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. Aria said he’s not in the right headspace and that he’ll eventually come around, but if I’m being honest, a small part of me has already begun to lose hope. Aria has been there for me, making sure whatever wounds I felt never cut deep enough to leave scars laced with unforgettable memories. We’ve become so close in the past few days, sharing late-night conversations over tea and trading quite a few childhood memories we’d never say out loud to anyone. We have two months and a week left until the wedding, and Enzo still hasn’t said anything about postponing or canceling it. He remains persistent, as if nothing has happened. I hate to admit it, but I’ve also settled in better th
GIANNA I shot up, heart pounding. He was here. Why? My chest tightened. Whatever brought him couldn’t be good, and I wasn’t ready for it. “Go away.” A beat of silence. “If you don’t open the fucking door, I’ll break it down.” His voice hit like a slap, rough and close enough to make the wood tremble. He’d said he was going back to the club after dropping me off. So why the hell was he still here? Drained from the day, I shoved the covers back and forced myself to my feet. Each step to the door felt heavier than the last, but I yanked it open anyway. His frame filled the doorway, shoulders squared, jaw so tight a muscle thickened in his cheek. His eyes cut to me—dark, unblinking, and anything but pleased. “As long as you're staying here, you need to stop acting like a brat.” His voice was low and edged with steel, each word pressed out like it cost him to hold back. “I’m not—” “I’m still speaking.” He cut me off, stepping closer, the air between us becoming suff