DEATH~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I move like a predator—silent, calculating. My fingers grip the gun, safety off, aimed directly at the head of the poor bastard on the other side of the door.The handle turns.The second the door cracks open, I raise my gun."Cristo Santo!"(Holy Christ)Mario freezes, his hands flying up in surrender. A cigar dangles between his fingers, his signature cocky smirk playing on his lips.“Sei impazzito, fratello?” (Have you lost your mind, brother?) he drawls, amusement laced in his voice.I exhale sharply, lowering the gun. My pulse is still a hammer against my ribs.“Mario,” I growl, shoving the gun back into my waistband. “You picked the worst fucking time to show up.”Mario grins, stepping inside like he owns the place. “And yet, here I am. Alive and well.” He takes a slow drag of his cigar, exhaling a cloud of smoke before flicking his eyes past me.That’s when he sees her.Lauren.She’s standing in the dim light, her body stiff, her eyes still wide from the
SHADE OF THE PAST ~ALEXANDRO’S POV~The name on the screen sent a slow, burning rage curling through my veins. Father. Luca’s father. Which meant one thing—he knew.Mario and I exchanged a look, assumed understanding passing between us. He breathed out sharply, running a hand through his hair. Julio, ever unfazed, simply knelt beside the body and plucked the phone from Luca’s pocket with a gloved hand. The ringing stopped. “What do you want to do?” Mario asked, his tone quieter now. I turned to Lauren. She was watching. Frozen in place. Her hazel eyes—wide, glassy, too full of emotions I couldn’t afford to deal with right now. I’d thrown her into this world without warning. Without preparing her.That was my mistake. I stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. My fingers lingered against her cheek, feeling the way her breath hitched. “Amore,” I murmured. “Go with Julio.” She shook her head. “No.” “Lauren.” My voice came out rougher than I intended.
NIGHT OF TERROR~LAUREN’S POV~The gunshot broke the air like a whipcrack, sending my body into survival mode before my mind could catch up. Julio moved fast. Faster than I thought possible for a man his age. He yanked me down, shielding me as the windshield shattered, spraying glass everywhere. “Run, ahora! (Run, Now!)” he barked. I hesitated for only a second—just long enough to see the men advancing, their guns aimed at the car. Then I bolted. The heels of my shoes sank into the soft earth as I ran toward the tree line, my breath coming in sharp gasps. The sound of bullets rang behind me, followed by Julio’s return fire. I didn’t dare look back. Branches scraped my arms as I pushed deeper into the woods, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs. Think, Lauren. Think.I had no phone. No weapon. No idea where I was. All I knew was that these men weren’t here by accident. They were here for me. A twig snapped behind me. I spun just in ti
DO NOT BELONG.~LAUREN’S POV~The water was warm, almost burning, but I didn’t mind. I let it rise around me, the heat sinking into my skin, easing the tension in my muscles. The effect of tonight, of everything, felt lighter in the water.Steam curled around me, blurring the edges of the dimly lit bathroom. The villa was quiet—too quiet. It left too much space for my thoughts, for the replay of gunshots and blood and Alexandro’s voice telling me to leave.I leaned my head back against the tub’s edge, breathing out slowly, my body finally beginning to relax.Until I felt it.The weight of a stare.My lashes fluttered open, and there he was—standing in the doorway.Alexandro.He was freshly changed, the crisp white shirt hanging loose over his chest, sleeves pushed up to his forearms, exposing the ink winding over his skin. His dark hair was damp, still wet from his shower, a single drop of water tracing the sharp angle of his jaw before disappearing beneath his collar.He looked li
I WANT TO GO HOME~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I poured myself a glass of scotch, letting the burn of it settle deep in my chest, but it didn’t do a damn thing to silence the words echoing in my head. ‘I want to go home.’Of course, she does. Of course, she wants out of this mess—out of my world, out of my reach. And I should let her. Hell, I should be the one pushing her away. But the thought of her leaving? Of her walking away from me for good? Yeah. That shit sits heavier than any drink ever could. A voice cuts through my thoughts. “I guess we’re drinking tonight.” Mario. I don’t turn right away, just take another slow sip, staring at the fire. “I thought you left.” He steps closer, dragging out a chair across from me. “I was going to.” He flicks his cigar, watching the ashes fall into the tray. “But your father is a persistent son of a bitch, and I figured I’d stick around. Besides, I’m too damn tired to drive.” Mario scans the bar, wrinkling his nose at my drink. “Still dro
CRAZY FIRST DAY ~LAUREN’S POV~It still surprised me that Alexandro let me go back home. Well… it took a lot of arguing, some pleading, and a whole lot of ignoring him before he finally gave in. But of course, it came with a price. I bit my lower lip as I sat in the back seat of the sleek black car he'd sent. I wasn’t expecting a car. And definitely not this car. It screamed wealth. Power. A warning wrapped in luxury. And it came with two guards. According to Alexandro, my safety came first. He said he didn’t know when his father might make another move, and he wasn’t about to take that risk again. And honestly? After what I experienced… neither was I. Nightmares had been my new normal. And this—this was the price of being in Alexandro Lex Castello’s world. The car pulled into the parking lot of Storm Publishing. I took a deep breath, grabbed my bag, and stepped out. So did the guards. I froze and turned around, brows furrowed. “What are you doing?” I asked, alrea
IF SHE DIES, I BURN~ALEXANDRO'S POV~I should have never let her leave. But three days of silence. Three nights of her body in my bed but her eyes somewhere else. She didn’t yell. She didn’t cry. She simply shut down, and somehow, that was worse than if she’d put a bullet through my heart. So I let her go. Home. Work. Routine. Normal. As if any of this shit was normal. But I’d be damned if I let her walk away unguarded. Still—sending guards wasn’t enough. My gut twisted like something was off. So when Mario called about a body down by the docks, I knew. My father was sending a message. The sea crashed violently against the rocks as I stood at the edge of the coast, the salt biting the air. The sky was gray. Fitting. Mario stood beside me, smoke curling from his lips like he was waiting on a goddamn dinner date. His leather coat billowed in the breeze, and he didn’t even flinch as the body was hauled from the rocks.“You really didn’t have to call me for this,” I mutte
WELCOME BACK, MISS TRENDING ~LAUREN'S POV~I watched as the company’s security made their way toward Ethan, Antonio, and Luca. Eyes followed them—then flicked to me. The murmurs started before I could even react. My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag as I instinctively bowed my head, heat creeping up my cheeks.Why was Ethan suddenly acting out? Why now?Antonio had finally lowered his hand from Ethan’s chest, and Luca was already deep in conversation with one of the guards, trying to smooth things over. I exhaled a shaky breath and took a step forward, weaving my way to Ethan, who stood stiffly, still glaring at Antonio like he wanted to punch something—or someone.Antonio tried to say something to me as I passed, but I shot him a sharp look.No. Not now. He might’ve been following Alexandro’s orders, but that didn’t give him the right to decide who could or couldn’t speak to me. I wasn’t some precious doll to be guarded every second.He stepped back, sensing my irritat
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.~LAUREN’S POV~“So, let me get this straight,” Sophia said, twisting toward me in the back seat like she had not just spent the last ten minutes making soulful eye contact with Luca through the rearview mirror. “We’re breaking into your ex’s office to look through his files. On a Friday night. Wearing lip gloss.”“Yes,” I said. “And for the record, we’re not breaking in. I have my access card. This is technically still above board.”“Right. Above board. Legal. Super classy,” she muttered, flicking a glance at Luca. “Just like your driver here. What's his name again? Luca? Or Tall, Dark, and Possibly Packing?”“I can hear you,” Luca said from the front, eyes still focused on the road….but the edge of his mouth twitched. I saw it.“Just making sure your ears work,” Sophia joked, crossing her legs like a Bond girl. “You do have nice ones, by the way.”Luca said nothing.But he adjusted the mirror, To look at her. I choked on air. Sophia gave me a little shrug like, o
SONG PLAYED: “Do It For Me” by Rosenfeld.BLOOD ON MY HANDS ~ALEXANDRO’S POV~FLASHBACK: The Castello mansion smelled like fresh lilies and betrayal the night Leonardo came home. A whole month away for business, and no one thought to clue me in on what kind of business needed my stepfather to disappear like a ghost and reemerge with an even darker flash in his eye.I was sixteen. Old enough to know how to cock a gun, but still too young to be trusted with the real kind of power…the type that ruined men, that turned blood into currency and truth into collateral.Leonardo said I had ambition. Said I had ‘the makings’. Said I reminded him of himself. That should’ve been the first red flag.The house was too quiet when we came back from boarding school. The kind of quiet that clings to your skin and whispers that something’s wrong, even if you can’t name it yet.I was halfway down the hall, steps light, heart unbothered, until I saw him. Standing outside the master bedroom. Watchi
SONG PLAYED: “Who Do You Want” by Ex habit.THE MONSTER YOU MADE.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I made my way to the bar like a man with all the time in the world and none of the patience.The crystal decanter waited, filled with the kind of aged scotch that bit like betrayal and soothed like a lover’s lie. My fingers wrapped around the neck of the bottle. I poured two glasses like I had a goddamn degree in it.Behind me, Mario sank into the couch with the dramatic flair of a man who survived everything but therapy. Julio stood by the door like a statue carved from loyalty and nightmares.“Drink?” I offered, holding up the bottle.Mario flashed me a smirk that said fuck it and leaned back like he owned the room. “Pour away, Prince of Pain.”I chuckled under my breath. The bastard was insufferable. Still, I liked him better than most people I did not fantasize about strangling.I walked over with the glasses and handed him one. “Here, asshole.”He took it, eyes twinkling with mischief. A cigar al
SONG PLAYED: “We Can’t Be Friends” by Ariana GrandeTHE GOSSIP WE TALK ABOUT ~LAUREN’S POV~The door swung open like she had been waiting behind it all night, which, let’s be honest…she probably had.Sophia stood there in a faded band tee and leopard print boxers, holding a glass of wine like it was a weapon and I had just interrupted her murder documentary binge.“You look like you just escaped a rich person’s breakdown,” she said, eyeing me from head to toe.“Technically, I did,” I muttered, stepping inside. “Also, this apartment still smells like coconut and emotionally unavailable men.”She shut the door with her hip. “Thanks. It’s the candle and my taste in exes.”We made it to the couch before I collapsed like my bones were optional. She handed me a fresh glass of wine and a stare that said talk or I will make you.“So…” she dragged the word like a slow, sexy murder. “You slept with him, didn’t you?”I choked on the Merlot. “Can we at least say hi first?”“Oh, hi. Now tell me a
SONG PLAY: “28” by Ruthie B (Dawn Lewis)THIN ICE ~LAUREN’S POV~“Can we talk?”I didn’t look up right away. I knew that voice. I could pick it out in a room full of demons. Patrick.Slowly, I lifted my gaze from my laptop, arching one brow with all the grace of a woman who used to care, but now only keeps receipts.Vanessa paused mid-flirt on her call, eyes darting between us with that ‘what-the-hell-is-this’ look. I ignored her.Instead, I flicked my gaze to Luca.He was already moving, jaw set, posture rigid, like he was seconds away from turning Patrick into a lesson. I gave a quick shake of my head.Stand down.But the men Alexandro assigns to me? Yeah. They don’t exactly stand down. They loom. With guns. And bone-melting cheekbones.Patrick raised both hands, surrender style. “I just want to talk, Lauren. That’s it.”I stood up, straightening my skirt and pretending like I hadn’t just fantasized about drop-kicking him into next week.“I hope it’s something worth hearing,” I sna
THE ART OF BREAKING ~LAUREN’S POV~A normal person would’ve walked away. Heard what I heard, packed up their pride, and got the hell out.But I’ve never been good at walking away. Especially not when the wolves were circling. Especially not when I knew my name was already sitting pretty on Rosette Goldberg’s revenge list, underlined in red, probably scented with Chanel No. 5 and malice.Now here I was, stuck in the middle of a meeting that felt more like a firing squad.“Earth to Lauren,” Maryjane’s voice sliced through my thoughts like a scalpel.My eyes lifted from the notepad I’d been scribbling nonsense on. Loops. Crosses. A sketch of Rosette with devil horns.All eyes were on me.Of course, they were.Rosette sat at the head of the table like a queen drunk on her poison, the look in her eyes one part disdain, two parts ‘try me.’“You spaced out,” Vanessa whispered next to me, her voice low. “You okay?”Lie. Lie through your teeth, Lauren.“Yeah, fine,” I murmured, faking normal
INTERVIEW GONE WRONG~LAUREN’S POV~I blinked, not once, but twice. This was a scandal okay, maybe the biggest.Julian Moretti Blackwood, another top dog in the business world and Castello's biggest rival. Alexandro would freak out if he ever found out.Julian stood behind Heather as if he belonged there, smirking, calm like he was enjoying whatever chaos was going on in my head.He was supposed to be trouble, at least that's what I was told and what I had read.The kind Alexandro did not talk about, except in threats or warnings….always followed by: “If you ever see him, you run”I never dare to ask why I should run, all I know is that I trust him.And now I was standing in a hotel hallway…and Julian was practically naked, wearing nothing but a low-hanging pair of sweatpants and danger-like second skin.My heart stuttered.Vanessa’s grip tightened around her notepad. “Nope,” she muttered under her breath. “Nope. We are not doing this.” Heather leaned her head back toward Julian, giv
SCANDALOUS MORNING ~LAUREN’S POV~My body still ached in the best way. Last night with Alexandro was... memorable.I’d been nervous, it was my first time with him. But God, it was everything. The way he touched me, the way he owned me... I still had flashes of it when I closed my eyes. My body reacted like it was happening all over again.I was so lost in thought, that I barely noticed the elevator doors ding open.Antonio wasn’t around today, but Luca stood close behind me, unusually quiet. He said Antonio had something important to handle.I prayed it wasn’t what I was thinking.“Good morning, beautiful.”That voice. I turned quickly, and there he was. Ethan. Alive. Standing. Smiling.“You’re here,” I breathed, shocked. I shot a glance at Luca, whose jaw tightened as he glared at Ethan like he wanted to put him through the nearest wall.Ethan’s smile didn’t waver. “Where else would I be?”The elevator slid open. He stepped inside first, cool and calm, his eyes lingering on me like
DEVOTION.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~Lauren kicked off her shoes, “I still can’t believe you didn’t shoot him,” she said, pulling her hair out of its clip. “Or at least punch him.”I turned to her slowly. “Don’t tempt me. I’m still considering both.”She laughed softly, then walked past me into the kitchen like she’d always belonged here. I followed her, watching how comfortably she moved, how she opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water like this was hers.Maybe it was. Maybe that’s what scared me the most. “I want to take a shower,” she said, glancing back at me.“Use mine,” I replied. “You know where it is.”She disappeared down the hall, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. I poured myself a glass of whiskey and stared out the window, city lights twinkling like stars below.My mind was still racing. The stolen shipments. Ethan. Julian’s name stayed in the air like smoke I couldn’t shake off.Trouble was circling. And she, Lauren, was standing dead in the center of it