Alexander Vittorio POVAfter a shit night’s sleep in the foreign bed, I’m walking the perimeter of the estate to check for any vulnerable spots.Every time I come across a guard, I stop to introduce myself.I’m busy in the backyard when Luna, Viktor’s dog, comes trotting toward me.“Hey, girl,” I whisper. I pat her head before continuing to check the wall.“Are you taking over my job?” I hear Alexei call.Turning around, I wait for him to catch up with me, then he says, “I take a walk around the estate every morning.”“I’ll leave you be.”He shakes his head and nods for us to walk. “We can check the perimeter together.”Yesterday he said he wanted to spend some time together. Not knowing what to expect, my nerves twist in my stomach. The last thing I want to do is disappoint Alexei.We walk for a while, then he orders, “Tell me about yourself.”“Sir?” My gaze darts to him. “I’m sure you know everything about me.”“I know you’re the second son of Andre Vittorio, that you were good duri

Alexander Vittorio POVI’ve been in Brooklyn, New York for three months, and it already feels like home. I love working with Viktor, and getting to stay busy helps keep the demons at bay.But at night, they stream back in.Driving away from the docks where a shipment of weapons came in, I stop at a red light.“I don’t trust Brayden Kelly as far as I can throw the man,” Viktor mutters from the passenger seat.We had a couple of meetings with the arms dealer over the past two months.“Yeah, there’s something off about him,” I say as I watch the cars pass in front of us.“My gut tells me he won’t deliver.”“Your gut is probably right.”When the light turns green, I drive down the street. I glance to the right, and my eyes lock on a woman who’s holding a toddler's hand.The air wooshes from my lungs, and instantly my heart thunders in my chest.Anya.She disappears into a Starbucks.“Xander!” Viktor snaps just in time to stop me from driving into the car in front of us. “Jesus Christ.”“S

Anya Santini de Luna POVRosemarie forced me to drink a whole glass of sugar water.Vincent calmed down once he got to play with Roman again.Viktor is blocking the sliding door like a damn thundercloud, as if he’s scared I’ll try to make a run for it.I’m sitting on a couch next to Xander, and I have no idea what to say. I dreamed about this moment for years, but now that it’s happening, I don’t know what to do.I feel close to him but also miles away from him. It’s been four years.It takes Xander longer to recover from the shock of seeing me. Up until now, he hasn’t taken his eyes off me, but when Vincent lets out a burst of laughter, Xander slowly turns his gaze to his son.He tilts his head, and a frown forms on his forehead. “You have a child?”“Baby, let’s give them some privacy. Bring the kids,” Viktor says.I dart up from the couch, my eyes wildly flying to Vincent. “No, my child isn’t leaving my sight.”Viktor holds his hands up. “Okay.”“You have a child?” Xander asks again

Anya de Luna's POVMy God. Now it all makes sense. Rosemarie’s guards. The estate. All the freaking guards. I’m right in the freaking heart of the Bratva. Dear God, I can’t believe after being so careful, I let this happen!I run to Rosemarie’s house and burst into the living room, I go straight for Vincent. I grab him off the floor and swipe my handbag from the couch.“Mommy!” Vincent exclaims. “You made me drop my cars.”“Anya? Is everything okay?” Rosemarie asks just as Xander appears in the doorway.Feeling cornered, my eyes dart wildly between Xander, Rosemarie, Viktor, and Alexei.“Let me leave,” I beg. “I won’t tell anyone anything about the Bratva. I’ve kept quiet for four years. I have a child. Please, don’t hurt us.”“That’s enough!” Viktor snaps, and my gaze zooms in on him. He holds up a hand. “No one’s hurting anyone. Let’s all calm down.”The nightmarish two months of torture and starvation are all I can think of.“Mommy,” Vincent cries, rattled by the volatile situation

Anya de Luna's POVAfter I’ve taken the dishes to the kitchen and tidied up, I take a moment to clear my head.Getting to spend some time with us has calmed Xander down. It was very emotional watching him with Vincent, but at least that went well. Now I just have to figure out how to handle Xander so he doesn’t go all crazy on me again. That’s one thing about him that’s changed completely. When we were held captive, he was always the calm one, but now he’s borderline insane.I understand why, though. After suffering for months in that hellhole, he lost Marc Vincent and me. That would drive anyone over the edge. And now that he’s found me again, he’s like a man on a mission. It’s not that I don’t want to get romantically involved with him. It’s the Bratva and all the violence and danger that comes with the world he lives in that has me running for the hills.I have to think of Vincent. And I’m no longer a naïve eighteen-year-old. I have to think with my head and not my heart.But still