Natalia's POV I watched in shock as Giovanni walked past me to the kind stranger who looked totally unbothered by his presence. “It’s been a long time Eduardo…It's a miracle you showed up today,” Giovanni shook hands with him, pulling him into a hug. My brows furrowed instantly, so the kind stranger’s name is Eduardo. “I could say the same for you, how have you been?” Eduardo responded blandly. “Great! Have you seen Leandro?” Giovanni asked, scanning his eyes around the tents. Eduardo scoffed, “I'm not Leandro's keeper, Gio,” “You're his right hand man Eduardo, you should know his whereabouts” Giovanni pressed on. “Well I don't. How's that for an answer?” Eduardo didn't wait to get a reply from Giovanni before he strutted to a group of women winking at him. As soon as he had left completely, I pulled Giovanni and snarled the dozen questions I had at him, “what the fuck are you doing here, huh? Did you follow me down here? And how do you even know someone as good as
NATALIA'S POV I screamed as the dogs closed in, their teeth bare and ready to strike. “Annabelle please! I know you hate me but plea….” I yelled, tears had welled up in my eyes as the thought of over a dozen dogs sinking their teeth into me flashed through my mind. Any second from now I would be at the mercy of these huge dogs. Oh god! I tried to scramble to my feet but the dogs were too fast. One of them grabbed my arm with its teeth, and I felt a searing pain as it pulled me back down. I was trapped and everyone seemed to be enjoying it. It was evident in the laughing sniggers I heard including Annabelle's giggles. Every single person gathered was enjoying my moment of terror. Just as all hope seemed lost, Leandro appeared out of nowhere and kicked the dog away from me. He pulled me to my feet and shoved me beside him, facing the men with a fierce determination. I sniffed and held onto him like my life depended on him, going as far as wrapping my arms around him.
Leandro's pov “Keep her locked in her room, she's grounded until I say otherwise,” I said to Rollo without sparing a glance at Natalia whose shoulders had slumped. We were back home and lord fucking knows how angry I was and still am. Saving Natalia from the godfathers was an impulsive action driven by some random instincts I had. But getting to save her and then realizing that Annabelle was the mastermind behind everything icked my balls. What the fuck would have happened if I didn't show up?! “Alright boss,” Rollo nodded, dragging a shocked Natalia up the flight of stairs. I let out a sigh and with faltering steps made my way to Annabelle's room. We needed to talk, this wasn't just about Natalia, that I could tell. Though she might be right about me going all soft on Natalia, a damn mistake caused by the sickening need my cock has for her. But still. It's not enough reason for her to act so callously. Especially in the presence of the godfathers and other reputable guest
NATALIA'S POV“I'm being serious right now, he fucking grounded me when I didn't even do anything!” I screamed into the phone.Here I was, ranting on and on to Desiree, Candy and Jasmine about Leandro and his sham of a sister, Annabelle through a video call.Don't get me wrong, I totally appreciate what he did for me back at the supposed introduction party turned murder attack on my gentle soul, but getting Rollo to lock me up in my room till whenever he said otherwise? Now, that was so not fair!“Hold on, so you mean his sister lied you into attending an introduction party for you, only for you to find out that it was a cartel meeting where the godfathers were present?!” Desiree asked dejectedly. I screamed out a yes before trying for the umpteenth time to unlock the damn door. “Try knocking again, maybe it's just a prank.” Jasmine suggested.I gave an eye roll, prank my ass!With a curt sigh, I placed my phone on the nearest space I found and began raining down knocks on the door
Natalia's pov"See you tomorrow dad." I leaned down and gave my father a gentle kiss on his forehead, his pale skin feeling cool against my lips. His eyes fluttered open, the corners crinkling as he smiled weakly at me. Seeing him so withered and helpless in the stiff hospital bed made my heart clench painfully. "Be safe, my dearest girl," he whispered, his voice a rattling rasp. I squeezed his bony hand lightly, trying to return his smile despite the lump burning in my throat. It's been 6 years since Mom died after an accident and that's when we found out he had stage 4 cancer. "Always dad. I'll spend the night praying for you while on my shift." I responded. Tears stung my eyes as I turned away, not wanting him to see me break down. I couldn't let him know how terrified I was of losing him. I hurried down the stark, overlit corridor, the harsh neon lights exaggerating the hollows under my eyes. The cloying antiseptic smell seemed to cling to my clothes and hair. I needed to ge
Natalia's povWe all turned our heads whipping around to the doorway just to confirm whose voice it was and that's when we saw him. Gio, our selfish and egoistic boss. His cold gaze swept over us appraisingly while his thin combover was slicked back with so much greasy product it looked wet. Speak of the devil. "Alright, that's enough gossiping, ladies," he barked, his trademark rasp somehow cutting through the pumping bass. "Get those tight asses out on the floor. We've got a big whale coming in tonight, and I want my best girls putting on a good show." He spun around and shot me an intense look with a defiant pose that only meant one thing. Fury. “Including you Natalia” he added after he noticed how hesitant I was to put on my mask. Tense silence enveloped us like a mushroom before Gio spoke again. “Don't tell me you won't be working tonight because of that tramp I heard you spill from your mouth minutes ago?” he asked in the iciest tone ever. I breathed deeply before respond
Natalia's pov My steps faltered as I neared him lounging against the bar. Anxiety rolled over me in waves, despite my determination. The weight of his stare pinned me to the floor. And unlike the first time I saw him, I was finally beginning to take in every single detail of his. From his impeccably tailored expensive suit to those rugged yet refined Italian features. Such a striking masculinity that wasn't quite like the rest of the Italian men I've been with, I couldn't help but feel intimidated by his presence. His slanted blue eyes raked over me lazily, seeming to drink in every detail without even looking up from his glass making a shiver ripple through me. 'Get it together. This is just another asshole with money. You've handled worse Nat.' I chanted repeatedly in my head. For a moment, I wavered under his intense stare. Feeling utterly insignificant. Like I could easily be disposed of and no one would blink. This wasn't some drunken frat boy. This was a man who had whatev
Natalia's pov(7 months later)My heart pounded nervously as I slipped through the back door of Voyeur. Even though it was Gio who had called me here, saying he needed to discuss something important, I couldn't shake the feeling of being pulled back into the club's seedy underworld against my better judgement. The thumping bass and raunchy laughter wrapped around me like a vice as I made my way to the dressing room. It’s been seven months now since that fateful night I robbed him blind and vanished without a trace. I had finally hung up my lingeries and quit stripping at the club, using the riches I stole for Gio to pay for my dad's life-saving surgery. For the first time in years, I felt a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders. I was free from the world of stripping and robbing billionaires – an act that I’ve always detested.I entered the dressing room, and was welcomed by the excited shrieks and laughter erupting from my former co-workers as they noticed me. "Oh my god, Nat