"Well, we are currently sorting it out," Juan sighed. "How is Belle though? Heard the accident affected one of her legs?" Dante questioned as they walked into one of the living rooms. He sunk onto a couch and the gave a sigh of relief. "Ah yes. She's on a wheelchair.""I do hope she gets better," Dante sighed. "I'll go up to see her soon. I need a bit of rest, my legs are tired.""Understandable," Juan chuckled. "But about her getting better, perhaps you should talk to her to stick to her wheelchair. She walks around until she's I'm excruciating pain.""Ah, the stubborn girl," Dante said, chuckling fondly. "How does her leg want to heal?" "You'd have to ask her about that one."Juan patted his lap to Arya who stood awkwardly beside one of the couches. "Come, sit Mio Angelo."Arya rolled her eyes and ignored him, walking over to sit on a chair far away from him. "That's not where I asked you to sit." He gave her a deadpan stare and cocked his head at her. She returned his stare wi
Juan's blood ran cold at the statement. "Is that a threat?" He questioned. His voice was icy cold as well and he was already seeing red. Dominic had been getting too bold as of late and he wondered if this was a ploy to get either half of the shipment or to get Arya from him. Or could it be that Dominic was lying simply to rile him up for no reason?"Not at all Moreno," Dominic responded in a voice was was too calm."You wouldn't dare.""I have no reason to burn down your vineyard," Dominic scoffed. "And I'm not asking for war from you. I am offering you help."Juan's jaw tightened. He began to grind his teeth together in anger. "If you have no intentions of burning on of my vineyards, why then will you tell me that.""Ask your security to let me in," Dominic answered. "I do not have weapons on me."The line went dead with a click. "Casso!" Juan swore, slamming the phone on the chair beside him angrily. Arya stiffened at the sound of his voice ringing in her ears. "I'm sorry Mio An
"I will," Juan answered without any hesitation. Dominic nodded and smiled. "How loving of you Juan. It's a pity she will not do the same, or will you princess?" He asked, looking her squarely in the eyes. She looked away and said nothing. The question in itself was ironical in nature. Lose everything? She has already lost everything the moment her stepfather sold her off and Juan came to get her. Her everything was now Juan— she lived under his roof and as much as she hated it, she didn't have a choice. She did not answer Dominic though, because she didn't owe him a response. She adjusted herself in Juan's lap which made him stiffen and she could feel something harden beneath her. "You are not answering me princess," Dominic said. "She doesn't have to," Juan said hastily and in a hoarse voice, for fear of her answer. He knew she wouldn't, but he did not want her to say the words out loud."My everything is Juan," Arya finally said, eyes locked onto Dominic. "If I lose everything
Dominic sucked his teeth sharply and have Juan a glare. "Half of it.""One eighth," he argued back without blinking. He would offer more but not now. He needed to show Dominic he wasn't willing to budge on his offer so Dominic will negotiate a lower amount. "Your vineyard is worth more than the money.""So I should sell my entire vineyard or give you an equivalent worth to save it? It might as well burn down and I start all over," Juan laughed. "And might I add, that's a legal property," he smiled. "Unlike you, I have insurance.""One fourth," Dominic said dejectedly realizing that he had no choice. If one eighth was worth more half of the vineyard that got burnt in Venice, the he might as well get the full money's worth."One sixth and the dealers contact. He won't be charging you anything for dealing.""The deal has been done," Dominic said, looking at his phone. "Bomb has been planted. It is your largest vineyard in Sicily. The largest of the three in Catania. Bomb has been placed
Juan remained silent for a long time, not saying anything in response. "Sur, are you there?" the head of security asked skeptically, wondering if the line had gone dead or if it was just Juan."You mean to tell me that I'm paying you all to do a goddamn good job and until now, you never noticed that something was wrong with the footage?" He hissed through the phone with a cold and menacing voice. "Even if the surveillance staff did not notice. You are the head of security for a reason. How could that pass you by? Do you not supervise it.""Sir, we were not expecting the footage to be compromised," the head of security replied weakly, trying to give an argument that was sensible enough. "We have been..""I pay you to report and treat any suspicious activity. Are suspicious activities meant to be expected?" Juan yelled through the phone. "Send me a copy of the footage of that day. From The surrounding areas as well. The one at the entrance. Who went in and who went out.""As you wish s
"Ju-juan," she moaned. It came out as a desperate cry of need as his fingers slipped through the soft cotton fabric. "What is it Mio Angelo," he rubbed small gentle circles on her clit sending a wave of inexplicable pleasure through her brain. "I—" she couldn't talk, all she could do was moan against him."You what?" He whispered sensually."This... We..." Her brain was foggy, mind clouded with intense pleasure as he increased the pressure. "I— please.""Please what?" He asked, his second hand squeezing her breasts gently. "You want me to stop?"Yes. She wanted to say, but all that erupted from her was a whimper of need."Please what?" he asked again, this time his lips brushing the shell of her ear. "Tell me, Mio Angelo. Do you want me to stop?"Arya's breath caught in her throat. Her body arched into his touch, wanting more get not wanting to give in to him. Her lips trembled with words she couldn't form. Her mind screamed for clarity, but her body who was a traitor clung to the p
"What? What do you mean?" Belle asked, whipping her head around fast to face Juan. "You can't... I..." "Yes," Juan replied firmly, his face unwavering as he stared daggers at her. Despite how angry he was, there was still a slight softness in his eyes. "You leave tonight. Marco Bellini is no longer here and staff has been cross checked. You have maids who can cater to you. There's no reason for you to be here.""So you're kicking me out?" She gave him a look of disbelief, tears welling up in her eyes. "Juan?""Since you have come here Belle, you have been nothing but trouble for what is not even necessary," he hissed coldly. "You are taking advantage of my relationship with you and I will not tolerate that. You know how much u hate things like that. You of all people should know that."Belle scoffed, shaking her head. "Fine. I'll leave, right now."She stomped away in annoyance and then she tripped at the door. Concerned, Arya rushed to the door and pulled her up. "Are you okay?" She
He took her arm and then lifted her to a position where she straddled him, and then he placed his hands around her waist, sliding up her hoodie slightly— hands tracing the side of her stomach and her back, stopping just beneath her breasts. "You're not wearing a bra, how naughty of you Arya."Before she could speak, his fingers grazed her nipples and she gasped, eyes rolling back from the wave of pleasure that hit her. Her nipples hardened like a rock instantly, her body filled with the need for a desperate release. She never knew that pleasure could exist for her when a man touched her after her first experience. But with Juan, things were unbelievably different in ways she didn't want to admit. She was not yet sure if she was falling for him or just attracted. He lifted her hoodie off her completely, throwing it against the bed, greeted by the sight of her firm and round breasts. "Fucken perfect," he mumbled, tracing a circle around her nipples before latching his mouth, sucking
"You know... It's funny," Juan smiled. "Your Italian saviour who deserves to be the top Mafia is not coming to save you..."Ricotta said nothing, but only gritted his teeth even harder. "How easy were you to brainwash," Juan shook his head. He turned his head to Hernandez who stood in the door way and then gave him a nod. Hernandez walked towards Ricotta, his expression blank as he punched him in the eye. However, Ricotta's scream was no where near Diego who was in intense pain. "Just kill me already," Diego gasped. If it were possible, he would have burst open and his eyes would probably pop out of it's socket. The burning sensation in his p3nis was brutal and not something a human should endure. It was exactly what Juan wanted— for the pain to be unbearable to the point where he would wish for death. "Kill you?" Questioned Juan. "No, that would be way too easy Diego. You cause lifelong damage, I intend to give you pain that matches."Juan stood up once again, slowly. He walked t
Juan gritted his teeth together and then gave Dominic a long stare.“Very well then, we have a deal,” he said.Dominic put out his hand for a shake, while Juan only gave him a mean look. He sighed and then retracted his hand.“I should go,” Dominic said.“Yes, you should,” Juan replied, and then turned, entering his car.He sat beside Arya and picked up her hand, placing it on his lap while interlocking fingers with her. The trees ran past them as they drove through the city. It was a long drive, and after what seemed like eternity, they arrived at a deserted street. The car was parked, and then Juan got out, opening the door at the other end for Arya.He held her hand as he led her into the warehouse. It was the same as Arya remembered, with people hanging from ceilings and all what not. He put his hand over her eyes, realizing that she did not particularly enjoy seeing these men.Arya was led into a room by Juan, where she saw her stepfather being tied up, and there was a man she had
"Il Lupo?" Dominic's voice was hoarse when he asked the question. "You're sure of it?""I spoke with him. He's alive," Juan responded, eyes cold and distant as if lost in a memory that has passed a hundred years ago.."But you killed him in the last war," Dominic said, blinking rapidly. Confusion was marred into lines on his forehead. "You literally killed him. I remember... That day my father and I came to help... You were the one who pulled the trigger from the top of that building when he thought he was victorious. After he killed your father and mine.""I pulled the trigger," Juan confirmed, his voice still in that dangerously calm icy tone."It went into his head. You didn't miss. A funeral was done... He...""He is alive Dominic, and I don't know how.""Wow..." Dominic muttered. "We should have let go of tradition and not given his men the right to bury him.""I should have burnt his body, but there's no use in dwelling in the past now, is there?" Juan asked. After a brief momen
"Juan," Arya gasped, sitting up and using the bedding to cover her chest. He didn't respond, rather he stared ahead into space. He was hungry for blood and needed the screams or someone pleading for mercy to ease the anger he felt towards life and he has just found the perfect scapegoat. First, the bastard sold her off to become a sex slave just so that he could pay his death and now he was hearing he had molested Arya as a child? Diego had been trouble from the start, swinging from one Mafia boss and gambling house to another, trying to help in dealing drugs so he could gamble away. Always getting himself caught up in one mess or the other. He had not been a responsible father to Arya when her mother had died and he still has the guts to molest her?Another surge of disgust coursed through his veins at that. He was going to kill the bastard. "You don't havw to.""I don't but I want to," he commented, swinging his legs off the bed. "Get dressed principessa."Arya did not argue thi
Dead people could not rise from the grave, but hearing the voice of Giuseppe Rinaldi was enough confirmation that dead men could rise from the grave. "Hello? Riccota? I thought you were on my side. I thought you were fighting for our cause," Giuseppe hissed angrily. "Why am I seeing news that it was the textile plant that needed cleaning that got bombed?""Il Lupo," Juan said, taking the phone out of Riccota's hands. "You are supposed to be dead.""Ah, if it is not Moreno's son." The wolf's voice changed into something amused. He was definitely not expecting to hear Juan's voice and was not yet ready to go into a heads on war with him, but with what had happened it seemed he was going to have no choice. "I killed you," commented Juan quietly. "Did you?" Guiseppe laughed heartily. "I'm alive and kicking Juan. You failed to do a thorough job, as always."Juan gritted his teeth together. "Daddy was always complaining, wasn't he?" Giuseppe continued laughing. "I am curious though. I g
"I never said I was waiting for anything," Ricotta said in a shaky voice. He appeared confused, glancing at the TV once more as if he was wondering why Juan was showing him what played on the TV. "Is that... Not the textile house?" he asked in a somewhat breathy voice.Juan didn’t say anything at first. He stayed quiet and slowly took a sip from his wine glass. His eyes looked half closed, like he was thinking about something far away, not the drink in his hand. On the TV, the video kept playing. It showed a building with blackened, burned walls. Smoke rose slowly into the evening sky. In a few minutes firefighters moved around, spraying water on what was left of the building, trying to stop the last bits of fire."Oh, yes it is," Juan said offhandedly. "I'm thinking of starting a new vineyard there so I guess it needed cleaning up."The faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner suddenly felt louder and more pronounced. Ricotta swallowed hard. "May I ask why you are tellin
"I suppose it does," he commented drily. He did not necessarily seem interested in whatever Juan was saying. He was glancing at the grandfather's clock at the end of the room way too frequently. "Do you have somewhere to be?" Juan asked, looking at the clock. Surprisingly, a lot of time has gone. It was five forty five p.m. already, that meant the bomb was due in fifteen minutes. "Not at all," he said, looking all too relaxed. "But you seem so interested in the clock," Juan replied, lifting a brow in challenge. "Is there a reason for that?"He shook his head and shrugged. "Not necessarily. I just like it... Archaic... Beautiful even. The ticking sound... It's... Soothing," he smiled but Juan could see an evil smile beneath that. Maybe Juan was overthinking it but perhaps the ticking of the grandfather's clock in the corner was soothing because he was expecting something to happen. And the evil smile was probably because he was happily anticipating for Juan to receive the news that
"What?" She asked, her voice already hoarse and cracked from the tears."Who did it to you, mio Angelo?" Juan asked again. Beneath his skin, his blood was boiling like never before. A feeling of anger clawed at him, begging to release a beast on whoever had dared to hurt her. "What are you talking about?" She asked in a small and timid whisper. "You know what I'm talking about Arya," he replied, stepping further into the room. "What is his name?"Fear and realization washed over her in that instant and she gasped softly. How could he have known that a man had assaulted her when she had never said anything about it? Could he read into her mind and soul? "I don't know what you're talking about Juan," she lied in a timid voice. "That's a lie, Arya," he walked towards her menacingly. "Tell me who he is!" He commanded.She flinched, moving backwards a little. Just then, a knock came on the door interrupting the conversation. Juan did not bother to face the door or look at it. His eyes
The room went quiet. The kind of silence that felt heavy, like a weighted blanket being draped over something. Juan ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated and unsure. He looked at her one more time before standing. He grabbed his underwear and trousers from the floor, putting them on promptly. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I’ll give you space.”She didn’t move or even look at him for a second. She just stayed there, wrapped up in the blanket, her whole body tensed. Her eyes stayed on the wall, unmoving. That looked distant, and even though she was in the room, Juan could tell her mind was not. Her thoughts were loud enough for him to see but not loud enough for him to hear. He wondered what had happened, why she had suddenly backed off when she seemed to be enjoying it. It was not her first time, so why had she been scared?Arya, on the other hand, didn’t know how to explain what she was feeling. Shame. Fear. Hurt. It all mixed together.Then he left.The door closed behind