JAYCE BECKETT I didn’t want to be here.Didn’t want the noise, the weight of bass beneath my ribs, the sweat of strangers pressed too close together. I didn’t want the glitz masking rot or the alcohol masking guilt. All I wanted was to follow the plan and disappear into the shadows before anyone realized we were there.But that wasn’t an option.Marcelo parked two blocks away. The engine cut, and the only sound left in the silence was his fingers tapping the steering wheel. Fast. Nervous. Trying not to show it.“He just pulled over,” I murmured, watching the banker’s Mercedes through the window. “Right in front of the clubhouse. Could’ve gone anywhere tonight, but he chose here.”Marcelo shook his head. “Fucker thinks he’s safe in there. Thinks just ‘cause it’s election night and there are too many people in there, we won’t catch him.”“He might be right,” I said, jaw tight. “This place seems to have eyes. Mikhail’s friends might be in there to watch over him. Or his friends' friends
Hi, everyone.I’m really sorry for being away these past two days. I haven’t been feeling well since I'm not that very healthy, and I needed those two days to rest. Thank you for your patience and understanding.I also want to sincerely thank every one of you who has taken the time to share your thoughts about this book and how you think it might end. I truly appreciate how invested you are, and I love seeing the unique ways each of you interprets the story.I saw a few comments about writing a book for Marcelo and Nikola. First, I want to clarify that there’s really nothing more to write about Nikola. I’ve already shared the key details of his life and love story; he got his happy ending in Giovanni’s book when he finally ended up with the person he loved.As for Marcelo, I’m honestly not sure yet. I might give him a side story with a few chapters in this book rather than a full separate book. Please let me know what you think about that, I’m open to your thoughts.That said, I’ve be
Currently working on the next six chapters… and let’s just say, some of them are getting real spicy. Hihi. 👀 Since this book ends this month, I’m curious—how do you think it’ll end? Who’ll be the winner, and who’ll be left broken? 👑💔 No spoilers from me, but I’ll be watching the guesses. 👀
RENATO MARINO The black sedan rolled up the gravel path like a hearse.Gravel crunched beneath the tires as we approached the old cathedral, abandoned decades ago, resurrected tonight for one purpose only. The iron gates were already open. Men stood outside in silence, posted like statues. Armed. Alert. Ready to kill for the men inside.Salvio was behind the wheel, he seemed tense. Giovanni sat on my right, quiet as stone. Nikola and the rest of my men were circling the perimeter, on standby, fingers on triggers. The air reeked of danger and old incense, holy ground tainted by blood oaths and ambition.“This is it,” Salvio muttered. “No backing out.”“There never was,” I said gently, slipping my gloves on.A man in a grey coat stepped toward the car. He leaned in, voice low.“Only one goes in with you, sir. Rules of the table.”I looked at Giovanni. He gave a single nod, no words needed.Salvio looked at me. “Try not to die, boss.”"I'm not dying today, dawg." I smirked, shoving my h
JAYCE BECKETT The silence in the car was the kind that made your ears ring. It sat between us like fog, thick and choking.I kept my eyes locked on the house across the street. Two-story. Beige stucco, big hedges, quiet street—typical suburban camouflage for a snake in a suit. A banker with blood money on his hands and a fake smile for every soul he screwed over.I hated him with every fiber of my being.Not just for what he did, but for what he reminded me of.Men in power, hiding behind paper walls, making innocent people suffer.It was getting to me. I knew it. And Marcelo knew it too.He was in the driver's seat, slouched like he owned the world, one leg propped up, chewing a toothpick like it owed him money. He hadn’t shut up since we parked.“I swear to God,” he said, “if this guy doesn’t show face in the next hour, I'm going up there and dragging him out myself.”I didn’t answer.“Jayce,” he called, dragging out the syllables, “don’t make me start singing. You know I’ll do it.
RENATO MARINO We got downstairs and none of the kids were there.The air was thick—like grief had a scent, like mourning seeped into the tiles, the walls, the fucking bricks of this place. It didn’t matter that the sun was up. There was no warmth in this house today.Marcelo was already outside, waiting by the fountain. His hair was messy, his shirt half-buttoned, like he hadn’t even tried to look presentable. In his arms was the dog, Tim, shivering, limp.“He's not okay,” he said, gently setting the dog down on the marble floor.I watched the sick body twitch, once, then go still again. His breathing was shallow. His eyes unfocused. That loyal mutt that had barked at every goddamn guest, that had growled at strangers and followed Chocolate around like a shadow… was now barely holding on.I swallowed the tightness in my throat and glanced at Marcelo.He was crouched by the dog again, rubbing his ears, his mouth twisted in that same stubborn grimace he wore when something actually got