
His eyes shifted back to Anna, whose heart had begun to race. “I’m Fabbio Salvatore, a well-known businessman here in Switzerland and Singapore. I’m glad to have you here, Miss Lorenzo.” His words were calmer now, but it didn’t ease Anna’s jittery nerves. She got an odd vibe from him.
“Let’s get going.” He turned and began heading inside the building.
Leone turned to stare at her. “You don’t have to put up with anything you don’t like. If it makes you uncomfortable, tell me and I’ll get rid of whatever that is.”
Anna stared at him, a bit lost in his eyes as he spoke to her with unconcern. Noticing he was waiting for a reply, she slowly nodded. Her heart fluttered in response to his words.
Leone and Anna proceeded into the large and magnificent building, workers stationed at every corner who did their work like automated robots.
The tiles—sparkling white—chandeliers which cast a golden glow around the place, and the temperature, not too cold but perfect.
The workers who passed stopped to bow at them. Was this a mafia organization? Anna couldn’t help but look around like a lost child.
They got into an elevator which took them to the last floor of the building. A girl who was about the same age as Anna, with brown hair and brown eyes, walked up to them. She was dressed rather fashionably.
“Father,” she smiled at Fabbio, her eyes fixed on her and Leone for a short second before diverting them back to her father.
“Erica, meet Vicenzo and Miss Lorenzo. I’m sure you already know who they are,” Fabbio said.
Erica stared at them—or more particularly, she gaped at Leone—but one glare from him had her coming back to her senses.
“Miss Lorenzo, Leone and I will be having some private discussions. Hope you don’t mind spending time with Erica?”
Anna looked at Erica, who wore a smile on her face, and then at Leone, who was already looking at her.
“Sure,” she nodded.
Leone leaned in to whisper. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t get into any trouble—we both know how good you are at it.”
Her cheeks turned red, and she bit her lips to control it. “I’ll be good,” she muttered, but he still caught it.
Leone and Fabbio left her to Erica’s company.
“Let’s settle down in my office,” Erica said, and Anna nodded, following Erica, who led them to her office.
The place looked less like an office and more like a lounge. Anna made herself comfortable on one of the sofas as she stared at Erica, who keenly watched her.
“It’s great having you here,” Erica spoke. “You’re getting engaged to Domenico, am I right?”
It seemed like she already knew that but just wanted some kind of confirmation. Anna slowly nodded, and Erica smiled radiantly.
“Great. Leone and I will be getting married soon. That was why his father sent him here—for us to talk about it and finalize the date of our marriage.”
Anna’s throat went dry, her face pale like someone had sucked all the blood out of it. “What!!!!?”
Chapter 45:Anna’s eyes flew wide, not believing what she was hearing. Was there a reason to? It’s not like it was true.Was it okay to care that he was getting married to this chirpy woman? Why did it feel like a heavy stone had been placed on her chest? If this was true, she should’ve heard of it sooner, not now, right?Did Leone know about this? Her lids twitched as she stared at the girl who kept rambling about it. If it was true and Leone knew, wouldn’t they have said something when they met each other in the lobby?Plus, Leone would’ve told her. He would.“I’ve never been to Italy before. You don’t mind showing me around when I come, do you?” Erica asked, waking Anna from her trail of thoughts.Except the place was her bedroom, Anna pretty much didn’t know anywhere else in Italy as she was cooped up in that mansion day and night.Her eyes trailed up to Erica’s neck to see the golden chain dangling on it. Anna mustered a small smile. “That’s a beautiful chain, Erica. I’m sure it
Chapter 44Her breath caught in her throat. Even if she tried to avert her gaze from him, she couldn’t; his large frame covered her completely.Anna’s lips parted, cold sweat rolling down her back as his eyes probed for answers. She placed her trembling hand on his broad chest. “People are watching, they would think we’re having an affair.”Her words were soft, her eyes averted his. Leone chuckled, pulling away from her, and Anna finally got a chance to take a breath.Her eyes stared at Leone’s hand, which he had stretched out for her to take. Anna hesitated for a moment before taking it, and he helped her out of the car.Her eyes fell on his bodyguards, who kept their distance away from the car while they waited for them to step out.With the door now shut, Leone walked up to the head of his guards and they exchanged words in Italian. Anna, who couldn’t understand one word they were saying, swept her eyes around the building—a large skyscraper with Alessandro Group boldly written on
Chapter 43All his life as a mafia, he had never lost hold of his control; instead, he had been the puppeteer—one who pulled strings to ensure that others were the ones to lose themselves and their sanity.It was safe to say that he had been undeterred, one who would crack a joke even if the world was burning to ashes, but now, he couldn’t get a grasp of himself when it concerned her.She was filling up his mind; he was slowly losing it. He hadn’t bargained for all this. All he knew was that he wanted her.He had always been the one to take, not giving a damn or considering anyone or anything. What he wanted, he always got, but now the case was entirely different.This little peach in front of him—she was the first thing that he wanted but hadn’t gotten. The need to have her was what was making him lose his mind.It wasn’t like he couldn’t kidnap her and have her all to himself. It wasn’t like he couldn’t take her far away where she would have no one else but him to lean on. He just c
Chapter 42Anna stared at him, her heart a complete mess, her brows knotted in confusion. Under normal circumstances, she would’ve reminded him once again that her name wasn’t Peach but Anna, but now—now seemed like no time for that.Knowing she couldn’t refuse him and it would take one slight tug for him to get her out of the car, she reluctantly took off the seatbelt, her hand a trembling mess as she got out of the car.Anna almost couldn’t breathe upon realizing that this was actually a bridge—one push, and she would land in the afterlife.Her heart was a racing mess as she stared at him, and with the way he had parked the car in the middle of the road, it meant cars didn’t go through this route, and if Leone truly had bad plans, there would be no saving.He slammed the door behind her, her breath hitched, her back pressed on the door frame as he cornered her, slamming his hand at the side of her head.“Is something wrong, Peach?” His head tilted as he stared at her, and Anna was l
Chapter 41Anna didn’t wait a second longer before walking away from him, but that didn’t prevent his cold, shrewd eyes from lashing on her back.She saw no use in him calling her that—a special name—when they were nothing. Taking a deep breath, she got into the car, and then he followed suit.Anna was queasy, anxious, and nervous. The Don had only told her they were here for business, and the thought of what kind of business they were here for had been haunting her mind.It was no secret that the top mafia clans engaged in sex trafficking. Was Vicenzo part of them? From what she knew, the Lorenzo mafia clan never engaged in such, so was it possible that the Vicenzo, being the king of other mafia clans, engaged in it?Anna couldn’t watch such atrocity being committed right in front of her eyes, and she doubted she would be able to control herself if that were to be the case.Having never been to Madagascar, Anna’s eyes remained fixed outside the window, staring at the large skyscraper
Chapter 40Her chest tightened, her heart sank at the very thought of it. Worst of all, she couldn’t even refuse. She hated to say it, but she’d rather go there with Domenico than Leone at this point—she didn’t want to be anywhere near him.She had a million things to say, and the word “No” constantly resounded in her head, waiting for her to voice it out, but she held it back in.The Don kept staring at her, waiting for a response, but was it needed, when there was only one thing she could say?“Yes, Don,” was all Anna could muster, and she quickly excused herself from there, not wanting to be anywhere near Leone. She couldn’t even ask how long she would be staying. All she felt was this ache in her chest that prevented her from saying anything more or staying here any longer.…………When she got to her room, she was a bit shocked to find Chiara packing her things in a suitcase.Wasn’t it just minutes ago that the Don broke the news to her, and suddenly her things were getting packed u