WINNIEThe water below my feet felt very warm. I was too bored to stay in the room. I was almost convinced that the walls were beginning to close in. I had to get out and what better way to do it than taking a swim. I was clad in a plain white bikini, my hair was packed up in a messy bun and the sun against my skin felt divine.I was almost convinced that there was a slight chance that I could have been dreaming about this moment. I closed my eyes and sighed as my memory traveled back to the days that I would take a swim with my sister.I could remember our laughter and us acting goofy, drenching each other and pushing each other deeper into the pool. My chest clenched at the memory and I felt a sort of heaviness settle over me.I forced my mind to drift away from the memory and bring me back to reality. I was forced to be married to a Mafia boss and a suspected murderer. This was my reality and I had to face it. The fact that I had been planted into this situation without any means
WINNIEMy shoulders sagged in relief as our gaze traveled to Lydia who was standing a few inches away from us.“Are you okay Miss?” Her inquisitive gaze traveled between the both of us. She knew that I wasn't fine. I could only be grateful that she showed up at the right time. Russo was forced to step back and he shot me a pointed look and then forced up a smile.“I hope you continue to enjoy your stay here,” he said.“Of course. I intend to” the goading was subtle but he was quick enough to catch it. I watched as his eyes darkened with rage and yet he was forced to retreat and walk down the hallway.My gaze lingered on his back for a minute longer. I was going to have to be more careful than ever because I realised that Roman wasn't the only threat that i needed be wary of.“You need to be careful around him. I'm not sure I ever really trusted him” she shot me a worried look.“Tell me something I don't know. Apparently he and Sofia used to sleep together. Can you believe that?” I sai
WINNIEI was convinced that I had stopped breathing at that very moment as Uncle Elliot pinned me with an inquisitive gaze. I realized that it might have been a little bit forward on my part to have picked him out of all the people on the table to start a conversation with.I closed my eyes and sighed, I hoped with everything within me that he wouldn't be able to recognize me.The corners of his lips tilted up into a bright smile. If I hadn't known him too well, I would have been fooled by it and I would have thought that it was genuine.I knew that it wasn't but that didn't stop me from returning his fake smile back.“What could you possibly want to know about me Mrs Moretti?” He raised an eyebrow at me in question. There was an undertone in his voice indicating that he was slightly uncomfortable being the subject of interest. It was too subtle and if I didn't know why better, I would have missed it.“Anything you'd like to share” I lifted my shoulder into a casual shrug. How I was a
WINNIEMy blood instantly ran cold as I spotted Uncle Elliot from among the men that were seated around the table, even though I didn't want to give away the fact that I was staring at him a little longer than necessary. I couldn't help the way my blood ran cold at the sight of him. My throat instantly became dry and I suddenly didn't want to be around him.The air suddenly felt too hot, and I felt I was suffocating and running out of breath. My attention snapped over to Roman who frowned as he stared at me. His brows were furrowed with slight worry as he observed me. I could feel Russo's gaze lingering on our joined hands on the table.“You don't look so good. You are pale” Roman said. His voice was cold and yet it was almost as if he was concerned. It was almost difficult to believe that he was capable of kindness. That he was capable of caring about anyone.“I told you, you could stay in the bedroom if you weren't feeling up to it” he squeezed my hand a little tighter than usual.
WINNIERoman blocked the doorway and he was not so happy. I could only hope that he wasn't quick to notice the difference in my appearance like Lydia did. I shot Lydia a nervous look. She looked terrified out of her mind for me. The air in the room thickened with tension. My heart began to beat rapidly.“You can go Lydia,” I said. My voice was firm. I had no idea how I was able to quickly regain composure, but the last thing I wanted was Lydia getting into trouble because of me. In case they found out that I was an imposter, the last thing that I wanted to do was implicate her. I didn't want to get her into trouble because of me.“Of course miss,” she nodded once and hurried out of the room. I didn't blame her. This sight of Roman was very terrifying. I closed my eyes for a brief moment. Fear. It wasn't going to do me any good.I kept thinking about the worst that could happen and my mind kept traveling to Trisha. I had to find a way to keep it together somehow.“I thought I told you
WINNIE I was convinced that I had stopped breathing at that moment. It took everything within me to still the tremor in my hands. “I can see you already having fun with your new husband” he spat the last two words with so much venom that I had to wonder if they were truly related. It was baffling that his own brother could detest him this much. His eyes raked over my body not so subtly and his eyes instantly darkened with hunger. I closed my eyes and shuddered internally for a brief moment. The smirk fell away from his face and the heat in his gaze was instantly replaced with a cold, empty look. His eyes rested on my cleavage for a brief moment and I crossed my hands consciously over them before his gaze was returned back to me. “Anything so far? Any useful information?” He raised an eyebrow at me expectantly. I hesitated for a brief second because I still had no idea what he and Sofia had planned. I also couldn't have him knowing that I was an imposter, I would die early and I c
WINNIEMy eyes flew open. Something in the air thickened. I was no longer the only one in the room. I wasn't really a light sleeper but being in prison for years had done a lot to sharpen my senses. I could sense when I was about to be in danger. Hence I had a way of avoiding tricky situations and I had a way of protecting Trisha as well. Here, not so much. I was helpless. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what the hell I was doing.The weight of the bed pressed under someone's weight and I could tell it was Roman. I knew what he smelt like now. It was strange but it was true. I wondered why the hell he was back so early. It was barely morning and didn't he say that he was going to spend the night with someone else.I should feel disappointed but at the same time. I felt relieved. I couldn't really describe it. It was a really confusing feeling.“I know you're awake” his voice sounded slurred slightly. I stopped myself from flinching at the last minute. I wondered if it was adv
WINNIEFor a brief moment I was gripped with terror. My heart raced frantically within my chest and I wondered if he was going to attempt to kill me now. I was certain that I wasn't going down without a fight.“You're shivering,” he said. His gaze remained trained on my bare shoulder. His fingers traced over my shoulders lightly and I shivered even more. He was right. My hands were shaking. I was afraid of him. Terrified would be a better way to put it.The warm water didn't suddenly feel so warm anymore. He muttered something under his breath in Italian and headed out of the bathroom. I was caught between feeling terror and relief.Was he going back to look for a gun? Was he attempting to make this quick and easy? Was this the plan? I had no idea what to think anymore.It was unwise to run out of the bathroom naked, but I was more than tempted to do it. It would be useless because they would have caught me before I even managed to reach the exit of the house. And even I succeeded in
I blinked in surprise as I was taken aback by the impact of his kiss. I placed my hand against his chest to regain my balance. It was almost as if the heat of his kiss captured my breath and I could do nothing about it. The feel of his hard body against mine made my skin ignite with heat almost immediately. It was almost impossible to concentrate.His hand wrapped around my neck lightly as he devoured my lips almost mercilessly. And yet I knew that I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to let a stranger claim me yet. Even though my body was screaming in disappointment, I relaxed my grip on his chest and I pulled away almost immediately.My lips were slightly swollen and felt almost empty without his lips. His dark eyes traveled down the length of my body in a not so subtle way. His eyes were clouded with a sort of heavy heat and primal hunger.I swallowed nervously. I internally prayed that he wouldn't make any effort to move closer to me.“We should stop” I finally mustered up the courage