‘My mother was Carmelo Zanetti’s daughter and my father was the son of another crime family.’It took Elena thirty seconds to work out what he was telling her and if she was aghast, it was not for the reasons he had expected. ‘My word, that old man who died this week was your grandfather and yet you didn’t trust me enough to tell me that. No wonder you were upset last night!’‘Per amor di Dio! I wasn’t upset!’ Andrea launched at her in an immediate denial. ‘He was an evil man and I didn’t know him—we met only once when he was already dying.’Elena saw that being upset fell into the same category as being drunk and in shock in Andrea’s uncompromisingly tough expectations of himself. If he said it wasn’t happening, he could avoid having to acknowledge that he had emotions. She could only imagine how disturbing he must have found that meeting with his grandfather. She would have put her arms round him if she hadn’t known that such obvious sympathy would infuriate him.‘You may have despi
Elena was perplexed by that statement, for it came at her from an unexpected angle. ‘Sorry, what are you saying?’‘Haven’t you seen today’s big story? Listened to the news? Don’t you realise that your boyfriend is Don Carmelo Zanetti’s grandson?’‘Yes, but … this Fiorella lady you mentioned—’‘She was Zanetti’s daughter, but she wasn’t calling herself Santino when I knew her. I only saw Andrea a couple of times when he was a toddler. Fiorella always left him with a babysitter,’ her father informed her. ‘Remember me saying that Andrea put me in mind of someone that day he got hit by the car?’‘Yes.’ Elena was finding it hard to catch her breath and her legs were feeling all wonky. She backed down into the nearest chair. A past connection that close between her family and Andrea’s? How could that be possible?‘He’s got his mother’s eyes. Don’t you see what this means?’Her brain felt as if it were drowning in sludge. ‘What a very small world we live in?’‘You can’t be that naïve. Obviou
‘No, we passed that point long ago. You put me through hell. You kept on trying to dump me—you came to Sardinia of your own free will. You really mean more to me than you think and I am sorry that I gave you the impression that you are just my mistress.’ ‘Blame that on your fatal charm. Or maybe you brainwashed me. And don't even try to fool me into believing that you actually care for me. You don't. I obviously wasn’t clever enough to see that I was just part of your revenge,’ she muttered shakily. ‘You weren’t going to confess either, were you?’ ‘I didn’t want to lose you,’ he bit out thickly. 'I knew that if I told you the truth, you would leave. I knew you would hate me if you discover what I have done. And that kept me from telling you. Trust me, it has been eating me up and I have wanted to come clean to you.' ‘You never had me to lose,’ Ayesha lied, determined not to show her distress. ‘But I can see now that you set out to own me. You don't care about me. You just want to ke
Violet’s tail began to wag and he charged off down the walled garden. When she called him, he ignored her. He had got very wilful since he had been spoilt rotten in Sardinia, she ruminated ruefully. He had also been very restless and excitable. The suspicion that he missed Andrea set her teeth on edge. She attacked another clump of weeds with her hoe.Violet’s wild barking finally made her look up. Her dog was leaping and dancing in frantic welcome round the feet of the very tall, dark male striding across the grass towards her. Andrea, all potent masculinity and sophistication in a designer raincoat and a sleek business suit. As always, he was the living, breathing definition of drop-dead gorgeous. Her heart started thumping. She let go of her hoe and stepped off the soil onto the gravel path.Andrea came to a halt ten feet away. His brilliant dark eyes roved over her in a hungry, all-encompassing appraisal, but there was a combative edge to his stance. ‘I’m not leaving without you,’
‘Yes …’Andrea sprang upright, surprised at the speed of her response but content not to question it. ‘Does that mean you forgive me?’‘Not necessarily … but I will marry you.’ Elena discovered that her teeth were chattering with shock.‘Okay,’ Andrea pronounced, wondering if that dazed look was positive or negative, and then remembering what he had not yet said. ‘I love you … I love you a lot, amata mia.’Dazzled by the enormous sapphire and diamond ring he’d placed on her finger as he confessed his love, Elena lifted startled eyes to his lean, darkly handsome face. ‘You don’t have to say that if you don’t mean it.’Andrea strode forward and caught both her hands in his. Intense tawny eyes claimed hers in a look as possessive and urgent as his hold. ‘I can’t sleep at night without you. When you left Sardinia I thought my life was over. I’ve been in love with you for weeks and weeks without realising it … I really need you to be with me … for ever. ‘Overwhelmed, Elena nodded several
The next morning, Elena signed peacefully in the bliss of love she had found herself in. She couldn't believe that she had hitched a man like Andrea who gave her so much attention and love she thought it was fake. Ever since they began dating, Elena realized that she hadn't for one day experienced any form of sadness or heartache. He was a lover boy through and through and she blessed the day she had agreed to be his girlfriend.''What's that smile on your face?'' Andrea asked, walking in with a towel wrapped around his luscious body.His body was dripping wet and in that moment, Elena had a whole lot of thoughts cradling her head. Dirty thoughts, thoughts that her mother wouldn't be proud of.''Oh nothing.'' she sighed, looking at him in a dream-like state.Andrea, knowing that there was more to what she was saying walked towards her, smiling like a predator would when it was about to catch its prey. Elena screamed, backing away not in fear but from the heated look Andrea gave her.
''Are you serious right now?!'' Andrea barked.''Does it look like i'm joking?'' she asked, standing her ground.There was a very serious look on her face that could only be one of pure determination. She wasn't going to give up on this, not now or ever.''Why are you so bent on following me back home. You need to stay.'' he said.''Why are you so bent on keeping me here.'' she countered.She realized that if he wasn't hiding anything, there was no need for him to be so seretive about all of this.''You want to go with me?'' he asked.''Yes,'' she said, sturbbornly.''Fine! But don't say i didn't warn you.''In that moment, a sliver of fear passed through her and she wasn't quite sure if she had made the right decision. ''Alright.'' she said.He dressed up quickly, stalking outside, leaving her to dress up. Elena followed quickly but before she could get outside, Andrea was already in his car, leaving her behind.It was in that moment that she was grateful she had a car. Quickly, she
For a week now, Elena had been staying in the room in isolation, alone with her thoughts and the fear of something bad happening to her. She didn't know where this was going to go but one thing she was sure about was that Andrea would never allow her to go scot free. Times without number, she had tried to escape, thought about many ways and tricks she could use but all had failed either because she was caught too early or it just wasn't possible.''Damn you Andrea! Damn you!'' she sighed, looking out the window.That was the only means she could use to see the outside world since she had been caught off from all communication. Deep down, she thought about what her parents, most especially her father might be going through. Elena knew she had been here for weeks and she had no doubt that he was worried.''I wish i could talk to him.''She was moved to tears but one thing she had vowed not to do was to cry, especially not in front of her captor. She vowed to be strong till the very end