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Chapter 12

Author: Tochi Monroe
last update Last Updated: 2025-03-21 01:23:18

It’s morning, and Rhea was lying in her big bed alone. She was awake as soon as the morning light came into the room through the curtains, not that she even got enough sleep the night before.

Rhea could not sleep because she kept tossing and turning in bed. Her mind was cluttered with different thoughts. She kept ruminating on everything that happened the previous day.

Her late father’s funeral, the man who, despite sending her into enemy territory under the guise of marriage, was the sole parent she knew. She had no knowledge of who her mother was, and every time she had asked Enrico, he said her mother ran away to America and never returned.

Maybe if she had a maternal figure in her life, she would know how to tread this marriage of hers to get what she wants. Maybe if she were there, Dante would not have been so heartless and without empathy to tell her to continue to live in the lion’s den just for revenge.

Wishful thinking. That was all she had anyways.

Her mind flickered to Alex
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    “Breathe in, Signora. I’ll be done soon,” said Antoinette to Rhea as she fastened the last button on the back of her gown and also tied the corset ropes as well.Rhea barely paid attention as she stared at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a bright red silk dress that hugged her body like a second skin. The high slit on the front left of the dress mildly exposed her thighs when she walked. The corset-style bodice also accentuated her curves.She chose the dress on purpose, forgoing all the other options Antoinette brought for her. This was going to be her first official outing with Adrian, and she was not going to look anything less than desirable and powerful.She smoothed her hands over the fabric, and when she met her own gaze in the mirror, she knew she looked stunning. Tonight, she wasn’t just Adrian Vitale’s wife or late Enrico Moretti’s daughter, she was a statement on her own.“Oh, they’ll stare tonight.” Antoinette said amusingly to her. “Some with admiration and some w

    Last Updated : 2025-03-21
  • Twisted Loyalties    Chapter 14

    After what seemed like a long drive, they finally got to the destination—the Governor’s Manor. When they pulled up, one of Adrian’s men, who was in another car in their convoy, came out quickly and opened the door for Adrian and then for Rhea.Adrian stepped out first, straightened the collar of his tuxedo and the bow tie before stretching out his hand to Rhea. She hesitated but only for a second before she placed her hand on his.They looked so perfect together, a striking vision of power and excellence. His height, piercing eyes, and his sharp black suit complemented her breathtaking beauty, plus the red dress she wore. If you saw them, you’d know they weren’t just a couple but a dangerous force.As they entered the ballroom, heads turned and whispers were heard.“The new Mrs. Vitale.”“She’s stunning.”“A Moretti as a Vitale… the irony.”These and more were some of the side comments people made.“Stay close,” Adrian murmured at her ear, his breath hot against her skin.Rhea ignore

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  • Twisted Loyalties    Chapter 15

    The hush that fell over the room was subtle and respectful, as the Governor of Palermo, Sicily, stepped onto the grand stage at the head of the ballroom.The governor, who was an older man, had silver hair and sharp eyes and was dressed in a crisp suit that cost more than most of the people in his city made in a year. Governor Francesco Ricci had been in office long enough to know that his real power did not lie in his policies but in the men standing in this very room.The mafia leaders, business tycoons, and corrupt officials.They were the real rulers of this city.“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice smooth and practiced, “welcome to another evening of unity and prosperity.”Rhea nearly scoffed.Unity? Prosperity? In a city where blood ran through the streets like rainwater? Where power changed hands not through elections, but through bullets?He must be kidding, she thought to herself.“It is because of our city’s greatest minds, our most dedicated leaders, that we continu

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  • Twisted Loyalties    Chapter 16

    “Get us the fuck out of here,” Adrian ordered, his voice, commanding.“I’m trying!” Marco snapped, swerving through the narrow road, barely missing a row of parked cars. “They’re boxing us in!”Luca cursed. “We need to take them out before we get pinned.”Adrian finally moved, reaching for his gun. “Then let’s take them out.”In one swift motion, he shifted, lowering his window. The moment a black SUV pulled up beside them, he fired. He fired two quick shots, one of which went through the driver's side. The vehicle spun out and then slammed into a street lamppost.It was both terrifying and mesmerizing: the precision, the complete lack of hesitation. Adrian was lethal in a way that didn’t require theatrics. Every movement was calculated, every bullet counted.The last remaining SUV accelerated, trying to close the distance.“Marco,” Adrian warned.“Yeah, yeah, I see them,” Marco growled, steering the car toward a wider street. “Hold tight!”The moment they cleared the intersection, on

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  • Twisted Loyalties    Chapter 17

    Adrian stared at Rhea, his fingers tracing her jawline as the words settled between them. His blue eyes looked directly into hers“You’re a virgin?” His voice was softer now, laced with surprise.Rhea held his gaze, refusing to shrink under his scrutiny. “Yes. But not naive,” she said to him, determined not to appear fragile.He was quiet, as if processing the weight of her words. He reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear before his fingers trailed down her throat and down to her chest.“You should’ve told me earlier,” he murmured, his thumb stroking her skin.“Would it have changed anything?” she countered. “Yes.”Rhea arched a brow. “Are you going to stop now?”A slow smile appeared on Adrian’s lips. “Not a chance.”He moved in then, capturing her lips in a deep, consuming kiss. It was different this time; less urgency, more reverence. “I promise I’ll be gentle with you, cara.”Having said that, he trailed kisses from her lips and moved downwards. When he got t

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  • Twisted Loyalties    Chapter 18

    Rhea woke up slowly. She could feel an all-around soreness on her body, but mostly between her thighs. The dull ache between them was the first reminder of what happened last night between her and Adrian. She could feel the lingering warmth of his hands.Her eyes fluttered open, and was greeted by the soft golden light streaming in through the curtains covering the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of the bedroom that supposedly belonged to the both of them. He had never spent the night in this room before. It had always been just her, while he spent his nights somewhere else, sometimes not even within the estate.But last night changed that.She turned slightly, expecting to find him beside her, but the bed was empty. The sheets were cold on the side where he had lain last night.Of course, he was gone.What did she expect?Adrian Vitale was not a man who indulged in lingering softness. He had taken her, made her feel things she had never felt before, and then moved on, just like that

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  • Twisted Loyalties    Chapter 20

    As soon as Adrian left for the office, Rhea did not waste any time. She locked herself in her bedroom, pulling out her phone with steady hands, though her heartbeat thrummed with urgency. She dialed Dante’s number, pressing the phone tightly to her ear as it rang.He answered after the first ring. “Rhea.”“I have news,” she said quickly, keeping her voice low. “But I can’t talk over the phone.”Dante exhaled. “I figured. We can’t be seen together so soon either.”“I know,” she replied, glancing toward the door, ensuring no one was eavesdropping. “Send Izzy. I’ll be in town for shopping. No one will suspect a sisterly outing.”There was a brief pause before Dante agreed. “Fine. I’ll tell her where to find you. Be careful, Rhea.”The call ended, leaving her with a heavy sense of anticipation. She had to tread carefully so that Adrian doesn’t discover the truthRhea was expecting Marco to be the one to accompany her, as Adrian had mentioned during breakfast. But when she stepped outside,

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  • Twisted Loyalties    Chapter 100

    Come with me, Rhea," Alex pleaded, his eyes filled with a hopeful plea. "Forget your past and run away with me to a new life in America. They think you are dead, amore. That’s even better; you never have to worry about them again. Forget that world that corrupts and bleeds."Rhea’s hands, still held captive in his warm grip, felt suddenly cold. She looked down at their intertwined fingers, it reminded her of a life of normalcy. A life before the lies and betrayals.She lifted her gaze back to Alex, his face was etched in sincerity. He looked even more sincere than when he was apologizing for cheating on her. He really meant this."Alex," she began, her voice softer now, but laced with a resolve. "You know I care about you. What Adrian did to you… it haunts me. You didn’t deserve any of that."He squeezed her hands gently. "Then come with me. Let’s leave all this behind. We can heal together. Start fresh."Rhea pulled her hands away slowly and instinctively placed a protective hand ov

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    “We need to meet.” Rhea glanced at her phone screen as she read the text from her P.I.Her heart raced slightly at the urgency in his tone. They had just met two days ago before her scare with the miscarriage that had landed her in the hospital. So much had happened in such a short time, and now he was calling for another meeting. What had he found out? And why the urgency?During her checkups, the doctor had told her she could go home on the third day. However, Rhea knew she needed a window to meet with the P.I. She knew that If she went home, even though eventually she would resume her normal activities she was sure Dmitri would not let her go out immediately after her discharge.“Can I stay an extra day or two?” she asked the doctor the next morning, flashing him a charming smile. “I don’t trust myself at home.”The doctor, one who had a soft spot for her, smiled back. “Of course, Signora Sofia,” he replied. “It’ll be my pleasure coming in to check on you every day.”Rhea gave a

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  • Twisted Loyalties    Chapter 94

    “A partial placental abruption,” the doctor said. “Likely brought on by physical or emotional strain. We’re lucky it wasn’t worse. The baby’s heartbeat is stable, but we’ll be monitoring closely for the next few days.”Rhea had only nodded, absorbing the words without flinching.“You’ll be on strict bed rest for now. No sudden movement. No stress if you can avoid it.”Stress. The irony nearly made her laugh.He had asked if she had any questions. She only asked one.“How long do I have to stay?”“At least seventy-two hours for observation,” he replied. “But we’ll play it by ear. Your body will tell us what it needs.”The doctor glanced down at his notes, then looked back up. “We’ll be keeping a close eye on him, we want to make sure he stays safe through the final trimester.”Rhea blinked.“…Him?”The doctor paused, caught off guard by her tone. “Oh. I’m…sorry, I assumed you knew. Yes, you’re having a boy.”For a long moment, Rhea didn’t speak.She was having a boy.Her chest tighten

  • Twisted Loyalties    Chapter 93

    Rhea didn’t blink.Her fingers relaxed slightly on the edge of the table, and then she gave a soft laugh.“You’ve got some imagination,” she said, tilting her head. “Rhea Moretti? That’s quite the accusation.”The investigator didn’t smile. He simply sat there, watching her like a man who had already solved the puzzle and was now just waiting for the confession.Rhea’s eyes narrowed, the laughter vanishing. “And even if I were, why would you think telling me that was a good idea?”“Because I’m not here to threaten you,” he replied calmly. “I’m here because you asked me to dig. And I did. What I found just made things… clearer.”She leaned forward, voice sharp. “You don’t know me.”“No,” he agreed. “But I know people. And I’ve been in this line of work too long not to recognize when someone’s wearing a mask that fits too well. You didn’t flinch at Viktor Vitale’s name. You didn’t ask who he was. You asked how he died. You asked with the kind of hate that only comes from history.”Rhea

  • Twisted Loyalties    Chapter 92

    Days had passed since the Vladikov incident, and Dmitri was finally set to return from New York the next day.Rhea had already told him what transpired in the basement, that she had gone down there alone to confront Vladikov, hoping to force the truth out of him. She claimed he was unrepentant, cold, and even laughed in her face when she demanded to know why he tried to attack her. She then told Dmitri that Vladikov lunged at her, tried to strangle her and that Anton, hearing her screams, shot him to save her life.Dmitri cursed under his breath in Russian when she told him. “I need to extend my New York trip by a few days. I’m sorry, I know this is a bad time.” Dmitri had said to her during a phone call.“It’s no problem, Dmitri. Do what you have to do.” Rhea replied with a fake sadness. “Just don’t stay too long.”To be honest, that was an answered prayer as far as she was concerned even though she wanted to know about his New York business.Within those few days, Rhea met with di

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