LOGINEyes drifted toward me the moment I entered the clinic.I pulled my hair over both sides of my face and headed toward the receptionist. The second she noticed the nurse uniform, she waved her hand dismissively. “We don’t have any open jobs right now.”I shook my head quickly. “No, no,” I stammered. “I need to see the doctor. I’m a patient.”“Do you have an appointment for today?” she asked, sizing me up and down.“No,” I admitted.She shocked me when she said, “Sorry, ma’am. Without an appointment, the doctor can’t see you.”God! How did I forget about that?I couldn't not just go back home after all this just like that!“Please,” I said. “I really need to see him. Can’t you register me now?”She gave me an apologetic smile and shook her head. “This is Professor Howard Kane. He’s the best in the country. You need to make a reservation at least a month in advance.”I bit down on my lower lip. This had been a bad idea from the start.I sighed and was about to leave, but... decided to tr
Mila“Miss Mila, I’ve bandaged your hands,” the doctor said. “The wounds on your knees are just minor scratches and didn’t need bandaging.”I looked at my hands as the gauze wrapped around them. I had used my palms to push the broken glass away from Angelo’s path at the restaurant.I placed a hand on my stomach and asked, “How’s my child, doctor?”He looked at the screen before him and smiled. “You have a strong child. Just like the mother.”I sighed in relief.“I’ll prescribe some vitamins and supplements, and everything will be fine,” he said as he started writing on the prescription paper. “This device will stay here so I can check on the baby every time I come.”A nurse wiped the cold gel off my stomach, then helped me sit up.The doctor began packing his things. “Nurse Ave will stay with you here for the next few days. If you need anything, just call me.”When I went downstairs, Mama was already there. She was sitting on the sofa while Angelo lay on her knees, and she was brushin
Trigger Warning: This chapter includes violence and blood. If you're not into this, don't read it.LucaThree severed heads lay in the middle of the underground meeting hall of the Club.The door swung open, and seventeen men walked in. Their faces paled the moment their eyes landed on the heads of the three snipers displayed on the long table.They were the Senate, members of Cosa Nostra families, including the Castellano family—fucker Lorenzo Castellano among them—and the Ricci family. Adams Ricci wasn’t there.I was playing with a small knife stained with blood.I sat at the center of the table, swaying slightly in my chair. On my right was Marco, on my left Ricardo. Father sat with us, along with Aunt Mirenda and the rest of the Hayden family. Even Mila’s uncle was there. They had all insisted on attending this meeting.What happened at the Roman Heights restaurant had affected the entire Hayden family’s reputation—along with the Russetti name.Only Mother hadn’t attended. She cho
Ricardo“Brother,” I said, panting as I burst into his office. “You have to hear this.”Luca opened his eyes. A nurse was bandaging some minor injuries while he lay on the large couch, still wearing a concealable bulletproof vest.“What?”“As we expected, the attackers were not outsiders,” I said. “They are from some of the La Cosa Nostra families.”He sat up abruptly, making the nurse stumble back, lose her balance, and hit the side table.His eyes darkened. “What the f*ck does that mean?”I let out a deep breath. “Lissandra Russetti,” I started.His eyes dimmed.“They claim they wanted revenge for Lissandra Russetti by taking Mila Russetti’s life.”He went still.Too still.The kind of calm that sends a chill down your spine and makes your blood run cold—especially when he starts opening and closing his lighter like he did now… or fiddling with his cracked wristwatch.“They heard about the deal, didn’t they?” he asked, lighting a cigarette.I hadn’t seen him smoke in a long time.An
MarcoIn this underground world, loyalties could be twisted like switching a button. We didn’t expect this attack, but it couldn’t be from our enemies. They couldn’t reach this far into our territory. Not after the last attack at least a year ago.As the Capo of Cosa Nostra, I realized a betrayal was at play.My phone buzzed with a message. (We took down the three snipers,) Luca texted. (I still need to deal with some urgent matters. Take them to the Russetti mansion and increase security to the maximum level.)The more I loved Mila, the more I felt sorry for my brother. I had never seen him that weak for anyone except her.He stood like a tower in front of three snipers to protect her, while she was craving another man. I would never doubt his skills in risk assessment or identifying an enemy’s weak points—but he was too exposed, yet still chose to sacrifice himself for her and his son.I was about to type back when cold metal pressed against the side of my skull.A gun.“Stop the ca
Every minute mattered. I knew that at any split second, a bullet could penetrate my body.The last person I thought about was myself. My priority was saving Angelo. Even though my heart was racing for Luca.The glass punctures in my palms and knees meant nothing to me. My anxiety and fear for Angelo were too intense—I no longer felt the pain. There was no room for fear.But my vision was already blurred, tears dropping onto the floor and onto Angelo’s head.I was relieved when we finally made it to the exit door. I took a deep breath and was about to jump to my feet in one swift move, ready to run through it.But the door burst open.Through my teary eyes, I saw him standing tall there. Marco.I froze.If there was anyone in the Hayden family I hated more than Luca, it was Marco.I could never forgive him for how he watched my life fall apart—how my reputation was destroyed—while he acted like I was nothing to him.He stepped in quickly, bent down, and grabbed both me and Angelo, pull
Trigger WarningThis chapter contains content that may be disturbing for some. Please don't read if you can’t tolerate themes of animal abuse. A warning will be added before the specific scene.MilaMy heart was pounding wildly in my chest even though I was sitting alone in my bed at the apartment.
"What’s that?" Ricardo asked, swallowing his saliva."A DNA test confirming that I’m Angelo’s father," I replied, my eyes sparking fire.They exchanged dark glares. I tossed the paper into my pocket and sniffed. The bitter taste in my heart got the better of me. Then, with all the rage exploding in
She followed behind me as I walked into the mansion. Our family was eating their dinner. Once they saw us, their eyes trailed between us. I could see them examining the clothes Mila was wearing. I bet every one of them realized what happened between us. And I didn’t give a fck.Fck them all.They m
I think she messed things up because she heard the name frequently, and it must’ve been similar in pronunciation to that name.I pushed the thought away and kept listening to her, a pain in my heart for letting her suffer alone all this time.“Every touch was a torture. I was so innocent—I used to







