AUDREY'S POVDante's silence was heavy. He stared at the message on his phone. His jaw clenched so hard that I thought his teeth would break. I shifted under the sheets, suddenly aware that we were both still naked, our bodies tangled from everything we’d just done. Pushing aside the flurry of uneasy feelings from my chest, “What happened?" I asked again, sitting up, pulling the sheets over my chest. I watched his fingers move around his phone. Two taps. Then he locked the phone and dropped it onto the nightstand."Matteo's gone."My blood went cold."Gone?" My voice broke. "What do you mean gone?""Disappeared. No calls. No check-ins. The last visual was outside the house. Ten minutes after the attack. And then... nothing."I felt the air leave my lungs. “My God.”“But….”“Did you manage to see the attackers face?” Dante asked, cutting me off.“He had a scar on his left eye. He was masked.” Matteo had saved me. Dragged that monster off me. He escorted me to the bathroom, so I coul
AUDREY'S POVMy entire body kept trembling as I sat in the shower. Pulling my knees to my chest, the bath water ran down on me. — Steaming. It still didn’t help. Couldn’t get the attack off my memory.Matteo had dragged the attacker away, unconscious. But I couldn’t get his masked face off my mind, the brutal boom of his voice. The feel of his gloved hand choking me against that wall. The sinister look in his face That fucking scar. That smirk. I heaved again at the thought. The bile burned my throat as it rose, but there was nothing left to throw up. Just sobs and whispers left my mouth. Hugging myself , I held my ribs. He’d slammed me so hard I knew I’d have bruises. My shoulder ached from the hit, and the cut on my hand had reopened.Matteo hadn’t said a word as he escorted me off to the bathroom and told me to lock the door. Knowing he went back outside to deal with the body—maybe torture, maybe kill him, maybe both.I didn’t dare ask. Couldn’t care.But I couldn’t stop thin
AUDREY’S POVThe second I stepped into the house, the silence engulfed me. It was deafening. “Silence that gave me peace, now scares the shit out of me.” I mumbled, signing. Dreading the night alone.Quickly, I shut the door behind me,double-locking it, just as Dante said. Then slid the chain across, making sure the whole thing was in place. I slightly opened the curtain to the side window, and Matteo's car was parked outside. He didn’t wave, but I saw the low light of his cigarette. Breathing a sigh of relief, I leaned my head against the door. "I didn’t ask for this," I whispered into the empty house.It didn’t matter anymore. I was in it. Deep.Dragging myself to the kitchen, I poured a glass of water, my hands trembling. My scrubs reeking of antiseptic and blood. I should have showered at the hospital. But after that… crazy encounter? I couldn’t stay there a second longer.I shook my head, trying to get the whole drama out of my head.When I confronted her, the way her eyes li
DANTE’S POV"The Fuck you mean she's in trouble?" My voice boomed. I felt it break a little but I stayed in control."Where the fuck is she?""Hospital. East wing. She went into the restricted area. Five minutes later, she walked out looking pale, like she'd seen a ghost.""Anyone stalking her?"“Capo negativo.” But someone used her ID minutes before that. Hooded. Female. Couldn’t get a clear face, but she printed something. Confidential files.""Dante," Matteo paused, breathing heavier. "I checked. It was your file. Blood work. Room assignment, death confirmation."I nearly smashed the phone in my hand."Get me the footage. Now. Forward to Vincente’s email."I looked at Vincente, fresh, raw rage took over. "Drive. Fast."___________________By the time we pulled into the alleyway behind the meat market, Vince got the message.“Here boss.” He said, giving me his tablet.I tapped play. The video froze a bit, glitching once. Then it showed a hooded person. Definitely a woman. Wearing
Dante’s POVThe club was located deep in the rickety part of old Catania. The alleys had graffitis made by hormonal teenagers. Shadows lurking around for drug lords and thieves. The kind of place Alessio would definitely hide. No cameras. No receipts.Just bad pulse, smoke, and secrets.Vincente parked two blocks down. I didn’t argue. I needed to stay off radar. Taking off my blazer, I tossed it in the back seat of the SUV, rolling my sleeves up. My knuckles were still pink from the punches I delivered. Flexing my fingers to release tension from my tendons, I welcomed the sting. I wanted more of it.Pain kept the hungry rage in check.And tonight, I was starving.“You’ll confront Alessio, I'll be listening in your conversation from the dark corners, masked up. I can't have anyone recognize me.” Inside, the noise was loud . Bodies swayed in the dimly lit room—faces half-lit by the flicker of colorful lights, none of them aware they were dancing in a lion’s den.“Eyes up,” I mut
Dante’s PovAudrey had me in a tight grip. I was already wrapped around her little finger but she didn't know it.She didn't have to know.Not yet.Leaving after I had her in every way possible…. after tasting her, marking her, memorizing the way she trembled beneath me.“Fucking should’ve been easy.” I muttered. I’d done it before. With other women. Wild nights and they go on their merry way.But Audrey wasn’t a mistake. She was slowly becoming…..“Sir, we are about to land.” The air hostess came to inform me. Interrupting my thoughts. She had that flirty Fuck me look. I nodded,”Thanks.” I said, dismissing her. Audrey sure had me on a tight leash. If this were any other day, I might’ve let her crawl into my lap mid-air. I would have pounded deep into her to ease up.My cock didn't even stir. Audrey had ruined me for anyone else.Reaching for my pocket, I brought out my phone.Still no message from her.Clenching my jaw, “why would she text me? I left her. Like she was a night s