In a world ruled by power, fear, and blood, Dante Ricci is nothing short of a walking demon. A powerful mafia boss, he commands respect through sheer brutality, feared by his enemies and even those closest to him. Dante despises weakness, ruthlessly crushing anyone who dares to oppose him or show vulnerability. Cold-hearted, dominant, and cruel, he lives by the law of the underworld—survival of the fittest. On the other side of the city lives Elena Carter, a cheerful and innocent college student. Adopted by parents who despise her, she has always felt out of place in a world that offers her little love. Unbeknownst to her, her real parents were killed years ago, but she knows nothing of the dark secrets that shroud her past. She’s focused on her studies, trying to live a normal life despite her broken family. Fate takes a dark turn when Elena accidentally witnesses Dante in the middle of a brutal murder, crime no innocent eyes should have seen. Dante, always careful to eliminate any loose ends, has no choice but to kidnap her. She’s nothing more than a liability, a weakling in his eyes, and his first instinct is to kill her. As secrets unravel and tension mounts, Dante must confront the demons of his past while Elena fights to survive in a world she never belonged to. Will Dante’s hatred and heartlessness lead him to kill her, or will the unexpected connection between them change their lives forever?
Lihat lebih banyakI was already bored out of my life in this stupid meeting. I looked around the room and noticed my other Colleagues were paying so much attention to what my Hot boss was saying. And did you know who that was? Eros Kingston.
Yep! You heard me.
Eros Kingston, the hot,arrogant, handsome jerk. Oh! And did I also mention he's a man whore. He's always on the face of tabloids every week. And when I say tabloids,I mean every one in this city and sometimes in some other cities.
He only dates models, actresses or even some popular News casters. Why would you have a new girlfriend every week. Well, he didn't call them that, I just assumed.
Oh shut up! You're just mad because you are not those people. My subconscious said.
Of course why wouldn't I be mad. Have you seen how hot he is! I argued back.
You're stupid.
We're the same person, so that also makes you stupid.
I was working for his dad who stepped down for him about two months back. I prefer his dad to him. His dad was very nice at least, but him, he's just plain arrogant. But that doesn't stop me fantasizing about him.
Don't blame me, have you seen how his hot body is!
There was one time he told me to bring a file home for him from his office. I entered into his penthouse, he had no maid so it was hard knowing where he was. There was no movement in the house, so I figured he'd be outside. Maybe working out or doing something else.
I went outside the house and found the gym. I entered and it was still quiet. I was about to leave when I heard my favourite baritone that made heat pool against my thighs instantly.
I turned around and saw him standing in only a grey sweat pants, no shirt. I'm pretty sure I almost drooled at the sight of him.
"Miss Jackson, the file." He snapped at me.
Okay, someone is on his period.
I frowned as I cleared my throat and then handed him the file.
"You can leave." He said as he opened the file scanning through it.
I rolled my eyes and left his place.
"Miss Jackson?!" I heard my favourite baritone again, but this time it was more demanding.
I broke out of my trance and saw that I was the only one still seating in the large table. Oh shit!
"Sir?" I stood up quickly from the chair which almost made it fall.
"My office, now!" He pursed his lips and left the room.
I groaned aloud. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" I hit my head and made my way to his office.
I knocked on the door as I dusted the imaginary dust on my shirt.
"Come in."
I breathed out and made my way inside his office. He was sitting, well not completely, on his table with his arms crossed. He already put off his suit, leaving him in his white shirt.
Sexy.
I stood far away from him and then bowed my head.
"Closer."
I moved closer to him a bit.
"Closer."
I moved again.
"Closer."
And again.
"Closer."
Till I was standing very close to him.
"What went on during the meeting?" He asked me with an annoyed tone.
I shook my head. Unable to give him an answer. Well, I couldn't tell him I zoned out of his boring meeting.
"Heads up when you are talking to me." He pulled me closer to him, hands on my arm.
I gasped, eyes wide. I had to place my hand on his chest to avoid hitting him. But he looked like he didn't care.
I noticed how he actually looked now. He cleaned up nicely, his eyes were honey brown, the perfect nose and those lips.
The things I want then to do.
"Eyes here miss Jackson." He smirked at me. He definitely knew what I was thinking about.
"I, I-I uh, I'm so sorry" I stuttered stupidly.
"Don't zone out next time." He said firmly and I gave him a quick nod.
"You can leave now."
He didn't need to tell me twice cause I needed to get away from the way his eyes were staring at me. Not in a bad way actually.
Immediately I got out I released the breath I didn't realize I've been holding since. I rolled my eyes and made my way to my private office.
The day was soon over. I didn't have any other encounter with Eros throughout the day, I made sure of that. I cleared my desk, and made sure everything was in place for tomorrow.
Even though we had cleaners in the company, I still preferred to clean my office by myself. I carried my black leather bag and made my way out of the office.
I greeted Michael, the guard at the entrance to the company, as I made my way outside. "See you tomorrow Michael." I gave him a small smile.
"And you too Janet." He called after me.
I sat in the nearest coffee shop as I ordered a cab to take me home. I have not had enough money to buy myself a car, so I'm stuck with ordering cabs.
I plugged in my earpiece and played the Nf's new album.
••••••I threw my bag on the chair and made my way to my fridge. I opened it and saw a bowl of lasagna. I guess that will do it.
I left it inside the microwave and made my way up to my room to get changed. I sighed and removed my shoes, then my clothes. Made my way into the bathroom and washed my face and dried it up with a clean towel.
I picked up one of the big shirts I had and threw it on, packed my hair into a bun, and then wore my flip flops as I heard the microwave ding.
I made myself comfortable on my couch with the bowl of lasagna in one hand and the remote to my tv in another. I turned on the TV until I remembered I didn't pour myself a cup of orange juice, my favourite.
I groaned as I stood up and took the whole bottle of juice.
What?Don't look at me like that.
Glutton.
Whatever.
I made myself comfortable again, even if it took a while to find the former position. I clicked on grey anatomy and ate my dinner in peace.
Antonio's cold gaze stayed locked on me, his stance still as stone. His eyes were bottomless pits in the fading light, revealing nothing yet conveying everything. The shadows from the setting sun cast half his face in darkness, the other half illuminated in harsh relief, emphasizing the sharp angles of his features—the prominent cheekbones, the rigid jaw, the hawkish nose. Not a muscle twitched in his face, not a flicker of emotion crossed those granite features. In that moment, he seemed more statue than man, carved from some unyielding material that knew neither mercy nor fatigue. The silence between us stretched, elastic and dangerous, weighted with unspoken threats and consequences.I could see it in his eyes—he wasn't going to let this go. There was calculation there, cold and precise, as he measured my defiance against his authority. In all my weeks of training, I had never directly challenged him like this. I had pushed back in small ways, had questioned ce
My steps faltered, my legs barely obeying me anymore. Each movement was a battle, a negotiation between mind and muscle, will and exhaustion. My feet, once sure and steady, now dragged against the gravel track, catching on the uneven surface. My ankles rolled, threatening to give way entirely. I stumbled, catching myself at the last moment, the jarring impact sending a fresh wave of pain through my already agonized body. The rhythm I had maintained for hours—the mechanical, mindless pattern of one foot after another—was breaking down.The world around me felt distant, blurred at the edges like a painting smeared by rough hands. Colors ran together, shapes lost their definition. The trees that ringed the training grounds had become dark smudges against a bleeding sky. The compound buildings in the distance wavered like a mirage, like something I had conjured from memory rather than something real and solid. My senses were shutting down one by one, self-preservation
Two days. Forty-eight hours. That was the deadline I had given him. That was how long I told Marco he had to get Dante back here."Tell Dante he has 48 hours to return, or he won't like the consequences."I had said it with every ounce of defiance I had left. Standing in that kitchen, coffee forgotten, eyes locked with Marco's, I had felt powerful. Dangerous. I had stood tall, voice unwavering, willing to challenge the very man who had kept me caged in this world. In that moment, I had believed my own bluff—believed that I could create the kind of chaos that would force Dante's hand, that would make him acknowledge my existence again. The marble countertop had been cool beneath my fingertips as I leaned forward, my reflection fractured in Marco's dark, unreadable eyes. Something had shifted between us in that moment—a balance of power tilting ever so slightly.But now—now that time had passed—doubt crept in, insidious and persistent.
I had asked Marco so many times. Where is Dante? Why is he avoiding me? When is he coming back? And every single time, Marco gave me the same damn answer: "He's busy." Or worse—"He's dealing with the chaos you created."The first time he said it, I had laughed bitterly, thinking he was just trying to get under my skin. A cruel joke meant to make me squirm. I'd rolled my eyes and walked away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing how deeply his words cut. But the second time? The third? The tenth? I realized he meant it. Every syllable dripped with conviction. There was no mockery in his eyes, no twisted pleasure in delivering his twisted lies—just cold certainty. He truly believed that this was my fault. That Dante was busy cleaning up my mess.And that—that made me furious.How the hell was this my fault? What had I done? I had simply asked for the truth. I had demanded answers that were rightfully mine. I deserved to know what I had
It has been a month. A full month since the last time I saw Dante. I stood at the window of my room, staring out at the sprawling estate grounds without really seeing them, my mind caught in the same loop of thoughts that had plagued me for thirty unbearable days. A month since he pinned me against the wall, his body a cage of barely contained violence, his fingers digging into my wrists with enough force to leave marks that lingered for days afterward. A month since his voice dripped with barely contained fury as he demanded answers from me, questions about Alexandro, about the dance, about whispered words that weren't nearly as significant as Dante had made them out to be.A month since he vanished.Not physically, of course. I knew he was here, somewhere within these walls. The mansion was large, but not large enough for him to disappear completely. Occasionally I would hear his voice echoing down corridors, catch glimpses of his security detail moving with purpose,
A bitter laugh escaped my lips, the sound harsh and unfamiliar even to my own ears. I was fucking losing it. All the control I prided myself on, all the calculated coldness that had seen me rise through the ranks to where I stood now—it was crumbling under the weight of emotions I couldn't name, couldn't understand, couldn't control.Before I could stop myself, I reached for the nearest object—a crystal tumbler left on the desk, the remnants of whiskey still coating the bottom. I threw it. Hard. My arm moved with all the force of my rage behind it, the glass leaving my hand like a missile seeking a target.The impact was violent, explosive, satisfying in a primal way nothing else had been since I witnessed Alexandro's hands on her. The glass shattered against the wall, shards scattering across the floor like tiny, glittering knives, each one reflecting the dim light of the room. The sound echoed through the space, a culmination of the violence build
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