Chapter: Epilogue 2 Matteo/SalvatoreMatteoFamily days like this are supposed to feel easy. Sunlight. Laughter. Kids running wild in the garden. Mama and Nonna arguing over who gets to hold Luca next. Ciara leaning into me like she was made for my arms. And it is easy. Mostly. Except for the part of me that keeps glancing toward the driveway.Salvatore should’ve been here by now. He didn’t fly in with Kat and Wolf. He didn’t send a text saying he landed. He didn’t even answer when I called this morning. The last time I saw him in person was months ago, before Luca was born, before Christmas, before Juan started stirring up trouble again.We talk on the phone, sure. But that’s not the same. And lately… he’s been different. Shorter calls. Longer silences.A tone in his voice I haven’t heard since we were teenagers and he was hiding something he didn’t know how to explain.Juan is part of it, I know that much. The bastard has been pushing into Kansas City again, trying to take advantage of the chaos Hector and Isolde left b
Last Updated: 2026-03-22
Chapter: Epilogue 1 CiaraA year changes everything. The villa is alive in a way it hasn’t been since last year when I first arrived, doors open, sunlight pouring in, voices echoing through the halls. The smell of rosemary, lemon, and fresh bread drifts from the kitchen, mixing with the sound of laughter from the garden.I stand on the balcony with Luca Cillian Ricci tucked against my chest, his tiny fist curled in my dress. He’s three months old now, all dark curls and Matteo’s serious eyes. He’s quiet, observant, always watching the world like he’s already trying to figure out where he fits in it. Below us, the chaos of family unfolds. Matteo and Wolf are “playing” soccer with Jace and Koda, though really, they’re letting Koda win. Jace, now sixteen and all legs and attitude, pretends he’s too cool to care, but he still laughs every time Koda steals the ball from him.Koda shrieks, “I scored! I scored!”Matteo clutches his chest dramatically. “He’s unstoppable!”Wolf falls to his knees. “We’ve been defeated
Last Updated: 2026-03-21
Chapter: Chapter 100 MatteoI never thought getting ready for my wedding would feel like this. Not rushed. Not chaotic. Not like I was being shoved into a suit by half the family. Just… steady. Like the world had finally stopped spinning long enough for me to breathe.Wolf was fixing his tie in the mirror, muttering under his breath about how Kat was going to cry the second she saw Koda walk down the aisle. Salvatore was sitting on the edge of the bed, rolling his cuffs, pretending he wasn’t watching me out of the corner of his eye. I caught his reflection. He smiled. But it didn’t reach his eyes.Wolf clapped me on the shoulder. “You ready, Ricci?”“More than ready,” I said. And I meant it. “I’m marrying Ciara. And we’ve got a baby on the way.”Wolf grinned. “You deserve this, brother.”Salvatore’s smile tightened.That was the moment I knew something was off.I sat beside him. “Alright. What’s going on?”He blinked, surprised. “Nothing. I’m happy for you.”“Sal,” I said quietly. “Talk to me.”He looked down at
Last Updated: 2026-03-21
Chapter: Chapter 99 CiaraI never thought getting ready for my wedding would feel like this. Not rushed. Not chaotic. Not full of nerves. Just… full. Full of everything that’s happened. Everything I’ve survived. Everything I’m about to step into.Kat’s room is warm, sunlight spilling across the bed where my dress hangs. The air smells like hairspray and perfume and the faintest hint of Mama Red’s cooking drifting in from the kitchen. Laughter echoes down the hall, Koda’s, probably and for the first time in days, it doesn’t make my chest tighten. I’m safe. I’m loved. I’m here. And I’m getting married in the backyard of the LOV clubhouse.If someone had told me that a year ago, I would’ve laughed in their face.GreenLee is pinning my hair back, her fingers gentle, steady, practiced. She hasn’t said much, not about the shed, not about Isolde, not about anything that happened yesterday. But she doesn’t have to. Her presence is enough. Her calm is enough.Nonna Ricci sits on the edge of the bed, humming softly whil
Last Updated: 2026-03-20
Chapter: Chapter 98 MatteoThe walk back to the clubhouse felt longer than it should have. Maybe because the cold air was finally wearing off. Maybe because the weight of everything, Ciara’s pregnancy, Hector’s end, Mama’s toll was settling into my bones.Or maybe because all I wanted was to see her. The moment I stepped inside, the warmth hit me first. Then the sound.Laughter. Soft. Small. Familiar.I followed it down the hall and into the common room. And there they were. Ciara curled up on the couch, Kat sat on her other side, legs crossed, eyes on the screen. Declan was in the recliner, arms folded, pretending to watch the movie but really watching Sean.And Sean… he sat on the floor beside Koda, stiff at first, but Koda had already leaned against him like he’d known him forever.A cartoon played on the TV, bright colors, silly voices something about a talking dog and a spaceship. The kind of movie that didn’t belong anywhere near the world we’d just walked out of.But maybe that was the point.Ciara looke
Last Updated: 2026-03-20
Chapter: Chapter 97 Isolde/GreenLeeCold air. Concrete. Silence.That’s all I feel at first. Then the door closes behind Matteo and the others, and something inside me breaks loose, panic, sharp and choking, clawing up my throat. I’m alone. No...worse. I’m alone with them.GreenLee steps forward, calm as a still lake, wiping her hands on a towel like she’s about to start baking instead of… whatever this is. The other two women flank her, quiet, steady, their faces unreadable. Luca stays too, arms crossed, eyes hard. I don’t understand why he’s here. I don’t understand any of this.“W‑what are you doing?” My voice cracks. “Where’s Sean? Where’s...”GreenLee tilts her head, studying me like I’m something under glass.“Matteo has other things to focus on,” she says softly. “His woman. His child. My grandchild.”The word hits me like a punch. Child. Ciara is pregnant. My stomach drops, my breath stutters. My heart slams against my ribs so hard it hurts.“No,” I whisper. “No, she’s not...she can’t be...”“She is,” GreenLee sa
Last Updated: 2026-03-19
Chapter: Epilogue IV (Katrina)They think I’m broken.Liam watches me like I’m a trophy he’s cracked. His uncle calls me “the Ricci girl” like I’m some cursed relic. They think the bruises, the silence, the locked doors mean they’ve won.Let them.Let them believe I’m shattered. That I’ve forgotten who I am. That I’ve traded my name for survival.Because I am surviving. Every breath, every quiet step through this gilded prison, every time I bite my tongue instead of screaming—I’m surviving. And I’m learning.Liam doesn’t sell me like the others. Says I’m “his.” But he treats me like inventory. Like something to control, to parade, to punish. He wants me to forget I’m a Ricci. Wants me to forget I’m GreenLee’s daughter. Luca’s blood. Wants me to forget I was raised in fire.Flashback:They didn’t understand.Not Papa. Not Matteo. Not Salvatore.They saw Liam and saw danger. I saw him and saw freedom.“He’s not one of us,” Matteo said, voice sharp like he was trying to cut Liam out of me.“He’s hiding something,” Sal
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: Epilogue III (Salvatore)They handed me the keys like it was a favor. Like taking over the Bruno family was some kind of honor. It wasn’t. It was a cleanup job. Uncle Sal left behind a legacy soaked in blood and bad deals, and I was the poor bastard with the mop.Kansas City fits me. It’s got teeth. The kind of place where people smile with their mouths and lie with their eyes. I don’t mind. I’ve got my own brand of honesty—numbers, leverage, and the kind of silence that makes men nervous.Matteo and I came out of the womb in sync, but we split somewhere along the way. He went diplomatic. I went direct. He plays chess in candlelit rooms. I play poker with men who carry knives in their boots. Doesn’t mean I don’t love him. Just means I know what game I’m playing.The Lords of Valhalla MC trust me because I don’t pretend. I don’t flinch. I don’t ask questions I already know the answers to. Jasper’s got its own rhythm—steel, leather, and loyalty that doesn’t need words. We run guns because it keeps the peace. An
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: Epilogue II (Matteo)I came into this world sixty seconds before my brother—just a minute, but it’s a minute that shaped everything. My father, Luca Ricci, always said it was fate. My mother, GreenLee, preferred to think of it as destiny. Either way, from the moment I drew my first breath, the weight of the Ricci name settled around my shoulders.Salvatore and I have always been mirror images: both tall, both tan, both inheriting the strength of two empires. But if you look close, you’ll see the difference. My hair is black as midnight, just like my father’s—unmistakable, a mark of the Ricci line. Salvatore’s is a blend, streaked with hints of red that catch the sun, a living reminder of our mother’s Kansas City fire. People used to mix us up, but never for long. I carry my legacy on top of my head; Salvatore wears his on his brow.Growing up in the Ricci estate felt like living in a gilded cage. Every lesson, every glance, every whispered promise was meant to mold me into the next Don. There was no room
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: Epilogue (GreenLee/Luca)GreenLeeFive years ago, I was surviving. Now, I’m watching my sons chase balloons across a backyard filled with laughter—and I’m finally breathing.Matteo and Salvatore are five today. Five candles. Five years of becoming. Not just for them—for all of us.Rob and Gabby are married now, expecting their first baby. She glows like someone who’s finally safe.John and Hannah are on baby number three—a boy this time. I think he’ll be the one to teach John how to slow down and listen.Sal and Lori have been married four years. Still dancing like they’re the only ones in the room.Gio and Gina—twins already, and another baby due any day. Their house is chaos, but it’s the kind that sings.Luca’s parents are finally enjoying retirement, even if Papa insists on flying to Missouri once a month to “check on Sal.” We all know it’s just his excuse to stay close to the noise he loves.Tosha and Toni are on baby number three.Talia’s eight now, and she’s already the kind of big sister who makes spac
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: Chapter 73 (Luca)They all saw joy. I saw responsibility.Metteo Alessio Ricci. Salvatore Luca Ricci.Two names. Two boys. Two futures I’d die to protect.GreenLee looked at me like I’d given her the world. Truth is, she gave me mine. I held Metteo first, felt the weight of my grandfather’s name settle into my arms like a vow. Defender. That’s what Alessio means. I’d never understood it until now.Then Salvatore. Her uncle’s name. My own. That one hit harder. Legacy isn’t just about blood—it’s about choice. And GreenLee chose me. Chose us.The room was still buzzing, but I was somewhere else. Back in the alley behind Nonna’s bakery, where Gio and I first learned how to throw a punch. Back in the chapel where I swore I’d never let this life touch the people I loved.Now I had two sons. And a woman who trusted me to keep them safe.The villa was full—of noise, of love, of people who’d survived too much and still showed up. GreenLee was upstairs with the boys, finally asleep. I’d checked twice. Maybe thre
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: Chapter 72 (GreenLee)I thought I knew what pain was. I’ve worn it like silk, stitched it into every smile I’ve ever faked. But this—this was different. This was raw and holy and loud.Luca’s hand was wrapped around mine, steady. He didn’t speak much, just watched me like I was something sacred. Not fragile. Not broken. Just… becoming.The nurse said it was time. I nodded, even though I wasn’t ready. Who ever is?The first cry came fast. A boy. My boy. They placed him on my chest, and I swear I felt the world shift. He was warm and real and mine. I cried like I hadn’t in years—like something inside me cracked open and let the light in.Luca kissed my forehead. “He’s perfect,” he whispered.But the nurse didn’t move away.“There’s another,” she said.I blinked. “Another what?”“Another baby.”I stared at her. At Luca. At the boy in my arms. My heart stuttered.Twins.They’d hidden each other. Every ultrasound, every test. One curled behind the other like a secret. Like a shadow.The second cry was softer. S
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: Epilogue 4 Kat/WolfFive Years LaterThe clubhouse smelled of pine and cinnamon, the tree glittering in the corner with ornaments the kids had hung themselves. Wrapping paper crinkled underfoot, laughter echoing off the walls, and for a moment I just stood there, soaking it all in. My family. My home. My miracle.The door swung open, letting in a rush of cold air and snowflakes. Jace stepped inside, taller now, his shoulders broader, his stride confident. College had changed him — MSSU had given him independence, maturity — but when Koda barreled into him, squealing, “Bubba!” he laughed the same boyish laugh I remembered from years ago.Rollo bounded after them, tail wagging, barking like he’d been waiting all semester for this reunion. Jace crouched, ruffling Koda’s hair, then scooped Liviana into his arms as she clung to his leg.“Bubba!” Liviana squealed, her curls bouncing, her little voice full of joy. At four, she was all mischief and sweetness, her Viking‑Italian spirit shining in every grin. Her
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Epilogue 3 KatThe mall was buzzing with Christmas lights and the hum of carols, but all I could hear was Koda’s little laugh as Wolf lifted him onto Santa’s lap. His eyes were wide, not scared, just curious — the kind of look only a child who’s seen too much but still believes in magic can carry.Santa leaned down, his voice gentle. “What would you like for Christmas, young man?”Koda froze. His small hands twisted in his shirt, and he looked back at me, then at Wolf, then at Jace standing proudly beside us. Finally, he whispered, “I already got everything I want. My mama. My daddy. My bubba. They saved me from the bad man.”My heart clenched. Wolf’s arm slid around my waist, grounding me. Santa smiled, but pressed softly, “Is there something else? Something special?”Koda thought hard, his brow furrowed in that way that made him look so much like Wolf. Then, with a spark of mischief, he said, “A real wolf.”Wolf chuckled low, the sound rumbling through me. Santa laughed too, promising to see what
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Epilogue 2 WolfThe Clubhouse had never smelled like this before. Usually it was leather, smoke, and steel—our kind of perfume. Tonight, though, it was roasted turkey, garlic, and the faint sweetness of pumpkin pie. The kind of smells that made even the hardest men soften, if only for a night.I leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold. Kat was in the middle of it, her laugh carrying over the clatter of dishes as she tried to wrangle Jace into helping. At fifteen, he was all attitude, rolling his eyes as he stacked plates, but I caught the grin he tried to hide when his nonna praised him.Koda, though—he was the real show. Three years old, wide-eyed, darting between legs like a pup who hadn’t learned his place yet. He stopped every few minutes to tug at someone’s sleeve, asking questions in that curious voice of his.“What’s Thanksgiving, NoNo?” he asked, staring up at Kat’s father as if the man held all the answers.Kat’s father crouched down, his voice warm. “It’s a day w
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Epilogue 1 KatMama’s laughter filled the common room before I even saw her. She’d been fussing over the pumpkin centerpiece all day, insisting it needed “just a little more sparkle.” Papa, of course, had already claimed the recliner like he owned the place, muttering in Italian about how American holidays were “too noisy” but smiling all the same.It was Koda’s first real Halloween, and he’d been buzzing about it for weeks. He didn’t just want candy — he wanted tradition. Costumes, decorations, the whole thing. And apparently, he wanted me and Wolf to play along.So here I was, tugging at the red hood draped over my shoulders, trying not to laugh at Wolf. My Huntsman. He’d grumbled about dressing up, but Koda’s big brown eyes had been too much for him. He looked rugged, axe strapped to his belt, but the way he kept adjusting his shirt told me he’d rather be anywhere else.“Don’t pout,” I teased, brushing my hood back. “You’re supposed to save me from the big bad wolf.”Wolf gave me that look — the
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Chapter 95 KatThe house was quiet now. Too quiet. The laughter, the voices, the warmth of my family had faded into the distance with their departure. I stood at the window, watching the taillights disappear, my chest aching with the familiar weight of goodbye.Mama had held me tight before she left, whispering, “We’ll be back for Halloween. We can’t miss Koda’s first one.” Papa had echoed her promise, his hand firm on my shoulder, his eyes steady. I believed them. I had to.Nonna had kissed my cheeks, both of them, her voice soft but certain. “You will be hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. You will not be alone, Kat. Family is not only near — it is always.”Their words stitched hope into the ache, but still, the silence pressed heavy.I turned, and there they were — my new family. Wolf, steady as ever, watching me with eyes that said he understood. Jace, leaning against the doorway, his grin crooked but comforting. And Koda, bouncing on his toes, already asking if he could wear his costu
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
Chapter: Chapter 94 WolfI’d spent days making sure this night would feel like more than goodbye. Kat deserved that. Koda deserved that. And her family — Matteo, Salvatore, her mother, her father, they deserved to leave knowing they were loved, not mourned.The backyard glowed under strings of lanterns, tables heavy with food that carried pieces of Italy and Missouri both. Laughter spilled out before Kat even stepped through the door.When she did, her hand tightened around mine, her eyes widening at the sight of everyone gathered. Matteo stood tall, commanding even here, his presence impossible to ignore. Salvatore leaned against the bar, easy grin in place, already teasing cousins. And Kat froze, tears filling her eyes.“This is for you,” I whispered, pulling her close. “For them. For us.”She shook her head, laughing through the tears. “Nick… you didn’t have to—”“I did,” I said simply. “Because I know how hard this is. You just got them back. And now you have to let them go again. But tonight, you don’t l
Last Updated: 2026-01-17
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