CATALINA'S PERSPECTIVE
LIBRERIA FIORETTA MORETTI'S PLANNED DAY The barrel pressed beneath my chin, cold enough to sting. His grip on my wrist tightened as though I were a doll meant to be shaken and used. I let my body tremble once more, one last courtesy to their ignorance. Then I moved. My hand shot up, seizing the gun, twisting hard. His wrist gave way with a wet snap, the weapon sliding neatly into my palm. The scream ripping from his throat drowned beneath the thunder of my shot, the bullet tearing through his companion’s skull before he even blinked. The two by the door never had the chance. Nikolai dropped them both, clean, efficient, no hesitation. Outside, two more bursts of gunfire. Then silence. My men had done their part. But not all would die today. The fool who dared to touch me was still breathing, clutching the wreck of his wrist, blood soaking through his sleeve. His facCATALINA'S PERSPECTIVE A Few Days Later.I stood before the mirror, the dim light catching every line, every curve. My hands moved slow, deliberate, over my skin, neck, shoulders, arms, stomach, searching for any trace Nico might have left. Bruises, marks, shadows of his desperation. Nothing. Clean. As if it never happened.“Good,” I whispered to my reflection, lips curving. I had no interest in carrying ghosts when Dante’s eyes would be the only ones I allowed to linger.By morning, I kissed Carlos’ cheek in farewell, my brother still buried in ledgers and newfound discipline, and left him to his mess. Nico had already gone days ago, disappearing into his own web, tasked with one order: keep Dante busy, far from Via Sant’Angelo.Nikolai shadowed me as always, the silent blade at my back. Together we returned to Libreria Fioretta.And there it was, whole again.The windows gleamed, the shelves stood proud, the faint scent of
CATALINA'S PERSPECTIVE MORETTI'S ESTATE By the second day, Carlos’ estate office was practically my war room. Documents no longer piled, they flowed, from Nikolai’s desk to mine, from mine straight under Carlos’ reluctant pen.I leaned back in the chair, fingers drumming on the desk, eyes flicking to Nico. “You. Keep Dante busy. Mislead him. If he even breathes near Via Sant’Angelo, I want you on his throat first.”Nico’s brows rose, lips twitching. “On his throat? That’s a first. Usually you ask me to dance around him, not strangle him.”“I don’t care if you dance, strangle, or serenade him,” I said flatly. “Just don’t let him get near Sant’Angelo. At any cost.”He chuckled low, leaning back with his usual smugness. “Consider it done. If I have to play the fool to keep his eyes off you, I’ll play it well.”I ignored his grin and shifted to Nikolai, who was already flipping through coded reports with calm precision. “Update
CATALINA'S PERSPECTIVE MORETTI'S ESTATE Carlos's Estate Office Carlos flinched when I smiled. Not the soft, angelic smile I gave strangers, but the wide, sharp one that stretched across my face like a blade. The one he’d seen when we were children and he knew he was about to be dragged through hell. “Since I’m staying for a while,” I said sweetly, “why don’t we make it productive?” His eyes widened. “Catalina-” I pinched his ear between my fingers and yanked him forward. He cursed, stumbling, but I didn’t loosen my grip. “Don’t whine. You’ll live.” Like a scolded boy, the Don of the Morettis was dragged across his own halls, men staring, too afraid to even breathe wrong. I threw open the doors to his office and shoved him inside. “Sit. And don’t move.” The desk was a warzone. Folders half-open, receipts stuffed between ledgers, unsigned contracts stacked lik
CATALINA'S PERSPECTIVE MORETTI'S ESTATE Training HallThe mutters spread like a virus.“She’s the boss’s sister, of course Roan lost.”“No man’s gonna hit her seriously.”“Unfair fight from the start.”I stopped cold, the frost in my gaze shutting every mouth that dared move.“You think he let me win?” I asked softly, dangerously.Not one of them answered. But the doubt was written plain across their faces.“Fine,” I said, voice slicing clean. “If you want a comparison, then I’ll oblige.”A shadow moved forward. Nikolai. My Nikolai. He peeled off his shirt as he stepped onto the mat, muscle and scar and cold calculation carved into every line of him.The soldiers muttered again, uneasy this time.“That’s the Lucchese’s man.”“No...La Rosa Nera’s.”“Unfair, unfair-”“Unfair?” Nikolai’s voice rumbled low, a dangerous grin tugging at his mouth. “Then let’s even it ou
CATALINA'S PERSPECTIVE MORETTI'S ESTATE Training Hall “Call the medics,” I ordered flatly, not even sparing Nico or Carlos a glance. A couple of Carlos’ men scrambled out of the hall immediately. By the time the medics rushed in, Nico was still groaning dramatically on the bench while Carlos sat with bloody knuckles, smirking through the sting. “Idiots,” I muttered. “Both of you.” Carlos chuckled under his breath, wincing as the medic disinfected his hand. Nico, however, perked up immediately, eyes narrowing suspiciously. He knew that tone in my voice. “Don’t even think about it,” he snapped. But I was already speaking, eyes on Carlos. “Who’s your strongest soldier?” The room froze. Carlos tilted his head, curious. “Strongest? That would be Roan. Why?” “I want to spar.” “What?!” Nico shot upright, nearly knocking the medic
CATALINA'S PERSPECTIVE MORETTI'S ESTATE Training Hall Carlos nearly dropped his cigarette when his eyes traced over my neck again. “Madonna mia… sorella, what the hell is this?” Nico smirked instantly, leaning back in his chair with all the arrogance of a man who wanted credit. “Exactly what it looks like.” Carlos snapped his gaze to him. “Do you have a death wish? She has a husband, that husband. If Dante sees her like this-” “Then maybe he’ll finally realize he doesn’t own every inch of her.” Nico tilted his head, utterly unfazed. “Besides, you should be thanking me. At least she was with someone who worships her properly.” Carlos slammed his palm on the table. “Worship? This isn’t worship, this is madness! What are you to her, huh? Some lover lurking in the shadows?” Nico’s smile sharpened. “If she’ll let me, gladly. Lover, shadow, anything she wants.” He lean