MasukGIANNA “I can’t believe that arrogant man.” I announced as I stormed into the kitchen, dropping my purse and phone on the counter. “What is it?” Aria asked from the dishwasher with a plate in her hand. I wanted telling her everything that had happened at the club, but at the same time, I didn’t want to go into much detail. So I settled on a lie, which on my path, wasn't a complete lie. “It’s Enzo, he kicked me out of the club after requesting for me to be there.” I yanked out a stool and sat. “Can you imagine that?” She put the plate down and with a hand over her mouth, she tried suppressing her laugh. “It’s Enzo.” She said between giggles. “You want to talk more about it?” “It’s not funny Aria, stop laughing.” I whined. “But do you at least want to talk about it?” She tried putting on a serious face but failed miserably. “Not really.” I whispered and lowered my eyes to avoid her gaze. She gave me a warm hug and went back to offloading the dishwashe
GIANNA The voice slithered down my spine before I could think of turning. “You like what you see?” My breath snagged. For a heartbeat, I prayed, thinking I’d imagined it. But no—heat was pressed into my back, unmistakable, suffocating. Why is he here? Of all places? Don’t be stupid, Gianna. This is his club. Of course, he’s here. Oh God—what if he heard me whisper his name? My lips still tingled with the memory. I squeezed my eyes shut, in a desperate plea, silently begging the universe to take it back. Slowly, I turned my head, like a prey caught in a hunter’s gaze. And there he was. Enzo Moretti. The man I couldn’t escape, no matter how many walls I built. It had been less than twenty-four hours since I’d last seen him, and still he looked devastatingly good. Dark suit molded to his broad shoulders, shirt undone at the throat, the edge of a tattoo crawling across his chest like a secret I once knew. His eyes carried shadows. Hungry shadows that dem
GIANNA I stood in front of the club, contemplating whether I should call an uber or just swallow my pride and find out what Enzo wanted. After the way he night’s events between us, I wasn’t expecting him to want to see my face. Lord knows how much I don’t want to be here. But here I was anyway. It took a lot of convincing from Aria before I got into the car he sent to pick me up. And besides, I had something important to talk to him about. So why not kill two birds with one stone? I sat at the bar, as instructed by one of the bodyguards stationed at the entrance of the club, while I waited for Enzo. “Hello, ma’am, what would you like?” The tattooed bartender with long blond hair brushing his shoulders asked. I don’t know if I’m meant to be drinking, especially here. But who cares, anyway? I gave him a small smile. “I’ll get a glass of martini, please.” “That’s a great choice.” He winked at me as he flipped his hair back. “Your drink will be ready in a bit.”
ENZO “Boom!” The sound of my gun echoed through the club's basement. The bastard who’d been helping Paulo thought confessing would save him. Thought telling me the truth meant mercy. He was wrong. I’d walked out of the club last night with the intention of letting him live, but after the night’s event, my hands needed blood. So I came back and handled it in the only way I knew how to. I’d made promises to myself the day Gianna walked through her father’s door. Promise I already doubted I could keep. And tonight, I almost crossed a line I swore I wouldn’t. But I won’t let myself become bait to the madness she stirs inside my head. I saw the way her gaze lingered on me. I’m not blind. Hunger burned in her eyes—hunger she tried and failed to hide. God help me, if I hadn’t scared her off, I might’ve given in. I might’ve shown her exactly what those thoughts could cost her. I can’t wrap my head around how much she gets under my skin. I left my house for two bloody week
GIANNA His grip on my cheeks grew warm as the thought of him claiming my lips was the only thing I could picture. Heat pooled low in my stomach just thinking about him, about the way his touch had once pulled something raw and reckless out of me I hadn’t even known existed. And God, I wanted more. I wanted him to remind me of everything my body had been missing for those years I denied myself something good. The grip on my face loosened, making the cool air of the night slap across my face. “Go to your room.” I licked my dry lips. “What?” “I said. Go. Into. Your. Room.” He strained out the words through clenched teeth, his voice rough with barely contained rage. I was lost. Confused even. Why is he chasing me away all of a sudden? Did he read every single thought that was going on in my head? “Gianna, I wouldn’t like it if I repeated myself for the third time.” He said, taking his hand through his hair as if it was taking him everything to be patient with
GIANNA I was glued to my spot, not knowing what to say or do. He looked at me so intensely that the air around us seemed to press in on me. My body betrayed me. I stepped forward, closing the space, until we stood face to face. He did nothing. Said nothing. All he did was hold my gaze, and the weight of it sent a shiver rolling through me. But I could feel the way his eyes keep screaming out words we’ve quietly promised ourselves not to spill out. His eyes weren’t just boring into mine, they stripped me, pulled me apart piece by piece until I was raw, restless and trembling. My pulse kicked up so hard it felt like my heart was about to spill out from its rib cage. My mind betrayed me, running wild with dangerous thoughts. I could see him lifting me with one easy motion, setting me on the kitchen island, his mouth calming down on mine before I could protest. I could see him dragging me close, sinking to his knees, and forcing me to beg for a release. I could e
GIANNA It’s been two weeks since that disastrous dinner, two weeks since I last saw Enzo. The night ended with sharp words between him and his son. Aria said not to worry, said he was just busy with work, but silence felt heavier than that. And for Matteo… I’m not even sure where we stand.
GIANNA’S POV The minutes tick by, each second stretching longer than the last as we landed in New York. My fingers twitch at my sides, itching to do something—anything. But I know that any motive I have is pointless. There’s no way out. The guards back home had their eyes on me, sharp and unyield
GIANNA’S POV I trailed after him, my steps slow and uncertain, a quiet unease tightening in my chest. Questions churned inside me. Why does he want to speak to me alone? What could he possibly have to say that couldn’t be said in front of the others? “What about your son?” I asked, my voice low
GIANNA’S POV “Get your ass off that seat. Both of you.” His voice was a low growl, fists clenched at his sides. “And Gianna—” his eyes cut to me “—you're in so much trouble.” “What do you mean by ‘I'm in so much trouble’?” “You ignored all 10 of my calls.” I thought it was a random number,







