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🌹 A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR 🌹

This is Book Two in the ‘Entangled’ series, and it continues the story after the events of Book One titled—Bound to the Mafia Lord.

While you can read this book on its own, I strongly recommend reading Book One first for a clearer understanding of the characters, relationships, history, and events that have already taken place.

There are several names and references throughout this book that were introduced in the previous story.

But if you’ve decided to start here… welcome anyway. 🤭❤️

I hope you enjoy Isabella and Damien’s story. 🥹🌹

~ ~

ISABELLA 🌸

“Your mother’s funeral is in two weeks, and your sister went into labor prematurely yesterday. She needs you, Rosetta.”

I replayed the automated voicemail over and over again until my eyes felt too heavy to open.

And I didn’t stop replaying it, even after I’d arrived at the airport.

Five years…

That was how long I was gone.

Yet Axel sent messages and updated me with everything that was happening back home almost every day.

Most times, I responded, but it wasn’t often. The times I ignored were more, and after receiving this particular message—I’d ignored it for a week.

Until I decided it was time to return.

But even when I ignored or went ghost mode for months, Axel never stopped checking on me, not even for a day.

“Do you need a taxi, Ma’am?”

I stared at the driver who’d asked and paused for a moment. My eyes glanced around the whole space, and I slowly took off my sunglasses.

New Orleans.

A place I never wanted to return to again.

The same place that held so many memories—painful ones, always had my heart racing at the thoughts of… what I’d left behind.

And the people as well.

“I—‘’

I’d barely said anything when I saw something that caught my attention. A woman stood a few steps away, typing aggressively on her phone and barely paying attention to the road she was about to cross.

A speeding vehicle was approaching her, but she wasn’t even aware. I panicked, and without thinking twice, rushed towards her while screaming at the top of my lungs.

“Hey! Look out!”

But she didn’t hear anything.

More people joined me in screaming, but when she finally looked up—it was almost too late.

Fortunately, I got there just in time and pushed her off the road. It was a bit rough from the force, but she was out of the way while I managed to get off… narrowly.

The car brushed against my body, and I fell down with a loud thud, my purse slipping from my grasp. My sunglasses broke instantly, and a sharp pain sliced through my back.

“Oh my goodness,” someone cried. “Are you alright?”

“Is she breathing?”

“She was trying to save her.”

I heard the voices, but they sounded distant in my ears. Groaning loudly, I tried to keep my eyes open, and made an attempt to stand up, but it was too painful to do anything.

The warm wind blew through my nostrils, and the air smelled like magnolia. A face hovered over mine, and strands of the blonde hair were in my face.

“Sorry,” a soft voice pleaded. “I wasn’t paying attention to the road. I… I had my AirPods on.”

I winced painfully as she pulled me up, helping me back to my feet. My body was shaking, and I’d bruised my left elbow.

“Thanks…” she muttered again, wearing a small smile. “For saving me.”

I didn’t respond. She handed my purse to me and I looked at my broken sunglasses on the floor.

A few people whispered consolatory words to me, but all I gave in return was a nod. The car was already gone when I looked again.

“If you don’t mind—‘’

She tried to say something again, but I ignored her completely by interrupting sharply.

“Next time, please watch where you’re going.”

I didn’t say anything else. I turned around to walk away while she stood there, a solemn expression etched on her face.

Retrieving my phone from my purse, I prayed silently that it wasn’t broken. I tasted blood on my lips and cussed under my breath.

“Shit.”

So much for playing the heroine. Now I’d gotten bruised and my body ached badly.

A text popped up on my screen, and my smile slowly returned. I opened it, grinning widely as I read it.

“Hope you got home safe?”

Home.

I sighed tiredly. I’d planned to return to the Rossi estate first before checking into a hotel. The last thing on my mind was returning to the Moretti estate.

I almost typed back a response, but hesitated. I didn’t want to get him worried or anything.

And I wanted to see Olivia first and make sure things were fine before I called him.

Returning to the earlier cab driver who’d offered to take me home, I muttered.

“Rossi estate, please.”

*

The drive to the estate brought back painful memories that made wet heat crawl into my eyes.

I recalled everything like it had happened yesterday. The escape, the slamming of doors, the glass shattering after slipping from my hand.

I remembered everything.

After the driver arrived at the estate, my heart began to pound with uncertainty. I wasn’t sure what to do or how my sister would react to my welcome, but…

Nothing prepared me for the moment I walked into. Nothing at all. Not even the slightest bit of everything I’d imagined to happen.

She was in the living room, wearing a black lace outfit that covered every part of her body. Her wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders just like always, and her voice…

It sounded broken as she conversed with the housekeeper wearing a purple-striped uniform.

My lips quivered, and my chest tightened when I saw my sister again. I couldn’t keep my voice from sounding unsteady.

“O-Olivia?”

She didn’t face me immediately. She paused, her back still against me like she was trying to let my voice sink into her mind.

Olivia’s shoulders tensed, and I watched her with a blurry vision as she slowly turned around to face me.

When our eyes finally met, I noticed hers were… swollen, red, and obviously tired from crying too much.

I glanced briefly at her stomach and noticed the little bump. My fingertips brushed against my lips as she carefully approached me.

“I… Isabella?”

She sounded so drained, exhausted, and completely lost. I shook my head quietly, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Liv…”

Her eyes raked through my body—like she was trying to make sure that I wasn’t a ghost. That I was real.

“Is…” her breath caught. “Is that really you?”

I nodded, waiting for her to get closer. She gasped softly, increased her pace, and ran towards me.

I stretched my hands forward, waiting for her to hug me, waiting to inhale her sweet vanilla scent that always comforted me.

But…

When she got closer, my face tilted, and I felt my cheeks burning like they’d been placed on a hot surface.

My sister slapped me… twice.