Lilianna»»»◈««« He shot a furious glare back towards the dining hall. "What the fuck was that? Are you fucking five years old? He insulted your family, and you smashed his dinner into his face?!" he nearly shouted, his eyes blazing with anger.I stayed quiet, meeting his glare with one of my own. He didn't bother to ask if there was a reason behind my actions, just jumped straight to labeling me as angry and irrational. He didn't even bother to ask for my side of the story."I won't tolerate this kind of behavior, Lilianna," he said, his voice low and controlled, but there was an undercurrent of warning in his tone. "You embarrassed me in front of my guests." He stepped closer to me, the floor seemed to vibrate beneath his weight, drawing my attention to his powerful presence. I couldn't help but notice the subtle flex of his jaw, the way his muscles rippled beneath the fabric of his suit, tailored to perfection. His scent, a heady combination of cedarwood and musk, enveloped me. I

Marco»»»◈«««Parking my car, I headed straight into the gym. A few of our men had been attacked in Rochester by the FBI this morning, they had brought them in for questioning, we buried the matter before it spiraled out of control.I spotted Niko in the ring, fighting with Alessandro, while Evangeline sat in the corner, gently caressing her bump as she watched her husband. I couldn't help but stare at her for a few moments, my mind drifting to thoughts of Amy. She had always wanted two children, two. I found myself wondering how she would have looked pregnant.Allegra was walking on the treadmill, and Scott stood beside her, watching her closely so he'd be there to hold her if she slipped or fell. He was protective of her more than ever as he got to know about her pregnancy as well. Delilah was sitting on Lorenzo's back as he did push-ups, her arm was still in a plaster cast. In the corner, Aurora and Massimo played, they had fake guns and were pointing at one another. When Aurora s

Marco»»»◈«««I waited for her in the bedroom, taking a seat on the armchair. A sense of deep aversion with my own self ghosted underneath my skin. How could I even let this fucking happen?! Every fiber of my being recoiled at the thought of her, of what she represented – she represented her father, her entire family. The family that killed our men, women, and children in cold blood at a moment of celebration when we were off our guard. I clenched my fists, the anger simmering just beneath the surface threatening to consume me whole. How could I have allowed myself to fall prey to her wiles, to her deceitful charms? The very idea filled me with a bitter resentment, a self-directed fury that burned hotter than any flame.But even as I raged against her, a part of me knew the truth I wasn't ready to acknowledge. The memories of her betrayal, of the sins of her family, clashed violently with an inexplicable longing, a hunger that defied reason. I cursed under my breath, hatred warred

Lilianna»»»◈«««To my surprise, Marco's parents defied my expectations. Despite the strained history between our families, they welcomed me with open arms, showing no signs of animosity or resentment. Not a single mention was made of whatever happened in the past, not even the incident at Marco's wedding. It was as if they were determined to leave the past behind and accept me into their family with open arms. As we sat down for dinner, Marco's father, Mario Costello, repeatedly tried to call him, but Marco ignored every single call, his father's face flushed red with anger."We've been looking forward to the day when Marco would settle down, and I'm really happy that it's finally happened," Amalia Costello said, her eyes shining with pride. Settle down? I mulled over the phrase, feeling a twist in my gut. It sounded so normal like we were some average couple planning a white picket fence future. But reality was far from it. Marco and I weren't settling into cozy domesticity. No, ou

Lilianna»»»◈«««Ignoring their conversation, Marco forced me forward, his grip on my elbow tightening as he steered me in the direction of the bedroom. With each step, I resisted, digging my heels into the ground and trying to break free from his grasp. But Marco's strength was overpowering, and I stumbled forward, feeling the cold dread of agitation settling in the pit of my stomach.Glancing over my shoulder, I caught sight of Samuele standing there, his eyes fixed on me with a mixture of concern and apprehension. Marco swung open the bedroom door, shoving me inside before slamming it shut and locking it from the outside. Panic surged through me as I grasped the doorknob and attempted to turn it, but it refused to budge, he had locked me in. Tears streamed down my face as I lowered myself beside the door, overcome by a rush of emotions. Seeing my brother again had thrown me for a loop, making it impossible to think straight. All I could do was sit there, feeling lost, thinking of