Lahat ng Kabanata ng Bound by blood and lies: Kabanata 161 - Kabanata 170

matteo's POVEmilio sat frozen in his grand chair, sweat beading on his temple, the IV drip dropping softly beside him. Eli sat across from him, tense, barely breathing. And Luca… Luca stood like the Devil’s shadow ready to drag Emilio's soul to hell.“Start talking, Emilio,” Luca said. “Now.”Emilio exhaled slowly like the weight of decades settled on his chest.“There are things… I kept hidden,” he rasped. “Things not even your father knew, Matteo.”“What?!” Dario screamed but we paid him no mind.Emilio continued, “Things Luciano Moretti died to protect. Things that… can’t stay buried any longer.”I tensed, arms crossed, forcing the fury down as my mind raced.“I knew you were hiding something,” Luca murmured. “But this? What the hell are you talking about?”Emilio closed his eyes briefly, his face turning pale. Then he opened them, dark and hollow.“The Confessor,” he whispered.The room froze.Even the guards behind us shifted, glancing at each other. That name... it sent a chill

Eli's povI spent the past couple of days sulking in my room.I was lying on the bed, flipping through the pages of some book I wasn’t even reading, when the door creaked open.I didn’t have to look up. I knew that quiet footsteps anywhere. Luca. And right behind him… the sharper, careless sound of boots striking the floor. Matteo.“Still sulking, Eli?” Matteo's voice was low, rough like gravel. The kind of sound that made my stomach tighten in warning and dark anticipation.They have been non stop touching since that day.I set the book down carefully, my throat dry. “What do you want?” I asked, forcing the edge into my voice that always made them smile. I liked the fire between us. So did they.We were ignoring the obvious tension that lay outside my door.For now at least.Luca came to the side of the bed, dressed all in black, his cold gaze raking over me. No words. Just that look. Matteo, on the other hand, stalked closer and grinned like the devil let loose.“We want to remind y

Matteo's povI knew the moment Eli told us about Prague that the clock had started ticking.A way to save him. To finally rip that chip out of his head without blowing him to pieces.It was hope and a death sentence if anyone else found out.Which was why Luca and I said nothing when Emilio appeared at breakfast the next morning, looking far too relaxed for a man who’d just been shot in the wrist hours earlier."Sleep well, principessa?" Emilio purred at Eli, sliding into the chair opposite him, like he hadn’t been raging twelve hours ago.Luca’s hand twitched beside me on the table, his thumb brushing the blade hidden under his sleeve. His expression was calm, lazy even but I knew better. He was tense, ready to strike.Eli didn't answer. His eyes flicked to me, hesitant and questioning.I gave him the slightest shake of my head.Not yet.Not here.Emilio grinned, pouring himself coffee. "Big plans today, boys? A little sightseeing? Or are you staying close, like good pets?"Luca smil

Eli's POVDust was ass I could see as we sped out.Matteo didn’t let off the gas. His knuckles were white on the wheel, jaw clenched, eyes wild with adrenaline. The night was anything but peaceful, trees flying by in a blur of shadows and leaves. Behind us, the burning fury of the Rossi estate could be heard and seen as they gave chase."They’re still coming!" Luca shouted, twisting to fire through the shattered back window.Gunfire filled the air like fireworks around us as bullet hit the glass, frames and even one of the side mirrors got destroyed."Who the hell are these guys?" I yelled."Emilio’s personal guards," Ricardo barked, crouched low in the front seat. "He must’ve joined the pursuit himself!"Sure enough, a black, expensive and fast car swerved into our rearview, cutting off one of his men and gaining in on us fast. A flash of silver caught the moonlight.The Rossi family crest."Goddamn it," Matteo growled. "He’s in the car. I know that bastard’s driving."More shots wer

Eli’s POVIt was calm. I had spent so much time in the chaos over the past year that I had forgotten how peaceful the silence could be.There was no shouting.No gunfire.No roaring engines or crunch of metal.Only the gentle lap of water against the boat’s sides. The low hum of the motor as we drifted deeper into the dark sea.Peace.Or something close to it.I sat on the deck, knees pulled up, head against the wooden rail as the cool breeze and saltiness of the sea kissed my face. My temple throbbed beneath fresh bandages—courtesy of Luca and Ricardo’s rough first-aid skills—but I could breathe. I could think.Even if I didn’t want to.My mind swam with images I couldn’t shake.My mother.Evangeline.Alive. Beautiful. Terrifying.Watching me from the dock as we slipped away like ghosts.I closed my eyes, pressing my head against my knees.I should’ve said something. I should’ve screamed at her. Or begged her to stay away. Begged her to stop. Or—God—I didn’t even know."Hey."A soft