In a world full of high crime, honor and duty seem to fall suspiciously high on Natalia Rivera's list of needs. When she meets Prime Accardo, all of the pieces appear to fall in place.
TW- This book contains themes of torture and kidnapping/abducti...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Maybe Prime: Hey, it's Prime. Just checking to make sure you got home safe. today 2:17 am
Me: Yeah, thanks. Genuinely. today 12:03 pm
Maybe Prime: Oh finally, she responds. I was starting to think you'd gotten out of the car and fallen into a canal. today 12:04 pm
contact saved as "Prime"
Me: I'm going to assume you're attacking Avox and not me. You should really have more faith in him. today 12:04 pm
Prime: Well, you'd be assuming wrong then. How much do you even remember? today 12:05 pm
Me: Everything after karaoke is a bit fuzzy, so I missed most of our conversation lol today 12:05 pm
Prime: Lol? today 12:17
Me: is that a problem? today 12:20
Me: Did you get hit by a truck or something? Or is my 'lol' to hip for you. today 12:49
Prime: I'm in a meeting- also you seem very formal. I didn't expect it from you. Does my absence upset you? today 12:50
Me: I'm not saying that it does. However. What would you do if it did? today 12:50
Prime: Well, not that it does, but if it did, I would send you my meeting schedule. So you wouldn't need to worry. today 12:51
Prime: Actually, someone with a status as high as yours, should have the schedule anyways. Just as a precaution. today 12:51
Me: Sounds reasonable. today 12:52
Prime: This is what I mean about the formal texts, for the record. today 12:52
I locked my phone.
I was a little hungover, the texts made me feel bubbly inside. All I could think of was that night.
The way his hand felt in mine, the way the sunlight reflected off of his hair, and then later the moonlight.
I'd thought about that night too much, especially how his hand rough hand felt on my back, where it touched the small slit of bare skin. I often wondered what it would feel like if the thin fabric of my dress wasn't there. If we weren't dancing at a wedding and he was with me in my-
"Natalia!" My mother yelled from the kitchen.
I stood up and pulled on a shirt. I hadn't left my room since Avox deposited me here last night.
"Yeah?" My voice was harsh.
Aniya, Avox and my mother were standing in the kitchen looking at me expectedly. I wanted to scream.
"Giulia!" I gasped pushing past my siblings, I yanked the two year old from my brother-in-law and she snuggled into me.
"Way to change the subject Nat." Avox chuckled.
"Will you shut up A? You know she'll tell you everything about this later anyways." Aniya grumbled reaching for a cookie.
I reached for one but my mom slapped my hand away.
"You don't get anything until you tell us about last night." She smirked.
Aniya taunted me with hers. "They're fresh."
"Mom, I honestly have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, sorry Natalia, Aniya came home last night talking about it, I didn't realize you wanted to keep it a secret." Emilio looked genuinely sorry. I guess I could forgive him.
I rolled my eyes. "Aniya could barely stand last night. How do you know you can believe her?"
"Oh, we can't. But he was standing with you when I picked you up last night. Or did you forget about that?" Avox smiled at me.
I reached for the cookies again, my mom grabbed the plate and pulled it out it my reach. I glared at her.
"Give her the damn cookie Maria, if she doesn't want to share she won't." My dad interjected, a proud smile on his face.
"Fine then, Avox, when are you going to find a suitable woman?" My mother redirected her attention to him.
My poor brother. My stupid family's ideals. He'd been dating the same man for years now. My parents could never find out, I didn't dare thing about what might happen. Not only to Noah, who had become a very close friend of mine over the years, but also to Avox. Noah was his world.
Avox was simply out of excuses, I had to step in.
"Okay, okay, don't pester him. I'll spill." I sighed.
