Alexander Vittorio POV
(Twenty years old…)The aroma hangs heavy in the air, the delicious bread smells luring me to the kitchen where I find Mama and Tanya admiring the pineapple honey cake they just baked.It’s my favorite smell in the world – Mama baking in the kitchen. It’s home.The moment Mama spots me, she gives me a stern scowl. “Don’t you dare try to steal a slice young man, it’s for after dinner.”It’s Marc Vincent’s birthday today. My brother is three years older than me. We haven’t seen much of him over the past years as he’s been training in Palawan Island to take his place in the Filipino Mafia called Demonyo Gang. With my father being a boss, it’s only natural that we follow in his footsteps.I take a seat at the table, eyeing the cake like it’s my last meal.“Do you want coffee?” Tanya asks me.“Please.” I smile at the girl who’s like a little sister to me.My parents adopted Maryo and Tanya Peters, and even though things were rocky at first, Maryo is now my best friend.I watch as Tanya makes the coffee the way I like it, creamy and sweet, and smile again when she places the beverage in front of me.“Thanks, T.” After I savor my first sip of caffeine for the day, I ask, “Did you bake only one cake?”It's normal for Mama to be up at the crack of dawn when it’s one of our birthdays. And she always bakes enough for a small village not only baking but cooking more recipes for the occasion.Mama shakes her head while trying to hide the smile tugging at her mouth. She cuts a huge slice out of the freshly baked cake. “You’ll live on pastries and desserts if I give you half a chance.” Still, she plates the slice and pushes it closer to me. “Only one slice.”I lean closer and take a deep breath, my mouth watering from the aroma. “I can’t promise anything,” I chuckle. “This is why you bake extra.” I give Mama a thankful smile. “You love me too much to let me suffer until dinner time.”“Hmm.” Her eyes are fixed on me as I take the first bite.When the taste of cream, pineapple and cinnamon explode over my tongue, I let out a satisfied groan. My eyes close as I savor the goodness of my mother’s baking. “Perfect.”Excitedly, Tanya claps her hands. “Really? You like it?”My eyebrows fly up, and I swallow before asking, “Did you bake this one all by yourself?”She nods, pride dancing in her exciting eyes.“Well, little sister,” I nod my approval, “it’s exactly how I like it.”Tanya lets out a little shriek before falling onto the chair next to me. “Tell me how it tastes. Is there enough cream? Did I make the dulce de leche right? Not too much cinnamon?”I lift a hand and softly pat her back. “Everything is perfect.”“What’s perfect?” Maryo asks as he comes into the kitchen.“The pineapple honey cake I made,” Tanya answers, pride lighting up her face. “Sit. You have to taste it.”“It’s too early,” Maryo protests. He grabs a seat, then looks at me. Shaking his head, he mutters, “How can you eat cake first thing in the morning?”I pop a huge bite into my mouth and groan again. “So good,” I mutter around the cake.Tanya places a cup of coffee in front of Maryo, along with a much smaller slice of cake. “Just taste it,” she begs.Tanya might’ve accepted Marc Vincent and me as her brothers, but there’s no one she loves more than Maryo. Before my parents adopted them, they were stuck in an orphanage and only had each other, so it’s understandable that they’re inseparable.Mama starts to prepare breakfast, and soon the aroma of fried eggs, melting cheese, and sliced sausages fills the air. Marc Vincent and Papa enter the kitchen, and Tanya gets busy preparing tea for them.“Happy Birthday, Marc,” Mama says before hugging MarcVincent.We all take a moment to wish Marc Vincent a happy birthday, and as Mama and Tanya set all the dishes on the table, Papa mutters, “The boys are coming with me. We’ll be gone all night.”“But it’s Marc Vincent’s birthday!” Mama exclaims. “We always have dinner together. It’s tradition.”Papa shakes his head, giving Mama an impatient look. “Work can’t wait.”Mama looks visibly unhappy, but she doesn’t force the subject. “You better eat,” she says, glancing around the table. “Come, come, more food coming.” Getting up, Mama starts to make more fried eggs, a clear sign she’s pissed off with my father. Cooking always calms her down.“Tanya, you look after your mama while we’re gone,” Papa instructs.“Yes, Papa,” she replies.Tanya was the first to call him Papa, where it took Maryo a couple of years. He still alternates between Mr. Andre Vittorio and Papa. It was easier for both to switch from Mrs. Alica Vittorio to Mama, though. Papa was a heritage of Italian-Russian ancestry and Mama was a pure Filipina.Just to please Mama, we all eat twice as much. It feels like I’m going to burst by the time I stand up from the table. I press a kiss to Mama’s cheek before giving her a tight hug, then move to Tanya to hug her quickly.“Be careful,” Mama says to Papa. “And look after our babies.”“Babies, my ass,” Papa grumbles. “They’re fully grown men.”Mama gives him a look of warning. “They’ll always be my babies, Andre.”It takes another ten minutes before we’re able to leave the house, and only once we’ve all piled into the armored SUV does Papa say, “We’re taking the Russian’s daughter tonight.”What?My eyes widen, and shock trickles through my body. Maryo and I just started with our street training. We’ve been assigned to a junior boss and follow him around like lost fucking puppies. So far, I’ve only beaten a couple of fuckers who owe the Demonyo Gang’s money. I’ve only killed once.Kidnapping? That’s a whole different level especially if the girl has half a fucking army guarding her.My eyes flick to Maryo, and we stare at each other for a moment.“Xander, you’ll grab the girl while Marc Vincent has your back. Maryo and I, along with my soldiers, will take care of her guards.”Christ.I nod because there’s no arguing allowed. You do as you’re told in the Demonyo Gang. I have to kidnap the girl. I’d much rather help take care of the guards.Letting out a slow breath, I turn my attention to the rice field-covered scenery passing us by as we speed toward the heart of Metro Manila.Against my better judgment, I ask, “What happens to the girl after we take her?”Papa’s eyes remain on the road as he mutters, “She’ll be our hostage until Emmanuel either withdraws out of our territory or agrees to an alliance.”Fuck. That can take years.Pushing my luck, I ask another question, “Will she be kept in one of the safe houses?”“No.”It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask yet another question, but I know it will anger my father.“She’ll stay with us,” he mutters.What the fuck? Mama is going to lose her shit.Papa once came home with a little boy they kidnapped, and Mama didn’t speak to Papa for a whole two months.“It won’t be for long,” Papa adds.The little boy only stayed two days. Hopefully, things will run as smoothly this time around. Or things are going to be tense at home for a long while.“You’ll make me proud,” Papa demands. “Do as you’re told and get the job done.”“Yes, Papa,” we all answer in unison.XXXAnya Santini De Luna POV(Eighteen years old...)Glancing around me, it’s still hard to believe I’m in Metro Manila.I was supposed to take this trip with my father – Rocky Ace De Luna, the Italian Mafia Boss but he died in a car accident on New Year's Eve.Next month will be a year since he passed away. The grief still comes in waves, especially when I see one of the sights Papa always talked about. Besides, Papa named me – Anya Santini De Luna – I don’t know why. Papa did not tell me the name of my mother.We planned this trip for over a year, and it was meant to be my graduation gift. With he’s gone, I decided to honor his memory by going ahead with the vacation; the Philippines, Scotland, and Hawaii. We each chose a destination, and right now, I’m on the first leg of the trip.Sometimes I’m struck by a wave of panic. Honestly, it’s a little terrifying exploring a foreign country alone. But Papa Rocky Ace told me that the Philippines are great for tourists. It’s terrifying being alo
Xander Vittorio POVPapa pointed out Olga as she entered the club, and I memorized her outfit because I didn’t get a good look at her face. It all happened a little too fast.Sitting in a car that’s parked by the side of the building, I watch as Marc Vincent lights a cigarette.“Mama’s going to lose her shit when we come home with the girl,” I state the obvious.“Luckily, that’s not my problem,” my brother mutters. “I’m going back to Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan Island’s as soon as we’re done with this job.”I let out a sigh while scanning our surroundings. “I wish I could go with you.”Princess Coastal Entertainment is a training school slash resort in Palawan for anyone in the criminal world. It’s the only neutral ground on the planet where we’re taught how to be assassins, smugglers, and anything else crime-related. Marc Vincent is learning everything regarding torturing, fighting, and shooting. I’ll go through the same course as him once I turn twenty-one.“Just one more year.” Exhali
Anya de Luna's POV Terrified, I stare at Xander.He looks a hell of a lot calmer than I feel.In a matter of hours, I’ve gone from swapping clothes with Olga to being grabbed off the street to a car accident to being kidnapped.It’s surreal.God.Panic flares hot through my chest, and a hysterical breakdown threatens to overwhelm me.If I weren’t scared out of my mind, I’d actually appreciate how attractive Xander is. He has longish, dark brown hair, and strands fall over his forehead, making him look like one of the bad boys Papa Rocky Ace always warned me about. His eyes are brown with golden flecks giving me the impression he’s a jokester. He’s not dressed in a suit like Olga’s other guards but is wearing black cargo pants, a black t-shirt, and boots.There are tattoos on the back of his hands running all the way up his forearms, where I can see his veins snaking beneath his skin.I have an overwhelming need to get to know him because he’s locked in this tiny room with me. Without
Alexander Vittorio POVIt’s getting hard to tell how much time has passed since Riccardo Ponti visited us.I was caught off guard that Ponti was the one who ambushed us instead of Emannauel.Riccardo Ponti is the eldest son of Ignacio Ponti, who’s been loyal to the mafia all his life. It’s no secret the Ponti family isn’t happy about the ties between the mafia and bratva, but I didn’t think they’d go this far.The Italian is looking for shit to rain down on his head. Once Viktor, the head of the bratva, and Andre, the head of the Demonyo mafia, hear of this, all hell will break loose.The Demonyo Mafia is tied to the Bratva through marriage, and from what I’ve heard, it’s a happy marriage. There’s also the fact that Viktor and Andre are close friends.With Ponti taking us, he’s declaring war on the mafia and bratva.I’d laugh my ass off if it weren’t for the shitty position I find myself in.And then there’s the girl. She’s been quiet since I agreed to keep her secret. I’m impressed s
Anya Santini de Luna POVMy body aches from all the anxiety and terror I’m feeling.At least my bladder’s no longer going to burst, but standing in the room with our captors, my relief is quickly forgotten.Are they going to kill one of us?All of us?My eyes land on the tooth near Marc Vincent, and I feel the ache in my jaw.God.This is horror. Pure freaking horror.My gaze flits all over the room, my breaths already rushing over my lips.How am I going to survive this?“Uncuff Marc Vincent,” the one in charge orders.The other guy unlocks Marc Vincent’s cuffs, then another order is given. “Get up, Marc Vincent.”I watch as Xander’s brother climbs to his feet. He has the same emotionless expression on his beaten face as Xander.Riccardo gestures to his guard or soldier. I’m not sure what to call him.“Darius will shoot one of you unless…” Riccardo gets up and looks at Marc Vincent. “You have to choose who will get tortured next. If you refuse, Darius will kill one of you.”Oh, God.
Anya de Luna's POVI’m sitting next to Alexander, who still hasn’t come to. They just dropped him on the floor and locked us in the room again.My nerves are frayed, and I don’t know how much more I can take.Xander went along with my lie, and because of it, they beat the crap out of him. I feel horrible for putting him in this position, but in all fairness, I’m here because he kidnapped me.It’s hard to think of Xander as my kidnapper especially when we’re being held captive by worse people.My eyes move over all his injuries, the slash on his left forearm, the stab wound in his right hand, and all the blood on his face. It looks like his nose is broken.I wish I could clean him up.My gaze darts to the door, and I’m torn in two. What if I ask for a first aid kit, and they torture us some more?What would Xander do?He’d give them attitude.Climbing to my feet, I suck in a deep breath of air and walk to the door. My insides begin to tremble with fear, but knowing I won’t last long if
Xander Vittorio POVI was worried Ponti was going to starve us to death, but luckily they finally gave us something to eat.It’s four pieces of dry bread and one chicken breast each. It’s a far cry from Mama’s food, but it will have to do.I finish my food before Anya is done with her first slice of bread.When she catches me eyeing her food, she tears the chicken breast into strips, takes one of the strips, and pushes the rest of her food closer to me. “You need it more than me.”I hesitate for a moment, but knowing she’s right, I take two strips of chicken and a slice of bread and wolf it down.“Finish the rest,” I say, not wanting her to starve.We’ve been in this room for three days, and after the first day’s torture, we’ve only been allowed out of our prison to visit the restroom. It’s usually in the morning and late at night. It’s also the only time we get to drink water.If they’re going to feed us every three days, we’re fucked.Another thing that worries me is that I’m gettin
Anya de Luna's POVI’m struggling to process everything.This is crazy.Terrified out of my ever-loving mind, my eyes dart over Riccardo Ponti, Darius, and the other three men. Just the thought of them raping me turns my insides to stone. Then there’s the threat that they’ll kill Xander and me.Even though the past three days have been hell, I still don’t want to die. I’m still hopeful Xander’s father will rescue us.One of the men watches me with blatant lust, and my stomach rolls with disgust. God, please don’t let them rape me. They can tear all my fingernails off– just don’t let them rape me.When Xander reaches for the zipper of my pants, he whispers, “Keep your underwear on. I don’t want them seeing you.”A fresh wave of tears spills from my eyes, and I swallow hard on a sob as I nod.“Focus on me,” he reminds me.I’ve only had sex once. It was last year, and it hurt a lot.Xander pushes my pants down to my feet, and as I step out of the fabric, he takes hold of my hips and lift