LOGINTears blurred my vision as I cradled his face between my trembling hands. "My Dan..." I whispered as my voice cracked under the weight of a thousand unshed tears. "Let's go back to Willow Creek.” The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound filling the sterile hospital room. It was cruelly rhythmic, reminding me that he was still alive... yet so impossibly far away. I forced a smile through my tears, gently brushing a strand of dark hair away from his forehead. "You promised we'd go home someday," I whispered as I leaned my forehead gently against his. "So please…don't leave me here alone." Ava had always thought that the biggest problem in her life was being trapped in a tiny countryside town. Until she found a wounded stranger bleeding inside her father's barn. She should have called the police but instead, she saved him. She had no idea the man she hid was the ruthless mafia leader whose name made powerful men tremble and enemies disappear without a trace. When Dante wakes up, he plans to leave as soon as his wounds heal. But then,falling in love was never part of the plan but the moment his eyes meet Ava's, something inside the cold-hearted mafia king shifts. For the first time in his life, the man who fears nothing finds himself unable to go. But when his violent world collides with her peaceful one and as rival mafia families close in and deadly secrets surface, Ava is dragged into a world of violence, betrayal, and dangerous desire. The deeper she falls into Dante's world, the more she realizes terrifying truths. Now,can a gentle country girl survive the obsession of the most dangerous man in Italy... or will loving Dante Russo cost her everything?
View MoreThe city lights blurred past the window, tall buildings stretching higher than anything I'd ever seen in Willow Creek. I pressed closer to the glass, watching the streets fill with people who moved like they had somewhere urgent to be, even this late at night."You've never been to a city before," Dante said. It wasn't quite a question."Not one like this." I turned to look at him. "The biggest town I've been to had one traffic light."Something flickered across his face —amusement, maybe, softened by the exhaustion still etched around his eyes. "It'll take some time getting used to."The car slowed and turned into a private drive, and I sat up straighter as a hotel came into view, the kind with a doorman in white gloves and a lobby that looked like it belonged in a magazine, all marble floors and gold light fixtures."Dan, this is…" I didn't even know the word for what this was."It's secure," he said simply, like that explained the chandeliers. "Marco arranged it."The car stopped
Ava POVThe man standing in front of us raised his rifle, and every part of my body went cold. Rain streamed down my face, mixing with the tears I could no longer hold back. My injured ankle throbbed painfully beneath me, but the pain suddenly felt insignificant compared to the weapon pointed directly at us.Dante stood in front of me and even surrounded by armed men, he looked frighteningly calm.I clutched the back of his shirt with both hands, pressing myself as close to him as I could.“Drop the gun,” the man ordered but Dante didn't move.My heart slammed against my ribs. I wanted to scream at him to give them whatever they wanted and that his life was worth more to me than anything else. I didn't care about the farmhouse, the money, the animals, or even what happened to me. I just didn't want to lose him. Not after finally finding someone I loved and not after finally allowing myself to believe that I wouldn't have to face the rest of my life alone.“Dan…” I whispered.He didn't
Dante POV BANG!The kitchen window exploded inward as a bullet tore through the room, showering them with shattered glass. I dropped my voice into a tone I hadn’t used in months.“Stay down.”Ava stared at me, heart pounding so hard I could almost hear it. She stammered a question—what was happening—but I didn’t answer because there was no time. I crouched low and moved toward the old wooden drawer beneath the kitchen counter where I had hidden the pistol weeks ago.Then, another shot exploded and wood splintered from the wall above the sink, sharp fragments flying. Ava gasped and curled into a tight ball on the floor, arms over her head, whispering my name. I reached the drawer, pulled it open, and grabbed the pistol. The motions came back smooth and practiced as the calm of the battlefield settled over me like an old coat. I racked the slide, then crawled back to her.She looked up at me and I immediately knew what she saw—the warm husband who had teased her in the clothing store,
The little clothing store was one of the oldest in Willow Creek. The brass bell above the door jingled cheerfully as I pushed it open, the sound bright against the quiet afternoon. Rows of neatly folded shirts, jackets, trousers, and boots lined the wooden shelves, carrying the comforting scent of fresh fabric, cedar wood, and a hint of lavender from the sachets Mrs. Maggie tucked between the stacks.The elderly shopkeeper looked up from behind the counter and smiled warmly. “Ava.”I returned the smile. “Mrs. Maggie.”She walked around the counter and gently squeezed my hands. “I’m so sorry about your father, dear. Thomas was a good man.”My smile softened with gratitude. “Thank you. He really was.”Only then did Mrs. Maggie notice the tall man standing quietly behind me, carrying every basket I had handed him without complaint. Her curious eyes traveled over Dante, taking in his broad shoulders and calm presence. “Oh? And who is this handsome young man?”My cheeks turned a soft pin
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.