Semua Bab BOUND TO LOVE MY ENEMY: Bab 71 - Bab 80

(VINCENZO'S POV) I settled into the leather chair, feeling the weight of every pair of eyes in the room boring into me. The mahogany table stretched before us like a battlefield, and I was clearly the unwelcome intruder. "Victor, what is this?" one of the members' voices cut through the tension like a blade. "Why have you brought ‘him’ here?" he gestured his hand towards me My father remained stone-faced, his weathered hands folded calmly on the table. The criticism came in waves, sharp, cutting remarks about my presence, my worthiness, my very existence in this sacred space. "Please, Victor," another pleaded, his voice softer but no less pointed. "Surely you can find it in your heart to reconcile with Niccolò. He's your firstborn, your rightful heir and successor……" "No." My father's voice was granite. "I will not." He turned to his partner, Alessandro Conti, with a subtle nod. "Tell them why we're here." Alessandro cleared his throat, the room falling silent as he

(MARIANNA'S POV) Vin's lips crashed against mine in a bruising kiss, his tongue plundering my mouth as he claimed me thoroughly. I tried pulling away but that only intensified the kiss which made me dizzy with this new sensation that washed over me. I moaned into the kiss as my body quivered to his roaming hands, leaving me trembling with need. He broke away, his intense gaze raking over my form. "You're exquisite," he growled, trailing a finger down my stomach. "I'm going to utterly ruin you for anyone else." I shuddered at his dark promise, a thrill of fear and excitement racing through me. One of his hands was busy undressing the top layer of my cloth while the other fisted in my hair, tightening in a pleasurable way as I let out a wanton moan in response These feelings sent shivers down my spine and even when I squeezed my eyes shut, it only heightened my sense of touch, and taste. It was as though he was trying to suck the life out of me, as though he was scared I wo

(VINCENZO'S POV) "Excellent," Matthias clapped his hands together. He turned to Mr. Skawilliam who nodded “Guess it is settled then” he called on his assistant "Yves, you will handle the business preliminaries with his assistant” he pointed to Scott, “while we enjoy the afternoon. I find that the best deals are made when people are relaxed and comfortable."As we walked toward the stables, I placed my hand on the small of Marianna's back, feeling her subtle shiver at the contact. She might be keeping me at arm's length, but her body still responded to my touch. That was something, at least."You realize I haven't ridden in years," she murmured as we approached the horses."Like riding a bicycle," I replied, though I was already planning to stay close enough to catch her if she fell. Some protective instincts ran deeper than our current standoff."Somehow I doubt that," she said, but there was a hint of excitement in her voice that she couldn't quite hide.The stable master, a weat

(NICCOLÒ'S POV) I paced the length of my study, ice rattling in my glass as the memory gnawed at me like a persistent itch. Two days had passed since the stranger emerged from the shadows, and his words still echoed in my head.“I have Information that I'm sure will benefit you.” He saidThe amber liquid burned down my throat as I replayed that night, reminding myself of details I might have missed.I remembered it so clearly. The alley behind Romano's restaurant had been empty except for the stray cats picking through garbage. I'd finished my meeting with the Calabrians, one of my family's many rivals and was walking to my car when footsteps echoed behind me."Niccolò Lombardo?"I spun around, my hand instinctively reaching for the Glock tucked beneath my jacket. A man stepped out of the shadows, medium height, dark hair, wearing an expensive suit that didn't quite hide the nervous energy radiating from him."Who the fuck are you?""My name is Leo Castellano." He raised his hand

(SOPHIA'S POV) I stared at my phone for the tenth time that evening, the black screen mocking me with its silence. Two weeks. It had been two weeks since Niccolò had last contacted me, since our last encounter. Did he later find out that I had a secret meeting with his girlfriend? I shook my head, he would have still called and probably threatened me physically like he always doThe memory of his hands on my skin felt like a distant dream now, replaced by the cold reality of abandonment.Or had he finally grown tired of me? Got someone to replace me? I hope she isn't prettier than me? Infact, I hope it isn't a she. The thought twisted in my stomach like a knife."Sophia, darling, are you even listening?"My mother's sharp voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, yanking me back to the present. I blinked, focusing on the suffocating presence of our dinner guests at the dinner table."I'm sorry, what?" I managed, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears.Martha's eyes flashed wit