Lilianna»»»◈«««Uncle Emilio grabbed my arm, pulling me forcefully down the stairs. Panic surged through me as I struggled to keep up, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty. "But why?" I asked once more, desperation tainting my tone."Lilianna, I don't have time for your questions right now!" he snapped at me, his words sharp with frustration.I yanked my arm out of his grip, frustration boiling over. "What is it that you're not telling me?! Who took Gabriele?! Is it the same person you are hiding me from?!"He stared at me for a few moments before heaving a sigh, his expression softening slightly. "Everything I do is to protect you all. You, Samuele, and Gabriele—"I cut him off, tears burning at the back of my eyes, frustration, and anguish bubbling up inside me, I hadn't seen my little brother in two weeks, "YET YOU FAILED! Gabriele isn't here, he is just a child, Uncle, and he isn't here," I choked out, "Your enemies took him!" He jabbed a finger at himself, "My enemies?! I w

Lilianna»»»◈«««Rachel's gaze swept over me, her expression etched with a deep frown. Her eyes lingered on the soldier behind me before they were again drawn to me, to the slap marks on my face, the wounds on my wrists, and my disheveled appearance. The dried-up tears on my cheeks, and my swollen and puffy eyes."She appears to be in pain, she should see a doctor first," Rachel commented."She's in pain? Tough luck. No doctors. You have got a few hours to get her sorted, and I'll be waiting outside."Rachel shot him a disapproving glare but didn't argue. With a resigned sigh, she turned back to me, her expression softening slightly. "I'll take care of you," she murmured, more to herself than to me.She asked me to walk ahead of her as she took me inside her beauty salon. It was empty with no one but Marco's guards stationed outside at every entrance.The salon's atmosphere was oddly quiet, with only the faint sound of my footsteps echoing in the empty space. I was still wearing the s

Marco»»»◈«««"Lilianna Sofia Bruno, twenty-three years old, daughter of Sanrino Bruno," Alessandro said, his voice steady as he gave me the background check on Lilianna and her brothers. "She attended a prestigious high school in Miami before her father forcibly relocated her back to Naples. During her time in the US, she lived with her brother Samuele and her half-brother Grabriele, along with Emilio Bruno, their Uncle." Twenty-three? Twenty-fucking-three?! My blood boiled with rage. If she's twenty-three now, that means she must have been nineteen when I met her four years ago. My mind raced, piecing together the puzzle of her deceit. So she lied about her age, about her address. My fists clenched in anger. Threw away her phone the second she stepped out of my apartment, and then just fucking disappeared. The realization hit me like a sledgehammer, fueling the flames of resentment burning within me. Of course. What else would you expect from a woman of their family? I wonder what

Lilianna»»»◈«««Before I could even blink, his iron grip closed around my wrist, squeezing so tightly it felt like my bones might snap. A sinister grin crept across his face, twisting his features into a mockery of amusement, "Big mistake..." With a rough grasp, he hoisted me off the ground, his grip bruising my arms as he ignored my startled gasp. I clung to him out of necessity, the pressure of his hold leaving me no choice but to wrap my arms tightly around his neck as he walked towards the bedroom with purposeful strides.My eyes widened in terror, my throat dry with fear as he threw me onto the bed. The impact sent shockwaves through my body, almost bouncing me off the mattress from the sheer force of his actions. I scrambled onto my elbows, a surge of adrenaline fueling my movements as I hastily shuffled backward on the bed, putting as much distance between myself and him as possible.Panic seizing every fiber of my being as I recoiled from him. My breath came in ragged gasps.

Lilianna»»»◈«««Last night was a sleepless torment. The mere thought of Marco sharing the same bed kept me wide awake, staring at the ceiling with a sense of dread gnawing at my insides. Every creak of the bed, every rustle of the sheets, felt like an opening to another assault.I remained on edge, my senses heightened, listening for the slightest movement from his side of the bed. As his alarm went off, I kept my eyes closed, feigning sleep as Marco stirred awake. I listened intently as he went through his morning routine, the sound of his shower and the shuffle of his clothes punctuating the silence of the room. Only when I heard the click of the door signaling that he was gone did I dare to open my eyes, relief washing over me momentarily.With Marco out of the room, I finally dared to leave the bed, my limbs heavy with exhaustion. I dragged myself over to the closet, unsure if I even had suitable attire to wear in this unfamiliar place. Opening the wardrobe, I was greeted by its