Natalia's POV:I sincerely couldn't tell what the heck was wrong with me or where this boldness came from…. But all I knew was that I was horny out of my damn mind!I knew I was supposed to play hard to get despite our deal but that had been thrown out of the window as soon as Carlo came close to me.He makes me stupid!My body trembled with it, my clit throbbed. I took off my soaked underwear and threw my leg over his chest with my back to him.Fuck.Despite feeling so exposed and vulnerable in this position, I felt a slick, warm substance trickling out of my hole in anticipation of the pleasure that was to come. His big palms grabbed my hips, pulling me back until my pussy and asshole were staring back at him.I felt my face burn. I've never been in such a position before but my body loved it.“Fuck.” I heard him curse. Clenching when his warm breath caressed my pussy.. “So fucking pretty, I could eat you out for days.”Shit. Please do.“Fuck yourself on my tongue, monella,” he ras
Natalia's POV:After he emptied himself inside me, he rolled off pulling me along with him and somehow, I ended up tucked into his side, my head firmly placed against his chest. His rapid heartbeat echoing in my ear, my own heartbeat rivaling his. Only our harsh breathing could be heard in the room.Maybe if this was any other time, if I wasn't so weak and drunk on orgasm, I wouldn't have allowed it—laying on his chest, cuddling—but I was too tired.My body still hummed from the intense pleasure, bringing back images of the past few minutes to my mind as a sleepy smile tugged on my lips.Wow.That was one way to describe that hot, filthy sex. I would say Carlo was my best lay but he was my only lay so that's that.As our heart rate slowed, sleep started to close in on me. My eyes grew heavy and my limbs grew weaker. I think I'd only drifted off for a few seconds when I felt a light tap on my shoulder and my eyes snapped open.“Hmm?”“Let's clean up,” he said softly, his voice low and
Carlo's POV: This shit was getting to my head. I thought as I walked down to the empty guestroom I use sometimes—well, whenever she was in my room. Despite taking a shower, I could still feel her on me. It didn't make any sense. Everytime we had sex, it was like I was drawing closer and closer to her. Somehow I had started acting weird. My mind darted back to the shower moment. What the hell was that? I rubbed the bridge of my nose as I pushed the door open, locking it behind me, I plopped down on the bed. I could have sworn my heart rate had increased at that moment… It felt like I wanted us to stay that way forever. ‘Forever?’ I had clearly lost my mind. Was following Alessandro's advice really a good idea? I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to drive images of her away from my mind. It was useless. I tossed and turned for hours until I finally drifted into sleep, grateful for the escape from reality and constantly thinking of her…. But she was there too, in my
Natalia's POV:10:33 AMI stretched out on the bed, feeling the muscles on my back ache as my joints made a cracking sound. My hand reached blinding for the spot beside me and I'm met with nothing but cool linen sheets.Oh shoot, he really did leave last night.My eyes fluttered open and I rose slowly into a sitting position, the little ache between my legs was a subtle reminder of what had transpired last night. From the way he'd devoured my lips to how hard he'd fucked me. It was so fucking perfect. My stomach flipped as a small smile tugged on my lips and as quickly as it came, I wiped it off my lips. Why the hell was I smiling? What for exactly?It was just sex, hot freaking good sex. Nothing more. It was more like a beneficial transaction between us. I remain his mistress and he let me live ‘freely.’ And that was it.‘Don't go falling for the man, Natalia.’ The small voice in my head warned.Fall for Carlo? Pfft. I shook my head, kicking back the covers, exposing my naked bo
Natalia's POV: BANG! Right before my eyes, one of our guards dropped to the floor, blood oozing from somewhere around his head. His eyes opened, cold and void of life. He was dead. A pit opened in my stomach. No, no, no, no. This wasn't happening. My heart was like a battering ram in my chest, threatening to break from my ribs and leap onto the floor. Everything happened so fast as one of our guards immediately pulled out his weapon while the other three formed a human shield around us with their guns out too. “Get in the van!” One of them shouted and instincts took over as my trembling hands grabbed the handles of Angela’s wheelchair. Fear flashed on her expression, her pale face mirroring mine. “Oh lord, why is this happening,” she muttered shakily under her breath as I tried my hardest to help her inside the van without trembling for one second, I'd done it successfully, moving it up the slide out ramp. And then I lost my balance, tripping backwards, my hands slipped from
CHAPTER EIGHTY Carlo's POV: As soon as I left Natalia behind in my room, the smile on my face dropped, my mask of pretense slipping away as something dark replaced it. Sure, I had fun teasing her. I mean I was glad she was safe— I was glad? The fuck is wrong with my head? It didn't matter, not right now. What mattered was the fact that they had been ambushed. I say ‘ambushed’ because these fuckers knew my sister had an appointment at that hospital. They knew the time and date! Merda! This was driving me nuts! They had gone too far this time but who were they? I flung the door to my office open, striding in to find Enzo and the fools that had accompanied my sister and Natalia to the hospital. These good for nothings couldn't even catch at least one person who we could use as a scapegoat and trace back their leaders. “Don, they had masks on, and they shot from a distance we couldn't tell who they were or who they worked for.” One of my guards said, with his
Carlo’s POV: “What the fuck is this?” I demanded, glaring hard at my archenemy as he walked through the door like he owned the place. My blazing eyed darted back to Alfredo who seemed so very proud of himself. “Why is Gianpaolo here, Alfredo?” “Oh, sorry, don,” he said, not looking any bit sorry about this. “I forgot to inform you that we have all agreed to welcome Gianpaolo back into the inner circle.” Anger flared inside me, my body trembled with it. “Behind my back? Who is in charge here?!” “You, don, you of course. But you see, we have rules and if a leader doesn't follow them, it's our right to deal with the problems however we deem fit.” My attention drifted back to Gianpaolo who had a big grin on his face as he dropped into the seat across from me. There'd been am extra seat… how didn't I notice that earlier. These fucking bastards were really testing me. My lips curled up in a sneer as my eyes moved from one man to the next. “So bringing back the very man I banished fo
Carlo's POV: “Quick reflex,” I said to Enzo as we slipped into my car. “Good job.” He nodded, gripping the steering wheels tighter. “It was necessary.” “It sure was.” From the corner of my eyes, I could see the frustration rolling off him in waves. “Those fuckers are getting more desperate. Bringing Gianpaolo back into the circle, after what he'd done? Ridiculous.” Agreed. Gianpaolo had been sent out of the circle because he'd deceived us in the past and had made a deal with a rival because of greed so it was his punishment; to leave. And now he they were bringing him back just to rebel against me? And Gianpaolo? Thinking he could challenge me because for some unknown reason they'd all decided to take his side. Pfft. As if I gave a fuck about any of them. I wasn't scared of them, could wage a war and wipe out everyone but we all knew how that would end… A leader without people to rule over. All I needed was to put them in their place but in the meantime. “W
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & FORTY-TWO: Angela's POV:No water.No food.No light.No human interaction.How original.I don't know how long I've been in this smelly, fucked up cell but if my guesses were correct, it's been more than three days.Sure, my throat felt parched, and drinking my saliva for relief was no longer working, my stomach had growled for hours, and my intestine had probably eaten the walls of my stomach until it gave up torturing me but it's nothing I can't handle. Really.That whore thinks she could break me easily. So this was her grand plan? I could still remember those silly words leaving her lips, ‘There are other ways to make a cruel bitch suffer.’ A small laugh escaped my lips. Was this suffering?Hunger pangs? Parched mouth? A little discomfort and dizziness from lack of food or proper sleep?Pathetic.Hell, if they'd even ordered some guards right beat me up or something, torture me in the worst ways possible, I would have applauded her. Even that, I could
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & FORTY-ONE: Natalia’s POV:It’s been five days since the whole incident and everything seemed a bit better now. I hope it was.Sadly, dad’s condition is the same, and in trying to not show how much it was affecting me cause Carlo might stop me from going with him next time. I keep praying in my heart for a miracle, that something should drastically happen and he wakes up….I know it's not that simple or easy but a girl can only dream…On the bright side, Carlo and Luca talked. They mended their relationship and Luca seems more comfortable around his father now. And Caterina? She'd been beyond shocked to find out what Angela had done. It tore my heart when the old lady broke down in body-wracking sobs, you could tell it hit her really bad… She kind of blamed herself for not raising her right but that's totally bullshit. Everything that happened was all on Angela. No one else was to take the blame.Period.When I'd called Tanya to dump every single detail of the
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & FORTY:Carlo's POV:I walked blindly to my room.Later, I might wonder how I got to my room safely without hurting a toe or bumping my head into a wall… Later…I slammed my door shut behind me and my legs were able to carry me some seconds more… Just enough to lead me to the edge of my bed and I fell to the cold, hard marbled floor.I failed.The first drop of hot tear dropped onto my sleeping pants as I drew my knees up to my chest, my elbows leaning on each knee as my head dropped into my palms.I failed everyone.I kept the enemy so close, that it had endangered everyone… especially my son.How could I have been so blind? How didn't I see it? Why did I think we were all one big, loving family?Why didn't I protect my son better?Why didn't I pay closer attention to him? To the things happening in my own home?!Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?????No matter how many times I asked myself that, I came up with nothing!!!No answer. Nothing!!What kind of parent let
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & THIRTY-NINE: Natalia's POV: The guards took her out kicking and screaming. Soon, her shrill screams died out and the room fell quiet. Too quiet. The tension and unspoken words hung heavy in the air like the stench of cow dung.Soon, Enzo saw himself out of Carlo's office, muttering something about being needed in the hospital and I vaguely recalled myself replying as I watched my heart broken man standing rooted to a spot, unmoving….I'd never seen him like this. It made me sad.Luca stood off to the side, probably hoping he was invisible—he looked so small in my eyes it was painful. I think—know—they really needed to talk…What Angela did was unacceptable!When Luca's bloodshot eyes met mine, a sad smile stretched my lips and I urged with a slight movement of my head for him to speak to his father… They both needed it…Luca seemed to contemplate, the fear in his eyes was too sad to look at. I didn't even care that he'd hurt me in the past, he was hurting way
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & THIRTY-EIGHT:Natalia's POV: You know those moments when it feels like you're dreaming but you're sure you're wide awake… or like in movies where the actors are like dumbstruck or something…?All that paled in comparison to how I was feeling. It made no sense… Angela? Angela turning out to be the one who shot my father was crazy. I told her things about me, confided in her… she knew just how much I'd longed to see my own parents…. It hurt, it really fucking did.I almost couldn't breathe as my chest tightened.My nose tingled as I blinked back tears. Seeing my dad hanging on by barely a thread made me miserable, it had torn me and now, knowing it was my friend who'd done it….Did she know he was my father?She had to. Sure, she had been distracted while nursing Rueben back to health but there was no way zia hadn't told her or she hadn't heard gossip from the maids from all the times Gianpaolo and Carlo had fought over me since the discovery.She knew and she
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & THIRTY-SEVEN: Angela's POV:I'm furious. Enraged.Livid.Whatever. You fucking name it!Luca. Foolish, naive, insecure, Luca. Out bested me, outsmarted me…. Ruined my plans. Years and years worth of plans, hardwork, blood and sweat down the drain and all because of that bloody fool!!!But it seemed like it was all worth it in the end if the expression on Carlo's face was any indication. His powerful hand pressed down even more tighter ony wind pipe, robbing me of air, my eyes water and stung. My lungs burned and felt too big for my chest as I struggled. Everything hurt but the pained expression on Carlo's face made it hurt less.A little reward. But still a reward.For years, I'd wanted him on his knees before me, right before I take his life but who knew a man didn't have to kneel to look so… broken, so hurt and mad with anger. I could die like this…. I didn't want to. I still want my revenge but if it was time for me to go, I'd do it. Wherever Alessandro
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & THIRTY-SIX: Carlo's POV: While paying close attention to Luca, I almost missed two of my guards standing on the other side of the room, each of either side of a kneeling Angela. She had her arms behind her and her lips sealed shut with a tape.My first reaction was anger.Why on earth was she being manhandled this way? And where the fuck was her wheelchair?I dragged my attention back to Enzo. “What is the meaning of this?” I snapped at the same time Natalia, gasped…“She can kneel…” That made my brain stop for a brief second and my narrowed eyes were on Natalia. Of course everyone could see Angela was kneeling— Wait….“She told me she was paraplegic,” Natalia voiced the thought that rang in my head at the sudden realization.My eyes darted from Angela to Enzo and back to Angela. My stomach felt cold, tight, way too tight for comfort… “Take the tape off her mouth,” I ordered and one of the men moved to obey. “Angela, explain yourself, what's going on?”Silen
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & THIRTY-FIVE:Carlo's POV: 4:16 PMI squinted at my screen, blinking sleep away as I rose to a sitting position careful not to wake Natalia up.Alarm bells went off in my head as I realized what had woken me up; A series of phone calls and texts from Enzo. That could mean only one thing. Trouble.Frowning, I unlocked my phone and scrolled through his messages. Enzo: I've been trying to call you. Enzo: This is frustrating. You usually wake up as soon as your phone rings.Well, he wasn't wrong about that but Natalia had cried for hours—an exaggeration but you get the point. And she'd been so sad it had taken longer than expected to get her to sleep but at least she was eating so that's a win… Bottom line…. I was exhausted.I kept scrolling…Enzo: So I've tried calling Diablo to come get you and he just told me you gave an order to not wake Natalia up. This is fucking serious, Carlo.I exhaled deeply, rubbing the bridge of my nose. I needed her to rest, that was
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & THIRTY-FOUR: Luca's POV: FLASHBACK..THE PREVIOUS DAY…Taking my phone out, I typed out one last text message and I hit send.I stared at the text I'd just sent to Enzo.Me: I know who shot Gianpaolo. Call me.As I waited for a reply or his call, I had time to reflect on my decision. There was no going back now. I thought as I drove back home.I was being fooled by Angela and it had to stop. I loved her. I really did but I know better now…She didn't love me. Not one bit.I was nothing but a tool and yes, years ago, when it all started, I knew our relationship was forbidden but something about the genuine love and care she'd shown me made me say, ‘fuck it.’ There was a time where I thought only she understood me. That her love was special. Sure, papà loved me, zia too but with Angela, it had been different. I'd shared my problems with her and she'd done the same. She'd told me the story about her mother's death and I really wanted to make amends, for her s