Chapter 100 Matteo

I never thought getting ready for my wedding would feel like this. Not rushed. Not chaotic. Not like I was being shoved into a suit by half the family. Just… steady. Like the world had finally stopped spinning long enough for me to breathe.Wolf was fixing his tie in the mirror, muttering under his breath about how Kat was going to cry the second she saw Koda walk down the aisle. Salvatore was sitting on the edge of the bed, rolling his cuffs, pretending he wasn’t watching me out of the corner of his eye. I caught his reflection. He smiled. But it didn’t reach his eyes.Wolf clapped me on the shoulder. “You ready, Ricci?”“More than ready,” I said. And I meant it. “I’m marrying Ciara. And we’ve got a baby on the way.”Wolf grinned. “You deserve this, brother.”Salvatore’s smile tightened.That was the moment I knew something was off.I sat beside him. “Alright. What’s going on?”He blinked, surprised. “Nothing. I’m happy for you.”“Sal,” I said quietly. “Talk to me.”He looked down at

Epilogue 1 Ciara

A year changes everything. The villa is alive in a way it hasn’t been since last year when I first arrived, doors open, sunlight pouring in, voices echoing through the halls. The smell of rosemary, lemon, and fresh bread drifts from the kitchen, mixing with the sound of laughter from the garden.I stand on the balcony with Luca Cillian Ricci tucked against my chest, his tiny fist curled in my dress. He’s three months old now, all dark curls and Matteo’s serious eyes. He’s quiet, observant, always watching the world like he’s already trying to figure out where he fits in it. Below us, the chaos of family unfolds. Matteo and Wolf are “playing” soccer with Jace and Koda, though really, they’re letting Koda win. Jace, now sixteen and all legs and attitude, pretends he’s too cool to care, but he still laughs every time Koda steals the ball from him.Koda shrieks, “I scored! I scored!”Matteo clutches his chest dramatically. “He’s unstoppable!”Wolf falls to his knees. “We’ve been defeated

Epilogue 2 Matteo/Salvatore

MatteoFamily days like this are supposed to feel easy. Sunlight. Laughter. Kids running wild in the garden. Mama and Nonna arguing over who gets to hold Luca next. Ciara leaning into me like she was made for my arms. And it is easy. Mostly. Except for the part of me that keeps glancing toward the driveway.Salvatore should’ve been here by now. He didn’t fly in with Kat and Wolf. He didn’t send a text saying he landed. He didn’t even answer when I called this morning. The last time I saw him in person was months ago, before Luca was born, before Christmas, before Juan started stirring up trouble again.We talk on the phone, sure. But that’s not the same. And lately… he’s been different. Shorter calls. Longer silences.A tone in his voice I haven’t heard since we were teenagers and he was hiding something he didn’t know how to explain.Juan is part of it, I know that much. The bastard has been pushing into Kansas City again, trying to take advantage of the chaos Hector and Isolde left b

All Chapters of The Ricci Heir: Chapter 101 - Chapter 103

Chapter 100 Matteo

Epilogue 1 Ciara

Epilogue 2 Matteo/Salvatore