Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-One

DELUCAI stretched my legs across the coffee table in the dimly lit sitting room. The silence wasn’t peaceful—it was unsettling. The nightmares had started to fade, sure, but that gnawing emptiness inside me hadn't left. It lingered like a phantom, heavy and unexplainable.I glanced up.Lucas was behind the wine bar, rifling through my collection like he owned the damn place. Bottles clinked softly as he inspected one label after another, completely unbothered by the late hour—or the fact that I hadn’t asked him to stay this long.“When are you leaving?” I asked, my voice dry.“Huh?” Lucas glanced over his shoulder briefly, then smirked and returned to ransacking my stash. “Guess I’ll go with this one,” he said, holding up a bottle of Bordeaux like he'd struck gold.He poured two glasses and handed me one without waiting for a thank you. I took it, more out of habit than interest.But before I could take a sip, a familiar voice cut through the room like a blade.“I see you’re celebrat

Last Updated : 2025-08-08

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Two

ELENA The moment I heard the door creak open, I squeezed my eyes shut. The room was pitch black, but I still didn’t want the beam of light from the hallway to pierce through my thoughts. My hands were tied, so shielding my eyes wasn’t an option—closing them was all I had.I’d been left here since yesterday. No food. No water. My throat burned with thirst, but I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me beg.“Oh, what a show,” a familiar, mocking voice drawled. “The princess, all tied up.”Dante stepped into the room, his face lit with smug satisfaction. I noticed there were more men with him this time—his numbers had grown.“Let me guess,” he crouched so we were eye-level, his breath brushing my face, “you’re thinking your prince, DeLuca, is going to burst in here any second and save you.”I didn’t answer.“I hate to burst your bubble, but no one’s coming.” His smirk deepened.He reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair from my face. I leaned forward, ready to bite his han

Last Updated : 2025-08-09

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety- Three

DELUCA The drive to Dante’s place felt like it was dragging my nerves over broken glass. My hands were tight on the wheel, knuckles pale, every muscle in my jaw aching from the pressure. I kept replaying Sarah’s words in my head, her voice cracking when she said Elena hadn’t come home.Dante.The name alone made my blood boil.If he had her…No. I couldn’t go there. Not yet.By the time I pulled up to his villa, the gates were half open like an invitation I knew better than to trust. Two of his guards stood outside, stone-faced, pretending they weren’t already watching me from the moment I turned onto the street.“Where’s Dante?” I asked, my voice sharp enough to cut glass.One of them smirked. “Not home.”That smirk made my fist twitch, but I forced it down. Losing it here would waste time I didn’t have.I stepped past them, checking the place myself—empty. Not even the faintest trace of him. It was like he’d vanished into thin air. And knowing Dante, that was exactly the point.Bac

Last Updated : 2025-08-10

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Four

DELUCA I paced the room like a caged animal, each step echoing the pounding in my head. Across from me, Lucas sat hunched over his laptop, his fingers flying over the keys. His brows were knitted so tightly they looked carved in stone, and every few minutes he’d let out a quiet, frustrated sigh without even realizing it.That was all I needed to know — he hadn’t found a single lead.Every second we wasted here meant Elena’s chances slipped further into danger. And in Dante’s hands? That danger wasn’t just a possibility — it was a promise.I snatched my phone from the table and punched in Jaxon’s number.“Don,” he answered on the first ring.“Come inside. Now.”“Yes, boss.”Moments later, Jaxon strode in, eyes alert, waiting for orders.“Take three men — fully armed,” I said, my tone sharp and final. “Check these warehouse locations. If you see anything suspicious, you call me immediately.”I didn’t need to warn him not to storm in alone. He knew better — Dante’s men would outnumber t

Last Updated : 2025-08-10

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety- Five

ELENA Cold water slammed against my face, stealing the breath from my lungs. I jolted upright, choking, coughing so hard it felt like my ribs might crack. My skull throbbed like someone was hammering inside it, and then—like a cruel replay—I remembered the moment before darkness had swallowed me.Camila.That smug witch had struck me with a stick. Hard enough to drop me.“Welcome back, prodigal princess.”I forced my eyes open and looked at him. The spot where I’d bitten his left ear earlier was now hidden under a messy plaster. He grinned like he enjoyed wearing the wound.“Guess what?” Dante dangled his phone in the air with a sly smirk.The pounding in my head was so vicious I could barely string a thought together.“You’re making headlines,” he said, eyes gleaming. “Some fans are even praying for you right now.”His laugh was low and cruel, the kind that crawled under your skin.“There’s no way out of this one. No prayer, no miracle… nothing can save you from me.”He motioned to

Last Updated : 2025-08-11

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-Six

DELUCA The moment we kicked the doors open, chaos exploded.Gunfire tore through the air, shredding the silence into jagged pieces.I froze for just a heartbeat when my gaze locked on her.“Camila,” I breathed, the name tasting like poison.Of course she was here. I should’ve known she’d stoop to any length to hurt Elena.But then I saw Elena.She was tied to a chair, pale and weak, her hair tangled and face bruised. Dante loomed over her, a gun raised, his finger on the trigger. My blood turned molten.“Take him!” I roared. My voice was nearly swallowed by the chaos, but Lucas and two men moved instantly, flanking Dante and forcing him back with a storm of bullets.I was already at Elena’s side, tearing at the ropes around her wrists.“I’ve got you,” I muttered, my hands itching to scoop her into my arms and run.But she stopped me.Even in that fragile, battered state, she gave the faintest shake of her head and motioned for me to wait. Her trembling fingers reached for the gun at

Last Updated : 2025-08-13