MasukNext to Aunt Alessia stands her daughter, Cristiana. Her face is adorned with an honest smile, but her eyes are giving away more than she wants them to reveal. I know what her problem is and that she’s hoping for me to solve that problem for her. And maybe I will. Even though I know it wouldn’t be a
Xavier might be self-sufficient to protect her, but I’m more ruthless. The fear of going against me has a stronger effect on people who hold a love for their lives and wives and children. And I wouldn’t hesitate to use that fear to keep my family out of danger. Xavier might be an asshole, but he’s s
“My world is a less scary place with you in it, baby. I will kiss you a thousand times every day if that’s what it takes to keep you in love with me for the rest of our days.” [VLADIMIR] "Do you take Vladimir Perazzo as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or
“Do you really?” I tease, although the insinuation makes my nerves tingle. I watch him take a sip before leaning on the railing and chuckling. “Enjoy this time as much as you can, because once we’re done with dinner, I’m not letting you out of my sight, out of my reach, and out of my bed,” moving c
I swallow. “What is it?” Breathlessly, I manage to ask. Grabbing me by my waist, Mir twirls me around and pushes my back against the rail. The cool breeze of the ocean bites my bare back even more. I shiver. But nothing matches the dance of butterflies in my belly. Or the way my bones tickle. When
[ZARINA] “Mir, this is...” I gasp. “Do you like it?” pressing those words into my ear, he grazes his teeth below my lobe. “...gorgeous. It’s gorgeous.” After our deep and long conversation, the previous night, Mir and I woke up with someone causing a ruckus at the door. It was only then it dawne
[ZARINA] “What do you think is going to happen?” I ask mother, barely able to repress the worry and dread pooling in my stomach from showing on my face. Lorenzo left soon after Aurora’s call. More than half of his men left with him, too. Diego was forced to go with him. And even though I have bare
He glares at me briefly before rolling his eyes. “Even if we convince Vladimir to walk into something that could lead him to his potential demise, what makes you think I would ever agree to such a thing? I’m not ushering my brother into any such trap. We might not see each other eye to eye more ofte
“Why are you doing this?” I hear someone say, but when all eyes in the room turn to me, it’s only then I realise it’s my voice and I’m the one talking. “Excuse me?” Lorenzo appears perplexed, but he is swift to recover, his eyes glowing with newfound amusement. In no time, he moves from his place
Before I feel the warmth of his skin soak into mine, the sharp headlights of the approaching cars force me to look away. Xavier is quick to jump in front of me, taking a protective stance before I can even process what is going on. The cars come to a halt. There are at least three, from what I can







