Everything about Ferrara was unmatched; his gait, handsome features and that dangerous aura around him.
He looked so much different now, but I knew, that hard glint in his eyes was only because he was angry that I was being forced into marriage.
"What is the meaning of this shit? Who are you, young man? This is no place for petty theft!" My father said in a loud voice, stepping out from behind me to walk towards him.
All the guards drew their weapons and pointed them at Ferrara, and my heart skipped a beat. I would stand between him and my father if they tried to shoot him.
Except that Ferrara didn't look like he needed to be rescued in any way. He kept advancing towards my father, his steps calculated, his eyes dark and glinting like diamonds.
Memories of last night flooded my thoughts.
"Oh I assure you, I already took what I wanted. Besides, you should have some room for a Castello in your little party, considering that you just killed my father?"
A Castello, his father?
It kicked me, the memory of my father boasting yesterday evening that he had murdered the proud Don Castello and would be taking over his empire.
Ferrara was the son of a Mafia Don as well? Had he known...Definitely not, he wouldn't have been aware of my identity last night.
I blinked in surprise, gripping tightly to the bouquet.
I watched as my father's brows drew in confusion and shock, and whispers broke out in the room. Boris looked bored, his stomach seeming to stick out more prominently.
"What the fuck do you mean? I know all the Castellos and you are not one of them..."
In all the years I had been alive, no one had ever interrupted my father, but Ferrara did it so effortlessly, his tone controlled as if he were discussing something trivia. "Oh, you weren't alerted of the rebellious bastard son, not surprising, the old man hated me anyway."
My father sucked in a deep breath, his fingers twitching in obvious impatience. "If you know that, then why are you here disrupting my daughter's wedding?"
At that, Ferrara pushed his gun into his pocket and reached for a cigarette, lighting and bringing it to his lips as though he were making a normal conversation.
It wasn't like tens of armed security had guns pointed at one another.
He inhaled and puffed out smoke, his dark eyes shimmering and glinting under the rays of the morning sun peeping through the windows.
Then finally, he parted those lips that had been in my most intimate places, lips that had whispered my name in the dark as he took me over the edge...
I sucked in a deep breath and shut my eyes, his voice reverberating through my senses.
"I am here for two reasons, Viktor Petrov. You see, I made a vow to my father that he would die at the hands of his bastard son, and you took that away from me. The second reason, is..."
He turned, his gaze falling on mine for the first time. The veil concealed my face, but I felt nude under his scrutiny.
He took a step towards me, and the sounds of guns being corked made me stiffen, but he didn't stop.
"Don Boris, you see, I believe in honoring every part of a bargain, and you've paid an outrageous amount of money for this lady? Now, how about I tell you that her honor is..."
"What the fuck are you trying to say, bastard?" My father was in front of me in two strides, pulling off my veil and gripping hold of my wrist.
For the first time, I was conscious of everyone's eyes on me, including Ferrara, who was...smirking?
"You look me in the fucking eye and tell me that what this bastard is trying to imply is false! You didn't sully yourself, right?"
My father was squeezing my wrist so hard, drawing tears from my eyes and gasps from my throat.
"Oh, she did gasp like that last night, but then, it was my teeth on her neck and her honor around my co..."
No, this wasn't happening. My father tilted my jaw and took a long look at the hickeys my mother hadn't been able to hide with the make-up.
I shook my head, my lips trembling as I recognized the rage in my father's eyes. He was lifting his palm to hit me, and familiar with this occasional dance, I closed my eyes, waiting for the hit to come.
Except that it didn't, and when I opened my eyes, Ferarra was holding my father's arm, his eyes dark as the night.
"Boris, you haven't wired the money already, so I suggest you leave since the virgin you paid for, doesn't exist anymore. Or you may stay, and get in the middle of a fight that has nothing to do with you."
Ferrara had barely completed those words when Boris glared at us with venomous gaze and gave a signal to his guards. They withdrew their weapons.
"No, Boris, you can't walk away now! You can teach her a lesson after for the rest of your life but..." My father was saying, his voice loud and desperate as it rang across the room, but Boris was already halfway across the living room.
The marriage was over, and just when I started to relax, Ferrara, the man I had believed was the knight who would take me away from this life pulled out his gun and in one smooth move, fired at Boris who was almost out of the door.
"You forgot something, Boris Ivankov. The traitor who helped to kill his ally, must be stabbed from behind as well."
The man I had fallen for had eyes cold as ice, and he shot twice, sending Boris to the floors, dead.
A loud scream tore from my throat as guns were drawn, bodies falling all around me.
Before I could think of a place to hide, something painful hit me, and I slid to the floors, surrendering to the darkness.
***
Two Months Later
"We've run the test a third time, Ms. Petrov, and you are pregnant."
I stared at the white walls of the hospital and the IV drip stuck to my thin wrists.
I was...pregnant?
It had been a month since I first woke up in this same hospital bed to my father's consigliere seated in front of me, after I had been shot.
Or rather, my late father. It had been reported that a fire had burned down our mansion and claimed my parents' lives, but I knew it had been no fire.
Because I had been there, and witnessed the man I now knew to be Ferrara De Castello kill people. He had used me to get revenge on my father, while I had thought that it was a love match, that I had found the one.
Fate laughed cruelly at me, taunting me in all forms. My poor mother had been locked out in one of the basements during the wedding, her frail innocent body burnt by that fire.
"Sue Ferrara, he's the one that did this! He killed my mother! I will testify against him!" I had been desperate as I begged the older consigliere, but he had shaken his head, and made me aware that it was futile.
"Kid, you do not know the man you want to deal with. Be grateful that some person saved you and find a way to live your life, quietly. That man is known as the devil himself."
The devil himself?
One month ago, I had learned from the consigliere that Ferrara De Castello had taken over his father's seat and merged it with the Petrov organization.
I had cried and mourned over the pictures of my parents, since their ashes had been so mixed up in that fire they couldn't even be retrieved. The police had been paid off and quickly closed the case as an accident.
And today, after weeks of weakness and puking, it had been confirmed that I was pregnant with his kid.
I rubbed my stomach as tears slid from my eyes over and over again, the pain gripping me and threatening to cripple me.
I was pregnant, with Don Ferrara De Castello's kid.
Ferrara De CastelloI enjoy games, taking my opponent by surprise, leading them on and striking when they don't expect it.And of all the games I have played, chess is my most favorite, the most manipulative of them all. But as much as I enjoy putting things and people in their place, missing pieces put me off as well."We couldn't find the Petrov girl, boss, it's like she vanished after the funeral." It was the same thing I had heard months afterwards, and I have the best damn resources and ways of making people talk. The consigliere had disappeared as well, and not even holding his beloved secret lover captive had made him appear in my sight. It seemed like the two of them had simply ceased to exist, and that picked at something in my head. Making plans ahead of time implied that I always covered grounds before my opponents, and now...A thick puff of smoke wafted in the air, leaving my lips in cloud and spreading."Boss, we succeeded in closing the case, although there is a rook
Ferrara Five Years After the Fire "...The youngest conglomerate chairman to successfully expand chains of businesses to four continents of the world, ladies and gentlemen, welcome the man of the hour, Mr. Ferrara De Castello!" Claps thundered as I stood from my seat and adjusted my custom made suit which fitted me to perfection, cameras flashing on my face, reporters capturing me from various angles. I had received various awards over the years, but tonight was like no other. Being recognized by Guinness Book of Records and Forbes as the youngest zillionaire was nothing compared to what this night meant to me. It was the final step to the four year plan I had set up years ago, I had become untouchable, like a god on earth. I wasn't just the fucking richest in the world, or the most influential and of course the most eligible bachelor, the words of the ladies, not mine, but I had set every project I started in motion. Hell, even my shit of a family understood what tonight mean
KatyaHe found me.I returned my phone to the sink and sucked in a deep breath, knowing that my time in the jacuzzi was over. Just as I didn't have the luxury of letting my imagination go wild like it had done over the years.It was time to face the music. Ferrara De Castello would be here any minute.My body was rinsed and wrapped in a white bathrobe, my hair which was the length of my waist, wet and shimmering with the flecks of silver in the ginger red color. As I pulled it to the side, I studied my reflection in the mirror. Sharp high cheekbones, full lips, long pointed nose and almond shaped hue honey brown eyes framed on a small delicate face with porcelain doll skin. The people who had met me said I looked like a goddess, perfection itself.But I was far from being perfect; I had sunk low and gotten my hands dirty to achieve the dream that had kept me awake for the past five years,Ruining Ferrara De Castello, the father of my son.Just on cue, the doorbell went off, and I pu
I bit into my cheeks, quickly forcing my hand away. "Is that a threat, Ferrara?" When I thought that my heart couldn't explode more already, he tilted my chin, the feeling of his skin on mine delicious and dangerous, forcing me to look into his eyes.And in that low whisper of huskiness and sweet addiction, he said, "You are a smart, beautiful woman, Amore, I am sure it can't be a threat to you since you wouldn't dare make the mistake of keeping my son away from me, right?" Minutes after he released his hand and even when he stood, his palms in his pockets, I still felt like I had just been burned, and my eyes felt misty as bumps washed through my skin. When I finally lifted my face and stared at him, he was regarding me with his gaze impassive again, "I will let you get some rest. Clearly, with the way you are reacting to my touch, we will be repeating that night if I don't leave now."My eye blinked severally, my ears assured that this shameless arrogance had simply been an error
Ferrara"We can just ignore it, Boss, and proceed with the meeting you have as planned. Going to court yourself will draw unnecessary attention to the case." My consigliere was right, it was quite a reasonable suggestion. But all thoughts of rationality had fled last night when I learnt that Katya suddenly reappeared again, and the fact that I had a son...I adjusted the dark blue custom made suede blazers which laid emphasis on my broad shoulders, lean waist and a height that made me tower over many people who were considered tall. Carlos reached out and arranged the turtle neck beneath it properly, removing a particle from my jet black hair which had been swept back and styled with a gel. "Reschedule the meeting, and get the chauffer ready. Contact Matteo." Carlos' blue eyes seemed a bit dull, evidence of the little sleep we had all gotten since being hit by the news of Katya's return. He stood for a moment in his black suit, about to say something, but seemed to have changed hi
Katya"Wha...what? What do you mean my son isn't with you anymore?"My voice was quavering, my shades removed and on the floor, where it had slipped and fallen a few seconds ago the moment Kyrian said those ominous words. My most trusted and efficient bodyguard had a pensive look on his face, those popping veins doing nothing to calm me down. My fingers were trembling in a matter of seconds, and I felt all blood drained from my skin.My son, my little man..."Our team is checking the CCTV on the streets to know the direction they took, this was done by... Mr. Castello's security."Shit. I should have known he wasn't just going to walk away after what I had just cost him without pulling some stunt. My entire body clamped together, my blood spiralling with boiling hot anger.Memories of those nights I had cried myself to sleep flooded my mind, as well as the pain of childbirth which I had almost thought would kill me. I had had no one by my side apart from paid employees, and finally,
Katya"Mommy! Over here!" The sight of my son waving his small hands as he signalled to me, was enough to melt the raging stone in my chest.But as soon as I approached the table and caught sight of Ferrara with that smug expression in his eyes, my heart hardened again. He had dared to kidnap Christopher and bring him all the way here without my consent?What if something had happened on the way?"My little boy, are you okay?" I inquired as soon as I got to the table and pulled him into my arms, and he nodded, his eyes radiating warmth."Yes, mommy. Daddy said you would be joining us soon, and he was right. I like daddy's house, let's live here. He said we can all stay here with him. How nice!"What the fuck? Nice?I smiled as much as the burning emotion in my heart would let me, and patted his hair softly, my eyes hardening the moment they met with Ferrara's across the table.He had discarded the jacket and rolled the sleeves of his dark turtle-neck, languidly sipping at a drink whi
Katya My nightmares consisted of the day I had woken up to find my parents gone from my life. Then, I had despised Ferrara and vowed to bring him to his knees. But right now, as he spewed those words, threatening to take my son away from him, I was triggered. "I don't have to listen to this shit. I'm taking Christopher out of here." I muttered as strictly as I could, hearing the sound of my own heart racing in fear, in something beyond rage. "Katya..." Ferrara started, but I already turned around and reached for the door, my footsteps louder than they had ever been as I stomped down the long hallway. I could feel the smokes coming out of my ears, the pounding drums in my heart, and the lethal rage I was feeling. I needed to get out of here. With each step I took, all I thought of was pulling my son into my arms and not stopping till we were back in the hotel. I was meeting with a real estate agent anyway to finalise the deal on a house I had set my eyes on while outside the cou