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I glared when his hand reached again to my neck. Our faces only an inch apart. His big hand was almost wrapping it whole. His thumb massaging my throat like a feather. "And when I thrust inside of you, I want to hear you scream my name. Every name of mine." "Dante. Adriano. Sol. Di. Angelo." His thumb stroking the center of my neck while uttering every name he owned. His eyes hooded in heat, lust clouding the windows of his soul. "And when you cum, it'll be Dante you moan." Hailynn Fleury is a talented painter. Growing up as an orphan, she and her best friend Ethan, always wanted to get back to the people that helped and cared for them. When one of her friends convinced her to auction her paintings at one of her charity events, it didn't take much persuasion knowing the money would go to the orphanage. On the night of the auction, her future took another turn when she saw a handsome man holding a gun. Later finding out that he was a mafia boss with an intention of keeping her from thereon. Witnessing him pulling a trigger to someone would have been the mafia boss' wisest decision to never let her go. Except that he couldn't touch the girl knowing the promise he had with his cousin. Dreams of bedding the girl is no longer an option. But how will he treat his ragazza, really? Find out how both of their lives took a turn- with the aspiring artist and the Italian mafia boss. Author: Joe Sakura Publisher:i&i Publisher
"Please be careful with that."
I reminded the men carrying the paintings towards the hotel. Over ten paintings were carried from the truck. Some can be handheld and life-size and some are as big as walls.
"You really need to take a chill pill, Hailynn." Amy popped out beside me, arms crossed, face held in amusement.
After telling her that I decided to finally sell my paintings, she immediately went to support me. I am so grateful that she's here. I'm not sure if I can do it alone.
"Can't. You know how much I value those paintings." I felt a tinge of regret but I know this will help those who are in need.
She smiled at me softly. "Then you better detach yourself with those artworks. Tonight you're not gonna be officially the owner."
"Is it bad that I'm hoping nobody's going to buy it and at the same time hoping that every painting will be sold?"
"It's not, Hailynn. What you're feeling is completely normal. I mean those paintings held your memories with Ethan." She placed her hands on my shoulders in a comforting way. "Remember this auction will help the orphans. This has been your and Ethan's dream to sell your works to help kids with no families." I nodded as she smiled at me warmly.
Tonight the elites will gather for a charity event. My paintings are the highlight of the night. Money will be donated to charity especially to the orphanages. I'm planning to give twenty-five percent of it to where Ethan and I grew up.
The night finally came and it was spent with succulent food, expensive wine and drinks, random chatters and boisterous laughter. Everyone was dressed in their most gorgeous gowns and expensive suits. I could not help but feel nervous with the idea that the paintings will no longer be in my care. Paintings that hold our memories together.
Surprisingly, the auction was beyond successful. The paintings were sold. All of them. I doubt that they understood or appreciated it. Let's be real. Those old geezers and young millionaires only show off their money. Based on my experience, wealthy collectors who truly appreciate works of art are rare. Either way, the children and the poor will be benefited from their arrogance.
My apprehension though made me leave one painting behind. The painting which Ethan and I created. We literally made this together and it was only recently before three months ago. I broke a promise to myself and perhaps with my longtime friend too. I simply could not sell it. I want to at least keep one memory of him with me. Well, except for the unfinished erotica book that he left.
I sighed heavily before opening the doorknob to the temporary room where I store the painting. I need to ask someone to transfer this back to my apartment.
The air was stuck in my throat as soon as I entered the room.
I froze when a man in all black suit pointed a gun towards another man.
I stole their attention when they heard me coming in. The man who was holding a gun had a scowl on his face. He glared at my sudden intrusion that had made me nervous and scared. The other guy was somewhat relieved at their unexpected distraction. I noticed a blood smudged just below his lower lip.
As soon as my eyes shifted back to the man holding the gun. My eyes widened when another gun was pointed at me while the other was still glinting against his first victim. My heart quickened its beat. It became louder every jump of a second. My hands automatically raise in surrender. I could feel the other man's eyes shifting back and forth between me and the man holding the gun.
"Come here, ragazza." He said in his thick Italian accent. Okay, the man is obviously Italian.
I couldn't move though. I was still frozen in my spot. I was literally panicking and my loud heartbeat is boosting my fear with the Italian dude.
"Don't make me repeat." He growled. It was deep and guttural.
As soon as my foot moved to take a step, the other man lunged at him. From the Italian man's reaction, he expected him to move. I stopped myself and in a quick second, I turned around to reach for the doorknob for escape. The loud bang of a gun made me jump in fear. My eyes were completely wide when I saw the dent and splinters that newly decorated the door. I nervously turned around. The two men were fighting, fists flying on their faces and body.
"Don't even think about it." Mr. Italian snarled at me after kicking the man and making him fall right over my painting.
I stiffened.
Shit. No. Oh my god. No.
I know I'm completely and undeniably scared right now... yet I can't help but feel infuriated at the sight of my painting ripped apart. The masterpiece was unrecognizable. I stood agape at what happened. My jaw falling on the floor, unable to return to its original place.
He wiped the little blood that dripped on the corner of his lower lip as he sauntered towards his enemy who was having a hard time getting up.
"What did you do to my painting?!" I screeched. I walked towards him with hurried steps, forgetting about the fact that he was holding a gun and he could shoot me in a second.
He stopped walking and turned his attention to me. His face was blank and extremely scary. I gulped a lump forming in my throat.
He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. He began to open his mouth to say something but the man lunged at him again making both of them fall down to the ground. I gasped at the sudden action. I couldn't see them wrestling behind the sofa.
I jumped again for the umpteenth time tonight as a loud bang echoed in the four corners of the room. Tears started pooling in my eyes as the thought of death crossing my mind.
Holy shit.
Oh my god.
I slowly walked and peeked behind the sofa. I saw how he roughly pushed away the man hovering him without a struggle. Blood pooled over his torso scattering to the floor. Our eyes met for a second before he got up and stood at his full height. I then noticed how short I am compared to his six foot something.
I step back every step forward he makes.
The sound of the door opening made me jumped in surprise. My head turned swiftly at the unexpected guest but didn't get the chance.
A white handkerchief suddenly covered my nose and mouth.
Kura is one of the directors of Runner Studios, a really big production company. Everyone knew her to be talented and skillful of her work. The downside was she was judged on how she looks. With platinum blonde hair, pale skin adorned with intricate tattoos and a knack for not following rules. Nile is the CEO of their own family company, Veselov Industries, with advanced technologies that would reach an income of billions a year. He was of Russian, Japanese and American descent, with androgynous beauty that makes women turn their heads. He's conventional, rude and has a cold personality which makes other people fear him. Kura and Nile have the most opposite of personalities. When Quinn, Kura's friend and business partner, requested for her to meet the overbearing Nile Veselov, the two immediately clashed and hated each other right away. While Nile continued to judge the woman, Kura was busy trying to irk him and find ways to show him she was more than capable of her job. One intimate night changed between the two of them. Nile later realized his feelings for her when he met Kura's friend from the past whom he thought was her love interest. He felt angry, frustrated and above all jealous. Things he strangely felt towards the most infuriating woman he ever met. Will Nile manage to let the devious woman fall for him? Author: Joe Sakura Publisher:i&i Publisher
When Kyree Jade Knight was young, she always had an affinity to music and she was extremely talented in it. When her father found out about it, she let her quit, crushing her dreams as well. He wants nothing more for his daughter but to be the sole heiress of his business empire. But Kyree has a secret. She's the vocalist of the band named Code:Red. Having gigs on weekends and band practices during weekdays; they made quite a name for a local band. She disobeyed her father. Not wanting him to find out about it, she makes extreme measures to hide it. With the help of her best friends, she hid her true identity all throughout the four years of her being the vocalist. The simple school girl and the talented rockstar by night. What happens when a devil disguising as prince charming finds out her secret? Author: Joe Sakura Publisher:i&i Publisher
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
After a painful breakup with her boyfriend of two years who coldly told her to her face that he couldn't keep dating her because she was too uptight--In a moment of anger and defiance, Anna decided to throw caution to the wind for one reckless night. She headed to the wildest club in Texas, determined to lose herself in the chaos. But fate had other plans. To her shock, she ran into her ex-boyfriend at the club. Desperate to save face, she made a split-second decision and approached a stranger, pretending he was her new boyfriend. What she never anticipated was the magnetic pull she would feel towards him or the fact that she'd end up going home with this mystery man. Soon enough, the real surprise hit her--this stranger wasn't just anyone; he was her new boss. What begins as a night of rebellion spirals into a whirlwind of forbidden attraction, societal pressure and hidden affairs. And now there are so many things at stake. Find out how this story unfolds.
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.