151. The Safe Word

SOFIAAdrian and I sat down at the little table in my kitchen and ate dinner, after we’d finished making love the entire day and then cooking up some pasta and garlic, and whatever else I could pull together fast. Adrian watched me the whole time, as if he was trying to memorize all my small movements and every inch of my face. It made me feel ridiculous and safe at the same time, and I stopped to kiss him whenever I met his gaze while cooking. "So," he said in between bites, "are you worried about Don Vito's thing tomorrow night?"“I should be asking you that,” I replied. “You’re the one walking into the luon’s den.”“Trust me, Don Vito isn’t a lion,” he chuckled. “He’s more like a constipated kitten.”We both laughed at that, and he reached over and took my hand in his. I could tell that he was worried about me, even though I was the one losing my mind over him. If things went south tomorrow and Don Vito got the upper hand, Adrian would be in serious danger. But I wasn’t about to l

Last Updated : 2025-10-28

152. The Final Battle

ADRIANThe ride to Don Vito's estate felt too quiet. Sofia sat beside me with her legs crossed, staring out the tinted window while the driver cut through the dim Malibu streets. The night outside was calm, but I could feel the tension in the air. She looked beautiful in her black tights and those boots that made her look dangerous. Her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, but it did something to me. I'd been trying not to stare, but it was impossible.I shifted slightly, feeling the gun pressing against my ribs beneath the jacket. My mind kept drifting to what could go wrong, and all the ways this could end with both of us dead. But I didn't want her to see that. I wanted to look steady and composed, the way she always remembered me."You're quiet," she said softly, still not looking at me."I'm just thinking," I answered."About what?""About how bad this could go," I said with a dry laugh.She turned to me then, and her face was calm but her eyes were uneasy as she said, "You'

Last Updated : 2025-10-28

153. The Taste of Victory

SOFIAThe room was like a battlefield in a matter of seconds, and my lungs burned from the smoke that filled it. Bullets ripped through the air, shattering glass and tearing holes through the leather chairs. I dove behind the marble column near the wine cabinet, clutching my gun so tightly that my knuckles turned white. Adrian was on the other side of the room, crouched behind the piano and firing several shots that kept Don Vito's men pinned down."Left flank!" Adrian shouted, pointing over his shoulder as our eyes met. I swung out from cover and fired three rounds toward the guard who was trying to creep up on him. The man dropped instantly, his rifle clattering across the floor. Another one came at me from behind the bar, and I hit the ground just as his bullet grazed my arm. The pain was sharp and hot, but it didn't slow me down. I rolled to my stomach and aimed, then I shot him through the chest.Don Vito barked orders from behind his desk, and he was clearly furious and panicke

Last Updated : 2025-10-29

154. The Don’s Proposal

SOFIAI woke up gasping for air, my heart racing so fast it hurt. For a second, I couldn't tell what was real. Everything was wet and dark in my head as I imagined Marco's hands pushing me down, water filling my lungs, and his face hovering above mine with that same cruel grin I saw before I killed him. I shot up immediately, grabbing at my throat, and the sound that left me was like a half scream and a half sob.Adrian was already awake, sitting up beside me. He didn't ask what was wrong, because he didn't need to. He just pulled me against him and let me cry into his chest. His skin was warm and steady, and it reminded me that this was real, not the horrible nightmares I’d been having. I clung to him like I'd fall apart otherwise, while he kept whispering that I was safe, and that it was all over. But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself that that was true, I just couldn't shake the image in my head. I could still feel the cold water, and I could still feel Marco's fingers

Last Updated : 2025-10-30

155. The Wedding

SOFIAI sat in the dressing room silently, staring at my reflection in the mirror as the soft hum of music floated in from the reception hall downstairs. The makeup artist had left an hour ago, but I hadn't been able to move since. My wedding dress felt weightless, a simple off-white gown that hugged my body just right. And it felt so weird to think that I was about to get married. The sunlight streaming through the window made everything glow, but I still couldn't believe it was real. Three months ago, I was bleeding and shaking in Don Vito's mansion, wondering if I'd live long enough to see another sunrise. Now, I was marrying the man who'd stood beside me through every storm.Adrian had changed so much. After the chaos ended, he gave full control of the DeLuca organization to Matteo Rossi. He just handed it over like it was nothing, because to him, it was. He said he was done with the violence, and the blood and power struggles. He'd spent too many years fighting ghosts that neve

Last Updated : 2025-10-31

Epilogue

THREE YEARS LATERSOFIAThe ballroom lights shimmered above us, soft gold reflecting off the champagne glasses and polished marble floors. The hall was packed with senators, donors and reporters, all pretending to care more about policies than gossip. I stood beside Adrian, smiling as he shook another hand, the perfect picture of a polished congressman."Remind me again," I whispered as I leaned toward him, "who's reading Ariana her bedtime story tonight?"He grinned at me, not missing a beat while posing for a photo as he said, "You are, Mrs. DeLuca. You promised last night.""I’m pretty sure you bribed me with tiramisu," I muttered."I call it negotiation," he said, laughing as he finally turned toward me. "But if she insists on The Little Mermaid again, I'll take over.""You're damn right you will," I said, and he chuckled before leaning in to kiss me."I love you," he said softly."I know," I replied with a smug smile. "Now go and mingle before they think I'm keeping you hostage."