LOGINAXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.“Olivia…”“What were you expecting?” she snarled, tears glistening in her eyes. “That I’d run into your arms the moment I saw you?”Yes. I expected that. I wanted that more than anything, and I was so sure she’d be less upset after one week had passed.I deluded myself that it was the alcohol speaking. My Olivia would never do what she is doing right now if she were in her right frame of mind.“You’re drunk right now." My voice was raspy as I remained calm, reaching for her again. “I’ll take you to bed. And tomorrow morning… we’ll talk about everything.”She scoffed, pulled away from me the second time, and pointed her finger at my face.“Stay away from me.”That was never going to work.“Let’s go to bed.”She slapped my hands away. “Stay the fuck away from me!”I retreated, my eyes staring at how unevenly her chest rose. My fingers stroked my chin, my jaw tightening at the violent glance she gave me. She stepped forward, and I noticed her leaping on her right
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.The moment the lights came on, Olivia froze. Her heels slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a soft thud. She stood there, staring at me like she couldn’t decide if I was real or another effect of the alcohol clouding her head.I could smell the strong stench of alcohol on her, and noticed how hazy her eyes looked.Then my eyes finally dragged over her properly, seeing the bloodstain and bruises that made my stomach churn. I’d imagined finding Olivia a thousand different ways, but none of them ended with blood on her dress.Her mascara was smeared beneath red, exhausted eyes, and strands of her tangled hair clung messily against her damp skin. The short dress she wore exposed the angry marks around her arms. Her smooth thighs were smeared with mud and it left something violent twisting inside my chest.I’d spent the last few hours imagining where she was.Who she was with.Whether she was safe.But seeing her like this?It was worse than anything my
OLIVIAMy 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
OLIVIAI should have watched my back… and my steps. And maybe my words. Because now? I’d just turned to face the devil.And it wasn’t a good view at all.“What did you just say about me?”Her voice dripped with venom, and I found my tongue tied as she tilted her head forward, a snarl on her lips.I
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.“Open the fucking door, Olivia!”I pounded my fists against the metallic door, my impatience spilling over.“Take it easy, Ace,” Rosa pleaded, her voice shaking like a leaf in winter. “She’s in there, I’m sure she’s busy—‘’“—busy?” I scoffed, refusing to visualize what was go
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.“You wouldn’t fucking dare.”She chuckled, one that sounded mocking, like she’d nailed me in a terrible spot, her heels clicking on the marble floor as she walked with her shoulders squared.“It’s too late now, Axel.”So, I’d traveled for five hours? Just to get the news of m
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.No girl had ever rejected me. Not even the ones who had kicked and swore that they didn’t want me at first glance.Which rarely happened— by the way.But, she’d done it, broken the record, had me fooled into thinking that she was about to jump into my arms, and the sailing s







