LOGINSTEFANOI knew how this fight was going to end before it even started. I should have backed down. It was wrong to challenge my underboss in the presence of the guards outside. Or worse, in front of a woman.But I didn't. Because he messed with me first. Riccardo marched towards me while flexing his fists. He stopped just a feet away, enough to try establish some sort of dominance. Chiara quickly entered into the house, leaving both of us alone. This time, he didn't even glance her way, because he was too pissed glaring at me. “You better watch the way you speak to me, you little piece of shit,” he spat, eyes burning. “I am still your underboss, and you will treat me with respect.”The guards instantly went still.I looked at him properly now.“You done?” I asked.Riccardo moved in a flash and grabbed my collar. The guards stepped forward but didn't make any move to separate us.This idiota was really pushing it today. And unfortunately, I had used up all my patience chasing Chiara
STEFANOI flexed my jaw as I drove Chiara and her sister back to the Romano mansion. My face still stung from the earlier slap she gave me, but at least she was no longer entertaining the idea of using her body to bargain her freedom. If it were any of my men, they would have probably agreed a long time ago. She was very attractive and her alluring figure was enough to drive any man to temptation. Including me. My hands tightened on the steering wheel. I didn't like the fact that this woman was getting under my skin. From the moment I saw her at the chapel, I hadn't been able to get her off my mind. I had no business being concerned about her actions, but somehow I ended chasing her across the city. Not that she would have made it very far. My uncle would not stop until he recovered her, dead or alive. And anyone with her would also suffer the same fate. My eyes drifted to the rearview mirror where Chiara was currently holding her sleeping sister. She hadn't spoken a single word s
CHIARAI froze at his words.He knew. I had no idea how he found out the truth. Stefano Romano knew I was not Isabella, and now he was going to tell Don Salvatore. In a fleeting moment of panic, I scanned my surroundings, desperately searching for an escape route. The bustling airport terminal was filled with travelers, oblivious to the tension that gripped me. But I quickly dismissed the idea of fleeing since Giada was still beside me. I knew I wouldn't be able to get very far with her now.Stefano's men had already arrived at the terminal, moving among the crowd dressed in tailored black suits while their steely gazes swept across the crowd like predatory hawks.There was no chance to escape anymore.Stefano must have sensed my growing despair because his grip on me tightened as he led me towards the exit. I held onto Giada with my other hand, trying to keep a calm expression so she wouldn't be scared. Once we stepped out of the airport, Stefano immediately let go of me and gestured
STEFANOFuck.Fuck, fuck, fuck."Stefano, can you stop pacing like that?" Bianca snapped, her voice sharp. "You're acting like she fled the country or something. Isabella just took her sister to get some desserts. That's it."I ignored her comment and continued trying to call the driver. That was the information I had gotten from him before we left, but now even he was not picking up my calls. My instincts kept warning me that something bad was going to happen, and I couldn't just ignore it.My mind went back to the memory of my uncle's wife sitting at the breakfast table. She looked so miserable and broken that I thought she might actually do something unreasonable, like kill herself after discovering what kind of monster she married.Turns out I was wrong.She was trying to run away instead.And that was a very bad idea. Although my uncle's wedding had been private, most of the underground world was aware that he had taken a second wife. If she fled now, unnecessary questions would
CHIARABianca stole the show as soon as we walked into the art exhibition. Everyone had their eyes on the daughter of the most powerful man in New York. The ladies instantly swarmed to her side, complimenting her dress to curry favour with her. But she ignored them all and only smiled at Stefano at her side. His expression remained calm and disinterested. I gripped my bag tighter as I looked down on my daughter. After observing the scene, it looked like they were going to be preoccupied for some time. Giada and I could still leave the city as we planned if we played our cards right.“Let's go and admire the paintings over there,” I said to my daughter. I guided Giada toward a quieter corner of the exhibition hall, away from the crowd that had gathered around Bianca. The polished marble floor reflected the glow of crystal chandeliers overhead, while soft classical music drifted through the spacious gallery. Every wall was lined with paintings of different sizes and styles, each on
CHIARAAfter breakfast, I went upstairs with Giada, purposely talking about playing a puzzle game with her. Fortunately, Don Salvatore and Riccardo decided to discuss business further in his study. Bianca must have taken Stefano to the art exhibition, so that only meant one thing. The lower floor was currently empty. I led Giada into my bedroom before closing the door shut. Grabbing my bag from the closet, I opened the lower drawer to swipe our passports and some cash I had stashed for emergencies, along with some other necessities before returning to the bed to pack. However, I was careful not to overload the bag since I didn't alert the guards at the entrance. If I was going to escape, I needed to make sure it succeeded at the first atteompt. Else, it would be more difficult to leave this hellhole again. My hands trembled when I tried to zip the bag but it was currently stuck. Giada got off the bed and closed the distance to help me, but then her eyes landed on the bruises on m







