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
After a devastating valentine's breakup, Miracle never expected to find herself caught in a web of deceit and desire. A mysterious stranger approached her with an offer she couldn't refuse. Three million dollars to be a fake girlfriend to his wealthy client, with one catch: falling in love with him disqualifies her from the deal. Skeptical at first, Miracle agrees to the arrangement, but she quickly realizes that it's not as simple as she thought. Especially when her client turns out to be the infamous Leonel Hamilton, a billionaire with a reputation for breaking hearts without mercy. As Miracle navigates the complexities of their fake relationship, she finds herself torn between her desire for money and her growing feelings for Leonel. But when some truths are revealed, she must decide if the contract is worth the risk or if the lure of money is too strong to resist. Read on to discover the rollercoaster of romance and deceit.
Emberly, an esteemed scientist of the Imperial Federation, took her own life after completing important research. She was reborn, and just like in her first life, she was born into a wealthy family. She could’ve lived a carefree and prosperous life. However, the babies got mixed up in the hospital and she was taken home by another family from the countryside. Her foster parents later found out the truth and brought her to her real family, but they didn’t like her. Her evil adopted sister even loathed her. She was framed and ultimately, she died in prison. But in her next life, she refused to stay a coward and swore she would take revenge on all who wronged her. She would only care about those who were truly good to her and turn a blind eye to her heartless family. In one life, she had once experienced darkness and been trampled upon like an ant. In another, she had stood on top of the world. This time, she only wished to live for herself. As if a switch had gone on inside of her, she suddenly became the best at everything she put her mind to. He won the math contest, topped the college entrance exams, and solved an age old question... Later, she garnered countless scientific research achievements. People who had once slandered her and looked down on her cried bitterly and begged her for a patent authorization. She just sneered at them. No way! This was a world without faith, but the world put their faith in her. Austin, the heir to a powerful aristocratic family in the imperial capital, was cold-hearted and decisive. He scared anyone who laid eyes on him. Unbeknownst to everyone, he doted on one woman: Emberly. Nobody knew that his desire for her grew stronger with every passing day. She brought light to his originally dull and gloomy life.
Renea was trying the wedding dress, when suddenly the man rushed in the dressing room and held her neck tightly... “Bitch! Are you still trying to pretend innocent!” Jasper said as he tightened his grip on her neck and choked her harder. Then he used his other hand and took out the phone from his suit pocket and played the video of two people having sex in front of Renea… However, what was even more shocking, was that the woman in the video was, Renea Morris, however, the man in the video was not Jasper. Renea struggled to take a phone away from Jasper’s hand and tried to explain, “Jasper, it was not what you think… I… I can…” Jasper looked at Renea with his eyes full of disgust, as he said, “Let’s call of the wedding. I can’t marry a woman like you.” After saying that Jasper walked out of the shop Renea chase after Jasper... But then she sees Jasper passionately kissing her sister Kailey. And she hears everything, that her sleeping with strange men was all a plan of the vipers of the last two days, and that their goal was to get out of this stupid marriage. Even her adopted parents were also involved in this matter... They all do this with her because of the inheritance left by her grandfather... Renea heart was filled with anger and she wanted to expose their true colors to the public... However before she could do anything, Kailey had pushed her in front of the car and she got killed... However, when Renea open her eyes, she found herself sitting in the car with Kailey... She realized that she was reborn and went at the time when everything started... Renea looked at the people who had hurt her in her previous life and her lips curled up in a cold smile... She was back... However, this time... she was back for revenge...
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
For seven years, Jillian pursued Bryan with unyielding passion, but he remained distant, his emotions tightly sealed. Disheartened, she left for overseas after graduating from college. Three years later, Jillian, now a successful attorney, sat provocatively on the lap of Bryan's competitor. She flashed Bryan a playful smile and taunted, "What's wrong, Bryan? Are you impotent?" Bryan's restraint shattered in an instant. In a swift motion, he scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed. The next morning, as Bryan woke up, Jillian flashed a mischievous smile. "Let's keep things casual, okay?"
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"