Robert P.O.VI sat behind my desk, the dim light casting shadows across the room as I sifted through the files of the final five candidates.My men had done well. The candidates were battle-hardened, skilled, and ruthless. But there was something odd about Riccardo, my second-in-command today. He had been hovering near me all evening. His posture tense, his face a mask of uncertainty, but I could tell there was something on his mind. He was not one to hesitate, especially not with me.I closed the file I had been reading and looked up at him. “Spit it out, Riccardo.”He shifted, clearly weighing his words. “It is probably nothing but…”“But?” I urged him to continue.“It is one of the candidates.Her name is Patricia Walker.” I frowned. Her name was not particularly ringing for me. “She has lower experience compared to the others, but...” he hesitated, as if unsure how to explain what was troubling him. ““But what? Just say it.” I prompted, leaning back in my chair, curiosity piqued.
Nora P.O.VThe maid led me down a long, winding hallway to my room. My body ached from the fight, muscles sore from the strain of the interview. I was not expecting to feel this level of exhaustion so soon. When she stopped in front of the door, I could only hope for some relief on the other side.She turned the brass handle and pushed it open. “This is your room,” she said quietly before stepping aside to let me pass.The room was bigger than I expected. The floors were dark hardwood, polished to a shine, while the walls were painted a deep, warm grey giving it a modern yet luxurious look. A massive king-size bed sat in the centre, the black iron frame sleek and elegant. The bedding was crisp white, contrasting sharply against the dark tones of the room. Pillows were arranged neatly, and a thick black comforter was draped across the bottom of the bed. Two nightstands flanked it, each adorned with sleek silver lamps. A plush armchair sat in the corner by a tall window, the soft light o
Nora P.O.VFlashback begins….At night of abduction The club was packed, the bass of the music thumping through the walls and into my chest.My leather jacket and jeans helped me blend in, disappear into the mass of bodies that swayed and pulsed with the rhythm. The air was thick with sweat, alcohol, and the underlying tension of the fights that raged in the back rooms. It was a breeding ground for chaos.Patricia was not hard to spot. She sat at the bar, leaning casually against the counter, her drink nearly drained. It seems like she had just finished her fight.Her leather jacket clung to her frame, the tough exterior matching her ‘I do not give a shit’ attitude. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. She looked like a person who screams like if you fuck with me I will fuck you up.I slid onto a stool a few seats away from her, ordered a drink, and let my eyes roam casually around the room. I did not need to draw any attention to myself. The bartender handed me my drink, and
Nora P.O.VRobert’s eyes were fixed on me, sharp and unrelenting. He stood too close for comfort, the intensity of his presence impossible to ignore. His suspicion was palpable. He had no proof of who I really was, only a nagging doubt that kept gnawing at him. But I had a role to play, and I wasn’t about to give him an inch.“Tell me the truth.” His voice was low, measured, but there was an underlying edge that told me he wasn’t going to let this go easily.I met his gaze, steady and composed, as though I had not spent the last few years watching him, studying his every move, learning everything about his life as part of my mission. He did not know who I really was. As far as he was concerned, I was Patricia, newly appointed as the DiFronzo family’s personal bodyguard. But he did not trust me. Not fully. Not yet.“I am telling you the truth,” I said, my tone calm, unwavering. “My name is Patricia. I am twenty nine years old.I am from Texas.I used to work for the governor for a few mo
Robert P.O.VI stood in the washroom, my hands braced on the sink’s edge as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My face was tired, the weight of the day clinging to me like a fog I could not shake. I splashed cold water onto my face one more time, letting the shock of it momentarily clear my thoughts.The lights in my room were dim when I stepped out, casting long shadows across the walls. A faint glow came from the streetlights outside, filtering through the curtains. I moved quietly, not wanting to disturb the quiet that had settled in. In solitude, it was easier to think or at least, try not to.I opened my closet, reached into it and grabbed a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, quickly changing out of my clothes. There was something about the silence that wrapped around me, making the usual tension in my body settle, if only for a moment. Once dressed, I walked to my nightstand and checked my phone. No messages, no missed calls. Just the blank screen staring back at me.I set
Nora P.O.VI walked down the long hallway of the DiFronzo estate, the sound of my boots echoing off the marble floor. Today was my first official assignment as Lilian DiFronzo’s new bodyguard, and it was already starting to be a headache. I stopped in front of her door and knocked once, then stood at attention. The wait seemed to stretch on forever, and with each passing second, my patience wore thin. Still, there was no answer.I lifted my hand and knocked again, a little harder this time. That’s when I heard her voice from the other side of the door.“Tell my brother I am not coming out. I would not have his goon following me around like some shadow! I would not leave this room until he fires his new lapdog!” Her voice was muffled but filled with indignation.I sighed, running a hand through my hair. This was not exactly what I signed up for. “I am not paid enough to handle this in the morning,” I muttered under my breath before replying in a louder voice, “Well, unfortunately, ma’a
Lily P.O.VI walked up to my usual spot in the classroom, third row from the front. The gallery-style seats gave a clear view of everyone around.Emily, my best friend, followed me behind .We had this class together. Most of the students were already settling down in their seats. The class was just about to begin. I leaned back in my chair, opening my notebook and setting up my laptop, mentally preparing for another gruelling lecture from Professor Hudson.Just as I was settling in, I felt a poke on my shoulder. I turned to Emily, raising an eyebrow. “What’s up?” I whispered, noticing the uneasy look on her face.She leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper. “Look at the girl at the back,” she murmured. “She has been staring at you.”My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What?” I glanced over my shoulder, trying to figure out who Emily was talking about. My eyes scanned the last row, and sure enough, my new bodyguard,Patricia Walker, stared directly at me with the same intense e
Lily P.O.V I walked through the corridors of the college, Patricia trailing close behind. We stopped outside the library, where I paused to face her."I need to grab some books from inside," I said, keeping my voice casual. "You can wait here. It would not take long."Patricia’s brows furrowed, her eyes scanning the surrounding area as if a threat might emerge at any moment. She clearly was not thrilled with the idea of leaving me alone, even for a few minutes. "I should come with you," she said, her voice low but firm.I sighed. "I am just grabbing some textbooks, Patricia. It will take five minutes."She hesitated, her jaw clenching slightly, but eventually nodded. "Fine. Five minutes. I will be right here."Relieved, I gave her a small smile and entered the library. The atmosphere inside was quiet. The smell of old books and polished wood filled the air, and the soft sound of students murmuring or flipping pages was comforting. I headed straight for the section where my course tex
Nora P.O.V The sun cast a golden hue over the dining room, filtering through the sheer curtains that framed the tall windows. The table, grand and ornate, stretched the length of the room, covered with an array of breakfast dishes that screamed wealth, freshly baked croissants, glistening fruit platters, cured meats, and steaming pots of coffee. The clinking of cutlery against fine china was the only sound filling the room as the DiFronzo family began their morning ritual. I sat between one of DiFronzo’s men and Riccardo, an awkward position considering the unspoken tension that always hung over these gatherings. To my left, Riccardo leaned back in his chair, a picture of casual arrogance, his dark hair slicked back and his suit impeccably tailored even for breakfast. His tattoos were peering out from under his sleeves.He whispered something to Robert, who was seated beside him, just to the right of his father, Robert DiFronzo Sr., who occupied the head of the table like a king surv
Aldo P.O.V The heavy oak door to the DiFronzo mansion’s east wing creaked open, and I stepped into the lavish bedroom that was now mine. A slow smile spread across my face as my gaze swept the room. Gold-framed mirrors, antique furniture, and deep burgundy curtains. It was everything I expected from the family I despised,opulent, arrogant, and far too secure in their false sense of power. I ran a finger along the edge of the polished mahogany dresser, feigning admiration for the craftsmanship. In truth, I hated everything about this house. It was not the grandeur or the wealth that disgusted me; it was the memories tied to it. Memories of being cast out, belittled, and treated like I was nothing. Elinor DiFronzo did not bring me into the family out of kindness. She brought me to pay for my mother's sin. While his son was treated like a prince I was treated worse than a servant. No one came to save me when she beat me behind closed doors, not even my deadbeat father. For the world E
Nora P.O.V I moved carefully, each step light and deliberate as I made my way toward the living room. The tension was palpable even from the hallway. I did not want anyone to know I was there; the last thing I needed was to be dragged into whatever family chaos was unfolding. I pressed my back against the wall near the doorway, craning my neck just enough to get a glimpse of the room. Aldo Bianchi stood in the center, his posture as smug and self-assured as ever, surrounded by his men.The sight of them in the DiFronzo mansion was jarring, like seeing a fox in a henhouse. Robert was there, standing at the forefront with Dant and Riccardo flanking him. The other members of the family formed a tense semi-circle, their expressions ranging from anger to confusion. I edged closer, careful not to let the wooden floorboards creak underfoot. I did not need to see Robert’s face to know he was seething, his shoulders were rigid, his hands clasped behind his back in an effort to maintain contr
Nora P.O.V The room was dim, illuminated only by the soft glow of my laptop screen. I sat cross-legged on the plush rug, my back against the bed. My fingers hovered over the keyboard as I toggled between live footage and encrypted files. My phone, propped up on the bedside table, buzzed, and I quickly answered. Cyber’s deep voice came through the line before I could even say hello. "Did you get anything yet?" he asked, his tone clipped and impatient. I exhaled, leaning back against the bed frame. "Not much," I admitted, my voice low. I glanced at the live feed from Robert’s office, where Riccardo and Dant sat across from him. "The mic and camera I planted haven’t picked up anything useful about the murders. Their conversations are either personal or business-related ,nothing tying them to the killings." "Then what have you found?" Cyber pressed. I shifted my gaze to the laptop, skimming through the data I had managed to gather. "Just the basics. I know who Robert’s dealing with a
Riccardo P.O.V Dinner with Callandria was a quiet affair. We were both locked in our own thoughts, wrestling with our own minds. When she said she will do it I thought her agreement would satisfy me, yet victory feels hollow and empty. "Here." I slid my phone across the table to her once we had both finished eating. "You should call your grandfather, bella. He wants to know you are safe and that you are here because you want to be." She eyed the phone for a long, silent moment and then reluctantly picks it up. "2008 is the lock code." "The year I was born," she murmured. And the year Nico left the family. "You trust me with your lock code." "I offered you freedom, Callandria. It wasn't a lie," I said ,holding her gaze. "Until things are settled, you are not to leave the house or have contact with your family. Those rules are for your safety as much as for theirs. But I am not your captor. You are not my prisoner. You are going to be the mother of my child." "My grandfather wo
Callandria P.O.V "I am ready," I told Alessio less than a minute later, stepping out of the bedroom. He led me down the hallway. Unlike my father's house, Riccardo's was not built like a museum to wealth. It was timeless and beautiful. Dark wood panels line the walls, with ornately carved banisters and balustrades. Instead of a chandelier, a crystal dome over the staircase floods the foyer with natural light. We passed through the living room, decorated more for comfort than to impress. A large fireplace and sectional dominate the room, with bookcases lining one wall. Massive doors lead out to a patio and a rolling green lawn. "Kitchen," Alessio said, standing to the side to let me pass. I stepped inside and then stopped to stare. The entire kitchen was made from stone, with a cobblestone floor and gorgeous dark wood cabinets. Appliances rest in arched alcoves. Windows look out over the lawn. It was breathtaking, like stepping straight into Tuscany. "Wow," I whispered. No won
Riccardo P.O.V By the time we pulled up by the dock at the harbor, Dant was already there. He leans against the side of his Harley, skipping pebbles across the water. He did not even glance over his shoulder to see who pulled up. I did not think my youngest brother gave a fuck anymore. He tried for years to keep us together, but this way of life wears on you. By the time he had his accident a few years ago, he was not the same kid who spoke the vow. He is harder. Darker. We rarely see him unless he has no choice. I think he would have walked away from all of it if he could. Hell, which of us wouldn't? This life only brought us misery . We lost those we have loved and lived with our enemies. "You are early," I observed, striding across the dock toward him. "You are late." He lets another rock fly. It skipped three times before sinking, dragged to the bottom to rest alongside decades worth of evidence of La Cosa Nostra crimes. Merda. Ours were not the only secrets this harbor keeps
Dant P.O.V“You live here?" Genesis eyed me skeptically, her arms crossed over her chest and her brows furrowed as she glanced around my living room."Yes. Surprised?" I arched a brow, already knowing the answer to that question. Unlike my brothers and sister, I did not live in a house large enough to fit an army. My place was an old greystone in Bridgeport...as fucking far from Robert as I can get without encroaching on territory that did not belong to the DiFronzo family.Once upon a time, the house belonged to my mom's parents. I was not sure any of my brothers knew that. I never told them. Did not see a point when they had lived with our mom's ghost for so long already. Sometimes, ignorance is preferable to pain.Me though? I barely remember her. Not the color of her eyes, or the way she smiled. Not the sound of her laugh, or the warmth of her hugs. I was four and Lily was three when she died, barely old enough to spell out our own goddamn name. Any memories I had of her were eras
Genesis P.O.V"Not yet." His smile did not reach his eyes. I did not think he had smiled in a long time. But they glint with some emotion that makes me shiver. I did not know what it was. "You will.”"Never."His smile widened. "You are coming to work for me." Is he insane? He found me taking out his cash and nowhere wanted me to come and work for him."I have a job.""Not anymore. As of this moment, you work for me, tesoro. Or..." He lets the threat linger unspoken. I know what he meant though. Or he would call the police and we let the chips fall where they may. I think he knew I could not take that risk, though. The bastard knows he was not really giving me a choice here.I think he loves knowing I have no choice and no say. I am his to command, his to control and I hated it but I have no other choice.He was a six-foot-three lion. And I think I may be the little lamb to the slaughter."Fine," I growled, giving in about as gracefully as a bull in a china shop."But I am not for sal