LOGINSTEFFANO“Are you really sure you can handle this? This isn’t something you can walk away from.”I paused mid-wrap, tightening the bandage around my knuckles before glancing over my shoulder.Sigmund.Even after a week, the damage from his last fight still showed. His arm was in a sling, his face bruised and swollen—proof of what waited for me out there.I swallowed and went back to wrapping my hands.“I already said yes,” I replied. “And I’ve already been paid for tonight.”He let out a quiet breath and took the chair across from me.“You’re fighting Goliath,” he said. “He’s not new. Nine wins, one loss. Be careful.”I nodded. “Thanks.”He studied me for a second, then stood and left without another word.I picked up my phone.The twins’ picture filled the screen.I brushed my thumb over their faces like I could actually touch them.“This is for them...” I whispered. “I have to win.”“Ready?” Juancho asked as I stepped out of the room they’d put me in before the fight.I nodded. “Yes
STEFFANO“Boss! You should’ve told us you were coming!”A man rushed toward us the moment our car stopped in front of what looked like an abandoned warehouse—cracked concrete, rusted metal doors, barely any lighting.I glanced at the men stepping out of the vehicles behind us.Juancho didn’t even slow down.“Why would I need to announce my arrival?” he said coldly. “Am I not allowed to drop by unannounced… or is there something inside you don’t want me to see?”“N-no, sir! Nothing like that!”“You’d better make sure,” Juancho continued, his voice sharp enough to cut. “You know exactly what I don’t want to see in there. If I find it… I bury you. Right here.”“Yes, sir. I understand.”The tension vanished from his face the moment he turned to me.“Come on, Steffano,” he sa
“Savvy got sick too?”He nodded, his voice trailing off as he stopped talking. He rested his head on my lap and gently traced circles on my hand.It was late in the evening, and we were sitting on the beach.After what happened earlier in the study room, Steffano had fallen asleep. I honestly thought he wouldn’t wake up until morning. But after I got the twins to bed, I found him awake—and he asked me to come down here with him.That’s when he started telling me his story.About how he lost his parents at a young age.About how he was separated from his little sister, Alyannah.And eventually… about the life he lived after Olivia left him and the children behind.“I never imagined you went through all that,” I said quietly. “Not when I first met you.”He tilted his head slightly, looking up at me. “What was your first impression of me?”I looked up at the moon, letting its soft glow settle my thoughts as I remembered that day.“Rude,” I said, glancing down at him.He let out a quiet l
EIGHT YEARS AGO…STEFFANO“Table three!” my supervisor snapped from across the floor. “What’s taking you so long, Steffano? You glued to your phone again?”“S-sorry, sir. I just checked it for a second—”“Save it. Just take the order to table three.”I clenched my jaw, grabbed the tray, and forced myself to move.As soon as I was out of his direct line of sight, my phone buzzed again in my pocket.I pulled it out quickly.Glo:Steffano, I’m taking Stephie to the hospital. Her fever’s not going down even after meds. I left Savvy with Boston.My chest tightened.Fear hit instantly.But so did reality.If I walked out now, I wouldn’t have money for hospital bills.So I swallowed it.Kept working.“Steffano,” my supervisor called again, already heading toward me. “We’ve got a VIP upstairs. I need you to stay—about three extra hours.”“M-my daughter’s in the hospital,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady.“Then let your partner handle it for now,” he replied flatly. “You’re the only
REBECCA“Why hasn’t your lover boy come down yet?” Alexa teased, flipping a skewer on the grill. “Food’s done and he’s still M-I-A.”Heat rushed to my cheeks at the nickname, but I tried to brush it off.“I think he’s still upstairs. Maybe he and Boston are still talking.”“Mmm… doesn’t look like a good talk,” Alexa muttered.I followed her gaze.Boston was walking back—fast.She crossed paths with Sigmund, but instead of passing him, she suddenly turned around, grabbed his arm, and pulled him back.Her face was tight with anger.“You never trusted me!” she snapped.The entire patio went quiet.Sigmund’s expression darkened—something I had never seen before.“Coming from you?” he shot back. “Between the two of us, you’re the one who never trusted anyone!”
STEFFANO“So,” I muttered, lighting a cigarette as I leaned against the veranda railing, my eyes drifting down to where Rebecca stood below, talking to Alexa. “What exactly did you want to talk about?”Boston scoffed behind me. “You’re the one who said we needed to talk.”“Ah, right. Yeah.”I forced myself to look away from Rebecca. If I didn’t, I already knew—I wouldn’t hear a damn word Boston was saying.“Looks like you forgot,” Boston added dryly. “You’ve been watching her this whole time.”I cleared my throat and gestured toward the study. “Let’s talk inside.”Once we were in, I locked the door behind us. A glass of whiskey had already been set on the table. I dropped onto the couch, grabbed it, and downed half in one go.The burn steadied me—barely.“You seem out of focus, Steffano. Focus now. What I have to say actually matters. That’s the only reason I agreed to come out here—for your wedding.”The way she emphasized the wedding made my jaw tighten.I ignored it.“How’s the inv
Even though I had been wearing an apron earlier, I still stained my clothes—and after sweating through everything, I decided to change.It just took longer than expected.My arm was stiff, hard to move, and the dull ache was starting to return. The pain reliever I took earlier must’ve worn off.By
“Dad, put an apron on Mom. She forgot to wear one,” Savvy instructed.He conveniently ignored the fact that he wasn’t wearing one either—his shirt already dusted with flour.“And why did you remind me about your mom but not me?” Steffano asked.
“W-what are those?” I asked, my voice trembling as I stared at the wall.Even though it felt like knives were stabbing into my chest, I couldn’t look away—especially from the photos of Tim.“That’s the crime scene,” Steffano said evenly. &ld
“Luckily, it’s just a strain. No broken bones,” Alexa said. “But make sure you let your arm rest and avoid moving it too much. Are you sure you don’t want a sling?”I shook my head, glancing at the elastic bandage wrapped around my wrist and up my arm. A







