I am sitting in Dell's office at the FBI headquarters, feeling a mix of anxiety and frustration. I impatiently shake my leg while I wait for him to finish his phone call. I watch his lips move with every syllable and have to admit, he has the most beautiful lips. I remember the first time we met when he voiced his attraction to me and asked me out. I made it clear that I wasn’t looking for a relationship and, besides, I knew I would be working with him on my father’s case and didn’t want any complications. As attractive as he is, I boldly told him no.
He’s got this mesmerizing blend of features from his Italian mother and Black father, creating a strikingly handsome face. His chiseled features, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline, give him a rugged yet refined look. His dark, intense eyes and neatly trimmed curly hair add to his effortlessly cool demeanor. He definitely attracts a lot of female attention. As much as I hate to admit it, Alessandro
I take a slow sip of coffee from my mug, watching as the light from the window spills across the room, illuminating Claudia’s face. I can’t help but notice the softness in her eyes, as if she knows something I don’t. She made delicious pancakes for us, and although I don’t have much of an appetite, I do enjoy them.I remember the first time Luca introduced me to her. I was so nervous that she wouldn’t like me, given, well, I had been dating his friend, a married man, before ending up with her son. But to my surprise, she was the sweetest, kindest human being I had ever met, and let’s just say, she became like a mother to me ever since. I thought when her son died that would be the end of our relationship, but it wasn’t. She still considers me her daughter-in-law and still treats me like family.“So, you’re leaving today?” she asks, breaking the silence, and I look up from my plate.I nod, folding my nap
After a long battle of trying to decide what to wear, I step out of the closet, adjusting my necklace around my neck. But the second I lift my head, I freeze.Luca is standing in the middle of our bedroom, arms crossed, jaw clenched. I can tell immediately—he’s pissed. His eyes are sharp, stormy, locking onto mine. Then my gaze drops to his hand. He’s holding my phone. My stomach twists.“What?” I ask in confusion, glancing at him through the mirror as I reach for my perfume.He doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he lifts his hand, showing me my phone. I furrow my brows.“I was in the living room when your phone buzzed,” he says in a low tone, but I can tell he’s battling internal anger. “I wasn’t going to check it, but the name that popped up made me do it.”I step closer, reaching for the phone, but he doesn’t let go. My brows crease. His jaw works as he watches me, h
I am standing outside the house, gripping the car keys tightly in my hand. This whole place is filled with memories. My entire drive here was flooded with flashbacks—beautiful and ugly alike.I don’t want to be here.But I have to be.It’s been years since I last stepped foot inside this house—our house. The place where Luca and I built a life together. The place where I would have become his wife. The place where we would have started a family. The place where I became a widow.I exhale slowly, watching my breath in the evening chill. My mother-in-law had insisted she would be here waiting for me, and even though she said it was fine if I didn’t come, I knew she wanted me to.But that isn’t the only reason I’m here.I need clothes. Most of my things are still inside, untouched, locked away in closets and drawers that haven’t been opened in years. I know my mother-in-law and Luca’s sister
I quickly get up and step as far away from Alessandro as Miles drags the man toward us, his grip firm despite the man’s protests. The man stumbles, muttering curses under his breath, but he doesn’t struggle. He knows he’s caught.Alessandro stands from the bench, brushing dust off his pants, his expression a mix of amusement and irritation.“What the hell happened to you?” Jamie asks, eyeing his disheveled appearance.“Him,” Alessandro replies, nodding at the guy. He then arches a brow at Miles. “That was fast.”Miles smirks, keeping his grip tight. “Yeah, well, he wasn’t exactly trying hard to hide. Saw him slipping out the back—figured we should return him.” He shoves the guy forward, making him stagger.Jamie folds her arms, cocking her head. “You took our money, ran, and got caught five minutes later? Not very smart, are you?”The man only glares at
When Alessandro said the place we were going to would be unsafe, I didn’t exactly picture a ghetto. It reeks of smoke and desperation, and we couldn’t find anywhere safe to park, so Alessandro had to leave the car somewhere a little safer. We left most of our belongings there because, sure, Alessandro obviously carries a gun and can offer some level of protection, but that isn’t a guarantee. I can see the way people are eyeing us, and I bet most of their stares are directed at him. In a world like this, he’s probably like a god to them.Jamie leads the way confidently, Miles close behind her. Alessandro and I follow, my stomach twisting in knots. I try to jump over a ditch filled with filthy water I’d rather not think about, but I miss a step. Alessandro is quick to steady me. His hand on mine feels electric, and I quickly pull away, swallowing hard.“You shouldn’t have worn those fancy shoes,” he says, glancing at my heeled ankle boots.“I didn’t have time to get a new pair,” I reply
Coming here for drinks with Jamie was a mistake, probably because this is the first time in five years that Alessandro and I are actually in a room together. For what has it been now? Thirty? Forty-five minutes?It is awkward, to say the least.Jamie seems to be having a good time, grinning like a cat, clearly enjoying herself as she leans against the bar counter. She’s been at this for however long we’ve been here, teasing everyone—mostly Alessandro—about his brooding demeanor. I get that she’s trying to make this whole thing less awkward, but it’s kind of hard.See, Jamie and Alessandro had a past. Sure, I get it, it was purely contractual with no feelings involved, but that should make, if not me, her boyfriend uncomfortable. Now, Alessandro’s past with me is a well-known fact. And we came here to talk about my dead husband, who was Alessandro’s best friend, so yeah—it can only get more awkward.“Honestly, Renée,” Jamie says, swirling her drink, totally ignoring my warning look. “H
I should have gotten in the car and driven away, but I didn’t. There’s a part of me that feels if I leave without getting the answers I came for from Jamie, it would feel like Alessandro has won. This isn’t about him—it’s about Luca. And if I have to sit in this car and cry my heart out while I wait for Jamie to show up, then so be it.I didn’t bother looking back to see where Alessandro went, but when I got in the car, I couldn’t see him where I had left him. I take a deep breath, trying to push away the storm of emotions he’s stirred up. My hands are still shaking as I fumble inside my bag for my handkerchief. My mind is a jumbled mess of anger, grief, and exhaustion. I don’t know why he thought saying all that to me was okay.I hear a tap on my window and sniffle as I quickly wipe my tears with the back of my hand, looking up.It’s him.I’m tempted to roll my eyes. I don’t have the energy to deal with him again.“What do you want, Alessandro?” I ask in a flat voice.He taps the win
My mind is racing, spiraling out of control, and I can’t stop it. I can’t think. I can’t move.I can’t breathe.The gun is pointed straight at me, and my chest tightens painfully. I can’t see clearly; my vision is blurry, and I can feel the panic attack slowly taking over. My breathing speeds up, turning into gasps for air. It’s all too much. My legs feel weak beneath me, and I feel like they’re going to give out at any second.A gun. A goddamn gun.I’m gasping for air, each breath shallow and insufficient, until the sobs start—gut-wrenching, uncontrollable. My entire body is shaking as memories flood me, drowning me. I’m not here anymore. I’m back there, on that day, hearing the shot.The sound of it echoes in my mind, loud and clear, as if it just happened. I see Luca falling, his blood staining the ground. My heart feels like it’s being ripped apart all over again.I’m clawing at my chest now, desperate for air, desperate for something to ground me, but nothing works. Nothing. And
I just stare at her as she walks toward me, too frozen to move even if I wanted to. Motherhood has done Maria good, no doubt. It’s a thought I can’t shake as she gets closer. She’s radiant, more stunning than I remember. Time has softened her, and, contrary to what anyone would expect, motherhood has only made her more beautiful. Her features are sharper but still delicate. Her skin glows, her hair falls in soft waves around her face, and even her casual outfit—a simple blouse and jeans—looks like it was made for her. I hate that I can notice even the tiniest details that make her this beautiful. How much more beauty can one person have?“Renée?” she says again, her brows furrowed in surprise, her lips curving into a half-smile. “I thought I saw someone who looked like you. What are you doing here?”I clear my throat, shrugging. “Nothing,” I reply, my voice clipped.She tilts her head, studying me. “Are you in therapy too?”I remain silent. It’s obvious. This building kind of hosts th