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Removing Loose Ends
Last Updated:
2025-02-18 21:22:29
Related chapters
Beneath The Mask Married
Prince POVWhen I went to the club last night, it was just to kill time. I didn’t expect to find Ghost there, bleeding. I knew he was after the people who kidnapped us, that he wouldn’t stop until they were dead. I’m glad—those videos should never exist, never be used against us.“Hey,” Lucy’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. I glance up as she steps into the room. “I still can’t believe you’re marrying Ghost,” she whispers.I chuckle, shaking my head. “If you had told me a few months ago, I would have called you insane.”She laughs with me, sinking onto the couch. I move to sit beside her, watching the way she fidgets with the hem of her sleeve. There’s something on her mind, but she hesitates before speaking.“You know,” she says finally, her voice softer now, “I think you should be grateful.”My brows furrow. “For what?”“For being kidnapped.” She looks at me, searching my expression. “I know it was fucked up, but in the end, it brought you here, didn’t it? You’re happy.”Happy. Th
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Beneath The Mask Destroyed
Prince POVThe video flickers to life, and the breath is ripped from my lungs. I know this place. I know that fucking room. The plain walls, the flickering light, the goddamn cameras bolted to the ceiling—watching, recording every second of our torture.I can’t look away.“Look, one of you is Shadow Courier, right? I paid for this. I’ve changed my mind. You can have the entire three million—just let us go,” Ghost’s voice fills the room. My grip tightens on the phone.No.No, no, no. My heart slams against my ribs, my pulse roaring in my ears. I watch him—Ghost—standing in that fucking room, his hands shaking, desperation clear in his eyes. He wasn’t pleading for our lives. He was trying to undo what he did.“Why should we believe you?” the masked man asks.Ghost lets out a bitter, humorless laugh. “How else would I know the name? Come on, why do you think I told that idiot to stop?” His hands clench at his sides, his whole body tense. “Just take the three million and let us go.”Idiot
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Beneath The Mask Losing Him
Ghost POVI watch him walk away.I stand here, completely frozen, as he puts one foot in front of the other and disappears through that fucking door. My body won’t move. My brain won’t function. I should be running after him, grabbing him, begging him to listen, but I don’t.Because I have no fucking idea how to fix this.The low murmur of voices filters in around me, distant, meaningless noise. My eyes stay glued to the door, as if staring at it long enough will somehow bring him back. But he doesn’t come back.I lost him.I thought I had buried this, that it was handled. How the fuck did Max get the video? The messages? How did it all unravel like this?Pain explodes across my cheek before I even realize Josie is standing in front of me. My head snaps to the side, the sting grounding me for half a second. She’s breathing hard, eyes burning with fury.I fucking deserved that. I deserved worse. Prince should have hit me. He almost did, but he stopped himself. His fist had been raised,
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Beneath The Mask Hating This
Ghost POVI sit there, staring out at the dark street, the estate looming behind me. Maybe he’s right. Right now, Prince is no doubt replaying that fucking video over and over, letting it sink into his bones, turning it into the only truth he can see.I need him to stop obsessing over it. To step back and see the bigger picture. To see me.But waiting?Waiting is going to fucking kill me.Sighing, I step into the house, the weight of the night pressing down on me like a fucking vice. The moment I walk into the room, my eyes land on Max, sitting there like he fucking belongs. My blood boils instantly, rage surging through me. This has to be a joke.I barely register my father standing nearby, smirking like he finds this whole situation entertaining.“He refused to leave,” he says, tilting his head toward Max. “Claims he loves you.”I let out a bitter laugh, my fists clenching at my sides. “You don’t even fucking know me. Now leave before I kill you for what you did,” I snap, my voice s
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Beneath The Mask Tearing Us Apart
Prince POVSleep never fucking came last night. Every time I closed my eyes, the video played again, looping like some sadistic nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. Every word, every movement, every desperate attempt Ghost made to call it off too fucking late—it all drilled into my skull until it felt like I was suffocating under it.I never even considered it was him. Not for a fucking second.The kidnapping? Maybe. I could have figured out a way past that, justified it somehow, but this? Paying them to force me into that situation, to make sure I fucked him? That’s not something you can explain away. That’s not something I can ever fucking forgive.The weight of my gun holster presses into my shoulders as I slide the weapons in place, throwing on my jacket. The walls are closing in, the silence of my room stretching until it feels unbearable. I can’t sit here. I can’t just exist in this space, letting the rage eat me alive.Things need to be sorted. The connection between the De Luca’
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Beneath The Mask Falling
Prince POVWhen I get back to the estate, I drop into the nearest chair, my body tense, my mind racing. Giovanni watches me, shaking his head like he has the right to judge.“You’re moving quick,” he says, his voice slow, calculated. “Is it wise?”My eyes snap to him, my patience already hanging by a thread. “It’s not your fucking choice anymore,” I bite out. “You’re lucky to still be here. I could’ve thrown your ass out those gates and let them have you. Keep fighting me on my fucking choices and watch what happens.”His body stiffens, and I see the moment he realizes I’m serious. There’s no amusement in my voice, no room for negotiation. I mean every fucking word.“Understood,” he finally mutters. “You’re in charge.”Damn right, I am.I rub a hand down my face, exhaustion pulling at me. What the fuck am I even doing? This isn’t strategy. This isn’t power. This is me, lashing out, clawing for any way to hurt Ghost the way he hurt me. But nothing will. Not this war, not taking back wh
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Beneath The Mask Going For Him
Ghost POVMy father’s anger is palpable, radiating off him in waves. His voice is sharp, controlled, but barely. He’s holding back, only because I asked him to. Prince is tearing through everything we built, severing ties, cutting us off, and my father is losing patience.“This needs to end,” he snaps, his glare cutting into me. “I can’t keep pretending like this isn’t happening. He’s fucking us over, Ghost.” His voice rises, echoing through the room.I nod, knowing he’s right, but I can’t let him handle this the way he wants to. “I’ll sort it, but I need him to talk to me first. If I go in swinging, he’ll just push back harder,” I say, my tone firm.His jaw clenches, but he nods. “What about Max?”The mention of him makes my stomach twist. I shrug. “Sal went to bed, had a nap, and was back at it this morning, but Max isn’t breaking. He’s still holding out.” And I hate it. If he won’t talk, then I don’t know who else has seen those fucking videos. If anyone else has copies, they could
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Beneath The Mask Fighting For Him
Ghost POVHis body sprawled against the hardwood, his face pale, his lips parted slightly as if he’d just exhaled his last breath. My pulse slams into my ribs, my stomach lurching violently as I take a step forward.Then I see him.Giovanni.Sitting in the leather chair, a glass of whiskey in his hand, his smirk slow and taunting as he lifts it in a silent toast.“Good timing, Valenti,” he muses, swirling the amber liquid before taking a leisurely sip. “I was just admiring my work.”The second the words leave Giovanni’s lips, my mind blanks. My body moves before I can even process it, dropping to my knees beside Prince.“Prince!” My voice cracks as I grip his face, tilting his head toward me. His skin is ice cold, his chest barely moving with each shallow breath. I shake him, fingers digging into his cheeks. “Wake the fuck up! Open your eyes!”Nothing.“Come on, you stubborn bastard,” I whisper, my hands roaming, searching for a wound, a sign of injury—something I can fix. But there’s
Last Updated : 2025-02-18
Latest chapter
Beneath The Mask Happy
Ghost’s POVThe estate hums with a quiet, controlled energy. It’s not like before, not the constant shifting of power, the tension of men waiting for orders, unsure of where their loyalty should fall. No, this is different. This is stability, control. The kind of power that comes when every loose end has been tied, every move made with precision.Six months ago, the chaos of merging two families under one name seemed impossible, but here we are. There was bloodshed, betrayal, battles fought in the dark, but in the end, the Moretti name swallowed everything whole.And Lorenzo stands at the center of it all, like he was always meant to.It still feels strange sometimes, calling him that. For so long, he was Prince—an untouchable force of nature that crashed through my life and ruined me in the best fucking way. But he doesn’t go by that anymore. He stripped that name from himself the same way he burned away everything tied to his past.Prince was the name his father put on him, and it t
Beneath The Mask Strange
Prince POVThe hum of the jet is steady, almost soothing, and for the first time in a long time, my body doesn’t feel weighed down by expectation or responsibility. I should be thinking about everything we left behind, the work waiting for us when we return, but all I can focus on is Ghost’s warmth pressed against my side.I swirl the whiskey in my glass, watching the amber liquid catch the soft lighting. My head is clearer than it’s been in weeks, and maybe it’s the altitude or the silence between us, but I know this is the moment to say what’s been lingering in my mind.“I forgive you.”Ghost stills beside me. His arm, draped lazily over my shoulders, tenses. He doesn’t speak right away, just tilts his head slightly to look at me.“You forgive me,” he repeats, as if testing the words, trying to make sense of them.I nod, setting my glass down. “Yeah. For the kidnapping, for everything. I hated you for it, Ghost. I wanted to fucking kill you for it, and I won’t pretend I didn’t. But
Beneath The Mask For Him
Ghost POVThe past few weeks have been hell. Chaos, tension, and the never-ending grind of fixing what was broken. Prince has spent every second of the last week since we married solidifying his hold, making sure his men follow him, and reclaiming what was his. At the same time, my father has been preparing to hand everything over to me.There’s one thing we haven’t spoken about, though. Something I’ve already discussed with my father. Even though I’ll be taking over soon, his opinion still holds weight.Running two separate families, keeping our business dealings apart like we’re enemies, seems fucking stupid. We’re married, we live together, and our men are already working alongside each other. Keeping it divided is like clinging to something outdated, something that doesn’t fit the reality of what we are now.It’s a conversation I need to have with Prince, and now, with the meal winding down and everyone moving into the other room to drink, it’s time.I place a hand on his arm, sto
Beneath The Mask Showing My Strength
Prince POVIf I’m going to lead, if I’m going to secure my place, I need to make sure there’s no doubt about where I stand. And I need to make damn sure everyone else knows it too.The man shifts in his seat, trying to keep his posture straight despite the way his arms are bound behind the chair. His lip is swollen, blood smeared across his jaw, but his eyes—they’re what piss me off the most. He isn’t scared. He should be.I exhale slowly, my fingers flexing at my sides. “Let’s skip the bullshit. You don’t like me. I get it. You wanted someone else to take over, and now you’re sitting here bleeding while I stand in front of you.” I tilt my head. “Tell me, how do you think this ends?”His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t answer.Ghost leans against the wall, arms crossed, watching. He’s letting me handle this, letting me take the lead. I can feel his gaze on me, assessing, waiting to see what I’ll do.I crouch down in front of the man, resting my elbows on my knees. “Loyalty,” I say, watch
Beneath The Mask Focusing On Work
Prince POVA week has passed since the meeting where the men accepted me as their boss. The tension that had been thick in the air that day has finally settled, and everything seems to be running smoothly. No one is openly challenging my authority anymore, and while there are still some lingering doubts in certain circles, no one dares to act on them. Not yet, at least.Ash has been on top of things, making sure operations are running like clockwork. The businesses are stable, the money is flowing, and the ports are secure. The men who had hesitated before have either fallen in line or disappeared quietly, knowing that their loyalty isn’t up for debate.I should feel accomplished. I should feel like I’ve won. But the truth is, I don’t feel much of anything.My mind is still scattered, still tangled in everything that’s happened. I haven’t touched alcohol since the poisoning, though the urge is there. Not because I need it to function, but because I need something to dull the thoughts
Beneath The Mask His Strength
Ghost POVPrince stands at the head of the table, his face unreadable, his hands resting lightly against the dark wood. He’s composed, but I can see the way his fingers tighten slightly, the only sign of the exhaustion clinging to him. This isn’t about cigars. It’s about control. Power. The future of his leadership.I stay just behind him, watching, listening. This is his moment. I won’t interfere unless I have to.“You all know why we’re here,” Prince starts, his voice steady, controlled. “Giovanni is dead. I’ve taken over, and I have no interest in forcing anyone to stay who doesn’t want to. But if you do stay, things will be different.”Some of them exchange glances, but no one speaks yet. They’re waiting, listening.“I’m offering each of you more than you had under Giovanni. Five percent of the profits from the territories you oversee. It’s not just a paycheck—it’s a direct stake in what you build, a reason to keep this family strong. That is what I’m offering.”His words settle o
Beneath The Mask His Men
Ghost POVPrince is useless right now, as bad as it sounds. He stuck around, tried to help, but every time he spoke, he made things worse. His Capo kept looking at him like he had lost his damn mind, caught between respecting him as their boss and questioning if he was in any state to be leading them.So now, he’s asleep again. And honestly, it’s for the best. He needs to be sharp when he meets with the men later. I’m trying not to overstep, just handling the basics and making sure everything runs smoothly. Any requests for meetings, deals, or negotiations have been pushed back a few days.His men were standing around like they had no fucking clue what to do. It makes me wonder how Giovanni handled them. If this happened on my side, my Capo would have been quick to clean up the mess, eliminate any threats, and get everything back in order before anyone even had a chance to notice.The De Luca Capo, on the other hand, just stood there dumbfounded. It took me outright ordering them to g
Beneath The Mask Letting Him DO IT
Prince POVMind is useless as I scramble for an answer.“The arms dealer,” I continue, my voice flat. “He’s got direct supply lines to some of the best weapons in the country. Losing him doesn’t just mean weaker defenses, it means weaker offense. If a war starts and he’s not backing me, I’m going in blind while the other side is stocked.”Ghost nods again, like he already expected that answer.“Then the street boss,” I mutter, rubbing my forehead. “He manages all the foot soldiers. If he doesn’t pledge to me, I lose bodies. Numbers. Without him, I’ll have the higher-ups but no one left to actually enforce my rule.”I exhale, my fingers pressing against my temples. “And then there’s the club owner. He’s the one who controls the places where all these deals go down. The meetings, the payments, the contracts. If he refuses to align with me, I lose neutral ground. I lose the space to negotiate, to work things out before they turn bloody.”Ghost watches me, waiting for more, but my mind is
Beneath The Mask Main men
Prince POVWaking up feels disorienting, my body lighter than before, but my mind sluggish, struggling to piece together how I even got here. The last thing I remember was leaning into Ghost, his warmth steady against mine. Did I really fall asleep on him? That doesn’t feel like something I’d let myself do, not after everything. Yet, here I am, lying in bed with no memory of moving.Sitting up, I drag a hand down my face, trying to shake off the remnants of exhaustion. My limbs feel less like dead weight, but there’s still a heaviness in my chest, an ache deep in my muscles that refuses to fade completely. The poison may be wearing off, but the effects still linger beneath my skin.I push the blankets back and move to the bathroom, needing something to ground me. The hot water pelts against my skin, steam curling around me as I let the shower rinse away the last dregs of weakness. By the time I step out and dress, the fog in my mind has lifted slightly, but the weight of everything st
