STEAMPUNK ROMANCE: An Innovative Clockwork Steampunk World Adventure: The Complete Collection Boxed Set (Mystery Suspense Romance Short Stories)

by Haven, Rose

  There…..I have said it all! Every lie of mine, every half-truth that I’d said….just about everything is out in the open now!

  I am finally relieved of the huge burden that I’d been carrying with me this past one month. Now it is entirely up to Alberto and Mrs. Antoni if they want to believe my story and understand the intention behind my lies. I didn’t want to harm anybody….I just wanted to stay safe for Rio’s sake.

  “Oh cara! I cannot even imagine what all you’ve been through. And the fact that you survived it all on your own at this tender age………I just want to say this Rio of yours is one lucky man to have a sister like you!” Mrs. Antoni says to me with a small smile. She comes to me and gives me a huge hug. I finally let myself go. I cry on her shoulder and I cry hard this time. It’s like all the grief and misery of the past years have finally found an outlet. Mrs. Antoni keeps patting my back while making soothing noises. She doesn’t tell me to stop.

  After I’ve cried to my heart’s content, I finally let go of her shoulder. I look at Alberto a little apprehensively as I am unsure of what I might see in his eyes. I want him to understand me but I don’t want him to pity me. He looks deep in thought when I finally gather the courage to look at him. He’s not even looking at us. I feel my heart sink.

  “I am going to the hospital Mrs. Antoni. Please make sure that Arianna doesn’t leave in the meantime,” he orders. Without so much as giving me a glance, he strides out of the apartment.

  I look at Mrs. Antoni helplessly. I know I have wronged him by hiding the truth but somehow I had hoped that he’d forgive me after listening to my story. After all, I am not some gold digger who is after his money. But the fact that he’s left without saying anything fills my heart with despair.

  “He doesn’t love me anymore, Mrs. Antoni. He hates me,” I wail.

  “No, Arianna. You are wrong. If he hated you, he would have asked you to leave immediately. But he asked you to stay back, right?” Mrs. Antoni consoles me.

  I wipe my tears and wonder why has he gone to the hospital.

  “Which hospital has he gone to? Is he alright?” I am beginning to worry. Mrs. Antoni gives out a small laugh.

  “You’ll come to know cara…..very soon! Until then, go wash your face and try to relax.”

  I am confused at her words but do as she says. I wonder what this mystery is all about! After about an hour or so, the doorbell rings and Mrs. Antoni rushes to open the door.

  As the door opens, I see Alberto holding the hand of a young child…..and that child is none other than RIO!!!!

  Chapter Eight

  Upon seeing me, Rio comes running and wraps his arms around my waist.

  “You know Ary, this gentleman here,” he points at Alberto, “he says that now I get to stay with you. I’ll never have to leave you again, Ary….NEVER!”

  I have not seen him this excited and happy for so many years! I look at Alberto and find him already looking at the both of us, grinning from ear to ear. Oh Jesus! Is this some kind of a dream or actual reality!

  “And you know Ary, that big hospital where I was staying? That hospital belongs to HIM!”

  I am completely dumbstruck by this revelation. I knew Alberto had a kind heart, but I had never imagined him to be a philanthropist. It proves that behind his super successful, ultra-rich, party loving persona lies a compassionate and caring human being.

  Now I start understanding how he found out about my lies. He had probably seen me with Rio at the hospital!

  “Yes, my dear,” says Mrs. Antoni gently. “Now you’ll stay here with your sister. Nobody is going to send you back to the hospital.”

  Rio looks up at me questioningly. When I smile at him, he jumps with joy.

  “Yay!” he literally shouts. And then he notices his surroundings. “Wow Ary, you live here! This house is so huge…..and sooo beautiful! Are we no longer poor Ary?” Then sensing he had probably said something wrong, he snaps his mouth shut.

  Before I can respond, Alberto comes and kneels down before him. “Rio, your sister and I love each other. She has been staying with me and Mrs. Antoni here for the past few days. And now since Doctor Amaro has given you permission to stay with your sister, you’ll be staying here too.”

  “Is this your house?” Rio asks Alberto innocently.

  “Well, it used to be at one point of time. But now it is OUR house!”

  Alberto’s words fill my heart with joy and hope. Once again, tears start threatening to fall from my eyes, but they are tears of happiness this time. Alberto gets up and looks at me straight in the eye.

  “Why didn’t you tell me all this before? You didn’t trust me enough?” There is hurt in his eyes.

  Sensing that we need some privacy, Mrs. Antoni tells Rio, “Come on young man, I’ll show you your new room.” Too excited for words, Rio happily leaves my hand and follows her. I mouth a silent ‘thank you’ to Mrs. Antoni and she nods her head.

  “I wanted to tell you Alberto….I wanted to tell you everything. But I was scared…..scared that you might not understand my situation, scared that I would lose you forever. My life had become worth living after so long and I became a little selfish.”

  “Still Gemma, you knew that I loved you. You could have tried at least,” he says softly. I love it that he calls me Gemma and not Arianna.

  “I tried Alberto. You remember that night when we came back from the party? I really wanted to disclose all secrets that night. But when I was about to tell you the truth, you silenced me with your kiss. I couldn’t think straight after that.”

  He chuckles at this revelation. “Again an honest reply! At least now I know how to silence you and make your mind go numb,” he says teasingly. I blush at his blatant flirting.

  “Alberto!” I slap him playfully on the chest and he takes me in his arms. We both stay like that for a few moments.

  “You know, Gemma….uhhh….is it alright if I call you Gemma and not Arianna?”

  “Actually, I would get offended if you call me anything BUT Gemma!”

  He chuckles again and continues, “I really lost it when I found that you’d been lying to me. I can tolerate anything, but lies….I just can’t stand lies.”

  “I am so sorry, Alberto. I knew I had to tell you the truth sooner or later, but I was just waiting for the right occasion. And there is another thing I want to confess,” I look at him a little apprehensively.

  Chapter Nine

  “Tell me sweetheart. I am listening,” Alberto says calmly.

  “I….I used to make cakes and other dishes that Mrs. Antoni taught me and take them to the hospital for Rio. You remember I used to go to the Chapel so often….well, most of the time, I actually went to the hospital. ”

  “What a terrible thing to do, Gemma! You’ll have to pay for this,” saying so he crushes his mouth against mine. Once again, I am lost in the sweet sensations that he arouses in me. We both kiss each other as if there is no tomorrow. He puts his hand at the small of my back and pulls my body closer to his. I can feel his hard erection pressing against my belly. I want him as badly as he wants me.

  The sound of approaching footsteps brings us back to our senses and we spring apart. Both of us are breathless from the passionate kiss that we’d just shared. Mrs. Antoni notices this and gives me a secret smile. I feel myself blush to the roots of my hair.

  “Ary, I just saw my new bedroom. It is so big!” Rio is still brimming with excitement. He turns towards Alberto and says in a more sober tone, “Thank you, Mr. Graziani. You are a very nice man.”

  “You are most welcome, my dear. And I would prefer if you call me Alberto and not Mr. Graziani,” says Alberto patting his back.

  “Alright, Alberto. You know, I am so glad that Ary loves YOU and not that awful Andrew.”

  I am as shocked at his words as Alberto and Mrs. Antoni.

  “What are you saying Rio?” I ask him. He looks at me sheepishly and replies, “Ary, Andrew and new mama kept telling me that you would marry Andrew one
day. He even told me that you loved him secretly….and I saw him trying to touch you so many times.”

  “Oh God! Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I don’t know….perhaps I didn’t want to hear you confirming what he said. I hated Andrew. He was so mean! I didn’t want you to marry him,” Rio says almost in tears.

  I hug him tight and say, “Forget the past, Rio. Forget all that happened back in Murlo. We have left all those bad memories behind, okay? From now on, everything will be good, I promise.”

  “Yes, Rio. I will make sure you both get all the happiness that you deserve. And as for that Andrew, I will make sure the Polizia gets hold of him as soon as possible,” Alberto says with clenched teeth.

  “Alberto, I think you shouldn’t waste your time and money on that poor excuse for a man. Both of us are happy and safe here and that is all that matters.” I don’t want to involve Alberto in all this. Andrew is a dangerous man and I don’t want Alberto to make enemies with him.

  “I think she is right, Alberto,” adds Mrs. Antoni.

  “No, I cannot live peacefully knowing fully well that he is out somewhere enjoying his life after what he’s done to Gemma. I’ll make sure he has to pay for everything he’s done.” Alberto’s eyes are glistening with rage.

  “What did he do to you, Ary? And why is Mr. Graziani calling you Gemma,” asks Rio, still a little scared.

  “Uh… He…he tried to kill me Rio. That is why we left Murlo in the middle of the night.” I watch as Rio’s eyes go wide with shock. “But relax sweetheart, he no longer knows where we are, so I guess everything is alright now, huh?”

  “And I call her Gemma because that’s the name Mrs. Antoni gave her when she came to our house.” Thankfully, Alberto’s expression has changed from thunderous to a calmer one. “You can call her Gemma too if you like.”

  “No. For me, she’ll always be my Ary,” says Rio and smiles at me.

  “Of course, sweetheart,” I return his smile.

  Chapter Ten

  Life has once again become beautiful. Alberto, Mrs. Antoni, Rio and I….we have all become one small, happy family. Rio is becoming healthier and happier by the day. I have to take him to the hospital occasionally for treatments, but other than that, he’s absolutely fine. Alberto also got him admitted to a good school and he has proved to be a fast learner. I am so happy for my little brother. He’s been through so much at such a tender age that now I want him to enjoy every moment of his life.

  Till now, there has been no information about Andrew. Alberto told me that the Polizia searched for him in Murlo and questioned Sammy too but she had no idea about his whereabouts. He had left Murlo soon after Rio and I escaped from that hellhole.

  As for Alberto and me, we both have fallen hopelessly in love with each other. He can’t seem to keep his hands to himself whenever he is around me. I usually go to sleep with Rio in his room and end up waking in Alberto’s arms. He comes every night and quietly carries me to his room where we make love most of the night. I actually wonder when does this man get some rest. He spends his days in the office and his nights making love to me!

  This particular evening, Alberto comes home early and asks me to accompany him for dinner. I am a little surprised at this sudden plan but quickly change into one of the best dresses I have (Alberto took me shopping one day and filled my wardrobe with all kinds of dresses and shoes).

  Mrs. Antoni helps me style my hair and the way she is helping me get ready, I cannot help but think that they both are up to something again! Anyways, we both bid Mrs. Antoni and Rio goodbye and head out for what I hope would be a lovely evening.

  Alberto takes me to one of the best restaurants in town. Everything in that restaurant, from the furnishings to the décor, screams elegance. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. With light music playing in the background and the dim lighting, it looks extremely cozy and romantic.

  I follow Alberto to a private table at the far end of the luxurious restaurant. The hostess arrives almost immediately once we get seated and asks us what we would like to drink. Alberto orders red wine for himself and iced tea for me. I smile at his choice of drink for me…after all this time, he knows that I hate alcohol.

  “So, now would you bother to tell me what is all this about?” I finally ask Alberto once the hostess leaves.

  “What? Can’t I take you out for a dinner date?” he questions innocently.

  “Oh come on, Alberto. I know there is something going on. I caught you and Mrs. Antoni sharing some kind of coded message.”

  Alberto laughs. “So you’ve been spying on me?”

  “Of course not! I happened to pass by your room when you were saying ‘Mission Accomplished’ to her in a hushed tone!”

  “Just wait bella. You’ll get the answers to all your questions!” he says with a naughty glint in his eyes.

  I am dying with curiosity. I just hope it is a pleasant surprise! I am tired of life throwing terrible surprises my way, so much so that I have begun to detest surprises.

  In a matter of few minutes, one of the waiters approaches us with our drinks. As he serves me my iced tea, some of it accidentally falls on my dress. He immediately backs off and starts apologizing profusely for the mistake. Our hostess for the evening arrives on hearing the commotion and says, “I am extremely sorry on his behalf, Mr. Graziani. He has just recently joined the restaurant and….”

  “It’s perfectly okay,” I tell her. “It was not his fault. I think my hand jerked while he was handing me the drink and that caused the spill.”

  I notice the look on Alberto’s face as I lie to her. He knows that it had been the waiter’s mistake and I was just covering up for him. He smiles at me with love shining bright in his eyes. The waiter and the hostess excuse themselves after apologizing once again.

  “I think I’ll just go to the washroom and clean up a bit. This dress has been ruined,” I lament.

  “Don’t worry sweetheart. I’ll get you a hundred similar dresses if you want.”

  “Do you have any idea how pompous you sound at this moment,” I ask him getting up.

  “Pompous! Well, nobody has ever called me that, I’m sure!” Alberto exclaims.

  “Well then, I shall join you back in a moment, Mr. Pompous.” I hear him chuckle behind my back.

  I head towards the washroom to get myself cleaned up a bit. The washroom is also as sparkling clean as the rest of the restaurant. A decent meal here would cost a fortune, I think to myself.

  Lost in my own thoughts, I start wiping my dress with a damp napkin. When I am satisfied with the result, I turn around to go back to our table where Alberto is waiting for me. I once again try to guess what surprise he has in store for me tonight.

  A familiar, malicious laughter makes me stop in my tracks. I am too scared to see where it is coming from….I am too scared to even move!

  A small movement to the right catches my eye. I see someone coming out from one of the toilets. This is a ladies’ washroom but that ‘someone’ is most definitely not a lady!

  “What did you think, you bitch! You could run away from me? I would’ve found you even if you’d been hiding in hell…”

  THE END

  Italian Billionaire Romance

  If You Need Me

  Book Three

  Rose Haven

  Italian Billionaire Romance: If You Need Me

  Prologue

  Alberto Graziani, one of the richest men in Florence, meets with an accident in which a young girl gets injured. As a result of a grave head injury, she loses her memory. Alberto and Mrs. Antoni, his late mother’s best friend and his only family in the world, decide to keep the girl in their home as long as her memory doesn’t return. Mrs. Antoni even gives the girl a new name - Gemma. As time passes, Alberto gets attracted towards the gentle and kind hearted Gemma and soon they both fall in love with each other.

  Soon after, Alberto finds out that Gemma has been lying to him and Mrs. Antoni about her memory lo
ss. Her real name is Arianna Rizzio and she has a young brother who is being treated at a cancer hospital that was actually started by Alberto in the memory of his mother. He is extremely furious and heartbroken. But when Gemma/Arianna reveals her sordid past that forced her to take such an extreme step, Alberto and Mrs. Antoni understand her plight and forgive her.

  Everything seems perfect for a little while until Arianna is forced to come face-to-face with her painful past. To find out what happens when the darkest chapter of Arianna’s past returns to haunt her, read on…..

  Chapter One - Andrew Dioli

  I have been searching for Arianna for the past six months….since the night she left me to die in Murlo. I have forgiven her for that night….she probably thought I was going to kill her; though I have no idea why she’d think so. I don’t know why she is so scared of me. I love her so much. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. I still remember that day vividly when her good-for-nothing father brought her and Rio to our guesthouse. She was wearing a yellow floral top and a plain white skirt. How beautiful she looked! I had decided that very day that she’d be the girl I’ll marry.

  I don’t know why she keeps hiding from me. This attitude of hers annoys me to no end. I want to marry her and make her my own. But she just doesn’t seem to understand. Instead of coming into my arms, she is living with that Graziani fellow! I can’t explain how angry I was when I saw her picture on the front page of newspaper the other day. She was smiling at that man, standing way too close to him. I could have killed her that moment for betraying me like that! She’d even changed her name from Arianna to Gemma to fool me!