LOGINCellie’s pov
As soon as I opened the door to the guest bathroom to relieve myself of all the orange juice and red wine that had come back with a vengeance, I promptly regretted it and wanted to turn back around and find a different bathroom with the help of the cute server from earlier.
But shutting the door and running away would as well announce my defeat because right there, washing the blood of his hand was none other than Demetrio DeLeon.
Dark grey eyes flicked over to me in annoyance as I braved the daunting task of stepping into the bathroom and shutting the door behind me, practiCellie shutting myself in with a literal wild animal.
He let out an irritated grunt deep in his throat and said nothing else, going back to washing his hand. He had taken off his rings and wristwatch and had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing taut, bulging muscle rippling under golden tan skin.
I hated how attraction for him burned hot and bright and furious in my lower abdomen but I fought to remind myself that I didn’t want a repeat of last time. My bladder felt like it was about to burst open and Demetrio was taking his sweet time washing his hands, thick red blood swirling around the drainage of the sink.
My throat tightened. Who had he killed this time?
I knew it was probably stupid of me to be alone with a hardened criminal and seasoned killer but my pride and ego far outweighed my common sense.
Dropping my glass of sweet, sweet wine on the granite top sink, I chose the farthest stall away from him and took my sweet time relieving myself but when I came back out, he was still there, drying his hands and putting on his wristwatch.
My face twisted into a scowl but I ignored him and walked to the sink to wash my hands.
I could feel his eyes on the side of my face. It made the air around me thick, heavy and uncomfortable.
“”Did you have to kill him?” I had to ask when the silence became stilffing.
A dark lazy gaze bored into me, “did you know what he said about you?”
I froze. What?
Schooling my expression into chilling nonchalance, I shrugged. “Don’t care.”
“Well I care,” he said, in that deep voice that made my insides jump through hoops. “Apparently, you go to the same school, that you’re easy and you have the sweetest pussy on campus.”
My hands were trembling as I held them together. I racked my brain for a recollection of the terrified young man but I came up short. Did we really go to the same school? Did he really know about me? S h i t!
“You see how that can be a problem, don’t you?”
I shrugged again, feigning nonchalance. “I don’t see anything, Demetrio. And why do you care, even? Just leave me alon-”
The word stuck in my throat because Demetrio was standing behind me, ice and animosity radiating off of him, sinking into my bones and making my teeth chatter. “That’s going to be difficult, micetta, seeing as you’re now part of the family and you have an image to uphold. I can’t have our allies and enemies thinking we can’t control our women.”
My stomach dropped as fury and annoyance took its place. “Hey, what do you mean control? And I’m not a part of you guys, okay? Let’s get that straight. I’m only here because of my mother and after today, I have zero intentions of playing house with your family.”
“You’re not the one to make that call.”
My heart sank. “W- what do you mean?”
“I mean you can’t keep whoring around and you need to pull yourself into the semblance of a respectable woman. You’ll be fending off potential suitors if you don’t.”
“And what if I don’t want potential suitors?” My voice was small, tight, because he was stepping closer and closer into my space. He was so close to me that I could feel his chest graze my back when I tried to stand straighter, I could almost taste his scent on my tongue.
“Well that’s too bad, mia Cellie.”
I swallowed, why did he say it like that? Why did he sound like that?
“I’m serious. I can’t-”
“You can’t keep wearing these kind of dresses that make you look like an easy lay. Although that defeats the purpose of who you really are.”
“And who am I?”
I felt a tight tug on my ponytail. He was wrapping my hair around his fist and something was turning my insides inside out.
Easing out of his hold, I maintained a neutral expression as I turned around to face him.
Jesus, he was even more goodlooking up close, my heart skipped several beats just standing so close to him when his dark grey eyes locked in mine.
I swallowed and reached for his jacket, gently slipping his button through the hole. “Is that what you think I am?”
“No.”
“No?” My hands froze against his chest as I looked up at him.
“I think you’re far worse.” His accent was thicker, heavier, his voice deeper.
Hn, I scoffed. My hands stroked down his chest and rested against his abdomen, a few inches above his belt.
“And does that turn you on?”
“You rate yourself a little too high, micetta.”
“Hm, so do you care to explain this?” My hand slipped between us, where his hardened erection was pushing against my stomach and I rested my hand against the bulge.
He let out a short curse, nearly stumbling over, his breath coming up in short rasps. “Cellie.”
He pushed deeper into my hand as I rubbed him up and down, peering up into his eyes and smirking at the pained and sexually frustrated expression on his handsome face.
He wasn’t stopping me or I would have come back to my senses a long time ago.
There was a hot feeling in my chest, knowing that I was damning us both straight to hell with my actions, but I couldn’t find it in me to care about the consequences when I was pretty much bringing this powerful man to his knees with just a handjob.
“F u ck, Cellie.” He cursed, his hand grabbing the sink and caging me in. He was all I could see now. His delicious scent was all around me.“Don’t stop. I’m going to come.”
Something about his voice, the firm and aggressive tone, the order that demanded to be obeyed made me want to do exactly that. Something told me that this man was used to getting what he wanted. He only had to say what he wanted in that tone and it was as good as his.
So naturally, I fought to disobey him.
Squeezing softly and feeling something in me explode with need at the rough, gravely moan he rasped out, I leaned up on my toes and kissed his cheek as eagerly as I’d kiss his mouth. And when I was done, I brought my lips close to his ears. “You see, Demetrio, the problem is; I like sex a lot more than I fear you and there’s not a single man alive that will tell me what to do with my life and with my body. Looks like I’ll be remaining a slut for a long time to come.”
I dragged his earlobe between my teeth, tugging gently and patted him softly.
He gritted his teeth in annoyance when I stepped away from him and snatched up my wineglass from the sink and before I made my escape, I turned around and flashed a smile at him, although the smile turned into a wide eyed grin when I saw the lipstick marks on his cheek and collarbone, his coat and dress shirt askew, his even harder and more visible bulge and frustrated and enraged look in his eyes.
I tipped the wine glass in a cheers motion, turned around and left the bathroom.
Cellies SichtIch bereute den Moment, in dem ich die Augen öffnete. Licht, grell und hart, brach in die Dunkelheit wie eine Bombe ein. Es stach in mein Sichtfeld und zwang mich zu blinzeln und zurückzuweichen. Der schroffe Kontrast zwischen der stillen Schwärze, in der ich gewesen war, und dieser scharfen Helligkeit ließ mich desorientiert zurück. Als sich meine Augen langsam anpassten, begann die Decke über mir klarer zu werden, mein benommener Geist arbeitete wie ein Puzzle daran, herauszufinden, wo ich war."Cellie?" Eine Stimme, die ich überall erkennen würde, sprach in die laute Stille.Ich ruckte den Hals zur Seite, bereute das sofort ebenfalls. Mein Kopf pochte wie eine Bestrafung.Mir wurde bewusst, dass ich wieder zu Hause in unserem Schlafzimmer war, im Bett. Demetrio saß in dem Raum neben mir, seine Augen wanderten über mein Gesicht. "Meno male! Du bist wach." Seine Stimme war halb bekümmert, halb dankbar.Ich blinzelte zu ihm auf, einen Moment lang verloren, bevor alles la
Cellie’s POVIt had been several weeks since I woke up from a coma, and yet, sometimes, it felt like I was still dreaming. Not because of the pain—it had dulled to a faint ache that I could ignore most days—but because of the people surrounding me now.Demetrio was here, as he always was, his protective presence as solid and unwavering as ever. Georgiana and Diana too, who had quickly become fast friends. I couldn’t wish for anything more since Georgiana always seemed like she lacked any genuine ones. They always made sure I was never alone and at one point, Diana came up with the brilliant idea of game night, where loser had to drink. I wasn’t allowed to, of course, but it’s the thought that counts. Now, alongside them, were the Mikhailovs—Alexei and Romano—two people I had never imagined would be part of my life. And the entire Russian underworld family.The DeLeons and the Mikhailovs had spent years spilling each other’s blood, their feud lasting for decades. Now, here they were, f
Demetrio’s POVOver the next couple of days, visitors started arriving. My sister, Georgiana and her husband were the first, their faces tight with worry. Georgiana hugged me fiercely, her trembling hands lingering on my shoulders as she assured me, “She’s strong, Demetrio. She’ll pull through. She has to.”I nodded, unable to form words.Diana came next, followed by a few of Cellie’s colleagues from work. They all said the same thing, offering hopeful encouragement that sounded hollow to my ears. “She’ll be alright,” they’d say, their eyes darting nervously to the machines keeping her alive. I wondered if they truly believed their own words or if they could see how close I was to slipping off the edge.But nothing, none of their reassurances, prepared me for the next visitor.Alexei Mikhailov.The moment I heard he was outside, something in me snapped.“You have five seconds to get out of here,” I growled immediately I set eyes on him.Alexei didn’t flinch. He stood in the hallway, h
Demetrio’s POVThe blood won’t stop.No matter how much pressure I applied, no matter how tightly I held her, it just wouldn’t stop.“Stay with me, Cellie,” I begged, my voice raw and trembling as the car sped down the road. “You hear me? You stay with me.”Her head lolled slightly, her breaths shallow, her body still. My chest tightened as I pressed my forehead against hers, whispering promises I wasn’t sure I could keep and apologizing for failing her. Because I’d failed her. I had.The car screeched to a halt outside the hospital. My men pulled open the door and I practiCellie jumped out with her in my arms, shouting for the doctors.“She’s been shot!” I yelled, my voice breaking. “She’s losing too much blood!”The paramedics rushed forward, prying her from my arms. Her warmth left me, replaced by the unbearable cold of her absence.I followed as they wheeled her inside, shouting orders and questions I couldn’t answer. My hands and clothes were stained with her blood, the deep red
Cellie’s POVI released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, the weight on my chest lightening just a little. When I glanced toward Demetrio, I caught the flash of surprise in his eyes, mixed with a bit of curiosity. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he was wondering how I’d managed to get Alexei to stand down.Then Demetrio’s gaze softened, his shoulders relaxing as he slowly lowered his gun to the ground. He opened his arms wide, a hopeful smile tugging at his lips, and in that moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of us.I didn’t hesitate.I ran toward him, throwing myself into his arms with a desperation that felt like it might consume me. The instant his arms closed around me, the world fell away. Time stopped, and for one fleeting moment, nothing else mattered.His embrace was desperate, crushing, as if he feared I would vanish if he let go. I could feel his heart pounding against my chest, his breaths coming in gasps as he buried his face in my hair.“Y
Cellie’s POVDemetrio.He was here.He had come for me.The urge to kick my feet in the air died a quick death when I realized what that truly meant.Demetrio would not stop until I was released and if Alexei refused to give me up, both sides would battle it out to the death.“Get my father and Katerina to the safe room now!” Alexei growled at the nearest soldier, his hand gripping my arm to pull me toward the door.“No!” I yanked my arm free, stumbling back. “I’m not going anywhere.”Alexei turned to me, his face hard with fury. “Do not argue with me right now.”But I wasn’t going to back down. Not now. Not when lives were at stake.“Listen to me!” I shouted over the noise, grabbing his arm and forcing him to face me fully. “This war? It’s happening because of me. Demetrio is here for me, Alexei. He’s not going to stop until he has me back. You know that!”His jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and desperation. “You don’t understand. If you go out there, you will
Cellie's povI woke up with an intense feeling of unease. Like I could tell something unpleasant was going to happen. I couldn't shake it off, it was statiCellie pinned in the bottom of my belly.I got out of bed and began prepping for the day regardless. Writing it off as one of the many tricks my
Demetrio’s povI have never put myself in a position I couldn’t get myself out of since I was fourteen, and never in my life has that been because of a woman.But here I was, sitting in my car, palming a raging hard on that refused to go down no matter how many times I jerked off to dirty thoughts
Cellie’s pov“She’s so beautiful,” cried a woman to my left and I rolled my eyes just as another woman scoffed.“She’s nothing but a shameless, penniless gold digger. Look how tacky her shoes are.”“I heard that Manuel didn’t contribute a single dime to her wedding dress. It was the final test of h
Cellie's POVRrrring. Rrrring.I let out a lethargic groan, my head pounding furiously as I rolled over on a bed softer, larger and more comfortable than I remembered mine to be.Rrrring. Rrrring.That incessant ringing of a cell phone nearby was practically blasting my ears to bits. I felt around







