Mariana's PovMy eyes are dried of tears, my emotions put under control. I’m seated in the silence, feeling my mother’s gaze on my face.The silence lingers for a while. And then she breaks it. “What did you mean by what you said, Mariana? Does Radimr have a brother no one knows of?” She asks, curiosity laced in her tone.I thin my lips and blink once, steadying my voice before answering. “Yes.”Mother nods, a hum rumbling in her throat. “And you think you might feel something for him?”“Yes.” I breathe.Mother falls silent again—silence that lasts only for a moment. Our eyes meet and hers reflects the understanding of the matter. She understands that this is beyond my control, that the heart can’t be controlled.“Does he feel the same?” She finally asks, breaking the awkward silence.I pull my bottom lip into my mouth, nibbling with my teeth, my mind running in circles, weighing the gravity of the situation. “I don’t know, mamà?” I answer, my voice monotone.“What does that even mean
Mariana's PovThe meeting has suddenly migrated from my mother’s laboratory to the parliament room. We’re all filing through the hallway into the parliament room, everyone maintaining a silence that can create chaos.And by everyone, I mean: My mother, my father, my brother, Uncle Ares, Uncle Alessio, Uncle Dean, and Uncle Maxwell.The gravity of the situation, which I know nothing of, seems to be so deep my uncles didn’t even care to hug me after a long time of not seeing me.I step into the dimly lit room, my heart racing with every creak of the old wooden floorboards beneath my feet. The air is thick with an eerie silence, making my skin crawl.Shadows dance across the walls, like dark specters watching my every move. I try to shake off the feeling, but it only intensifies as I venture deeper.Fear grips my chest, squeezing tight. I can't shake the sense that I'm being led into a trap. Every step feels like a betrayal, as if I'm walking further into darkness.My breath comes in sho
Alejandro's PovI’m in Italy.I’m in fucking Italy.It all happened within unsuspecting hours. I was in my bed, lost in thoughts about the woman I can’t seem to keep away from my mind when suddenly, my brother barged in and announced that we were to leave for Italy.That was hours ago. Now, I’m walking into Don Matteo Messina Denaro’s manor, about to meet one of the most powerful men in the underworld. But my anticipation doesn't burn mostly for him, but for his daughter whom I am losing my mind over.Mariana.And there she stands, beside her twin brother, her mismatched orbs dancing with mine for a brief moment, telling me all I need to know before she shifts her gaze to her husband.“Hey, baby,” Radimr coos as he leans down, intending to greet his wife with a kiss. Mariana flinches away from him, but quickly slips her mask back on.And in that brief moment when she and her husband exchanges that kiss, I feel my heart constrict with rage.Why can’t she speak freely to me? I at least
Alejandro's PovTwenty four hours.Forty eight hours.Seventy two hours.I mean nothing.‘He means nothing.’ That was the last thing she said three days ago before disappearing.She comes to me, makes my heart flutter, and then tells her brother that I mean nothing.I’m a fool, always have been. So big of a fool that I forgot what my aims were with her. I just wanted to fuck her, to have a taste of what my brother has, to take her away from that brother of mine and watch him lose his mind.I lost my way.But in all this confusion, perhaps heartbreak, I’ve come to realize that my visit to Italy has nothing to do with work, with my position as head of security for my family’s crime organization.It’s something more.I’ve been brought here for a reason much deeper than just work, and I know this because of the way I’ve been treated since stepping foot into this house.Mirabella Denaro, Don Matteo’s wife, she’s always checking in on me, always ensuring that I am comfortable. And she does
Mariana's PovIt’s silent, too silent. And it’s been like this for days. Two, perhaps three days.Alejandro has refused to look in my direction, and when he does look, I no longer see that burning desire there once held.He hates me now. I know he does. And I don’t blame him. My father is after all responsible for the death of his—there’s no coming back from that heartache.We’re seated in uncomfortable silence in the private jet; my husband, myself, my brother-in-law, and some of their soldiers.The air is thick with tension, Alejandro and I exchanging quick glances, my heart raging in my throat, making me dizzy.Why does Radimr have to be here?Why do I feel this way for my brother-in-law?Why are the forbidden things the most tempting?My mind is reeling with questions and thoughts as I sit through the torture of this flight, counting down the remaining hours until touchdown, wondering what my life would become with someone like my crazy husband and now a spiteful brother-in-law.M
Alejandro's PovSomething squeezes at my chest as I watch the chaos I orchestrated unfold before my eyes.Mariana is being tossed around the ground, her hair pulled, her face bruised, my brother hauling insults at her.Whore, desperate, stupid—that’s all I’ve heard him yell in her face over and over and over again.“E. . .Enough,” I say, my voice barely audible.I’m hesitant, perhaps afraid to interfere, fearful that my interference might ruin everything, make things worse for Mariana.My brother doesn’t hear me. He’s too focused on hurting his wife that he’s blocked out external sounds. “That’s enough, Radimr. . .she’s had enough. . .” I repeat, this time with a higher tone.He shoots me a glare, and yet, proceeds with his torture. It’s when he raises his hand again, intending to smack her face that I find myself jumping between them.Radimr’s palm collides with my face and my head veers to the side, blood pooling out of my mouth.Slowly, I bring my head up and hold his intense glare
Alejandro's PovIt’s been days, series of stupid days. She doesn’t speak to me, she doesn’t look at me, she barely breathes when I’m near her.Another day passes and it’s still the same.She makes breakfast for her father-in-law, my father, takes it up to him, chats with the old man for a while, comes down, walks past me and into my car. And then I drive her to the golf club where she runs a few errands for the growth of the family.Then she sits back into my car, and I drive her home.The cycle repeats. It’s been days, more than a few days, yet there’s been no change.Today is another day.I pace across my room, frustration simmering beneath my skin. Mariana's silence is suffocating me. It’s the seventh day, and just like before, we’ve just returned from the gold club, yet she's barely spoken a word.Seven days without speaking to me, without allowing me the opportunity to at least speak to her.Why won't she talk to me? What did I do wrong?I stop in front of the window, staring o
Mariana's PovI’m not as good, angelic, naive as I make myself out to be.For whatever I do, there’s always a hidden goal behind it all. To kill, to observe, to know, to win—Whatever facade I put on, whenever I wear a different mask, there’s always a reason.Why am I saying this?It goes to say that I am not a weak girl, or a girl who falls in love with a man simply because he has pretty eyes, a dark aura, and can bring her to a climax. I am not that type of woman. I do not love Alejandro Raes Vastlav.Yes, my pussy pounds erratically whenever he’s near, but that’s all there is to this. Physical.Perhaps the case is different for him. I don’t care.He’s my key, the light at the end of the tunnel, the one who I plan to use as my human shield when things eventually blow out of proportion. Therefore, no woman is allowed to sway his mind.I need him to focus on me, only me. He’ll look only at me, breathe for me, think of me. And to achieve that, I need to make sure no woman gets too close