VALERIO “What are you talking about?” I frowned, as I tried to keep my wolf in check who seemed to be excited at that statement alone.“Don’t pretend you didn’t hear me the first time, Valerio.” He cleared his throat and watched me carefully.“I know why the three of you are crazy over her. Wanting to protect her as the thing goes…”he gestured with his hand as if the situation he talked about irritated him.I pressed my lips together and rested back on the cushion trying to look guilty for pretending, as I shifted my gaze to my side and absentmindedly took my hand to my mouth, one of my fingers tucked in.“It’s because you all are mated to her.” He dropped as I shifted my gaze back to him.“And you don’t see any reason to stop messing with us?” I asked, not realizing how absurd that question sounded. Of course she can’t be with the three of us at the same time.“I mean, Valentino”. I felt guilt wash over me as if I was a man trying to take another person’s woman when he is fighting f
VALERIO“I don’t know… I…” I started to brush my hands through my hair, hating the fact I was considering this in the first place.“You know,” my grandfather's voice cut in again, like a tempter, determined to get me in her web. It was erratic and unrepentant.“Don’t think about any other thing, Valerio. We both know how much being with Rose makes you happy,” he started to shake his head. “Don’t deceive yourself. You will never be truly happy seeing her with your brother. You will want her till you die. Every day… night… your heart will twinge in regret that you lost an opportunity like this.” He stopped talking in that non-stop manner that did justice in trying to push me to the edge.“Just say yes,” he said again after a long pause. “The others will understand,” he said again.“What are you doing?” A third-party voice cut into the conversation as we all turned to find Vicente halfway on the stairs, staring at us like he caught us doing something bad.“Vicente…” I called almost in a
ROSEAs I sat on the cold bare floor of the jail, my head placed on my crouched legs, the other activity going on around me was nothing. I just couldn’t hear. Or maybe I refused to listen to anything that was going on around me.Even the talks between her inmate. In summary, it was as if I was both there and not.“Rose!” The sharp voice of the the warden thag always patrol their cell area cut into her ears and she knew better than to keep sitting there like that without acknowledging the older woman’s call.She raised her head and stood up abruptly as she unintentionally rubbed her hands on the orange ugly looking gown they wore in the cell, as he we eyes met the woman’s.“Yes.” I said barely in an audibe tone.“You have a visitor.” She said as the sound of the padlock persisted, while the woman unlocked it.“A visitor?” I blinked. For the last few weeks that I’ve been locked here, it was as if I have been cut off from the outside world, the one that hurts the most was not knowing wh
ROSE“What—what are you talking about?” I stuttered, completely confused, as I tried hard to comprehend what he was saying.“I made a deal with grandfather,” he said, and my brow creased in confusion.“In return for your freedom, we will be allowed to leave here,” he continued, and it felt like he lacked emotions at that point, as I stared at him. He looked completely different from the Valerio I knew—the one with that soft look that always comforted me. I was trying to find it.“Are you making any sense right now?” I asked with an incredulous chuckle.“No…” He shook his head. “No, I’m not,” he admitted, and I watched him in utter disbelief.“I’m not being rational because I can only think about you at this moment, Rose,” he confessed as I started to shake my head.“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said, trying not to break into tears again.“Inasmuch as I can’t question when you haven’t been here to see for the past few weeks, this sudden proposition seems totally absurd,” I stated, desperate
ROSEAs he rubbed my nipples, he moved his mouth to mine, kissing me with great finesse. God, he was such a good kisser. I wanted to resist, but I found myself doing the complete opposite. When he finally broke the kiss, we were both panting heavily, and he stared down at me, his eyes filled with deep passion.“You still want me the same way I do, Rose. Let’s not fight this, ugh?” he murmured, moving his mouth to my lips and teasingly rubbing it.“But—”“No buts,” he smoothly shushed me, and I found myself listening. He kissed me. “We aren’t doing anything wrong. You are my mate,” he cajoled.“And Valentino,” I replied with dreamy eyes, and I could swear I saw a hint of pain in his eyes at that statement.“We shouldn’t do this to him,” I said, almost in a pleading tone, as if the web he had wrapped me in was the only thing that could free me. It was useless trying to fight it.“Valentino is in the hospital because of us,” he held my face with his two hands, raising it up to look at hi
ROSE“Are you okay?” Valerio’s voice cut into my thought as I stared out of the window, as the sleek Bentley I was led into few minutes ago after coming out of prison as it drove along the street of Italy. And it seemed like a doom day to me as the clock ticked.I knew he was waiting for an answer but I didn’t reply.“Ignoring me like this won’t help any of us. You should try to understand me, Rose.” He said again and I heard him sigh as if this was all forced on him.“Rose…”He started again but it seemed the more he talked, the more irritated I felt.But then when he placed his hand on my arm….the sizzling feeling I felt for that brief moment as the thought of how I enjoyed the kissing back in that room came to me.“Talk to me….please.” He said softly as within me became so hot that I felt I was in a boiling water.I was caught in between my anger for him and wild desire.“Would you tell the driver to stop if I ask you to?” I turned to look at him as he removed his hand from mine slo
VALERIO "Do you expect me to repeat myself?" I snapped, completely irritated. I already regretted allowing Rose here and felt increasingly impatient with these men causing a delay.For some unknown reason, I felt compelled to make this work for Rose, especially with the way she fidgeted beside me. It was as if another voice inside me advised playing the good guy."Sir, we have strict instructions from the chairman not to allow anyone into this room," the one on the right said with an unsure look, hinting at his fear. Idiot, I thought."I am his brother. Do I need to write it on my face for you to see?" I retorted dangerously."Maybe we should go back, Valerio. The chairman was very specific..." she began to say."Stay," I cut her off sternly. "I won’t have some annoying lackey dictate when I can see my own brother. Besides, this isn’t just about you meeting him anymore. I want to see him myself." I turned back to them. "Move," I commanded curtly."We are sorry, young master," they bo
VALERIO "What did you just say?" My grandfather growled at me.I felt Rose's gaze on me, though I wasn't looking at her. I could sense her shock."Yeah," I said firmly, meeting his eyes. "She's carrying your great-grandchild."His face turned from red to outraged. "How is that possible?" he roared angrily, but I stood my ground."Valerio," murmured Rose beside me, sounding like a child asked to stay quiet during an important conversation."There's no need to hide it, Rose," I said, giving her a knowing look, which left her confused."But I'm not--""How is she pregnant by Valentino?" I turned to my raging grandfather. I was committed to playing this role perfectly until the end. It was Plan B and our last resort, so it had to work."Oh... how did she get pregnant by Valentino?" I crossed my arms, pretending to contemplate deeply. "Here's how the process goes... they both..." I glanced briefly at Rose and the unconscious Valentino, then back to my grandfather. "Get intimate, you know,