LOGINAXEL SALVATORE ROSSIMy reputation was restored. My estate was no longer on the verge of collapsing, and I could finally break free from every unwanted alliance I’d been forced to join.I had the ledger back in my hands.“You have no idea what you’ve done for me,” I said to Isabella, my voice laced with warmth. “Thank you.”She sniffled, then pulled away from me as she reclined her back against the chair.“I know the penalty for breaking the omertà. And I’m ready.”Death.That was the penalty.The council would try to make sure she received it, but not a single part of me wanted that anymore.I got up quietly, leaned towards her, and grabbed her shoulders gently. Her bulgy eyes stared right back at me, void and glinting with acceptance.“I promise you, Isabella. Nothing is going to happen to you.”She chuckled bitterly, sounding like she didn’t believe my words. “You can’t fight the council.”Maybe not before. But after they’d turned their backs on me and left me to single-handedly fi
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSIAt exactly nine-eighteen a.m, I arrived at the Moretti’s estate to see Isabella. I stepped out of my car, and walked straight into the main building.More than half of the security guards weren’t in sight, and I grew a bit worried. She’d sounded hysterical after calling again that morning, and I had to leave without seeing Olivia.“Isabella?”I called immediately after stepping into the living room. She was nowhere near, and I walked closer into the secondary living room.The strong stench of alcohol filled my nostrils as I stepped in. Isabella sat on the ground, surrounded by empty wine bottles and glasses.Her hair was all tangled and messy. She looked weak and pale just sitting there, her back reclined against the wall. There was shattered glass next to her legs, and she was bleeding. I rushed to her, hating how terrible she looked.“Rosetta?”Her body was warm, and her voice was weak when she finally responded. “Ace… you came.”I lifted her off the ground an
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSITwice.Olivia tapped twice, and I didn’t know how to feel about that. Those innocent eyes stared at me, a small smile etched on her lips.Those beautiful eyes.The way her lips pouted slightly, almost made my control slip away. God! I swear she was teasing me without knowing.And my body reacted to every single thing she did. Even without hearing her voice.My pulse thundered beneath my skin, and for a moment, I blinked my eyes to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating.“You…” my throat tightened but I forced the words out. “You want me to kiss you?”Her lips parted into a soft gasp as she looked at me. She clasped her hands together, rested them beneath her chin and nodded quietly.I pulled my chair back carefully, stood up, and walked towards her. Her gaze remained on my face, not shifting until I stood right beside her.Olivia stretched her hand forward and I helped her to her feet. She readjusted her dress, then stared at me innocently like she had no idea what she
OLIVIAI waited by the window, only sitting whenever my legs grew tired. Every set of footsteps outside my room made my heart leap before sinking again when they passed.Axel said I had to be ready by nine-thirty, but I was already dressed and waiting since eight p.m.I couldn’t understand why, and I searched for answers to what was happening within me. Trusting Axel felt like a risk until… we’d gotten that close at the poolside.I’d felt his hot breath against my skin, seen the concern in his eyes, and heard the passion in his voice.Something snapped loose inside me. And after the flashbacks in the hospital, I knew that maybe… it was worth giving a shot after all.Still, it didn’t stop me from being careful around him. My body remembered and wanted him, but my mind refused to comply.I heard footsteps again, and I sat upright on the bed, wishing silently that it was Axel. He’d texted me earlier that he’d come and pick me up from my room.For some reason, I looked forward to the date
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSI.“Yeah. She’s still asleep, but she’s safe now.”I said over the phone, trying to calm Isabella down. I stood close to the pool, waiting for Grant to return from what I’d sent him.Footsteps thudded softly behind me seconds later, and when I turned around, it wasn’t Grant. It was Olivia.Dressed in a long, flowing red gown, she halted after realizing that I was on a phone call. The warm breeze blew through her hair, and she tucked away strands of her hair behind her ears.Olivia stood a few feet away, eyes staring at me with hesitation. I swallowed hard, then told Isabella over the phone.“I’ll call you later.”I didn’t wait for her response before hanging up. Quietly, I tucked my phone away, raising my gaze at Olivia.Unsure of what to do or say, I whispered curiously.“How’re you feeling now?”She clutched her phone tightly, her lips pressed into a thin line. I didn’t move from my spot. I didn’t want to annoy her by getting closer.The last thing I wanted was he
OLIVIAThe air smelled like antiseptic and medicines. And I found myself in that same situation, on a hospital bed, screaming as I pushed something out of me.“I… I can’t do it anymore,” I cried.“You’ve got to keep pushing,” a voice said firmly. “Your baby is almost here.”I groaned and pushed with all the strength inside me, but it wasn’t… enough. Weakness took over my whole body, and I struggled for air.“My insides…” I gasped. “They’re ripping apart.”Hands tapped my cheeks and thighs, trying to jolt me back to the moment so I wouldn’t pass out. I pushed and pushed with everything in me, screaming at the top of my lungs.“Mrs. Olivia?”A voice echoed in my ears, but I’d already transitioned from that room. I was in another living room, holding my baby in my arms while a… man screamed at me to get out of his house.“Leave!” He screeched. “Get this witch out of here right now.”“Mrs. Olivia?”The same voice kept calling me. I searched around, but nobody was there. It was just me,
OLIVIA It felt wrong to admit it, but— Axel had gone crazy. First, he was yelling at me for the slightest reason, and had blatantly ordered that I take my hair out of the bun Antonio had wrapped it in. Then, he’d warned me with his eyes blazing with venom that I wasn’t allowed to go close to a
AXEL SALVATORE ROSSII’d spent all night tending to Olivia and making sure she’d regain consciousness. I couldn’t take chances— couldn’t let anything happen to her.Viper had retreated while fuming. He felt I was losing myself for her. Felt that I was making a mistake that could not only cost me bu
OLIVIA“You’d better eat before you starve.”Like anyone really cared. The guard muttered to me, pushing a tray of food towards me with a long stick they’d constantly used to hit me.I didn’t even take a look at it. One glance and I knew I’d puke into the disgusting food.I was tired. Weak. Worst
OLIVIAWeakness.The kind of weakness I felt couldn’t be described through words. My whole body was trembling, it felt like I carried the world alone on my shoulders.My lips quivered, and I couldn’t even open my eyes. A tingling sensation of cold coursed through my body, searing like I was about t







