Ava I opened my mouth to say something, but the words just wouldn’t come out. I wanted to express how much I wished to erase that kiss from my mind, yet my body had other ideas. Instead, I shot him a glare, trying to maintain my defenses. "Quit pushing me around," I said, though my voice felt weak against the tension building between us. He chuckled, but it wasn’t a lighthearted laugh. It was dark and tinged with bitterness. "Is that really what you think this is? Just me pushing you around?" He stepped closer, and I could feel the heat radiating from him. My breath caught, and for a second, I thought I might break down. But I held it together. "We’re not doing this. Not again." He reached out, his fingers grazing my jaw and tilting my head up to meet his eyes. "You’re lying," he murmured. "You’re lying to yourself, to me, and to everyone else in this house." I grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away from my face. "You think you can just touch me whenever you feel like it?" H
Ava A few days have passed since I had sex with Riccardo in his office. That night I couldn't sleep. I kept replaying what happened in my mind. I still couldn't believe I slept with him and not to mention I gave him a blowjob while Jessy was sitting there. Speaking of Jessy, I swear he knows I was under the table that day. Every time he sees me he grins and winks at me but I act as if nothing had happened. Coming back to today. I was in my room getting ready since we were invited to a ball. Riccardo didn't seem happy about going, making me wonder if all the mafia bosses were going to be there. The bedroom buzzed with excitement as Steph dug through jewelry boxes, her silver dress sparkling with every move. Tonight was the masquerade ball, but my mind was stuck on what had happened between Riccardo and me a few nights ago. "I knew this would look amazing on you," she said, gesturing to the black satin dress I had just put on. I smoothed the fabric over my hips, admiring my reflec
Ava Riccardo brushed off the question, a smirk playing on his lips as he leaned against the counter next to me. He reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. "You’re loving this, aren’t you?" he said, his voice low and playful. "Enjoying what?" I shot back, but the warmth creeping into my cheeks gave me away. "The way every guy in this room is checking you out," he replied, his lips nearly touching my ear, his breath sending goosebumps racing down my neck. "The way their eyes linger on what’s mine." I rolled my eyes, even as I found myself leaning closer to him. "I’m not anyone’s property." His hand found my jaw, tilting my face so I had no choice but to look into his eyes. "Don’t kid yourself, Ava. You’re mine, and deep down, you know it." Before I could say anything, he lowered his head, his lips grazing the curve of my neck. The warmth of his mouth sent a jolt through me, and I hated how easily he unraveled my reso
Ava There's a light, almost playful vibe between us, and honestly, I'm not used to this kind of attention—at least not like this. "Nice to meet you, Ava." I’m about to reply when I hear a deep, unmistakable voice from behind me. "Get the hell away from my wife." The words slice through our light chat like a knife. My stomach drops, and I turn around, surprised. Riccardo is there, glaring at Vito with an intensity that makes my heart race. His jaw is tight, fists clenched at his sides, and his eyes blaze with a raw, dangerous anger. Vito, sensing the threat, quickly steps back, hands raised in a mock gesture of surrender. "My bad, Don De Lucca. I didn’t mean to intrude. Just admiring the view." He throws me one last look, a playful smile still on his face, before he walks away. Riccardo keeps his gaze locked on Vito until he’s out of sight, his eyes still simmering with rage. Then, his focus shifts to me, and I can feel the weight of his stare—heavy and possessive. The atmosphere
Ava The morning sun peeked through the curtains as I gradually opened my eyes, the gentle hum of the house being the only sound I could hear. I stretched, feeling the lingering tension from last night between Riccardo and me, even though we hadn’t said a word since. I was at a loss for how to feel. My mind was a jumble, and my heart wasn’t faring any better. I got out of bed, threw on some comfy clothes, and headed down the grand staircase. The house felt oddly quiet this morning, as if everyone was keeping their distance. As I turned the corner into the kitchen, the aroma of coffee greeted me, along with the light chatter of Bento and Steph. Lucifer bounded around my feet, barking happily as I bent down to give him a scratch, his warm fur providing a bit of comfort. "Good morning," I said softly, running my fingers through his fur as I stood back up. "Morning," Bento replied, his tone playful. He looked up from the counter with a cheeky grin. "You doing okay today?" I shot him a
Ava That thought hit me hard. "Yeah, well... I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. He’s just so... intense. I’m not sure I can handle it." Steph reclined in her chair, her fingers rhythmically drumming against her cup. "You have to admit, there’s definitely something going on between you two. It’s not just pure hatred or rivalry. There’s something more profound, something neither of you can quite articulate." I let out a sigh, staring into my coffee. "Maybe. But honestly, it’s easier to just hate him than to sort out what I’m really feeling." "That’s fair," Steph replied with a casual shrug, taking a sip of her drink. "But you’re not fooling anyone, especially not me." I couldn’t help but chuckle at her confidence. "Is that really what you think?" "Absolutely," she said with a grin. "You’re so transparent when it comes to him, Ava. Anyone could see how you felt about him a few years back. I bet even he picked up on it; it’s kind of adorable, in a twisted way." Was I really that
Ava It was Steph's birthday, and the house buzzed with excitement. I groggily got out of bed, trying to shake off the remnants of a restless night. My thoughts were still tangled up with Riccardo, but today was all about celebrating Steph and her special day. As I made my way downstairs, I found Steph already at the kitchen table, surrounded by vibrant balloons and a pile of gifts. Her enthusiasm was contagious as she unwrapped each present, letting out loud gasps and over-the-top expressions of delight. "Another designer handbag?" She laughed, tossing her red hair back as she revealed the gift. "Is everyone trying to turn me into a shopaholic or what?" "You're already halfway there," I joked, taking a sip of my coffee while leaning against the counter. Steph shot me a playful grin. When she opened the last gift, she squealed in excitement upon discovering a small box from me. "Oh my god, you didn't!" she exclaimed, pulling out a revolver. "Happy birthday, Steph," I smiled. Step
Ava "You think you can just flirt with him and get away with it?" His voice was rough, almost a growl, as he slammed the door behind us. I stood frozen, my heart racing and my chest rising and falling rapidly. I wanted to yell at him, to push him away, but a part of me was curious to hear him out. I opened my mouth, but the words stuck in my throat. What could I say that would make him understand? "Answer me when I’m talking to you, Ava." He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, like a storm about to break. I took a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts, but instead of speaking, I felt the air between us crackle with energy. The tension was almost unbearable, like an invisible force drawing us together, and I found myself wanting to give in. He was suddenly right in my space. Without saying a word, he reached for me, gripping my arm and pulling me closer. My breath hitched as he tilted my chin up, compelling me to meet his eyes. His grip was firm, yet there was an under
Ava Judas just picked me up like I was a feather. I mean, I had lost some weight, but he really threw me against the wall with all his strength. I screamed as the chair collapsed beneath me, my arms twisting in ways they shouldn't. I fought hard to keep my limbs safe; I needed them to escape and survive. Damn it, I glanced over at my kids and saw my daughter Anrico crying, snot running down her face and smearing her lips. My sweet girl, Anrico. Then I looked at my son Massimo, who was on the verge of tears but holding them back, trying to be strong for me and his sister. My eyes darted to the screen where Riccardo was watching me, completely emotionless, showing no interest. I knew for sure that we were in this situation because of him. "This is a waste of my time; I'm done here," Riccardo growled, checking his watch like he had better things to do. What an asshole. "We're far from done," Judas chuckled, waving his hand, and Brown Head yanked my kids by their hair, dragging them
Ava 6 YEARS LATER I can't believe this is happening. My only friend, Judas, who I thought would be there for me during my toughest times, turned out to be the very monster I always feared. He actually put a gun in my face right in front of my kids and forced us into a van. I'm overwhelmed with so many emotions right now that I can't even pick one. I'm scared out of my mind, but I have to stay strong for my kids. I glance back at them from the front seat and see my little girl and boy terrified, clinging to each other, sometimes shutting their eyes tight when fear hits them. It makes me so angry and breaks my heart to see them like this; they shouldn't have to feel scared. Their big eyes are filled with tears, and their little cheeks are marked with tear tracks, just waiting for me to comfort them. Six years ago, I found out I was pregnant and hoped Riccardo would come back, but he never did. I waited two weeks before asking my brother to send him the divorce papers, and then I lef
Ava I made my way to our shared bedroom, my steps purposeful, almost robotic. My hands shook as I opened the closet and without a second thought, I started yanking clothes off the hangers, tossing them into a suitcase. Jeans, shirts, dresses—everything I could cram in, everything that reminded me of my life before this chaos. I didn't bother folding anything; I just stuffed it in, fueled by anger and frustration that made each action feel sharp and almost aggressive. I had no idea where I was headed, but I didn't care. I just needed to leave. I kept thinking about Riccardo. How indifferent he was. He probably wouldn't even realize I was gone until it was too late. He was too lost in his own turmoil, too wrapped up in his grief and anger. Even if he did notice, I knew he wouldn't try to stop me. He didn't want me. That realization stung more than I wanted to admit, but it was the truth. I was just another burden to him, a part of his life he couldn't be bothered to hold onto. He had
AvaThe funeral felt like a haze of black and white—everyone in dark suits and surrounded by white flowers, with faces that showed no emotion. People moved in and out of the church like they were part of a ritual they had to get through. The air was heavy with the smell of roses and incense, but all I could taste was a bitterness I couldn't quite place. Riccardo stood at the front, stiff and silent, like a stone statue. His jaw was so tight it looked like it might break. His dark eyes were cold and distant—completely detached. The man I had known just weeks before was gone. He had turned into someone else. A shadow. A ghost. Bento was next to him, staring at the coffin, his lips pressed together and his face pale. He hadn’t said a word since we got there. He was just a shell of the easygoing guy I used to know. His shoulders were slumped, and the usual spark in him was gone, buried under the heaviness of the day.Then there was Steph... she was a whole different story. She couldn’t ev
Riccardo I poured myself another glass of whiskey, my hand steady even though a storm raged inside me. The burn slid down my throat, but it didn’t reach the numbness I was seeking. The bottle was nearly empty, sitting on the edge of my desk. Good. I’d need another soon. The house was quiet now. Bento, Steph, Ava—I couldn’t be there. Not for them, not for anyone. Because if I stayed, I’d shatter. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. My mother’s face flashed in my mind—her gentle smile, the way she’d squeeze my hand as a child, assuring me everything would be alright. She was the only softness in my life before I met my wife. I could still picture it vividly—the moment I found her. It was etched in my memory like an indelible scar.She was sprawled on the floor, her body lifeless and awkward, her skin as white as the marble in the hallway. It was baffling. I had never seen her like this before. She wasn't merely asleep, despite how I had tried to convince myself at first.
AvaThe morning was pretty chill; I was in the kitchen with Virginia, chopping veggies and kneading dough while she kept an eye on me. She was humming softly, moving with such precision. “Signora Ava, you're improving,” she said with a warm smile as I fumbled to shape the dough into a ball. I chuckled a bit. “If by improving you mean 'not a total disaster,’ then sure, I'll take it.” Virginia laughed and shook her head. “You're doing great.” Meanwhile Lucifer was wandering around the kitchen, occasionally bumping my leg with his nose. The whole scene felt almost too perfect, but I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that had been hanging over me since the family dinner a few days back. Just as I was putting a pot on the stove, I heard Riccardo's footsteps. He walked in, phone in hand, looking serious. I was about to say hi, but he just walked past me, totally focused on the call he was making. “What is it?” he snapped as soon as the other person picked up. His tone made me freeze,
Ava The De Lucca estate was buzzing the next evening as the staff got ready for the family dinner. The grand dining room, usually so formal, felt cozy tonight, like everyone had decided to let their guards down for a bit. It had been weeks since we had a full family dinner, and tonight felt like a step back towards normalcy. We aimed for a peaceful evening, trying to bring the family together, even with the unspoken tension lingering in the air. The fine china was set for a meal that was supposed to be filled with chatter, laughter, and a sense of normal life. But there was a noticeable heaviness tonight, something we all felt but couldn’t quite put into words. I was the only one who seemed to notice it, a thick, suffocating presence. Everyone else was chatting and laughing, but my eyes kept drifting back to Riccardo. He sat at the head of the table, hardly touching his food, lost in thought. Yet his gaze was locked on me, tracking my every move, like a predator watching its prey.
RiccardoI reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer. “Take it off,” I commanded, my tone firm and non-negotiable. She paused, narrowing her eyes as if weighing her options—whether to comply or resist. But I could see the flicker of something deeper in her gaze. It was a game, a challenge. Fear was gone; she was... thrilled. With a slow, teasing motion, she reached for the zipper on her dress. Her hands shook just a bit as she pulled the fabric down, revealing her smooth skin bit by bit. I couldn't take my eyes off her, feeling a primal urge rise within me. Her hesitation only fueled my desire. This wasn’t about submission for her. No, this was her taking control. She was undressing for me, but on her own terms, stretching out the moment, turning it into a tease rather than a surrender. When her dress pooled at her feet, leaving her in just lace, I let out a slow, appreciative breath. She was stunning, every curve an invitation, every inch a weapon. Standing tall, her ey
RiccardoThe ride home was filled with an uncomfortable silence. The tension between us was so thick you could almost slice it. I could sense her next to me, her body rigid, her gaze fixed straight ahead, avoiding my eyes like she always did when she was upset. She was still mad about dinner and the argument we had. It didn’t matter that she had the guts to confront me in front of everyone; that just made me angrier, but I had to keep it together—not just yet. I thought she might break the silence, try to get under my skin again. But Ava was keeping it cool, almost like she knew how much this quiet was eating away at me. It was her way of getting to me without saying a word. When we finally stopped outside the mansion, I didn’t even glance at her. I just slammed the door and walked ahead, fully aware she was right behind me. I didn’t want her to say anything—not yet. There were things I needed to sort out—things she had to grasp. I led her through the dim hallway, skipping any small