LOGINAurora, the no-touch, no-speaking autistic kid, lay soundly asleep in Kathleen's arms. The same little girl who would only hug him. Vito felt a surge of panic that consumed his whole body. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Did Kathleen do something to her? He blinked back his initial shock. Just then, Kathleen stirred awake, her eyes locking onto his horrified expression. “Hi,” she said drowsily. “I didn’t know you were here.” Without a word, Vito closed the distance between them and swiftly took his daughter from her grasp, as though she were some wicked witch who had enchanted Aurora. He backed away, putting space between them while his cold stare pinned Kathleen in place. Awakened by the sudden movement, Aurora blinked in surprise but smiled upon recognizing Vito, she gradually settled back into sleep. He was her favorite person in the entire words, and with him, she always felt safe. Kathleen observed their interaction with keen interest. This was a side of Vito she ha
“Did you get hurt trying to save her from Antonio?” Milan confronted Vito. Her gaze didn’t waver as she demanded the truth. She felt like it was her right to know. “Was it all because of me?” “It’s just business,” Vito said to avoid her question. In that beat of silence, a jagged memory of last night stabbed at him. His chest constricted as he recalled the sound of her shuddering breaths, and how she sobbed into her pillow. He knew she’d loathe him if she ever discovered he’d bugged her room. That lens was hidden in every expensive painting in the room and in the jewelry he bought for her. Even though he did all of these for her safety, the guilt gnawed at him. The silence between them pushed to the limit. “Business?” Milan’s laugh cut through the room’s heavy air. She pointed at bandages all over him. “You expect me to believe this doesn't have anything to do with Antonio? Or me?” She’d learned from Andrea that last night he suffered second-degree burns to save Kathleen from dying
Vito bolted upright, gasping for air. He scoured Milan’s room but she was missing. His heart leaped as the haunting memory of yesterday seized him. Where’s she? The thought echoed, and as if summoned, Milan materialized in the doorway. A faint smile traced her lips when she found him conscious. She had checked on him after talking with Andrea, but he lay dead asleep. Andrea advised letting him sleep in her bed more often. “He has a lot going on. For him to sleep this soundly, it's because he finds peace with you.” “Finally awake?” Milan’s voice didn't show any compassion or the deep adoration she felt for him. “I was starting to think you’d surrendered to the day.” “The time?” Vito rasped. “Mid-afternoon.” She replied, her eyes failing not to rake over his body. It was a rare sight- seeing him in her bed… She yearned to get into the bed and see if he woke up with a stiff erection. But she remained rooted on the spot, thinking about it, instead of actually doing it. “Don’t look a
Vito gently pulled away and slipped out of Milan’s room. As he opened the door, he caught a glimpse of Kathleen Dinar’s figure hurrying down the hallway. A frown creased his brow. Was she already awake? His curiosity flickered, but he chose not to confront her. After all, his heart was truly devoted to the love of his life, and he would rather savor that moment. Yet, he knew he had to share the complexities of his situation with Milan before she met Kathleen. The next day, Milan woke to the dull throb of a hangover, but the sight of Vito peacefully sleeping beside her filled her with warmth. With tender care, she brushed his hair away from his face, her gaze lingering on the features she cherished so deeply. A soft smile graced her lips as she recalled the boyish innocence he once had, now shadowed by the dangerous weapon he had become. “If only I could turn back time to nine years ago, Milan thought, I would have fought harder to stay, to convince my father that while Vito could b
Milan’s heart began to beat faster. She was intoxicated and intensely aroused, but she refused to show such weakness. She tilted her head back, moving even closer as she estimated him beneath her long eyelashes. “Your benefits?” Milan murmured, her voice a low, provocative challenge. “You’re a Salvatore. You even recently became the Godfather. You have a big kingdom and a reputation that keeps the wolves from the door. You’re cold, you’re efficient, and unlike my last husband, you will never raise your hands on me.” “I will never,” Vito said almost immediately. Milan reached out, her fingers trailing slowly up his chest, feeling the hard, steady thrum of his heart beneath the expensive fabric of his shirt. “I don't need a husband who loves me, Vito. I need a husband people are afraid to cross. I need a man who is as much of a monster as the ones hunting me.” She hummed in satisfaction as she felt his hands slide around her waist. “So why did you go on those dates with Mat
Vito bolted upright in bed, his chest heaving and his bandages soaked with cold sweat. He could still hear Aurora’s voice in his ears, crying for help. Nightmares had tormented him every night the Godfathers’ Night, but none of them was as terrifying as this. He gripped the edge of the silk mattress, breathing heavily. “It’s just a dream…” Vito tried to convince himself but it was impossible because in his world, dreams were often warnings of what was coming. Inhaling sharply, he slid into his slippers and stepped out of his dimly lit room without checking the time. He thought of checking on Milan but he was feeling thirsty. So he decided to go get a drink first. After everything that had happened, he needed the sharp, cold bite of a good beer to cut through the night. Vito walked down the stairs to the bar in the corner of the living room, where he met the one his heart sought, drowning in her sorrow. Milan had abandoned the wine glass and was drinking directly from the bottle of
Vito left Milan with the rest of his people to meet the Minister. Vincenzo was able to arrange this meeting because his father was a top politician. Besides, the old crook owed him a favor, and within hours, Antonio’s transfer to a local police station outside Milano, Italy was arranged. After the
Vito approached the bed, his footsteps calm and measured. “Relax, Milo. You are safe here,” he said, his voice calm but commanding. Milan wanted to speak, to explain everything she felt, but words failed her. Instead, she just nodded slightly, her chest rising and falling as she tried to control h
Milan’s eyes flashed with shock as Vito admitted, “My uncle, Luca. Four years ago. He backstabbed me.” She looked dumbfounded, trying to process the weight of his words. It was unnerving to think that the man who had taught him to kill had been the first person he ended up killing himself. “Lu…
Before they left the mansion, Vito ordered dinner for Mateo and Aurora. Aside from him and Mrs. Luigi, Bang was the only person Aurora liked to be close to. Maybe it was because he was Mrs. Luigi’s boy and she was always on about him. The memory of the warm, and kind older lady pierced a deep ache







