Alessia’s POV“Let me out!” I screamed, banging my cuffed hands on the wall.“You psycho, let me out!” I yelled.I fell to the floor, tried and panting. How could I be so stupid? I had forgotten about the CCTV.My kids, they would be missing me. How could I mess up in just a week of work?My throat felt dry from all the shouting and I coughed.The door started to slided open and I crawled up, struggling to my feet. I would make a run for it the chance I got.Once the door opened, I ran but he caught me, carrying me on his shoulder and throwing me back to the bed.“Get off me!” I screamed. “You sick twisted psycho!”“I doubt that,” he said, holding me in place. “Turns out you're not only keeping one secret from me.”I looked at him surprised. Had he gone mad?“What do you...” I started, but he cut me off.“Who is the twins' father?” He asked, sending shivers down my spine.How did he know? I hid it perfectly. I never kept it in my resume. Oh shit! He's got access.“Twins? What twins?”
Dominic’s POVI walked out of the office. It was late and past ten.Matteo walked behind me to the car. “Have someone make sure she doesn't escape,” I instructed.“Yes, boss,” Matteo answered.Ella took the kids to school. I watched her leave after kissing the twins.I was patient watching them from a distance.Lorenzo chased the ball, his dark hair flying around while Elena twirled with the other girls in her pink dress.I got out of the car, thinking of the best way to approach them. I didn't want to scare them. I removed my suit jacket, straightened my hair with my hand and crossed the street.Elena was the first to notice me. She stopped spinning, and crouched to her level.Elena stopped smiling and I smiled. “Hello there.”“Who are you?” She asked, looking at her brother. “I'm Dominic. I work with your mom,"I answered.“You're Mommy's boss?” Lorenzo asked, running over. He looked me up and down, not accepting me.“Yes, that's right. You must be Lorenzo,” I said. “Your mom talks a
Alessia’s POVI woke up in the same annoying bedroom I had been trapped in for days. I slowly rose from the bed, groaning from the exhaustion.My body was tired and I wanted to leave. I missed my babies. Ella must be worried by now and Lorenzo wouldn't be able to concentrate. He was always following me around.“Ugh, damn you, Dominic!” I yelled, taking off the left pair of my shoes and throwing it at the door.I crouched to the floor about to cry. I never believed I could be away from them for so long. Then I remembered something. Mg phone. They should have called by now.Slowly, I stood up, checking my body for my phone but it wasn't there. I remembered my purse which was outside the room, probably locked in Dominic's office.“Damn it!” I grunted and slapped my forehead.How could I leave something behind? I panicked knowing they would have called.I paced back and forth, thinking of a way to get out. Dominic already knew about the twins and I was scared he would take them from me.D
Dominic’s POVI stood in my private study, the DNA test results in my hands. The paper felt cold, distant, as though it wasn’t mine. But it was. The twins were mine. My blood. My flesh.And yet, as I stared at the document, all I felt was possessiveness. It wasn’t the anger I expected. It wasn’t fury or betrayal.I should be angry, but here I was thinking of a chance with her and the kids. Yet, I still felt guilt. I had been responsible for her family's loss and I was still greedy to want more from her.What is wrong with me?"Argh," I yelled, slamming the paper on the table."I should hate you Alessia. Your family, for everything they did to me. Why can't I hate you?" I murmured.My frustration rising with my pants and my fingers resting on my forehead.The sound of the door moving caught my ears. My fingers dropped to my side and I opened my eyes to see Matteo walk in."What is it?" I asked, with a frustrated tone."You look awful," Matteo replied, in a casual tone."Thanks," I answ
Sophia’s POVThe night wind stroked my skin as I stepped out of the gleaming black vehicle, its bright lights playing on pebbles of the driveway. The towering walls of Dominic’s house towered above like a fortress. No reassuring welcome from him. No soothing solace of words. No anything but cold deafening silence.I slammed my door shut behind me and strode up to the entrance, my heels clicking on marble steps. The employees, formed up to welcome me. Their rehearsed greetings were of no use to me."Welcome back, ma'am," they whispered together.I didn’t grant them that recognition and walked in.The bodyguards followed closely behind as I walked in.The moment that I stepped through the doors, cold cameras' eyes followed my every movement.I hated the silence. A new boundary that had never been there before. Dominic had never physically held himself off, but now it wasn't distance that he was maintaining. It was emotional distance that had grown up around him.How could he leave me ha
Alessia's POVSomething didn't feel right. I knew it. It was the queasy, peculiar feeling at the bottom of my stomach.Dominic had moved me to a remote house in the middle of nowhere.He had promised to bring the twins to see me and I waited eagerly.The big house was isolating and boring. I missed work, I missed hanging out with my darlings. I missed Ella.Dominic had double-checked the security with bodyguards on all four corners of the house. He didn't think I wouldn't run away. But how could I run when I was waiting to see my babies. I was no fool not to realize he could find me.I paced around the room, a new habit that I had formed recently. I stopped staring at the large glass, watching the moon. It looked so peaceful.Then that feeling returned again, it felt like someone was looking at me. My entire body begged me to get up and I did so. At this time the firing of a bullet shattering the glass and piercing the wall.I fell down almost immediately and crouched behind the bed.
Dominic’s POV“Alessia,” I called, but she couldn't hear me. “Alessia!”This time she moved, looking at me.“Are you okay?” I asked, looking suspiciously at her.She looked scared.Had I been too harsh on her?“Y…yeah. I'm fine. I was just thinking of what to say to them,” she replied.I nodded, watching her dial the number and talk on the phone.My heart melted and I had to stop myself from smiling every time she spoke to the twins.“What kind of crazy boss keeps you at work for days?” her friend spoke through the receiver.“It's not his fault,” Alessia answered.I listened to the twins tell her they missed her and I glanced at my watch. Three minutes passed and she was still on the phone, but I could sacrifice more.She looked beautiful when she smiled and I started to feel bad for holding her here.She turned to me, and followed my gaze on the watch then said her goodbyes.“You'll see me soon, baby. Mama loves you,” she said, with kissing sounds and I had to stop myself from smilin
Dominic's POV:“What the hell did you do?” My voice thundered.The other women stopped laughing and they swallowed.“What do you mean darling?” She asked calmly.“Don't act dumb. I hate it,” I warned.“Darling, you're embarrassing me. My friends are here,” she cooed.I looked at them, and my anger rose to the top. “Get out! All of you.”They stood up, dropping the glass on the table and rushing out of the room.She watched them go and looked at me with a frown. “What the hell is wrong with you?” She asked, almost yelling.“Who gave you the right to put her up in the bounty list?” I asked, walking towards her.She looked around, trying to remember, then her face brightened. “Aaah! Alessia isn't it?”I stopped in front of her, withholding every urge in my body not to hit her. I never hit women.“I thought I should do us both a favour and have her out of the picture,” she continued.“Why?” I asked.“Because I won't have another woman to have my fiancé's children and stay around him!” She
Sophia's POVI felt him before I saw him. I raised my head to see him in the mirror. The hair on my skin tingled and danced as I felt my pulse ticked faster.“Hi, baby,” I greeted, secretly praying he didn't pull the trigger.“Baby?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.“I…” I started.“Shut it,” he cut me off before I could produce the best lie I had just created.“Where are they?” He asked.“Where is who?” I asked, faking ignorance.“Answer me one more time with a stupid question, and I'll make this quicker,” he replied.I knew he wasn't bluffing. He cocked the gun and moved his finger to the trigger.“Wait…for real. I don't understand what you're saying. I said, “Just relax and talk to me, please.” I could win the Best Actress award at the Oscars with my act. There was no way in hell I would lose this easily and let him find them. Not when I knew I still had leverage against him.Wasn't he supposed to be in Carlos's care? The idiot could never do anything, right? So much for teamwork. W
Sophia's POVI felt him before I saw him. I raised my head to see him in the mirror. The hair on my skin tingled and danced as I felt my pulse ticked faster.“Hi, baby,” I greeted, secretly praying he didn't pull the trigger.“Baby?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.“I…” I started.“Shut it,” he cut me off before I could produce the best lie I had just created.“Where are they?” He asked.“Where is who?” I asked, faking ignorance.“Answer me one more time with a stupid question, and I'll make this quicker,” he replied.I knew he wasn't bluffing. He cocked the gun and moved his finger to the trigger.“Wait…for real. I don't understand what you're saying. I said, “Just relax and talk to me, please.” I could win the Best Actress award at the Oscars with my act. There was no way in hell I would lose this easily and let him find them. Not when I knew I still had leverage against him.Wasn't he supposed to be in Carlos's care? The idiot could never do anything, right? So much for teamwork. W
Dominic’s POVI lay there on the concrete floor, staring blankly at the damaged ceiling with blood pooling at the corner of my mouth. The metal cuffs cutting into my skin caused my right wrist to throb, and my left eye was slightly inflamed and itching. My body lost heat to the chilly floor, yet I accepted the discomfort. It was fuel and proof I was still alive.I had only one motivation to get out of here, and that was my family.They’d tossed me in here like a corpse—no light, no air, just piss-stained walls and silence thick enough to choke on. I had counted the hours by the rat scratching behind the stone near the far corner. Five hundred and sixteen scratches. That’s how long it had been since I last saw the sun.I had been here for two days. I knew my kids and Alessia were in danger, and I owed it to them to get them out since I had put them in a mess.Footsteps echoed from the hallway.I didn’t move.The heavy door creaked open. Light spilled in, and I fought the instinct to
Diego’s POVI slammed the door behind us the second we returned to the estate, my boots echoing on the polished marble floor. Matteo had already poured himself a glass of wine like we hadn’t just walked out of a warzone disguised as a council meeting.“That voice…” I cornered him in the bar and grabbed a seat.The air conditioner did little to ease the heat on my face, but it wasn't as hot as the suspicion burning in my gut. I took the remote from the bar table and pressed a button. The air increased. “That voice back there—was that really him?”Matteo didn't blink. With a smug air, he sipped his wine, swirled it, and cocked his head in a smile. “Take a wild guess.”My mouth went dry. I stared at him, the puzzle pieces finally snapping into place like a gut punch. “Holy hell. You used AI.”He chuckled, low and unapologetically, like I’d just praised him for art theft. “About damn time you caught on.”“Good lord, did you see the shock on their faces?” I asked, and he nodded, then sippe
Matteo’s POVI stepped into the cellar room and felt every eye burn into my skin.I was invited to the Mafia meeting. It wasn’t unusual for me to arrive alone without Dominic. Actually, he sent me twice to attend the meetings for him when he was busy.Only this time, he had been captured and he was in the custody of one of the members in the room.Don Pedro sat at the head, his back rigid like iron, resting on the chair. His cold eye followed me.Carlos sat at his side, with his arms folded, and lips curled in contempt. I moved forward with steady steps, without a care.Ferdinand sat opposite Pedro and smoked his cigar.He raised a hand as I reached the table. His gentle authority followed and everyone kept calm.Don Pedro wasn’t cooperative. “Where’s your boss?” He asked.I smiled and said calmly. “Mr. Dominic traveled to handle some business issues.”Carlos injected his two cents. “Is that so? We weren't informed.”I watched his smile turn into a smirk and answered. “It was imprompt
Alessia's POVAs two men pulled me across the floor, my scream ripped from me like a ferocious beast.They didn't flinch when my legs kicked out and thrashed against their holds.When my heel struck his shin, one of them grunted, but he continued.“Quit it,” Sophia said.The other muttered something in Spanish, like a curse word. I didn't care and wanted to be free from them.I knew Ella and the others would be back with help, but I doubted that Sophia would be so foolish to remain in this place.My wrists burned as the rope held me tight.My throat felt dry from screaming, but I didn't stop. Someone had to hear me.“If your plan is for someone to hear you, then be rest assured no one can. We're in the middle of the forest, and no one ever travels around here,” Sophia said proudly.“You crazy, stupid bitch!” I screeched.“Let me go! Let me go!” I said, fighting the men and scratching them as hard as I could.They ignored me and dragged me inside. My nails scraped the walls as they sho
Ella's POVI woke up choking to the taste of blood in my mouth. My wrists and head ached. I was on the floor of some locked up room.My wrists were chained, and also my ankles.I forced myself to sit up and looked around me.Alessia, the maid and Max were tied up too. “Max?” I called softly.Then I turned to Alessia and whispered again. “Alessia.”They were still unconscious and I started to crawl towards them, but the chains pulled me back.They looked pale. It scared me and I felt they were almost dead. I started to swear as I watched their pale faces and lips."No," I rasped. "No, no, no."I tried crawling to them again, and the chains jerked around my wrists. A soft hiss left my lips as the pain touched me.I had no idea who that woman that had captured us was, but I knew she was trouble.Alessia had better tell me everything when she got up. I had been so worried about my best friend that I hired Max the second I found out he was also a private investigator.I was trembling with
Ella's POVI woke up choking to the taste of blood in my mouth. My wrists and head ached. I was on the floor of some locked up room.My wrists were chained, and also my ankles.I forced myself to sit up and looked around me.Alessia, the maid and Max were tied up too. “Max?” I called softly.Then I turned to Alessia and whispered again. “Alessia.”They were still unconscious and I started to crawl towards them, but the chains pulled me back.They looked pale. It scared me and I felt they were almost dead. I started to swear as I watched their pale faces and lips."No," I rasped. "No, no, no."I tried crawling to them again, and the chains jerked around my wrists. A soft hiss left my lips as the pain touched me.I had no idea who that woman that had captured us was, but I knew she was trouble.Alessia had better tell me everything when she got up. I had been so worried about my best friend that I hired Max the second I found out he was also a private investigator.I was trembling with
Lorenzo’s POVThe whole backseat shook as the car door slammed. I was scared, but had to act strong for Elena. Dad wouldn't be proud if he knew I acted more scared.He always said I was the man and I was going to act it. Elena whimpered beside me, her fingers tightened around the neck of her stuffed bunny on the end of her bag’s zip.I didn't cry and reached for her. She hugged me and sobbed. My fear was soon replaced with anger and I glared at the driver driving us into the thick trees. I hadn't seen a single person in sight from the back and I was waiting to scream if I saw one.I tried my best to memorize every twist and counted them like Dad had taught me some days ago after playing hide and seek.“Where are you taking us?” I asked, while I continued glaring at him.“Be quiet,” Flynn answered.“I said be quiet,” he said again, in a harsh voice.“You don't scare me Flynn,” I said.He stepped on the brakes and slowly turned to face me. Elena held me tightly.“How do you know my name