Aldridge was waiting in a small interview room, his normally immaculate appearance slightly disheveled. He'd clearly rushed here directly from dinner—a faint wine stain marked his otherwise perfect tie."Daniel." He nodded curtly, opening his briefcase. "I've reviewed the preliminary charges. This is serious.""It's a misunderstanding," I repeated. "Maya became hysterical. We argued. I was trying to keep her from hurting herself."Aldridge's expression didn't change. "The responding officers report that they witnessed you holding Ms. Russo at the edge of a cliff while she struggled to break free. They further state that Alexander Thorne intervened to prevent her from falling when the ground began to give way beneath her feet.""Thorne," I spat. "He's turned her against me. Been working his way into her life for months. This is all his doing.""Daniel." Aldridge's voice sharpened. "I need you to listen carefully. You're being charged with attempted murder and violating a restraining or
The rest of the day passed in a haze. Aldridge returned briefly to inform me that bail had been denied due to the severity of the charges and the risk that I might attempt to contact Maya again. I barely registered his words. All I could hear was Grandfather's voice: unworthy of the Russo name.That evening, I was allowed to shower again. In the metal panel that served as a mirror, I caught sight of a stranger—hollow-eyed, stubbled, hair lank and unwashed. I stared, momentarily confused about whose reflection I was seeing."That's me," I whispered, touching the cool metal surface. "That's... me."Something about the disconnection between my self-image and the reality in the mirror triggered a cascade of unwelcome thoughts. Had Maya ever loved me? Or had she merely tolerated me as the price for her career? Had Grandfather ever been proud of me? Or had I always been a disappointment he was waiting to replace?"Finish up, Russo," a deputy called. "Other inmates need to shower too."Back
MayaI couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt the ground giving way beneath my feet again. The rocks crumbling. Daniel's fingers digging into my arm as he pushed me closer to the edge. His eyes—empty, unrecognizable—as he said, "If I can't have you, no one will."Dawn broke through the cabin windows, casting long shadows across the wooden floor. I'd been pacing for hours, my body running on pure adrenaline that refused to subside. My shoulder throbbed where Daniel had grabbed me, and I knew without looking that his fingerprints were tattooed in purple across my skin.I made coffee in the battered percolator, the familiar ritual steadying my shaking hands. Through the kitchen window, I could see Alex outside on the porch, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He'd slept there all night. Or tried to, at least.As much as I hated how Alex always found a way to be there when things went to shit, I was grateful. If he hadn't shown up yesterday... I glanced toward the window
The drive back to the city was a blur of mountain curves and highway monotony. My mind raced ahead to Mami Lulu. What would I say to her? What would she say to me? Every scenario I imagined felt inadequate.The woman who raised me, who taught me everything I knew about glass and art and survival, had also stolen me from my birth family. She wasn't just Mami Lulu who had rescued an abandoned child—she was Lupe Vega, once a celebrated designer who had taken calculated revenge on the people who stole her work by stealing their child.Could I hate her for that? Could I love her still? Both felt impossible and inevitable.Three hours later, I pulled into the Sunset Valley Care Center parking lot. The facility was nicer than most—I'd made sure of that when I chose it—with manicured gardens and a brick façade that resembled a New England college building more than a nursing home.Nurse Abernathy met me at the reception desk. She was younger than I expected, with intelligent eyes and an air of
My mind raced. The documents in Alex's file—photos of me selling beads at that fair, dated three years before my "rescue." Surveillance photos with my birth parents clearly visible in the background."They wanted..." I couldn't finish the thought."They wanted you trained," she said simply. "Wanted you once you could bring value to their company. Once you'd fully absorbed my techniques."I pulled my hand away, suddenly needing space. The room felt too small, too hot."I'm not saying what I did was right," she continued, her voice wavering. "It wasn't. But neither were they the grieving parents they pretended to be.""Why didn't you tell me any of this?" I demanded, anger flaring again. "When I was older? When I could understand?"She looked away. "Cowardice," she admitted quietly. "By the time you were old enough to understand, I couldn't bear the thought of you hating me.""And when they found me? When they took me back? You just let it happen."She closed her eyes briefly. "What cho
The night at the cabin was a bust. Four hours of prying at stones around the fireplace in the basement, fingers raw and bleeding, only to find nothing. Whatever case Mami Lulu had hidden was either gone or I was looking in the wrong place. By the time I gave up, it was nearly 3 AM and my hands were too sore to keep trying.I crashed on the couch for a few hours before driving back to the city, arriving with just enough time to shower and change before heading to Grandfather's mansion. The place always made me uncomfortable—too many memories of Daniel, too much inherited wealth on display. But today the discomfort was different. Sharper. I wasn't walking in as Daniel's wife anymore. I was walking in as... what? The heir to what might have been stolen in the first place?The security guard recognized me, nodding as I parked. "Mr. Russo is expecting you, ma'am."No one greeted me at the door. Not unusual—Grandfather had always run a lean household staff, unlike Daniel who wanted attendant
Robert KingstonI reviewed the quarterly earnings report with a satisfaction that never quite dulled, no matter how many successful quarters Vega Designs had posted. The numbers were consistent: 8% growth year-over-year, expanding European distribution, increasing margins on our premium line. The market remained hungry for our signature aesthetic.Setting the report aside, I gazed out over Manhattan from my corner office. Eighteen floors up, the city spread out like a complex living organism, each part serving its function. Much like a well-designed company. Much like a well-designed family.My thoughts drifted to Maya—my wayward daughter who had become an unexpected thorn. When she disappeared at age four, my first reaction had been pure fury. Not at losing my child—though I'd performed that part convincingly for the press—but at Lupe Vega's audacity. Taking our daughter as if that somehow balanced the equation."She thinks she's punishing us," Caroline had said through carefully meas
AlexI wiped down the kitchen counter for the third time, tossed the cloth in the sink, and checked my watch again. 4:17 PM. Maya had been at Giuseppe's mansion for over two hours now. Every instinct told me to drive over there, wait outside, make sure she was okay. But I'd promised myself—promised her, really—that I'd stop the surveillance. Stop the control. Stop treating her like someone who needed saving.The apartment felt too empty. Too quiet. I'd canceled my cleaner when she'd missed her usual day earlier in the week. Now I almost wished for the company, for someone else's presence to distract me from wondering what Giuseppe was telling Maya, what revelations she was facing.I made myself a cup of coffee I didn't need, ignoring the tremor in my hands from too much caffeine already. Paced the living room. Checked my phone again. The security update showed Daniel was still safely contained at the psychiatric facility. Small mercies.When the restlessness became unbearable, I walked
"Victor," my voice hardened. "What son?"He took his time responding, clearly savoring the rare moment of having information I needed. He reached for a wooden box on the mantle, opened it, and removed a faded photograph."Thirty-four years ago," he said, placing the photo in my hands. "When Lupe found out she was pregnant, they threatened to destroy her career completely if she didn't give up the baby. Said an unwed mother would tarnish the company image."“Who’s they?”“Her family,” Victor said. A smile played on his lips, as he noted my surprised expression. “Did you think Lupe was without a strong background?”“Wha—well…” I stared at the photo—a newborn infant, tiny face red and wrinkled, barely visible beneath a hospital blanket. A nurse held him, but Lupe was nowhere in the frame."She never even got to hold him," Victor continued. "They had papers ready before she went into labor. I was there—her only friend by then. The only one she trusted to witness."My mind raced, calculat
The door swung open before my knuckles could connect with the wood a fourth time. Light spilled out, blinding after the pre-dawn darkness, casting the figure in the doorway into silhouette."Dio mio." The voice was rougher than I remembered, aged by whiskey and solitude. "Giuseppe Russo. The devil himself."My eyes adjusted slowly. Victor Antonelli stood before me, barrel-chested and silver-haired, the sharp intelligence in his eyes unchanged despite the years. His gaze dropped to my wheelchair, genuine shock flickering across his weathered face before settling into sardonic amusement."Death is finally catching up to you, Russo?" His accent remained thick despite decades in America, vowels stretching like taffy. "Really, I thought I'd be first in the ground.""Disappointment all around then," I replied, the acid in my tone masking the strange relief I felt seeing him alive.Victor's hand moved to his chest in mock offense. "Is that any way to greet old friend? Fifteen years of silenc
GiuseppeEarlier same morning.The pain was my constant companion now. It woke with me, dressed with me, ate with me. This morning, it flared sharp and deliberately wicked as Vincent helped me from bed to wheelchair. It was Four-fifteen in the goddamn morning, and already my body was betraying me."Careful, sir," Vincent murmured, his hands steady under my arms.I grunted, teeth clenched against the lightning shooting up my spine. Couldn't afford to show weakness. Not today."The car is ready," he said. "Are you certain about the time? We could wait until—""No, I'm not certain about the time, Vincent." I said almost too casually. "But It has to be now, If I want to get that old goat"The house was silent around us, the staff still asleep. Just as I'd arranged, to avoid witnesses and questions. The less anyone knew, the better.My medication sat untouched on the nightstand—the little white pills that dulled both the pain and my mind. But I needed my mind very sharp today, both for wha
My father placed both hands flat on the table, leaning forward. His shoulder barely moved, but Crawford straightened in response—a subtle signal I couldn’t interpret passed between them. And that in itself was scary."While my daughter's personal life is her own business," he began.The word "daughter" hit like a fucking slap. My head jerked up before I could control the reaction, and I saw Richardson note it with narrowed eyes. I'd given them exactly what they wanted—confirmation that I could be rattled."I think we should acknowledge the... unique challenges she's facing," my father continued, letting the pause expand until everyone leaned forward slightly, scenting blood in the water."What challenges would those be, Robert?" Grandfather asked. The temperature in the room seemed to drop another five degrees at his tone."Her emotional stability since leaving the structure of her marriage. Let’s consider that," my father replied, his concern so perfectly performed it could win award
I took my seat at the head of the table, feeling the weight of every eye in the room. The leather chair creaked beneath me, and I winced involuntarily as I settled—still sore from last night. Richardson was directly across from me, caught the grimace. His gaze lingered a moment too long before shifting to the papers in front of him. Great start.Thirteen board members. Thirteen people who would decide my fate today. I scanned their faces, cataloging allies and enemies.My father sat at the far end, perfectly poised. Beside him, Whitcomb checked his watch for the third time in five minutes. Crawford had chosen a seat near the center, strategic neutral territory that everyone knew was anything but neutral. Chen and Martinez—usually reliable supporters—exchanged nervous glances, avoiding my eyes.Yamamoto, Grandfather's old friend, nodded slightly when our eyes met. A small comfort. Beside him, Wilson—ancient and immovable as the company itself—arranged her papers with military precision
I was ten minutes early and somehow still late.The Russo Designs headquarters loomed over me, all glass and steel and judgment. I'd thrown on the gray Armani blazer Grandfather insisted on, even though I couldn't remember why it mattered, but I wore it either way. My head throbbed, lack of sleep and too much Alex making it hard to focus on anything but putting one foot in front of the other.The receptionist's eyes widened when I walked in. Her gaze lingered on me, then suddenly looked very interested in her computer screen."Good morning, Ms. Vega," she said, voice carefully neutral. "Mr. Russo is waiting for you at the private elevator."Great. Just what I needed. A lecture before the firing squad.Grandfather sat in his wheelchair, positioned precisely in the center of the elevator alcove. Even in declining health, he maintained perfect posture, his suit immaculate, his eyes sharp as they cataloged every detail of my appearance. I could feel his disapproval very tangible.."You're
MayaI jerked awake to the sound of a garbage truck outside. The sunlight coming in from a window was at a wrong angle. Wrong ceiling too. My body registered Alex before my brain could—his arm was heavy across my stomach, and his breath warm against my neck.Fuck.We'd done it again. I was starting to lose count. The beach was first, then back at my place. This place last night. The soreness between my legs and the dried cum on my thighs sent flashbacks filled with so much pleasure, I could feel my pussy start to dampen.The garbage truck banged another dumpster, jolting me back. My phone buzzed somewhere. Again. Again. Probably been doing that for a while now.I fumbled toward the noise, and found the phone half-under the bed. Grandfather. Olivia. Grandfather again. My stomach dropped—7:48. Fuck. The board meeting is at 10:00. Prep session at Grandfather's was an hour ago."Shit shit shit."Alex shifted beside me. "Hmm?""I’m late. I have a board meeting." I swung my legs over the ed
"Yep. Appointed week ago. And get this—Thorne Designs is listed as a 'founding corporate partner' in their draft materials.""Is that so?" I felt a smile forming, the pieces realigning in a more favorable configuration. "And I assume there's considerable overlap between Thorne Designs suppliers and foundation beneficiaries?""Like you wouldn't believe. It's practically incestuous." Harrison popped his gum. "Massive conflict of interest if anyone bothered to look.""Perfect." I drummed my fingers against the table. "Keep the surveillance on the foundation office, but focus on board member interactions. Particularly Rivera and any communication with the Thornes.""You got it, boss." Harrison made finger guns at me, an infantile gesture I ignored. "So what's the play now? Since your boy Thorne is back in town.""We cut her off”"From you," Harrison said bluntly.I shot him a look,"From everything." I corrected it. "Maya believes in fresh starts, clean slates. She thinks she can erase the
Twenty minutes later, the door opened without a knock. Harrison strolled in wearing worn jeans and a leather jacket, looking more like a mechanic than a private investigator. The facility's temporary visitor badge was clipped haphazardly to his collar."Evening, crazy." He dropped into the chair across from me, propping his boots on the edge of my bed. "Nice pajamas.""Get your feet off my bed.""Aren't we touchy tonight." He complied anyway, leaning forward instead. "What's so urgent I had to bribe three night staff to get in here?""Thorne is back in New York."Harrison raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, since noon. You're just finding this out now? I thought you had spies everywhere.""You knew?" The pressure beneath my ribs intensified. The fact that every other person knew before me, and didn’t think it was necessary to tell me was crazy."Course I knew. It's literally my job to know." He pulled out a pack of gum, offering me a piece which I declined with a glare. "Landed at JFK at 8:17 A