Mag-log inOLIVIAMy fear returned once again—they'd found me for the second time that day.I dared to glance over his shoulders and noticed the others standing behind him. Three men with the same neck tattoo, their eyes fixed on me like they were waiting to attack.They were scattered around the bar like they’d been watching me the entire time without me noticing.Watching the bartender quietly step away reminded me that nobody was going to help me.I was all alone.“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” I muttered, slowly stepping away from the counter.The broad-shouldered man only smiled, his fingers moving through my hair in a manner that irritated my stomach.Without thinking twice, I hurled the empty glass straight at his face. He cursed loudly, staggering backward as alcohol and blood splashed across his shirt.I ran as the music drowned out the chaos behind me. Shoving recklessly through the crowd, bodies crashed against mine. Someone yelled, another cursed, but I kept pushing
OLIVIAMy car was shattered beyond repair.Bloodstains covered my outfit. My skin burned where his nails had dug in, each movement sending sharp pain through my arm.I didn’t stay long enough to think.I staggered out of that house, left the body where it fell, and forced myself to keep moving until I found a taxi.I’d never been more frightened in my life. And I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I’d been attacked by Donatello’s men.I shot him almost three years ago. I’d pulled seven bullets into him and watched him fall to the ground—dead.Why was I still being targeted? Attacked? Followed? Realization sank into my mind… They had waited for me to get back to Willow Creek.Just to kill me.My head rested against the car seat as the driver drove to my new apartment. I needed protection—and Matteo was all I had.Staring at my fingers, they hadn’t stopped trembling. I kept replaying the moment I pulled the trigger.Cold sweat broke out on my forehead, and I just needed to get
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.Everybody in this fucking estate was lying to me.“I’m going to ask Matteo everything he knows,” I said quietly to Isabella. “And in the meantime, you’ll find everything you can about Celyn.”Isabella furrowed her eyebrows. “Why would I ever want to work with you?”“Because you’ve got no other choice,” I muttered, taking one step closer to her. “And you’re going to help me bring down your little boyfriend.”Her lips parted to speak, but no words slipped out. I stepped away without another word, just a cold glance, before turning around to find Matteo.Viper was waiting in the car, searching for all he could find about the ‘fake’ Celyn. I swept through the hallway, stopping right in front of the Morettis’ council room.Matteo stood a few feet away from the entrance, speaking with two other men. His eyes narrowed the moment he noticed me, and I gave him a subtle nod, motioning for his attention before walking in.“You shouldn’t be here,” he said without a muscle mo
OLIVIA“What’s Axel doing there?” I asked, my heart racing. “And who’s the other person?”Matteo muttered something under his breath, his footsteps echoing in the background. I tried to think of a reason why Axel would be in the estate. Isabella was back, yes, but they never got along.“Matteo?” I called, noticing the sound of the line breaking. “Matteo.”He’d already hung up. My grip tightened around my phone as I pulled it away from my ear. I remained standing, my thoughts spiraling as I dug my teeth into my nails.“I need to know what’s happening,” I whispered. “Something is definitely going on.”*Leaving my Mum was harder than I expected. I had to promise to visit her the next day. She noticed the cracks in my countenance but said nothing about it.I wasn’t even in the mood to start explaining how I’d gone back to reclaim my father's estate in New Orleans.She’d totally freak out.Driving back to my apartment, I made a quick stop at my house—the home I’d lived in since I was eig
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.“You think you know everything, huh?” Isabella smirked, feigning composure, but her eyes said otherwise. “Trust me when I say you don’t.”Ohh, I knew too well. She’d been faking everything from the start, trying to control Olivia, to get everything she’d secretly wanted from the very beginning.I clicked my tongue, my lips pressed into a thin line as I watched her struggle to hold my gaze.“I’m only here because of what you told me over the phone,” I said flatly, not wanting to press further on the past. “You either start talking, or I’ll do whatever I have in mind to you.”“I already told you—I need to find Olivia first.”Heat crawled beneath my skin. “Don’t fucking play with me, Rosetta.”“Matteo said she left a few days ago,” she murmured, changing her mind after viewing my countenance. “But he’s refused to say anything about her whereabouts. Claims he knows nothing about it.”“And what did you find?"She exhaled deeply, glancing over my shoulders as Viper’s
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI“I still have no idea why you wanted me to come with you,” Viper said the moment I pulled up at the Morettis’ estate.I tutted, turned off the car, and opened the door to step out. My eyes stared at the building, heaving a deep sigh before responding.“Because I don’t trust Isabella.”The sound of his door slamming shut echoed before his voice did. “What difference does my presence make?”I led the way, walking briskly with my car keys jingling in my grasp. “A lot.”Viper walked behind me while I grabbed the entrance door and pushed it open, exposing the huge living room where I always waited for Olivia.I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that she’d just pick up her things to leave.Was she really serious when she said I’d never see her again?She’d even blocked me. Since I hung up the call with Isabella and drove down here, I tried to reach Olivia, calling her frantically to hear her voice.Even dialed her number with Viper’s phone repeatedly, but it w
OLIVIA“Olivia?” Darren called after me, his footsteps thudding behind as I walked away. “Olivia, wait.”Wait? Hell no.After what had happened?Things had escalated quickly. I’d tried to break them out of the brawl, but what did I get in return? A punch on my lips.Darren had used so much pressure
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.“What are you doing here?” I asked coolly, my eyes still darting around, searching for Olivia.Her faint scent lingered in the air, making my chest tingle with an indescribable sensation. I wanted to see her again, to hold her again… and to feel the warmth of her supple skin.
OLIVIAThe Rossis' estate.Walking into that building brought back memories I’d tried to bury. And I hated that I was being reminded of everything just from inhaling the air.Nothing much had changed. Except for the security guards hovering at every corner and the paint on the outside walls, it rem
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.Something familiar lingered in the air as I forced my eyes open. My body felt numb on the bed, almost making me stay back.But I hated the idea of being in one spot… for hours. It made me feel weak, incompetent, and lazy, and I wasn’t any of those things.It was morning. The l







