𝘼𝙇𝙀𝙍𝘼 The sun is warm against my face. Mama’s laughter drifts across the garden as she bends toward her roses, touching the petals like they’re her children. “They’re thriving,” she says proudly, looking at me. “You’ve done wonders here, tesoro.” I smile faintly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “They’re your roses, Mama. I’m just keeping them alive.” Luciana and Alessia sit across from us under the shade, talking quietly. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but neither of them seems relaxed. They’re watching Mama too closely, nodding and smiling when she mentions Rina like they’re forcing it. Rina’s name keeps coming up. Mama says, “Ah, Rina would’ve loved to see this bloom,” or “Tell Rina to trim those leaves later.” And every time she says her name, silence follows. No one corrects her or even says anything at all. Its making me ache. I glance toward the house. The image of Dante from earlier flashes in my mind, the way he looked when he returned. His ey
𝘿𝘼𝙉𝙏𝙀 Time stops. For a moment, my brain refuses to process what I’m seeing. It’s like my eyes are working but everything else has shut down. What's infront of me is just a shape on the floor. Nothing more. It's a shape wearing clothes that look like Rina’s. The air flow sudden feels to have stopped entirely. Then the sharp scent of metallic hits me, making me realize that the scene infront of me isn't a fucking dream. Instantly my throat dries up. “Rina?” My voice comes out low, hoarse and barely audible. It sounds like it belongs to someone else. Cautiously, I take a step forward. But the figure doesn’t move. When I reach it, reality finally catches up. And I recognize her face, because the motionless figure isn't just some mannequin, it's Rina. Her mouth is open, like she’d been trying to speak. Her eyes, those familiar brown eyes, are wide and glassy, staring at nothing. Dark Blood spreads in a slow halo under her head, against the cheap linoleum. So
𝘿𝘼𝙉𝙏𝙀“What do you mean she’s missing?”The man on the line stammers. “Boss, shots were fired. We don’t...when we went back to check on her she was gone. The room was empty.”I rub my temple hard. “Cristo.” I curse under my breath.I glance at the car. Luciana's eyes are fixed on me like she’s trying to read me through the glass. So, I lower my voice. “Find her. Leave no stone unturned. I’m on my way.”“Yes, Boss.”I shut the phone and enter the car. Immediately, Luciana asks, “What is it?”“Nothing.” I keep my face still as I start the engine. Her look says she doesn’t buy it, but Mama is sleeping in the back and I do not want to wake her or give her cause to worry.The drive is tight. I feel every second like pressure building behind my ribs. Instead of speaking I use the silence to line up facts: Rina was bound. My men were on site. Shots were fired. That means someone got her out. Someone had to have planned this, because nothing makes sense.We help Mama from the car when we
𝙍𝙊𝙒𝘼𝙉 I only gave her one job. One flipping job. Something so easy, a child could have done it. Yet the stupid woman couldn't even do that without getting caught. My fingers tighten around the steering wheel as the car moves along the road. The city rolls by, but my eyes stay forward. I don’t drive fast, there's no need to, not when I've already won this part. The plan with Mama had been simple: ensure she was sick enough to not only bring Dante back to Milan but keep him tied here so I could monitor him and know were to hit him best. I need to hurt him in a way that completely crumbles him and just targeting his money won't be enough. He's resourceful enough to make it right back. Things had been going well. He was settling comfortably with his wife. But now all my plans could collapse before they even began, all because of Rina. I shouldn't have trusted that weak minded, sloppy old hag. How long before she buckles under pressure and spills my name to save herself?
𝘿𝘼𝙉𝙏𝙀 Alera’s breathing steadies against my chest. She’s asleep, her face tucked close and her hand rests lightly on me. This feels like the most natural thing in the world, holding my wife while everything around seems to crash and burn. I stare at the ceiling and my arm tightens around her. I don’t know why I haven’t moved it or why I kissed her. I don't know why I'm letting myself get to comfortable in her warmth. Getting too close to her will haunt me in the long run. Very dangerous, especially if she turns out to be someone I shouldn't have trusted. And yet… I don’t regret it. That’s the problem. I should keep her at arm’s length, remind her what we are to each other. But every time she looks at me with those expressive eyes, I forget reality. I shut my eyes, but instead of sleep, the night drags me backward. *** Rina’s face swims into view, streaked with tears. Her voice is hoarse from hours of crying. She’s tied to a chair in one of my properties on the outs
𝘼𝙇𝙀𝙍𝘼 Dante shifts beside me, turning in the sheets like he can’t find rest. His arm falls against the mattress, and when his eyes open, they land directly on me. "What?” He exclaims. I jolt, startled that he caught me staring. My head jerks up to meet his bewildered face. “I..nothing,” I whisper quickly, but my gaze betrays me and lingers on his hand. Following my gaze, he slowly turns his knuckles to the faint light in the room. “You… you’re injured.” He glances at the damage and shrugs. “It’s nothing.” “It’s not nothing,” I insist, my voice is sharp despite the dryness in my throat. “There’s blood all over it. I’ll… I’ll get something to clean it up.” I nearly trip over the sheets as I start fumbling around the room, my eyes darting for where I last saw a box of first aid. “Alera.” He rasps. I don’t answer. “Alera,” he repeats, with more force which has me flinching. But I still don’t look at him, instead I continue to move, toward the dresser. My min