LOGINMATTEO’S POVI stared at Nikolai standing in my living room, tension radiating off him like heat from a fire. After everything that went down at his place, the argument, the accusations, the way we left things I hadn’t expected him to show up here.“Come in,” I said finally, stepping aside.He walked past me without a word. We moved to the mini bar in the corner of the living room. I poured two glasses of whiskey, handed him one, and we both sat on the couches facing each other. The silence stretched for a moment, heavy and uncomfortable.Nikolai took a long sip, then spoke first. “She rejected me again.”I raised an eyebrow. “Sophia?”He nodded, staring into his glass. “She kissed me. Then pulled away and said she doesn’t think she wants to be with me. That everything feels forced. I didn’t push her. I just… walked out. But it fucking hurt, Matteo. I’ve never wanted anyone like this. Not just to possess her. I want her to choose me. But she’s terrified. Of me. Of this life. Of everyt
THIRD PERSON POVAt Nikolai's house the next morning, Sophia had just finished making breakfast when Frederico made his way to the sitting room, he looked at Nikolai with a tired but determined expression.“I want to leave,” he said. “I’ve been here long enough. I need to get back to my own place.”Sophia, immediately shook her head. “No. You’re not going anywhere. The bullet wound is still healing. You lost a lot of blood during that attack, and the risk of infection is high. You need at least a few more days of rest and monitoring.”Frederico grinned, his playful nature refusing to stay quiet even while injured. “Look at that. My future sister-in-law is already bossing me around. I like her, Nick. She’s got fire.”Sophia’s cheeks turned bright red. “I’m not your sister-in-law.”“She keeps denying it everytime, but I'm certain the both of you are going to…” he trailed off. Nikolai shot his brother with a warning glare, but there was no real heat in it. “Shut up, Fred.”Frederico chu
MATTEO’S POVI left the penthouse before sunrise, kissing Arielle’s forehead while she was still half-asleep and warm in my bed. The taste of last night still lingered on my tongue, her moans, her nails digging into my back, the way she whispered my name like a prayer and a curse at the same time.But business waited for no one.Xavier was already waiting in the underground garage with two of my best men. We drove in silence to one of our secure warehouses on the east side. The moment we stepped inside the dimly lit room, he handed me a thick folder.“You’re not going to like this,” he said flatly.I opened it.The first photo hit me like a punch to the gut.A woman. Late twenties in the picture. Dark hair, striking eyes, full lips. She looked so much like Arielle it was fucking disturbing. Same sharp cheekbones. Same fire in the gaze.“Who the hell is she?” I growled.Xavier crossed his arms. “We think she’s Arielle’s biological mother. Her name's Isabella Vargas. She wasn’t just som
ARIELLE’S POVMy stomach dropped the second Vincenzo stepped inside.The door clicked shut behind him and his two guards like a prison cell locking. The penthouse, which had felt like a safe haven moments ago, suddenly felt too small. Too exposed. I was standing there in nothing but Matteo’s black button-down shirt, my hair messy from sleep and last night’s activities, faint marks still visible on my neck.Vincenzo’s cold eyes swept over me slowly, taking in every detail. Disgust curled his lip.“Comfortable, I see,” he said, voice smooth but dripping with disdain. “Wearing my son’s shirt like you actually belong here.”I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. “Vincenzo… Matteo isn’t here right now. If you want to talk, maybe we should wait until…”“I didn’t come here for my son,” he cut me off sharply, stepping closer. His presence filled the room. “I came for you.”He stopped a few feet away, looking me up and down like I was something dirty on the bottom of his shoe.“You really
ARIELLE’S POVIt's been a few days since the attack when we tried to get hold of Giselle. It was morning already, I sat staring at the ceiling, my body was deliciously sore in all the right places. Heat rushed to my cheeks as memories from last night flooded back. God.What was I even thinking? One minute I hate my husband, the next I'm letting him touch me in ways that make me crave for more. To be close to him like that. Matteo had been insatiable.He’d taken me against the kitchen counter first, then carried me to the bedroom like I weighed nothing. His hands had been everywhere rough, possessive, claiming. I could still feel the ghost of his fingers digging into my hips, the way he’d growled my name against my neck as he drove deep inside me. “Mine,” he’d rasped between thrusts. “Only fucking mine.”I pressed my thighs together, a fresh wave of warmth spreading through me. God, the man was dangerous. Even when he wasn’t here, he still had power over my body. I buried my face i
THIRD PERSON POV“I'd be damned if I let these bastards kill me.” She cursed under her breath and pulled out a gun. She could see the driver's look of horror. He looked terrified…very terrified. “You need to get me out of this place alive.” She announced and he stepped on the gas. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves then floored it, tires screeched as the car lurched forward. More bullets slammed into the trunk. One of the pursuing SUVs tried to cut them off, but her guard leaned out the window and emptied his clip into its windshield. The vehicle swerved violently and crashed into a tree.“Faster!” Giselle snapped, pressing her hand against the bleeding graze from the first attack. Pain flared hot up her arm, but she clenched her teeth. “They’re not Morettis. Who the hell are these bastards?”The driver didn’t answer. He just drove like death was on their tail — which it was.They lost the last SUV after a chaotic ten-minute chase through back roads. Giselle’s heart hammered
Arielle’s POV The kiss didn’t end, Matteo kissed me like he was pouring every unspoken word into my mouth instead of saying them. I gasped as his hands slid from my face to my waist, then lower, bunching the crimson silk at my hips until the fabric rode up my thighs. I felt the heat of his palms
ARIELLE'S POV The next day came faster than expected. After everything that has been going on between the both of us, I wasn't really prepared for whatever we were going to face at his father's house. The man had not even showed up for the wedding. So I had no idea the kind of person he was.
ARIELLE'S POV The last echo of the final shot died in the soundproofed walls. The target was shredded in pieces. My arms burned, my ears rang faintly even with the protection, but the shaking was gone. Replaced by something colder. Steadier. Nikolai lowered his own practice pistol. “Enough for
ARIELLE'S POVLiora was waiting outside the training room when I stepped out, wiping sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. My muscles ached in a way that felt almost good—like proof I wasn’t completely helpless.“My lady,” she said, falling into step beside me. “The Don expects you at dinne







