True to my word, I decide to go again to The Underworld club, hoping to find my husband, but at the same time I fear that Maritza might discover us and all my plans could be ruined before I can get my revenge on her.After talking for a moment with Mr. Lombardi about some documents for which I need his help to discover where all the diversions that were done to my husband went, and he promised me that both his accountant and his lawyer would help me, I decide to go to the bar and order a drink. That's when I feel a hand resting possessively on my waist, just like Massimo used to do. I turn to see who it is, and indeed, it is him. He leans into my ear and whispers.“I've been waiting for you all these days.” Then he bites my earlobe a little, making me lose my mind and want to throw myself into his arms. However, Palmieri's gaze brings me back to my senses.“Not here, Mr. De Angelis. Someone could see us and tell your fiancée.” He shakes his head and, before leaving, whispers to me aga
“Then I'll be leaving, and thank you again for everything.” As soon as I leave his office, Palmieri approaches me upon seeing my hand wrapped in the handkerchief.“Are you alright, ma'am?” He asks, concerned.“Yes, Palmieri, it's nothing serious. We should go downstairs; my husband is waiting for me.” He looks at me in surprise at what I've just revealed but says nothing more, just nods and we head back to the elevator.As soon as we reach the ground floor, I quickly look for Massimo, who is drinking next to a woman who seems extremely interested in him. I can tell by the way she looks at him and tries to take his hand. I approach them and catch what he's saying, which makes me laugh a little.“I'm sorry, but I'm not interested. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm waiting for my wife.” He's about to turn around when I hug him from behind and press my face to his neck, which is easy since he's sitting down.“Hi, love, thanks for waiting for me.” He turns, and as soon as he recognizes me, a g
A month has passed since Palmieri suggested intimidating Rinaldi's widow, and although we haven't talked about it again, he brings it up when we're practicing my shooting lessons."Ma'am, I have found Rinaldi's family." I purse my lips and am about to tell him the same thing I said that day, but he doesn't let me speak as he continues, "I know you're not like me. I know I've lived my whole life this way and I'm used to it, but the important thing here is that I truly believe you should talk to his widow. And well, I don't think it's necessary to go as far as what I suggested weeks ago. They're having a really hard time. I'm sure if you offer her help in exchange for information, she'll accept." He says seriously, with a bit of sadness."How did you find them? And why do you say they're having a hard time?" I ask, a bit hesitant."Although you made it clear that day you didn't want to threaten them to make them talk, I continued investigating their whereabouts. They live about a day fr
We take our seats, and Antonella sends her daughter Bianca to make us some coffee. After she returns from the kitchen, we sit again in the small living room, and her mother begins her story."What I know is that my husband started suspecting someone from his business partners' circle because much of the stolen merchandise turned out to be the most profitable, and given how precise they were in targeting those shipments, he started investigating on his own and found that mysteriously, Salvatore had been receiving a lot of money in accounts outside Italy. Don't ask me how he knew because I don't know either. The day my husband was murdered, he received some very important documents. He left me copies and took the originals with him, telling me he had caught the traitor and hurried off with almost all his men. Please give me a moment." She takes off a gold chain from her neck with a small heart-shaped locket with tiny inscriptions on it. For a moment, I think she is going to show me a pi
Due to Maritza's threat, I decide to abstain from going to the casino where I usually meet Lucrecia. I don't want anything bad to happen to her, but after another week without seeing her, the desperation grows, and tonight I decide to look for her.When I arrive at the place, I stay at the bar for a moment, having a drink, when a guy approaches me and starts talking as if we were gambling buddies. This, of course, takes me by surprise, but I decide to play along."Luciano! What a wonder to have you here again today. How about we continue that bet we left pending a few days ago?" He puts a hand on my shoulder. I look at him for a moment and then nod."Sounds perfect, I hope to beat you this time." We take the elevator and head to the fifth floor. Once there, we get off and the guy takes me to a VIP gaming room where only a few have access."Sorry, sir, it was the only way not to arouse suspicion that you are waiting for my boss." He says, noticing my puzzled look, and then explains: "M
When I recover from the shock of seeing Pietro alive again, I quickly approach him and without a second's hesitation, I hug him and begin to cry like a small child. Then, I take his face in my hands and kiss him on the cheek. He, on his part, remains static in his place, speechless from the surprise, which, to be honest, must be because he doesn't recognize me. Suddenly, I hear a loud clearing of the throat behind Pietro, and without letting go of him for a single moment, I turn my gaze to the person who has just arrived."That man you're kissing and hugging is my fiancé." Declares a rather annoyed Adanary, to which I feel the urge to ask her how it feels to have someone else touching the man you love, but I bite my tongue and just release Pietro."Excuse me, but who are you supposed to be? I know Mr. Lombardi, but not you." Adanary comments in a rather harsh tone. Then I take off my glasses to reveal my true identity."It's me, Adanary, Massimo's wife." Pietro looks at me quite surpr
"Thank you very much for everything, Mr. Lombardi, you have no idea how much what you are doing for me right now means." I say goodbye to him with a small handshake and get out of his truck.I climb the stairs of the mansion and head to my room; it is very late, and I am quite tired from the trip, which, although it has helped me to learn certain details of what happened, also makes the pain flood my body as I remember everything my children and I have suffered with Massimo's loss and not being able to be together as the family we are.I take a shower and go downstairs to have something to eat with my children, whom I hug as tightly as I can to be able to move forward with what I am about to do.Days laterIt has been days since I last went to the casino because I have many pending tasks to take care of, both investigating things here and managing my restaurant in Mexico. Although I left Mia and Anely in charge along with some of our men, there are things I need to resolve myself. All
I leave the office with Antonella and see that her children are playing with mine, who seem to be having the best time as their laughter can be heard throughout the room. I approach them and kiss my children."Mami, Giovanni carried me on his shoulders a moment ago, it was so much fun. He says his dad used to do that with them, why don't we have a dad?" I don't know what to answer my son as it's the first time he's asked me something like that, but Antonella quickly replies."You have a dad too, it's just that he's a bit sick and you can't visit him until he gets better." My son ponders her words, then nods and continues playing with Giovanni."Thank you." I whisper and give her a shy smile.I spent the afternoon playing with my children and chatting with Mrs. Antonella. She is a very pleasant woman, just like her children, who are delighted with mine. I can see a significant change in their faces compared to the first time I met them; now they seem more relaxed and relieved to a cert
When she hears me say this, her body tenses, and she starts crying harder than before. I lead her to one of the chairs and gently sit her down.“What happened to her face?” I inquire after a while, lifting her face a little.“What happened to you, sweetheart?” My father-in-law asks, approaching her, and when his fingers touch his wife’s cheek, she swats his hand away.“Don’t touch me.” She replies without looking at him.I see the pain in Liza’s father’s eyes at his wife’s attitude. He lowers his hand but stays by our side, holding back the urge to hug her.“After Stefano left the house, about half an hour later, Lieutenant Barone arrived. Apparently, he had a warrant for Stefano’s arrest because they had discovered everything about his business, but the way he was acting wasn’t normal.“When our men noticed that he started circling the whole property, Mich advised me not to let them in, and that’s what we did. But suddenly, they started attacking us, managing to break through the gat
Once again, I find myself in the cemetery, a place that has become so familiar to me that my chest tightens with the loss I am facing at this moment. I lower my gaze and observe the white rose I hold in my hand, as I feel a single tear escape from my eye. With the same hand holding the rose, I quickly wipe it away, knowing that the person I am now saying goodbye to would not want to see me in this state.After five long years, Giuseppe Lombardi left us to reunite with his son, whom he has longed for all these years. If it weren't for my mother, who became like a daughter to him, the sadness that overwhelmed him might have taken him sooner.I look around, and both my mother and my sisters are devastated by his loss, but I know they also find peace in having been with him in his last days. Next to me, holding my hand as she always has, is my beloved wife Yelizaveta, and at our feet are our children, little Renzo and little Laryssa.As the priest finishes the last words of farewell, my m
We take the elevator down as quickly as we can, and when we reach the parking lot, I head straight to one of the trucks that’s still there without wasting any time."We won’t take long; it’s about thirty minutes from here." I inform them as I get into the truck, buckle my seatbelt, and then floor the accelerator.The drive to my old home passes in a blink, and when we arrive, I see that only a few walls have remained standing over all these years. I turn off the engine and grab one of the guns from under the seat."I want you to stay here until Bellini and Flavio arrive.""We're not staying. We said we'd come with you, and that's what we're doing." Yasha contradicts me, gritting her teeth."Absolutely not. You'll stay here until the rest of my men arrive."I get out before they can argue, pass through the open gates, and barely take two steps before some men appear in front of me. I fire my gun, but just as I'm about to hit another one of them, I see him fall to the ground. I don’t ne
Yelizaveta Little by little, I open my eyes and feel a bit disoriented, not knowing where I am. I shake my head, and when I finally manage to focus, I look around and realize I’m in some sort of abandoned warehouse. But strangely enough, I’m alone—or at least I think I am.Everything is so confusing that every time I try to remember what happened, my head aches a little. When small scenes of what happened this morning finally come to mind, a shiver runs through me. All those trucks blocking our way, my father’s men trying to protect me, the ones from bombon following us, and that girl, screaming my name before being hit and losing consciousness.I try to touch my head where I was struck hard enough to knock me out, but I realize that I’m tied to a chair. Just as I’m about to move it, I hear unfamiliar voices.“They hit her pretty hard.” Shouts a man, followed by a thud. I try to turn my head to see where it’s coming from, but I can’t, so I listen closely to their conversation.“I’m s
Alexandre “Boss, Mr. Belucci is outside and insists on speaking with you.” One of my men informs me. I set aside the documents I’m reading, somewhat confused by the visit from Liza’s father.“Let him in, please.” My man steps aside, and I see Mr. Belucci enter, clearly upset. He looks around as if searching for someone until he finally fixes his gaze on me.“Where is Yelizaveta?” He asks angrily.“I’m sorry, father-in-law, but Liza and I didn’t plan to meet today. I haven’t seen her in days.”“T-that can’t be possible. She told me she was coming to see you and left the house at noon, and she hasn’t returned. It’s already past midnight.” I check the time on my computer and realize she’s been missing for over twelve hours. I jump up from my seat, grab my phone, and try to reach her. “She’s not answering; we’ve been trying for hours.” He says, his voice trembling slightly.“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I ask, frustrated. “What exactly did she say before leaving the house?”“One of yo
Alexandre "For several days now, you've been acting a bit strange. What's bothering you, Alexandre?" Inquires Flavio as soon as he notices my expression.I turn my chair, let out a deep sigh, and gaze out over all of Liguria in an attempt to clear my mind of so many problems. After a brief pause, I decide to speak."Someone blew up Liza's father's ship a few days ago. Apparently, they had a very valuable cargo that was about to be shipped to Russia. This was a significant loss for both my father-in-law and his partner.""And how does that affect you?" Bellini asks. "Don't tell me the bastard dared to blame you?" He growls furiously.I can't help but laugh. When I turn my chair back around to face them, I shake my head."Why am I not surprised you think that of my father-in-law?""Maybe because the idiot is capable of that and more." Bellini retorts, glaring at me."Only because Liza isn't here will I agree with you, but in front of her, I never will. So, you know, Bellini, keep your
Yelizaveta As soon as we got into the SUV of my bonbon to head to his mansion, I heard his parents begin to argue in hushed tones, trying not to be noticed."Can I ask why you didn't intervene, Massimo?" Mrs. Lilibeth inquired, and from the tone of her voice, I could tell she was a little upset with her husband."Little shrew, you were handling it wonderfully; you didn't need me at any point. Besides, I love seeing you in that mama bear mode." Mr. Massimo replied, giving her a quick kiss on the lips. I immediately turned my face away so they wouldn't think I was eavesdropping, but I continued to listen to their conversation anyway."I don't like the way he talks to Alex." She said, lowering her voice a bit more."I know, little shrew, but Alex accepted it all along and didn't say anything. What can we do? Nothing.""It's not your fault, honey." My bonbon murmured, wrapping his arm around my waist. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who had overheard them arguing."I'm sorry! It's just
Fabrizio “If you're here, it's because you need to tell me something. What is it?” I ask without looking up from my work.“Our men reported that Carluccio just arrived at the Belucci mansion with his parents. They believe they are there to make their relationship official.”“With a demon!” I explode angrily, hitting my desk, “this can't be happening.”I get up from my seat and start pacing around my office, thinking of the best way to prevent that engagement from happening at all costs.“I want you to blow up the shipment waiting at the port.” I order, stopping my steps.“H-how?”“Are you an idiot? Do I need to repeat my orders twice?”“I’m sorry, boss, it’s just that it will be a significant loss for both you and Belucci.”“That loss is nothing compared to what I stand to gain by keeping Yelizaveta away from Carluccio.”“Should I ask our men to abandon the ship?”“No, sometimes it’s worth making certain sacrifices to achieve a greater good. I want that ship to blow up within ten min
Alexandre "I don't understand what you mean, bonbon." Says Liza with a slight frown. In front of us, I hear Brianna chuckle, but I ignore her."Yes, bonbon, explain to us." Brianna chimes in with a malicious smile."Brianna!" I scold her, because I am sure that now that she knows what Liza calls me, it will be impossible for her to stop calling me that."You're so boring." I see grandpa give her a conspiratorial look, and I shake my head."Baby doll, let your brother explain." My father intervenes. Brianna makes a little pout and falls silent, still hugging grandpa."Liza's father must have his own hangar. I know that if we talk to him and explain the situation, he could help us. Besides, we can get grandpa out through the tunnels in the house. That's what I can think of for now.""And will your girlfriend's father agree?" My father asks, not very convinced."It's possible, though I'm not quite sure.""Don't worry, bonbon, I'll talk to him.""I think it's best if Massimo and I go and