Alicia’s POVIt was a knock later that day that startled me out of my gaze. I sat up slowly on the bed, as the door opened. Andy popped her head in and looked concerned for me, and my two boys rushed in and jumped on the bed, disrupting my train of morose thoughts.“Mommy! Where have you been?!” It was Dante who yelled out that question while Ashford rushed to hug me and murmured a low good morning.I had been asleep after a long night, I wanted to tell them but I knew I couldn’t. They were still kids and I was determined to preserve as much of their innocence as I could.Their fathers may be in the mafia but I certainly wasn’t going to let their lives be surrounded by gory details this early on.Communicating my gratitude to Andy with a smile and nod, I got a warm smile back from her.“Ive just been a little under the weather,” I assured the boys, while chancing a glance at the clock on then bedside table. The time read 1.24pm.It was time to get up. And time to properly think about
Alicia’s POV I waited a beat before continuing, noting the dark expression in her eyes. “I’m afraid I have no idea why you’re so combative with me, Cleo,” I sighed. “I have no intention of competing with you with regards to Acker or Mikael. They are my last and I am theirs.” “But you have the key to get them back through the twins, is that what you’re saying?” She seethed, a deadly aura about her. “You’re quite the plotter aren’t you, Alicia Stevens?” “I don’t care what you think I am but I’m going to say this once so listen carefully,” I stood, taking a step towards her. We were at the same height, and I stepped closer to her that our chests were almost touching. “Whatever problem you have with me, don’t even think about bringing it near my children. Since Mik and Acker seem to like you, I can’t stop that. But I won’t have you acting this way in front. My children, do you understand?” “Or what?” She smirked daringly, taunting in her words. “You’ll see. I’m no longer the p
Acker’s POVThe darkness of the streets was suitable cover enough for me to enter my house wi the out causing chaos. A sigh left my lips, and I then began the task of undressing while still walking to my bedroom.One glance at me would have told what I had been doing that night. Blood was splattered all over my shirt, pants and coat, and my gun was in the inner pocket of my jacket, the bullets in its chamber far spent.Dealing with Cross and his allies however was most satisfying, for at last we had the upper hand. With Serrano’s and my combined forces, we had forced most of Cross’ allies to retreat. Cross still had a warrant out for his arrest, and that meant the law enforcement in our pockets would turn a blind eye to the violence against his men.The stench of fresh blood, metallic and pungent, made my nose wrinkle. I tossed my clothes in the laundry hamper, sure that the maid would get to it in time. I needed a fucking shower.And I needed to get back to the US. I missed my family
Alicia’s POVThe breeze ruffled my hair as I chased Dante and Ashford at a sedate pace through the garden.My boys laughed, a tingling sound that brought me nothing but peace and content in the turbulent world.Meanwhile Andy watched from her spot on the patio. It was almost like nothing had changed, like we were still in the UK and living a quiet life without fear.“Got you!” I grabbed Ashford’s midsection and he let out an uncharacteristic squeal, wriggling about in my arms as I peppered his face with kisses.“Mom!” Ashford yelled, his face flush with joy and childlike excitement. “Let go!”“Not unless you say please,” I smirked down at him. “And that you love me very much.”The sound of the fence swinging made me turn around and my remaining words died in my lips as I saw Acker cross the small fence and enter the garden, his coat swinging.Suddenly my heart began to flutter and there was a quest feeling in my stomach as he approached.Why did he look so damn good?“Hello,” he stopp
Mikael’s POV“She said that?” Disbelief colored my voice as I turned around and looked at Acker who gave me a hard glare from where he sat. He didn’t look too happy about my statement. “I didn’t expect that of her.”We were at my casino, both of us nursing considerably high malignes of liquor in our glasses.“Did you expect her to suddenly change her mind? She doesn’t trust us, Serrano,” he sighed, looking still just as disgruntled.I felt kind of bad now, because even though we weren’t friends, we were both bound together by our love for Alicia, and the children we shared.Sighing, i sat across from him and crossed my legs, taking a sip of whiskey that made a hot trail down my throat a settled at the bottom of my stomach.“Are you telling me that means you give up? Because I for one am not. She’s our woman, Cazzo,” i stated. “And whether she likes it or not, that won’t change.”“Come pensi di farlo se non vuole avere niente a che fare con noi?”“E' il suo dannato problema. E LEI è la
Alicia’s POVA yawn left my lips and I covered my mouth, blinking slowly as I watched my two boys do the same.“Come on now, time for bed,” I gestured to Dante and Ashford who both nodded obediently and each took one of my outstretched hands. “Say Goodnight, Aunt Andy,” I singsonged and Andy chuckled as the well-fed, played out boys chorused their good nights to her.They were already exhausted, I could tell. I’d made sure to make up for the time I spent working (aka getting more information on Mikael and Acker to pin them for my dad’s death).As much as my mind was set on revenge I didn’t want my two boys to suffer for it.They shuffled beside me, leaning onto my body as we left the dining hall and moved towards the foyer where the stairs waited for us. I relished in the warmth of their presence beside me. They were on the cusp of five years old and had already grown so tall and become much more independent. It reminded me of a quote I saw to treasure the days, because children grow
Alicia:“Let me out!” I screamed at the door, tears coursing down my cheeks. “Please…” i fell to the ground, all hope of leaving this prison gone.How did things come down to this?I curled up into a fetal position thinking about the series of strange, surreal events that had overturned my life this week from what it had been before….Five days ago:“Do I really have to do this?” I grumbled to Daya, the only friend I had. She was fixing her makeup, putting on some eye glitter on her lids expertly, but had the time to turn around and fix me a long glare.“Don’t start with that kind of attitude now, Alicia,” she warned me in her no-nonsense tone. “Besides, you should be happy I even thought to take you out on your birthday. You’re no longer a teenager. You’re 22! How much longer are you going to keep on complaining about my goodwill?”I sighed, my hands finding the bottom hem of the INCREDIBLY short minidress she had tossed at me from the depths of her closet.“But-“ I tried to speak ag
Alicia:“Daya, not this! I can’t go out with you this time,” I tried to decline her invitation, or rather, pressure to spend another night clubbing. To my luck it was a weekend. But it didn’t change the fact that I wasn’t interested.“Oh, don’t complain about it! I thought you would have gotten a taste for it,” Daya’s golden blonde hair bounced as she curled her strands expertly with the curling iron. “Besides, I’m broken-hearted, Alicia. Jimmy broke up with me yesterday and you didn’t even try to comfort me. Don’t be so horrible to your friend. Aren’t we friends?”‘Against my better judgement,’ I wanted to respond, but chose to only nod. To be fair, though, Jimmy likely found out he wasn’t the only one she was dating and reacted badly to the ‘surprising’ revelation.“By the way I got you another dress. It’s more your style. You know, matronly,” she cast an eye at my work attire which I was still wearing: black pants and a basic blue button down.“Thanks,” I didn’t mean to let the sar