LOGINCHAPTER 22: THE MAN WHO DOESN'T CAREMAYA.By the time I checked my phone again, it was almost ten in the morning, and I was seriously considering eating the leaves from the tree above me.I knew I wasn't going to die from missing a few meals, but my stomach didn't seem interested in that information. It kept cramping every time I moved, and the little water left in the bottle that guard had given me last night wasn't helping. I took another sip anyway, then screwed the cap back on and tried to find a comfortable position against the tree.There wasn't one.My back hurt, my neck was stiff, and the mosquitoes had apparently invited their entire family to feast on me. I scratched the back of my knee, only to discover another bite near my ankle. At this rate, I was going to scratch my skin off before Lorenzo's men even found me."Fucking hell."I looked down at my dress and nearly cried. The fabric was wrinkled and dirty, one side had torn almost to my hip, and the neckline kept slipping
CHAPTER 21: THE IMPOSSIBLE DISAPPEARANCEAUTHOR'S POVLorenzo Rossi had watched the security footage six times, and each replay made him less convinced that the woman on the screen was Maya.The recording showed a young woman in an emerald gown moving through the crowded ballroom, greeting guests and occasionally stopping to speak with people who recognised her. Her hair was arranged like Maya's, her figure was similar, and the mask covering her face matched the one she'd worn earlier that evening. According to the footage, Maya had remained at the celebration for hours, yet nobody could explain how she'd disappeared from an estate surrounded by armed guards."Play it again," Lorenzo ordered, tapping his finger against the desk.The security chief exchanged a nervous glance with his assistant before restarting the recording. "Sir, we've checked every exit. There's no footage showing Miss Maya leaving the property, and none of the guards reported seeing her.""Then either she learned h
CHAPTER 20: NO ONE IS COMINGMAYAI stood outside the Morello estate for almost twenty minutes before I realised I was still waiting for the gates to open.Twenty minutes. Maybe thirty. I couldn't be sure anymore because I kept checking the entrance instead of my phone, watching every movement behind the security barriers and hoping one of the guards would come out to tell me Ace had changed his mind.But nothing happened.The black wolf emblem above the gates remained brightly illuminated, and the security cameras continued moving from side to side. Somewhere beyond those walls, Ace was probably having a drink, taking a shower or doing whatever powerful mafia bosses did after throwing desperate women out of their houses. I wondered whether he'd even thought about me since ordering his men to remove me.I finally approached the security entrance again, stopping when one of the guards stepped forward."Miss, you can't stand here.""I know." My throat still hurt from crying earlier, and
Chapter 19: No Longer WelcomeMAYA My stomach dropped. "Ace, what are you doing?""Ending this."I stared at him, unable to believe he was serious. "You can't just throw me out. Lorenzo has my picture circulating with a reward for anyone who finds me. His men are looking everywhere, and if they catch me, I don't know what he'll do. He killed Rosa in front of me just to make a point. What do you think he'll do when he gets his hands on me?"Ace looked at me without answering, and I could tell he'd heard every word. That was what made it so horrible. He wasn't misunderstanding me anymore. He knew exactly what I was afraid of, and he was choosing not to care.The doors opened before I could speak again, and two armed guards entered. One glanced at my trembling hands and the wig I was still holding, while the other kept his attention on Ace."Boss, you called?"Ace didn't hesitate. "Get her off my property."I looked from him to the guards, waiting for someone to laugh or explain that I'
CHAPTER 18: MIRANDA'S DAUGHTER MAYA The way Ace looked at me made me wish I'd kept the damn mask on. His grey eyes moved over my face, lingering on my freckles, the red streaks in my hair and finally my eyes, as though he was searching for some mistake that would prove I wasn't who he thought I was. Then his expression changed, and whatever warmth had been there moments earlier disappeared. His gaze dropped to my dishevelled clothes before he stepped away, putting enough distance between us to make me feel filthy. "Get dressed." I blinked. "Ace..." "Now, Maya." His voice was quiet, but there was something in it that made me hurry to fix my dress. I pulled the fabric into place and retrieved my wrap, struggling with the neckline because my fingers wouldn't stop trembling. Ace had already turned away arranging his clothing, dragging a hand through his silver-streaked hair before muttering, "Porca puttana. Che cazzo ho fatto?" (Holy shit. What the fuck have I done?) I unde
Chapter 17:TAKE OFF THE MASK MAYA The interruption caught me completely off guard and for a moment my thoughts scattered and I stood frozen with my hands against his chest before I managed to push back far enough to create a little space between us. “Wait.” Ace stopped, his eyes fixed on mine through the mask. “What?” I swallowed, trying to gather the words I had rehearsed the entire journey. He was standing so close I could see the faint silver strands near his temples, and I hated how easily his presence made it difficult to think. “There’s something I have to tell you.” His jaw tightened. “Then make it quick, sweetheart. My patience is wearing thin, and I’m running out of reasons to keep waiting.” The warning made my stomach twist Ace reached toward my face and I instinctively caught his wrist. He stopped immediately, his gaze dropping to my fingers wrapped around his arm before returning to my face. “What are you hiding?” “Nothing.” It was a terrible lie, and jud







