Her Perfect Trap

After stealing my boyfriend again, Bianca flaunted the hickeys on her neck and the expensive watch right in my face."This watch looks so much better on me."Bianca held up her wrist. The Patek Philippe glittered in the sunlight streaming into the Columbia University library.The pen in my hand nearly snapped.That was the limited-edition watch Nico gave me last month."Bianca, you—""Oh, right. This was yours." She cut me off, her smile a mix of fake innocence and pure smugness. "But Nico agrees. He said it just... fits my vibe better. He texted me last night. Said he's never met a girl with taste like mine."The whole library could feel the tension. Students around us exchanged knowing glances."Here we go again," Sarah muttered."Bianca is such a good friend. She always shows Viviana what these guys are really like," Emma added."Exactly," Jessica nodded. "If Bianca didn't sacrifice herself to test them, Viviana would be wrapped around some playboy's little finger."My nails left cr

Three weeks later, I was standing in the grand hall of the Falcone family estate.Crystal chandeliers, marble floors, priceless paintings on the walls.It was the first time Matteo brought me to a family gathering."Relax, baby," he whispered in my ear. "It's just a simple business dinner tonight."I nodded, tightening my grip on his arm.With Matteo's possessiveness, I thought he'd be different from the others.He never let other men get near me.He'd leave hickeys on my neck, marking his territory.He even had bodyguards follow me 24/7."Matteo!"A familiar voice called down from the staircase.Bianca, wearing a long silver gown, was descending the spiral staircase.What was she doing here?"Bianca." Matteo nodded at her. His voice was polite but distant. "You made it."I was confused, but I didn't say a word.Bianca walked up to us and gave me a defiant smile."Viviana, long time no see."Then she turned to Matteo, deliberately pulling up her sleeve."Matteo, look."Her arm shimmere

"His touch makes my skin crawl. I need a scalding shower for an hour."Nico wiped a smear of blood from his lip, his eyes burning with disgust.I leaned against the alley wall. Finally, I could drop the act."The bugs. Are they in?""Done." Nico pulled a small device from his pocket. "Bianca was our way in. Planted twelve micro-cams in Matteo's private clinic."He swiped the screen. The feed was crystal clear. A luxury suite."Got every angle. Every 'treatment.' Every experiment. We have it all."I took the device, scrolling through the video files.There was Matteo in a lab coat, injecting a young girl with some unknown liquid.The look on her face was pure agony."These 'volunteers'... Bianca brought them in?""Yeah." Nico's voice was ice. "She used the Romano family's clinic network. Targeted terminal patients. Told them it was a free experimental treatment."My fists clenched so tight my knuckles turned white."How many?""At least thirty so far." Nico paused. "Twelve of them are d

Midnight. Matteo's Fifth Avenue penthouse was dead quiet.He sat in his study, staring at his laptop. The screen read: Files have been permanently deleted."Damn it!"He slammed his fist on the desk.The lab's core server had been breached. All the key data—the kill list, the volunteer files—it was all gone."Boss." His assistant, Marco, walked in, his face grim. "The private jet is ready. Wheels up at 0600. Straight to Brazil."Matteo nodded.A country with no extradition. It was his only way out."What about the lab?""Being destroyed as we speak," Marco said. "All equipment will be disposed of. There won't be a trace."Matteo breathed a sigh of relief.No evidence, no case. The Feds could come sniffing around all they wanted.As for Bianca...Murder flashed in his eyes. The girl was a loose end."Take care of Bianca," he snarled. "Permanently."BOOM!A crash from the bedroom.Matteo and Marco rushed in.The bedroom door was splintered, hanging off its hinges.And in the middle of th