Masuk~LUCAS~“Kill them all!!” My father's voice commands.The first gunshot rings out before he even finishes speaking.And suddenly, the entire hall erupts into madness.Gunshots explode from every direction.The Romano guards immediately return fire, sending several of Torenzo's men crashing backwards.People scream. Tables overturn. Glasses shatter.The beautiful birthday decorations are torn apart as bullets rip through the hall, leaving holes in the walls and sending pieces of plaster raining down.Someone falls beside me, sending a chair crashing against the floor.Another gunshot rings out, followed by a horrible cry.I barely register any of it.The guests are scrambling for cover, some crawling beneath tables while others run desperately towards the exits.But there is nowhere safe because the enormous hall has become a battlefield.Armed men move between the tables, firing at anything that moves. A chandelier swings violently overhead.One of the security g
~LUCAS~Can this fucking night get any worse?The hell is this?I barely finish the thought when the man holding the gun inside the hall lets out a deep, mocking laugh."Finally, the whole family is here. I've been waiting so patiently for moments like this."Something about his voice makes my stomach tighten.I know that voice.I fucking know that voice.My blood turns cold immediately.No….it can't be.I slowly turn my head towards him, my eyes narrowing as I try to make sense of what I'm hearing.That voice.A voice I could never, ever forget, no matter how many years passed.A voice that haunted my childhood.A voice that screamed and yelled at my mother and me every fucking time he opened his mouth.A voice that made our home feel like a prison.My fingers slowly curl against the edge of the table.No way.No fucking way!!!"You're finally here, Torenzo Bianchi."Vincenzo's voice cuts through the tension, and my heart stops.Bianchi.I stare at the man st
~LUCAS~A collective stillness settles over the room after Riccardo's words.Nobody moves.Nobody speaks.I can practically feel the fear spreading through the gathering. Even Esmeralda, looks unusually tense.I shift in my chair.What the hell is this?Are they expecting an attack? Is there something I'm not aware of?I glance towards the enormous doors and then towards the armed guards stationed around the hall.Suddenly, I wish I'd never accepted this invitation.I wish I'd stayed in my apartment.I wish I'd found an excuse not to come.Hell, I wish I could disappear right now.But apparently, wishing isn't going to get me anywhere.Nico finally takes the microphone."Enough of the serious business. It's a birthday celebration, and I believe we've kept our guests waiting long enough."A few people laugh."Let's enjoy ourselves."The music begins almost immediately, and the atmosphere gradually changes.The birthday cake is brought forward, and the three brothers move closer to their
~LUCAS~Camilla, Marcella and Fiorella look away from me at exactly the same time, as if looking longer at me might put me in danger.I watch as Fiorella positions herself close to the man standing on the right.Marcella moves close to the one in the middle.And Camilla...walks directly into the arms of the man standing on the left.Riccardo.I know that now.I know exactly which of the three men is Riccardo, and which one is Vincenzo and Nico.But there's something else I still don't understand.The three men exchange a brief look before Vincenzo steps forward, taking the microphone from the stand."Tonight is a very special night for my family."His deep voice carries effortlessly across the enormous hall.The entire gathering falls silent.I watch as he looks towards the three women standing beside them, and something almost unfamiliar softens his otherwise intimidating expression.Pride.An unmistakable kind of pride."For many years, the three most precious people in our lives hav
~LUCAS~I crash into the chair so hard that the people around me turn to look at me. They eye me cautiously for a while, before looking away again.But I couldn't care less.They're the least of my concerns right now.“Mr. Lucas, are you okay?” I hear Esmeralda's concerned voice, but I don't give her an answer.I don't even look at her. My eyes are fixed on the ladies walking into the hall.There's no way I'm going to believe that I'm actually staring at Camilla, Marcella and Fiorella together.Everything looks so fucking insane!I can't breathe.I can't fucking breathe!I blink repeatedly, rubbing my eyes as though that will somehow make the three women disappear.No, they're still there. So I pinch my arm hard."Ouch!"“Mr. Lucas, what on earth is happening to you?” Esmeralda asks. “You're starting to get me really worried.”I can't answer.I simply point toward the entrance, my mouth opening and closing without a single sensible word coming out.She follows
~LUCAS~Three men are married to the same woman.I really can't believe it!I turn my head so quickly toward Esmeralda that I almost hurt my neck.She's already staring at me.Her eyes are wide, her mouth slightly parted, and the expression on her face tells me she's just arrived at the same conclusion.For several seconds, neither of us says anything.We simply stare at each other. Then I lean closer to her."What the actual fuck is this?" I whisper.She blinks. "I honestly don't know."I look back at the stage, then at her again."Are you seeing what I'm seeing?""Unfortunately, yes,” she replies.I drag a hand down my face. "This is insane.""Mr. Lucas…”"No, Esmeralda. This is fucking insane."It's a different thing if it's one man married to three women. But this?? This is absurd!!!I shake my head, still struggling to process what I'm witnessing.Three identical brothers….one woman….and apparently, they're all married to her.What kind of family is this?I turn my attention back
~NICO~“Dad, I'm not quitting school. I love it there” I say angrily to my father.Vincenzo, Riccardo and I are in my father's private office and he called us for a meeting because he heard I was at Elena's school yesterday.Yes, I get that father has eyes everywhere but wh
~ELENA~The whispers multiply until it feels like the entire hallway has turned into a low hum of excitement.“Who is he? Does anyone know?”“They say he is doing his masters.”“I heard he's transferred.”“Transferred? He looks like he walked straight out of a magazine.”“D
~NICO~The moment my fist connects with Alessandro’s jaw, the sound is louder than I expect. A sharp crack that silences even the shrieks around us.He stumbles, spits blood, and collapses onto the floor.The crowd roars….half in shock, half in awe. Phones are out, cap
~ELENA~Nico's lips graze my cheeks…almost a kiss.Almost.And then the gym door swings open.“Damn!” We both exclaim.Riccardo walks in, towel over his shoulders. He pauses, eyes flicking between our too-close bodies.“Everything okay here??” He asks, voice neutral, but b







