LOGINThe birth of my son was the absolute best day of my life. Hearing him cry for the very first time brought tears to my eyes, and when I held him, it was a moment of such pure love that I could feel it in my soul. He was my flesh and blood, the heir to the legacy I would leave behind. He would be untouchable.He was the most perfect thing I’d ever seen, and I felt blessed. My path to power had been filled with bloodshed, violence, and betrayal. I’d walk that path a thousand times over if it meant he would never have to. I’d suffer being shot over and over if it meant he would take over the family dynasty in peace. I knew it was wishful thinking. There would always be enemies, but I would slay as many of them as I could before he rose to take over.We flew to Dominic’s country estate for the baptism. It was important to me that he be baptized by Father Tomassino, in the same church I’d been baptized, and Dominic before me. It was a family tradition I didn’t want to let go of.The church
It took another four weeks before I was finally discharged. Kaelis took notes as the doctor gave instructions for exercises at home, check-up dates and what I could and couldn’t do. By the end of it, I wanted to bash his head in, push Kaelis to her knees and then go home.When we arrived at the house, I was surprised with a welcome home party. My parents had flown down, Honor and James and even Wrath with his most trusted circle were there. It was good to see everyone again and be surrounded by the people I loved.Arya now sported an engagement ring on her finger, and I glanced at Wilder. “You couldn’t tell me this in the hospital?”“I didn’t want to risk you getting all excited,” he said. “But the sex after I proposed was awesome.”Arya shook her head and kissed my cheek when I hugged her. “It’s good to have you back, cousin.”“Trust me, nobody’s as happy as I am.”My mother cried, and hugged me for a long time. I could almost relate to what she was feeling. Soon, I’d hold my own chi
After a week, I was transferred to a regular room, but my restlessness just grew. I wanted to be out there with my men, hunting down the man that gave the order to end my life. I knew it was Bryce, and Navo had found the evidence.“You need to rest, Mr. Vittori,” the nurse admonished me. It was 1 a.m. and I pulled the headphones off.“Just going to finish this movie, then I’ll rest, I promise,” I said.The movie was a live-feed of the men in a warehouse they tracked Bryce to. He’d hired mercenaries to protect him, especially after the fall of Carlos Suarez. I had watched a live feed of his execution. Diego had waited for me to regain consciousness before moving in. I guess I owed him one.“I’ll be back in 30 minutes,” she said.I ignored her and watched in rapt fascination as men scoured the warehouse, the beams from the lights on their rifles bouncing around in the darkness. I listened to bursts of gunfire, screams and my men stepping over dead bodies.It was a realistic version of a
The ICU room was dim. Machines were beeping softly in a steady rhythm. I didn’t remember the hiss of the ventilator; they’d extubated me earlier that morning when I started breathing over it. I drifted between dreams and pain. My chest felt heavy, every breath was a sharp reminder of the bullet that had almost ended me. The white ceiling came into focus again as I tried to open my eyes.At first, everything was quiet. All I could hear were the machines. All I could smell was that antiseptic odor that clung to all hospitals. Faintly, I heard the shuffle of nurses outside my room. Then I felt it. A hand wrapped around mine. Soft. Tender. A hand I knew so well. Kaelis.She was talking to Wilder, their voices soft, so as not to disturb me. Every now and then, her fingers would brush against my palm, making it tingle. It almost made up for the burning pain that was seared almost everywhere.“Okay, but when he wakes up, ask him why men like fishing,” Wilder said, a soft chuckle leaving his
Kaelis paced up and down. She couldn’t sit. The cup of take-away coffee Elias had brought her, had grown cold, and it still stood untouched on the table. There had been so much blood. She couldn’t get that image out of her head.She replayed that moment over and over in her head. Saint stepped in front of her. The hollow sound of that gunshot. Saint’s body jerked with the impact. Even shot, he’d pushed her into the car, not thinking about himself. The blood spread across his chest. She clenched her eyes shut.The waiting room was a blur of sterile white and harsh fluorescent light. She twisted her hands together, her knuckles pale. Every sound, the buzz of the vending machine, the shuffle of shoes on linoleum, scraped at her nerves.They’d been waiting for hours, but nobody left. They were all in the waiting room, waiting for news, hoping and praying that Saint made it through. They were all exhausted, and Hudson had tried a few times to take her home. She wouldn’t leave until she’d s
The double doors burst open, paramedics pushing Saint’s stretcher at full speed. The Emergency Department's lights were blinding, the air sharp with antiseptic and adrenaline.“Male, 23, GSW to the chest, hypotensive, tachycardic. He lost a lot of blood on the scene. His pressure’s tanking!” The paramedic’s voice was loud and filled with urgency as they barreled through.“Trauma bay 3!” a nurse called back.Doctors and nurses swarmed the stretcher as it slammed to a halt, and he was transferred to the hospital bed. Saint’s shirt was already cut away, his chest a mess of blood and gauze. The monitor screamed with erratic beeps.“BP 70 over palp. Pulse is 140 and thready.”“Get two large-bore IVs in, wide open fluids. Type and cross-match for blood. Call the OR, we’re going to need to crack him open.”Saint tried to move, his hand twitching by his side. His eyes fluttered, glassy and fighting against the pull of unconsciousness. His breaths were ragged and he opened his mouth, but the w
I woke up with a start, my eyes squinting in the dark room. I sat up straight, my hands rubbing over my face. Kaelis’ spot was empty and I looked around my room. I threw the covers off me and pulled my bedroom door open. Why would she leave? More importantly, when did she leave?I froze at the bott
Her smile faltered as rage clouded my vision. I took a few deep breaths to control it. “You think I’m lying to you? You think I brought you out here … to do what exactly? Have a quick hook-up and go our separate ways?”She retreated and I saw it happen. I could see the fear clouding her eyes. She f
Kaelis was in a state of shock. Her breathing was shallow and she kept staring straight ahead. She didn’t react when I talked to her, put my hand on her thigh or when I finally parked my car in the driveway. I’d seen my first dead body at the age of 5, when Wrath shot the man that had kidnapped me.
Demetria looked at the printed invitation and smiled. An exclusive party. Saint had sent her a dress and shoes. She’d been so mad when she saw him with that other woman, but then she realized that she’d done it to herself. Saint wasn’t always nice to her, but she knew he was well on his way to reac







