ログインGIANNA'S POV I pulled the covers up to my chin, curling onto my side. The silk sheets felt cool against my skin, a poor substitute for the warmth I craved but couldn't allow myself to have. The bathroom door opened. Footsteps crossed the room, then the mattress dipped behind me. Dante's arm slid around my waist, pulling me back against his chest. His body was solid and familiar, the heat of him seeping through the thin fabric of my nightgown. I tried to shift away, but his grip tightened, his other arm sliding beneath my pillow to cage me against him. "Where do you think you're going?" His voice was low and rough. "Dante..." His lips found the curve of my neck, pressing slow, open-mouthed kisses along my skin. The scrape of his stubble sent shivers down my spine. His hand splayed across my stomach, fingers spreading wide as he pulled me flush against him. I felt him, hard and wanting, pressed against my lower back. My body responded before my mind could catch up, moisture po
DANTE'S POVMy father's hair was more gray than I recalled. Lines creased his face that hadn't been there before. But his eyes, those cold eyes, were exactly as I remembered.The air left my lungs."Dad?" The word came out choked, disbelieving."Gigi." His voice broke. "My beautiful girl."My knees nearly gave out. I'd mourned him.When Dante first confirmed he was alive, part of me had refused to believe it. But seeing him now, standing right in front of me, breathing and real..."I thought you were dead." Tears were already streaming down my face. "They told me you were dead. I mourned you. I grieved for you.""I know." He stepped toward me, his hands outstretched. "That bastard Dante tried to kill me. I barely escaped with my life."The mention of Dante's name pulled me back to the present. To the reality of why I was here."You're not innocent either." The words burst out of me, raw and accusing. "You killed his wife. You made him a widower. You took a mother from a child and a wi
GIANNA'S POVMy chest heaved as my hand wrapped around the cold handle and I pushed.The door swung open.I stepped inside, my breath coming too fast and shallow."Dante?" My voice cracked on his name.Silence answered. His chair sat pushed back slightly, as if he'd just stood and walked away moments before. The room held no trace of him, no sound, no movement, just the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air.Selene's words kept echoing in my mind, over and over like a cruel mantra.He married you to get access to the inheritance, money that originally belonged to his late wife. The only way to get it was through marriage to you."She's lying," I whispered to myself, my hand trembling at my side. "She's lying. Dante wouldn't, he wouldn't do that."But doubt had already taken root, spreading through me like poison.My gaze traveled across the room and landed on his desk. Papers were scattered across its surface, and there, right in the center, was a black folder that looked f
GIANNA'S POV"Well, isn't this cozy," her voice dripped with disdain. "Playing mother and daughter."Ariel lifted her head, her body tensing. "Aunt Selene.""Don't let me interrupt," Selene continued, stepping into the room. "I'm sure you two were having such a meaningful bonding session.""We were just talking," I replied evenly, unable to ignore the malicious undertone in her voice."Just talking." Selene's smile was brittle. "How sweet. Tell me, Gianna, are you enjoying playing house? Pretending to be part of this family?""I'm not pretending." I kept my voice calm, but my hands clenched in my lap. "Ariel and I were spending time together. That's all.""Aunt Selene, we just went shopping," Ariel interjected, trying to lighten the mood. "It was really fun. Gianna helped me pick out some great stuff.""I'm sure she did." Selene's eyes never left mine. "I'm sure she's very helpful. Very eager to insert herself where she doesn't belong.""That's enough." I stood, placing myself between
GIANNA'S POV"Thanks for today," Ariel started softly as we settled onto the couch in the living room, shopping bags scattered around our feet. She was still holding her ice cream cone, licking at the melting chocolate. "I really needed this.""I think I needed it more." I smiled, tucking my legs beneath me.Ariel had gotten her wish. Dante had finally allowed us to go shopping, though, of course, with a few guards trailing at a distance. But it was freedom. We'd toured the city, visited the park, played games at an arcade. I'd enjoyed every second of it.And it had healed something in me. Something young and wounded. These were experiences I'd never had, the kind of carefree afternoon that normal girls took for granted. My father had controlled every aspect of my life. Today felt like reclaiming pieces of myself I'd thought were lost forever."It was wonderful. Just... being normal for a while.""Thank God Dad allowed it," Ariel breathed, her eyes bright with relief. "I was starting
DANTE'S POVBruno absorbed this, his fingers rubbing against his temple."I don't want you to stop living, to stop loving, because of your loyalty to me." My voice was firm. "You're my brother, Bruno. But you deserve happiness too.""You're my first priority." Bruno stepped closer, his voice filled with emotion. "I swore on your father's deathbed that I would guard you with my life. That I would serve you faithfully.""And you have." I moved around the desk, clasping his shoulder. "You've served me well. You've been my most trusted man, my most trusted ally. Always there, always loyal. You've kept that promise. But I think it's time for you to live a little too.""Boss, I'm only alive today because your father took me in." Bruno's voice trembled slightly. "He treated me like one of his own. Gave me a place at the table. Gave my family protection when we had nothing. My father saved yours, and I swore I would serve you the same way. That's not something I take lightly.""I know." My gr
Gia's POVI ran into the bedroom, tiny sparks coursing through every nerve in my body as I dropped onto the edge of the bed, my breath still shallow.My eyes darted to the closet door, expecting him to come bursting out at any second. Part of me wanted him to. God help me, I wanted him to.My heart
Dante's POV Gia couldn’t hide the sweet conflict in her stare, and it had me hard as fuck. But then her hands slipped back under her dress. She shifted in the seat, wiggling her hips as the fabric slid down her thighs. My eyes followed every move, every little twist of her body as she took her pa
Dante’s POV Seline closed the distance between us, her pleading eyes locked onto mine. “Please,” she whispered, “let this go. For Esmeralda.” “No.” My voice intensified. “You don’t get to tell me to let this go.” My palm slammed against the desk, the sound cracking through the room. “You weren
Dante's POV Then it happened, Gia's terrified eyes locked on mine. And for a moment, she disappeared. Replaced by the broken, beautiful face I couldn’t save. The only voice that calmed me down when I was about to crash out. And now, as I hovered over Gia with violence pumping through my limbs,







