NERO'S GAME

CHAPTER 1: Letting the devil in

Olivia pulled the fresh batch of brownies from the oven and placed it on the counter,before pulling her buzzing phone out from her apron pocket. She smiled when she saw her boyfriend's name on her screen.

"How is the most beautiful girl in the world doing today?" Connor's charming voice made Olivia blush red like a tomato.

"Am doing okay, Connor." She bit her lips shyly.

"How has your sales been going today? Did you get a lot of customers?"

Connor sighed. "It's going as good as it can go, Livie."

He was making ends meet by running the tiny cobbler's punch by the corner.

"Oh Connor! Don't worry, it's going to pick up soon," she encouraged.

"There's something I would like to tell you, Livie."

Olivia pushed off the table she was leaning on. She sensed that he was about to tell her something serious.

"What is it? Is something wrong? Are you alright?" she asked nervously.

"Am okay, love," Connor quickly replied to allay her fears. He knew how worried she could get.

Olivia gently pressed a hand to her thundering chest as she exhaled in relief. Thank God he was safe.

Connor was hesitant to break the news he had to her. He didn't want to lose her, but he knew that at the end, it was her choice.

"I'm leaving."

There was pin drop silence. The noise of the bustling in the cafe was drowned out. Olivia felt like the carpet had been shifted from underneath her feet. Both waited with bated breath, till Olivia's tiny crushed voice broke through the silence.

"Why? Is something wrong?" Don't you like me again? She wanted to add but couldn't find the courage to say it aloud.

Her pained voice tore at Connor's heart. "The shop's not doing well so I have to go back to my hometown," he admitted.

"Okay," she said slowly.

Olivia felt like crying. She was about to lose the only person who made life bearable. Living with her mother was suffocating, and Connor was the only reason she could breathe.

"Come with me," Connor offered, snapping her out of her self pity.

Her eyes widened in surprise.She hadn't expected him to ask her to go with him.

"Please say yes, Livie. I promise to try my best and take care of you. I will work hard and eventually save up enough to buy us a good house, and then we can get married too. Just like we always planned." he promised in a voice that was both pleading and persuasive.

Her jade green eyes lit up. It all sounded so glorious. But what about her education? And also her mother, she couldn't just leave her. Though her mother did not know about her relationship with Connor, and would never approve.

She bit her lips nervously. "Connor, this all sounds so amazing, but-"

She was cut off by the shrill sound of the summoning bell, in the cafe.

"I have to go. I'll talk to you later."

"Hold on, what about your answer?" Connor asked in a voice that was filled with apprehension.

"I promise, we'll talk later, I gotta go."

"But-"

"Bye." Olivia swiftly ended the call and pocketed her phone.

She carried the tray of brownies into the cafe, and was surprised that they had a full house that evening. She approached an agitated waitress.

"I heard the bell, Mel."

"That lousy girl Carol didn't come to work today. She must have run off with her no good boyfriend again," she huffed.

"We are packed today and I need an extra hand." Mel was clearly at the end of her tethers.

"Okay. I'll give you a hand."

"Thank you, Livie."

The bell chimed, and someone entered. The customer was a tall handsome man dressed in dark expensive looking clothes.

"Good evening Sir. Welcome to Sweet Treats," Olivia greeted with a smile.

Piercing grey eyes briefly glanced at her before scanning the room. Olivia had never seen him before. He must be new to the neighbourhood.

"What can I get you,Sir?"

Cold grey eyes settled back on her. "What's your bestselling sweet dessert?" His voice was deep and heavily accented. He was definitely not from around here.

"Our orange vanilla cake. It's our bestseller. It's my recipe, and I can guarantee you that it's good, Sir."

He looked at Olivia for a while, his face as blank as a sheet. She concluded that he must be trying to decide whether he would trust her or not. There was something about him that gave her sudden chills.

"I'll get that, and two cups of coffee. One black, and the other with cream and lots of sugar."

"To go,sir?" Olivia asked, writing down his order.

"Yes."

"Have a seat, Sir, and I will get your order soon.

Olivia dashed into the kitchen, and soon returned with his orders. "Here's your order Sir. That would be fifty dollars."

He wordlessly reached into his pockets and pulled out a crisp hundred dollar note which he handed to her. He quickly left before Olivia could return his change to him. He must be filthy rich to leave his change behind.

Olivia was about to head into her room after the saying the rosary with her mother later that night when sge stopped her.

"Take this. Fill it, and hand it back to me," she instructed stoically. She was never affectionate towards her. She spent all her time praying and doing volunteer work at the church.

Olivia's brows knotted in confusion as she picked up the paper.

"Mom, what is this?"she panicked.

"Why... why are you giving me a form for the convent?" Her voice was shaky with the fear that was quickly spreading in the pit of her stomach.

"Don't act silly, Livie. Fill the form and hand it back to me as soon as possible," she replied dismissively with a hint of irritation.

"No."

Helen's head quickly whipped to Olivia. Eyes wide with shock, before narrowing angrily at her.

"Since when did you start disobeying me? Why don't you want to?" she asked angrily.

Tears spilled out of Olivia's eyes. She always prayed and hoped that one day that her mother would change, but she was wrong.

Olivia shook her head defiantly. "This is not what I want." She needed to start standing up for herself.

"What do you want to do? Do you want to sin against your own body?" she seethed and grabbed Olivia's arm in a painful grip.

"I knew it. You have let the devil in. You daughter of sin. You have begun to sin against your own body, haven't you?" Her eyes were manic and burned with rage as she shook Olivia vigorously. Olivia managed to free herself, and gently pushed Helen aside.

"Stop it, mom. Am tired of you treating me this way. I'm tired of living like this."

Olivia was crying at this point."How long will I continue to hope and wish you would treat me with a little love?"

Helen scoffed. "You're an abomination- a sin, Livie. I didn't get rid of you because it would be a sin before the Lord. You should be grateful. I am doing this for you, so you don't end up like-"

"...like you? I have heard that a lot of times mom. When will you see that you are punishing me, and making my life miserable? Its not my fault i was born of rape." she cried.

Helen's lips quivered and her expression faltered for a second.

"You are going to fill that form, and leave college to enroll in the convent ,Olivia, end of discussion."

"You're going to pray the novena twice to purge your soul from the demon that has possessed you. She looked at Olivia with disgust and disdain,before storming out of the room.

Olivia slumped to the ground and wept her eyes out. She didn't want to become a nun. A soft purr drew her attention to the fat feline furball. Olivia opened her arms and the eager orange cat ran into her arms and curled itself on her lap.

"Lulu, what do I do about mom? I can't do what she's asking of me?"

She suddenly remembered Connor, and quickly reached for her purse. Her sudden movement made the cat fall off her lap and it purred in displeasure, narrowing her large green eyes at her owner.

She dialed Connor's number with shaky hands. She heaved a sigh of relief when he picked up.

"Livie, what's-"

"I decided, Connor. Am coming with you."

CHAPTER 2: I want to take your life

In the middle of a dark, dirty, damp hell hole, that reeked of blood and death, a prisoner was tied up to a chair. One of his eyes was missing from its socket, and the remaining one was almost shut from all the beatings he had received. His only eye widened in shock and fear on seeing the devil enter, all draped in black expensive clothing.

The incomer had a face that was crafted by God himself. His entrancing golden eyes reminded you of the bees nectar, and was framed with long dark lashes that girls would envy. A straight nose and sensual red lips with the perfect cupid's bow, flanked on both sides by dimples that gave him a childlike grace.

But the prisoner knew the devil behind the angelic mask.

"N-n...Nero!"

Nero De Santis.

He began to struggle frantically against the chains that bound his broken body to the chair.

Nero squatted down in front of him and tutted, a look of mocking disapproval on his face.

"Calmati tesoro, ti farai del male," he cooed in a low voice laden with faux concern.

(Calm down, sweetheart. You are going to hurt yourself)

He grabbed his jaw painfully and raised his face. The battered man felt the claws of fear dig into his body and soul, when he looked in the young man's sinister orbs.

Nero sighed softly, as he peered seriously and deeply into his face, like he was critically surveying a puzzle.

"Che casino! They really did a number on you, huh?" he murmured before offering him an apologetic close mouthed smile. Even the smile had the hair on the prisoner's neck standing, his toes curling in dread.

(What a mess!)

"P-p-please...mer-cy."

Nero smiled,displaying dimpled cheeks. He was a sight for sore eyes.

"Patience, dearest. We are yet to have a nice long overdue chat."

He patted the man on his bloodied dirty cheeks, and quickly wiped his hands with disgust. He stood up and walked towards the table that held the array of torture weapons.

"We do have a lot to talk about, si Alonzo?" he turned slowly with a dagger in his hand. Gone was the playfulness and mischief that he displayed earlier.

(Right)

Like a predator about to swallow its prey,Nero advanced slowly towards the man.

"You are quite the rat, aren't you? Hiding out here," he sounded unimpressed.

"You know, i found it quite amusing when you escaped to this country twelve months ago-"

Alonzo's remaining eye widened in shock, making Nero grin animatedly, the mischievous dramatic mercenary was back in play.

"Don't look so surprised. I've always known where you were. What did you take me for? An idiot?!"

Nero rolled his eyes. "Come on, don't cry. You were once the Don of the Italian mafia. Come on, it's embarrassing."

"W-what do... do you want?"

"I want to take your life," he simply responded with calm honesty.

Alonzo was not surprised. Nero was ruthless as he was merciless.That was how he had been able to overthrow him and reclaim his birthright as the Don of the Italian mafia. A position he had stolen after he assassinated his parents when he and his twin were young.

Nero threw the dagger into Alonzo's thigh earning a guttural cry from him. The young capo rolled his eyes, and pushed his inky wavy locks away from his face.

"I think that's enough talking, si? che ne dici?" He asked the howling Alonzo- his head cocked to the side.

(Right? What do you think?)

"Would you stop screaming like a girl? It's a disgrace!" He spat disgustedly as he folded up his sleeves,revealing veiny toned arms, devoid of ink.

"Where is my chip?"

He twisted the dagger, before pushing it deeper into Alonzo's thigh, and he howled louder.

"Where is it?" Nero thundered. Golden eyes shone with rage and mania.

Alonzo had managed to steal an important chip from the billionaire ceo and mafia boss with the help of a mole.

"Speak!"

"I–I do-dont ...know."

Nero smirked.

"Okay, Alonzo. Tell me where my chip is, and I'll let you go," he promised with a charming smile, in a bid to look sincere.

Nero noticed the reaction of his guards and rolled his eyes. Why didn't anyone have some faith in him?

"You-you...would re-really let me g-go?" He asked hopefully. Nero was disgusted at his gullibility and weakness.

"Come on Alonzo, you should have some faith in me."He replied in false sincerity.

"Okay."

He whispered the location weakly to Nero, but he had no reaction at his revelation. At that same moment, a guard pushed a trolley that contained some gloves and scalpel into the room.

Alonzo's only eye widened. He was being played all along by the golden eyed devil.

"You knew all along?"

Nero laughed loudly.

"Of course I knew. Do I look like an idiot to you?"

Alonzo cried in anguish as Nero put on the gloves, and picked up the scalpel. Madness danced in his eyes as he approached Alonzo with the shining metal.

"This might hurt a bit, sweetheart," he warned, and drove the scalpel into the older man's upper abdomen. Alonzo's agonising screens rang loudly into the night.

A few minutes later, Nero stepped out of the building, looking very spick and span. You would never imagine that he had just gutted a man a few minutes ago to retrieve his missing chip.

"Burn it to the ground," he gestured to the building.

"Si capo."

(Okay,capo)

He got into the car and the driver sped off towards his hotel. His mission of coming to America had been taken care of. Damn he was really craving something sweet right now. And where the fuck was Nico?

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"Here's your pastries, capo," Nico said, placing the platter before Nero, who was glaring at him.

"Where have you been, Nico? I was beginning to think that you might be dead in a gutter somewhere," he asked sarcastically.

Nico knew how annoying and irritating the little devil could be, they had grown up together.

Nico swallowed the profanities at the tip of tongue, and said instead. "I was looking for a cafe to get your supply of d–"

Nero's eyes narrowed slowly, golden eyes daring him to complete the word. Nico's stoic grey eyes were as impassive as ever, as he changed his mind about completing that word. He still felt the phantom pain of burning from the last time Nero had made him drink an entire large bottle of hot sauce for calling his snacks- diabetes. That little demon.

"...daily dessert," he completed. That boy always provoked him.

Nero grinned triumphantly, and dug into the orange vanilla cake before him. The delicacy was well received by his palate and he nodded in approval.

"How did it go with Alonzo?" Nico asked, although he knew that it was surely a success.

"I retrieved the chip, and sent him off to the pearly gates."

Nero had a sweet tooth. The little demon was really an enigma. A ruthless mafia boss that did not drink or smoke. He picked his poison and it was sweets, and the other was his shameless womanising, or debauchery as Nico called it.

"You have a zoom meeting with the directors of all the companies tomorrow, so we can roundup and leave for Sicily soon." Nico informed his boss, and Nero merely nodded.

Nico was about to exit the room, when Nero asked. "Where did you get this?"

"A little cafe somewhere around."

"This is awesome," His eyes sparkled with satisfaction like a child that discovered a stash of candies.

The girl had been telling the truth, Nico mused.

"I want some more tomorrow,"he announced, eyes narrowed threateningly at Nico, daring him to object.

God give him patience to deal with this boy.

"Sure, capo."

Nero smiled triumphantly, dimpled cheeks flashing. Nico was about to leave when a guard walked in, and bowed to Nero.

"Buonasera Capo. Miss Marena is here to see you."

(Good evening)

CHAPTER 3: A hell of a ride

"Sul serio , Nero?" [Seriously]

"I don't play games with my business,Marena."

Marena pouted. "I've been here since last night, and you have not given me your full attention," she complained bitterly.

She wanted to shut the damned device and drag him to bed, but she knew that he wouldn't think twice about putting a bullet in her head.

Marena moaned at the sight of him, and what his hands, mouth, and the other part of him that she was obsessed with could be doing to her right now. She had to take action. Thank God, she came prepared. Nero was wild in bed, and had quite the stamina. But when it came to his business, and the mafia- the whore and stud in him disappeared.

Well, not today.

There in the kitchen, with a cold pitcher of pineapple juice in front of her, she poured all the contents of the vial of aphrodisiac,instead of two drops as directed. She couldn't wait to have him go mad and devour her.

Thirty minutes later, Marena stomped out of the suite to join her friend in the club,the pitcher of juice still untouched. If he was going to be a bore, then she was going to catch her fun elsewhere. Maybe when she got back, he would be nice and ready for her.

A little after she left, the golden eyed don filled the glass from the pitcher, and downed the entire contents to quench his thirst, before continuing with his work.

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Olivia needed to hurry and pick up her luggage, and Lulu, before leaving. She was setting the tray of hot orange vanilla cake on the counter when that same stranger from the other day walked in.

Nico's grey eyes scanned the small cafe until he found the girl he was looking for behind the counter. He watched her expression change from recognition to curiosity as he approached her.

"Good afternoon, sir. What would you have today?"

Olivia was supposed to be leaving, but she decided to serve this man before leaving. He did give her a huge tip the other day.

"I want more of the cake you recommended last time."

Olivia smiled. "I told you it was delicious, sir."

"I want you to deliver all the cakes you have to this address."

Olivia was excited, the money realised from the sale of her orange cakes would go a long way to support herself and Connor on their intended flight. She would surely pay her mother back. She would just borrow it for now.

Nico handed some bills to her. "Have it delivered as soon as possible."

Olivia was elated to discover that he had given her another large tip. "I'll have it delivered immediately."

Nico's straight brows furrowed ever so lightly. "I want you to deliver it yourself."

He had an errand to run, and he trusted no one with the don's food and safety, but something about the young girl made him trust her to deliver his boss's food untampered.

Olivia frowned. She really couldn't get all that lucky without sweating a bit for it. Anyways he had indirectly helped her a lot, this much she could do.

"Okay, sir."

She would quickly make the delivery and leave, to meet Connor. Olivia arrived at the Grand Hotel, tired and panting, she had rode her scooter to the address to avoid spending money on uber. Once she mentioned what she was there for, the bulky men in black suits that prowled the hotel, sent her up to the penthouse.

Olivia was curious. Just who was the man at the cafe, and why were there so many guards here?

She was ushered into an opulent penthouse and took a second to admire the exquisite decor and furnishing.

"Hello. Am here to make a delivery from Sweet Treats," she announced, looking around the vast room. She saw the open computer, beside a juice pitcher on the table, someone was definitely here.

She heard the faint sound of a running shower, and eyed the pitcher of chilled juice on the table hungrily. All that driving under the scorching sun had made her thirsty. She would just have a glass to quench her thirst.

Once satisfied, she decided to announce her departure.

"I'd be taking my leave now. I already delivered your parcel," she half yelled hoping that the person in the shower heard her, before she headed for the door.

"Wait,"someone ordered.

Olivia could not see the owner of the gruff male voice she heard. Amidst that, she suddenly felt hot and sweaty despite the chill in the room. There was a warm sensation on her face, chest and private area. Feeling uncomfortable, she pressed her legs together, and her heart began to beat faster.

She was confused, what was happening to her? She subconsciously unbuttoned her sweater and dropped it to the floor, leaving only her tiny strapped sundress. She still couldn't get rid of the uncomfortable heat and tingling.

Nero turned off the shower, and pulled on his sweatpants. This was the fourth time he was jerking off in the last thirty minutes. He was still insanely high on adrenaline, and he was fucking hard, despite the cold showers he had been taking. The girl outside had better be much help than his hands and the cold shower.

He had ordered his guards to send him an escort, after this madness started.

Marena that tramp!

She must be behind this. He clenched his jaw in anger as stepped out of the bathroom. His brain was coming up with depraved ways of punishing her, when he saw the figure in the middle of the room. Long wavy dark hair, slender frame and pale skin.

He stealthily walked up behind her and placed his warm lips in the crook of her inviting slender neck.

Olivia almost jumped out of her skin with fright. She quickly spun around to see the most beautiful man she had ever seen. No offence to Connor. His honey eyes burned with hunger and desire.

"Sir i-"

Nero cut her abruptly. "I don't need you to talk right now, sweetheart. I need you to do something else for me," he drawled as his thumb caressed her plump lips. He imagined all the sinful things he could use those lips for.

Olivia pressed her legs together to ease the sensation that was building there. She did not understand why she was wet between her legs, but the good lord knew that she was innocent. Something was happening to her, and this man was not helping matters. She had to go, Connor was waiting for her.

She unconsciously took a step back, and Nero frowned in disapproval.

"Sir, I think there's a mistake some–"

That's it. He has had enough with the playing around. She was here to serve him, and that was going to happen.

"That's enough, woman," he snapped.

Olivia's olive eyes widened in shock and fear. Nero closed the gap between them, and smashed his lips on hers. She tasted sweet like pineapples and smelt like flowers.

Oliva was shocked. She had never been kissed on the lips before. Connor only gave her cute little chaste kisses on the forehead, which always made her feel warm and safe. She clenched her fists in shock and fear. She wanted to push this man away, but her body was aching and responding to his touch.

Soon her struggles ceased and she melted into his arms. The next thing she felt was soft cool sheets underneath her. Olivia felt a rush of excitement and fear when he ripped her dress in the middle. Connor would be disappointed and broken, but she could not bring herself to stop him or leave, even when he tore her undergarments. It was like her brain and body were not agreeing with each other.

Through eyes glazed with desire, she saw him pull away, and pull down his sweatpants, standing totally naked before her. He hovered above her, his caramel eyes now a smouldering fire.

Olivia gulped deeply. What had she gotten herself into?

"You are in for a hell of a ride, sweetheart," Nero promised in a voice thick with lust and desire.