Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅"Are you sure you can pull that off?" I asked, my voice tinged with uncertainty."Of course, I'll make sure he notices me. It's not that difficult. Capo is here every single night," she replied confidently."The mansion, Gigi, you have to make sure he brings you here, nowhere else. If he suggests a hotel or an apartment, you have to convince him to bring you to the mansion," I whispered urgently, crouched behind the racks in our closet."I understand, Claire. I'll make sure he takes me to the mansion," she whispered back, her voice resolute.I chewed my nails nervously, unable to shake the feeling of apprehension that coiled in the pit of my stomach. "How long will it take before he decides to..." I trailed off, my voice barely above a whisper."We're the only women in his life," Gigi reassured me, her tone calm and steady. "He always comes here when he wants to relieve some of the stress of the job."I nodded, though she couldn't see me. "Okay, yeah, right..." my w

Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅With my cell phone in hand—the one Alessandro had given to me—I dialed Alessandro's number, all the while keeping a watchful eye on Salvatore, the blade of my knife still pressed against his throat. "But before I finish you off," I said with a cold smile, "let's have a few parting words with your most formidable adversary."I wasn't entirely sure about the extent of the technology used by the Chicago Outfit, but I had every confidence that Alessandro's expertise surpassed anything they could muster. After all, he had proven himself time and again to be one step ahead, his mastery of technology unmatched in our world. With Alessandro's skills at my disposal, there was little doubt in my mind that Salvatore's downfall was all but assured.He had developed a deep fake technology that could imitate a person's voice and face flawlessly. With just a handful of images of Salvatore, Alessandro could concoct a video of him engaging in... let's say, some rather compromising a

Claire⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅Blood... Blood stained my hands...Vincenzo's blood...I stared at the crimson stains, a sickening reminder of the violence I had unleashed. The weight of guilt pressed down on me, suffocating and relentless.I never intended for things to escalate like this. My plan had spiraled out of control, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.His brothers ripped him away from me as they took him to a hospital in a car while I remained alone, crumpled on the floor of his father's bedroom, the metallic scent of blood heavy in the air, clinging to my skin.I did this. It's my doing. I pulled the strings. I may not have pulled the trigger, but all this blood is on my hands.I never thought this plan could have such circumstances. How could I have been so blind, so foolish? The guilt gnawed at me, consuming me from the inside out.I had been so consumed by my desire to take down his father from his throne, so focused on tearing him down, that I had failed to consider the co

Vincenzo⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅The office was bustling with activity as men from around the world gathered, each one personally selected by Adriano for the meeting. They came without hesitation, showing their loyalty to our cause. Amidst the crowd, the heads of each family stood out, their presence a reminder of the power they held. Whispers of Dad losing his mind had spread like wildfire, evident in the worried and skeptical glances exchanged. The proof of it was etched on my chest and Dante's shoulder. I don't understand what the fuck was I still doing here.Lying in Claire's arms, I had thought it was all over for me, but evidently not. Someone had to be there for her, to take care of her.As I stood before the assembled crowd, a heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the sound of my own steady breaths. Addressing the gathered faces, I knew I had to speak the truth, no matter how difficult it was."It's time we faced the reality," I began, my voice cutting through the tension. "For

Vincenzo⋅•⋅⊰∙∘∘∙⊱⋅•⋅I pulled her closer, but she shook her head, a gesture that seemed impossible as I held her head firmly against my mouth.Parting slightly to let her breathe, I heard her whispered words, "We shouldn't, you're still healing.""Fuck that," I retorted, my voice low as I licked the delicious skin of her neck.She released a breathy laugh, her tone scolding. "No, Vincenzo! You got shot only two nights ago."Ignoring her protests, I sucked the skin of her neck into my mouth, biting down gently as I spoke. "Exactly, it was two nights ago. I'm fine now."Her breath hitched as I continued to lavish attention on her neck, but she gently pushed against my chest, her resolve unwavering."Vincenzo, stop," she insisted, her voice firm yet tinged with concern. "You need to rest and heal properly. We can't risk any complications.""Do I look like who cares about complications?"She gasped against my lips, momentarily caught off guard by the harshness of my kiss. Yet, slowly, her