TRACEY'S P.O.VHe didn't speak immediately. He tilted his head slightly, staring at me in a way that made me feel like I was being dissected.A loud sigh echoed across the room. “Is this a riddle, Tracey?” he asked, his brows drawing slightly together. “Because I’m not in the mood.” He sighed.I shook my head. “It’s not. Just answer, please.”He exhaled, gaze narrowing, my eyes glanced at his hand which were placed on the desk, his fingers tapping against the hard wood in a rhythmicnway that made my stomach churn.A pause.“In my world, Tracey... care is luxury and hesitation gets people killed. If someone plans something behind my back, regardless of who it benefits….they become a liability. And I do not tolerate liabilities.” He said cold and sharp.I felt the heat crawl up my skin as he continued. “Even if it's benefits you and you get to protect people you love?“ “If it benefits me? That’s where it gets dangerous, Piccola.“ He paused.I was staring back at him, watching as his
TRACEY’S P.O.VThe damn time you never expect the day to wiggle away so fast… it does.I blinked awake to a brand new day, the sunlight spilling through the thin slit in the curtain like it had a personal beef with me. It landed directly on my face, hot and aggressive, and I groaned, turning away from the reflection.I hated mornings like this.Mornings that were loud enough for my thoughts to scream and drive me insane while I lie still, unable to do nothing.I was still lying on my bed, just staring at the ceiling, breathing in the heaviness that was pressing against my chest. I had woken up feeling sore, my mind reeling with the bugging discussion I had with Robert last night. God…If Robert knew…No no….I had to speak to Damien.I thought. I had to listen to whatever he had to say before making a decision and honestly, every part of me wished I could delay that conversation until the sun burned out. But I knew what delaying it would mean.This wasn’t about me anymore. Neither wa
TRACEY'S P.O.V I didn’t even remember how I got back to my room. It felt like my feet moved on their own. My head was buzzing too loud to hear anything else. My eyes were blurry as heck. I barely noticed anything as I moved past the stairs. The second I shut the door behind me, I leaned against it and let out a shaky breath, my legs were too weak to keep standing, so I slid down slowly until I was sitting on the floor, knees to my chest, like a kid hiding in the corner of a classroom. What just happened? What the hell just happened? Robert had just looked me dead in the eye and told me that my father and sister were alive. That I could see them again. That I had a choice. But it wasn’t really a choice, was it? It felt more like I was being blackmailed by him. If I wanted to see them, I had to walk away. Leave everything behind. Let go of Damien. Of Skylo. Of Katya. Of this house, this chaos, this twisted new life I was beginning to… understand? Or maybe I was just gett
TRACEY’S P.O.VI didn’t go to school today.Not because I was lazy—okay, maybe a little—but mostly because I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Not with everything that had happened. Not with Katya lying in that bed like she had no idea how close she came to something dark. Not with Skylo pretending like none of it touched him when I knew damn well it did.And not with Damien roaming these halls like a loaded gun.No, I needed to stay close today. Keep my head down and my ears open.Katya had been unusually quiet this morning. She’d stirred when I peeked into her room, mumbled something about pastries and Russia, then drifted right back to sleep. I smiled to myself before closing the door.She needed rest. And honestly? I didn’t want to admit how much I’d miss her if I went off to sit through lectures I barely cared about while she was still recovering.So here I was.Wandering aimlessly through the hallway with a cup of coffee in my hand, wearing a hoodie two sizes too big and socks tha
DAMIEN’S P.O.V.A loud knock erupted on my door twice and then the door was pushed open.I didn’t turn to look at whoever was there…I already knew it was going to be her.Tracey.Her presence was loud, even in silence. I could feel her hesitation as she she stood near the doorway for a second too long, like she was debating whether to stay or run.Typical Tracey.She was stubborn, emotional and impulsive as hell.Yet... here she was.“I, um...” she started, her voice softer than usual. “I wanted to say... thanks.”That caught me off guard. I didn't take my eyes on the window, even though her words had made something within me flinched.I wasn't about to show my stunned expression She said thank you?Tracey?I wasn’t expecting gratitude. Not from her. Not after the tantrum she threw last night. I had honestly expected her to barge in screaming, ready to claw my face off.But this?This girl had different versions of her I get to meet everyday.“I heard you sent your men after Skylo,”
TRACEY’S P.O.V The soft ray of morning light pierced through the half-drawn curtains, sliding across my face and pulling me out of restless sleep. I groaned, tossing to the other side of the bed, trying to resist it. But the light kept creeping in, too stubborn to be ignored. Then I heard movement. A soft shuffle. The feeling of a shadow looking just ahead of me. Scared, my eyes flew open. “SKYLOOOO—!” I screamed instinctively, hurling myself toward the figure in front of me like a deranged spider monkey. We both stumbled back as I clung onto him, heart racing, arms wrapped tight around his body. His familiar cologne —but he was here. He was alive. “Tracey,” his voice came out dry, slightly surprised. “Are you trying to kill me again with this energy?” Only then did I pull away, my breath catching when I finally looked at him properly. He looked... okay. No bruises. No blood. No bullet holes. He looked normal. Calm. Like he hadn’t just gone through mafia hell because of Da