Chapter: Chapter 9: ASHES DON'T LIESophia POVThe drive to my uncle's house took a long time, longer than the journey from the church to the De Luca mansion, and nobody said a word, the silence in the car so heavy it felt like it might suffocate me.I stared out the window as Palermo disappeared behind us, my thoughts replaying Vincent's words over and over. Antonio Rossi is missing. Then Rosa had called minutes later. Found. Found dead.Another Rossi. Another funeral. Another body.I clenched my hands into fists. How much more? How many people with my family's name had to die before this nightmare ended?The car finally slowed outside my aunt's home, where the whole street was crowded with mourners dressed in black, women crying openly, elderly men standing in groups whispering prayers, and the moment the De Luca convoy entered the street, every conversation stopped, heads turning, eyes following the vehicles, the crowd's mood curdling instantly into anger.I opened the door before anyone could do it for me, and the s
Última atualização: 2026-09-11
Chapter: Chapter 8: Home, But Not FreeSophia POVThe words echoed inside my head for the rest of the journey. Antonio Rossi. Missing.Nobody spoke after Vincent's announcement, and the convoy continued through the rain-soaked streets of Palermo while my thoughts spiraled further with every passing minute, because Antonio wasn't just another Rossi, he was my uncle, the man who used to sneak me chocolate whenever my father wasn't looking, the man who carried Matteo on his shoulders during every family festival, the man who had promised me, years ago, that no matter what happened to our family, I would always have a home in Sicily.Now he was missing. Just gone.I stared out the window, barely noticing the city rushing past, because this couldn't be a coincidence anymore, not with the church attack first and Antonio disappearing only hours later, which meant someone was hunting my family.I lifted my eyes toward Luca, who was speaking quietly with Vincent, both of them discussing security like this was just another ordinary
Última atualização: 2026-09-11
Chapter: Chapter 7: Trapped With ThemSophia POVThe silence after the gunshot felt heavier than the chaos that had come before it. The attacker lay on the church floor, not moving, blood spreading slowly beneath him, while guards rushed past us with their weapons up, checking every corner of the church, though I already knew they wouldn't find the person who did it, because the shooter was already gone.Luca stared at the broken stained-glass window for a second, and then he turned around."Close every exit."His voice wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. Within seconds every De Luca guard moved at once."No one leaves this church until we know every guest is safe.""Yes, boss."I looked at him, and for the first time since I'd met him, he didn't look like the quiet man who'd sat through a forced wedding without saying much. He looked like the man everyone in Sicily was afraid of.Vincent walked over. "The perimeter is already secure.""Good," Luca said. "If the shooter is still nearby, I want him found.""It'll be done."
Última atualização: 2026-09-11
Chapter: Chapter six: Blood on Holy GroundChapter 6Sophia POV"They're inside the church."These words hung in the air like a death sentence, and for one second nobody moved, and then everything happened at once.Another gunshot went off outside, and panic spread through the church fast, guests screaming as they ran from the pews, chairs crashing to the floor, someone knocking over a candle stand near the altar so melted wax splashed across the stone tiles, and the beautiful wedding ceremony that had started less than an hour ago had turned into complete chaos.My heart almost stopped, and before I could react, Luca grabbed my arm and pulled me down beside him so hard my shoulder hit the floor, and I glared at him."What are you doing?" I snapped."Trying to keep you alive," he said quickly.Another gunshot echoed through the church, and the stained-glass window behind us shattered, pieces of colored glass raining across the floor while several people screamed and a woman fainted near the front row, children crying while thei
Última atualização: 2026-09-10
Chapter: CHAPTER FIVE: A WEDDING OR BURIAL?Sophia POVI barely slept, because every time I closed my eyes I saw the guard collapsing onto the floor again, Gilbert calmly lowering the gun like taking a life meant absolutely nothing to him, and somehow those were now the people forcing me into marriage.The sound of footsteps outside my door kept me awake for most of the night, guards, always guards, even the windows locked from outside, and at some point around dawn I finally stopped trying to escape, because deep down I already understood there was nowhere to run from people like the De Lucas.A soft knock interrupted my thoughts before the bedroom door opened slowly, and Vincent walked in carrying a tray of breakfast, like this was some normal morning instead of the beginning of my nightmare."Good morning," he said calmly.I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you serious right now?"He placed the tray down carefully. "You should eat something.""I'd rather die.""That can probably be arranged," he replied smoothly, sitting dow
Última atualização: 2026-08-11
Chapter: CHAPTER FOUR: BE MY BRIDE OR ELSE?Sophia POVThe second I stepped out of Rosa's house, one of the men opened the back door of the black car waiting outside."Get in."His voice was calm, but the gun resting against his side made it clear that refusing wasn't really an option.Matteo stepped in front of me immediately. "She's not going anywhere with you people."Before things could escalate, Vincent walked forward calmly, and unlike the others he didn't look aggressive or impatient, he looked controlled, an expensive suit and a calm expression, the type of man who could probably convince someone to walk into danger willingly."Nobody is here to hurt your sister," he said smoothly.Matteo laughed angrily. "Right. Because showing up with armed men at midnight looks very friendly."Vincent ignored the comment completely and looked at me instead. "Mr. De Luca simply wants a conversation.""I don't," I replied immediately.For the first time since arriving, Luca finally spoke from beside the car. "That wasn't a request," an
Última atualização: 2026-08-11
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