Gianna
The scream was terrifying enough to freeze my blood.
My eyes shot open and fell straight on the ceiling, the LED lights embedded in it still twinkling. I just lay there, my heart hammering in my chest so loud that I could hear it.
“You’re up,”
I blinked twice at his familiar voice and then sat up at lightning speed, my body tensing up as we both stared at each other. Nico stood by the bed, a glass of orange juice in hand, and he was still in those low-hanging jeans. Thankfully, there was no more blood splattered across his face and body.
“You’re running out of fingers.”
Bile crept up my throat as the memories slammed into me. What he did to that man… I didn’t know how to erase the images now seared into my mind. I knew Nico was deemed as deadly but I didn’t know he was capable of…that.
“Drink,” h
Nico “Is there any progress on the Moles?” Gianna asked, once she was finally full with her breakfast of frittata with veggies, two slices of bread, fresh figs and another cup of coffee. It actually made me smile when she almost licked her plate clean.“Caelian is looking into it. So far, we have five suspects,” I answered, looking around to make sure Mirella wasn’t around. She left after whipping up a quick breakfast.“Five?” Gianna exclaimed, looking surprised.“Still suspect,” I assured and hope to God that Guilio won’t be one of them. It would break Caelian’s heart. He was the one who found him, trained him and then took him as his right hand.He was a trustworthy man.“What happens to them if…if it’s confirmed that they are the one?” she inquired. I gazed out at th
Nico“A total of five suspects have been marked out,” Caelian muttered, his face hard as he held out a file for me. “You will find all the names in this file. All five of them have questionable histories and are potential suspects.” I grabbed the file from Caelian and scanned through the pages.“Are you sure?” I demanded. “Because as important as this is, I don’t want any innocents hurt.”“I am, but I will re-check,” Caelian answered.“Be fast…we don’t have time to waste,” I ordered.“And what if I am right and these are the Moles we are looking for?” he muttered. I shut the file and shrugged.“Then we follow the protocol,” I said flatly. “Just like it’s…” I paused because of the shuffling footsteps by
GiannaBy the time I reached home, I was inevitably drunk. To the point that I could barely see my fingers. I should have never gone on a drinking spree with Teresa. She had super control. I sucked.“Signora, should I help you inside?” my driver asked. I could barely see his face, but I could sense he was worried.“No…th…that wo…won’t be necessa….” I gave him a wave and climbed out of the car, struggling to stay upright on my two feet. The floor seemed to be rising up to my chin as I stumbled inside.Goddamn it. I have to climb up the bloody stairs.I sighed and dragged myself towards the staircase one step at a time. But my feet wobbled and I gasped as my heel twisted, taking my ankle with it.“Fuck…” I cursed, grabbing onto the railing as pain shot through my ankle.“You’re drunk,” I blinked and then gazed up, my heart stopping instantly.Crap.He looked blurred but I didn’t need to see the reaction on his face to realize he was pissed. His voice said enough. Nico stood on the stairs
Gianna“I had a call with Bellavanti’s marketing team this morning,” Teresa said, clicking through her slides. “They’re aligning their campaign timeline with the launch so we can cross-promote in both markets. PR’s drafting your feature pitch for Vogue Italia and possibly Elle US. Maximus is really going all out.”I nodded faintly, my eyes fixed on the screen but seeing none of it.“They’re also pushing for a soft launch event in Florence next month. We’ll need to finalize your collection samples by the twentieth if we want them included in the press kits.”“Right,” I murmured, though I couldn’t have repeated a word of what she’d just said.All I could hear were his words.“This is who I am. And if I don’t fit your standards of perfection then maybe…maybe you need to rethink this marriage and decide what you want once again.”Teresa stopped. I didn’t notice until the silence pressed in.“Gi,” she said, frowning. “What’s going on with you? You haven’t said a word.” I blinked, forcing
Maximus “As I said…he has mere months left,” the doctor murmured, glancing at weak-looking Drago sprawled out on the bed. Machines beeped around him, an IV attached to his vein, pouring some piss colored medicine into his veins.“It’s not looking good…” he finished, shaking his head. I exhaled deeply and nodded.“Thank you for caring for him so diligently,” I said. What else was I supposed to say anyway?“Let him rest then,” the doctor muttered. “And make sure that he isn’t too exhilarated or stressed.”“Sure, I will,” I nodded.The doctor gave me a nod and walked out, followed by his assistant. I glanced at the nurses taking care of Drago, and they took the cue and walked out too, leaving me alone with Drago, his nephew Massimo, whom I hated and wh
Nico“Oh…this is so good,” I turned my eyes from the dancing fire in the fireplace, and Gianna stood by the walk-in door, wearing just a knee-length black satin night robe. Her semi-wet golden hair fell all around her shoulders, and my heart pounded in my chest as she smiled at me.“This is cozy,” Gianna smiled, walking over to me. “I have always had a thing for fireplaces.” I watched as the golden flames warmed her face when she leaned closer and smiled in appreciation.We were both soaked to the bones when we got back, so after a quick warm shower, I decided to get the fire going. And it seems like that was a very, very good. Especially with the room bathed in darkness, lit only by the soft, flickering glow of the flames.“What are you wearing?” I finally managed to speak. Gianna turned to me and gave me a salacious grin, licking h