MasukFabrizio Antonio huffs and runs his hands through his hair. He knows I'm right; we've been walking through a minefield for the last two years. We wanted to avoid a conflict, but if we want absolute control, we have to weed out the rats."I don't want a confrontation because of me." We all turn toward the hallway to see Bianca, who has come out of the room. "If the Don thinks it's best for me to hide and for everyone to think I fled on my own, I'll do it.""We already talked about this, Bianca," I say with determination."Yes, but we have to be realistic. What you're suggesting isn't practical, Fabrizio, at least not right now. You're right, the Bratva will never forgive us for what Enzo did, and I assume we won't forgive them either after what happened to Ari.""You assume correctly," Enzo seconds in a low voice."But while it's going to be an eternal war, it's also true that these next few months will be the worst," she continues, making her point. "The attacks will start, on both s
Fabrizio The tense moment is interrupted by the doctor, who has come to check on Bianca. The most striking blow is to her eye; however, it doesn't seem to be anything more than swelling from a cut on her cheekbone that the doctor takes care of stitching up. What is truly concerning is the hematoma on her side; Bianca has already suffered a fracture on that rib, and it's most likely that it's broken again."Take a deep breath," the doctor asks as he examines her in bed. She tries to do so but can't, groaning in pain. "I need her to have an x-ray to confirm, but I'm almost certain it's fractured," he informs me."She can't leave here.""Fine, I'll bring a team to handle it.""What should we do?""Well, the young lady already has some experience with this," he replies, looking at Bianca with compassion. "She needs to take the anti-inflammatory and stay in bed as much as possible, no physical exertion."That prohibition sets off an alarm."What kind of exertion are we talking about?" I a
BiancaI won't deny that the man scares the hell out of me, but his wife doesn't flinch in the least.—All the more reason she should be present at this meeting, to be aware of every angle of this complex situation.—We are in an active war with the Bratva, —Enzo argues—, an internal war will tear us apart.—Following your logic, I suppose you blame me for the Bratva situation, —Ari rebukes angrily.—It's different, Ari; you were kidnapped, and I killed the Pakhan, not you.—But I made a mistake, I left without protection, I put myself in that situation. So tell me, Enzo, am I to blame? Do you blame me for having the Bratva on our backs?—No, of course not! I did what I had to do to protect you and my son, and I would do it a thousand times over if necessary.She smiles smugly.—There's your answer. Fabrizio is doing the exact same thing for Bianca.—It's different! —the Don roars, and I startle—. You are his wife, you are carrying his child; it's only logical that we protect you. You
Bianca“His woman.”His words echo in my head over and over again. I don't know how to take it, how to feel about it. Edoardo grew tired of saying them, of proclaiming to the four winds that I was his, and every single one of those times I hated it. I hated feeling like an object, like a bargaining chip; I wanted to scream that I wasn't his, that I didn't belong to anyone but myself. But the reality was different: he was my master, he had bought me, and there was nothing I could do about it.That's why, when Fabrizio says it, it creates a shock inside me. My brain tells me I should feel equally indignant, that I'm not with him just to change owners, but my heart doesn't understand that reasoning. It feels caressed by those words, pleased, loved.—Your woman, —I repeat—, do you understand what that implies, what it means?—I understand it perfectly, Bianca, and believe me, there is nothing I desire more than to assume that role. I love you, and I won't allow anyone to ever lay a hand o
FabrizioI set the phone down on my nightstand after hanging up the last call and exhale all the air I was holding in. I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders right now, but the only thing that matters to me now is that she is okay.I watch her sleep on my bed and know I need to wake her up so she can take a bath and change before the doctor arrives. I know her, and she won't want anyone to see her in this state. I swallow hard as I examine every one of her bruises, especially the ones on her thighs that are visible through the tears in her dress.I shake my head, trying not to think about it or I'll go crazy, and she needs me. She needs me to be strong so I can take care of and protect her.She stirs with a whimper of pain, and I stroke her cheek.—I'm here, *dolcezza*, you're safe, you're with me, and I'm never letting you go again.She opens her eyes slowly, as if they weigh a ton—and I'm not surprised, the swelling on one of them has already started to shut it closed.—I am
Bianca"That's a lie," he says, continuing to back away. "You're lying!""Shut up!" Edoardo roars, furious, but I completely ignore him."You're the product of rape," I continue. "That son of a bitch of a father of yours raped her, and that's how you were born. The firstborn of the Rinaldis is a bastard!" I scream at the top of my lungs. "And you just killed your mother. Tell me if someone could possibly be more of a piece of shit."He stands there dumbfounded, and Edoardo bellows:"Shut up!" He starts dragging me to get me out of the room, but I don't stop fighting, throwing punches and screaming."You're a piece of shit, Remo! You killed her, you killed your own mom!"Edoardo drags me out of the room and pulls me down the hallway toward ours, throwing me inside."You are going to regret what you just did! I should kill you, but that would be too easy for you. I'm going to fuck you, I'm going to fuck you every single day until you're pregnant. You'll have to wake up every day watchin
EnzoMy hands are sweaty as I wait, which feels ridiculous considering I’m married to that woman—but this time things are different. In this story, we’ve definitely done everything backwards.“Where are you planning to take her?” Antonio asks in that ridiculous, over-the-top concerned tone he only
AriannaI wanted him gone, as far away from me as possible. I shoved at his chest again, but Enzo was immovable, solid as stone and my effort only seemed to amuse him. His low, mocking laugh made my blood boil.“Get away!” I shouted, this time balling my fist and striking him.But before I could re
Enzo's Pov I leave the house with a weight pressing on my chest. I told myself this marriage would be simple—a contract, a façade—but Arianna’s face when she saw Sasha’s photograph won’t leave my mind. I’d expected annoyance, maybe even resentment. That I could live with. But sadness? Real sadness
AriannaThe lobby was buzzing when Enzo and I stepped out of the elevator. Not with the usual background noise of a hotel, but with something heavier—guards at every corner, eyes scanning every movement. The kind of atmosphere that made even the air feel like it had to ask permission to move.My ey







