Dominic’s POVThe vibration of my phone against the polished oak desk broke me out of my thoughts. I had been looking at financial reports before, but when Matteo’s name came across the screen, I recognized this was more important than the numbers.I answered, calmly. “Talk.”“You’re not going to like this,” Matteo’s voice crackled over the phone, his tone layered with the sort of weight that told me whatever he was about to say would be more than just bad news. “Diego Maze has been doing a bit of digging around. “Not only into you but also Alessia.”“What?” I railed and ground my teeth. The mere name was enough to make my hands tighten around the phone.Diego Maze!The self-satisfied journalist known for digging things up that should be best left to remain buried in the ground. I had not foreseen how far his curiosity would lead him.“What exactly has he found?” I spoke in low tones, but something dark curled inside under the calm.“He’s been tracking her history, Dominic. He’d flown
Dominic’s POVThe moment I stepped out of the elevator, the office was in chaos. Phones rang nonstop, workers spoke in urgent whispers and every screen around them blared with financial updates and breaking news. The air was thick with tension, but everyone was afraid to make eye contact with me.“Mr. Rossi,” Matteo ran at me, color drained out of his face. "We have a serious problem."“Of course,” I said, pushing past him into my office. “What is this time Matteo?”The floor vibrated with discomfort, eyes buzzing toward me before reading my irritation. I opened the door and stepped in, my executive team already seated.Franco, my C.F.O., brushed a hand through his graying hair. "It's bad, Mr. Dominic. Really bad."I settled into the head of the table and looked at him the way a hawk does. "Explain."Matteo pushed a tablet over the table. "This."I glanced at the screen, and read the article’s headline. The Double Life of Dominic Romano: Mafia Boss or Corporate Mogul? The headline sea
Flynn’s POVI had done plenty of questionable things in my life, but the thought of doing anything that would betray Dominic felt like I was striking a match at the end of a gas line. Dangerous. It was so foolish and so suicidal that I wondered if love was worth this level of stupidity.But here I sat, perched on the edge of a barstool in the house’s security room, phone pressed to my ear as Sophia’s cold, calculating voice played out on the other end.“You know what to do.” Her tone was snappy, and bracing. “You have one job, Flynn. Don’t screw it up. Be sure she sees the news and I hear she’s got an update about herself! Make sure she sees that one! Got it!”I rubbed my mouth with the back of my hand, the taste of half chewed sandwich in my mouth. My stomach tightened, not because I was hungry, but because of the heft of the order I had just received.“Yeah,” I muttered. “Got it.”The line went dead. I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders to shrug off the discomfort crawling
Diego’s POVThe light from my laptop screen bathed my cluttered desk in a ghostly glow. I leaned forward, eyes skimming over the records I’d assembled over the past few days. Every bit of information I found led to something deeper, something darker than I’d thought. I thought I was on the verge of revealing Dominic for the criminal genius he was. But when I dug deeper, something else bubbled to the top.The name DeLuca.I froze. Pedro DeLuca was no petty mafia boss. He was a living legend in Rome, a man whose very name struck fear into the hearts of even the most hardened of criminals.His kingdom spanned countries, governing trade routes, illegal arms trafficking and a mesh so tangled that law enforcement was afraid to step in. And if Dominic was connected to him, this was no longer just about corruption. This was about survival.I scanned a document that included offshore accounts, money transfers and cryptic messages. Some of them traced back to Dominic, while others bore the unmi
Diego’s POVThe pain consumed me as I opened my eyes slowly.My head dropped down, the taste of blood like copper in my mouth. My eyelids were heavy, but the scratchy hands pulling me through the dust kept me awake. My body was a dead weight, impotent against their grip. With each step, stabbed with sharp spasms of pain, my ribs bruised, maybe cracked. My shirt was wet with blood, my own sweat mingling with the grime below.I could hardly see when they dumped me on the bare concrete floor. With an agonizing thud, my body landed on the ground, the impact against the concrete sending shock waves of pain through my back. A boot came crashing into my ribs, wrenching a strangled groan from my throat.“Get him up,” said a gruff voice.Gripping arms pulled me up, hoisting me into a chair. They bound me, the rough ropes cutting into my wrists, pinning me like a beast before slaughter. Phantoms circled around me, figures gliding with muted malice. I could hardly raise my head, but I felt their
Dominic’s POVMy men and I were leaving the disastrous areas during the night. It was full of blood and all kinds of filth. The vast majority of the DeLuca's men lived and I allowed my men to make them call for assistance and walk out without attempting to murder anyone else.My men dragged Diego’s unconscious body out on the concrete and tossed it into the back of the armored SUV like a piece of trash. His head slumped to the side, a thin rivulet of blood oozing from his chest and mouth. He was breathing in spurts. Every few seconds he let out a weak groan, but he was slowly regaining consciousness."Is he still breathing?" I asked, rolling up the sleeves of my coat, and getting into the vehicle.The two men beside me nodded. "Barely, boss."Diego mumbled something inaudible, his words a scrambled series of slurred notes and jagged syllables. That was pathetic, his cocky smirk evaporated into a vacant stare. His ribs had gotten hammered, his shirt dark with sweat and blood.Sitting d
Diego’s POVThe folder in my hands was denser than it was supposed to be. My fingers clutched the ragged edges, the burden of whatever was inside heavier on my heart than a stone.The overhead lights blared brightly, sending light across the room and walls, but I hardly registered it. All other sounds faded away to be replaced by the pounding of my heart in my ears.What the fuck could be in there that could compel my surrender?I breathed in and out slowly and willed my fingers to open the folder. As soon as my eyes landed on the top of the first page, the air in my lungs froze.The paper shivered between my hands. It was my own face, younger, innocent. Everything was too bloody familiar. I felt something under and moved it to see classified files, pages with official seals stamped on them, documents I should have had no right to see. Photos, eyewitness accounts. Each eyewitness strapped another shiver to my gut.I thumbed the pages, scanning over names, places, and dates. My name, m
Dominic’s POVDiego faced me, arms crossed, his face hard. The man had a death wish. If it wasn’t for his father, his corpse would already be ready for an autopsy. And I bet he would look worse with a bullet between his eyes. He knew it too. But here he was, alive, taking up space, which was mine.I sat back in my chair, my fingers drumming against the desk, watching him like a predator.“How long will it take you to make up your damn mind,” I said flatly.Diego didn’t flinch. His jaw clenched, but his gaze leveled with mine, unwavering. "It’s my thoughts so let me be."I had to be with Alessia and the kids and he was taking up a large chunk of my free time. On the outside, the mafia world had already put a mark on him, and he had no place else to run. He was a man without a country, allies or a future.“You have a bounty on your head,” I said, my voice slicing. "You're a walking target. Don Pedro wants you killed. It's on the dark web. The second you go outside this building someon
Alessia's POVThe taxi parked a few streets over to the location. I walked to the last block with my head down, moving like an outcast.I got the shock of my life when I stopped at the entrance of Via delle Vigne. It looked empty and abandoned. The gates were rusted and everything screamed “you could get killed anytime and no one would notice.”I started to reconsider. “Maybe, coming here was a bad idea. I should head back,” I murmured.But I didn't. I kept walking like I had a dead wish.I stepped into the courtyard, scanning every corner. It was also empty and quiet.I gave up. “This was a stupid joke,” I mumbled but then light footsteps echoed behind me.I stood still, scared and prepared myself to run as fast as I could if things went south.I whirled around, my fists up ready to punch with my heart slamming.And then the figure stepped into the light. I punched hard.The figure fell and cried. “Holy hell. You almost broke my nose.”“Sophia?” I spoke, surprised. What was she doin
Alessia's POVHe waited no longer and kissed me passionately. His hands held tightly onto my waist, pulling me closer still.I gasped softly as his hands grasped my behind and slipped under my dress.My hands repaid in kind by sliding into his soft hair.How I loved how he kissed me—he wasn’t half-starved and I wasn't the only thing keeping him alive. His fingers trailed down my spine agonisingly slow, under the silk, revealing me inch by inch as if he wanted to memorise the skin.I grabbed his shirt, yanked it off quickly, pushed him back until his knees hit the bed behind him.He sat there breathless, but hesitated.Was he holding part of himself back?“I don’t want to take advantage when you’re like this,” he muttered from his thighs, his hands flexing.“You’re not.” I sat on his lap, I centered myself over his leg, I ground against his cock, and I touched every sexy part of his body that I knew would drive him insane. “You’re just what I need right now. Enough of the gabbing, take
Alessia's POVI didn’t remember sending the message.I just remembered the feeling—the way my fingers shook over the keyboard, the way rage clawed up my throat like a living thing trying to escape.“Okay. But let’s make it in my free time. I’ll meet you there in three days.”My thumb hesitated, breathing fast, my heart pounding so loud it filled my ears.I pressed the send button.The reply came seconds later.“Fine. But come alone.”A sick laugh bubbled up in my chest. Of course.I closed the laptop abruptly and rammed it on the bedside table. I was quaking with rage, my fists balled such that my nails gouged the palms of my hands. The need to scream, to destroy something, rode me hard. But I didn’t. I couldn’t afford to slip.Not yet. I wondered if I should tell Dominic.“No, he doesn't need to know yet,” I reasoned. “But what if he could help me find out who it was?”I wiped my face, forcing myself to stand, to move, to act normal.“What if it's a trap? Wouldn't that be working int
Alessia’s POVI don’t know how long we stayed like that, but I didn't want to break it up.My lips fought for entrance and I became desperate. His touch aroused me. I wanted him badly.The IV line tugged at my skin and pulled me back from my desire. “Ouch,” I groaned and looked down at my arm.“Easy,” he said.I didn't want it easy and I kissed him back. This time I was more hungry than the first.Dominic drew back slightly, just enough to catch my face in his glance. His thumb swept over my jaw so gently I thought he was committing the shape of me to memory.“Are you okay?” his low deep voice spoke.“No, I am not okay. I want you. Goddamn it. Can't you tell. Do I have to say everything,” I hurled in my mind. Yet, I kept shut and nodded lightly.What in the world was wrong with me? I resented how much I was inclined to lean in once more. He had wormed his warm fingers into me, and I loved it.“Yes,” I answered, a little softer than I had meant.He remained in that spot.Instead, he st
Alessia's POV:My eyelids slowly opened to the blinding light.I scanned the room tiredly and a soft groan escaped my lips. That's when I felt a warm hand on my forehead.I traced the warmth and saw Dominic right beside me. I hadn't noticed him before.“Wh…” I started, but he butted in.“Don't move,” he said in a low gentle voice.“What happened?” I asked, barely hearing myself.“You fell halfway down the stairs, but I caught you,” he answered.“Oh,” I groaned and tried to sit up, but a sharp tug at my lower arm made me hiss. I looked down and saw the IV line shaking into my vein.“Ugh, I hate drugs,” I muttered and moved my hand to yank at the tape holding it down.Dominic caught my hand before I could rip it out and chuckled gently. Was he laughing at me?“What's funny?” I asked.“You look so cute, but you can't. It's the doctor's orders. You were stressed.”The last word left his lips with a worried look on his face.“You think?” I asked, making it all worse, then changed my tone.
Sophia's POVThe last words ran in my ear like thunder. The door closed and I let out the breath I was holding.That's when I felt it. “Ow,” I groaned and raised my dress up to my thighs. There was a bruise forming on my lap and a small cut on my ankle.It must have happened when I fell.“Great, that's going to leave a scar,” I blabbered. “Just my lucky day.”I needed to get it clean, or it would be infected. It took forever because my father had made all the maids stop working for me until further notice. They didn't disrespect me, though.They couldn't. I would rip their tongues out if they dared.Walking to the drawer didn't hurt until I made a wrong step. “Shit!” I hissed. That was more from anger than the pain.I got the first aid out, applied it while I bit my bottom lip and threw everything on the table in front of me.“I didn't plan for this shit,” I complained.My eyes moved to the bed, and I started walking toward it. My leg hurt a little, so I sat on the soft foam.If it wa
Sophia's POVI paced around the balcony impatiently. I had lost a lot of time to Dominic. Why couldn't he pick me? And worse I couldn't get to Flynn? Why did he have to be so useless and her caught?I gripped the balcony railing tightly and almost ruined my newly polished nails. It hurt and I took my hands off it.“Ouch,” I groaned.I hated being back in this mansion. I saw the guards stand on patrol. I had lost half my men and some money to make my plan come true but it hadn't worked out.I continued pacing in my black silhouette heels. I refused to lose just like that. It wasn't an option, and I would never let it go over my dead body.I had wanted to be a good wife to him initially until his little witch came along. And he had two small demons to make everything worse.I needed to figure out something. Knowing Dominic, he would retaliate soon because he always kept to his word. I couldn't wait.My fists tightened at my sides. I stomped my feet on the floor and almost lost my stance
Alessia's POV“You can't be serious. I have been talking to you, Alessia,” his voice thundered.“And I don't want to hear it,” I replied.“What will you have me do?” He asked.“I don't know,” I answered. “You won't tell me anything. You act like you care but you don't. You keep hiding stuff from me and endanger me and the kids. You keep making decisions that I have no say in it.”“That was before. I don't force you to do anything,” he answered.I snapped. “Oh, really. Like the last time you locked me up in that stupid office room for how many days again?”“That was because I didn't know how to handle the situation. You were going to run off and I wanted to know if the kids were mine,” he answered.“Oh, great. How lovely. Now you know. Then what? You forced me to stay in a stupid house alone. You took my phone. Limited me from seeing my kids and best friend. And your crazy ex had to visit me and threaten the heck out of my life,” I lashed out.His face contorted to confusion. “Sophia w
Alessia’s POVI blinked, staring at him like an idiot. My heart raced wildly. Why did he have such an effect on me?His grip wasn't hard but possessive.“You're not going anywhere, Alessia,” Dominic said. His voice had a silent plea to it.I jerked back to get away from him, but he wouldn't let me go.His other hand came up to cup my cheek, and I slapped it away angrily.“Don't you dare touch me like you love me when all you give me are lies!” I said angrily.“Alessia, stop,” he said, still refusing to let me go.“No!” I suited and pushed against his chest, but he wouldn't budge.What was he made of? Iron?He looked at me like I was some child, and I got even angrier.“Let me go,” I growled.He didn't. He was steady, and he pulled me in, close enough that our chest touched.“I said, let go!” I screamed again.By now, I was sure the entire house couldn't tell what was happening because no one came, or they just couldn't hear me struggle.“I can't,” he said. “ I won't.”“You won't?” I g