(MARIANNA'S POV) The silence stretched between Tyler and me like a taut wire ready to snap. His face had gone pale when he'd realized who I was, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind, trying to process this impossible coincidence."Tyler," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "I had no idea you were related to Dante."“You're shocked?” he looked at me “I'm shocked you even know him, and more surprised that you both share the same blood” "Share what blood?" a voice called from the front porch.We all turned to see a young man with dark hair walking toward us, wiping his hands on a kitchen towel. My breath caught in my throat. Even from a distance, I could see the resemblance, the same stubborn jawline, the way he is carrying himself, the same steps he takes exactly like dad. I recognized everything like looking in the mirror.Dante.He looked between Tyler, Jason, and me with growing confusion. "What's going on? Tyler, why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"I
(MARIANNA'S POV) My face went completely numb, as if someone had slapped me with ice-cold water. The documents in my hands suddenly felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, and I had to grip them tighter to keep from dropping them. My mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, but no sound came out."What do you mean?" I finally managed to whisper, my voice so small I barely recognized it.He looked at me with eyes that held decades of pain, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his confession. "It's high time I tell you the truth, since things are unfolding so terribly wrong."I felt my legs grow weak, and I had to take a step back to steady myself against my mother's headstone. The cold marble pressed against my back, grounding me as my world began to tilt."Your mother, Isabella, found out that I had an affair with Martha," he began, his voice thick with regret. "She decided to stop talking to me completely. I felt devastated and promised to change, and I did. I re
(MARIANNA'S POV) I woke up to an empty bed, the sheets still warm from where Vincenzo had been lying beside me. The pillow next to mine still held the indent of his head, and I could smell his cologne lingering on the fabric. My mind kept replaying every moment of what had happened between us last night. The way his hands had felt on my skin, the desperate hunger in his voice, the way he'd looked at me like I would disappear.My body still hummed with the memory of his touch. I'm I foolish for missing this? For missing him? He'd told me he might be away for a long time, his voice rough against my ear as we'd lain tangled together afterward. "My brother's army is gaining ground," he'd whispered, his fingers tracing patterns on my bare shoulder. "They're closing in on me."The thought of him being in danger had made my chest tightened with fear, not ready to acknowledge."I might not let you go back to work either," he'd continued. "At least not yet. Not until I know you're safe."
(VINCENZO'S POV) I would kill to have these lips again. Would cause a blood bath to pin her under me while I drill her, watching pleasure consume her as she look utterly wrecked. “No” She broke off our kiss “That's enough” I watched her lips move as her hands pushed against my chest with a force that should have made me step back. But I couldn't. Not when every fiber of my being screamed to pull her closer."Leave, Vincenzo," she said, her voice steady despite the flush creeping up her neck.How could I leave after this? The image of Alessandro's hand on her waistt burned behind my eyelids like a brandI wanted to be the one standing beside her, holding her, protecting her from the vultures circling at that dinner."No," I said, my voice rougher than I intended.I knew she was running away from me when I tried approaching her. It felt like a knife twisted in my chest. I deserved it, I knew that, but it didn't make it hurt any less. I hated her for it almost as much as I hated mys
(MARIANNA'S POV) Throughout the dinner, I couldn't concentrate. I felt Vin's lingering eyes still on me. If only I'd known he would be present, I wouldn't have tagged along. And the worst part was that he was with Charlotte. He'd finally moved back to his first love.Alessandro did most of the talking as he pitched the narrative that I was the perfect client in need of their top-notch security services."She runs one of the most successful companies in the city," Alessandro complimented me. "She needs discreet, professional protection for someone of her stature.""What kind of threats are we talking about?" one asked, leaning forward with interest."Corporate spies, mainly from competitors" Alessandro replied smoothly. "These people don't play safe and fair."Once they were done discussing, I had to ask Alessandro if they'd consider rendering their services to me."It looks promising," he whispered to me. "Hopefully, they'll agree to it by the time the dinner is over."I squeezed h
(MARIANNA'S POV) I woke up to the sounds of car engines pulling up in front of the mansion the next day after barely having a shot of sleep. This is thanks to Sandra's non-stop talking about why it was bad news to entangle oneself with a Mafia, like I'd asked for it. I'd assured her that I would find a way to ask Alessandro for security since his uncle's company specialized in that, and I would choose another company that was completely not of Vin's and figure out a way to send them away.I began looking for what to put on while tapping Sandra to wake up."Sandra! Sandra, wake up!" I shook her harder. "There are men that showed up outside.""What?" she mumbled, still half-asleep. "What men?""I don't know, but there's a whole convoy out there," I said, forcing her to see for herself as I dragged her drowsy ass to the window.When she saw them, her eyes opened wide. "Oh shit! That's a lot of black cars. Are we about to be kidnapped?""I don't think so, but we need to get dressed. No