VICTOR Thoughts of revenge consumed my mind, the weight of the word lingering in my thoughts. I stood by the window, the sunlight streaming through the open blinds and drapes, unable to hide any longer. It was clear now that Franco Massimo had been the assassin all along, perhaps defying his father's wishes to take over the family business. Or maybe it was all part of a larger scheme, with Franco being directed by Dante from the shadows. The truth remained elusive, lost forever. I had eavesdropped on a significant portion of their conversation, my Glock steady in my hand, anticipating another imminent attack. Yet, I hadn't anticipated betrayal from within my own ranks so soon. Someone still underestimated my strength. There were still missing pieces to the puzzle, but I had a sense that neither Madeline nor I were in immediate danger. The remaining players would be forced to regroup and recalibrate their plans. "This is a mess, Victor. I don't know how much longer I can keep the Fe
"I encountered Franco in a coffee shop by chance," Madeline began, her voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and pain. "He literally bumped into me, spilling coffee all over my new dress. We laughed it off, and he was incredibly apologetic. He insisted on making it right. At that time, I had a small apartment separate from my father's residence. I wasn't hiding, which made it easier for him to find my address. The next day, four exquisite and expensive dresses arrived. I was taken aback and called him to thank him. He then asked me out to dinner." "He was seeing your sister?" I inquired, trying to piece together the timeline. "Yes, but I had no knowledge of it. She had kept his identity a secret from me, although I sensed that something was terribly wrong," Madeline explained, her grip on my hand tightening. She leaned her face against the glass, seeking solace. "It's ironic, he treated me wonderfully for about three months. Then he became possessive. I had been raised well by my fath
"My mother was known by the stage name Daphne Phillips. That was all I knew for the first few months. She had no idea who I was until a reporter captured a photo of us together, and the next day, a scathing article was published in the Times. I think she had suspicions because of a mutual friend we had. After the article, I revealed everything to her about myself and my life, the responsibilities I carried as I prepared to take over from my father. I believed I had lost her. There were no tears, no outbursts. Just silence. She walked away, and I thought I would never see her again." "But you did." "One week later, she called me, asking me to meet for a drink. We went to our favorite little bar, and she did all the talking." He hesitated, closing his eyes. "Who was she, Father? What was my mother's real name?" "Her name was... Sophia Massimo." In an instant, the room felt devoid of light, and his words echoed. "What. Did. You. Say?" "She was Dante's only daughter. The bullet that
I waited until he left the room before accessing the file. I had suspicions about the identity of the mole, but I needed confirmation, which I now had. The drive didn't take long, and when I arrived at the quiet street lined with trees, it was late afternoon. I retrieved the silenced Glock from the glove compartment and concealed it in my jacket. I wanted to handle this situation cleanly. The car was in the driveway, and there were no visitors. Moving around to the back of the house, the tall shrubs provided cover from prying neighbors. The small, run-down rancher had seen better days, with three rotten windows at the back. I found the back door unlocked and entered without being seen. A television was playing in the distance, but my instincts were on high alert. As I stepped into the living room, our eyes met, and it felt like a standoff. "You were expecting me." "I figured there was no way you couldn't know," Shane said, sitting on the couch with his revolver on his lap. I took t
He appeared touched by my words, and a smile returned to his face. "Think about it. What I can offer you is danger, a life where you're always looking over your shoulder." "Do you honestly think it would be any different from what I have now? I will always be a target, no matter where I live or what name I go by. You have to understand that," I replied, placing my hand on his arm, carefully choosing my words. "I don't want you to hurt me." "Then I won't," he said, his voice tinged with a sigh, shifting the glass he held between his hands. "I don't want to shut you out." "Don't. Please don't shut me out. I can handle anything, but not that," I pleaded, my voice filled with emotion. When he remained silent, I felt my frustration building. "How dare you bring me to this beautiful and romantic place, pretending to care about me, only to shut me out completely. I went through so much because I love you." Raising an eyebrow, he turned towards me. "You love me?" "Yes. I honestly don't kn
"Hmm... How do you think people will react when they see me whip your reddened behind?" I suppressed a whimper, my eyes fixated on the bustling street below, stealing glances to ensure our intimate act remained concealed from prying eyes on neighboring balconies. I felt both mortified and ashamed, yet an undeniable thrill coursed through me. "No. No, sir." "Do you desire me to punish you, my dear Madeline, to absolve you of your transgressions?" I hesitated, taking several deep breaths. The sharp impact against my bare buttocks served as a reminder not to displease him. "Yes. Please, sir." Victor entwined his hand in my hair, gently tugging until my neck was exposed. "So be it, then." Aware that he had retreated into the shadows, observing and analyzing me, I shifted uneasily, buffeted by the wind against my naked body. I felt so alive, every muscle tingling with anticipation. I had never experienced such a potent mixture of excitement and humiliation. The combination left my aro
VICTOR Proposing to Madeline had not been part of my initial plan. In fact, I had been determined to push her away, believing that her life would always be filled with danger and hardships. Besides, I never saw myself as the marrying type. I chuckled softly to myself as I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. We were only a few miles away from her father's estate, and I had made a demanding request for an audience with Antonio, her father. Surprisingly, he didn't seem taken aback by my request, although I hadn't mentioned that Madeline would be accompanying me. She was my weakness, but also an integral part of my being. The idea of marriage had never crossed my mind until I heard the fatal gunshot that ended the life of a man I once trusted. It was in that moment that I realized how fleeting life could be. The ring on Madeline's finger belonged to my mother, one of the few pieces of jewelry my father had given her that held sentimental value. Deep down, I knew my mother would have
He remained silent, and in a matter of seconds, she grabbed his arm, causing him to nearly stumble. As I approached, he raised his hand, gesturing for me to stop, shaking his head. "My daughter deserves an explanation. I assume that's why you're here." She laughed, her hand poised as if she were about to strike him. "Don't," I interjected softly. Madeline recoiled, exhaling sharply. "You're right. He's not worth it." I knew there was more to her father's anguish and the decision he had made. "You were aware that my father had fallen in love with Sophia Massimo." Antonio appeared taken aback, almost pleasantly surprised, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "Yes. I introduced them. You see, there was a time when I had feelings for Sophia, but we were distant cousins. When she went to America to pursue an acting career, I followed her progress, occasionally visiting her when I was there on business. I had already begun taking over from my father, so my presence was req