The tension in the Vitale mansion was thick, like you could even cut it with a knife. Victor’s arrival had already set everyone on edge. Rhea could feel the weight of it all as she quietly moved around the house; her thoughts were constantly racing.When Adrian was in the meeting with his father, discussing the failed ambush and their inability to get answers, Rhea’s mind was preoccupied with one thought.Dante.Yes, she had already sent him enough information to devastate Adrian’s world, but now, in the light of everything that has happened between her and Adrian, she could feel her own heart twisting in guilt.It wasn’t as if she cared about the Vitale empire as a whole, no. It was just AdrianShe feared the consequences of the attack Dante was planning. If it succeeded, Adrian would be further humiliated, and his father would undoubtedly take over, stripping him of everything he had worked for. The thought made her stomach turn.Sitting in her room later that night, she couldn’t sh
“Your shipment coming in tonight will be ambushed. Move quickly, or you’ll lose it all. - An insider.Adrian’s eyes narrowed. His heart was pounding. The message had been sent anonymously, and there was no sign of who had written it. Yet, there was an urgency in the words. This was no joke. Whoever sent it knew something.Without hesitation, he called Marco’s attention to it. He couldn’t risk underestimating the threat, even if he didn’t know who had sent the warning. It could have been a ruse, but in his line of work, ignoring any warning, no matter how cryptic, was a mistake he couldn’t afford.“Is this real?” Marco asked.“Has to be; our shipment arrives at 11pm,” Adrian replied sharply. He checked his time, and it was 7pm ish.“We’re now headed to the yard, Marco.” “Yes, boss.”Adrian quickly dialed Luca “Drive to the shipping yard at Palermo. I want full surveillance and every man we can spare. Just got word about an attack. We’re not taking any chances.”He knew they would get
Adrian and his men stood over the bodies of the Bianchi impostors; he was still holding on to his gun. The scent of blood and gunpowder was still in the air in the shipment yard. This attack on his shipment was a direct provocation. He wasn’t going to go back and then plan his retaliation; he was going to hit them that night, and the next day he would kill the Bianchis.They wanted war. They had better be ready for him.As soon as his men secured the cargo and everything was in place, he addressed his men.“The Bianchi family sent their men to hijack our fucking shipment.” He looked at them with blood in his eyes and then continued. “They are not expecting us to hit back because this was supposed to happen without us knowing.”“Therefore, we hit them tonight. We burn everything they own.”His men were nodding in affirmation as he spoke.The Bianchis would learn what it meant to cross the Vitales.So as the city slept, Adrian’s men mobilized. Marco, who was the chief enforcer, split th
That morning, Selene stormed into her family’s estate, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floors. She was visibly furious. She was her father, Ricardo Bianchi’s only child and thus the heir to the Bianchi empire. But her father had always wanted a son to inherit his empire. Even though Selene had always proved herself capable. She assumed that her father’s protégé, Alessandro, who now seemed like family (a son to his father and a brother to Selene), had advised him wrongly to attack the Vitale.She walked into them in his study.“What the hell did you guys do?” she asked furiously Ricardo barely lifted his gaze. “Good morning to you too, Selene.”“Don’t bullshit me. Our businesses were set on fire. Our men were gunned down. Il Paradiso is under Vitale control. What. Did. You. Do?”Alessandro sighed. “Relax, sorellina. Maybe Adrian finally lost it. He would definitely regret his actions.”“So, you’re telling me you had nothing to do with this? That Adrian just decided to o
“Who would be stupid enough to go behind my back?” Selena asked in disbelief.She knew that even though her father had his favorite, when big decisions were to be made, she was always in the know because ultimately she was going to inherit the empire.“Maybe you are not in control as you think, Selene.” Marco chipped inRhea, who had slipped out of bed immediately after Adrian left the room, pressed herself against the wall. She hid in the shadows at the top of the grand staircase. And from her vantage point, she had a clear view of Adrian and Selene in the middle of the hall below.She could see that Selene was furious; her chest was rising and falling as she glared at Adrian.Rhea frowned, listening carefully. She wasn’t sure what she was hearingShe knew exactly who was responsible for the attack. Dante.So why weren’t they talking about him?Why were the Bianchis in the picture at all?What was the connection?Her mind raced.Could Dante and Ricardo Bianchi have been working toget
Victor, Adrian, and Luca were all seated in their expansive living room, drinking whiskey and smoking rich cigars. Marco was standing by the side, with his watchful eyes scanning the room as usualVictor Vitale leaned back in his leather chair; the pride in his eyes was unmistakable. He was obviously satisfied with the way Adrian had carried out the revenge on the Bianchis last night without hesitating.As far as he was concerned, it showed power and ruthlessness.No one was to mess with the Vitales.Even though he wasn’t the type to cuddle any of his sons, but with Adrian being the first and his favorite, he always had a way of showing it.“That’s how a mafioso handles business,” he said, his voice steady but filled with approval. “Swift, decisive, no hesitation. You’ve done well, Adrian.”Adrian nodded; he was happy because with this occurrence, his father’s threat of stepping back in as the leader of the family was now pushed behind.Victor glanced briefly at Luca, his younger son,
“Well, well. Looks like you’ve been sleeping with the enemy, Vitale.” Lorenzo Mancini spoke out.Adrian’s anger was burning like a furnace. He immediately glared across the room at DanteAs soon as Dante saw Adrian storm towards his direction, he stood from his chair, with Gabriel, his lieutenant, rushing to his front to stand between him and Adrian.“Look, this is news to me, Adrian. I swear I had no idea my sister was working with the Bianchis.”Adrian couldn’t contain himself any more. He was standing in front of Dante with his fists clenched, ready to lash out on him. The only thing standing between Adrian’s fist and Dante was Gabriel, who had stepped in to protect his boss.Adrian’s voice was an eruption of pure fury. “You’re lying! You’ve been working with them all along, haven’t you? You knew, Dante. You set this up!”“Damn it, Vitale!” Dante yelled, shoving Gabriel aside so he could address Adrian directly. “I was attacked as well; my shipment was ambushed on your wedding day,
“She has to die.”It was as if a bomb of silence was dropped in the room.Rhea froze as she heard those words from her father-in-law. Her eyes were wide open, filled with horror, and she could feel her heart drop into her stomach.Adrian, as well, was caught in the moment, his jaw clenched as he allowed the weight of his father's words to sink in. He looked at his father and only saw seriousness in his eyes. This was the man who showed him what it meant to be ruthless, so he knew very well what the look in his eyes stood for.Adrian’s gaze flickered back to Rhea, and now he was torn between his love for Rhea (not that he was ever going to acknowledge that feeling) and his unyielding loyalty to his family name.The room seemed to close in on him, and for the first time, Adrian didn’t know what to do.Rhea felt her knees wobble under her, and she just collapsed to the floor in shock. She couldn’t speak, and when she turned her face to Adrian, she couldn’t read any particular emotion fro
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
Punching the elevator buttons with shaky fingers, Rhea stepped in the moment the doors slid open. By the time the elevator stopped at her floor, she was already yanking off her coat. She ran straight to her room, shut the door, and stripped off her clothes in a rush. The hospital gown went over her head in seconds, and she slipped into the sheets.Almost immediately, Anya burst in, breathless.“Signora…boss is coming. I looked in the park, you’re not there.” She went looking for Rhea when she saw Dmitri.“It’s ok, Anya. I saw him already.” Rhea said.Anya looked at her in disbelief, but Rhea’s attention was on the hallway expecting Dmitri’s presence.It took a while before he actually got to her room. Maybe he stopped to have a talk with the doctor or some other person. “Devushka moya,” Dmitri said softly as he stepped inside.Rhea offered a tired smile, her hand instinctively moving to rest over her belly. “Hi.”He walked over, leaned down, and brushed a kiss on her forehead. “Ho
Rhea sat still, absorbing the weight of the information being thrown at her. Her mind raced, struggling to process the implications of it all. Her father’s death was barely a few weeks after her wedding to Adrian. Was it Dante’s doing? Dante never really bothered searching for who killed Enrico. He just said it was Adrian Vitale. Which was why he told her to remain in the Vitale household to spy on them and get information.He never planned for revenge because he did it himself. He just used her to try to strengthen his empire. If what he was planning had worked he would have succeeded in eliminating both Enrico, the one he had a grudge against, and the Vitales, his rivals in the business.Rhea blinked hard, her thoughts were in chaos. “If Enrico wasn’t Dante’s father…” she whispered, trying to piece it together. “That means…we aren’t related at all. I’m not even his sister.”She took a slow breath. At best, Dante would be her cousin. And Izzy…his half-sister since they shared a mo
“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
Adrian was back home early the next morning after spending the night with a woman he hadn’t bothered learning her name. He headed straight to his study, running his hand lazily through his hair. He preferred to start business early in his home office and then proceed to meetings later in the day. He had just relaxed into his chair when he heard a soft tap against the door.“Come in.”Antoinette stepped in, she was dressed in a tight dress and perfectly made up at that hour. “Buongiorno, Signor. Shall I make you breakfast?”Adrian glanced at her briefly, his face blank before giving a low nod.“Just coffee.”Her lips curved into a smile. She hesitated, lingering in the doorway longer than necessary. “Of course.”For months after Rhea’s death, Antoinette had been angling for Adrian’s attention. She would linger a little too long, her dressing just a little too tight. Even though she was an attractive woman, Adrian didn’t look at her twiceStill, maybe one day, she told herself. One
Luca leaned forward, voice low. “I heard something… from someone close to Dante Moretti. Word is Dante wants to propose a marriage alliance with Selene.”Adrian’s jaw clenched.“That’s why I’m bringing her up, fratello. If the Morettis and Bianchis merge, they might actually become a greater force. You know Dante, he doesn’t play fair when he wants power.”Adrian let out a slow breath and set his glass down with a soft clink.“Well,” he said, voice calm and deadly, “neither of them have the business volume we do. Even if they merge.”Luca raised a brow, unconvinced.“Our world of mafia now isn’t what it used to be,” Adrian continued,m. “It’s not about family ties or who killed who’s father anymore. It’s about money and wealth. Whoever has both, has power. And whoever has power… has control.”He leaned back, tapping Luca’s shoulder firmly. “We fucking rule Sicily and even beyond, fratello.”Luca smirked. “That’s true.”Adrian reached for his drink again. “Just gave Governor Ricci twent
“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
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
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