I instinctively stepped back the moment she moved to put down her legs and rose.
There’s something about this woman that doesn't sit well with me. Her aura was dark and dangerous. The darkness of the room only added to that.
She stepped out behind the desk and took careful steps towards me. Once she was halfway towards me, I could see her more clearly now.
She was wearing an all white business suit. One that perfectly fitted her. Her long dark hair was up in a ponytail. She was very tall. A few inches taller than me.
My back hit the wall as soon as she reached before me. She didn’t need to push me with her own hands. Her presence alone pressured me to push back.
I couldn’t believe that there was a woman taller than me. I was already tall, over six feet. And the height she possessed added more to her menacing aura.
“I believe you have something that belonged to me.” She spoke in a way that was calm yet firm and intimidating.
“I...I-I… don’t know what you mean.”
She snorted before leveling her face to mine. Our faces were only two inches closer. “Do not be scared, tesoro. You only need to tell the truth and your life will be spared.”
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
The beating of my heart didn’t slow down. It quicked like it joined a race aiming for gold.“I… I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She withdrew the distance and stood straight. She crossed her arms and smirked. Her stance was powerful and dangerous. Everything about this woman was powerful just by looking at her. “Oh, silly me. How could I speak in vague words? How will you answer if you do not know whatever was wrong?”
Her smile was small and forced. It gave shivers down my spine.
She’s a woman. I could easily take her down with all the defense classes I attended. But how could I hurt her when all she did was strike a conversation. She did trespass in my apartment though but I don’t think it’s enough reason for me to hit her… or to risk my life. She might have back up.
I don’t know what to think anymore. The woman was fucking intimidating. There’s something about her that I know will put me in danger. Perhaps I’m already angry.
“I hope you know, tesoro, that what you stole cost a billion fucking dollars. I know you were the one who had the guts to hack into our computer. I know that you waited for a perfect time when whoever built those walls’ guard was down. His name is Alvaro by the way. The best of the best. You only bested him because he wasn’t around. And you…”
She grabbed my neck with her hand and wrapped it around to choke me. She surprisingly didn’t grip it tightly but I knew what she intended to do. It was to warn me. And if I ever did something she didn’t like, she'd make sure I wouldn’t be able to breathe… ever again.
“You think you could steal from me without being traced? You could get away without being caught?” Her chuckle was filled with threats as her hand around my neck tightened minimally.
I was sweating pretty badly. I could hardly breathe. If it wasn’t her hand that was choking me, it was fear. Even if taking her down crossed my mind, I knew in my guts that I would be dead in a second even if I initiated a slightest touch. My instincts tell me this woman is far from normal, far from ordinary.
“I will give you the privilege to breathe if you only state the truth. And that is to tell me who the fuck ordered you to do it?” Her grip tightened for a few seconds rendering me unable to breath before she withdrew her hand away. “Now speak!”
Her voice was that of growling. And I know I should never mess with her.
I gasped, inhaling oxygen greedily as soon as she let me go. I was coughing and luckily she gave me the time to adjust before answering her.
“I…” I pant. “I… I needed money. I was… I was searching where I could possibly… get the money. I found your shipment…”
“Where did you direct the vessel?” She asked with narrowed eyes.
“I sold it to an organization somewhere- I just know it’s somewhere in North America. I wasn’t allowed to know. After I was paid, I instructed them how to get the vessel without being detected. I lost its trace after that.”
She was quiet and her eyes were steady at me. I kept on looking down. I feel suffocated just looking directly at her eyes.
“Franco.” I flinched.
“Boss.”
The man stepped out from the darkest corner of my room. I didn’t even notice that she had company.
My eyes widened now fearing for my life. The man was as tall as me and looked to be the same age as me. He too was also wearing a business suit but it was all black. He had a straight face but I knew there was something more behind it.
She smirked before speaking. “I’m in a mood to play a game.”
All of the sudden, the man dragged me towards a chair that he placed in the center before coming to me. He pushed me to sit down with obvious roughness.
The woman was pacing back and forth as she waited for the guy to finish his task. It amazed me that she held grace and elegance despite the evil she was emanating.
“Shall I tie him?” He asked.
She stopped pacing and looked at me. She tilted her head to the side and grinned. “No need. He’s impressively docile.” She chuckles while sauntering towards me. She leans and levels her face to mine again. She slowly takes my eyeglasses off. “I must admit. Behind this silly cover, you are handsome, aren’t you?”
She was praising me with that usual forced smile that I noticed. I could not miss the real emotions that resided in her… gray eyes. She was really uninterested in my looks despite the praise.
In an instant, she threw my glasses against the wall and threw a heavy punch against my face. My head whipped to the side from the sudden impact. I felt liquid falling down my nostrils.
Her punch was powerful and heavy. This was by far the strongest I have ever received. Stronger than the people I spar with in the gym. I can hardly compare them since all we did was play during sparring sessions.
Before I could even turn my head, she threw another punch again, and again, and again. She even offered blows to my stomach. Blows after blows after blows.
I felt dizzy and lightheaded when she stopped. I thought I was going to faint. Though my eyes were blurry, I knew that the stain in my shirt was my blood.
“You really think you could fool us, don’t you?” I feel her hand against my throat. Her thumb brushing it and then pressing with a warned force and then brushing it again.
“I gave you a chance but you’d rather choose to be tossed around like a toy.”
I could only reply in silence.
In the corner of my eyes, I saw her reaching her hand behind me. The man gave something to her. And then I saw it, my eyes widened.
“You just landed yourself into a big trouble, tesoro. A big dangerous trouble.” The gun was pointed into my forehead. She made sure to cock it, ready to blow my brains out.
I can’t die. I can’t die now! I was all they rely on. I can’t leave them like this when they need me the most right now.
My eyes shut close, tears forming as a decision was made in my mind.
“Sol…” I answered hopefully not too late. “It was Sol.”
When I opened my eyes, her gun was already down. I slowly brought my eyes to her face and saw that she was scowling as she looked at me with interest.
Cara It had been three years since the last time I talked with my cousin. We had a silent agreement that it will be the last. It was the day he renounced his position as the don of our family. He gave it back to me because he thought I was none other than the rightful heir. My father was the don before him and even though I was his only child and his real heir, he gave it to Sol instead, his brother’s son. He reasoned that he didn’t want me to inherit it because I was his only daughter and he didn’t want anything bad to happen to me the same thing that happened to his brother and his wife. And the fact that I was the only female born in the entire family, that includes the Ranallos. Our family was dominated by males. It was a given that I was treated like a princess by everyone. Being in the mafia, your life is always at risk and you are bound to have an unexpected death, especially when you're the face of the family. He didn’t want that for me. And though he denied me the posit
“How do you even know where my basement is?” Sol asked as we made our way towards his basement.“You know I know everything, fratello.” I smirked mischievously at him.He stopped walking and turned to me, making me stop as well. “What are you up to, sorella? What is this that you want to talk about?”My smirk immediately fell, replaced with solemnity. “You’ll see.” I replied as I started walking again and he followed suit until we finally arrived in his basement.The room was dark and I did not intend to switch the light on. I let the moonlight do its work. Franco stood at the corner, waiting for my orders. And in the middle of the room, Dylan Ross sat on the chair with his hands finally tied behind his back. His head bent to his front. He was consciously on and off from all the beatings I did to him back at his apartment.“Sorella…” Sol began. “Explain.” He spoke calmly but there was curiosity and hint of firmness behind it as he watched the man in question in the center of the room
We didn’t stay long in the basement after that. I left Franco in charge of the guy.Surprisingly, Sol wanted me to stay for a bit before leaving. His wife and I talked, catching up on three years worth of information since I was never really physically here for them and though I already knew most of the things, I let her talk. I appreciated that she wasn’t all shy and closed off around me and she was most definitely eager to tell me about her experiences with the twins and of course, my ever nice cousin. She and the twins retired for the night after our long ass conversation. It was pretty late and I can see the exhaustion on her face. Taking care of the two boys really made her tired, nonetheless the exhaustion doesn’t mean she’s not happy.I played with the twins and the puppy I gifted them which they named Alpha. Sol snorted at the thought because my middle name was Luna. The twins treated me as their very close aunt right away probably because they were so happy with Alpha. Ther
“No, please. No.” I begged, shaking my head in misery. “Come along now.” She spoke with a hint of impatience.She was standing outside by the door of the car, waiting for me to step out. But I didn’t want to step out. I knew what awaits beyond the door. I don’t want anything bad to happen to my family. No, not like this.I regretted complying to that bastard’s demands, at the same time not. I had no choice. Right now, I don’t know what to do. They’re going to be in danger again because of me.Tears pooled my eyes as I begged for her mercy.“If you don’t step out of the damn car, tesoro, I will visit them myself.” She snapped.“No, no, no! I…” I stopped her as she almost turned around to leave. I gulped. “Please… I’ll tell you who’s behind it. Please just leave my family alone.” She stared at me blankly. I know she’s waiting for me to speak what she wants to hear. My mouth opened ready to spill it to her but I couldn’t. I choked.My eyes were wide in alarm when she slammed the door s
I was in a daze the whole day as I watched my family bond with her. A mafia leader. The thought made me feel dizzy and nauseous. I was in mixed emotions the whole time. I don’t know when she’ll blow up and pull a gun to kill each one of us. She’s a walking time bomb.My mom introduced her to my grandma who was bedridden yet talks too much. She’s the reason my mom couldn’t leave the house to work. She had to watch over Damian and my grandma. I was the only provider of the family. That’s why I have to work hard. It’s the reason why I have to do what I had to do. Mortgage, bills, my grandma’s meds, they’re budget for the month- the list goes on. My dad died when I was just sixteen. He had an accident at their construction site. Although the company paid for compensation, it wasn’t enough for us. I was seventeen when I started working part time. I did a lot of odd jobs until I found a steady one at a diner. The owner was a friend and took me in willingly, understanding my predicament.I
I instinctively swallowed down my own saliva, throat bobbed up and down at the sight before me. Her beauty is that of a goddess and a body to match. She’s perfect and beyond.She grins when she sees my stunned state. “Ciao, tesoro.”Her voice pulled me out of my reverie. I remembered that despite being carved to perfection, she’s actually a witch. The nickname managed to put a frown on my face. I still have to find out what the heck that means.“I… I’m ready to talk.”There was a huge burden on my shoulders weighing me down. I don’t know if telling her the truth is right. It’s not like I have a choice. But she’s right here with my family and if I do something wrong, I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself for letting her harm them when I have the power to avoid it.Cara sat on the edge of my bed, discarding the towel that once caressed her dark hair. She pats the bed, gesturing to me to sit beside her. I followed defeatedly like a dog.She was silent and I knew she wanted me to star
“Good morning, dear.” Mom greeted Cara and somehow managed to ignore my presence in the dining room as we both emerged. “Buon gior-” She stops and realizes that she was responding in her language. “Good morning, Violet.” She replied with a smile. Mom convinced her yesterday to call her name rather than calling her with honorifics. She tilted her head to the side and looked at her questioningly. “You’re not really American, are you?”Cara looked at my mom with mirth. “I am a full blooded Italian.”Her eyes sparkled in interest and excitement… again. I sighed, letting myself sit on the chair. Breakfast was already laid on the table. It looked like a feast with all that she prepared. “No wonder you have this accent. It’s not that obvious but it’s there. You are so beautiful, too. And goodness! You are so tall.”Mom was 5’2 so she admires women who’re gifted with height. I roll my eyes. “You already said that countless times yesterday.” I muttered lowly but she heard me anyway and ga
“Dylan Ross…” She reached out and wrapped her hand from the nape of my neck. She pulls me to her, our faces inches closer to each other.“Swear your loyalty to me.”I couldn’t hold back my surprise. Her piercing eyes steady in mine, meaningful with a threat and warning.“I… you… you promised me.” Reminding her of her promise about my family. “I don’t break promises… unless you betray me.”I shook my head vehemently. “Never.”“Good. I’ll give you whatever you need, even whatever you want as long as you swear it.”“I swear it!” I said rather enthusiastically. I cleared my throat in embarrassment. “I mean yes.”For my family. Everything for them.She released a playful grin. Her fingers from the nape of my neck started stroking my hair. Warmth started to build from my belly.“Good boy.”---A few hours later, we arrived but it wasn’t in my apartment. I couldn’t ask Cara since she hastily stepped out of the car and immediately went inside the building. I stopped short, jaw dropping whe