Novels by Austino Gina

As we sat in the restaurant, I watched Principessa try not to act nervous. She was shaking her legs under the table, her fingers tapping lightly against her glass.I reached beneath the table and placed a firm hand on her thigh, stilling her movements. “Relax.”She looked up at me, startled, then let out a small, nervous laugh. “Sorry,” she murmured, offering me a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.I studied her for a moment. “What’s wrong?”“Nothing,” she said quickly. Then, after a beat, she exhaled and admitted, “I’ve never been in a restaurant this fancy before. And people keep glancing at me.”I followed her gaze, noticing how some of the patrons stole quick looks in her direction before averting their eyes. My hand tightened slightly on her thigh.“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” I told her, my voice low and even. “Everyone in here knows exactly who I am. None of them would dare disrespect you because you’re my wife.”She nodded and reached for her glass of water, tak

Spending the rest of the day with my mom was exactly what I needed.Elena and I kept her company, chatting about random things while we cooked together. It felt normal—like the nights before John had ruined everything before my mom had to walk on eggshells in her own home. And even though she still refused to come stay with me, seeing her smile again made it worth it.By the time I dropped Elena off at her apartment, the sun had already dipped below the horizon.“Call me when you get home,” Elena said as she stepped into her apartment building.“I will,” I promised.I was just turning to head back when two sleek black cars pulled up beside mine.I stopped mid-step, heart stuttering for a moment.The back door of the first car opened and out stepped Lorenzo.Still dressed in the same dark suit he’d worn to work that morning, he looked as immaculate as ever—like he hadn’t spent the entire day handling whatever business the Mafia King handled. Not a wrinkle on his jacket, not a single st

I froze, my milkshake forgotten, as Elena casually dropped the bombshell.“What did you just say?”"Rumor has it John is on the run," she repeated.My stomach twisted. I set my drink down carefully, my fingers tightening around the cup. "Are you sure?"Elena nodded, her expression serious. "I heard that he hasn’t been seen in the last twenty-four hours. Lorenzo’s men are looking for him. Maybe he stole from him again and decided to skip town."A sharp exhale left my lips as I processed her words. Deep down, I prayed it was true. Maybe, just maybe, this time he’d stay gone for good. Maybe, without him around, I could finally find a way to help my mother.After brunch, we hit the shops. At first, I had every intention of shopping just to spite Lorenzo, to take full advantage of the unlimited card he’d given me and piss him off. But after hearing about John’s disappearance, my heart wasn’t in it. Instead, I bought only a few things for myself, but I made sure to pick out clothes for my m

After Lorenzo left for work, I decided to use the new phone that he got he last night and called Elena, I would have loved to speak to mom, but John already seized her phone. I will go see her later.Elena picked up after two rings, her voice laced with confusion. "Hello?"I grinned. "Hey, Elena."There was a beat of silence before she practically shrieked in my ear. “Oh my God, Lucia! Whose number is this? Are you alright? Do you need me to come get you? Where are you?” she sounded so worried it made my heart ache. She was getting sick with worry about me and I was here having illicit thoughts about Lorenzo.I laughed. “I’m okay, Elena.”“This isn’t your number,” she still sounded confused.“Yeah, Lorenzo got me a new phone last night."“Oh, I see.” She exhaled, and when she spoke again, her voice was softer. "How are you, Lu? Really? Are you sure, you’re alright?"“I’m fine Elena, you need not worry.”She sighed. "You sure? I’ve been worried about you."“Yes I am. When do you get of

I stormed out of Lorenzo’s bedroom, my heart hammering against my ribs. I couldn’t stand the way his gaze seemed to pierce into my very soul, stripping me bare. He was wrong. There was no way I cared for him. I still hated him and that hadn’t changed.Needing a distraction, I headed to the library, determined to lose myself in a book. My fingers trailed over the spines until I settled on a book on the second world war. It wasn’t the type of book I would usually go for, but Lorenzo’s collection was as dark and intense as the man himself—history, philosophy, and war.Hours slipped by unnoticed, the afternoon sun casting golden light through the tall windows. My stomach grumbled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. With a sigh, I closed the book and made my way to the kitchen.Maria was there, assembling sandwiches with her usual warm smile. “I was just about to bring these up to you,” she said, holding up a tray. “With some freshly squeezed orange juice.”I returned her smile.

I was a little shocked that Lorenzo had gone to the trouble of saving the women and children. It wasn’t what I expected from a man like him and I couldn’t help being surprised.He must have noticed the surprise on my face."You seem surprised," he murmured, his voice low and unreadable. "What? You thought I’d let innocent women and children be sold like cattle?"I hesitated, my fingers stilling for a moment. The truth was, I had no idea what to think. I’d seen the cold, ruthless man he was capable of being. The one who killed without hesitation. The one who forced me into marriage.When I didn’t answer, he exhaled sharply. "I might be a monster, Principessa, but not that kind. Women and children are off-limits. Always." His voice was firm, unwavering. "And I don’t allow that kind of filth in my territory either.”Something inside me shifted. I wasn’t sure why, but I believed him. Maybe it was the conviction in his voice, or the way his expression hardened with something close to disgus

After Liam and I parted ways, I slid into the back seat of the car and finally called my mom. I should’ve called her sooner. She’d probably been worried sick.She picked up on the second ring.“Amber! Finally. I’ve been trying to reach you all day. Why haven’t you been answering your phone or replying to my texts?”I sighed, already feeling a little guilty. “I’m sorry, Mom. Things have just been... a lot. But I’m okay now. Really.”Her voice softened immediately. “Are you sure, sweetheart? I saw the video you posted… It’s been everywhere. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, you already told me about it, but seeing it—”She paused, and I heard her swallow. “Are you really okay?”“I’m getting there,” I said honestly. “I’m so glad you finally decided to let the world see Dan for who he really is.” “Liam’s PR team helped with all of it. It’s been overwhelming, but... something good came out of it.”“Yeah, they are tearing him apart.” “Yeah.” I smiled, glancing out the window as the car crui

AmberAs I walked away from the restaurant, a wide smile stretched across my face, one I hadn’t worn in so long, it almost felt foreign. I was finally free. Free from Dan. Free from the lies, the bruises, the manipulation. That monster no longer had a hold on me.One of Liam’s men walked ahead and opened the back door of the car waiting by the curb. I slid in, my dress smoothing beneath me, and the door closed with a soft thud. As the car pulled away and we breezed through the light traffic, I stared out the window, watching the city blur past. People bustled about their lives, horns honked in the distance, but all I could feel was a strange, beautiful stillness inside me. It was like I could finally breathe again.It almost felt like I was meeting a new version of myself. A few months ago, I was still trapped, stuck in a marriage that sucked the light out of me. I had been shrinking more and more under Dan’s thumb, his rage, and his control. I used to think that was just how life ha

Liam stared at me, clearly amused by the sound of my sudden laughter. “What’s so funny?” he asked.Without a word, I handed him my phone.He took it, brows pulling together as he read through Dan’s desperate texts. His expression darkened quickly. “That bastard,” he muttered. “Now he wants to sign the divorce papers?”I scoffed, letting out another dry, humorless laugh. “I never thought I’d see the day Dan would beg me for anything. Ever.”Liam handed the phone back, and I took it with a slow breath. “I’m replying,” I said, thumbs already moving.“You sure you want to talk to him?” Liam asked, watching me closely.“Yeah,” I said looking up. “I’m telling him to send the divorce papers before we talk.”Almost immediately after I hit send, Dan’s reply came through. I stared at it for a moment, then held it out for Liam to read.“I have signed the divorce papers. I want to give them to you in person. Please, Amber. Let us meet and sort this out.”I could hardly suppress another laugh. “It’

The next morning, I woke to the sharp trill of my phone ringing somewhere close. My eyes fluttered open, groggy and heavy, and I reached for it blindly on the nightstand, swiping to end the call without even glancing at the screen. I didn’t care who it was. I knew the call most certainly had something to do with Dan, and I didn’t want to ruin my mood, not yet. I was too warm, too safe, nestled in bed with Liam pressed against me. His chest was solid against my back, his arm draped over my waist, his breath soft in the crook of my neck as he spooned me. I couldn’t even remember getting here. Last night, we’d eaten dinner on the couch, and I must’ve fallen asleep curled up next to him. He’d carried me to bed, I guessed, and I hadn’t stirred.I liked this, just the two of us, tangled together, the world locked out. His warmth, his steady breathing, it felt like a shield, and I wasn’t ready to let it go. The phone started ringing again, buzzing insistently against the wood, and Liam shi

The next day, I sat in a sleek conference room with Liam by my side, facing the PR team from his company. My hands were clasped together on the table, my fingers twisting anxiously as I listened to them go over the best course of action."We need to take control of the narrative," one of the PR representatives, a sharp-dressed woman named Claire, said. She folded her hands in front of her and gave me a calm but firm look. "Right now, the public is divided, but Dan has the upper hand. He got ahead of the story and made you look like the bad guy. We need to change that."I swallowed hard. "How?"Claire exchanged glances with one of her colleagues a guy named, Tom, before pulling out her tablet. "We’ve drafted a post for your social media. All you need to do is approve it and post it."She slid the tablet in my direction and I picked it up with shaky fingers and read it silently first, my eyes scanning the words they’d crafted:“I’ve stayed silent long enough. Everything Dan has said abo

After I dropped the bombshell about Dan hitting Amber, Dad was the first to pull himself together. He looked at me, shaking his head, and said he had no idea that guy used to lay a hand on her. “That’s bad. It’s a good thing Amber left,” he added. “No woman should have to endure a beating in a marriage.” I could tell he meant it. His voice had that steady, no-nonsense tone he gets when he’s pissed.Mom, though, she was still in shock. Her eyes were wide, and she spoke up before Dad could say anything else. “I had no idea,” she said, her voice soft, almost trembling. “Thank God Amber left. Poor Amber. I wonder why she pretended to be happy while he was hitting her.” Then she paused, and I could see her thoughts shifting. She turned to me, her expression tightening. “Even though what Dan did was awful, Liam, you don’t need to insert yourself into this situation. You can help Amber without dating her. This whole thing is messy and you shouldn’t let yourself get dragged into it.”I couldn