Lahat ng Kabanata ng Don Julio: His Wicked Temptation : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

SARIAN It wasn’t just the shock of Allegra’s body never being found or the fact that she had betrayed Don Julio, she and Pablo, It wasn’t even the way Don Julio acted as if it were just another day. No. It was the fact that I didn't even know who this man is and I might never know who he is. He'd looked me in the eye after ordering his men to find her, and even though he claimed to be indifferent, I could see the flicker of something. Guilt? remorse? I couldn’t tell. And I hated that I couldn’t. The days that followed were a blur. After we left Calcutta, returning to Italy felt like stepping into a different world. Calcutta had been suffocating — sticky, dirty, full of the echoes of death and fear. I woke up every morning, thinking I heard a shot or something. Italy was cold, clinical and just a little better. The walls of his villa , the pristine marble bottoms, the silent hallways. It felt

DON JULIO The sun had slightly risen when I stepped out onto the balcony of my villa, trying to shake off the weight of the former night. The night was suppose to be peaceful but it had happened the way I hadn't expected The attack at the casino was still fresh in my mind: the chaos, the gunfire, and, most importantly, the image of Sarian, pushing me aside. Twice. She had saved my life. The Crows wanted something too and I couldn't help but blame her stupid father for dragging the poor girl into what she knew nothing of. The doctor had just finished attending to her, and though he comforted me that her injuries weren’t fatal, the fate of that night was something neither of us could ignore. I had to admit, I was angry. Not at her, never at her, but at the situation. At myself. I had failed to protect her in time, and I could see the consequences of that failure playing out right before my eyes.

SARIAN I didn't know what to think about it. Just wanted to accept it all, that it was part of the sacrifice I had to make, that I had to be ruthless if I wanted to survive in this world.Later that day, the room was dim, the curtains drawn and it was raining outside.A soft knock came on the door." Come in," I said immediately and quickly wiped the tears on my face.Don Julio stepped in, holding a small file. He looked tired, but his eyes held that same stubborn determination I was beginning to hate and respect all at the same time." The surgeon is trusted. He flies in tonight. You’ll be in recovery for a while. But I’ll be there the entire time."I stared at the file for a very long time. I didn’t touch it." You sure this is the only way?"He sighed and gave a small nod." It’s not just that . Just until we destroy the Blood Vultures, you have to follow my orders. Or go back to who you were and die. If tha

SIMEON Bang!I knew it was him even turning around to see him. The door shook on its hinges as the noise echoed around the roomSomething had happened and I knew that what was coming was just the usual. I shot my eyes, the weight of his presence alone suffocated the air.“ Simeon! ” The voice, cold, harsh and smelt of poison as it cut through the silence like a blade. There was no tenderness, no affection, just raw wrath and filled with huge disappointment.I remained still, not lifting my eyes, my arms folded across my broad chest not out of fear but preparing myself for what he was about to say because it won't be nice at all, but I could feel his gaze burning into me. I moved aside and let my hands fall as my fists gripped at my sides, nails digging into my palms almost drawing out blood. He'd that effect on me. He always did.“ Look at me when I’m speaking to you! ” he said, limping to the front, his fingers gripping his stick that I feared it might break.I did, reluctantly, my

SIMEON I could feel the weight of my father’s eyes as he listed off every mistake I had made. He was even smiling as he did so. I didn't know why but maybe because he got satisfaction from seeing me on my toes.One by one, his words sliced through the air, cutting me down until I was nothing further than a pile of failure in front of him." Federico's escape," he began, his voice low, cold. "That was your fault. You couldn't even keep an eye on him. And Don Julio? You suppose that injury was enough to prove yourself? Please." He waved his hand like he was fed up with my mere existence already. Everyone knew that Federico's escape wasn't my fault, I had given a suggestion which he had dismissed and the bastard had absconded.I stood there, still as gravestone, refusing to show him how harsh and cold those words hurt. He could say whatever he wanted. But, soon I would prove myself to him.Giuseppe was sitting in the corner, watching, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. I hated