Romans de Yasmin

LARAI gripped my car keys a little too tightly as I stared at Hades. The tension between us was so thick it felt like it was pressing down on my chest."Come on, I’ll drive you home," I said, nodding toward my car parked a few spaces away. "We can talk."Hades shook his head instantly, not even considering the offer. "I’ll walk."I exhaled sharply, my patience wearing thin. "Seriously? Why are you acting like this?" I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "You have no reason to shut me out, Hades. My dad and I—" I stopped myself, frustration boiling over. "We helped you. We helped your mom. And now, when something’s obviously wrong, you’re pushing me away?"His jaw clenched, his shoulders stiff as if he were bracing for a fight. But instead of snapping back, he just looked away, like he didn’t even want to be having this conversation."It’s not about shutting you out," he muttered after a moment. "I just—" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "I just need to deal with it on my own."I

HADESI followed Mr. Zane into his office, the door closing behind me with a quiet thud. The room felt suffocating, the smell of old books and faint traces of coffee filling the air. Mr. Zane gestured for me to take a seat, his expression unreadable.“Take a seat, Mr. Giovanni,” he said, his tone calm but with an underlying sharpness that made me feel like I was being scrutinized under a microscope.I sat down, the chair creaking beneath me, and tried to keep my cool. I had no idea what this was about. The tension in the room was thick, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.Mr. Zane leaned forward, folding his hands together on the desk. He studied me for a moment, as if measuring his words carefully. “You’ve been walking around with bruises on your face, Mr. Giovanni. I assume you’re aware of that.”I stiffened. Of course, I knew about the bruises. I didn’t exactly have the luxury of avoiding them, not with the life I was living. But I wasn’t about to explain that

I felt so relieved when Mr. Zane told those policemen off. The tension in the air seemed to dissolve in an instant, like a heavy weight lifted from my chest. My heart slowed, and I dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, Hades would be okay. But that relief was short-lived when Mr. Zane turned to Hades and said those words."Follow me to my office."My stomach sank. I could feel my pulse quicken, the weight of the situation crashing down on me again. Why did Mr. Zane want him in his office? Was it something more than just a talk? My gaze flicked from Hades to the policemen, then back to Mr. Zane, whose face remained unreadable.Hades, for his part, didn’t resist. His expression was neutral, but there was something about the way he walked toward the principal’s office that made my insides twist. It was like he had already accepted whatever came next, like he knew this was another thing he had to deal with. But I couldn’t shake the fear that something bad was going to happen.I stood froz

HADESI had just finished texting Lara, her last message making me feel lighter than I had in days.Lara: “Of course. Meet at the courtyard?”Me: “Yeah. Can’t wait.”Lara: “Me either :)”Sliding my phone into my pocket, I headed to class, feeling like maybe things were finally falling into place. Life wasn’t perfect, but having her around made the weight I carried easier to bear. Between Lara, Marcus, and knowing my mom was finally in a safe place, I felt like I could handle anything.Until I heard the voice behind me.“Excuse me.”I turned to see two cops approaching, their expressions serious but calm. My stomach dropped.“Hades Giovanni?” the taller one asked.My entire body went rigid. “Yeah, that’s me.”“We need you to come with us.”My mind immediately raced through every possible scenario. My dad. It had to be him. Either he’d done something, or he’d found a way to drag me into one of his messes again.I swallowed hard, trying not to let the unease show on my face. “Why?”The s

LARA I was walking down the hallway, a slight bounce in my step. The past few weeks had been nothing short of amazing. Hades and I were finally in a good place, and I felt like nothing could ruin my mood. That is, until Hector decided to step in my way. He leaned against the lockers, blocking my path, with that smug grin plastered across his face. “Well, if it isn’t the school’s charity worker,” he sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. “Tell me, Lara, what’s it like slumming it with Hades? Are you trying to save him or something? Because, newsflash, you can’t.” I stopped in my tracks, narrowing my eyes at him. “Excuse me?” I said, my voice sharp. “What I do and who I care about is none of your business, Hector.” “Oh, but it is,” he said, crossing his arms. “You’re dragging our school’s reputation through the mud by parading around with someone like him. It’s pathetic, really. You’re way out of his league.” My fists clenched at my sides, but I refused to give him the satisf

HADES The door closed behind them, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the apartment was quiet. Not the suffocating silence of home, filled with tension and unspoken anger, but the kind of quiet that felt… peaceful. I turned to my mom. She was standing in the middle of the living room, her small frame looking even smaller amidst the new furniture. She ran her fingers over the edge of the couch like she couldn’t believe it was real. “Mom,” I said gently, stepping closer. She looked up at me, her eyes glassy but filled with something I hadn’t seen in years—hope. “Hades, this is… this is too much. They’ve done so much. That girl…” Her voice broke, and she shook her head. “That girl and her father—what kind of people just give so much without expecting anything in return?” I didn’t have an answer. “Good people,” I said simply. “People we’re not used to.” Her lips trembled as she sank onto the couch. “Do you think it’s okay for us to stay here? Do we deserve this?

ELENAI could feel Damian's gaze on me, heavy and intense, but I couldn’t meet it for long. I didn’t want to. There was so much confusion swirling in my chest, and I didn’t know how to express it. I wanted to be there for him. I did. But the weight of everything—the mafia, his father's death, the life he was now being forced into—it felt like a storm that was going to pull us both under.I didn’t want to be part of that storm.He needed me now, and that was what mattered. I could be with him tonight, stay close to him, offer him whatever comfort I could. But I had made up my mind. Once the dust settled, once the immediate chaos passed, I would leave. I couldn’t stay in this world. I couldn’t watch another man I loved fall victim to the dangers of it.My father had died because of this world, and I had watched him slowly sink into it—until there was nothing left of the man I loved. I couldn’t go through that again. Not with Damian.Damian’s voice broke through my thoughts, bringing me

DAMIANWhen Elena agreed to come with me, even just for tonight, a wave of relief washed over me. I knew it wasn’t easy for her. Hell, it wasn’t easy for me, either. But this—this was different. My father was gone, and that meant everything I’d ever known was about to change in ways I couldn’t even predict. I needed her with me. I needed her now more than ever. Even if she didn’t fully understand what was happening, at least I wouldn’t have to face it alone.We didn’t say much as we left the restaurant. Elena was quiet, her hand in mine, her fingers lightly brushing against my skin. I could feel the weight of her uncertainty, and I knew it mirrored mine. But I wasn’t going to let it show. Not now.I gripped the steering wheel harder than necessary as I sped through the streets, my mind racing. Every turn felt like I was driving further into a nightmare I couldn’t escape. The adrenaline of the drive pushed the confusion away for a while, but the reality kept creeping back in. My father

ELENAThe air between us had shifted in the last few minutes. Damian had that look in his eyes—the one that made my heart race a little faster, the one that made everything feel intense. I could feel the heat building between us, the space between us closing as the conversation turned from casual to something deeper, something that made my stomach flutter.I knew what I wanted. I had made up my mind long before tonight. Tonight, I was going to lose my virginity to Damian. He was the one I wanted, the one I always wanted, and after everything we’d been through, I didn’t care anymore.We had been together since I was fourteen, and he was sixteen. I remember how he used to look at me back then, like I was too young for him. He told me time and time again that I wasn’t ready, that we should wait. He was protective, almost too much so, but it was sweet in its own way.But now, I wasn’t a little girl anymore. I was ready. I was sure. And I wanted him, more than I had ever wanted anything el

DAMIANI watched Elena as she twirled her pasta around her fork, her eyes focused on the plate, but I could see the smile playing at the corner of her lips. She was trying to be all casual about it, but I knew better. When she was like this—sitting across from me, trying to act like everything was just normal—it meant she was either hiding something or she was too wrapped up in me to care about anything else."You're looking awfully serious over there," I teased, resting my chin on my hand and leaning forward a little. "What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?"Her eyes flicked up to mine, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. "Just thinking about how I'm being forced to eat this expensive food when I could be home with a bowl of cereal."I raised an eyebrow, my lips curling into a smirk. "Cereal, huh? You’re a classy one, Elena."She rolled her eyes dramatically, which only made her look more adorable. "Oh, don’t act like you don’t love it when I’m just a little bit o

Elena – Five Years Ago The late afternoon sun bathed the football field in a warm golden glow, the metal bleachers hot beneath my legs as I sat cross-legged, sketchbook balanced on my lap. Laughter and shouts echoed across the field as players ran drills, the rhythmic pounding of cleats against the grass filling the air. And then there was him. Damian Moretti. I didn’t need to search for him—my eyes always found him first. He was impossible to ignore, his tall, athletic frame moving effortlessly across the field, dark hair damp with sweat, his sharp jawline tense with focus. He was all confidence, all intensity, the kind of boy who walked through life as if he knew exactly where he was going, what he wanted. And right now, what he wanted was to score another touchdown. I smirked as I watched him weave through the defense, his speed unmatched. The moment the ball landed in his hands, he was untouchable. The other players lunged at him, but he was too fast, too smooth, dodgi