Roman’s eyes shifted first, followed by Lilith’s and Vera’s.
“Master is calling you, Roman,” said Rocco Moretti, his gaze flickering between the three of them.
Rocco had been with Roman’s grandfather for nearly fifty years—taken in when he was just ten. He had served loyally ever since. Roman respected him, maybe even trusted him more than the old man himself.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Roman replied firmly, his gun still aimed at Vera’s forehead.
Rocco didn’t say a word, but the look he gave Roman said enough—he didn’t approve. Not of this. Not of her.
“He just wants to check on you,” Rocco added before turning on his heel and leaving the room.
The tension snapped right ba
Vera’s heart skipped, then thudded heavier in her chest. Her eyes narrowed before she could help it. They were seated close, closer than casual. Luciano’s hand moved up slowly, gently tucking a strand of Lilith’s sleek hair behind her ear. She smiled, leaning into the touch with effortless familiarity. Their fingers brushed, then lingered, their hands resting between them on the table. A touch that didn’t belong to strangers or friends.It was intimate. Vera swallowed hard. She hadn’t meant to see anything—didn’t want to know anything. Whatever tangled threads existed between Roman and Lilith were already enough of a mess. She had no desire to add Luciano to the equation, but something about it didn’t sit right.Luciano was grinning in that half-lazy, half-calculated way of his, saying something that made Lilith laugh quietly. She leaned forward, her hand brushing his again.Good thing, they didn’t notice her. They were too absorbed in each other, too comfortable to bother scanning th
The boutique smelled faintly of jasmine and freshly steamed fabric. Soft classical music played in the background, mingling with the occasional clinking of hangers and the buzz of laughter.Leila stood on a raised platform, half-hidden behind a silk curtain, as a bridal consultant flitted around, pinning the bodice of the dress she wore. Vera sat on the plush cream couch beside two of Leila’s sisters, all of them sipping peach-infused water while surrounded by lace, tulle, and sparkle.“Okay, don’t laugh,” Leila called from behind the curtainVera smiled. “You’re the bride. We legally can’t.”The curtain pulled back, and Leila stepped out.The room went quiet. The dress was ivory, fitted at the waist with delicate off-shoulder sleeves that framed her collarbone. A gentle shimmer ran through the skirt when she moved, catching the light in a way that made her glow. Her dark hair was swept back, her cheeks flushed not from makeup, but something deeper.“Oh my God,” one of her sisters bre
Vera paused, pen hovering above the scattered papers on her desk. She looked up, caught off guard by the sharp edge in Roman’s voice.He dragged a chair across the floor and sat opposite her, his boots landing with a soft thud. Before she could settle back, he leaned in, elbows resting on the table.“You didn’t tell anyone you’re married,” he said flatly.Vera blinked. “Everyone knows.”Roman’s jaw tensed. “That kid wants to marry you.”She glanced down, pretending to focus on the documents in front of her. Her fingers smoothed the folder as if it needed organizing. But Roman’s eyes didn’t move from her face.“I don’t like to share what’s mine,” he said quietly.She looked up, genuinely confused. “He’s just a kid.”Roman’s voice dropped, low and steady. “He won’t stay a kid.”Before she could answer, he stood and walked around the table in two quick strides. Reaching behind her chair, he spun it to face him. Vera’s breath caught. The desk pressed into her back as he leaned in, close e
The ride back to the mansion was quiet. Roman drove with one hand on the wheel, his eyes occasionally flicking toward her. Vera sat beside him, pressed near the window, silent. The doctor’s words echoed faintly in his mind.“She needs rest. Mental strain like this doesn’t go away with time—it needs space. Don’t push her.”As soon as they stepped through the door, she moved quickly, almost like she was trying to outrun her thoughts. She made straight for the hallway, bending to pick up a few neatly packed bags that had been set aside earlier. Her purse, a box wrapped in soft blue paper, a small white bag filled with art supplies. Another with clothes, sorted by size, gift bags. Roman stood near the entrance, watching her in silence. Then his voice cut through the space, low but firm.“Where are you going?”She didn’t look at him. “The NGO. The kids are expecting me.”His brow twitched. “You just got back from the hospital.”“I’m fine,” she replied, heading for the door.Roman moved fas
Vera’s eyes flickered toward the building ahead—the hospital’s tall, white frame rising like a quiet sentinel against the morning haze. She exhaled slowly, fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. Today was her scheduled annual checkup. It should’ve been just that, routine, normal, but nothing felt normal anymore. That night had carved itself into the ever-growing collection of memories she wished she could forget. But she couldn’t. The sound of the gunshot still buzzed in her ears, like it had buried itself into her skull. The stench of blood, the cold floor, the silence after—it had all blurred into one long, awful moment. But what lingered most wasn’t the violence. It wasn’t the dead bodies. It wasn’t even the fact that she’d pulled the trigger.It was Roman’s words.His voice, quiet, cold, final. You’re just like me.She had always braced for Roman’s anger, his cruelty, the physical distance, even the nights that left her crying into her pillow with no explanation. But th
Roman’s eyes never left that spot.There was no panic in his gaze, only a silent command.Do something.One of the men chuckled, shifting his weight. The laser sight on the gun danced mockingly across Roman’s chest.Meanwhile, Vera clutched the pistol Roman had slid her way, hidden beneath the folds of her long dress. Her knees were pulled to her chest, body curled tight in the dark. Her breathing was gasping, as if every breath might give her away. Sweat dripped down her temple. Her fingers shook so violently it was a miracle she hadn’t dropped the weapon.Footsteps crept closer. The woman in tight black gear, stepped toward the refrigerator, gun raised lazily. “Come out, sweetheart,” she said with a sing-song voice. “Or I’ll drag you out by your pretty little hair.”The woman reached behind the fridge and grabbed a fistful of Vera’s hair, yanking her out into the open. Vera gasped, legs kicking, arms flailing to shield herself. Her gun clattered across the floor as she was dragged f