MasukKIRA’S POVA week later.“You two need time apart,” Gia said as we headed toward the kitchen, but her words barely registered. My focus was locked on the folded note burning in my palm.I already knew who it was from. That wasn’t the problem.The problem was how it got there.A maid had brushed past me not too long ago, slipped the paper into my hand, and vanished before I could even react. I froze for a second, that was my mistake… because when I turned back, she was gone.My chest tightened. That could’ve gone very bad, very fast. What if Gia had seen?How could Romano be so reckless?It had been a week since everything went down, and I’d already gone to see him three times. The first visit was just to throw the truth in his face… that he was wrong. I didn’t give him the full details of Hugo’s story; that wasn’t mine to tell. But I did tell him the rape was a lie. I doubt he even believed me, he probably thought I was being brainwashed. Still, he didn’t push it.The second and third
Chapter 118KIRAS POV“I can explain,” I started, standing face-to-face with Hugo, who, surprisingly, didn’t look anything like I expected. His expression was calm… almost too calm.“I’m sure you can,” he said simply before turning and walking forward.I stayed frozen for a few seconds, contemplating how to handle the situation, before finally forcing my feet to move. It wasn’t easy keeping up, he had long strides for an old man.Swallowing the bile rising in my throat, I followed him, my heart pounding violently against my ribs. What was going on in his head?Questions spiraled endlessly in my mind. What was Hugo doing alone in the basement in the first place? Did he follow me? Or… did he have a prisoner of his own hidden somewhere down there? The place was a maze, endless hallways and doors, so I wouldn’t even know.But the real question burning in my mind was: how much of my conversation did he hear? God, this was such a mess.By the time we stepped back into the mansion, my nerves
KIRA’S POVThis is a bad idea.No… This was a very bad idea.My head screamed with a thousand reasons to turn back, but it was already too late. I forced in a breath and walked down the hallway until I reached Romano’s cell. He was hanging upside down on the bars, doing some kind of military exercise, sweat dripping from his chest.“I knew you’d be back,” he rasped, his voice rough and amused all at once.“He didn’t know,” I said flatly.The sooner I say what I wanted, the sooner I can get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.Romano, still hanging on the bars, stilled, his eyes narrowing. “Who didn’t know?”“Adrian,” I stated. “He didn’t know who she was. He told me everything.”The memory clawed back into my chest. Last night, Adrian had let me in… peeling back the layers he’d kept hidden for years. He told me Giana wasn’t his mother… she was Dylan’s. That the woman he had killed, the one who haunted his silence, was his real mother… along with her husband. He told me how Pau
Adrian’s POVI stood on the edge of the cliffside overlook, the wind tugging at my coat as I gazed over the sprawling valley below. The sun was setting already, and far beneath me, the river coiled, its surface shimmering.I wasn’t here for the view, though it was exhilarating. A place high enough to see anyone approaching and isolated enough from others. I checked my watch once, then again, tapping my fingers against the cool stone railing.Footsteps approached from behind, soft and deliberate. I didn’t turn until the figure stopped a few paces away.“You’re late,” I said without looking at him.The man gave a short shrug. “Traffic, boss.”I finally turned, my eyes sharp. “I need you to find something… or rather, someone.” I paused, letting the weight of my words settle. “The grave of Luciana Ferdenez. You’re the best I know. Dig up everything you can.. location, history, anything you can literally find. Report back to me the moment you have it.”The wind picked up, carrying the scen
KIRA’S POV~~~~The door swung open before an answer came.Gianna stood there, framed in the doorway like she owned it. Her eyes swept over the scene me standing too close to a half-naked Antonio..Her lips curved, but it wasn’t a smile.“Well, well…” she drawled, stepping inside without invitation. “It didn't take you long to get comfortable, did it?” Her gaze raked over me like I was dirt under her shoe. “Guess the rumours are true. You’ll spread your legs for anyone if your husband’s not looking.”The word “whore” wasn’t spoken, but it hung in the air, dripping off every syllable.My spine went rigid, heat crawling up my neck. This was not a good look.“You should leave,” I said evenly, though my voice was tight.She tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Oh, don’t get all righteous with me, sweetheart. We both know your type. Pretty face… easy morals… a nice, warm distraction for the men while the real women handle the important
Adrian’s POVMy arm swung across the bed, searching for Kira’s warmth… but found nothing but cold sheets.I sat up, frowning at the clock. Forty-five minutes. That’s how long she’d been gone for water. Since when did getting a damn glass take nearly an hour?My gut twisted, not just from her absence, but from the basement incident. What if she decided to go down there after all? Kira wasn’t the type you could stop. Hell, I could stop her… but part of me didn’t even want to.I needed to get rid of Romano fast. His presence was like a festering fly, buzzing even from behind locked doors.Even while locked up, you’re still fucking me over, Domenico.Annoyed, I yanked the covers off, pulled on a shirt, and went downstairs like a shadow. The last thing I wanted was to see anyone other than my wife.The kitchen lights spilled faintly into the hall. There she was, laughing with Ria.A rare sight. Kira didn’t open up to anyone except Linda. Good. She nee







