LOGINMorning came, but there was no peace in the Romano mansion. The sun was up, yet the house still felt dark. Alessandro sat behind his desk in the study, the curtains half drawn. A cigarette burned slowly in the ashtray, untouched for minutes.The door opened quietly, and Lucas stepped in. His face said everything before he even spoke.“Boss,” he began, standing stiffly near the desk, “we still couldn’t track the van.”Alessandro lifted his head slowly. His eyes were sharp but tired. “What do you mean you couldn’t track it?”Lucas shifted uneasily. “We’ve been checking since the day they were taken. We searched every camera near the mall, every road that leads out of the city. We even checked private security feeds.” He hesitated before adding, “It’s like they vanished.”Alessandro frowned, sitting back in his chair. “Vanished? You’re saying there’s no trace at all?”Lucas nodded once. “No trace, boss. Nothing. Whoever planned it was careful. They knew where the blind spots were. They c
Matteo dropped the phone. It hit the floor with a dull sound that seemed to echo in his skull. His body felt hollow. Every muscle trembled as he turned and walked out of the room.Down the long hall, the air felt thick. He reached the sitting room, dropped onto the couch, and buried his face in his hands. His heart pounded so loudly he could barely breathe. The images, the sounds—everything—spun in his head until he thought he would be sick.A few minutes passed. Then he heard footsteps behind him.Lorenzo walked in, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, his skin still damp. He looked perfectly calm, even pleased.Matteo stood up without thinking. Rage boiled over before reason could stop it. He crossed the room in two steps and swung hard.His fist connected with Lorenzo’s jaw.The impact snapped Lorenzo’s head to the side, but he didn’t fall. He touched his lip, smirked, and looked at his brother with cold amusement.“Why are you so angry, Matteo?” he asked quietly. “You look li
Lorenzo slipped off his suit jacket, draping it carelessly over a nearby chair before turning towards the glass door. Matteo watched, frozen, as Lorenzo entered the room, the door clicking softly behind him, and Sophia immediately rose from the bed, her face lighting up with genuine delight. She wrapped her arms around Lorenzo's neck, pulling him close with an intimate familiarity that made Matteo's stomach twist. "What took you so long?" she asked, her voice tinny but clear through the phone's speaker for Matteo to hear as she pressed her cheek against his shoulder. Matteo gripped the device tighter, knuckles white, as Sophia leaned back to study Lorenzo's face. "I was doing something," Lorenzo replied casually, his thumb tracing her jawline. "Y'know, business." Sophia’s answering smile was a slow one,, utterly unlike the daughter Matteo remembered and knew. "Then let’s get down to business," she breathed, fingers already working at Lorenzo’s shirt buttons. Matteo recoiled at her to
The drive to the old Lorenzo estate was long and quiet. Matteo’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter the closer he got. The gates opened before he even stopped — as if Lorenzo had been waiting.The guards said nothing as he passed through. The house was the same as ever — grand, cold, and silent. Every step Matteo took down the marble hall echoed sharply, matching the fast beat of his heart.He entered the sitting room. Lorenzo was there, leaning lazily on the couch, a drink in hand, legs crossed like a man without a care in the world.“I can see you had a very wonderful trip, Matteo,” Lorenzo said, voice smooth, eyes sharp.Matteo forced a small smile and nodded. “It was… productive.”Lorenzo smirked. “Productive, huh? You also had a lot of fun, didn’t you? A lot of… company.”Matteo’s eyes snapped up. “What are you implying?”“Relax,” Lorenzo chuckled, swirling his drink. “I just happen to be interested in what my dear brother was doing abroad — while Isabella was busy taking o
Chapter — The MessageThe sound of car tires on gravel echoed through the Sinclair driveway. It was late morning, and the house, though large and beautiful, felt cold. The maids had been cleaning quietly all morning, their faces pale with worry since the news of the kidnapping.When the front doors opened, Vivienne turned sharply from where she stood near the staircase. Her heart leapt when she saw the man walking in — tall, gray-haired, in a dark blue suit, rolling his luggage behind him.“Matteo!” she cried, rushing toward him.He barely had time to drop his suitcase before she threw her arms around him. He caught her quickly, a small smile touching his tired face.“Vivienne,” he said softly, holding her close. “I missed you.”She clung to him tightly. “You were gone for so long. I’ve missed you so much.”He kissed her forehead gently, breathing in the familiar scent of home. “It feels good to be back.” Then, noticing the tension in her shoulders, he frowned. “What’s wrong? You look
The night stretched on without peace.The house was quiet, but the silence didn’t feel calm. It felt heavy — like something terrible was hanging in the air.In Alessandro’s study, the lights were still on. He sat behind his desk, his phone pressed to his ear, listening to one of his men.“Boss,” the voice on the other end said, “we’ve searched every camera near the highway. The van disappeared. They switched routes before our men could follow.”Alessandro’s jaw tightened. “What about the witnesses at the mall?”“No one saw the attackers’ faces. They were masked. We’ve got no clear lead.”He took a slow breath, his voice low but firm. “Keep looking. I don’t care how long it takes. Someone saw something.”“Yes, sir,” the man replied before the call ended.Alessandro placed the phone down on the table and leaned back in his chair. His eyes were cold, but inside, his chest burned. He hated waiting. He hated not knowing.He stood up and walked toward the window. The city lights flickered i







