~ GIULIA’S POV ~“What?” I blinked hard, still trying to catch up. “He’s a mafia prince? A Russian mafia prince?”Dante nodded once, his expression unreadable, his eyes dark like a storm gathering at sea.“Yes. Prince Vince Ruger, Son of Don Nikolai Ruger. These people aren’t just dangerous… they’re monstrous.”The silence that followed felt too loud, like the world had paused to listen.Dante leaned against the hood of the car, arms folded tightly across his chest, jaw clenched tight.“Before Padrino died, he sent me to Russia to pick up where Vince left off after his failed mission. But those people… they don’t operate like us. They’re secretive and methodical, ruthless in ways we don’t even have words for. I couldn’t get anything useful and had to return before I got myself killed.”My heart pounded harder.“But what about Vince—Vince Ruger? How the hell didn’t you recognize him?”“Because no one ever has,” Dante’s voice turned lower, more gravel than sound. “He’s a ghost. His nam
~GUILIA’S POV~ Rocco went to get our gelato, while I picked a table under a tree where we could see the playground. A few kids were chasing each other around, sticky hands and chocolate-stained cheeks. Their laughter rang loud in the warm air. A few minutes later, Rocco returned with two cups of gelato. Mine was pistachio with caramel swirls. His was lemon with a scoop of berry compote on top. I licked it immediately and moaned. “Oh my God. I think I’m in love.” He chuckled. “With me or the gelato?” “Gelato. Sorry.” Rocco chuckled. “That good?” “Don’t talk to me. I’m busy falling in love with this ice cream.” We ate in silence for a bit, watching the carousel spin slowly with the lazy creak of old gears. He scooped his with quiet satisfaction. “My mom used to make lemon gelato every Sunday.” I froze then turned slowly toward him. “You never talk about your family or childhood.” He shrugged. “Not much to tell. My parents died when I was fifteen and aft
~GUILIA’S POV~ “I don’t think there’s anything here.” I groaned as I dropped onto the edge of Vince’s obnoxiously pristine white leather couch for what felt like the hundredth time today. My boots were dusty, my shirt clung to my skin with sweat, and my back ached like hell. We had combed through every inch of Vince’s cursed house like bloodhounds on a trail, drawers, cabinets, under the couch. And still, nothing. “We’ve torn this place apart,” I added, collapsing onto one of the armchairs, stretching my legs out in front of me. Rocco was still pacing the hallway, lifting every photo frame like it held the secrets of the universe. “You can’t say that,” Rocco’s voice echoed from somewhere in the hallway. “He’s not stupid. He’s definitely not going to keep anything important where we can easily find it. Keep looking.” I groaned and pulled myself up again. My joints cracked like an old woman’s. “Do you ever get tired of being the serious one?” “No,” he called ba
~GUILIA’S POV~“You gave him your blood?” Rocco echoed, brows furrowed.“I noticed the match yesterday when reviewing his chart,” she said calmly.“I ran a crossmatch panel just to confirm. And when I saw the bleeding… I had no time to think. I hooked myself up immediately.”“And you just happened to have the same rare blood type?” I asked, incredulous.“Yes.” She nodded.“I have Rh-null too, and it felt wonderful finally being able to donate my blood to save a life.”“Is that even professional?” Dante asked.“No,” she said honestly.“But it was necessary. And my blood’s clean — you can review my entire screening results if you have any doubts. I’m sorry, I didn’t have a choice. If I didn’t do it, he would be dead.”“No one’s blaming you,” I cut in quickly.“You saved his life. Thank you so much.” I smiled at her.“Thanks, Doc,” Dante said.“We appreciate it,” Rocco added.“It’s my pleasure,” she nodded, looking down at Val.“The knife pierced through the epigastric region and caused
~GUILIA’S POV~The morning light streamed faintly through the curtains, soft and golden, filtering into the quiet room like it didn’t know the kind of hell the night had been.I blinked awake, my lashes heavy with sleep, the unfamiliar ceiling above me taking a moment to register.My eyes snapped open.Wait.This wasn’t my room.I bolted upright, a gasp caught in my throat as I scanned the room.Dark walls, neatly folded suits hanging from a wardrobe, a faint scent of aftershave and something woody and expensive.This was Dante’s room.What the hell?Panic flashed through me as I clutched the sheets to my chest and glanced down at my clothes,My clothes were still intact and nothing seemed touched.Thank God.“How did I get here?” I whispered to myself, brushing strands of sleep-mussed hair away from my face.From the far end of the room, I heard a deep voice, groggy but amused.“Relax,” he said, his voice low and rough from sleep,“I didn’t do anything.”I turned to his direction, my
~GUILIA’S POV~ The world outside was eerily quiet tonight. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that settles only after a storm has wrecked everything in its path. I sat out on the balcony alone, curled in the chair with my knees to my chest and a hoodie draped over my shoulders. The night air was cool against my skin, brushing my hair into my face like a gentle hand. The stars above blinked in silence, so far away they almost didn’t feel real. The estate was quiet for once, the house still and cold tonight. Even the guards patrolling downstairs didn’t make a sound, they didn’t laugh like they used to every night, they just walked around the estate quietly with their weapons. The only sound I could hear was just the soft hum of the wind and the weight of my own thoughts pressing against my chest. I stared out into the night, watching the stars shift slowly in the black sky. God, everything had happened so fast. One minute I was in Milan, watering Nana’s hydrangeas, l