Semua Bab THE DEVIL’S CHOKEHOLD : Bab 1 - Bab 10

I got off the phone with Leonardo, my best friend, business partner and sank into a chair, exhaling deeply. I had come to Italy from Spain to handle some urgent business, and finally, it was done. Like the understanding man he was, Leo had given me a few days off, and I couldn’t be more grateful. And yet, even with time to breathe, she still found a way into my mind. I sighed, resigned. There was no winning when it came to her. Not that I’d ever admit defeat. I was strong. She was strong. I didn’t need to spend my time off worrying about her reckless ass. And yet… My fingers moved before I could stop them, checking for any news on her. The moment I realized what I was doing, I dropped the phone as if it burned me. Disgusted, not with the device, but with myself. I grabbed the joint from the table and lit it up, inhaling deeply, waiting for the familiar release. But it wasn’t enough. Before I could overthink it, I picked up my phone again and dialed Jenny’s number, relieved wh

Rob’s POV I silently cursed under my breath when the doorbell rang. What the fuck was I doing? I stormed past Bianca’s friend at the door, not giving a shit about whatever drama I was about to leave behind. She was safe now. My job was done. I had no reason to be here anymore. I yanked my car door open, ready to drive off and forget this whole night ever happened, but something stopped me. A glint, subtle, barely noticeable, but there. My gut twisted. Sniper scope. My gaze darted up to the window across the street. There it was again, a slight movement, the unmistakable outline of a rifle. I wasn’t the only one who noticed. The security guard stiffened, eyes wide with realization. But I didn’t give a damn about him. I turned on my heel and ran back into the house. The second I burst through the door, my brain barely registered what I was seeing. Bianca, standing there, tangled up with her friend. Kissing. What the fuck? It was a split-second thought, one I didn’t have

I watched as he put some distance between himself and Bianca before pulling out his phone. “Hold it off. She’s… interesting. I’ll handle this differently,” he said, his gaze lingering on her, dark with something I could only describe as hunger. I cursed under my breath. Bianca was the devil, but somehow, this man—someone dangerous, someone who either was a killer or knew too much—was intrigued by her. My gut screamed that he murdered his father and the woman next in line for the firm. If he saw Bianca as a threat, he wouldn’t hesitate. He’d kill her without a second thought. And I couldn’t let that happen. I owed it to my best friend to protect his infuriating, insufferable, tempting sister. Could he be the one who sent the shipper? “Yeah,” he said into the phone, his smirk sharpening. “I think I’ll take her out. A date or two. Get close.” Then he ended the call. I exhaled sharply, rubbing my hands over my face. Fuck! Here I was, monitoring her every move through the h

BIANCAI drove through the gates and tossed my keys to my security, not bothering to wait for a response. A woman I barely knew had invited me to a bonfire event, something her colleagues from the hospital had put together. Apparently, she’d heard about my single status and was determined to “fix” it with some of her top recommendations.Like I needed a damn matchmaker.“Bianca! I didn’t think you’d make it,” Veronica said, pulling me into a warm hug.After the stunt Roberto pulled at my date? Like hell, I wouldn’t show up.“I think I underestimated how much I needed this,” I replied smoothly, keeping the real bitterness out of my tone.A small, nagging part of me questioned why I was even bothering. Why go fishing for suitors when a mad psychopath out there was convinced every man breathing near me was a threat? Paranoid narcissist. Just because my brother and his best friend thought no one was good enough for me didn’t mean I was going to die single.“Tell me about it. Work is stres

ROBI should have left.Should have walked away the second I saw her pulling that weak little fucker toward the keg, giggling like she actually wanted to be here.But I didn’t.I stood in the shadows, watching, my hands stuffed in my pockets as Bianca poured shot after shot down her throat like she was trying to drown something.Or someone.Me.She knew exactly what she was doing. She knew I was watching. She knew I wouldn’t fucking let it happen.So when that bastard smiled at her—when he fucking smiled and acted like he had a chance—I did what had to be done.One hit.That was all it took.The guy collapsed like a sack of shit, his glasses flying off his face.And the whole bonfire?Silent.No gasps. No screams. No one running to help him. Just that eerie, heavy silence, like everyone here knew exactly who I was and exactly what I was capable of.Good.I exhaled, flexing my fingers, shaking out the tension in my knuckles.“Are you out of your fucking mind?”I barely had time to reac