The once quiet dinner table buzzed with Roccio's arrival. Even the elder Romano joined in the laughter at his eldest son's jokes. It wasn't every day they had dinner together. Due to Roccio's business dealings, he often stayed away from the family for their safety, especially now that his father was older.
"It's so good you're here, Roccio. It's been a while since you visited the country. Your father kept whining like a child, saying all his sons forgot about him," Susana commented with a smile. Roccio sat beside her. Roccio smiled at his stepmother, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. "But he has you, Mom. He's still the luckiest old man on the planet." He winked at her before looking at his father, who was shaking his head. "Aren't you, Dad?" "Stop with the sweet talk, young man. My Susana won't fall for your tricks," Don Luca joked. Roccio laughed loudly. He was the only one bold enough to defy his father. It wasFabian’s parents arrived that evening. Gigi frantically prepared dinner, stressed about meeting them. She felt she had something to prove; she held Fabian and his family in such high regard that she didn't want to embarrass him. Her heart pounded as she surveyed the table. Despite her fatigue, she’d insisted on cooking, preparing a meal with dishes she knew well. They were simple dishes, but Gigi poured her heart into making them. She just hoped they'd like it. Yana and Adrian had accompanied her to the market; Fabian had wanted to come, but he had to pick up his parents from the airport, so Gigi sent him away—he left looking grumpy. She shopped quickly and began preparations. Fabian arrived just as she finished; he'd dropped his parents off at the mansion. Gigi felt Fabian’s strong arms around her waist as he buried his face in her neck. She giggled at his beard tickling her. “You worry too much. I told you we could order food, babe. You’re tiring yourself out.” His
"Wow! This place is amazing!" Yana exclaimed as she entered Fabian's house, awestruck by its size and elegance. She'd never been to such a luxurious place before. She gazed around; even from the entrance, it was stunning. Gigi was incredibly lucky to have found not only a wealthy man who loved her, but also one who was kind to her family. Yana particularly appreciated Fabian's acceptance of Gigi's past. They could finally relax, knowing she was in good hands. "Gorgeous!" Pia squealed, echoing Yana, raising her arms in delight, making Yana and Gigi laugh. "Does baby Pia like it here?" Fabian asked, pinching her chubby cheeks, making her giggle even more. Yana, Gigi, and Pia were gradually warming up to Fabian, which made him happy. He only needed to win over Adrian, Gigi's younger brother, to fully gain the family's trust. The family remained at the hospital for three days before moving to Fabian’s house. He'd personally req
Fabian was already at the hospital when Roccio and Yana arrived. He had come as soon as JD told him they were already there with Gigi. Fabian didn’t waste a second—he jumped into his car and drove straight over to see the woman he loved most. Gigi was crying uncontrollably while hugging her mom and Pia. Her sobs were so loud it looked like even Fabian was on the verge of tears just watching her. His heart broke seeing Gigi cry like that—even though they were tears of joy. She had believed for so long that her family was gone, and now that she had them back, the emotions were just too overwhelming. She hadn’t even looked at him when they arrived. She ran straight into the room where her mom and siblings were. But Fabian didn’t take it personally. He completely understood. Gigi cried even harder when Roccio showed up with Yana. Fabian was relieved to see his brother had brought Yana back safe and sound. He’d been worried about he
Yana bit her lip, uncertain why Fabian’s brother was there, but she didn’t ask. A mix of joy and fear coursed through her. This man shouldn't be here. She looked at his outstretched hand, large and somehow comforting. Without hesitation, she took it. The moment their palms met, a jolt, a tingling sensation, shot through her, an undeniable current that sparked in the deepest, most unexplored part of her body. A small smile played on Roccio’s lips as she accepted his hand. Yana noticed a dimple on his left cheek—she hadn’t seen it before because he rarely smiled. She found it endearing, a contrast to his bad-boy image. He gently pulled her to her feet, and she went willingly. She noticed the gun in his other hand. She said nothing, following as he led her from the room. It made sense that he was armed; the mansion was heavily guarded. She wondered if he was used to weapons; his hand held the gun with such effortless grace, as if it were an
“Find her!” one of McIntosh’s men yelled angrily. His voice was laced with frustration and rage. His ego couldn't accept being outsmarted by a woman, and he was annoyed with his companion whose insistence on drinking had gotten them all drunk. They'd been persuaded to drink, and he couldn't understand why three bottles of alcohol had gotten them so intoxicated. They hadn't realized Gigi was escaping until he woke up needing to urinate and saw her slipping out the exit. Even though he was dizzy and weak, he immediately woke his two companions to chase her. If she escaped, they'd all be in serious trouble. Gigi felt as if her soul would leave her body when she heard the yell. She was drenched in sweat, breathless from running, her legs trembling from exhaustion. The shout was too close; she felt them right behind her, so she couldn't stop. She could barely see where she was going as she ran, the moon offering no guidance in the darkness. Her feet were bleeding, but she
Roccio gripped the steering wheel tightly, speeding down the road. He needed to get there before 3:00 AM. That politician seemed to favor secluded locations. He checked the GPS; the location was in an isolated part of town. From the moment he’d gotten the call, his nerves had been on edge, and he was irritated with himself. He could have just left Yana there and let the police handle it. But for reasons he couldn't explain, the thought of Yana being held captive by that lunatic politician unsettled him. His brother seemed to have a lot of enemies lately. First, it was McIntosh, after his brother’s wealth. That old man was greedy, unsatisfied with his own riches, needing to seize what others had worked for. Roccio had him investigated; his fortune stemmed from exploiting other companies. Being a member of the underground society, he'd easily evaded prosecution for his crimes. Now, Fabian’s success had become his greatest downfall. The Romanos weren't easily defeated, as proven by the