RICARDOIt was 2:05.I sat in the car, waiting for Ryan. My fingers tapped against the steering wheel as I stared at my phone, the screen glowing back at me with no new messages.He hadn’t texted. He hadn’t called.I had debated sending one of my men to knock on his door, to remind him. But something held me back. I didn’t want to force this. I wanted to know if Ryan felt the same way… if he even cared enough to show up without a push.So, I waited.2:30.Alright. Enough of this. I needed to stop making a fool of myself. If he wasn’t coming, then that was my answer. I reached for the door handle, sighing as I prepared to step out.But just as I did, the door on the other side opened.Ryan slid into the seat, his scent filling the car.“You actually waited,” he muttered, shutting the door.I clenched my jaw, gripping the wheel tighter. “And you actually showed up.”A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but he didn’t respond. He just sat there, his legs spread slightly, fingers brus
RICARDOMy hands gripped the wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. My jaw clenched, my heart still pounding from what had happened in the backseat just minutes ago.Ryan shifted in his seat. "Ricardo, what the hell is going on?"I didn’t take my eyes off the road. "One of our hidden warehouses was burned down."Ryan stiffened. "What?""I need to check it out myself."Silence stretched between us, but I could feel Ryan’s gaze on me, his mind working through the situation. He didn’t press further. He knew better.As we sped through the city, my mind was already racing ahead. Who the hell had the audacity to pull something like this? My enemies had always been bold, but this was a direct attack. A declaration of war.Twenty minutes later, we reached the warehouse… or what was left of it.The smell of burnt metal and scorched wood filled my nostrils as I stepped out of the car. The once-solid structure was nothing but a skeleton now.My men stood in clusters, and they all parted as I
RYAN"Yeahhh, you should do it," I said, my voice deliberately slow, watching the tension in the room shift.Ricardo’s eyes snapped to me. "Excuse me?"I smirked, leaning back against the wall. "Bella wants to have fun, right? So why not have it to the fullest?"Bella’s smirk faltered for a split second before she quickly masked it. I could see the way Ricardo grip on the armrest tightened. He wasn’t against the idea… far from it. He was just processing.Marco burst into laughter, shaking his head. "Oh, this just keeps getting better."Ricardo’s jaw twitched, but then something shifted in his expression. He turned toward Bella. "Alright then," he finally said. "It’s a deal."Bella’s posture stiffened for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her lips pressing into a thin line. She didn’t say anything, just nodded once. I wondered if she had expected Ricardo to actually agree, or if she had just been testing him.Marco’s phone buzzed in his hand, breaking the tension. He answered it, s
BELLAAlessio smiled and folded his arms. "Sorry, Bella. They're here for me. I've been expecting them."My breath, which had been lodged in my throat, finally eased out in a slow exhale. Relief flooded through me, but it was short-lived. I straightened, smoothing down my dress as I took a step back. The officers exchanged glances, then nodded at Alessio before moving toward the exit.I turned to him, forcing a casual smile. "Well, that was... interesting."Alessio chuckled, swirling his wine. "I have business with them. But don't worry, nothing serious."I nodded absently, but my mind was already elsewhere. My plan had been interrupted before I could get the pictures. Without those, this entire night would be pointless.My phone buzzed in my clutch. I slipped it out, subtly glancing at the screen.Ryan: Come back to the car. Now.I clenched my jaw. No way. I hadn't come this far just to go home empty-handed.Another message popped up.Ryan: Those were police officers. Come back befor
RYAN Pacing the length of my room, I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. My pulse was still erratic, my mind replaying every damn second of what had happened tonight. At first, I was relieved when the police showed up. Finally, something had gone in my favor. With them there, Bella wouldn't be able to get the videos. That meant she wouldn't go through with that idiotic threesome plan. But then she had to go and prove me wrong. I clenched my fists, stopping in my tracks as frustration churned in my gut. She handled it flawlessly. Too flawlessly. The way she spun her lie, the way she used every ounce of charm she had to manipulate the situation… it was impressive. It was terrifying. And it worked. Not only did she get close to Alessio, but she also managed to make him lower his guard. She played her role so well that she got exactly what we needed… perfect pictures. Everything we had come here for. Proof that would move this whole operation forward. I should’ve been cel
BELLA I knew I was getting to him. Every flicker of tension in his jaw, every shift in his stance… I felt it. I saw it. And damn, I loved every second of it. Ryan wasn’t an easy man to crack, but right now? He was unraveling. Good. Then he laughed. A deep, rich sound that sent a shiver down my spine. I frowned. What the hell was funny? I didn’t say anything remotely amusing. I watched as he shook his head in amusement. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away from me. My chest tightened. What the hell was this? He was supposed to be furious, supposed to be snapping at me, supposed to… Ryan grabbed his shirt and tugged it off in one swift motion, his muscles flexing as he did. My train of thought? Completely derailed. I forced myself to keep my expression indifferent as he reached for a towel, wrapping it around his waist. Then he finally spoke. “You’re really something, you know that?” He glanced at me over his shoulder, his lips curving in
BELLAI moved swiftly through th hallways, my heartbeat steady despite the risk. Ricardo’s room was just ahead. I had timed this moment perfectly… most of the guards were either at their posts outside the estate or preoccupied with their own business.Luck was on my side. No one was stationed at his entrance.I took a quick glance over my shoulder before slipping inside, shutting the door soundlessly behind me.The bed was neatly made, untouched for the night. Ricardo wasn’t here yet. Perfect.I pulled the small camera from my pocket, rolling it between my fingers as I scanned the room for the best hiding spot. It had to be somewhere discreet but with a clear view of the bed and seating area. If what I suspected was true, tonight would be the night I got my proof.Ryan, the arrogant bastard who thought he could toy with me, was about to be exposed. The whole world would see him for who he really was… someone who had sold himself to the mafia boss.I crouched near the dresser, pressing
RAFAELI stepped out of the car, inhaling deeply as the cool night air hit my face. Marco was already beside me, his posture relaxed but alert, his eyes scanning the area as we made our way toward Alessio’s house.I had spent years trying to live a different life… away from the blood, the guns, the constant tension of the mafia world. But no matter how far I ran, something inside me always ached for it. For the violence. The power. The rush.And now, I wasn’t just going to be a spectator anymore. I would practice until it became second nature. Until I could live and breathe this life like I was born for it.Marco turned to me, a smirk tugging at his lips. He hit my shoulder playfully. “Man, you remember college?”I gave him a side glance. “What about it?”He chuckled. “You always acted like you were above all this mafia stuff, but the moment someone looked at Ricardo the wrong way, you went full psycho.”I scoffed. “I did not.”“You totally did!” Marco snickered. “Remember that guy in
RAFAELI watched as Ricardo stumbled back, the weight of Elena’s words hitting him like a gut punch. For a moment, he looked like he might collapse right there on the cold concrete floor. His breathing came in ragged bursts as the paper Elena held trembled in her hand.“Bring the chef,” Ricardo barked, his voice hoarse and raw with disbelief. “Now!”I stared at him, disgusted. “If you’d learned to control your temper,” I snapped, “you wouldn’t be jumping to conclusions like a goddamn lunatic. Look at what you did.”He didn’t respond.Couldn’t.Guilt had already begun chewing at his insides. Good.I rushed to Ryan’s side. His body was limp, slick with sweat and smeared blood, but he was breathing… barely.“Elena, help me,” I said.She dropped to her knees beside me, gently easing one of the wires off his arm as I worked on the rest.Ryan winced weakly, his eyes fluttering open just enough to register our faces. “Rafael…” he croaked.“Shh,” I muttered, swallowing the tight knot in my th
ELENAI looked at Rafael, and for a split second, the disgust I’d been suppressing twisted inside me like bile rising up my throat.Almost everyone in this godforsaken house reeked of secrets… rotten motives, false loyalties, and buried truths so deep they thought no one would dig them up. Ricardo with his obsession for control. Marco, pretending to be harmless while cloaked in shadows. Bella, hiding behind silence and feigned concern. Even Rafael wasn’t left out.I forced a breath, composing myself before the emotions showed on my face. I had to stay sharp.Rafael was still staring at me, waiting.“It’s Marco,” I said flatly.His eyes widened. “What?”His thoughts screamed louder than his voice;Who the hell was this girl, and how did she know it was him? See her here spouting nonsense.I almost laughed. Idiot. He didn’t even try to hide his disbelief.I forced a small smile instead. “Yes. Marco. It’s him.”He opened his mouth, probably to challenge me again, but I turned away. “Com
RAFAELI tried to stand up, but the room tilted violently around me."Damn it," I muttered, clutching my head as a wave of dizziness nearly knocked me over. I collapsed back onto the mattress, groaning as a sharp pain exploded at the back of my skull.What the hell?I sat up slowly this time, blinking through the blur in my vision until the outlines of my room came into focus.Wait… this is my bed.How did I get here?And then it hit me.Ricardo.His men.He really ordered them to knock me out?What the actual hell is wrong with him?I reached back and touched the throbbing spot behind my head, my fingers coming away sticky with half-dried blood. A growl rumbled in my throat.Ryan.My heart leapt.Shit… Ryan.I swung my legs off the bed, ready to jump up and storm out…And froze.There was someone sitting by the window.A woman.She was perched on the armrest of the sofa, legs crossed, staring out into the garden “Who the hell are you?” I snapped, still too disoriented to filter my to
RYANRicardo didn’t answer me.Instead, he turned slightly and snapped his fingers at one of the guards standing by the door."Bring in the chef," he barked, and that made my stomach twist tighter.A few seconds later, the door swung open again and in rushed a woman in a white chef's jacket, her hands trembling, her eyes darting between me and Ricardo like she already knew she was standing in the middle of a war zone."Tell him," Ricardo growled. "Tell Ryan exactly what you told me."The chef swallowed hard, wringing her hands."I…" she squeaked, then cleared her throat and tried again."Yesterday, while I was taking Ricardo's dinner up to his room... Ryan stopped me in the hallway."I stiffened."What?" I said sharply, but she didn’t even glance at me."He said..." she continued, voice shaking, "he said Ricardo had ordered something special for the night. That he… Ryan… had made changes to the meal based on Ricardo's new preference."She squeezed her eyes shut for half a second, as i
RYANThe crack of it echoed off the sterile walls.My head snapped to the side from the force of the slap.I let out a low whistle under my breath, slowly turning my face back toward her."What the hell do you take me for, Ryan?" she spat, her chest heaving."You think I'm some replaceable toy you can just toss aside when you're bored? You dare bring a replacement for me right under my nose?"Her voice was shaking with anger, I kept my face unreadable, even as my jaw tensed.She jabbed a finger into my chest. "I’m done playing by your rules. You hear me? I'm going to Ricardo. I'm telling him everything I know."A slow, dangerous smile crept across my lips."Okay, you're free to do that.” I said casually.Bella’s eyes widened, thrown by how calm I was."Yeah," I said, leaning down a little so we were eye-level. "Go ahead, Bella. Run to Ricardo. Tell him everything."I let the words hang for a beat, then added. "And when you do, I'll make sure he knows that you were the one who installe
RYANThe shrill ring of my phone jolted me out of sleep.Groaning, I slapped around blindly on the nightstand, knocking over a half-empty water bottle and a pack of gum before finally snagging the vibrating device.I squinted at the screen, my brain still foggy.Elena.Who the hell is Elena?Oh. Right.The doctor.The pretty lady with perfect aim who I somehow convinced yesterday to work for me.I thumbed the green button and pressed the phone to my ear."Yeah?" My voice came out rough and groggy."Hey," Elena said brightly. "I’m at the gate."For a second, my brain struggled to compute what she meant.Gate? What gate?Then it clicked.The building."Shit. Uh… right," I mumbled, sitting up and scrubbing a hand over my face. "Give me a sec. I’m coming."I ended the call and let the phone fall onto the bed beside me.For a moment, I just sat there, blinking into the dim light of my room, still half-asleep and fully stunned.She actually came.She actually agreed.Even after I told her s
RYAN"Marco," I said, "I don't trust him."Ricardo frowned, looking confused. "What are you talking about?"I sat up a little, rubbing the back of my neck. "I don't know exactly. It's just... I've been seeing some weird behavior lately. Feels off."Ricardo let out a short laugh, shaking his head like I was being ridiculous. "You're overthinking it, pretty boy. Marco’s been with me for years. Him and Matteo... before Matteo decided to be a backstabbing little shit."He chuckled again, but softer this time. "I can vouch for Marco. Or maybe it’s just his cold-ass demeanor. He’s always been like that. Makes you feel like he's planning to kill you in your sleep when he’s really just deciding what sandwich he wants."I gave a tight smile, but inside, my stomach twisted.Oh, if only you knew, I thought grimly.If only you knew who Marco really is… what he really wants from you."Alright," I said, forcing lightness into my voice as I stretched my arms overhead. "If you say so, bossman. But I
LUCAS"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?!" I roared, sweeping my arm across the table and sending everything crashing to the ground… glasses, plates, bottles, papers… all of it. Shattering, splintering.I grabbed the edge of the table, slamming it again, my chest heaving like I couldn't fucking breathe.How?How the fuck did this happen?We were ready. We had the numbers. We had the fucking plan.And still...Dead.Most of them fucking dead.The ones that survived? Barely breathing.Matteo...Matteo was hanging by a fucking thread in some hospital bed, and I didn’t even know if he was going to wake up.My fists smashed into the wall before I could stop myself.A loud crack.Pain shot up my arm, but I welcomed it. Needed it.Blood ran down my knuckles, dripping onto the floor, but it barely registered.Where the fuck do I start?Where the fuck do I even start picking up the pieces?I pressed my forehead to the cold, cracked wall, my chest shaking, rage burning a hole straight through me.And th
RYANI shifted onto my elbow, smirking down at him."You know what would really even the score, pretty boy?"Ricardo raised an eyebrow, still catching his breath."Oh yeah? What’s that?"I grinned slow and wicked."You. Naked."His eyes widened… just for a second, before he gave a low chuckle, like he hadn't expected me to say that out loud.Like he should’ve known better."Strip for me," I said, voice dropping to a growl. "Now."Ricardo’s mouth parted slightly, surprised, but the spark in his eyes said he wasn’t about to say no.He held my gaze as he hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his pants and slid them down, revealing everything.I sat back, savoring every damn second.God, he was gorgeous.Ricardo, the fucking Mafia boss, all ruthless and cold outside these walls, but here…with me…he was pliant.I reached over to the nightstand, pulling out the black silk rope I’d hidden there earlier… a little surprise I hadn't been sure I'd get to use tonight.Ricardo’s eyes moved to