(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Dearest gentle readers, I'm pleased to inform you all that Mirabella's and Matteo's story is about to end, giving rise to their children's story. And we're putting up Mariana's story first. so, buckle up because it's going to be a ride.)
Mirabella's PovMonths later.I'm huddled in the kitchen with my husband, whispering and giggling like conspirators. We're planning a surprise party for our twins, Mariano and Mariana.A party to celebrate their sixth birthday.It’s been months since my children turned six, but I was skeptical about throwing a party for them for several reasons.First, my son doesn’t exactly like being surrounded by lots of people. He in-fact only enjoys the company of his sister and I do not wish to trigger him by forcing him out of his natural habitat.Secondly, our worst enemy, my father, was roaming free and devising several means to harm my family. I didn’t want to have us all in one place where he could easily hurt us.Now, he’s dead; hence, we’re throwing an intimate party for the kids."Okay, so we've got the cake, the decorations, and the games," I say, ticking off each item on my list. "What about the guest list?"Matteo replies, "Just family and close friends. We want to keep it intimate."
Matteo's PovI sit beside my son, holding him close as he trembles in my arms. The party chaos fades into the distance, leaving only the two of us in this quiet room.Minutes tick by, and I search for the right words to say. But what can I say to ease his pain? To make him feel safe again?I look down at him, his eyes still closed, his small chest rising and falling with each breath. My heart swells with love and compassion."Mariano, mio figlio," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "My son, I'm here for you. I'm always here for you."He doesn’t speak. The silence stretches out, but I don't fill it. I let him know that I'm present, that I'm not going anywhere.Slowly, his trembling subsides, and he opens his eyes. They're red-rimmed, but they lock onto mine, searching for reassurance."I'm sorry, Papa," he whispers, his voice cracking.I pull him closer, my heart breaking. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Mariano. You're perfect just the way you are.""Papa. . .but I don't know what
Mirabella's PovMonths later.I stand by the glass window, a beautiful smile etched to my face as I watch my husband and children interact in such a soul touching manner.After the events at the twins' birthday months ago, Matteo and I made a decision to move to Rome for a little while in order for us to give our full focus to our growing children.The house he purchased for us here in Rome is elegant, modern, small, and intimate. We decided to go for something smaller because we wanted a place that allows us to be closer to our kids, not a house that keeps us so far apart from one another.Matteo is chasing the children around the garden and they’re both laughing out their lungs as they tease him.My heart warms with a smile, my hands cradling my now huge bump.As though he notices my eyes on him, he stops chasing the kids and looks up at me. He waves at me, his face beaming with a smile. I chuckle and blow kisses at him.He grabs his chest, acting like someone shot with a love arrow
Matteo's PovI can recount the number of times when my wife was so happy the child in her surfaces. And the happiness and joy she feels today is worthy to be taken note of.She’s all flustered, her chest heaving, her face wide with a huge grin, and her eyes locked on the shiny ring around her finger.As I drive us back to our home, I feel a sense of fulfillment, of joy, knowing that I’m the reason my woman can’t stop herself from expressing her profound joy.“I still can’t believe this. . .oh my gosh!” She shrieks, slapping her hands over her thighs. I snort a laugh, shaking my head at her cuteness. She's like a kid on Christmas morning, her eyes sparkling with excitement.“You’re gonna wear it out if you keep staring at it, baby,” I say in an attempt to gain her undivided attention."Matteo, just look at it! Isn't it stunning?" She asks for the umpteenth time, waving her hand in front of me.I chuckle and take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "It's beautiful, amore. Almost as be
Mirabella's PovIn my younger days, my mother made it a point to make me feel like a princess. She’d dress me up, doll me up, making sure I felt as content, beautiful, seen, and happy as possible.“You’re a princess, my love, and all princesses always have their wish granted to them. All you have to do when you want something is to wish upon it and it’ll all be yours. You deserve all the best life has to offer,” she’d say.I didn’t believe her.And the tragic events of my life were enough reasons not to believe her.But today, as I stand by the grand door of the St. Peter’s Basilica Rome, with my daughter by the right side of me, and my son by the left side of me, both of them holding my hands and ready to lead me down the aisle where I’ll once again exchange my vows with their father, this time in truth and from the depth of my heart, I now have an understanding of what my mother used to say to me.As my husband comes into view, holding our eight month old babbling daughter to his ch
Genre: Romance, Mafia.Theme: Dark romance.Setting: The book unfolds in Italy and migrates to Russia, and is set to occur in the 21st centuryTone: Dark, wild, and steamyCharacters:-Mariana Denaro: Female lead.Alexandr Radimr Vastlav: Mariana’s husband.Alejandro Raes Vastlav: Mariana’s brother in-law and her love interest.Mariano Denaro: Mariana’s brother.Mr and Mrs. Denaro: Mariana’s parents.Story Extract:“I want you, Mariana.” Alejandro asserts.“I’m Married.” I whisper.“I. Want. You.” He pushes.“I’m Married. . .to your brother.”He tuts, “quite an unfortunate situation for you, wouldn’t you agree?”. . .She’s a liar.He’s smart.She’s a con artist.He’s a psychotic maniac.She’s on a mission of discovery.He’s on a mission of destruction.Mariana Denaro, the first daughter of the powerful Italian mafia family, is a force to be reckoned with. Behind her polished facade and designer gowns, she conceals a sharp mind and a calculating heart.To the world, she's a spoilt bra
Mariana's PovMy life is fucked.There’s a certainty that the devil is clapping and laughing in pride, rejoicing over what I’ve become—a slave to his evilness.It’s laughable how I’m supposed to be in control of my life, yet, I’ve opened myself up to the dirtiness and suffering of humanity, pushing my body to a point of eruption with self destruction.The heel of my boots knock against the tiled floor, the sound bouncing off the walls in echoes. I leisurely stride into the large living room of my parent’s manor with a bottle of scotch in one hand, and in another, between my index and middle finger, a joint.My parents took up half of the estate, building their manor and I sometimes wonder what they do with such a large space when it’s just the two of them. A few helps included.“Where are they?” I ask the maid who comes to usher me in. But instead of giving me an immediate answer, she takes her time, judging my outfit, her disgust laced eyes roaming my barely covered body from head to
Mariana's PovI walk into the pool house only to find it crammed from wall to wall with drunken and overly horny adults. Letting out a somewhat quiet laugh, my eyes desperately scan the entirety of the room inch after inch until they finally land on the one person I hoped to see.“Leah!” I yell out in excitement as I run towards my best friend, engulfing her in a playful hug whilst she laughs, playfully kissing my cheeks and wishing me a happy birthday.Our fingers lace together and she twirls me around three hundred and sixty degrees, letting out a low laugh before affirming, “You look absolutely stunning, birthday girl!”Dramatic much.Laughter bubbles out of me with my head thrown back. “You look absolutely stunning, sister in law,” I tease and she rolls her eyes at me, a shy scoff eliciting in her throat.Minutes after conversing with Leah, I make my way to the middle of the room with a bottle of scotch in hand, screaming my proclamation. “Thank you all for attending my sick party