Mag-log inALESSIA Six p.m. Yuri was outside. I’d just finished going through my project Rebecca assisted with. As expected from an ace, the project was excellent. Reading was exhausting, but with Rebecca’s five-second jokes, I was able to catch up on a few things. Ever since I arrived in Sicily, I hadn’t called anyone. I almost dialed Nico. But instead of a call, I wanted to see how my family was doing if there were any left. After Lenox’s death, ever since the night of the incident, I hadn’t set my eyes on anyone. I’d been debating whether going to the casino or the house was the right choice. Whatever. Once I slipped through Yuri’s gaze, I’d make the decision.“Are you ready for the party tonight, Sia?” Rebecca pulled a sequin red mini dress out, holding it up with a convincing smile.“Can’t say no when the dress looks that tempting,” I winked, rose to my feet, and caught the dress midair.“Twenty minutes to get ready, then we hit the road—”We both turned, headed to our separate rooms. I
ALESSIAIt couldn't be possible. An encounter with him didn't feel real. I couldn't possibly assume he'd show up on D'Angelo's territory. Perhaps as Stefano's brother or the second in charge. I had many questions, but going back to him to ask about our first encounter was ludicrous. This monster hunted me in my sleep like a predator, then still signed me up for therapy. It was as if you don't just kill what you claim. You take it. You break it. You remake it. I flipped past the page that ended with _‘I want her.’_ I didn't add anything else to the page. I left the rest blank. Two days later.[I couldn't sleep. I kept hearing his calm voice echoing the same words of claim. I didn't think I was being paranoid. I felt like eyes were watching me. Even on campus, I couldn't move freely. Although Carlos tended to keep eyes on me because trouble followed me, I could feel something strange beneath the familiar gazes. When I couldn't shake the feeling, I went back to Carlos to ask if
ALESSIA“When did you arrive in Moscow? Or do you also work for him?” I asked before taking the seat opposite Nora.She adjusted her eyeglasses. The same ugly frames that made her look old. I wondered if anyone had ever told her she looked fifty with those strange glasses on.“I was hired by your brother after the accident,” she said. “This morning a group of men came to my apartment and said I had to go with them. I could fight it, but I don’t want to put my family at risk. So, Ms. D’Angelo, I’d appreciate it if we both did our part today and got through this together.”I bet you could fight those monsters. But no more death. That ruthless monster wouldn’t even blink before killing.I let out a long sigh. “Are your family safe?”“Their lives are in your hands. Shall we begin?” I nodded. She picked up a notebook and a pen. “What would be most helpful for us to talk about today?”“Anything you want to know. If you leave it to me, I don’t want to talk about anything right now. But tha
ALESSIAThat was fucking hilarious. Everyone kept blaming me for everything. Papa died because of me. Carlos died because of me. Lennox died because of me. Why was it always me?“You don’t even know what you did,” Rosetta snapped, breathless, like her lungs were too small for the air in the room. “But you ruined everything. All of it.”I stared at her. Perplexed. Irritated. My tongue felt like a stone in my mouth. “Well, then blame me.” I shrugged, and laughed. A sharp, hysterical sound that didn’t belong to me. “Sadly, I still don’t remember a damn thing you’re all screaming about.”I was trying to keep my cool. I really was. But underneath, it felt like someone was dragging a blade through my chest. The pain in my head spiked the second she started yelling.Her jaw dropped. Shocked. Like she never expected me to talk back. I knew I wasn’t normal. A normal person would’ve cried. Begged. Bled. Fell apart. But here I was. A bitch who didn’t even know what her sins were.“You need
MARTELLOAnother nightmare.Was it the one where she was drowning in a pool of blood? Or the day she was hunted?I wish I could get into her dream and find out. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, trickling down her face. She was struggling, suffocating. It was a sight to behold. However, I still found myself trying to pull her out of the pathetic nightmare that plagued her like an incurable disease. Her body trembled—cold as ice. Her palms clenched into fists. She was murmuring something under her breath. I heard her, loud and vivid. The scene replaying in her dream was about the past she had forgotten. I wonder how she would react when she finally remembered everything.‘I didn't do it!’‘Carlos, you need to stop him.’‘No. No. No. Sergio, don't shoot him. Please. Do something. He's going to shoot. Wait!’ I could have waited until she regained her forgotten memories, but it was taking longer than expected. When I heard about the incident that occurred three days ago, I was fu
ALESSIAThey dropped the body bags. Heavy. Wet sounds. It was impossible to know if they were still alive.No one spoke. Ivanos and Mustapha stood behind Yuri and Dmitri like walls. Yuri’s face was blank. Like always. Dmitri’s face was vicious. Like always.Martello didn’t look at them. He looked at me.“Everyone out,” he said quietly. Like he never needed to yell.Mustapha opened his mouth. “Pakhan—”“Out.”They left. Even Dmitri. The door sealed with a click that felt final. Now it was just me, him, the dead man in the chair, and two body bags on the floor.He walked to the sink, washed his hands again. Blood swirled down the drain. “You had a wish, little vermin. Ask.”My throat was dry. My chest tightened. But Sergio’s words were still in my head. “He said you killed Carlos,” I started. Voice barely there. “He said if I went with him, he'd tell me everything I've forgotten, like he knows it all. He said... he said you destroyed my family, our family legacy.”Martello went still.
ALESSIA There was no way that man was a human. He parried all the bullets with ease and dissolved all my attacks like they were reflecting fragments. I couldn't ignore how super fast he was, how he teleported behind me, held my hand, and fired at Lenox. ‘Who the hell is he? What does he want from
“How long will it take to reach the clubhouse?” I asked him as I stretched forth my left hand to give the phone to him, he took it and returned it to his left pocket.“Thirty-five minutes on a high speed but you're not getting out of here. Carlos said I shouldn't bring you to the clubhouse no matte
“Goddamn it. Whatever. It's hopeless to fight it.” I mumbled underneath.My eyes were stinging; all I could see was a figure crashing on my couch around the corner in the room. I kept wondering how he could vividly read in the dark, whereas I was still struggling, trying to make out his face and fi
Carlos and I needed to talk.I waited for thirty minutes, hoping that cold son of a bitch would come downstairs and explain what puzzled me, but he left me to stew over our unfinished conversation. I was furious.“Take this medicine. It should alleviate the pain.” Rosetta extended a small white con







