Se connecterCalla had said those three words. Hearing it come out of her mouth felt strange in a good way though.She held her breath, watching Rico to see his reaction.Rico just stared at her. Like he was holding onto the words carefully, afraid they might disappear if he blinked wrong.Then the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, something lighter passing through his tired expression.For a moment, nothing else happened. Not because there was nothing to say, but because neither of them rushed to fill the silence.Calla raised her hand after long minutes of staring at each other, her fingers brushed lightly through his hair again, more absent this time, like she didn’t even notice she was doing it anymore.“Are you tired?” she asked softly.“Mm," he murmured."Then you should sleep." She attempted to stand up from his lap, but he held her firm.“I’d rather stare at you," he uttered with a teasing smile.“You’re concussed,” she muttered, rolling her eyes, but there was no real firmness in it an
Once they were inside their room, Calla closed the door behind her and suddenly threw her arms around him. This time, it was tighter, filled with all the pent-up emotions she had been holding back downstairs.He sucked in a deep breath at the impact, but he still held her.She quickly pulled away when she heard him groan in pain.Her eyes moved over his face, taking in the split lip, the blood near his brow, the bruises already darkening his skin. Then her gaze dropped to his shoulder, where his shirt was torn and blood still slipped slowly from the wound.She gasped and stepped back to give him space.But he clearly didn’t like that. A low growl rumbled in his chest as he reached for her, trying to pull her back into his arms.She stayed where she was. "You’re hurt,” she said, shaking her head as she caught his hand. “I’ll have someone call for a doctor—”Rico immediately caught her by her waist before she could leave. “I didn’t complain when you hugged me downstairs, did I?” he said
Calla paced around the living room, gnawing on her fingernails, her other hand resting on her waist. Her nerves were off the roof."Still nothing?" She asked Donna Marta, who was on her phone.It was already midnight, and they knew this was the coronation night. As women weren't allowed in, Donna Marta has been trying to get the latest updates on the ceremony. Consigliere Dario purposely chose not to attend. According to him, he would never partake in such a gathering of lies, disguised as their Quintara tradition.Donna Marta had no other option but to seek information from other council members who still supported her. And right now, the only one who was responding had suddenly stopped. The last message he sent didn't make any sense. It was as if he typed it with trembling hands, the letters jumbled and uneven."We really need to get some sleep," Sophia said, legs folded as she sat on the couch, watching Calla through half-lidded eyes."No!" Calla said almost immediately, startli
The sound from the gunshot filled the wide hall, bouncing off the walls, echoing loudly.The moment Rico saw the movement, his eyes sharpened. He moved fast, dropping low and shifting behind one of the heavy chairs as the bullet tore past where his chest had been a second earlier.That single gunshot shattered whatever order remained, and the hall exploded into chaos.Marco’s men opened fire at once.Ezio reacted instantly, grabbing the nearest table and flipping it onto its side with a violent shove. Plates and bottles crashed everywhere as he dropped behind it for cover.Bullets slammed into the wood. Ezio leaned out and returned fire, his face hard and focused.Bruno fired from near the side entrance, taking down one guard before the man even finished raising his rifle.Valentina rolled behind a pillar, then calmly aimed and shot one of Marco’s captains in the shoulder, sending him crashing backward into a table.Costa charged through the smoke and confusion like a bull, firing twi
Silence gripped the hall. Even a pin drop would feel like an explosion. This was the kind of authority Rico commanded. He was feared and also respected.Two days ago, he had been plotting, studying the blueprint of this building closely, memorizing all the entryways and how to get in without being spotted.This structure was built over two centuries ago. So it wasn't a surprise if no one knew an emergency evacuation tunnel existed. He had almost missed it when he scanned the blueprints. But he wasn't called a Romano for no reason.He had zero knowledge that his team was going to infiltrate and crash the ceremony. And that made him proud. At least he knew they were willing to go to any lengths to avenge him.But at the same time, he would give them an earful after this. They were taking the biggest risk. And Marco could've killed them off without batting an eye.Marco’s breathing had grown heavier now. “You are already too late,” he said. “So I suggest you go back to whatever hole you
Ezio’s grip on the gun was firm as he aimed it at Marco, his gaze burning with heat.Marco’s men reacted at once, pulling out their weapons and pointing straight at Ezio, their fingers resting on the triggers, ready to tear him apart where he stood.Bruno drew first from the side door, his gun already raised before most guests noticed him move. Valentina stepped back from the nearest table and pulled a pistol from beneath her server’s apron, aiming without hesitation.Costa emerged from the rear hallway with his weapon in hand, covering the men near the council table. Even Matteo rose from beside the sound equipment, drawing his gun and pointing it toward Marco’s side of the room.In seconds, the hall turned into a cage of loaded weapons. Guests froze in their seats, and council members ducked lower behind tables, their expensive pride gone now that bullets were involved.The guards near the walls shifted nervously, unsure who would fire first. One wrong move would turn the polished f
Calla didn’t remember how she made it out of Rico’s room. Her legs moved on their own while her mind stayed behind, trapped in his words, in his cold eyes, in the way he looked at her like she was nothing. Her lips trembled the moment the door closed behind her, and the tears she had been holding
The drive to the factory was quiet, the quiet that pressed against the chest and made every breath feel heavier than the last. Rico sat in the back seat, his elbow resting against the door, his gaze fixed on the dark road ahead as the city slowly disappeared behind them. Streetlights thinned out th
Rico stormed out of Calla’s house like the walls themselves had offended him, the door slamming behind him hard enough to rattle the frame. The night air hit his face cold and sharp, but it did nothing to cool the fire burning inside his chest. His breathing was uneven, his jaw locked so tight it
It’s been two days since Calla slipped out of Marco’s clutches. She wouldn’t call it an escape—more like being let go.That night had been a terror, not just for her, but especially for Eli. He’d been having constant nightmares, waking up drenched in sweat and gasping for air. Calla had run out of







