Pov: BiancaEveryday was more confusing than the last. I had lost track of the exact dates and I slept more than I was conscious.I roused awake to an unfamiliar room that smelled like antiseptic and menthol.Someone was wiping the hair off my temple... It was Andre. I'd recognize his touch anywhere."Christ, baby," he whispered in that anguished voice he uses these days, "please be okay."I struggled to keep my eyes open. My body felt like it had been run over by a truck and stuffed with painkillers. I was sluggish and groggy, numb and slower than usual. The painkillers must have knocked me out because I wasn't aware of what day or time it was."Go back to sleep, micetta."I shook my head slowly, trying to look up at him. Trying to see his face, and when his tired face swam into focus, my heart did a sad little skip.He looked like he had aged ten years since I last saw him. The scruff on his jaw was dark and he looked like he hadn't slept in days... I knew for sure that he hadn't be
Pov: AndreI had gone out to the verandah on the second floor for a smoke and to think when I stopped dead in my tracks.My entire body tightened with apprehension and revolting anger when I saw who it was that was there with me."I thought I told you to leave?""You did." He beamed, "I didn't listen." He shrugged. "Figured you were just trying to look tough in front your new girlfrie- Oh." he pretended to correct himself, "I mean, stepsister.""How did you even sneak into the building." Knowing him, he probably slithered in through the sewers like the fucking rat he was."I don't need to sneak in. In case it isn't obvious, Andre, your father still thinks the world of me and welcomes me into his home when I come visiting. You're the only one in the family who can't stomach my presence."The only one in my family with some common sense is more like it.Lucas was a weasel and a snake, as slimy as they come. I wouldn't trust him even if he came to me in a dream with angel wings and a fuc
Pov: AndreI watched as she walked slowly into house, her eyes wide in amazement. She dropped her overnight backpack in the foyer (the overnight bag I had asked to carry but she insisted on lugging behind her) and looked around. Taking it all in.She turned to look at me, a skeptical look replacing her look of amazement. I slid my hands in my pockets and held her gaze."You said you were taking me to my apartment.""This is your new apartment," I told her. "The other one got compromised.""This is a whole ass mansion.""With better security," I explained. "There's a safe room installed, in case anything happens." Because I sure as hell won't be taking any more chances.I didn't want Bianca stepping foot in the penthouse because I didn't want the memories of her ordeals to come crashing back."I expect this is coming out of my monthly stipend." She raised an accusing eyebrow at me."Yes," I lied. "It's a big house," I said quickly to avoid more conversations down that part. "Come, I'l
Pov: BiancaWith a LOT of difficulty, I was able to convince Andre to let me spend the evening with Inés and Delilah.I refused to let him see me in my dress before the party. Something about it was considered bad luck in a relationship and I didn't want to risk it.We were currently in Inés' penthouse, preparing for the party and having a little much needed girl time."I'll admit, I've never seen Andre this affectionate with another woman since... Well, since our mama." Inés admitted, her face sobering up a little."Tell me about it," Delilah chirped. She was sitting cross legged in the middle of Inés' huge queen sized bed in only her pyjamas, hogging an entire tub of ice cream. "He wanted to bathe you and feed you and keep you. He wouldn't let anyone near you. Why do I find that sweet and romantic and not possessive and scary?"I rolled my eyes, trying to fight the fact that I was blushing hard.I was well and truly gone. I used to believe that Made Men had no hearts. That they coul
Pov: BiancaI nodded gratefully. Turning to Delilah, I smiled carefully at her. "I'm sorry if all of this came as a shock. I never wanted to include you into this life but you're dating Leon now and I'm guessing he told you everything.""He told me enough and I made my choice, Bianca. I went into this with my head and my heart. After you got hurt and Leon told me everything, I knew there was no going back."I smiled at her, "at least I have you here with me. Can you imagine how boring it would have been if I didn't?""You have Inés.""Inés isn't you. I love Inés but I'm glad you're here with me."Her face softened into a watery smile, "oh, kotek," she sniffed, pulling me into a hug.It was a short and graceful ride to the DiMarco mansion and guards were all around the place with their guns and ear pieces out as well as fancy dressed criminals I'm sure with even more guns and weapons under all that cashmere and silk.Andre wasn't taking any chances. The walls, the roofs, the gates, beh
Pov: Bianca"Here, hold my wine," I shoved my wine glass into Delilah's waiting hands."Uh... Bia? Promise you won't do anything stupid," she leaned in to whisper, "the president is here."The president could suck my dick. I turned to Delilah with a straight fucking face, "when have I ever done anything stupid in posh public?"Delilah brightened up with an answer."Don't answer that!" I snapped. To Inés, I asked, "please tell me you didn't invite her?"Inés raised her hands in surrender, "what? Don't bring me into this. I never invited her. Andre cut ties with the Caruso family, remember? I have no idea what she's even doing here, maybe papa invited them or-" she suddenly froze.My eyes widened as realization hit me hard in the gut."Lucas." We both said at the same time.First, he insisted on Delilah coming and now, he's probably behind Andre's nasty ex showing up.My eyes narrowed as I searched the entire room for Lucas and sure as hell, I saw him standing in the shadows like a vil
Pov: BiancaHer smile dropped the moment we were a distance away from Andre and her hateful expression shone true. "You're never going be half the woman I was to him," she said vehemently.I sighed and rolled my eyes.And so her true nature unfolds.I turned and looked at her dryly. "I don't doubt that."Her cat eyes narrowed suspiciously at me. "When they said Andre was fucking his trailer trash of a step sister, I didn't believe them. You're really not all that. Seeing you with my own eyes makes me want to gag."I turned and gaped at her, genuinely shocked.Wow. It's like I'm the center of everyone's gossip around here. Don't these people have anything better to do?"In my humble opinion," I placed an earnest hand on my chest and looked at her with a mock, honest expression on my face, "I don't give a flying fuck."Besides, I'd pick trailer trash over fake bitch any day.She frowned at me like she didn't expect I'd talk back. She really had a pretty face and looked like an alluring
Pov: BiancaMy chest felt like it was going to explode. I couldn't stop even if I wanted to. The words tumbled out of my heart and mouth like a waterfall."You get to be the high and mighty Don. The one everyone cowers from and respects, and I get to be talked and gossipped about and treated like nothing more than a whore and a sex object as long as I'm associated with you!"I didn't know where the rumours stemmed from, how the truth even came out but everyone now knows that Andre and I are lovers and my worst fear is becoming a reality;Being seen as nothing but a whore. Nothing but an accessory to another man. A woman whose identity depended slowly on a man. Who was not in control of her image or the fucking titles attached to her name. I was on the lips on all of these people and to them, I was nothing but a fuckable face. Andre's whore.This is so disrespectful to my childhood self that vowed never to let this happen. I never even saw it coming.I hated the person I have become. T