LOGINAXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.“Maybe I was wrong,” Viper said, retrieving a cigarette stick from its box. “I thought it was Nelly behind the scenes.”I paced around, my thoughts ruminating. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, it actually did.“Leonardo is going to die by my hands,” I growled. “I swear.”“Calm down now. You don’t know if he’s really behind the abduction.”I scoffed, dragging my palms over my face. Hearing about his plumbing company wasn’t the only thing that left me surprised; it was the people involved with him.I spun around, ignoring the sight of Viper giving fire to the cigarette pressed tightly against his lips. I wondered if Olivia knew her so-called ex-fiancée was the main suspect behind our son’s attack. And that her sister was having an affair with him.Yeah, I said that.Grant had found more information about Isabella being one of the operation managers in the plumbing company.He’d sent private photos of them spending time together. Intimate photos that
OLIVIA“Where are you going, Red?”Matteo asked as I dragged my luggage out of the house and towards the car. I’d only packed a few things because I wasn’t sure how long I’d be away.“Milan,” I responded, opening the car’s trunk. “I’ll be staying at the penthouse there until I leave for Willowcreek.”“I shouldn’t be asking this,” he muttered. “But why are you leaving?”I sighed, staring at the pink luggage while I hesitated to close the trunk. Things were going south. I’d broken off the engagement, Alix was missing, and my mother…She wanted to see me. After years of being in a coma and responding to treatment, she was finally awake.And with all the emotional stress happening with me, I needed my mother for support.Leaving was the only thing that felt right. I didn’t want to be in the same place as Axel. It would take much longer for me to move on without having him disrupt it with an unexpected visit.I finally found the strength to shut the trunk and walk into the driver’s seat.
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.I stared at the ring in my hand, my stomach lurching at the thoughts of Olivia breaking off the engagement.And I hated to admit that her actions snapped something loose inside me, something that would never remain the same… again.My feet almost forced me to move, to run after her, but my mind prevented me from taking any step.She wanted to end things? Fine.I was tired anyway. Tired of constantly saving things and building our relationship while she was out there, flirting at the slightest chance.She’d even gone as far as sleeping with my brother. That pathetic, stupid bastard who’d been nothing but far from my rival.Footsteps approached me as I remained in that spot, completely shaken and confused about what to do next. I knew one thing for sure: I’d never believe another woman again.I heard Rosa’s voice as she got closer. She murmured under her breath, her footsteps echoing through the space before she asked me.“Dov'è Olivia?” [Where’s Olivia?]The ques
OLIVIA O-Kay. I’d brought out the other side of Axel that I thought would never surface again.At first, he was fearfully calm, not reacting at first sight, not throwing hands or yelling. All he did was glance at us, arch his eyebrows, and then walk over to the fridge to get water.And that scared me more than anything.Until he retaliated, grabbed Damien, and threw him over the table, where he crashed onto the ground.Rosa rushed in probably after hearing the loud noises. I was too scared to approach Axel or pull him away. His words were stern, and his eyes blazed with fury when they stared at me.“Cosa sta succedendo?” [What’s happening?] she asked, her eyes widening in surprise as they stared all over the place. “Ace?”She shifted her gaze to me after he ignored her, still panting heavily. My hands flew to my mouth as I kept sobbing, my whole body trembling.Damien struggled to get back on his feet. Without sparing me another glance, Axel walked out of the kitchen, his shoulders b
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.I wasn’t even searching for her—that was the problem. All I wanted was a glass of cold water after the news I’d heard about my son’s disappearance.But what did I find in the kitchen of all places?My supposed fiancée and my brother were kissing like their lives depended on it. Like they had no shame left to lose, throwing all caution to the wind.Damien’s hands were on her like she belonged there. One slid up her thigh, her leg hooked around his waist like it was natural.Her back was pressed against the counter for support. Her head tilted back slightly, and the sound of her soft moans reached me before I even fully stepped in.I said nothing at first.Not because I didn’t understand what I was seeing. But my brain refused to comprehend the sight.Olivia couldn’t be the one in that position. No. Not her. She’d never do that to hurt me.Her eyes met mine first. They were wide, glossed over with something I couldn’t immediately place.Was it… Fear? Guilt? Panic?
OLIVIAFor a second, everything went silent before the ringing in my ears started.His words didn’t just settle in my mind; they slammed into my chest, knocking the air out of me. My eyes widened as I stared at him, searching his face for any sign that this was some sick joke.It wasn’t. There was no way that could have happened.How could I have begged him to make love to me?My stomach churned violently at the thought, sending my fingertips brushing over my lips in disbelief.Was he trying to twist the truth because I couldn’t remember anything?Because if he was trying to make me pass out quietly, then it was working.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I scoffed, blinking rapidly as I fought back the sting behind my eyes. “I never did that.”Damien let out a low, humorless chuckle. He stepped closer, leaning in until I could feel the heat of his breath against my skin. My body tensed instinctively, but he didn’t stop.“That’s exactly what happened.” He said flatly.“You’re lying.” My
OLIVIA“You stupid wretch!”Nelly smacked me hard across the face, making my head tilt backward from the hit. I winced silently, refusing to let her see how broken I was within.She was furious. And I couldn’t tell why or what had happened. She held a long whip in her hand, something different than
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.Two days later…“Sei pronto?” [Are you ready?]Viper asked me, peeking in from the door.Was I ready? Maybe. I wasn’t sure anymore.I stared at the mirror for what felt like the thousandth time, and for the first time since I could remember—I prayed.Nothing much, just a littl
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.I stared at the space—the wedding hall, my eyes darting around for familiar faces. And of course, they were everywhere, seated like the high-class killers that they were.Blade. Farouq McCaren. Santiago Van.I saw all of them—every motherfucker that wanted me dead.Except for
OLIVIAFreedom? No. I wished today was the day I’d be free.Nelly was getting her happy ending—getting married to the man I loved more than anything.And me? What about me? My baby was going to be ripped out of me while I’d sail against my will to another country.My mother? My sister? What would







