LOGIN"Vincenzo, no!" Gianna screamed, throwing herself forward. "Please! Don't do this to her!" She fought against my hold with everything she had. "Relax, Gianna," I said quietly, pulling her firmly against my chest as she struggled to break free. Under any other circumstances, I would have loosened
"Because she's street-level waste," Vincenzo said, his voice flat, almost bored. "And she made a street-level decision." Dante released Cole, who crumpled to the floor, then swung the laptop around so we could see the screen, "I've got Mercer's footage," he said. "It lines up with his version. Cole
He straightened as much as Dante's grip allowed, fixing his attention entirely on my brother. "I know what the Capone name means. You don't poke a sleeping tiger unless you're looking to get eaten alive. Everything I did tonight was to prove my loyalty." It was convincing and logically structured.
Denise collapsed into herself, a broken, animalistic wail tearing from her throat as her head hung so low her forehead nearly touched the blood pooling beneath her. "That is the truth, Gianna!" she cried. "I was just so tired. You don't know what it's like to have people threatening to kill you eve
Alfonso moved instantly. He lunged forward, grabbing Morgan and jerking her head back until her neck strained. He jammed the barrel of his pistol into her mouth. She let out a muffled, terrified sob, her hands shaking in the air as she choked around the gun. My eyes returned to Denise, locking ont
"But right now... my only job is to make sure nobody ever hurts you again." I couldn't help her while she was pulling against the ropes still wrapped around her ankles. "Stay still." She didn't, "Raphael, please—" "I said stay still." I crouched in front of her and pulled the knife from my belt
"We're friends," I repeated firmly. Claire kept looking at Raphael. Something flashed across his face. It was gone so quickly I almost missed it. Finally, he spoke, "Yes." Claire perked up immediately, "Yes?" Raphael's jaw flexed, "We are friends." The words sounded strangely forced coming f
I sniffled, "What?" A small smile appeared on her face, "Never seeing you dance again." I shook my head immediately, "Mom—" "I'm serious." "No." "Gianna." "I can't." "Why not?" "Because..." My voice cracked. "Because I can't stand up there pretending everything is normal." Mom's expression
Gianna ━⊰ ❦ ⊱━ The gardens behind the estate were beautiful. The flowers were in full bloom, filling the air with sweet scents that drifted with the gentle breeze. Tall hedges lined the stone pathways, fountains bubbled quietly in the distance, and sunlight filtered through the large oak trees o
Gianna blinked, then something softened in her face, "She's okay." The pressure eased immediately. Gianna looked down briefly, then back at me, “I waited.” “Why.” She shifted slightly on the trunk, fingers tightening around her arms, “You know why.” My mind ran through possibilities. Logical on







