FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

"I knew it's that bastard Luca even before you tracked that phone number to reach the culprit. Who else will dare to think of hurting my son, Matt?" Alexander asked rhetorically. He knew it the minute he heard about the bounty hunters hurting his son. The Baresi family never stopped conspiring against Alexander. 

Alexander had made two biggest mistakes in his life. He had left Johnathan alive after he ruined his happy family. 

He spared Johnathan's life because Christopher had blackmailed him, and Alexander didn't want to hurt Alastair more than he had already suffered. For the sake of his best friend, he had let Johnathan live.. 

His second mistake was letting Luca Baresi live. Luca's father had begged  Alexander's father to save his son's life for old time's sake.

Even though they were from the mafia world, they had particular rules regarding alliances or the truce they make with others. They wouldn't back off so easily from their word, at least not without a valid reason. But Francesco Carlos had refused to help him because Matteo Baresi's sons dared to touch his family. 

Matteo had begged both the father and son to forgive this one mistake of his sons. When Alexander didn't budge, the older Baresi bartered in an attempt to keep at least one of his sons alive. Alexander was hell-bent on wiping the trace of Baresi's existence, and Matteo knew he would kill his whole family. So he chose to save his youngest son's life instead. 

Alexander could kill his twins Franco and Marco, but in return, he had to spare Luca's life because the young boy had nothing to do with his brothers' conspiracy. Matteo had begged on his knees and pleaded with Alexander to oblige the truce they had signed, and Alexander had shown mercy. He took pity on the older man and agreed to let go of Luca Baresi. 

Luca wanted revenge because Alexander had destroyed their reputation and ruined their position in the mafia world. He had given them a chance to survive but only after making sure they had no power left to stand against him. Baresi' were like measly peasants or more like worthless germs now. They were nothing more than an empty shell surviving on Alexander's mercy. 

"So what do you want me to do, brother?" Mathew asked over the phone, and Alexander sensed the eagerness in his tone. Apart from what the Baresis did with Alexander, Mathew had one more legitimate reason to hate the Baresis. It was Lettica, the girl he had fallen in love with, his first love. 

Mathew was head over heels for Lettica. But it didn't take much longer for him to experience his first heartbreak. He had caught her sleeping with other men. What he didn't know was that she was only using him to extract innermost secrets about Alexander from him to weaken Carlos' power. Mathew was merely a pawn in her game. 

Lettica wanted to find a loophole in the mafia organisations to bring Alexander's empire down. When he found out that she was Luca's mistress, Mathew felt like a fool for falling right into their trap. A heartbroken young man had cursed her and called her names, and he had vowed never to fall in love again. 

He loved her so much that he would have forgiven her for cheating on him. It wouldn't have mattered to him that she was Luca's whore, but it hurt more knowing that Lettica never once returned his feelings. She was Marco Baresi's girlfriend and wanted revenge for his death. Mathew was her gate pass to breach Alexander's security. 

However, Mathew's loyalty lied in Francesco Carlos' family. He would never betray Alexander, no matter what. He quickly came out of that heartbreak stupor. But his heart was never the same. He couldn't trust and love another girl after that. He wanted what Alexander had with Felicity. Mathew could never forgive Lettica for ruining it for him. 

"Let him live, Matt," Alexander said. Mathew was confused at what Alexander said. He thought he would get his permission to kill Luca Baresi, but he wasn't expecting Alexander to extend the bastard's lifespan. 

"Sometimes, it's fun to watch our enemies squirm under our scrutiny. Just imagine, Matt, what he must be going through thinking that I already know he tried to kill my son. Let him lose his sleep and peace with this fear of losing his life.  I know it's as easy as snapping fingers for you to kill Luca, but I want him to live to see my son ruling our world. I want him to know what he has messed with and how capable my son is," Alexander said. 

Mathew tried to convince him otherwise, but Alexander didn't change his mind. He wanted to give his boy a chance to decide. After all, his son was the one Luca tried to kill. So Alexander thought it's only fair if he gave him the power to choose how to punish Luca for daring to touch him. 

"It's time for my boy to take reins into his hands anyway. All you've to do is stay by his side in my absence," Mathew heard Alexander say, and he had no choice but to accept his chief's command. 

Luca and Johnathan were lucky because Alexander wouldn't kill them until he retrieves his daughter. He didn't want to risk his chance by killing them early. Only Sebastian knew baby Hera's exact location, and Alexander never doubted his loyalty. He knew his daughter was alive and safe somewhere. 

He had searched every corner of Cuba and California but couldn't achieve his desired outcomes. If they could keep Hera out of his reach, then it meant only one thing. Whoever had his daughter was either Sebastian's loyal friend or Johnathan's. 

At least, Hera was not in Greece, and Christopher was unaware of her location. Alexander was grateful for that. She would be safe until that vile King learns about her existence. 

Alexander knew for sure that Luca didn't know about Hera, but he couldn't say the same for Matteo Baresi. Revenge could make anyone lose their sanity. 

Alexander slid his phone into his pocket and went in search of his wife. It was time to go to bed, and she was nowhere around. He didn't have to think much to guess where he could find her. 

As he expected, she was in the small nursery he had built for baby Hera years ago. He opened the door to the ash grey walls with a white ceiling. Nothing had changed over the years. Everything in the room stayed as it was when his daughter used to sleep in there. White framed photographs adorned the wall above the traditional dresser, and Felicity had chosen the whimsical pendant light. 

The ceiling-high linen curtains matched the grey walls. The pink and white, spill-proof material covered the stylish, ageless, multi-purpose bed. There was a small chest to tuck away the essentials. The little floating shelf library on the other side of the bed displayed the bedtime storybooks. Even the basket and bin stayed intact in their place. 

Alexander looked at the empty crib and remembered how he had painted the cream coloured wooden crib into black. Felicity had fought over his choice of colour and chose the white rocking chair that sat next to the crib. The cheerful gallery wall, the floating shelves and the plush animal mount brought tears into Alexander's eyes. 

In the middle of everything, he found his wife on the floor, sitting sideways with photo albums scattered around her. Tenderly, her fingers caressed the photo, and Alexander knew she was lost deep in her thoughts. 

ON THE OTHER SIDE IN LONDON,

Hunter hissed again for the ninth time as Hera kept torturing the soft skin under his neck. She wasn't making hickeys as he thought she would. Hera was biting harshly to force him to do her bidding. 

"Show me my gift, or you'll never get to leave this room, Mr Hunter," Hera asked, threatening him for the fourth time. She wanted to see her birthday gift, but Hunter was not letting her. "It's called the birthday gift for a reason, Mrs Hunter, and it's not your birthday today," he snapped, shoving her away from him. 

"Last chance, Hunter, show me, or you're going to die," Hera said, wiggling her fingers, ready to tickle him to death. Annoyed at her silly antics, Hunter groaned. "There's no gift. I haven't finalised it yet," he said, scowling at her. 

"Okay, fine. Then I won't show you my dress. It's only fair," Hera said and lifted her eyebrows to show him attitude. "No, it hardly counts as tit for tat. Let me think of something else," Hera muttered and thought for a few seconds. Then she smiled cunningly at Hunter. "We won't kiss until my birthday," she declared smugly. 

Hunter scoffed in return. 

"Huh, jokes on you, Goddess. You can't stay without kissing me for more than twenty minutes when I'm in front of your eyes," he said, daring her to stick to her decision. Hera glared at him while he smiled charmingly.