جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 100

Vito’s barefoot pressed furiously against the polished marble of the cold ground of the elevator, as it descended, his heart beating so fast for the safety of Ortensia.Fear gripped his throat like a vice. He didn't do fear, he dealt in absolute control. But the those words from Rico, had shattered that control in an instant. When Vito rounded the corner and burst into the kitchen, the sight that met his eyes made him skid to a halt, the heavy iron grip of his handgun lowering slightly.Rico was standing over a groaning figure pinned to the tiled floor, his knee pressed hard into the intruder's back. Standing a few feet away, leaning heavily against the granite kitchen island, was Ortensia.Her chest was heaving, her dark hair wildly disheveled, and her eyes wide with a fear.Vito closed the distance between them in three long strides, his eyes frantically scanning her body for any signs of injury. He let out a long, shuddering sigh of pure relief, reaching out to cup her face with h

Vito’s pulse hammered against his neck, a rhythmic thud of pure, unadulterated rage. He had spent years building a fortress that was supposed to be untouchable, yet today, it had been breached. Worse, the woman he loved… the one person he had tried to keep out of the filth of his world had become a pawn.She was the center of a jagged chessboard where her ghost of a father and the serpent Ricardo were moving pieces he couldn't see.He reached his bedroom door and shoved it open, the heavy door thudding against the stopper. He didn't turn around as he heard the frantic click of Ortensia’s heels behind him."I want to be alone, doll," he growled, his voice vibrating with a warning he hoped she would heed.He stood by the window, staring out at the darkened grounds where his men were still sweeping the perimeter."No," Ortensia snapped, the door slamming shut behind her. "You are fucking out of your mind if you think I’m just going to sit in a corner while your enemies try to kill me."

“It’s okay,” Ortensia said softly, her voice breaking the tension. “I’m also sorry for what I said yesterday. I shouldn't have accused you of using me as bait. I know you would never endanger my life like that.”She reached out, her fingers grazing his sleeve. Vito looked down at her hand, his expression unreadable, before he stood up from the chair.“It’s okay, doll. I’m not mad at you,” he said.It was only then, as he stood up that Ortensia noticed his clothes. He wasn't wearing his lounging robe or the casual shorts he usually wore. He was dressed in a charcoal trouser, with a black shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He looked like he was dressed to go out.“Are you going somewhere?” she asked, a small pit of sadness forming in her stomach. After the chaos of the previous day, the thought of him leaving the mansion felt like a breach in her safety net.“I’m going clubbing with a few other gangs,” he replied, checking the gold watch on his wrist. “A neutral ground meeting for busines

Vito was a shell of himself… a man haunted by a ghost he had created in a moment of weakness.He stepped through the doors of the mansion. He was hungry, the kind of hunger that gnawed at your stomach when your mind was too busy racing to remember the last time you ate.He bypassed the living areas and headed straight for the dining room.The table was set with the usual perfection. Silverware gleamed against the dark wood, and a spread of roasted meats and seasoned vegetables sat in the center. But the steam had long since vanished.The oils had congealed on the surface of the sauces, and the bread was starting to harden. It had been sitting there for a long time.Vito pulled out his chair, the screech of the wood against the floor sounding like a scream in the silent house. He sat down and piled a plate high, forced a few bites into his mouth, but they tasted like ash.He kept glancing at the door, expecting Ortensia to sweep in with that defiant tilt of her chin, demanding to know

The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on as Eleonora brushed past Vito, her shoulder glancing off his in a move that was purely intentional.She stepped into the mansion, shaking the rain from her hair like a cat that had just claimed a new territory. Vito didn’t even look at her, his eyes were glued to Ortensia. She looked so small standing there in that oversized robe, but her voice had carried the weight of a judge passing a sentence.Vito didn't wait for Eleonora to settle. He turned on his heel and followed Ortensia as she retreated toward their master suite, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He shut the door behind them."What the hell was that, doll?" Vito demanded, his voice a low, vibrating growl. He paced the length of the rug, his hands shoved deep into his pockets to keep them from shaking."Why would you invite that woman into this house? Why would you ask her to come in?" He asked.Ortensia didn't look at him. She walked over to the window