LOGINGIANNA'S POV "Lady Gianna..." Alfonso started, clearly preparing to argue. "That's the plan." I opened my door before I could second-guess myself further, before rational thought could override desperate action. "Let's move." The evening air carried a chill that had nothing to do with temperature, raising goosebumps along my arms despite the lingering warmth of the day. Alfonso positioned his men with hand signals, silent communication born of years working together. Two guards peeled off to circle the building while the rest formed up near the entrance. Selene appeared at my elbow, her presence somehow oppressive despite her smaller frame. "The side door should be unlocked. That's where I saw them go in." "How do you know it's unlocked?" The question escaped before I could stop it. "I... I just assumed. They were in a hurry, probably didn't think about securing every entrance." Reasonable, but why did it sound like a lie? Alfonso tested the door, and it swung open with a rust
GIANNA'S POV Alfonso hesitated another moment, his eyes searching my face, then nodded and jogged toward the guard house. I turned back to Selene, taking in her battered appearance with fresh concern. "You should stay here. Get cleaned up, get looked at by the doctor. You've been through trauma, and..." "No." Selene's interruption was firm, brooking no argument. "I'm the only one who knows where they went. You need me to guide you there." "Selene..." "She's my niece too, Gianna." Fierce determination burned in Selene's eyes, incongruous with her disheveled state. "I'm not sitting here safe while she's out there scared and alone. I'm coming with you." Part of me wanted to argue, to insist she stay behind where she'd be safe and could recover from her ordeal. But time was bleeding away with each passing second, and I couldn't afford to waste more of it in debate. "Fine." I pulled out my phone again, typing out a quick message to Dante explaining the situation, my thumbs moving cl
GIANNA'S POV"Do I have to go?"Arielle's voice carried a tremor that made my chest ache. She stood in the foyer, her small frame dwarfed by the overnight bag at her feet, her eyes fixed on Dante with an expression that spoke of too many goodbyes already said in her young life.Dante crouched down to her level despite the obvious pain the movement caused him. His hands came up to cup her face with a tenderness that never failed to surprise me, all that ruthless violence transformed into pure paternal devotion."Sweetheart, you know I don't want you to leave." His thumb brushed across her cheek. "But I need you safe. Your grandparents' house is far from all this mess, and that's where you need to be right now. Do you understand?"Arielle's lower lip quivered. "I hope this is the last time we have to be separated as a family."The word family lodged in my throat like broken glass. She'd said it so naturally, including me in that circle of protection and belonging without hesitation."
DANTE'S POV"Since you asked so nicely." The sarcasm in her voice made my fist clench against the sheets, but then she began to stroke, measured and purposeful, her hand moving from base to tip and back again.The sensation was exquisite torture. Every nerve ending came alive under her touch, pleasure coursing through me in waves. My hips moved of their own accord, thrusting into her grip, seeking more.She adjusted her grip, twisting slightly on the upstroke in a way that made stars explode behind my eyes. Her other hand cupped me below, adding another layer of sensation that had me gasping."Look at you." She murmured, her voice husky. "So desperate for me. So needy.""You're killing me." I managed to get out between gritted teeth."Pretty sure I'm doing the opposite." She increased her pace slightly, her thumb swiping over the tip on each upstroke. "This is revenge, by the way. For taking control when I was supposed to be in charge.""Remind me to take control more often." The wor
DANTE'S POVI claimed Gianna's lips fiercely, swallowing whatever protest she'd been about to make. This conversation was over. Now there was only this, only us.My hands tightened on her waist, pulling her closer until no space remained between our bodies. The kiss deepened, grew more demanding. All the weeks of distance and longing coalesced into this single moment of desperate need.Gianna's fingers tangled in my hair, her body arching into mine as a soft sound escaped her throat. That sound went straight through me, igniting every nerve ending.I walked her backward toward the desk, my mouth never leaving hers. When the edge of the mahogany pressed against her thighs, I lifted her onto it in one smooth motion.Pain lanced through my shoulder. I bit back a curse, my grip faltering for just a moment."Dante." Gianna pulled back immediately, her hands going to my shoulders. "Your injury. We shouldn't...""I'm fine." My voice came out rougher than I intended. I recaptured her mouth, s
DANTE'S POVMy forehead nearly touched hers, my breath coming harsh and uneven. "But you didn't want to give me justice. Because when it mattered most, you were still loyal to that monster who never cared for you, who used you, who...""I couldn't..." The words came out as barely a whisper."You don't get to cry." My voice softened despite the anger still burning in my chest. "You're not the victim here.""I know." Tears streamed freely down her face now. "I know, and I'm so sorry. God, Dante, I wish I could take it back. I wish...""But you can't." I pushed away from the wall, running my hands through my hair in frustration. "Fuck, I hate seeing you cry. This is exactly why I didn't want to talk about it."I paced across the room, trying to gather my scattered thoughts. "I keep trying to wrap my head around it. What didn't I do? What wasn't enough to make you trust me, to make you choose me over him?""It wasn't about what you didn't do." She wiped at her tears with shaking hands. "Y
Gianna’s POV Dante's hand moved faster, rougher now, veins straining as he pumped his cock with furious precision. “You like this, don’t you?” His words came broken, ragged with lust. “You like watching me stroke it, imagining how deep I’ll fuck you with it. Look at you… writhing like my little m
Gianna’s POV A cocky grin spread across Dante’s face as he withdrew his hand from my dress, fingers dragging against my skin like he wanted me to feel every inch of his retreat. When his grip loosened on my wrists the sudden absence of pressure made me sway, dizzy from the force he’d held me with
Gia’s POV Bruno walked into the dining room mid-bite, and honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear he looked like a big, scary man suddenly made harmless. He wore an almost dorky smile, eyes bouncing between Dante and me as though he had stepped into forbidden territory. He leaned down and w
Gianna’s POV I walked the length of the room for what felt like the hundredth time, fury rolling through me. Dante DeLuca, with all his arrogance, had actually ordered me to my room at breakfast, like he was the principal and I was the disobedient student. What angered me most was that I had to ag







