All Chapters of ROSES ON FIRE: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

100 Chapters

PERFECT TUNE

CLARISSAWith Hannah’s help, I could make a successful escape from the clutches of Riccardo’s house. She let him know that the two of us were heading to the shops. That we didn’t want any companionship, and that she would make sure that I got back home safe and sound. It was truly remarkable how much trust Riccardo had in Hannah.“Didn’t I tell you it would be easy to get out of the house?” “That’s right, you did. Walk with me to Pierre’s house and stay while he and I rehearse for Sunday’s performance. I will not leave you alone.” “You mean stay there with you two? No way! I’ll leave you two alone and I’ll even go to the nearby clothes shops. We really have to come home with our bags full or Riccardo will get suspicious.” “Oh God, you’re right. I hadn’t thought of that. What would I do without you?” I said and took her in my arms right in front of the cottage by the sea.“Okay, when you’re done, call me and I’ll pick you up.” “Deal!” “See you!” she said and disappeared into the d

MY BOUNDARIES

CLARISSAThe grandeur of Diamond Hall was almost overwhelming as I stood backstage, taking it all in. The ornate chandeliers, the polished marble floors, and the sheer size of the auditorium filled me with both awe and apprehension. This was the moment I had been eagerly expecting in my career; performing on a prestigious stage alongside the renowned violinist, Pierre.With every passing moment, the excitement I felt about stepping into the spotlight waned, and I felt increasingly uneasy. My curiosity got the best of me, and I couldn’t help but poke my head through the curtain, scanning the sea of faces in the audience, trying to spot someone I knew. And maybe someone I didn’t want to see there. My heart skipped a beat when I spotted him - Riccardo.Surrounded by a group of imposing bodyguards, he sat in the VIP box with Fabrizio by his side. Seeing him caused my spine to tingle with fear. The man who held the key to my past but the one who didn’t know my secret identity as Cello Clar

GOD DAMN IT, I LOVE YOU!

RiccardoCello Clare wouldn’t be able to outsmart me again. I trusted no one else to do this job, and I took it upon myself.Their duet was fantastic. As soon as they finished, they retreated to their dressing rooms. It was my opportunity to go after her. The first time she got away, now there would be no one to save her. I walked down the long hallway backstage to the dressing rooms, searching for a door with her name on it. And the moment I found it my heart started pounding. Cello Clare was just beyond the door and had no security guards around. My hand lingered inches away from the doorknob of her dressing room. Cello Clare was on the other side, preparing to leave. My heart was beating fast with both excitement and fear.She had a certain something that just pulled me in. I had lost count of how many times I had watched her play. She was just so amazing on that cello. Fate had it planned all along, me meeting her right now. Or maybe it was my obsession with her. I didn’t quite

LIKE IT OR HATE IT

ClarissaI didn’t expect this. Morning found me with a big mug of coffee by the pool. Riccardo took off. Perhaps avoiding him was the way to go. I remember just standing there, gazing into Riccardo’s eyes while he confessed his love for me. I couldn’t believe it, but time just froze, a moment I never expected to come. But to be honest, I wasn’t sure if he meant what he said. How could he love me? How could he, a mobster, a cold-blooded killer, claim to feel such a tender emotion?All these memories of the pain he caused me and my sis came flooding back. The scars, both physical and emotional, kept reminding me of the hell he put us through. The horrors we witnessed, the innocence ripped away; it was all etched into our souls. And now, he had the nerve to say those three words that meant so much.He did not know what love was, never learned the language. He was all about power, control, and being ruthless. How could he even get what it means to really give a damn about someone else? T

HE'S BACK!

RiccardoI was there, heart thumping, my words hanging heavy in the air. The dressing room was so small I felt suffocated, like the walls were closing in on me. It was the moment I had been waiting for and dreading at the same time. Clarissa knew the truth now. I had told her I loved her.Those three words never came out of my mouth to a woman before. Love was always a mystery to me, something I never wanted to explore. It wasn’t the same with Clarissa. She found her way into the depths of my heart, uncovered all my emotions, and left me vulnerable. I was completely in love with her.When I exposed my true self to her, I felt relieved but also super anxious. What if she didn’t feel the same? I was so scared of being turned down, it felt like it could completely destroy me.But there was something that made my already mixed-up mind even more jumbled. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the cellist, who had been on my mind for ages, was really Clarissa. The way she played the cello, t

HE HAS CHANGED

ClarissaIt was so funny how things, instead of falling into place, got more complicated. Riccardo actually made things harder than they needed to be. “Honey, Riccardo is on the patio and wants to see you,” Aida said, coming into my room.She didn’t know his almost son loved me. Aida was the only person here I felt sorry for once Riccardo was dead and buried. “Did he tell you what for?” I asked“No, my dear. Only that he wants to introduce you to someone.” “Ok, I’ll be there in ten minutes.” What was Riccardo hiding now? Who was so important that he wanted me to meet?I was so nervous as I walked out onto the patio, trying to find the person who meant so much to Riccardo. He called him Luca, Fabrizio’s dad and his uncle. Riccardo hadn’t mentioned Luca’s arrival, but then again, maybe he didn’t know. There was something about this man that intrigued me, yet also sent a shiver down my spine.He was standing tall by the pillar, and I couldn’t miss him. He had this commanding presence

ON THIN ICE

ClarissaWhen Hannah arrived, I was already sitting at the table drinking my coffee. She had a worried expression, with a slight frown on her face. Sometimes I was not sure if Hannah fully understood how much I worried. How could she? She didn’t experience the pain and betrayal I endured. But I just had to give it a shot. I had to show her how dangerous Riccardo’s uncle Luca really was. Especially now that she was living in the mansion.“Hey, Clarissa, what’s going on? You don’t seem like yourself. Is something wrong?” she asked, sitting near me. “I can’t shake off this unsettling feeling about Luca. Riccardo’s uncle. I can’t deal with that guy. He seems like bad news.” I said, sighing.“Why do you have such a problem with him? I mean, I know you despise Riccardo, but Luca it’s his uncle. What’s your concern?”“You’re right. I feel nothing but pure hatred for Riccardo. That’s why I’m feeling anxious. Luca’s got some serious power over him. I fear that Riccardo’s weakness is his uncl

WOULD I FIND PEACE?

ClarissaRiccardo stood in front of me, his eyes blazing with anger. With a sense of dread, I could feel the tension in the room grow thicker. So I prepared myself for the impending storm that was about to hit.“You had no right, Clarissa!” he spat, his voice filled with venom. “No right at all to interfere in my personal life, let alone dig into the past of my dead parents!”I tried to remain composed, despite the waves of his accusations crashing over me.“Riccardo, I understand that it’s a sensitive topic for you, but I was just trying to find the truth. I had no intention of hurting you.”“The truth?” he scoffed. “Don’t you dare play innocent with me, Clarissa! I know who you really are. A journalist thirsty for exclusive stories. You can’t possibly convince me you didn’t know what happened to my parents. You lied to my uncle. “His words cut deep, the wounds of my own past colliding with the present. Why did his reproaches hurt me so much? I despised Riccardo, resented him even,

ROSES ON FIRE

RICCARDO25 years ago, Sicily“Oh, Mom, do we really have to go? I don’t like that place,” I said, mostly crying, hoping to convince my mother to let me stay home.My mother came up to me and practically knelt in front of me.“My dear Ricky, Grandpa would love it if we could go see him and bring him flowers.” “Mom, but Grandpa’s dead!” I protested even louder.Mom stood up, admiring the enormous bouquet on the table. “Ricky, it’s a tradition we do every year. Until last year we didn’t take you because you were small. It’s not like we go every week. It’s once a year!” my mother lectured me as she handed me my coat to put on. "Shouldn't Fabrizio's family have come too?" "Yes, darling, but Luca had to leave on business. Francesca will come to see me later." So I had no choice. Even if I wished I could have stayed home, my mother wouldn’t have allowed it. So she took the gigantic bouquet, and we walked to the limousine, where Dad was already waiting for us.“Hey young man, I thought

IT HAD TO BE HIM

RICCARDO"If you had come that day, you'd be dead maybe. You were lucky your father was away with business"“ You escaped,” Fabrizio said.It all came flooding back to me, back 25 years to when tragedy struck and my family fell under the rain of bullets. The pain was still there, deep in my soul."I swear, Fabrizio, it feels like yesterday," I said, getting emotional. I was young and clueless about the bad things that were coming.”Fabrizio was all ears, curious and sad at the same time, as he leaned in to hear me. His eyes, just like his mom Francesca's, made me realize how much he suffered at such a young age.“Our parents visited our grandfather’s grave, like they did every year. For me, it was the second time,” I continued, my voice wavering. “You were only five years old then, too young to comprehend the gravity of the situation. But I knew Fabrizio. Deep down, I knew it would change our lives forever.”He nodded solemnly, his gaze locked with mine, urging me to share more.“I re

...

4 5 6 7 8

...

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP