When the two came back to their lodge, neither of them spoke any word. Madonna stood behind Dante with her face down and Dante was embarrassed about his actions.
"Have they always been disturbing you?"
"Yes." Madonna answered with a frown.
"We still have a week to spend, I will always be with you till then." Dante left the lodge immediately after speaking. He left with the excuse to go get food but in truth, he feared he would lose his cool if he stayed a moment longer
"Evil tyrant, leaving after speaking his mind." Madonna muttered but didn't hate the idea of Dante tagging along.
True to his words, Dante always tags along with her whenever she steps outside. Though they don't talk to each other Dante made sure to provide all she needed and Madonna made sure to make use of the opportunity.
"I would like to have a glass of grape juice." Dante glared at her but still went and got her order. Madonna was having the best time of her life treating the Mafia boss like her personal shuffle.
"Husband, I would love you to help me apply some lotion." Madonna was annoyed seeing some ladies beside Dante. When they came to the beach, Dante left her alone to read a book while lying a distance away from her. At first, she wasn't bothered by it as she lay on her mat and enjoyed the warmness of the sun. Her tranquility was disturbed when she saw some ladies approaching Dante. She thought they would leave but they sat down and started discussing with Dante. Madonna believes that Dante has condemned her to a life of misery so she should try her best to make his life miserable too.
"I would be right there." Dante replied without looking her way. One of the ladies looked at Madonna and flipped her hair taunting Madonna.
"You little " Madonna stopped herself from swearing at the lady. Madonna stood up from where she was lying and walked straight to Dante.
"Why don't you introduce me to your friends dear." Madonna sat between Dante's legs and relaxed her back on his chest. Since they were on the beach she was wearing only a bikini, she had removed the scarf she wrapped her body with.
"Madonna." Dante whispered as he found himself getting hot by the contact of their skin. Dante has been trying to control himself ever since he saw Madonna's naked body. When the ladies came to him he thought he would be able to ease himself with the girls. Madonna has come and spoiled his plan and even made his situation worse.
"Come on, I am waiting." Madonna had her attention on the ladies and didn't bother about her current sitting position.
"They are.." Dante tried to introduce them and discovered he has forgotten their name which they just said a moment ago.
"We would continue our discussion later." The ladies decided to leave the couple, though their anger for Madonna was visible they had no choice.
"So sad, they left." Madonna pouted but was glad that her mission was a success.
"What are you doing?"
"Me? What is a married man doing entertaining such ladies."
"I was just having a friendly conversation with them."
"Friendly? Do you think I am a child? You think you can leave me in misery while you have fun." They were still sitting in their current position but it didn't bother them. If they were being truthful to themselves they would accept the fact they don't mind the position. Dante loves the sensational feeling he was having from Madonna's back pressed against his chest, and Madonna loves the warmth Dante's chest was giving her.
"Why don't you be a good husband and read to me."
"Since you have succeeded, won't you go back to your position." Dante knew he didn't want that but he had to say it.
"I don't want them coming back. You are not having fun when we are on our honeymoon." Dante realized he owe her the honor and even cursed himself for thinking he would have fun with the ladies.
"Alright, make yourself comfortable and enjoy the book." Dante stretched out his right leg and bend his left knee to support his left arm which holds the book. Madonna relaxed further into his warmth and listened to Dante's voice as he read.
Madonna felt sleep taking over her as she listened to Dante's voice. She likened it to that of honey, the steady voice and warmth made her succumb to the sleep. Dante kept reading even after Madonna has slept off. He noticed her steady breathing and realized she has slept off. Madonna changed her position and snuggled deeper into Dante's embrace. Dante's cheek loosened as he strokes her hair. Her black silky hair was smooth to the touch and Dante made a mental note not to get addicted to it.
"Are you not such a child. How can you easily fall asleep in the embrace of a devil." Dante muttered.
When Madonna woke up it was evening and she woke up in the comfort of her bed. She faced palm as she realized how comfortably she slept off in the arms of Dante.
"Get your act together." She reprimanded herself and stood up to go get her food. When she came out, Dante was already setting up the table and something about him strike Madonna differently.
"You are awake?" Dante asked. Though he wasn't smiling Madonna felt something was different about him. It alarmed Madonna and he wondered what Dante did when she was asleep and she even started thinking if the sleep was truly natural.
"Did you do anything I should be concerned about?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"The last I remember was you reading at the beach. I woke up comfortably on my bed."
"And is it bad?"
"Judging by our history together, I am worried."
"Are you suggesting I might have done something to you?" Madonna didn't answer but her silence was enough to answer for Dante. "Yes, you should think worse of me. Never let your guard down, every second you spend me is an eternity in hell." Dante left immediately and Madonna realized her manner of thinking had greatly angered Dante.
"How am I supposed to think?" She muttered as she sat on the dining and her appetite was lost.
Madonna's heart pounded in her chest as the words she had just spoken hung in the air. She hadn’t meant to say them, but now that they were out, she couldn’t take them back. And the truth was, deep down, she didn’t want to. Seeing Dante’s intense gaze locked on hers only heightened the feeling that she needed to salvage the situation, but her mind swirled in a storm of emotions.“I know… I know you didn’t want to hear that,” she whispered, her voice trembling with vulnerability. “Our marriage, it—it started off on the wrong foot. And I know you might think this is just some form of Stockholm syndrome, or that I’m playing a game. But it’s not. I promise it’s not. I’m not asking for you to say anything back, or to feel obligated to reciprocate. I just needed you to know how I feel... and admitting it, it makes me happy.”Her breath hitched as Dante’s gaze didn’t waver, his eyes penetrating deeper than ever before. The silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t empty. It was full—full
While the world around him slept, Dante lay wide awake, his mind consumed by one thing—how deeply he had wronged Madonna. He wasn’t heartless. He knew the weight of his actions, and guilt gnawed at him. Any other woman would have erupted in fury by now, but Madonna’s quiet endurance only amplified his shame.“What’s keeping you up?” Nana’s voice broke the silence as she descended the stairs, finding Dante brooding on the sofa.“Nothing, Nana. Why are you awake?” he asked, trying to mask his troubled thoughts. Nana, however, was one of the few who knew how to see past his hard exterior.“When you reach my age, sleep becomes a luxury,” she sighed, a touch of bitterness clouding her face.“You’re not that old, Nana,” Dante scoffed softly, a rare tenderness in his voice.“For all our sakes, I hope you’re right.” Nana chuckled softly as she settled into her chair, her sharp eyes studying him. She had known Dante long enough to feel the turmoil brewing in him, even when he wouldn’t voice it
Dante followed his wife obediently as they entered their room. The silence between them was so thick that it made breathing difficult for him. If his enemies and allies saw him now, they wouldn’t believe their eyes.“Are you hungry?” Madonna finally spoke, but she still didn’t look him in the face, which unnerved him even more.“No.” How could he be hungry in such a situation?“You should go and bathe. I’ll make you something to eat,” she said, seemingly ignoring his response or simply not caring.“I said I’m not hungry,” he repeated louder, frustrated. This time, Madonna raised her head to look at him. Dante sat at the edge of the bed, while Madonna stood closer to the door.“You shouldn’t cultivate the habit of not eating when you come home. I won’t allow that,” she said firmly. Though anger laced her voice, the care in her eyes was heartwarming.“I could settle for fettuccine al pomodoro,” Dante relented, knowing it was late but certain Madonna would ask the maids to prepare it.“Al
Dante drove to Anthony’s apartment since he couldn’t spend the night at the mansion. He parked and waited outside, knowing Anthony had to drop Nana off before coming home. Dante didn't call to rush him; instead, he decided to help himself to some whiskey while waiting. He had a lot on his mind.“What’s keeping this fool?” Dante checked his watch. It was already past 10 p.m. “I should be in the arms of my woman, not here waiting for him,” he muttered, scoffing as he thought about how much he'd resisted the temptation of being intimate with Madonna.“If only she knew what she had,” he smiled softly, reflecting on how innocently unaware Madonna was of her beauty.Lost in thoughts of her, Dante finally heard the sound of Anthony’s car pulling up, and he let out a sigh of relief, downing the remaining whiskey in his glass.“Tonight will be like no other,” Anthony’s voice rang out as he entered the hallway. Dante couldn’t help but smirk.“I look forward to it,” a sweet female voice responded
"He did?" Madonna never thought that Dante was involved in the school war."Yes, he conquered every school and made an ironclad rule that is still in use till today.""Isn't that a good thing? He stopped the fights. I can remember how my friends would always complain about their fear of coming to school, it was a sad period. After the fight stopped, students became happy and school became fun again.""I suppose you can say that, but do you imagine what he had to do in order to end the war.""What happened? Please, tell me everything." Francesco felt that what he was saying is beginning to get to Madonna so he decided to tell her everything, starting from the beginning."I was always bullied in school, I wasn't even strong enough to protect my sister, Kenny. Because she was beautiful, our school strongest forcefully took her as his girlfriend. Our students were constantly fighting against themselves, or other schools. The fights sometimes get bloody but no one ever died. One day, Dante
Madonna wasn't the one holding Williams, but she felt like she did something wrong. She removed her hand from Williams's hold and clasped her hands together before answering Dante's question."Williams was just inviting me to our school get-together.""What did you say?" Dante had come here to break things off with her, but seeing her with another man, made him forget what he came to do."I wouldn't be able to come," Madonna answered with a pinch of sadness. It didn't escape Dante's notice and it made his heart soften. He felt guilty that he hasn't been giving the poor girl the freedom and love she deserved."Why wouldn't be able to do that?" Dante climbed up the stairs to meet with the beautiful lady."Because you..." She didn't want Williams to hear what she was about to say. Dante knew what she wanted to say."I think it would be good to go see your old schoolmate.""Really?" Madonna was happy about that."Sure, they should see how beautiful you still are." Dante smiled."I would c
"Father, forgive me for I have sinned. It has been.... I don't know, three months since my last confession." Madonna spoke near the hole for the priest to hear. Nana was the first to say her confessions. The priest saw them earlier when they entered the church and he remembered Madonna instantly. A priest would never reveal what has been confessed to them in the confessional box, but they most remember. The priest remembered how many boys would come to confess how they had immoral thoughts about Madonna, and girls would confess their jealousy towards her. Madonna was the reason for many of her friends' sins without knowing, but for her she was unblemished. The priest would often smile whenever he hears her confession and he would feel bad for the ones that hated the innocent girl. After Madonna's first statement she kept quiet since she had no idea how to start or where to start "Speak my child, the lord is listening.""I don't know where to start, I am married." She decided to start
"How do you mean?" Madonna felt a chill and suddenly the warmness she is feeling in her heart, felt familiar. Madonna would always have this fuzzy feeling whenever she was thinking about the young mask boy that saved her. The fuzzy feelings stopped when she got older so she forgot what it felt like. It started recently but it wasn't because of the boy, it was because of the handsome man in front of her."You know," Dante swallowed hard and felt like he was constipated. "You are a beautiful lady, I wouldn't see a reason why a boy wouldn't fantasize about you." "You're right, I was always a beauty." Madonna flicked her hair as she accepted Dante's statement."I bet he would be somewhere always watching you whenever you visit, but too shy to come out." Dante felt like patting himself on the back for successfully evading a disaster."I must admit, I always had the same thought.""Wait, you are here telling me about your first love with a smile. I am certainly jealous, he is lucky I haven
The words of Madonna effortlessly flowed into Dante's heart and it sounded like a melody. Anthony has been telling Dante to let Madonna go as they planned, but Dante couldn't. "What else would be making you fall?" He asked as he kissed her ears."When you touch me like this." Madonna let out a moan. Madonna couldn't tell if she was the one that laid back or Dante was the one that pushed her back, all she knew was her back was touching the bed. Dante has been with many women but never has he felt the urge to satisfy a lady as much as he feels now. Dante masterfully removed her nightgown and cupped her left breast with his right hand. It was a handful, not too big or too small, just the perfect size. Dante felt the hardness of her nipple against his palm so he lowered his head to give the needed attention. Madonna was losing herself in the wave of pleasure and it was impossible to keep her eyes open. Dante knead her breast and Madonna had to grab onto the sheets because she felt dizzy