LOGINARIELLA I took a second before smiling. “Okay,” I said. I didn’t want to push it. I didn’t want him to think I didn’t trust him… or worse, realise that I was jealous. Because that’s what it was, wasn’t it? Leon was already completely taken by her. Something I was still trying to figure out. And
ARIELLA We found Margaret was placing the last bowl on the table. “Everything ready, Margaret?” I asked. “Yes,” she said. “Everything’s ready.” “Okay, I’ll go get everyone.” Maria shook her head, already taking a seat. “I’ll just stay here. Why don’t you go and get them?” I paused, looking at
ARIELLA I froze. It wasn’t inappropriate. It wasn’t… that. But it was.... Familiar. Too familiar. Asher laughed, reaching up to ruffle her hair, messing it up playfully as someone would do with a younger sibling. “Hey, stranger,” he said. Leon stood beside them, smiling brightly, clearly loving
ARIELLA I exhaled. “Okay.” “I’ll see you later,” he said. “Don’t be late for dinner,” I responded. “I want a promise.” A small smile slipped into his voice. “Okay. I promise.” “I love you.” I couldn't help myself. “I love you too.” The call ended and I stayed there for a moment longer, star
ARIELLA The truth was… maybe I did. Maybe I had seen them before. Maybe I had grown up around them. But I didn’t actually know who had died. “I don’t know,” I said honestly. “Maybe.” Leon frowned again. “Then why didn’t you go to the funeral?” I hesitated. “I guess I should have,” I admitted
ARIELLA After breakfast, I tried to keep the morning as normal as possible. For Leon, and most importantly…For myself. “Mom,” Leon said, looking up at me, “should we go and prepare my study room? You told me that I could help.” “Of course,” I said. But before we walked out, I turned toward Marg
ASHER I didn’t want to be here. It was the last place on the planet I wanted to be. These were the last people on Earth I wanted to spend the day....or the night, with. But here I was, sitting in a meeting with my men, the captains, and the leaders of my famiglia. It was necessary. I had to know w
ARIELLA "You think I won't kill her? You think I won't hesitate to kill her? You think that I will hesitate? Do you think I went through all of this without having a plan? I know what I'm doing, Asher, and I won't let you threaten me. You think because I'm not from the Mafia world that I'm afraid o
ASHER “That’s not gonna work for me, I’m afraid,” I told her flatly. Her sobs grew louder, desperate, maybe for effect, maybe for real, but I didn’t care to measure the difference anymore. “I’m tired,” I added, dragging my words like I was done with every piece of her. “I want to go inside, take
ARIELLA When I woke up, every joint, every part of my body ached as if I’d been crushed in a hundred places at once. I groaned, trying to move, but a hand immediately clamped over my mouth. That same whisper came again, that word that made my stomach drop. "Shhhh....!" I struggled to open my eyes







