TILL D£ATH DO US APART
(The•Devil•I•Loved)
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Copyright © 2025
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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
“And no one will ever find out the certain truth,” Marko rose like a monarch from his desk, picking his walking cane and stepping out of the desk, standing in front of the lady who still has the dark grin curled on her lips tightly.
Eyes are down, but at the same time, she’s looking up, typical of a horror show villain character.
Marko reached for her hair with his right hand, rubbing fondly.
Her grin widened.
“You want anything right now?” He asked, and her grin disappeared instantly.
“You pushed me with your walking cane the other day, and I had to crawl to my room in pretence cos the guards were there.” She glared.
“That same day, I contemplated giving you to Thaddeus as his second wife,” Marko smiled, walking past her to the window of that room where he stood and stared out creepily, his cane pressing the rug on the ground.
Renata walked fast to him.
“No! You know you can’t do that! Who’s gonna get married to that bald thing? His head is enough to weave nightmares for me nightly! That’s like everlasting punishment which I won’t allow to last cos I’d just kill him in his sleep!” She snapped.
“I’m only using Thaddeus, you know he’s never gonna be the Don… It’s Leo or no one else, but Thaddeus is cunning too I can’t underestimate him. If he starts suspecting my support is fake, he might snap. Giving you to him as a wife would make his defense weak.” Marko said.
Renata sighed, bringing another memory card out of her pocket which she dropped on the desk.
“I made a deal with one of the guards in his mansion, and I was able to get my hands on what went down at his mansion yesterday. He slept with Island!” She laughed.
“Well that’s not surprising… He’s desperate for a male child, so he’d do anything. He’s probably just using Island too.” Marko shrugged.
He’s still standing by that window.
“He’s using her, and we’re gonna use her too. Penny and her daughter mustn’t know about Island’s pregnancy till she gives birth cos I’m sure the bîtch is already pregnant. Just hold Thaddeus down with Island’s secret pregnancy, and that part will be solved,” Renata said.
Marko chuckled, taking a short look outside the window.
“What would I have done without you, Renata.”
“Nothing! Aren’t I your major backbone? Gosh, and my nieces and nephews are so annoying! I badly wanted to snap Bobby’s neck when he was wailing around about Wendy. He has no idea I’m actually the one who sent that mobster to poison Wendy’s coke and sleep with her…” She laughed.
Her laughter was short though, then she gasped.
“Robert and Cardi! You should watch the footage! They were wild in the bathroom and I won’t lie I got wet watching it!” She said.
“Just get a man to satisfy your s+xual needs then kill him afterwards. It’s that simple. You’ve done it many times” Marko shrugged.
“Oh…I also made them believe Vera was actually obsessed with Santos, but they’d never find out she was actually genuinely in love with him. He was the only person my stupid sister loved in this world, unlike me who can’t even love anyone… I cooked up stories about how you killed my two lovers…”
At this point, she bursted into laughter again.
Marko just watched his deranged daughter with proud eyes as she displayed her madness.
“Me? Two lovers? The sound of it is making me wanna puke! I don’t even love myself.” She scoffed.
“The Ivanna girl is full of respect for me too! Aunt Renata here, Aunt Renata there! You should have seen the look on her face when I gave her my jacket on the night of the teaparty. I intentionally showed her Leo’s chubby pictures cos I knew she’d surely mention it. I thought Leo would kill her for it, but turns out he’s far gone. He doesn’t even know the daughter of who she is. He’s rapidly losing his head and forgetting Vera’s legacy. Not good.” She said.
Now she’s sitting on Marko’s desk, playing with his electronic pen.
“Leo is coming back, you know I always have a reverse plan.” Marko replied and left the window.
He sat back behind the desk.
“What exactly do you plan to do with him? Whatever you’re planning, be efficient with it cos he’s still the smart Leo.” She whispered.
“I have you, so there should be no mistakes.” Marko leaned forward.
“Right!” Renata snapped.
“The next mission is my target. Robert will be out completely. You’ll take care of that one… Just break his spine and make it inoperable. I don’t want him dead, I want him on a wheelchair, and by then if Bacardi still doesn’t learn, you push him off some cliff.” Marko analyzed.
“Good sport, and Leo?” Renata asked curiously.
“I’ll handle him myself during the mission. There are many arrows after him. He played Lissa Armando, and I’m sure she has plans to get back at him. Monika wants him dead cos he’s Vera’s child. Thaddeus wants him dead cos he desperately wants to be a Don in full.” Marko explained.
“You still didn’t answer the question, father.” Renata said.
“But he won’t die. I won’t let him. Like I said,…I have a plan uglier than death for him to bring him back to his senses. The next mission on Saturday is a Deadpool mission, in Hydra forest.” Marko smirked.
—
[Blue Dinners And Suites, 9pm]
In all the building, there are only two people on the topmost floor.
The first floor to the fourth one below this one is empty too. Leonardo bought it all out just for tonight, and it’s already serving it’s purpose, only on that floor.
Their suite dinner table has eaten and uneaten dishes. Dishes that cost a fortune if calculated, and drinks that’d probably feed a fair population of people.
On the table, there are sprinkled red roses in-between the plates… smelling sweet and generously honeyed.
On the table candle cups, there are gold-colored candles, burning gently inside the cups and smelling like vanilla.
Ivanna kept inhaling the smell, wondering how he was able to do this again. Just how?
“It’s specially made…by me. The candles.” He said when he saw how she’s staring.
“You studied the art of making candles?” She smiled, chewing the cheese in her mouth.
“Not really, I just watched it for a minute. Vera took me with her to a torture weapon vault when I was 5, and of all the weapons, the candle caught my attention, so I watched for few minutes and actually mastered it.” He explained, chewing cheese too.
“Candle? Torture weapon?” She blinked.
“You forgot what it did to Island?” He replied instantly.
“Oh!” She gasped. “Yes! I remember now! The sulphur candle wax! Her leopard print! But she got curing ointment for it from the underworld hub so it’s not really potent.”
“Not potent?” Leonardo smirked. “Wait for few more months. Deception works that way.”
“Wait…babe!..” Ivanna leaned in. “You mean her spots are still coming back to her skin? Her healing is just temporary?”
Instead of replying, Leonardo chuckled, drinking wine.
“Damnit! You’re fuckin cruel but I love it…” She pouted, leaving her seat.
She rounded the table to go to his side, dropping her weight on his laps.
He shifted, making her comfortable in that spot, but instead of continuing her meal, she stared at him.
“What?” He whispered.
“So…you can produce candles to torture, but you can also create them to smell like vanilla. I guess you added vanilla flavor to the process, must have been so hard….all for me? Aww…you deserve a good fûck.” She kissed him, and he groaned.
“Stop testing my patience, Joy.” He said, and she giggled, kissing him again…deeper.
She grinded her arse on his crotch, intentionally.
He grabbed that arse, making it stay still in that place.
She felt what he wanted her to feel…his big bulge.
“Feel your dessert?” He whispered.
“Very well, and I can’t wait to have it in me.” She replied, and his eyes closed as he smiled.
“Do you realize you have small eyes? Your eyes are always almost closed whenever you smile for me. Your angular features just defines it so well.” She said.
“And?” He went blank.
“You should tell me something too!” She snapped.
“Like your t1ts are round? The n+ples are temptingly brown? I was so mad about them I had to draw them…” He confessed.
“Was? Not anymore?” She smirked.
“You’re doing this on purpose…” He replied, and she laughed again, kissing his eyes fondly.
“Wait…you talked about drawing them…you draw too?” She blinked, caressing his brows.
His hands are under her dress, caressing her thighs too.
“I learnt to draw weapons when I turned 4. I learnt the drawings for six months to get familiar with them, and after six months, I began carrying the weapons, reason why I’m the best Sniper in Chicago till now.” He said.
“You began carrying weapons when you turned 4 years and six months? F+k.” Ivanna muttered.
“Don’t get emotional,” he teased.
“No that’s not it! So…you drew my t1ts, where are the drawings as we speak?” She asked.
“Gone with the burnt Mummy’s Room. I have you here with me, what use would they be?” He replied.
She smiled widened, and she kissed him on the lips again…
“I love this interactive side of you so much! Too bad, tommorow you’ll snap back to your bossy side again and might even try to hit me” she whispered seriously.
He was rubbing her ear with his other hand as he replied…
“You behave witchy at times, Joy, but that ends in the past. From now on, I’d rather avoid you than hit you when you act witchy again.”
“Avoid me? Can you handle that?” She rolled eyes.
“Don’t start!” He laughed.
“No! Dodo! Tell me, can you handle avoiding me?” She threw her legs beside the chair they’re on top.
“Dodo?” He frowned.
“Leonar…do-do.” She winked.
“Stop, sounds offensive…” He cringed.
“Ohh…you just unlocked a new name! You know I love annoying you. What am I your witch for? You can’t throw me away!” She grinned.
“Joy….” He warned, but she wasn’t listening, so he just left her to her silly mood.
“Why did you become a stuntwoman?” He suddenly asked.
She stopped laughing, getting back to her serious side.
“I’ve always loved stunting, even as a kid… I loved trying out dangerous things without caring about how it’d end, and I got hurt a number of times. Then I grew up and heard about stunting, that I could actually be stunt-doubles for action movie actors, so I went to the school for more knowledge, and I graduated with a first-class, but you know….”
“Money and connections will get you far. Despite my brilliance, the directors would rather bring influential stuntwomen to their set than me. I’d have been successful if the Armandos didn’t tamper with us.” She explained.
Leonardo touched her nose, and that made her smile…
“And if you met your real parents today?” He asked.
“I have a lotta questions for them, but the first one would be why they abandoned me inside a river where Mummy Erica and daddy Leroy found me at.” She replied.
“A river?” He asked.
“Yup, Moses recreation. I was found in a really big basket in a river, covered in blood, and that just makes me wonder if my parents are even still alive…” she smiled, sighing.
She stood from his laps, snapping her fingers loudly at his face.
“Enough of my chats, babe…” She took off her coat, throwing it off.
It landed on his face, and he slowly took it away.
When he saw her again, she was already at the staircase which leads to the top pool of the floor.
She stood there, striking a seductress pose. The net gown is now out in all it’s ensemble.
The pearls which decorated the burst area and the shoulder line, the way the hips and waist are snatched, and the way half of her laps are out. She’s literally naked.
One easy tear will take that thing away from her body, and that’s the major reason he bought this for her.
And her silly self loves it.
It shows in the way she’s carrying herself inside with the killer heels.
She’s still standing on that pose, waiting for him to hit the music, but he waited a bit, just watching her, having a fill of her again.
The hair which stopped at the middle of her back, the face which is prettier than any other he has encountered.
The small lips he’s addicted to, the pointed nose, the pointed chin too.
The delicate neck and fragile shoulders, perky round tits, flattest tummy even after the food they had.
He’s seeing a sneak preview of her beautiful p+xxy under the net too…so damn enchanting he already wants to suck the cl+t.
Then…her snatched waist.
She’s naturally snatched. Her legs—pretty, straight legs, and the small feet and toes.
Perfection? Nonsense.
She’s more than that, and now he even imagined her in a wedding dress. How prettier would she be?
How gorgeous would their future kids be?
How hot would a tattoo of her name look on his d+k?
He lost his senses as he sat, thinking… pondering silently.
His head was whistling as he finally hit the music remove on the dinner table…. slowly.
The song vibrated.
‘Shut Up And Listen’ by… The Wknd.
She didn’t miss the intro, didn’t miss the rhythm.
She moved with the dirty symphony of the words in the song, flipping her hair, rotating her waist, bulging the hips, bending, letting him catch a glimpse of her p+xxy then standing to raise a leg over the railings.
A finger between her lips, a wink from her left eye, a bite to her lip, and another flip of her hair.
Her heels screeched on the marbled staircase when she twisted, turning her back, then pulling up the net gown in a bunch.
She went down again, her ass shot up. The red lights caught a glimpse of her cl+t, but she didn’t allow it for long before coming back up.
She restarted the moves from the start, climbing the staircase as she did, and when she was almost at the top, she faced him, then went down in a full squat.
Her p+xxy showed, completely. She touched with her thumb, then brought the thumb to her lips to lick, flashing him a smile before making another turn, starting a slow twerk.
Dead, or alive? Leonardo has no idea which side he’s on right now.
He just knows he’s somewhere where a dangerous night vixen is performing for his eyes alone.
And goddamn, if anyone else saw this scene with him, he’d kill whoever it is , bury him, then f+k his woman on top of his grave.
Sick? You could call it that, but it’s a kink he has had for a while now. He wants to f+k her on an enemy grave.
Maybe Monika’s grave?
As he watched her, that kink broadened, but more than the kink, he’s concerned about the trouble looming between his legs.
His c+k, it’s about to burst, and even without seeing it, he’s sure he’s leaking pr£cvm already.
He could feel it, plus the whistling that kept sounding in his head, like his organ of thinking got harvested.
He snapped.
Ivanna was whining and twisting on the last staircase when he stood and yanked off his own shirt.
He went to her.
Three long steps to climb the staircase, and he grabbed her closest wrist, dragging her down the staircase.
She followed, breathing heavily, breathing so hard… He took her to the outer balcony.
From there, they can see the city of Chicago,. Only the railings separated them from the world outside.
Just like he imagined, one single tear was enough to take the gown away from her body.
She gasped, but it was short-lived cos in the next minute, she was facing the balcony rails n@kedly.
He grabbed handcuffs that’s hanging on the metal railings, and he cuffed her hands to the railings, bending her over there like that.
“You’ve been planning this for months, Nardo….” She whispered, looking back at him.
Her heels is still on. She’s not allowed to take them off.
She watched him peel off his pants as usual, enjoying the view till he’s all bare for her.
He rubbed her ar$e with one hand, then slapped it with the other hand.
The sound travelled through the night, echoing in the balcony.
“F+k!” She sounded, but it was only just the start.
Another slap echoed in the air when his palm came down on her arse again, loud and resounding.
“Damn! Daddy!” She m+aned, her ar$e bouncing. The Sting went from her ar$e to her p+xy, and it got wetter…better…hotter…ready.
Her cuffs grumbled against the metal railings of the balcony. Her heels stood straight too, as if it’s waiting for him with her.
His two fingers curved over her ar$e, going down to her p+xy to touch.
He rubbed. Once, twice,then slapped her backside again.
“Daddy! Daddy please!” She cried, her hair already tangling with the metal railings.
The fact that she’s looking at the city of Chicago right now is another turn on.
She’s weeping madly down there, and Leonardo knew what he was doing when he chose this spot cos he’s currently collecting her wetness in his fingers, still rubbing.
“Tell me…” He started…
“Anything, daddy.” She m+aned, his one finger entering and disappearing from her c+nt.
She whimpered, greedily rubbing herself on his fingers for friction.
He held her waist to stop her.
“Next time anyone asks who am I? You say?” He whispered in her ears.
She said nothing, so he slapped her ar$e again, the sound making her cry out loudly.
“Daddy!” She m●aned, sleekly.
“Yes, mama. I’m your daddy in bed, but to others?” He replied, rubbing his pink cap on her pink entrance.
Teasingly, then he slapped her wet p+xxy with the c+k.
“Ahh! Nardo! Please….”
“Say it…what I really am?” He slapped her p+xxy with his c+k again.
“My mannn!” She m●@ned, strangled but loud enough for the breeze to carry.
He slapped the ar$e again, and again. Now, the shade of redness is deep and looks painful.
He rubbed the wetness he collected from her p+xxy on the ar$e, soothing the redness.
“My mannn…” She m●@ned again.
“Right, your man. Yours…” He held her throat from the back, gently.
Her view of the city became clearer. She saw passing cars by the road…they look like toys…she feels closer to the sky cos the stars are bigger here. The moon looks unconventionally huge, too.
Her br+sts pressed the metal railings, and they hardened more than they already are.
“F+k… Nardo.”
“And now…you want your man to do what to you…” He caressed her neck.
“F+k me.” She whispered.
“F+k you where?”
“My p+xy. F+k my p+xxy like yours, daddy. Make it weep more…. Make me scream and — oh my f+kin gawd!!!”
He was already inside her before she could finish that last sentence, and her head spun, saliva dried in her mouth…her feet watered in her heels as the c+k reached her belly.
She held the railings too despite the handcuffs holding her to it, and he began thrusting.
This wasn’t the last time at the yacht when he took it slow at first.
His thrusts were killing right from the first one, and her p+xy was pulsating, fluttering as she received the poundings.
Her screams filled the air.
He angled her ar$e in a pliant position, ramming into her again.
“F+k! Yes! Babe…yes yes yes!”
“Can’t f+kin stop!”
“Don’t pause! That place! That f+kin place!”
“Harder! Yeah… goddammit faster!”
“Fv?kkk!!!!”
Her cuffs grumbled harder on the railings, and her hair pulled with it inside the web of tangles.
He stretched an hand down, rubbing her c+nt as he slammed deeper, pounding her body against the rails.
“Damn!! Joy…” He groaned, his legs shaking, fingers faster.
“Nardo!” She whispered.
“Yes, mama! Gosh!” He groaned, letting go of her neck.
He squeezed her br+sts, hard till she screamed again, his movements turning brutal she could feel it in her w0mb, hitting and hitting.
He’s about to c+m…she felt it…
The way his movements are now brutal, the way he’s m●@ning too, the way he let go of her neck to switch to her b👀bs. She knows.
“Ahh f+k!!” She screamed, shaking with him as sweat covered them both despite the pouring snow.
“You want me to c+m inside your sweet little p+xy, darling?” He grunted, holding it.
“Please pour! Can’t wait to feel the hotness! Give it to me I’m on the pills!” She shouted, voice seizing.
And she got what she asked immediately.
The hotness. The sweetness. The liquid.
“Damnit! Damn… Joy…. Joy…” He chanted, his body trembling more as he released the shot.
It flushed through her insides, and she had to hold the railings tighter.
He held her body to his own, his c+k still in her as they both caught their breaths, trying to breathe.
They stood in that position for like five minutes, taking in the city air before he uncuffed her.
The cuffs fell on the ground, and her arms went around his neck.
His hands went curved on her waist.
The kiss happened, again.
Hot. Ravenous. Starving.
Tongues slipping, lips licking, m+×ns hitting groans.
They let go reluctantly, then their arms went around each other in a tight affectionate hug.
Her face on his chest, his arms completely around her the way she likes. His chin on her scattered hair.
Their n+ked bodies communicated.
“That was so bad,” she whispered.
“Good bad, or bad bad?” He replied, kissing her hair.
“Good…bad” She looked up.
“Such a tease,” he replied, lifting her up in his arms.
From there, they went to the suite bathroom where they went two more rounds, no kidding.
By the time they came out of the bathroom, she couldn’t walk properly. Too sore.
He had to dress her up, bribe her with sweet tea and honey cookies before taking her to bed for her sleep.
They wore matching pyjamas, and she’s the first to sleep off which he understands.
He did her bad.
He smiled as he stared at her peaceful sleepy face.
Anyone would take her for a gentle, patient woman like this.
He hugged her head to his chest again, covering her totally with the duvet as her arms went around him.
He received a text from Ginny and Tierney, and he checked his phone.
• Done, finally.
“Good,” he muttered.
Another message popped up from the German spies.
• Found Marko’s German ally point. It’s a Governor. He has the evidence of his slush funds, so the governor pledged alliance to him for the sake of keeping his secret.
After reading, he dialled that spy.
“Don’t rat it out yet. If you do, Marko gets suspicious. Wait till tomorrow when the other spies gathers the remaining twelve, then the exposure can happen at once.” He said.
“I understand, Ghost, but the hidden three points? If we don’t get those ones, then even if we destroy the ten known ones, it might be meaningless.” The spy replied.
“I know, but like I said, y’all focus on the ten…the hidden three is mine to find.” Leonardo replied.
“Understood.”
The call ended, and Ivanna peeped out from under the duvet.
“What are you doing without me? Communicating with your spies?” She said sleepily.
“Was thinking I’d tell you my plans by daybreak. I wanted you to sleep.” He replied sincerely.
She sat up immediately.
“Sleep? When you’re disturbed? I’m your official big pet, so don’t dare tell me to sleep when you know you work better with me. I need everything…right now!” She said.
Leonardo narrated the plan, starting from the ally points to the end.
“The more I think I know your granddad, the more confused I get. What the hell is ally point again? And the remaining three is hidden?”
“Yeah,” he got down from the bed.
“I gave your sister and Tierney a task on the points, and they submitted already. Wanna go check together?” He stretched an hand for her.
She immediately took it, and they left the room together, the anklet dancing beautifully on her ankle.
—
[House Of Esposito, Sandra’s Condo]
The guys are here with Bacardi. Everyone literally, except Sandra who’s the owner of the condo herself.
She’s nowhere around, so they intentionally came here to make a mess in he’d absence.
Inside her mini bar, they sat round a table, drinking.
“I still can’t believe you had that huge meat in your mouth earlier, and your throat didn’t tear? Now I know why you’re so hooked on him!” Bobby lamented, downing his full glass of tequila. He looks drunk.
“Can you stop talking my moment with Rob already?” Bacardi scoffed, sliding another glass of tequila over to him on the table.
“It’s not a moment if the three of us were there to watch, live and direct. Dude literally held eyes with us before shoving it down your throat!” Stanley snapped.
“I think I know know why Bob doesn’t like you,” Bacardi pointed a long finger at him.
“Thanks for being on my side, Cardi!” Bobby grinned.
“Seriously, Miss Cardi, that was huge. Accolades.” Nino talked.
“You too? This is so embarrassing,” Bacardi covered her face funnily with an hand, then she took a shot of bitter lemonade and downed it.
“Saturday is the after tommorow, any predictions on how the mission will end? Beginning of the year missions are always tough, hope I won’t die!” Bobby said drunkenly, unwrapping a bubble gum into his mouth.
“Stop saying shit, brother. This won’t be our first beginning of the year mission,” Bacardi cautioned.
“I heard we’ll all be on the roster. Seems Don Thaddeus is determined to bring Monika down this once, can’t wait to see what’s in stock.” Nino nodded, shaking the alcohol in his cup. He hasn’t drank a drop.
Since the positioned tea at the teaparty, he became paranoid about any drink at all.
Even water takes a lot of effort before he drinks.
Stanley nearly talked again, but Robert slid into the house, and they all stood from their chairs.
“D+ckson?” Stanley blinked.
“Rob!” Bacardi gasped.
“The Padrino said I could return to prepare for Saturday’s mission. Couldn’t find any of you in your apartments, so a driver told me y’all are gathered here…I came.” Robert explained, glossing with happiness.
Bacardi rushed to give him a welcoming hug, and he returned the affection immediately, lifting her up and swaying her till she laughed.
“Thought I was free after Ghost and his Whip Huntress, but here’s D+ckson and Cardi.” Stanley sighed.
“It’s Robert, not D+ckson.” Robert corrected, settling with them on the same table.
He sat right beside Cardi, and while they drank with an hand on the table, they held their second hands tightly under the table.
“I’ve decided to start calling you D+ckson, now you’re stuck!” Stanley laughed.
“You’re actually intolerable,” Robert frowned.
“He’s a bî+ch, never takes corrections.” Bobby said.
“Look who’s talking,” Stanley faced him. He’s drunk now too.
Nino was having his time of the night as he stared at them, smiling.
“Gee, are they always like this?” Robert asked him.
“You haven’t even seen anything. Mouse and Cat” Nino laughed.
“Just watch them, it’s more entertaining that way.” Bacardi said.
Then… Sandra entered.
Her eyes widened first, seeing the mess of alcohol bottles and spilled drinks on the ground.
Bottle caps around, there’s even a shattered bottle on the floor.
“What the hell! I had this place cleaned just this afternoon! Why is my Condo the drinking spot? How did y’all even get key card!” She shouted.
“Dang!” Bacardi raised the key card she’s holding.
“You forgot I have your card?”
“Sis!!” Sandra stumped her foot.
“You actually never allow a little mess inside this place you clean freak. Thought Leo was the only freak but you’re actually worse, so we decided to make the mess on your behalf!” Bobby said.
“Stop talking!” Sandra threw her sneaker at him.
He caught it and flung it away.
“I just hate y’all!” Sandra grunted and started calling the cleaning staffs to come for cleaning immediately.
“We hate you too!” Stanley laughed.
“Sorry on their behalf, Sandra.” Robert said.
Nino was quiet.
Sandra expected him to talk like everyone else, but he didn’t.
His voice didn’t come.
She left the bar and went to sit at a chair by the wall.
Straight opposite to Nino’s angle, so their eyes met.
She paused, unable to feel her chest for a second. Then…the heartbeats returned… losing rhythms.
Losing alignment. She was hyperventilating.
Nino didn’t even look away. He made it worse by his continuous staring.
She gulped, and when Nino saw the movement of her throat, he smirked slightly and turned away.
Sandra shut her eyes, cussing herself.
—
[Armando Constructions, 3am]
Lissa didn’t go home.
Since yesterday, she has been here, signing paperwork, reviewing contracts and attending both virtual meetings and zoom meetings with the staffs and contractors.
She surveyed and supervised the model buildings, weeded out the kaxy staffs and replaced site workers who’re slacking off on their register.
Just like Emma suggested, she got herself busy, so she’s only just leaving the office right now.
Emma and Island are behind her, and as they walked to the valet park in silence, Island was smiling to herself.
Secretly, she was rubbing her belly too. There’s nothing stopping this pregnancy, and if it happens, does that mean she’d become Lissa’s stepmother? Too good.
They entered the car, and as usual, Emma and Lissa left her out of their conversation.
“The first mission of the year is on Saturday. Roster isn’t out yet, but according to rumors circulating in the mob, almost all the mobsters with be going. They’re going for Monika this time… It’ll be led by Sir Leo himself, and Don Thaddeus will be the overseer from the shadows.” Emma announced.
“If the mission is a success, the success goes in my father’s name, isn’t it?” Lissa said.
“Exactly, Miss.” Emma replied.
“It’d be a success,” Lissa muttered, winding down to receive fresh air as Emma drive out of the park into the fleeting city.
“But Leo and Stanley are dying in that mission.” Lissa said.
“Absolutely. They have to pay for what they did to you.” Emma replied with a glad smile.
Island reclined on her seat, wondering what bolt loosened in Emma’s head settings.
Lissa killed her whole family in one night and took her in as a lowly maid, and she’s still this loyal?
Stupid. Very stupid.
—
[House Of Esposito, Next Day~General Cyber Hall]
Tierney and Ginny are at work again. There have been no breaks since the day broke. Only food they were allowed to have is burgers.
The pressure is high.
With Leonardo inside the hall with them, they’re both sweating.
Ginny’s fear of Leonardo decreased a lot, but she’s still scared cos if she messes things uo tommorow, then he might just kill her for real.
She’s solving the mathematically illustrated puzzles for the ninth time, and she’s getting it right each time.
As for Tierney, he’s still hacking the puzzle game in form of gilded vaults, and he’s also getting it right everytime, but anytime he gets done, Leonardo says AGAIN.
As he gave directions, he’s also using his earbuds, talking to the spies and interchanging buds as they beep.
So far, the alley points of seven countries have been discovered, left with three now which would surely be discovered before dusk.
Renata entered the hall, smiling innocently when she saw what’s going on on the screens of the youngsters.
“Impressive. When they call you both computer brains, it’s not for jokes, obviously.” She said.
“What are you doing here?” Leonardo queried, not even looking at her.
“Are you still keeping malice cos of the chubby case? It’s nit that deep, Leo. Don’t—”
“Aunt Renata, this isn’t about your weakness anymore.” He cut her off, finally looking at her.
“What’s not about my weakness anymore?”
“My dislike for you is not about your weakness, at this point. There’s just something repulsive that I can’t point out. I dislike your presence, it’s upsetting.” He said flatly.
“What!” Renata acted hurt, tears gathering in her eyes. “But Leo—”
“Leave the hall, I’m busy.” He cut her off, and she nodded, sniffling.
She gave him one last look before leaving the hall.
She did a little walk down the corridor, then she looked at the sky, blinking her eyes twice to make sure her tears don’t fall.
By the time she looked down again, she’s back to her villainous font.
“He’s feeling my darkness that much? That’s not good.” She muttered.
—
[Training Hood]
The roster is out, and as expected, nearly everyone is in the mission, so the hood is full of mobsters who came to warm up against tommorow.
Most are jogging, some doing push ups, some lifting weights.
Ivanna is part of the morning. Leonardo insisted that she should go to his Citadel for her training, but she declined, deciding to come here for Robert’s sake.
She wants to monitor his growth again, and as she did squats, she’s watching him with the side of her eye, and she’s smiling occasionally when he saw he has beat four mobsters in a duel already.
“Go Robert!” She suddenly found herself shouting.
He looked at her, smiling.
“Thank you, big sis!”
“Big sis?” Bacardi and the rest who’re unaware gasped out.
“Will tell you the full story after tommorow,” Robert promised her.
Bobby sat after he finished his warmup, and he opened a bubble gum to throw in his mouth, but Stanley joined him halfway and took the gum, eating it instead.
“Stan!” Bobby spranged up, really angry. He doesn’t joke with his drugs or bubble gum.
“I’m gonna go join Leo at the cafe,” Staley said, chewing nonchalantly like he didn’t just steal the gum.
He left the hood, and Bobby went after him immediately.
“Those two,” Nino sighed, dropping the metal he’s lifting.
He came to sit exactly where Bobby sat earlier, and a bottle of water was instantly placed on his palm.
Looking up, it’s Sandra.
“Noticed you didn’t even drink alcohol yesterday at my Condo. Do you even drink water these days? Still traumatized by the teaparty poisoning?” She said.
He said nothing, so she left the hood.
His eyes went back to the water, and he slowly uncapped, drinking.
He was still drinking when Lissa entered the gym.
As the Don’s daughter, the ordered the exit of everyone else.
There’s a private hood for top mobsters where she can go, but since everyone is here today, she intention came to throw herself around.
As commanded, everyone started leaving the gym.
Ivanna was smiling as she walked past her out of the gym, but Lissa is glaring. A glare that says… Careful, I’d ruin you soon.
Ivanna’s smile didn’t slim out. It’s creepy, dark, unnerving.
Till she left the gym, she kept it up.
Island and Emma walked up to Lissa.
“I badly wanna squash that smile from her face!” Island said.
“Calm down, Betrayer.” Emma said.
Island gave her a sour face.
Lissa was silent. She just started her warmups, with the map of tommorow’s plan in mind.
—
[Padrino’s Office]
While the mission goers are busy warming up and preparing, Thaddeus is here with Marko.
Marko called him for a private meeting, and Thaddeus literally flew here since Penny is in the spa.
Marko didn’t cut through unnecessary detours. He went straight to the point.
Immediately Thaddeus settled in front of him, he inserted the flashdrive containing his bedtime footage with Island into a system.
As it played, Thaddeus’ eyes came wide. He grabbed the laptop, watching closely like it’s not him in that bed. On top of Island … Shagging her like a slave.
“How did this …”
“Get out?” Marko sighed.
With fear ridden eyes, Thaddeus looked up.
“You fail to realize I control this city and thirteen others, Thaddeus. I know of everything going on in your turf. I know of your spies, I know you killed Ferrari so you could become a brigadier, but I played along. Lately, I found out you were behind the Hertfordshire hotel bombing.” Marko narrated dryly.
The laptop dropped from Thaddeus to the table, his eyes widening more.
Marko grinned.
“Seriously, why do you think I’m feared this much? Why do you think they call me the Madman Of Calabria? Why do you think I’ve been undefeatable for years!”
“Padrino…” Thaddeus’ mind scattered, full of wariness and fear for this beastly man in front him.
Seriously what the f+k??
“It’s simple, Thaddeus, I won’t waste your time cos you need warmup for tomorrow too. If I’m gonna ruin your life, I’ll take the Acting Don position from you, tell your wife you impregnated Island and make her file a divorce, then proceed to send you out of the empire like banishment. Then I’ll take Leroy Cooper who’s currently in New York receiving treatment…. I’ll make him the Don and reshape his family… that’d be after killing Ivanna though cos she’s not a Cooper anyways .” Marko narrated, taking Thaddeus on a rigorous mind-wreck journey.
Thaddeus froze. The imagination ran him mad.
“But I won’t do that…yet. If you know your place and stop being jumpy.” Marko said eventually.
Thaddeus went on his knees, bowing completely without words.
Marko smiled evilly.
—
[Crimson Cave, 5pm~ Monika’s Hall]
Alone inside the silent hall, Monika sat on her throne, deep in thoughts, and this time, there are streaks of tears in her eyes.
[28 Yrs Ago, River House]
It’s been two days since Monika gave birth to her baby girl, and thankfully, the baby hasn’t had another attack.
Thanks to the midwife who gave them a lifelong supply of ephedra leaves which they grinded and added the juice to Monika’s n1pples.
That way, the baby sucked the leaf juices with br+st milk.
Monika is doing just that today again. She sat in her relaxation bed in the open room. A pillow is by her back, tilting her as she fed the baby.
They’re yet to name her cos Santos is still unsure of which to pick among the twenty names he prepared.
He’s at the foot of the bed where a piano is, and as he watched his wife breastfeeding their baby, he played gently piano tunes.
He’s a pianist apart from his fisherman hustle.
Monika listened with a pretty smile, and the baby cooed in her bossom.
“When you finish playing that line, can you just pick a name for the baby already? I’m getting impatient, Santos.” She said suddenly.
“Jokes on you, I’ve actually settled for one.” Santos smiled.
“Seriously? Then say it!” Monika said impatiently.
“It’s….” Santos stood, smiling.
But that smile wiped off his face when the resounding sound of a gunshot hit the house.
A bullet pierced his head, directly.
His blood splattered on the piano keys and the bed and the floor.
It splattered on the baby and Monika herself too.
“Santos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Monika screamed, clutching her baby tight as horror hit her in the gut.
As Santos hit the ground, the shooter entered from the side window, and merely seeing her walking steps from the ground he lay on…
“Ve…ra…” He muttered before his eyes closed for death.
The figured is masked, but Monika surely heard when Santos called her Vera. Vera is the name of the woman who also loved Santos but he never loved her back, so why….
Santos even said she got married and gave birth to a child called Leonardo already, so why??
Why is she back to torment them??
Masked Vera aimed for her too, but Monika pressed a button by the wall.
An emergency button which opened an emergency door.
She ran inside, tears pouring from her eyes as she sought to protect her baby at all cost.
But she wasn’t lucky, cos before the emergency door could close, Masked Vera entered too.
Monika was unstoppable, till she arrived at the end of the corridor where she picked up a pen and a dusty paper from a basket.
She eventually changed her mind and picked the basket too.
She lay the baby down and quickly wrote a letter…
She tucked the letter in the small box she found in the basket, and she closed the box.
It locked.
She found a necklace in the box too.
A key necklace, and that was when it hit her.
This is Santo’s old necklace, and the kept pendant opens this small box.
It’s like a keepsake he doesn’t use anymore so he dumped it here.
Monika looped the necklace around the neck of the baby too, then she set her in the clothed basket, placing the small box beside her.
She continued her run out of the emergency corridor, and getting to the river behind the house, she placed the basket on it.
When she made sure the river currents already carried the basket far away enough, she looked back, but she immediately received her own share of bullet immediately from Masked Vera.
Monika got shot on the chest.
—
[Cooper Family House, 7pm]
After enough warmups inside Leonardo’s private gym in his Citadel, Ivanna left the estate and came here for a purpose known to just her.
She stepped into the terrace, picked the door key and opened the front door, stepping into the house.
She didn’t bother turning on the lights. She walked in the darkness like that, and she didn’t stumble for once till she arrived at her room.
She carried a box down from the top of her wardrobe. It’s a box containing her valuables, can only be opened by her own fingerprint.
She opened it, and the only thing inside the box is a smaller box.
Black, old, prehistoric.
She stared at it for a beat, malice glinting in her empty eyes.
Then…she removed her necklace.
Using the key pendant, she opened the box. It slid open easily.
Too easily.
She picked out a folded old letter from inside, and she rubbed the edges with the tip of her fingers.
She has been keeping this since she grew up to know how to read.
According to Erica and Leroy, it was found in the basket with her that day on the river.
A letter, from her real mother.
Ivanna has read it countless times, and now she knows it word for word without even looking, but she opened and letter anyways, reading the short sentence.
• WHEN YOU GROW UP, BABY, FIND LEONARDO ESPOSITO. HIS FAMILY IS THE CAUSE OF OUR PREDICAMENT. TRAP HIM, KILL HIM! I’LL KILL THE MOTHER. IF IT’S DESTINED, WE’LL MEET AGAIN. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, JOY.
Ivanna’s glinting eyes looked up again….more dangerous this time.
She smiled darkly…
“He’s already trapped, mother. Now he’s dying by my hands, tommorow.”
TBC.
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