"You're hovering" "Let me come along. You know that bastard is a fucking asshole and we haven't caught the person who tried to kill you" "What will your presence change?" "I can end him once and for all" I lean back and look at him "This is the reason you're staying behind. I can handle assholes just fine. How's training going? Is your protege getting any good?" Alessio huffs "I want to kill him at least a hundred times a day. Tell me why you're doing this again. Why am I wasting time with that idiot?" "I'm going to turn one of them against their fathers. Do you think he has potential?" "No. With all due respect, I think the men in your family are useless. I'd rather start training Miss Ophelia as early as now" I've been thinking about doing that. While I grew up having everything I wanted, not once did Papa ask his men to train me. It was always "They'll protect you" and never "You should learn to protect yourself". If it wasn't for Christian, I wouldn't even have known how th
Fingers ghost over my face, tracing my eyes, nose, and lips. The scent surrounding me is heavenly so I turn my face to breathe it in. Thinking that I could lie here forever. It's warm, strong, and... Wait, where exactly is here? My eyes snap open. I come face to face with Federico. The expression in his eyes is soft and murderous at the same time. Why is he here? Why am I in his arms? "Did you have a nice nap?" "I don't take naps," I say trying to get up but he tightens his hands. Holding me down. "What do you call what you just did?" My memory comes rushing back. That fucking bastard Dylan. I'm done with him and the entire Irish. What the fuck is wrong with him? What did he think he could achieve from knocking me out? If he went back on his word and took all the money, I'm hunting him down and killing all his family."What happened? When did you get here?" "By the time I arrived, Cavanaugh was long gone and you were propped up against this container" "Let go of me. I need to che
It wasn't me. I didn't get there on time and I wasn't the one who blew up the warehouses. As much as I'd like to chalk all this up to coincidence, I know it's not. But I have no idea who could be behind this. Regina has a lot of enemies. As a woman in this business, of course, men hate her and want to see her gone. She's the proof that women can also succeed in something men thought only they were capable of and it doesn't sit well with them. Given the chance, even her closest relatives would kill her to prove a point. So the fact that someone helped her and took revenge for her is suspicious. My first guess was Bianchi but he wouldn't be foolish enough to declare war against the Irish. Not if he wants to win the election. Could it be someone new? But what do they want from her? Fuck, I hope they're not trying to woo her because I will kill them before they make their first move. It wouldn't be the first time someone tried to impress her. While others want her dead, there are a few w
Summer 2006 Thirteen-year-old Regina was rushing to the kitchen because Isabella, her nanny, had promised she could eat ice cream once she was done with her homework. She'd done it in record time and wanted her reward. Isa never lied and if she wanted anything, she could have it but there was a kind of excitement she always felt whenever she earned her rewards. A sort of fulfillment a thirteen-year-old didn't have words to describe. Since she was in a hurry, she wasn't careful with her steps and missed the last two stairs. With a scream, she went flying, prepared to land on her face and break her nose. Instead, strong arms wrapped around her and she fell on top of something hard. Her forehead colliding with something harder. "Oomph" She lifted her head, ready to offer an apology, and looked into the most beautiful green eyes she'd ever seen. The word sorry died in her throat. "Wow," she breathed in innocent wonder. How come she'd never s
"What can I get you, ma'am?" "Daiquiri. Thank you" I say leaning on the bar suggestively, my dress moving up an inch. The bartender moves to my left to make the drink but he keeps flicking his eyes back to me every few seconds. If I was in his position, I would also misunderstand. Judging by the way my breasts are almost spilling out of the dress I wore tonight, he probably thinks I'm into him or something. A black little number that hugs my curves and has a plunging neckline. The hem is dancing dangerously close to my bare ass and even though my back is to him, I know his eyes are glued on the material. Probably wishing for it to ride a little higher so he can confirm whether I'm wearing panties or not. I'm not. Tonight, I brought all the guns out and then some. Not real guns though. Just a few things that are supposed to make Christian change his mind. My birthday was two months ago and it was the best birthday in my life. I turned eighteen, lost my virgin
"Where are we on the shipment?" "We're making progress, ma'am" I throw him a dirty glare over my shoulder "Try again" "It will be done by the end of the end day, ma'am" "I don't need to tell you what will happen if this isn't sorted today" it's simple. Heads will roll. I am not in the mood to play games with those bastards at the port. If that shipment is a day late, I will handle it the way I normally do. By shooting first and asking questions later. I'm tired of men thinking they can get away with defying me just because I'm a woman. Dino nods. I expect him to leave but he continues to stand where he is "Anything else?" "Mr. Gambone is waiting for you in your office" "When did he arrive?" "A few minutes ago, ma'am""You can leave" I bite out through gritted teeth. Keeping up my calm and unbothered facade when all I what I want to do is run in there and punch him for invading my privacy. He shouldn't be here, much less in my office. Who knows what he's
"Federico!" He pauses in front of the door his driver, Manno is holding open "What the fuck is your problem?" "What are you talking about?" "Are you following me? How did you know I was meeting Rizzo here? And even if it's a coincidence, why the hell would you threaten him?" "He was slandering me. I can't allow that" "Bullshit! Do you think I can't handle him? Is that the reason you keep interfering with my business?" "Is that anger I detect in your voice, Regina?" I grind my teeth so hard I'm surprised they haven't turned to dust already. For years, I've maintained a certain image in front of people. Cool, calm, unbothered. Talk, yell, strip, die in front of me and I won't bat an eyelash. I've killed ruthlessly then gone back to having my dinner as if nothing happened. Only one person can evoke some semblance of emotions from me. But of late, Federico is getting under my skin and I hate it. Old me would never have followed him out of the restaurant. Instead, I would have t
I take one last look in the mirror and then make my way to the office downstairs. It's past ten and aside from the men patrolling outside, everyone has retired to their rooms. Lifting a book off the shelves, I press a button that opens a secret door then push it open and press the lift button. It opens immediately because no one uses it. Once I step inside, things go back to how they were, the door closing and the shelves returning to their normal position. I lived in this house my whole life but I never knew about the secret rooms until I defied papa. Then he turned into someone else. Someone I couldn't recognize. It's been that way for years now. Except, now I'm the one he can't recognize. It makes me wonder if he's ever regretted his decision. Would things have been different if he'd stopped when I begged him to? The elevator stops and the doors slide open. As I walk into the room, my heels announce my arrival. There are days like today when I expect him to turn his head and look a