Solenne
I squeezed my nails into his shoulder and muttered, "Vincent!" I was absolutely terrified. He gave me a look I had never seen before while carefully taking my hand away from me.
Those eyes radiated pure hatred. I was baffled as to how someone could become so gloomy so quickly after being so nice and cheerful, so my eyebrows furrowed. What transpired? As he turned around in just his boxers, the older guy absorbed Vincent.
"I allowed you to come here to learn, boy, and you have the nerve to sneak out of a family gathering to play stripper for your little whore?" I immediately glanced behind me when the man pointed at me. My jaw fell. Wait! Did he just refer to me as a whore?
"Who the fuck are calling a w. .." Vincent's hand slammed over my lips before I could finish.
"Don't speak!" he commanded in a voice I had never heard from those lips before. I had the urge to hit him, but I was still paralyzed with terror. He faced these men to speak to them.
"Leave! I'm right behind you," Vincent ordered, and my heart raced. The older man's eyes darkened even more as he asked, "Are you telling me what to do? " There were death stares everywhere, and I swear they were about to shoot one another.
"Don't make me say it again," Vincent commanded, and this time everyone complied. I didn't like how his whole demeanor shifted to that of a ruthless despot. This wasn't my Vincent. "Not smart, Cuz."
"I don't care, Caelum," said the attractive guy who was walking beside the older man. Vincent responded with a frigid stare.
"Take it easy!" He's an old dinosaur who hasn't had a decent fuck in ages.
"Caelum, I think his cousin," gave him a sly grin that made me consider they might murder the old man.
"I don't doubt you would enjoy that, Caelum." If you want, we may teach him his place. Bring my men back to my house. I'll be following you men closely," he commanded. My men? That was odd. Why were they his troops? What made them his men? This made no sense at all. When everyone had gone, Vincent gave me that playful grin once again.
"Am I bipolar?" he wondered as he saw the dread in my eyes. "I'm so confused," I could only say. His hand covered my cheek, and his eyes were full of affection.
"I'm sorry, baby. " Two minutes ago, I didn't know who he was. They were gentle and nice. "I need to leave. Would you let Isaac and Manuel drive you home?"
"What? Why?" I didn't need to leave. My friend's bridal shower took place in this room. I admit that I wasn't particularly close to her. I still didn't have to go. "I dislike leaving you alone, particularly with naked men dancing around.
"Can you just listen, and I'll explain more tonight?" he begged me with his eyes. I glanced around the room and saw that everyone was still motionless, staring at us. In any case, I had the impression that I was no longer welcome in this place.
"Okay!" I said quietly, but the anger was obvious on my face. "Hey, you're my girl. Don't pout. " He leaned his lips close to my ear. "I'll make it up to you when I climb in your bed tonight. I promise, baby." I couldn't help but smile a bit. He always knew how to bring me the utmost happiness when we were in bed together. I teased him by saying,
"We see how good you say sorry, and maybe I will allow you some pleasure too," as I kissed his lips. I kissed him as he smiled, then I gave his lower lip a bite.
"Fuck, baby! I need to go." His huge hands grabbed my hips and then pulled away.
"What the hell is happening?" Solenne came flying in, heading straight to Franco on the floor. His face was a bit fucked up, but he disobeyed an order."What happened? Oh my god, you need stitches. Aria get a medical kit or something. Oh my god, there is so much blood."I pulled her body off Franco and looked at her blood-stained hands. "Did I say you could touch him?"I don't know why my anger reached new heights. I didn't like her unwatched, unguarded, alone with Enzo, or touching another man."I don't fucking care. He needs stitches. Why on earth would you do that to him? He was just getting us tea." Tears were welling in her eyes as she looked at me like a monster."They are to guard you at all times. I ordered them to not take their eyes off you.""What?" She whispered, looking back to Franco then Antonio and back to me. "You fucking bastard!" She held out her hand and smacked me straight across the face. My head didn't move an inch though."Are you stupid?" I grabbed her wrist a
CaelumThe morning after Vincent's funeral, Solenne was behaving oddly. I suspected she was hiding something, but then she shouted at me, saying she was just unhappy, and I could see the truth in her eyes as well. I expected she might feel intimidated or at least embarrassed after seeing me with that woman. I had intended to tease her about it, but she showed no reaction. She appeared completely emotionless, just like me. I received a phone call that morning regarding issues with the Chicago families, so I chose to leave her alone. I had a mountain of problems to tackle, and some insignificant woman wasn't going to sidetrack me. Over the next few weeks, I noticed her mood improved slightly. She mostly wore jeans or tight black leggings, except for dinners with guests, where she opted for little dresses. I made sure to organize those dinners more frequently to admire her curves. I wasn't home much since I was traveling to various cities for meetings with family heads. The boss in Veg
I woke up achy in my closet, stretching as I removed my blanket. I gathered my pillow and blanket, then walked out plopping it down on the bed."Oh dear! I didn't see you." Aria held her hand to her chest. "Did you sleep in the closet?""Yes. It felt safer in there."Safer from what, I have no idea. I didn't feel like doing today, or any day ever again.I took my clothes from Aria and headed to the shower. I was quietly staring off at the wall while she did my hair and makeup. She picked a pretty white dress that flowed from my hips to my knees. I looked aimlessly at my reflection. This wasn't me. I liked dresses, but not ones like this, and not every day."You want to get some new clothes after lunch." Aria smiled at me, hoping to cheer me up. I could tell her and Antonio were glancing at me in worry. I guessed I seemed depressed."Sure." I simply replied then walked down to breakfast. I walked past the large window, finding the garden outback. Maybe I could take a walk in there late
Aria was practically begging me to stop lashing out. No one ever cared about me before. Not since my parents, and I was so young, I barely remember them. I thought Vincent loved me, but I was so epically wrong about him. Was this really my life now?"Fine! I'll be a good little prisoner and find a husband." I stood up with a new determination, almost falling back over. I may have had a little too much to drink."I don't think you understood dear." Aria said as I finished off the bottle of whiskey."I got it. Be nice to Caelum. Which I won't do. Find a young husband with little power to trick into taking me away from this place, and then I can run away. I will definitely do that." I turned my back and walked away.I heard Aria's little pray to God to save me, but I was sure there was no such thing as a God now. There were only cruel, hurtful people that liked to stomp all over my heart."Hey pretty lady!" A young man threw his arm around me. Perfect! He will do.I flirted back and fort
Solenne I felt completely disoriented all day while meeting Vincent's relatives. The wave of feelings I experienced as his coffin was lowered was beyond words. I found myself standing there all alone. Once again, I was isolated in this world. You abandoned me here, Vincent. You left me with a cousin who seems determined to harm me and a multitude of family members who stare at me as if I'm their foe. Why would you do this to me? Did you even care for me at all? I brushed away the few tears that fell and joined the throng heading back to the car. Antonio opened the door for me and I climbed into the back seats next to Caelum. He was silent as soon as we got there. His body was tense, radiating anger, so I figured it was wise not to provoke anything until the day was over. Caelum rarely expressed his feelings or chatted, but I sensed how close he was to them. I strolled around the back gardens, enjoying the variety of flowers. I used to tend to plants at my aunt's home when I lived t
"Don't touch me! " My expression darkened at her. It was well-known that no one was allowed to lay a hand on me unless I permitted it first. "I'm sorry, Caelum," she replied, cowering as if she were a child awaiting punishment. "What did you just call me? " My tone rose in intensity. Only Vincent referred to me as Caelum. "I'm sorry, Don. " Chiara lowered her head, trembling like a frightened leaf. "Get out of my sight! " I commanded, and she hurried away in tears. I understood she would willingly submit to me, but the thought of touching her felt completely wrong. A child would never be my wife or anything meaningful in my life. "I imagined you munching on kids as an evening snack. Seems I wasn't mistaken. " Solenne was behind me, laughing as if she'd cracked the best joke ever. "Hey Sol, let's go. " My cousin Enzo called her over, and she skipped toward him. She better not be leaving. "What are you doing? " I asked Enzo, and all his playfulness vanished. He was a kid near Vi