Mag-log inGIOVANNI’S POVThe name rang a bell instantly. It was a private airfield, and it should be forty-five minutes north of the city."When?"Enzo checked his watch. "If they left here right after the call and they had to have, given the timeline, they'd be arriving at the airfield right about now."Hope and terror warred in my chest. "How fast can we get there?"Enzo shook his head. "If we leave right now? I’ll say thirty minutes at best.""Make it twenty. Move!" I snatched the paper from his hold and stormed out of the house, my heart pounding in anticipation. The rest of the team were ordered to follow behind us. I didn’t know what to expect at the airport but I wanted us to be prepared. We were catching Marco and we were catching him today. In a bluer, we flew through the city with out sirens blaring, and the team following in convoy. Enzo was on the phone coordinating with local police, getting us clearance to use emergency lanes.I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles
GIOVANNI’S POV"MOVE FASTER!"I was already pushing ninety on city streets, weaving through morning traffic with Enzo white-knuckling the door handle.He glared at me, his face flushed with rage. "Gio, we're going to crash if we keep going ate rate.”"I don't care!" My hands were shaking on the wheel. "She called, Enzo. Arya called. She's with Marco right now and she sounded terrified."The phone call played on loop in my mind. Her broken voice calling out to me and although it was faint, I heard the baby cooing in the background. I had no idea what she was going through and if Marco was the sadistic bastard that I thought he was then it wouldn’t be anything good. It didn’t help that the line had gone dead just before she could give me the address . And when I had tried to call back, nothing.But I knew without a doubt that shr was in yhe lasu location Eno found. "The team is already en route," he said, pulling up the address on his tablet. "They'll meet us there. We'll get her, Gi
ARYA’S POVI had no idea where I was going. I just knew I had to get away.The GPS screen in the dashboard flickered to life. I jabbed at it with one hand while steering with the other, trying to pull up a map that would tell me where I was, how to get to…Where? The Vitale mansion? The police? I shook my head. I just needed to get somewhere, anywhere that wasn't here. So I pressed the coordinates of my family home and the screen flared to life. I laughed in relief, tears of joy springing to my eyes. “Yes!”"We're okay, Dante," I said again, more to convince myself than him. "We're getting out. We're-"BANG.Something hit the back of the car, jolting us forward and I screamed, swerving.When I looked at the rearview mirror, I saw him and my heart dropped.Marco had found another car, a bright red sportscar and he was crazily on our tail. His head was out the driver's seat, a shotgun in his hand.How many fucking guns did he have!?"STOP THE CAR!" His voice carried even over the eng
ARYA’S POVMarco was in the living room, throwing items into a duffel bag. "About time. The car's out front. Let's go.""Marco." I whispered"Not another word. Move."I walked toward the door, my mind racing. Once we were in the car, my opportunity would be gone. I needed to…A phone rang, cutting off my thoughts. It was the landline, mounted on the kitchen wall. My heart jumped, could it be…I looked behind me, Marco had not noticed yet. This could be my chance. Running quickly, I rushed towards the phone and grabbed the receiver. "Hello?"No one said anything for a moment and my heart almost dropped in disappointment. But then I heard, "Arya?"The voice made my knees buckle but I steadied myself and gripped the phone tighter. "Giovanni?" I could barely breathe. "Oh my God, Giovanni. Is that you?"I could hear him speak in rapid Italian, shooting orders. My heart tightened even further and a smile nearly crossed my lips. He still sounded the same, although his voice has a raspin
ARYA’S POVDante's cries woke me from a restless sleep, I didn’t know whether to thank him or break down in tears myself. But I was on my feet instantly, moving to his bassinet on autopilot. "Shh, baby. It's okay. Mama's here."I could tell instantly that he was hungry, his little face scrunched up and red. I lifted him, settling into the rocking chair to nurse him."Good morning, sweet boy," I murmured, stroking his soft hair. "I hope you didn’t cry for long?” He latched into my nipple, sucking greedily and I chuckled at his enthusiasm. His hair was getting longer by the day and the only thing I was grateful for was that he had more than enough necessities for his personal needs. Dante’s skin was soft and smooth, his hair was silky black and I admired the roundness of his cheek. But I couldn’t ignore the dimness in his eyes, like he also knew we were in danger.“Baby,” I whispered. “I don’t know what to-“The door burst open and Marco walked into the doorway.He was already dress
GIOVANNI’S POVThe doctor closed his medical bag with a satisfied click. "Much better, Mr. Vitale. Your vitals are stronger, the wound is healing cleanly. Another week of rest and you should be able to move around more freely."Robert, propped up against pillows in his bed, looked pale but infinitely better than he had a week ago. "A week? I'll be up and about in three days.""Robert, don't be stubborn," Isabella chided from her chair beside the bed, though relief was evident in her voice. "Listen to the doctor."Robert huffed. "I've been shot before. I know my body.""Yes, and you're not twenty anymore," I said from my position by the window. "Take the week."Robert shot me a look. "Since when do you side with the doctors?""Since you almost died and left me to deal with your wife and daughter's grief." I kept my tone light, but the memory of that first night was still too fresh."He has a point," Isabella said, squeezing Robert's hand. "You scared us."Robert's expression softened a
My lips parted on a sharp inhale. Something warm flooded through me, pooling low in my belly, and for one terrible, devastating second, I forgot where I was. Drunk on the way he was looking at me, like I was a snack he wanted to devour.He moved.My instincts screamed at me, and I snapped back to
I stabbed at the waffle with more force than necessary, watching the fork pierce through the soft bread with vicious satisfaction.That's his face, I thought bitterly, stabbing again. Arrogant bastard, smug , manipulative… Another stab… Infuriating monster.I’d been sulking all day. Ever since he'
The knocking pierced through my sleep like a hammer against glass. "Christabel," I groaned into my pillow, my voice muffled and thick with sleep. "Knock it off."But the knocking didn't stop. Instead, a voice filtered through the heavy wooden door."Rise and shine, sleeping beauty."Enzo.My eyes
I tried to ignore the feeling but I eventually gave in, and took a sharp turn, heading towards the secrets I hoped I would find. I moved quietly down the corridor, my bare feet silent against the marble. When I reached the end of the hallway, I came face to face with his office door.Now or never.







