LOGINHome at LastThe room felt too small all of a sudden. Marco Salvatore stood there in his sharp suit, smiling like he owned the place. My heart hammered so hard I could feel it in my throat. Valerio stepped right in front of me. His body blocked mine like a wall. Luca tried to sit up in the bed but he groaned and fell back. Tubes tugged at his arm.“Easy,” I whispered to Luca. I kept my hand on his. It was still warm. Still alive. That was all I cared about right now.Marco raised his empty hands higher. “Whoa. No gun. I swear. I’m not here to hurt anyone.”Valerio didn’t lower his hand from his own gun. “Talk fast. You’ve got ten seconds before I put you on the floor.”Marco looked tired all of a sudden. Not cocky. Just worn out. “My father sent me. He found out about the leak in his own crew. The old guys loyal to Matteo. They were using me as a front. I played along so I could feed them bad info. Buy us time.”Luca coughed a little. “You… knew?”Marco nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been watchi
The hospital smelled like bleach and old blood. I hated it right away. Bright lights buzzed overhead. My shoes squeaked on the shiny floor as I paced the little waiting room. Valerio sat in one of the plastic chairs. His hands were still red from Luca’s blood. He kept wiping them on his jeans but it wouldn’t come off.I stopped pacing. Sat next to him. My leg bounced up and down. The baby felt heavy inside me now. Every kick reminded me I had two lives to worry about.“He’s tough,” Valerio said. His voice was rough. “Kid took a knife meant for bigger trouble. He’ll pull through.”I nodded but my throat felt tight. “He called himself uncle Luca. Right before he passed out. Like it was real.” Tears burned my eyes again. I wiped them fast. “What if he doesn’t wake up? What if I never get to tell him he’s family for good?”Valerio pulled me against his side. His arm felt warm and solid. “He will. He has to. We still need to yell at him for running off like an idiot.”A nurse walked by. He
My knees dug into the sharp gravel. It hurt but I didn’t care. Luca’s hand felt too cold in mine. Blood kept soaking through Valerio’s fingers where he pressed hard on the wound. The smell hit me hard. Metal and salt and something sweet underneath. I swallowed down the sick feeling in my throat.“Luca, look at me,” I said. My voice cracked like glass. “Stay right here. Don’t you dare leave us.”He blinked slow. His eyes looked glassy in the dim light from the warehouse. “Elena… I messed up.” The words came out weak. Wet.Valerio’s face stayed hard but his eyes were wet too. “Shut up and breathe, kid. Doctor’s almost here. Hear those sirens? That’s for you.”I squeezed Luca’s hand tighter. Tears ran hot down my cheeks. I wiped them fast with my free hand. The baby kicked hard like it knew something was wrong. My chest felt tight. I thought about Livia asleep back home. About how she’d made Luca wear that silly flower crown. About how he carried her on his shoulders at the market. He wa
Chapter 288: Dark RoadsI sat there on the edge of the bed, phone still in my hand. My fingers felt cold. The message stared back at me. They know he’s my brother. My stomach twisted hard. Luca. Out there alone. Thinking he could fix some old mess from Matteo’s crew and keep us safe. Stupid boy. Brave boy. My brother.Valerio yanked on his shirt. His jaw was tight. Eyes dark with that look he gets when trouble shows up at our door. “Get dressed,” he said. Voice low. “Quick. We take two cars. Marco and the others are already rolling.”I stood up fast. My legs shook a little. The baby gave a sharp kick like it felt my worry. I pressed a hand to my belly. “He’s just a kid trying to prove something,” I whispered. “What if they’re waiting for him?”Valerio pulled me close for one second. His arms wrapped around me tight. “We’ll get him back,” he said against my hair. “But I need you safe. You and the baby. Stay behind me when we find him.”I nodded. Grabbed my jeans and a loose sweater. No
Chapter 285:Late Night PullI woke up slow. The room was dark except for a thin line of moonlight sneaking through the shutters. Valerio’s arm lay heavy across my waist. His hand rested right on the curve of my belly like he always did now. The baby gave a little kick under his palm. I smiled in the dark. Felt that warm rush in my chest again. God, I loved this man. Loved how safe he made everything feel even when the world outside still had teeth.My body still tingled from earlier on the terrace. I could still feel him inside me if I thought about it too hard. Slick and full and his. I shifted closer. Pressed my back against his chest. He smelled like sweat and sea salt and that deep man scent that always got me going.He stirred behind me. “Can’t sleep?” His voice came out rough and sleepy.“Just thinking,” I whispered back. “About us. About how good today felt.”He made a low sound in his throat. His hand slid lower, fingers brushing between my legs. I was still a little wet from
Chapter 285:Late Night PullI woke up slow. The room was dark except for a thin line of moonlight sneaking through the shutters. Valerio’s arm lay heavy across my waist. His hand rested right on the curve of my belly like he always did now. The baby gave a little kick under his palm. I smiled in the dark. Felt that warm rush in my chest again. God, I loved this man. Loved how safe he made everything feel even when the world outside still had teeth.My body still tingled from earlier on the terrace. I could still feel him inside me if I thought about it too hard. Slick and full and his. I shifted closer. Pressed my back against his chest. He smelled like sweat and sea salt and that deep man scent that always got me going.He stirred behind me. “Can’t sleep?” His voice came out rough and sleepy.“Just thinking,” I whispered back. “About us. About how good today felt.”He made a low sound in his throat. His hand slid lower, fingers brushing between my legs. I was still a little wet from
Chapter Ninety NineElena’s POVThe line went silent for a heartbeat, then Valerio’s voice returned sharper, lower, like a blade pressed to my skin.“Elena… tell me where you are.”I swallowed hard. “I can’t.”Behind me Brian mouthed, don’t.Valerio exhaled—slow, dangerous. “You think running keeps
Chapter Ninety FourElena’s POVSophia’s lips trembled. Her mascara streaked down her cheeks. For the first time since I met her, she looked genuinely scared, as if she finally understood who she had provoked.I I did not mean she stuttered her voice cracking. Her eyes darted between Valerio and th
Chapter One Hundred ThreeElena POVThe basement door slammed shut above me, sealing me into darkness so thick it felt alive. My heart raced wildly as I pressed my back against the cold wall, sliding down until I was sitting on the floor. The air smelled damp and metallic, like old pipes and forgot
Chapter Ninety ThreeElena’s POVThe world was a blur of dust and broken wood when I opened my eyes again. My ears rang so loudly it felt like someone pressed metal against them. People were shouting. Someone was crying. Someone was calling my name. I tried to sit up but pain shot through my should







