Alessia's Pov My wrists ached from the rough rope binding them, and my head throbbed from the slap Elena had delivered earlier. My heart was pounding in my chest, not just with fear but with a desperate need to survive. I couldn’t give up—not like this.Elena’s voice echoed in my mind, dripping with venom as she had threatened me to call off the wedding. I had nodded, pretended to be terrified enough to comply. But deep down, I was plotting. I needed to outwit her, to buy myself time and find a way out of this nightmare.The basement was dimly lit, with a single bulb swaying slightly above me. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of mildew and something metallic—blood, maybe. As I sat tied to the chair, I took slow, deep breaths, trying to calm myself enough to observe my surroundings.There wasn’t much in the room. A rusted metal shelf leaned against one wall, cluttered with tools and cans of paint. A wooden crate sat in the corner, its edges splintered. The window on the far w
Luca’s PovI stormed into the apartment, slamming the door behind me. My thoughts were a whirlwind of worry, anger, and frustration. Alessia was still missing, and every second that passed without finding her felt like a punch to the gut. The living room was eerily quiet, her absence hanging in the air like a heavy weight.Andrea was sitting on the couch, his face buried in his hands. His disheveled appearance mirrored my own, but the tension between us was suffocating. I could feel it brewing, like a storm waiting to erupt. He looked up as I entered, his eyes bloodshot.“Anything?” he asked, his voice rough.“Nothing,” I replied curtly, tossing my keys onto the table. “Another dead end.”Andrea leaned back against the couch, running a hand through his hair. “We need to think this through. Who would want to take her? And why?”I turned to him, narrowing my eyes. “That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out. But the real question is—why are you so concerned, Andrea?”His head snap
Alessia's Pov I opened my eyes to the dim basement, my body aching from the cold floor. Elena was pacing, her heels clicking against the cracked concrete. She seemed lost in thought, her brows furrowed, yet the venom in her eyes when she glanced at me remained unmistakable.I cleared my throat, pushing myself upright despite the ropes still binding my wrists. “Why are you doing this?” I demanded, my voice firm despite the fear bubbling inside me. “What have I ever done to you?”Elena stopped pacing and turned to face me. A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she leaned against a rusted table. “What have you done?” she repeated mockingly. “You have no idea, do you? You waltz into people's lives, clueless, taking what doesn’t belong to you.”I frowned. “I haven’t taken anything from you.”Her laughter grew louder, echoing in the small space. “Haven’t taken anything? Matteo, my Matteo, was mine! And you—you’re trying to claim him, just like she did.”I stared at her, confusion twistin
Luca's pov The tension in the living room was unbearable. Andrea sat casually on the couch, scrolling through his phone as if nothing was wrong. Meanwhile, my thoughts were spinning out of control. Alessia was out there, kidnapped, scared, and who knew what else. Every second felt like a wasted eternity, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something I was missing—some piece of the puzzle I hadn’t yet put together.I glanced at Andrea. His calmness felt unnatural. Maybe I was reading too much into it, or maybe he knew more than he was letting on. The thought gnawed at me, but I shoved it aside for the moment. If I stayed here staring at him any longer, I’d lose my mind.I pushed myself off the chair and headed for Alessia’s room. The door creaked open, and I stepped inside, immediately hit by the faint scent of her perfume. It was Alessia, through and through—her presence, her warmth, lingering even in her absence. It hurt to be here, but it was the only place I could th
Luca's pov The drive to the warehouse was tense, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Andrea sat beside me in the passenger seat, his phone glowing with the coordinates they’d sent. His jaw was tight, his usual smirk nowhere to be seen.“This doesn’t feel right,” I muttered, gripping the steering wheel as I turned onto a dirt road leading to the outskirts of town. “An abandoned warehouse? It’s too obvious.”Andrea glanced at me, his expression grim. “Obvious or not, it’s the only lead we’ve got. If she’s in there, we can’t afford to waste time.”I said nothing, my focus on the path ahead. The warehouse loomed in the distance, a shadowy structure with broken windows and rusted metal walls. It looked like the perfect place for someone to hide—or to stage a trap.As I pulled up, I killed the engine and turned to Andrea. “Stay behind me. If this goes south, I’ll handle it.”Andrea raised an eyebrow. “What, you think I can’t handle myself?”I shot him a look. “I’ve seen you avoid f
Alessia's POV A few hours agoThe door creaked open, and Elena strolled in with a tray of food. I was slumped in the corner, my wrists raw from the ropes, and my stomach gnawing with hunger. She set the tray down on the table in the corner of the room and tilted her head at me, her expression one of cruel satisfaction.“You should eat,” she said coolly, leaning against the wall as if this was some casual gathering. “I want my revenge on you, Alessia, but starving you isn’t how I want to do it. That’s too easy.”Her words sent a chill down my spine, but the smell of the food was overpowering. I didn’t trust her, but I also knew I needed strength. My hands were tied in front of me, making it awkward, but I managed to get the food to my mouth while she watched.Elena didn’t speak much as I ate. She just stood there, arms crossed, her dark eyes boring into me. She seemed to take pleasure in the sight of me like this—vulnerable, cornered.Then her phone buzzed, and she answered quick
Luca’s PovAs Andrea and I were about to leave the warehouse, something on the ground caught my eye—a small piece of fabric, stained with blood. My stomach clenched as I bent down to pick it up. The cloth was torn, the fabric delicate and familiar. My pulse quickened. This wasn’t just any fabric. It was from the dress Alessia had been wearing the night she went to visit her mother. I turned sharply to Andrea, holding it up for him to see. “Look at this.” Andrea frowned, stepping closer. His eyes scanned the fabric, and then something clicked in his expression. “This is hers,” I said. “This is from the dress she wore that night.” Andrea nodded slowly, but I didn’t miss the flicker of recognition in his eyes—too quick, too knowing. “Yes,” he admitted, his voice tight. “It’s the same dress.” Something about the way he said it made me pause. My gaze narrowed as I turned to fully face him. “How do you know that?” Andrea stiffened. “What?” I stepped forward, my to
Luca’s PovMarcello’s grip on Alessia was firm, his gun pressed against her temple, his finger resting too comfortably on the trigger. His eyes locked onto mine, filled with something that wasn’t just hostility—it was recognition. And then, just as I was ready to lunge at him, Alessia moved. It was quick, a subtle shift in her stance, her fingers twitching in a way only I noticed. A signal. An opening. But before I could make my move, Marcello’s gaze sharpened. His lips curled into something almost like amusement as he spoke, his voice steady. “You’re not Matteo.” Andrea, standing just behind me, snapped his head toward me, his brow furrowing in confusion. “What?” I ignored him, keeping my focus on Marcello, but the bastard wasn’t done talking. “I told you not to get her into this, but you didn’t listen,” Marcello continued, his grip on Alessia tightening for a moment before relaxing just slightly. “I told you to make sure she doesn’t become collateral damage.” An
Andrea's Pov The flashbang’s blinding light faded slowly, leaving the room steeped in disorienting darkness and a heavy silence that draped over us like a shroud. I could barely see anything, but I could feel the adrenaline surging in my veins and the pounding in my head from the attack. For several long seconds, the only sound was my own ragged breathing and the echo of the shattered window where our masked attacker had escaped. When my vision cleared enough, I saw Sophia crouched near the desk, her gun still raised but trembling; I could feel my arm throbbing from the deep wound, blood seeping through my sleeves. The room reeked of smoke, sweat, and fear.“Are you alright?” I asked, my voice low and urgent as I stepped toward Sophia. She nodded, swallowing hard, her eyes wide and alert.“This was no random attack,” she murmured, her tone edged with grim determination. “They knew exactly what they were doing.”I scanned the room, feeling the eerie emptiness in the corners. My min
Andrea's Pov I stormed out of Alessia’s room, my heart pounding with frustration and something heavier—guilt. She had every right to be angry, every right to feel betrayed. But damn it, I had never lied to her, not truly. Keeping a secret wasn’t the same as deception. Or maybe, just maybe, I was only fooling myself.I raked a hand through my hair as I made my way down the dimly lit hallway toward my room. My mind was a tangled mess of thoughts, but something else nagged at the edges of my senses. A strange, creeping unease slithered into my gut. It felt like a storm rolling in—silent, inevitable, charged with something unseen.As I reached my door, I hesitated. The air was off. It smelled different—thicker, colder. There was a faint metallic scent lingering in the air, like rust… or blood.My body tensed instinctively. I pressed my hand against the door, feeling its surface. Cool. Too cool.Slowly, I turned the knob and stepped inside.The first thing I noticed was the silence—t
Alessia's Pov The moment I stepped into my room, I slammed the door shut behind me, leaning against it as I struggled to breathe. My chest felt tight, my mind spinning.Sophia.Sophia was Madam Claudia.How? How?I let out a harsh, shaky breath, pacing the length of my room. My fists clenched at my sides as I tried to piece together the impossible truth. It didn’t make sense. It didn’t align with anything I knew about her.Sophia—my Sophia—had been poor. She had come to me desperate for a job, practically begging at Marcello’s bar. She had been struggling, scraping by. And now I was supposed to believe she was the woman who had been pulling all the strings from behind a mask? The woman who had orchestrated everything, controlled everyone?I let out a bitter laugh, but it was hollow.I wanted to believe that I was mistaken, that I was seeing things. Maybe I was still drunk, still disoriented from everything that had happened. Maybe the chaos in the hall had clouded my judgment.
Alessia's Pov The air in the grand hall was thick with tension, the hushed whispers of the guests rippling like an incoming storm. Elena’s dramatic outburst had already shaken the foundation of the event, but just as I thought things might settle, another disturbance was brewing.From the center of the crowd, a man—tall, with streaks of silver in his hair and a sharp, authoritative gaze—stood abruptly. His voice carried through the hall, commanding immediate attention."This farce has gone on long enough!" he declared, his tone laced with anger and conviction. "Madam Claudia is no longer fit to lead. This entire operation has turned into chaos under her rule!"Murmurs of agreement spread like wildfire. The guests, who had been silently processing the recent turn of events, now had something to latch onto—something tangible.The man took a few steps forward, his confidence unwavering. "Think about it—under Madam Claudia’s reign, we’ve suffered unnecessary losses. Betrayal has fest
Alessia's Pov The ceremony was nearing its final moments, each word of the priest’s blessing washing over me like a distant hum. My hands felt clammy in Andrea’s grip, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure the guests could hear it.I wasn’t even listening anymore.I was drowning in a sea of thoughts—of Luca, of last night, of the strange way Sophia had whispered that she needed to step out for fresh air just moments ago.Something was wrong.The air around me felt too still, as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to break.And then it did.A loud crash from the back of the hall shattered the silence.Heads turned. Murmurs erupted.And then, a voice—sharp and laced with rage—cut through the air like a blade."You!"I barely had time to process what was happening before a woman stormed into the venue, her heels clicking furiously against the marble floor. Her dark hair was slightly disheveled, her expensive gown wrinkled as if she had been runn
Alessia's Pov The first thing I felt was a dull, pounding headache.I groaned, turning over in the bed, my body still heavy with sleep. My mouth was dry, and my limbs felt weak, but something felt… off.I blinked a few times, my vision adjusting to the dim light filtering through the curtains. My mind was slow to catch up, memories scattered like puzzle pieces waiting to be put back together.And then it hit me.Luca.The bar. The drunken rambling. Vomiting on him. Him carrying me back to my room. The warmth of his arms. The way he had helped me wash up, dressed me, tucked me in. And then—I sat up abruptly, my heart hammering.Dis we really have sex?I touched my body instinctively, heat rushing to my face. It had felt real—too real. But now, with the morning light casting shadows over the room, doubt crept in.Had it been the alcohol playing tricks on me?I looked around the room, expecting to see him somewhere, maybe sitting in the chair across from the bed or leaning ag
Alessia's Pov It feels so good, I instinctively squeeze my eyes shut to focus as much as I can on it. he continues on for another minute, slowly licking and sucking. Suddenly, I feel his mouth open wide, sucking as much of my breast into his mouth as he can. My hips start to buck, pushing up against his, and I feel his hand move down between my legs.Oh my god, it hadn’t occurred to me he’d do this. I’d only imagined simple things, kissing and touching, in the very brief fantasy that had entered my brain as I walked away from the bar. Logically, of course, this shouldn’t be a surprise, but somehow it is, and now the idea that his hand is going to be on my pussy is overwhelming. Hands, and what else? Tongue? Mouth? His dick? The very notion has my lower body aching, and I can feel myself squirming, moving, pushing my hips up to meet his hand.he lifts his head from my breast then, his lips wet and pink, and he watches my face as his hand presses between my legs.“You like it, don’t
Alessia's Pov “You smell like whiskey and vomit,” he interrupted. “And if you think I’m letting you pass out like that, you’re dumber than I thought. I scowled at him. “You’re a jerk.” “And you’re a mess,” he shot back.Before I could protest further, he helped me out of my soiled clothes, guiding me into the warm water.I let out a small sigh as the heat washed over me, his hands moved in ways that sent chills down my spine, he washed beneath my breast, and then over them. His hands moved to back as he washed all the way down to my lower chicks, I could feel his hands linger. He looked at me as if amused by my body.Then he stopped, I looked at him "what—what happened?"If I continue I may not be able hold back" he said as he walked away. A part of me wanted him to stay, wanted his touch. But I held back and watched him leave.Luca stayed just outside the shower, arms crossed, making sure I didn’t collapse.After what felt like an eternity, I stepped out, and to my shock—Luca was hold
Alessia's Pov The bartender gave me a look—one of those patient, knowing looks that bartenders are probably trained to give. He didn’t say anything, just poured me another drink.I exhaled sharply. “But this isn’t about Luca. No, no, no, it’s about this island and how nothing makes sense. Do you know how many people have died since I got here?” I squinted, trying to count, but the numbers blurred in my head. “It’s a lot. And it’s all connected. Madam Claudia, the missing boats, the whispers in the dark—” I paused, leaning in dramatically. “And now people are leaving threats under doors. Under doors! Can you believe that?”The bartender’s lips twitched like he was trying not to smile. “Not funny,” I grumbled. He nodded, as if agreeing, though I doubted he was even fully listening. I sighed, rubbing my temple. “Andrea’s hiding something, too. “That made me pause.Andrea.I shook my head, downing the rest of my drink. “He acts like he’s protecting me, and maybe he is, but he knows s