Prince POVWhen I wake, I’m still wrapped around Ghost. For a moment, I don’t move, don’t even open my eyes. I let myself just be. Somehow, everything feels... right. There’s a strange sense of normalcy in this, even though it’s far from normal.“Why was the marriage pulled forward?” Ghost’s voice cuts through the stillness, his tone sharp. I groan inwardly. So much for pretending, for escaping into the quiet.“Prince?” he prompts again, more insistent this time.Reluctantly, I open my eyes and find him staring at me. He looks like he hasn’t slept, his expression hard and unrelenting.“I’ve been going over it all night,” he says, his voice tight with frustration. “Over and over. There was no reason for it to be pushed forward. So, what am I missing?”Sighing, I sit up and move to grab a coffee from the side. Anything to delay the inevitable conversation.“Prince?” His voice sharpens.“Because I’m taking over!” I snap, turning to face him. The words tumble out before I can stop them. “
Prince POV“Why are you keeping it hidden?” Ghost asks suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence. He’s staring at me, his expression a mixture of hurt and betrayal.“My father said not to announce it until I was married,” I say quietly, unable to meet his gaze. “Everyone we work with knows to keep it quiet. It gives us the edge. Your family thinks my father is still calling the shots, that I have no power. It means you didn’t suspect me. It means you didn’t realize how much I was actually doing.”His face twists with anger and something deeper—something closer to heartbreak. I don’t blame him. Then again, we were rivals. Why would I have told him the truth?“That meeting with my father,” Ghost says, his voice clipped. “The marriage to Josie. Was that you too?”I shake my head quickly. “No. I had no knowledge of that. We agreed my father would deal with yours to keep up appearances, to sell the act. I never knew about the marriage to Josie. I was just as shocked as you.”His expr
Prince POV“Your silence just confirms it,” Ghost says, his voice low and bitter. He downs the drink in one swallow, his back turned to me now.I don’t know what to say. I can’t go back and change what happened to Marcello. I can’t undo what I’ve done. All I know is that I didn’t want my father to think I was weak, didn’t want him to think I was soft on Ghost. And now? Now I’ve destroyed the one thing I wanted to keep intact.The door opens, and neither of us moves. Ghost glares at his glass, and I stare at him, waiting. This tension, this unspoken storm between us, was inevitable. At least it’s happening now and not hanging over us later.“Figured you could do with something to pass the time between giving us videos,” the man sneers from the doorway, his voice grating and smug. He lingers in the doorway, watching us like we’re his entertainment.I don’t turn to face him; I’m too focused on Ghost, silently willing him to speak. Say something. Anything.“You two seem busy, just don’t f
Ghost POVI didn’t sleep. Every moment replayed in my head, over and over—how the wedding got pushed forward, how wrong it all felt, and then Prince’s bombshell admission that he’s been in charge all along.That shit hit me like a brick. I didn’t see it coming, and it unraveled everything. Because it means all this time, Prince made moves without a second thought about me. He didn’t think about how I’d feel, didn’t consider the fallout. He just did it.And then he couldn’t even say he’d stand up to his father if it came down to my life. He couldn’t promise he’d say no if ordered to kill me. I’ve been so focused on wanting him, on trying to win him, that I didn’t stop to see how little he actually cares.This wasn’t always like this. We weren’t always enemies, always fighting. We were close once—close enough that I thought, deep down, he still held some care for me. But now I see it. He doesn’t. He never cared enough to stop his father from killing me. He wouldn’t hesitate to do it him
Ghost POVAnd then he moves. With a guttural growl of frustration, he surges up, closing the distance between us, his lips crashing into mine with a force that leaves me reeling.The kiss is violent, desperate, a collision of teeth and tongue and pent-up emotion. It’s every argument we’ve never finished, every touch we’ve denied ourselves, every unsaid word spilling out in a chaotic, messy, passionate clash.I kiss him back just as fiercely, pouring every ounce of frustration and longing and anger into it, and for the first time, it feels like we’re finally saying everything we’ve never been able to put into words.When we break apart, our breaths come in harsh gasps, mingling in the charged space between us. Prince’s eyes bore into mine, wide with a mix of shock and something dangerously close to desire. His lips are swollen, the evidence of our clash still fresh, and for a fleeting moment, he looks torn—caught between running and diving deeper.“This changes nothing,” he whispers, b
Ghost POV“Fuck,” I gasp, my voice raw. “Prince, I—”“Say it,” he demands, his tone razor-sharp, each word punctuated by another relentless thrust. “Say you were wrong.”I bite down hard on my lip, torn apart by conflicting emotions—my pride and my desperate, aching need for release. “I—I was wrong,” I finally choke out, the words barely audible over the pounding of my heartbeat and the sound of skin against skin.Prince’s hips falter, his movements growing erratic, and with a guttural groan, he spills inside me. His hand tightens around my cock, and the combination of sensations sends me careening over the edge. My vision blurs as I shudder violently, waves of pleasure crashing through me and leaving me breathless.We collapse together, tangled on the cold floor, our bodies heaving with exhaustion. For a long, drawn-out moment, neither of us speaks. The weight of what just happened settles over us like a suffocating blanket, impossible to ignore or push away.Finally, Prince rolls of
Prince POVTime seems to stretch and warp in this place. Ghost and I have tried to piece together how long we’ve been here, basing it on the number of times we’ve slept or when they bring food, but it’s impossible to be sure. Ghost thinks we’ve been here two weeks, while I feel like it’s been just a week. Then again, with everything going on, I can’t seem to focus long enough to figure it out. My mind won’t let me. I’m too wound up, too mentally wrecked to think straight.Meanwhile, Ghost is grinning like a damn cat who got the cream as he places his cards down, triumphant once again. I groan loudly. I’ve lost, again! There’s no way he’s not cheating. I mean, come on—how the hell is he winning this much? It defies all logic.At one point, I was so sure he was hiding cards somewhere that I actually told him to strip down so I could check. He kept his hands firmly in front of him the entire time and, of course, there was nothing. Still, I’m not entirely convinced. There has to be someth
Prince POVI join in the search, my pulse pounding as I frantically check every door, every corner. Finally, I find a door that leads to a narrow staircase. “Here!” I shout, the word bursting from me like a lifeline. Ghost appears immediately, his pace urgent as he rushes forward, overtaking me to take the lead. He reaches the door first but stops abruptly, his body tensing.“We’re going back, Prince. Stay in touch, let me know you’re okay, but I will stay away,” he says quietly, his tone devoid of the intensity I’d expected. His words land heavily, and before I can respond, he starts climbing the stairs, his movements brisk but mechanical. At the top, he shoves a hatch open, flooding the space with blinding light. I groan, shielding my eyes as the brightness stings and distorts my vision.Ghost climbs out first, pausing at the top to extend his hand toward me. I stand at the bottom, my eyes flickering back to the rooms behind me. A hesitation grips me, rooting me in place.“Prince, c
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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