The Shadows We Keep
Gabriella's life has always been complicated. Her father, the Don of the mafia, kept his business life separate from his family life. But Gabriella knew; the late night meetings, hushed conversations, his rivals ending up dead, and the occasional "business trips" that would leave her mother worried sick.
Because of this, Gabriella chose to distance herself from her father's world. She attended college far from home, and even started a different life far from her father's shadows. But there's only so much you can do when you're seen as a weakness.
Her worst fears finally become a reality, and her parents are killed in their living room, while she's on the verge of death. Someone's does save Gabriella, and she survives, but loses her sight in the process. Gabriella is grateful for this guardian angel, and years down the line, they get married, start a family, and love in perfect peace.
But even the devil itself can disguise himself as an angel…..
Gabriella has a shot to get her eyesight back, but that shot opens up a can of secrets that will ruin her perfect reality forever.
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Chapter: CHAPTER ELEVEN Matteo's pov "What do you really do?" Gabriella asked. We were sitted in the garden, just enjoying the evening. I never would have thought that in all my years, I would sit down in a garden and relax, especially with someone like Gabriella. "I've told you not to ask me about this." I said, keeping my tone even."But I am asking, because I want to know." she insisted, lifting her chin stubbornly. "You want me to trust you, but how can I when I don't even know who you are?""You do know who I am. I'm Matteo." I replied, my tone light. "I have told you some things about myself." "Specific things that can't even hint at the kind of man you really are. I can't trust you, if you don't even trust me enough to be honest with me.""Gabriella," I said, and reached for her hand, but she must have sensed that because she flinched away immediately."I don't trust you." she repeated quietly. I set my cup down careful, ignoring the sting that came with her words, and actions."Gabriella, I've n
Last Updated: 2025-04-28
Chapter: CHAPTER TENGabriella's pov Matteo kept to his promises about me being able to leave the house, and I was ecstatic about it. Even though I couldn't see the places I visited, I could feel them like he said I would. The scents, music, people, the heat, I could feel it all, and it felt entirely different . It was like I was in my own world, a world that I created, deciding which colours I wanted my sky, and the appearance of people around me. I let down the car window, and let the warmth of the sun kiss my face. It didn't feel like screened rays from the sunroom of the house, or the filtered breeze from the open windows, but real warmth. The kind that made you soul lift your soul just a little.I didn't say anything as he car pulled up to a quiet street. I didn't need to. One of the guards opened the door, and I stepped outside, cane in hand, shoes crunching over the pavements. Matteo had insisted I get a cane to assist me in walking, without totally relying on anyone. I took in a deep breath, in
Last Updated: 2025-04-22
Chapter: CHAPTER NINEMatteo's povI couldn't believe she tried to escape, couldn't believe she even hurt herself in the process. She felt so light in my arms. and I couldn't help but notice how fragile she seemed. Her cheeks looked hollow, and her skin was pale. "When Gretta told me you were skipping meals, I didn't think you'd actually loose this much weight in a short period of time."She looked away from me, her brows furrowed in the defiance. "Where did you go to?" As I walked into the house, Gretta's eyes widened as she noticed who was in my arms. "Sir, I swear…I…I don't…""You're dismissed for the night, Gretta." I said, my tone sharp. "I'm sorry sir." She said quietly, before scurrying off. I knew it wasn't her fault that Gabriella hurt herself, but it was her silence that caused her to make this decision. I wasn't even supposed to be back this early. But then she had called last night complaining about Gabriella's refusal to eat and how worried she was. Looking down at the fragile woman in my
Last Updated: 2025-04-17
Chapter: CHAPTER EIGHTGabriella's povI was safe. I was safe. I was safe. It was what I tried to tell myself even though I was so unhappy. It's been fourteen days since I've arrived in Los Angeles, and it felt like eternity since I felt I had any form of control over my life. It felt just like the hospital, but worse. Since I wasn't familiar with my surroundings, I couldn't move around as I pleased. I had a monotonous routine : wake up, eat, get ushered to the garden by the maid, Gretta, eat again, then sleep. I felt locked up.Matteo on the other hand was like a ghost. It was almost like I had made him up these past few months, and now my reality was struggling to keep up with my fantasy.I hardly slept, because my nightmares kept me up. The darkness was oppressive, like a physical weight that pressed down on me at all times. But what difference did it make? Day or Night, it was all the same to me. This left me filled with so much panic and anxiety, that I began to create scenarios in my head. I thought
Last Updated: 2025-04-03
Chapter: CHAPTER SEVEN Matteo's povWhat the fuck was I doing? Saving the daughter of Gabriel Russo, faking her death, and then taking her with me to my home in Los Angeles. All of these are like ingredients to a disaster that was going to blow up in my face in the future. I looked over at her, and saw she was already sound asleep. Her brows were furrowed together as if she was having a bad nightmare. I'm not surprised, because things like what happened to her, stays in your mind forever. There was no fixing it. My eyes trailed to the burn scars on her neck, and I felt the ripple of rage run through me. The time spent with Gabriella, made me realize she wasn't a bad person, she was the direct opposite of Gabriel, but yet she still had to suffer for his sins. "Great." I muttered as I looked away. "You had one mission, Matteo, but instead you had to save the girl."I leaned back in my seat, and sighed. I was already too deep in this to turn back now. Gabriella stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She looked
Last Updated: 2025-04-01
Chapter: CHAPTER SIX "What the fuck are you doing, Carlos?!" Matteo's voice boomed. He let go of my hair, causing me to fall to the ground. "She attacked me, and then tried to run!"I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering, panicking, trying to push away the horrors."I told you not to hurt her!" Matteo yelled, his tone icy. "Why the fuck would you grab her like some doll?!""My head feels like shit, and I'm the one bleeding!" He protested.He hurried to my side, and I immediately flinched at his touch. "It's okay." He soothed, his voice a total contrast of what it was a second ago. "I'm not going to hurt you, Gabriella."I whimpered, tightening my arm around myself. I curled up into a ball, my hands clutching at my head, as if I could physically hold back the painful memories that were flooding my mind.Suddenly a warm weight settled around my shoulders. Matteo's suit jacket, I realized, as the scent of the cologne enveloped me. His hands closed around my wrists, gentle but firm, and he pulled me into
Last Updated: 2025-03-20
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