LOGINCristiano’s jaw clenched. Lillian shouldn’t have said it aloud. And hell—she shouldn’t have known it at all. His father had crossed the line this time. The Vitelli family never involved the women in famiglia matters. But it was now clear that Vittorio had confided everything to Lillian.However, that wasn’t the problem Cristiano feared. He would deal with his father and his mistress later, yes, he refused to consider her his father’s second wife. Right now, his worry was his mother, who was staring at him as if she had just seen a ghost.“What… what is she talking about, Cris?”Cristiano took a deep breath before turning to his mother. “Mother, let’s go inside. I’ll tell you everything.” Then he glared at his father, who was now avoiding his eyes like a man caught red-handed.“No. Tell me now,” Soraya demanded firmly, though her voice trembled with fear. “Was she talking about Siena? Why would they want to kill her?”“Mother!” Cristiano sighed, closing his eyes. “It’s famiglia busines
But Cristiano’s attention snapped toward the commotion echoing from downstairs. A shrill cry. Raised voices. Chaos.He frowned and descended the steps, his expression darkening when he reached the hall.Lillian was there—collapsed on the couch, trembling, crying uncontrollably. Vittorio sat beside her, trying to calm her, while Soraya hovered stiffly in the corner, her face pale.“Calm down, Lily,” Vittorio said in a low, exhausted tone. “Gino is stable. I’ve brought in the best doctors from around the world. He’ll recover. He’ll be perfectly fine soon.”But Lillian jerked her head up, eyes burning with tears and fury.“I want justice for Gino,” she cried. “What was his fault, huh? That he’s your son?” Her voice cracked before rising again—sharper, harsher. “Or was it his fault that your asshole son couldn’t stand the fact that you loved Gino—and us—more than that trash you call your family?”Her gaze sliced toward Soraya, filled with rage and disgust. The insult was aimed like a
Siena couldn’t speak. Hell, she couldn’t even believe what she was hearing. “No… no, no, no…” She shook her head desperately. “No. That’s not true. You’re lying. You love me—right?” Her voice cracked, her eyes locked on his, begging for a denial.But he said nothing. He just stood there, silent… his face cold, unreadable. And Siena’s heart broke—but still, she refused to believe he didn’t love her.“Why are you doing this?” she whispered. “I’m scared, Cris…” Her anger dissolved, replaced by pure desperation. Fear.“You’re so easy to fool, Siena.” His smirk was dark, cruel. Siena’s eyes instantly filled with tears.“No. This can’t be true,” she choked. “You love me. And I love you. That’s the only truth.”He merely rolled his shoulders back and turned to leave.Panicking, Siena pushed herself off the hospital bed, but her head was still spinning. Her knees buckled—and before she hit the floor, Cristiano’s strong arms caught her and held her upright.She looked up at him and manage
Vittorio’s lip curled in frustration. “You are my blood—that’s why I know you so well,” he snapped. “I knew you weren’t trying to get her pregnant.”Cristiano’s eyes narrowed, irritation flickering across his face. “You spy on my room now?”“I have to know what enters your life and what leaves it,” Vittorio shot back. “The maid told me she found a wrapper in your room.”Cristiano exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “That was a one-time thing. I used it because I wanted to. A man has certain needs.” His tone was so severe, so controlled, it allowed no trace of doubt.“And you know you can still trust me even after I shot Gino?” he continued, “You know why.”Vittorio fell silent. Because he knew the truth.The bullet had struck just below Gino’s heart. If Cristiano had genuinely wanted his half-brother dead, his aim would never have missed. One shot would have gone straight through Gino’s heart without hesitation.“Cristiano, the Famiglia is looking to you,” Vittorio reminded sharply
Cristiano paced the hospital corridor, jaw locked, phone pressed tightly to his ear. The doctor had already examined Siena. The diagnosis was simple—shock, trauma, nothing life-threatening. She would wake up soon. The information eased him only a little; his pulse was still a wild, restless drum in his chest.On the line, Hunter’s voice trembled with panic.“Cris—what the hell were you thinking?! You shot Gino! If the Famiglia finds out, they’ll question everything. They’ll dig into Siena. They’ll dig into you. You could lose the throne—hell, they could execute both of you!”Cristiano rubbed a hand down his face, exhausted and furious.“I don’t give a damn about the Famiglia,” he muttered. “I had no choice. He had a gun on her.”“This is bad,” Hunter whispered. “They’re going to call for a vote… Vittorio will twist it against you—”Footsteps thundered across the hall.Cristiano looked up.His father was striding toward him like a storm—eyes burning, jaw tight with murderous rage.Cr
Gino stopped the car in a deserted place Siena had never seen or even heard of. She stepped out slowly, confusion knotting in her stomach. The area was dim, isolated… far too quiet.“Why are we here?” she asked, looking around. “Cristiano isn’t anywhere. You said you’d show me his reality.”Gino didn’t answer at first. He simply smirked—crooked, wrong, chilling. Something in that smile made Siena’s skin crawl.“You seem to be in a hurry, sister-in-law,” he said slowly, taking a step back, hands slipping into his pockets as if he were enjoying her confusion.Siena frowned, uneasy. Her eyes scanned the warehouse—until the hair on her arms stood up.From the shadows, four men emerged… one from each corner. Broad shoulders. Hard eyes. No warmth. No welcome.Her breath hitched. “Gino…” she whispered, her voice trembling, “what’s going on?”Gino’s smirk widened, sharpening into something cold and cruel. “Oh, Siena,” he murmured—almost pitying, almost amused. “Did you really think you were s







