LOGINJovani's POVThe next morning, I decided to pay my dear little brother a visit. I'd gone cold for a few days. It was time to make his life hot.I walked through the marble lobby, my left leg dragging slightly - the cerebral palsy never quite went away, no matter how much physical therapy I'd done over the years. The employees pretended not to notice.They were good at that.With Tella around, it was hard taking drugs because she didn't know about my palsy. I was that good at hiding it."Can I help you, sir?" The receptionist smiled."I'm here to see Jovan.""Do you have an—" She stopped, her eyes widening as she really looked at me. She saw a face that was identical to her boss's. "Oh. You must be—""His brother. Yeah." I didn't wait for her to call up. I headed for the elevatorsShe called after me but I ignored her, telling me that I wasn't allowed in the building. To hell with her and whoever gave that order.I pushed past his assistant and opened his door.Jovan was on the phone.
Lorenzo's POV"Lorenzo, let him go!"I blinked and the world came back into focus.I was in the haunted house. The actor—just a kid, maybe twenty—was pinned against the wall under my forearm. His face was turning red. His eyes were wide with real fear.And Jovan was right there, pulling at my arm, trying to get me to release him."It's fake," Jovan was saying. "It's part of the show. Lorenzo, let him go!"I released the actor immediately, stumbling back.The kid doubled over, coughing and gasping for air."What the fuck, man?" he wheezed."I—" My voice came out rough. "You grabbed him.""It's a haunted house! That's what I'm supposed to do!""From behind and in the dark." I could still feel the adrenaline coursing through me. "You don't grab people like that.""Lorenzo." Jovan stepped between us, his hands on my chest. "Stop. It's okay. I'm okay."But I could still feel it. The moment someone took him from me. The split second where I couldn't see him, couldn't protect him.The actor
Jovan's POVFor the past three days, Lorenzo's bright smile that always had me weak in the knees was nowhere to be found.He was driving us back home, hands tight on the steering wheel, jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth might crack."You need to relax," I said."I'm relaxed.""You look like you're about to rip the steering wheel off."He loosened his grip slightly but didn't look at me. His mind was somewhere else. Probably running through scenarios about Elena, about Sergei Volkov, about the Russians at Jovani's warehouse.I'd watched him spiral for three days now. He barely ate or even shut his eyes for longer than three hours. It was just work and worry and more work.It was killing him and watching it was killing me."Pull over," I said suddenly."What?""Pull over. You're not going back home.""Jovan, I have to—""You have to take a fucking break before you have a heart attack." I pointed to a parking lot ahead. "Pull over. Now."He looked like he wanted to argue but somet
Lorenzo's POVTwo days later, Jovan and I were on good terms. Donatella still had me blocked but I wasn't going to give up. Jovani had to be exposed. Today was Wednesday, Elena's shipment was arriving.She'd moved it from Tuesday to Wednesday but the info reached me regardless."Are you ready for this?" Marcus asked as we sat in the surveillance van across from the port."Been ready." I checked my watch. 6:47 AM. The shipment was scheduled to clear customs at seven.Jovan shifted beside me. I'd told him to stay home, to let me handle this, but he'd insisted on coming. Said he had a right to see his brother's operation burn.I couldn't argue with that."Container 4782-B," Dante said from the front seat, binoculars trained on the port. "Pacific Lines. That's one of Jovani's shell companies.""One of Elena's shell companies," I corrected. "Jovani's just the name on the paperwork.""Same difference.""Not to Donatella it isn't." I felt Jovan tense beside me. We'd had this conversation alr
Elena's POVThat bastard had better not say as much as a word to Jovani or else I'd ruin his pathetic old self.Giorgio Vitale sat across from me in his overpriced office, sweating through his thousand-dollar suit. Sixty years old and he still didn't know how to hide his fear. Pathetic."I don't understand what you're asking me to do," he stammered.I leaned back in my chair, studying my nails. "I'm not asking, Giorgio. I'm telling you. You will continue to manage Jovani's accounts exactly as you have been. You will not mention any irregularities. You will not ask questions and you certainly will not grow a conscience.""But the amounts….they're getting too large. Someone will notice—""Let me worry about who notices what." I met his eyes and watched him flinch. "Your job is to do exactly what I pay you to do. Move money. Sign papers. Keep your mouth shut.""Mrs. Konstantin—""It's Marchetti this week. Try to keep up."He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. "Mrs. Marchetti, I've b
PLorenzo's POVI'd been sitting on the couch for three hours, staring at my phone, willing it to ring or Jovan to text back.But nothing.The silence was suffocating. Everywhere I looked, there was evidence of him. His jacket on the chair. His coffee mug in the sink. His book on the nightstand, a bookmark still holding his place.He lived here. This was his home, our home and I'd made him feel like he couldn't come back.I picked up my phone again, scrolling through the messages I'd sent.I'm sorry.Please come home.I love you.I was wrong.All delivered and all read but no response.Fuck this.I grabbed my keys and headed out. If he wouldn't come home, I'd go to him.---By the time I reached Jovan's bank, the sky had opened up. Rain poured down in sheets, soaking through my jacket within seconds.I didn't care.I parked across the street and waited, watching the entrance. Employees started trickling out at five-thirty, umbrellas popping open, people running to their cars.But no Jo
JOVAN'S POVAt 3:47 AM according to my phone, I woke up needing to piss and the blue light harsh against my eyes in the darkness.I lay there for a minute, trying to ignore the pressure in my bladder, trying to fall back asleep but it didn't work.I got up and I stumbled toward the bathroom, half-a
JOVAN'S POVThe next morning was a much more pleasant one than yesterday but I needed something from Lorenzo."I need my phone back." I said the moment I stepped into the room.Lorenzo looked up from his coffee. "Good morning to you too.""Good morning. I need my phone back and my laptop.""You hav
LORENZO'S POVJovan sat there looking at the table. "I don't remember," he said again."I know," I said."I should remember if I have family. I should know that. Why don't I know that?""We'll figure it out," I patted him on the shoulder. "We'll find out who Vael is. We'll find out if they're conne
JOVAN'S POVThe next morning, I was up before Lorenzo rolled out of bed. He had his stylist bring in three piece suits and shoes that were a perfect fit.“Don't forget our deal,” Lorenzo stood on the porch,coffee in his hand while he watched me hop into the car.“Yes, Mr Lorenzo.” I yelled as I dro







