LOGINFina’s PovI looked at Elena through tears that refused to stop falling.My chest was hurting; everything was hurting. The room felt too small, too hot, too suffocating.Elena tightened her grip around my trembling hands.“I know a lot has happened these past few months, Fina,” she whispered. “More than anyone should have to endure.”I swallowed hard. My throat burned.“But going against his will right now, would only enrage him further.”“So what do I do Elena? Huh.. What?” My eyes lifted to hers, desperate and hopeless all at once.“I have a picture of Angel,” she said, and my desperate eyes met hers, “Courtesy of Marco,” she explained.“Please.” My voice cracked. “Show me my brother. I need to see him. I need to know how bad it is.”The silence stretched between us, then Elena slowly nodded.Three minutes later, she unlocked her phone. I watched her fingers shake.And somehow that terrified me more than anything, she turned the screen toward me.The moment I saw the picture, my wo
Fina’s povI barely slept. The conversation with Aria from the previous night kept replaying in my head.The whispers, and he way Rita couldn’t look me in the eyes.The way Marco had practically run from the room.And the way everybody seemed determined to keep me in the dark.My instincts were screaming at me. Something had happened.Something serious. And somehow, deep inside, I already knew it had something to do with Angel.Surprisingly, Dario never came home that night. A part of me was relieved.I didn’t know how to face him.Not when I could feel a secret sitting between us like a loaded gun.The moment morning arrived, I made a decision. I needed answers.And there was only one person I trusted enough to give them to me.Elena.I picked up my phone and dialed her number. She answered on the second ring.“Fina!”Her cheerful voice filled the room.“Hey babes, it’s so good to hear from you.”I swallowed. “Elena, I need a favor.”“Anything.”“I need you at the mansion.”There wa
Fina’s povWhen I woke up from my noon nap, the mansion felt unusually quiet.For a moment, I simply lay there, staring at the ceiling.The conversation with Dario earlier kept replaying inside my head.The way he had looked at me, and had avoided answering my questions.A sigh escaped me. I pushed the blanket away and climbed out of bed.Outside, the sky had already started turning orange.Evening was here, and I had slept longer than I intended.After changing into something comfortable, I left the room and headed downstairs.The mansion felt strangely empty. One of the maids hurried past me carrying fresh flowers.“Have you seen the Don?” I asked.She stopped immediately. “The Don left a few hours ago, Donna.”A few hours ago? I frowned.“With his men?”“Yes, Donna.”I thanked her and continued walking. The strange feeling in my chest refused to leave.I hadn’t seen Rita all afternoon either, and for some reason, that bothered me.As I approached the kitchen corridor, voices drifte
Aria’s povI woke up before sunrise. It was something I had always done.Back home, whenever life became too loud, I ran. Whenever my thoughts became too much, I ran.And after everything that had happened since arriving at the Severo Estate, I desperately needed a run.So before my grandmother could find chores for me, I pulled on a pair of shorts, a tank top, my running shoes, and slipped outside.The morning air was cool, and fresh. Perfect for a run.For almost an hour, I jogged around the estate grounds.The place was ridiculously huge.There were pathways, gardens, fountains, and sections I hadn’t even explored yet.Honestly, if somebody abandoned me here, it would probably take me three days to find my way back to the mansion.By the time I finished, sweat coated my skin. My breathing was heavy.But my head felt clearer. At least until I entered the gardens.The moment I rounded a corner, my feet stopped. I saw Laro.Why was it always him?He stood a few feet away talking to tw
FinaThe morning had started perfectly, for the first time in days, I woke up feeling light, and happy.Maybe it was because Dario had held me all through the night.Maybe it was because, for once, he hadn’t rushed out of bed the moment the sun rose.Or maybe I was simply getting used to this strange life of mine.Either way, I had woken up smiling.Even if my husband had grumbled when he found me helping Rita prepare breakfast.“You’re not supposed to be in the kitchen.”That had been the first thing he’d said. I had rolled my eyes, and he had frowned.As usual.Then he had left with Marco and some of the men for business he refused to tell me about.Business that apparently did not concern me, at least according to him.So I didn’t ask, there was no point.Whenever I asked about mafia matters, Dario either changed the subject or looked at me as if I had asked him for state secrets.By noon, they finally returned. I was already waiting when I saw him enter the mansion.His expression
Laro’s POVThe morning I was supposed to pick Rita’s granddaughter up from the airport, I made a mistake.I looked her up.Rita had given me her social media handles the night before, claiming it would make it easier for me to recognize her when I got there.It did the exact opposite.I was sitting on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, staring at picture after picture.Long dark hair, brown eyes, and a smile that looked genuine.Paint-stained fingers in half her photos.Most of her page was filled with sketches, paintings, unfinished canvases, and random moments from her life.An artsy girl. That was the first thing I noticed.The second thing I noticed was that she was beautiful.Extremely beautiful.The exact type of woman I usually stayed away from.“Fuck.”I tossed the phone onto the mattress. This wasn’t good.I already knew enough about her story from Rita. A mother who had left.Years of struggling, and working hard enough to earn her place in college.And now she was moving in







