Rhea, having fully discovered who she was now had a strong resolve which was to grow stronger than she already was and let the people who betrayed her feel her wrath. At this point, she knew she had to somehow take over Dmitri’s empire. She had earned his trust and had the knowledge of most of his business but she needed more than that to be an unstoppable force.If she decided to let him in on her secret, even though he would be willing to help her, she didn’t want to depend on anyone as it would mean her still being under his control. No.Rhea knew she couldn’t rely solely on manipulating Dmitri. He was powerful, but his world was limited to his own connections. To truly gain leverage, she needed her web of people, loyal to her, or at least useful to her goals. But she also knew she had to be patient; she couldn’t make any moves too quickly. Her new network had to grow under Dmitri’s nose, without attracting attention.The inner workings of the Russian mafia were similar to that
“You’re doing well, but remember, it’s “kak dela”, not “kak dela”,” Anya corrected gently, her Russian accent thick as she emphasized the difference between the two. “You must stress the ‘a’ sound properly.”Rhea frowned slightly, trying to form the word correctly. “Kak… dela?” She repeated it, her tone tentative.“Better,” Anya smiled, nodding in approval. “You are getting better every day.”Rhea leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms. “I think I might get the hang of this. I used to think Russian was impossible to learn.”Anya chuckled. “You are a fast learner, Madam Sofia. I’m impressed.”Rhea smirked. “I learn quickly when I have a good teacher.” She paused for a moment, eyes narrowing as she casually asked, “So, tell me, Anya… how long has Sergei been visiting you in secret?”Anya’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked up, panic flickering across her face. “What do you mean?” Rhea pulled herself forward to Anya “I’ve seen you both sneak
“Do you have everything in place?” Dmitri’s voice was low, demanding, as he held the phone to his ear.Rhea had just returned from her meeting with Yasha, a few other tasks completed, and as usual, Dmitri was busy with his plans. She made her way toward his study, where she heard him on the phone. He was speaking Russian so Rhea knew he was going to let her in because he assumed she didn’t understand the language. “Come in,” Dmitri said breaking his conversation to let Rhea in.Dmitri was standing by the window, phone pressed to his ear. His voice was firm and smooth as he spoke in a sharp rhythm of Russian.Rhea stood at the door, waiting silently as she listened, her ears catching bits of the conversation. She may not have understood every word, but the important parts were clear.“…the first shipment… millions… Vitales… arms deal… the boat will leave tomorrow…”The pieces fell together in her head. Thanks to Anya, her teacher.Dmitri was preparing to send a shipment of raw cash t
The Mercedes' leather seats creaked as Rhea settled into the back of the car after she met with the Private Investigator.Sergei, her new loyal driver, started the engine, pulling out smoothly from the curb.She leaned back as they drove through the city. Her thoughts flickered back to the meeting with the P.I. She’d given him the task, and now all she could do was wait. Her eyes shifted toward Sergei in the rearview mirror.“Sergei,” she said gently after studying his face for seconds.Sergei didn’t flinch at the sound of his name, his eyes focused on the road. “Yes, Signora?”“I know you drove Dmitri to the airport this morning to catch his jet to New York,” she said like she was asking.“Yes, Signora.” “Was he on the phone and did he say anything about the New York trip on the phone?”"Many calls, signora. Business." His Russian accent thickened with nerves. “What exactly about business, Sergei?” She added his name for a more personal touch. Sergei looked at her through the r
CHAPTER 90“You just signed your death warrant, Signora,” Vladikov said, his voice dripping with quiet menace.Rhea stiffened, her breath seizing.“What are you talking about?” she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady, hoping to God that Vladikov did not hear her phone call with Pietro.She had literally spilled her guts on the phone.Vladikov took a slow deliberate step toward her. His grin widened and it was dark and devilish.“You think I am deaf?” he snarled. “Or a fool ?”He lunged at Rhea, grabbing her wrists in a bruising grip.“I been watching your sweet little ass since day one,” he hissed, so close she could smell the stench of vodka on his breath. “Tonight, maybe I finally take what I want.”Rhea’s blood turned to ice, but she didn’t freeze.She had vowed to herself she wasn’t going to be a victim anymore. From being betrayed by family, to being shot, kidnapped, and sold like an item.Not this time, not ever.With all the strength in her, she jerked her arm free and ga
“Have you seen the pictures sent to you?” Rhea asked with a shaky breath.There was a light rustle on the other end. The sound of chairs moving and someone speaking faintly in the background. Then Dmitri replied in a low voice. “Hold on…been in a meeting…what pictures…”Then a sharp, vicious breath. “What the fuck,” he snapped.Rhea closed her eyes. Perfect. “What the hell happened Sofia? Who did this to you? Where did this happen?” It was as if Dmitri wanted to get all the information at once “It was Vladikov,” she said, her voice trembling. “He…he tried to…“ “I don’t get it,” Dmitri cut in, enraged. “What did Vladikov fucking do to you, Sofia?”Rhea broke into a sob. “He attacked me while I was in the garden…”“I swear I’ll rip him apart with my own hands,” he growled.“I fought him off, Dmitri.”“Where’s he right now? Tell me he’s fucking dead,” his voice thundered.“He’s in the holding cell in the basement.”“Why does he still breathe? First thing tomorrow, I’m on my way bac
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
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
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