The Prince
I watch as the news crew packs up getting ready to leave. Josie smiles and leans into me, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel guilty—or bad—about all of this. Usually, I’m honest with the women I date, but I can’t be with Josie.
To Ghost, I'm a liar, I hide who I am and what I am. He’s wrong about me. I have no issue with women. Sure, I don’t feel as strongly about them as I do about men, but I still like them. I’m not like Ghost, who finds the idea of touching a woman a complete turn-off.
I’d say I’m bisexual, though I lean more toward men. But admitting that in this world? It’s utterly foolish—not that Ghost cares. That’s why I’ve always told the women I’ve slept with that I like men too.
But Josie? I can’t tell her that. She’s the daughter of our rival. If she tells her father, Salvatore, this whole deal goes up i
Prince POVSuddenly, he leans forward, his lips meeting mine. For a moment, I forget everything. I forget who we are. I forget the consequences. And I kiss him back. My hand tangles in his hair as he groans into my mouth. His body presses me harder against the wall, his hips buck against mine, and I groan. Shit.“Ghost,” I growl, feeling my cock harden, but he only deepens the kiss, grinding against me harder.Forcing myself to take control, I push him back and step away from the wall, freeing myself from being caged in. We stand there, facing each other, our breathing ragged and heavy.“See? If you honestly felt nothing, that wouldn’t have happened. You fought Josie off harder than you did me.”He’s right, and I have nothing to argue with. There’s only one thing I can do now.“No one in our worlds is ready to accept that their heir—their future Boss—is gay and fuck
Prince POVI look to my father, wanting to reassure him that nothing bad will happen, that Ghost won't be trouble, I know that's his fear. “He won’t be trouble,” I state firmly.“You say that a lot, but he always is,” my father replies. “Ghost has issues, and we need to figure out what they are. There’s a reason he’s so against this wedding. Surely it’s not simply because he wants to keep our families at war?”He looks at me expectantly, and I shrug. Of course that's not why, but I can't let him know that.“It’s Ghost. He doesn’t like change,” I argue, trying to deflect. My mind races for something to say to stop him from digging any deeper. While no one knows about me and Ghost, I can’t risk him stumbling across the truth.“Whether he likes change or not, he needs to accept that this is happening. Tonight is the start,” my father
Ghost’s POVIt’s nothing new, the way my father acts. I know I’m the disappointment—not the perfect son or the right person. Hell, if he could throw me out and replace me with the perfect fucking Prince, he would.This shit is ridiculous. He complains, yet I’m the one following his orders. Taking their shipment? That was his idea. But the fallout? That lands squarely on me.Today was different, though. He did it in front of the De Lucas, like he wanted to make a spectacle of me. I want to go back to before—before I knew who Prince was, and before he knew me.I could’ve been normal. I could’ve forgotten this life that forces me to bury parts of myself that should never see the light. But now? I’m wondering why. Why am I hiding my darkest, deepest secrets when, let’s be honest, I’m already a disgrace? I may as well do something worthy of the title.“You two will need to start working together.” My father looks directly at me. “Many of our business deals will involve both families, so you
Ghost POVI’ve done it, and there’s no turning back now. Even if I wanted to, there’s no contact. Maybe that’s for the best? I can’t second think this or change my mind and realise how fucked up it is.“Ahm.”The sound has me looking up to see Max still waiting. “You’re back again,” I say, and he nods.“Why wouldn’t I?” He steps closer, and I snap the phone, throwing it into the glass of water.“Secret business?” he chuckles, looking at the broken phone.“Something like that,” I say with a shrug, before standing. He steps closer, his lips brushing against mine.“I was thinking, why don’t we switch it up?” His mouth moves down my neck, his fingers slowly unbuckling my belt. “I fuck you for a change.”His words have me laughing. “I don’t do that, ever.” I don’t know why, but I don’t, and I’m not about to start doing it.“You have no idea what you’re missing,” he mutters as he kisses my neck. Maybe he’s right and I don’t, but I’m not about to take that step yet.Leaving the club, I watch
I arrive at the docks and step out of the car. I didn’t bring all my men—Ghost is supposed to show up with his own, and there’s no point in overcrowding the docks with guards. That would only draw the wrong kind of attention.Standing near the entrance, I give instructions to my men, making sure the critical areas of the docks are covered. Then, I head back to the entrance to wait for Ghost. He needs to get his men into position; otherwise, we’ll have weak spots.Glancing at my phone, I sigh. He’s cutting it close. Too close. I turn my gaze to the water and spot the shipment coming in.Where the hell are you?I send the text, my frustration growing as I watch them start unloading the shipment. Of course, Ghost isn’t here. Why the hell would I expect him to show up on time?The sound of shuffling feet behind me makes me turn, and I groan. “Not today. Nice try. Leave.” My glare locks on Deano, the second-in-command of the Calino crew.He chuckles, rolling the cigar between his fingers.
Prince POVThe sound of footsteps behind me snaps me out of my thoughts. I turn quickly, and there he is. I don’t wait. I lunge, slamming him hard against the wall.“Where the fuck were you!” I roar, my voice shaking with fury.He laughs—a dry, infuriating sound. “So I’m late. Who gives a shit?” he spits, smirking.“Everyone!” I bellow, shoving him harder. “The fucking Calino crew showed up, and I didn’t have enough men because you were supposed to bring yours! They took everything!”For just a moment, his smirk falters, replaced by something fleeting—shock, maybe guilt. But it’s gone as quickly as it appeared. “We’ll get it back,” he says with a shrug, his voice annoyingly calm. Then his eyes drop to my arm, widening. “You’re hurt?”“Are you fucking joking? Where were you, Ghost? What was so important that you couldn’t get here in time?” My voice rises, raw and furious. “Well? Come on! While I had a gun shoved in my fucking mouth, where the hell were you?”“I... I was asleep,” he say
Prince POVAfter getting my shoulder patched up, I sit in the office, contemplating how to confront Ghost. He's the sort to run or refuse if he's told what to do which makes this entire thing even more complicated. Moving forward, we need to work together—that means respecting each other’s space and, more importantly, respecting each other enough to show up when needed.No more hiding away or making excuses.Taking out my phone, I type a message:We need to speak. We need to arrange getting the shipment back, and we’re doing it together.As I hit send, the door opens, and Josie walks in. Oh, for God’s sake—I can’t deal with this right now.“You got hurt,” she whispers, her eyes drifting to the bandage on my shoulder.“I’m fine. It’s nothing.” My tone comes out colder than I intend, and she stares at me. I sigh. “Sorry. I’m just stressed and have a lot to deal with.” It's not entirely a lie.She nods and perches on the desk in front of me. “Why did you defend him?”I frown. “Defend who
Ghost’s POVI walk away from Prince, determined to cause some shit. I lied when I said I didn’t think we’d need soldiers—I just hadn’t read my father’s messages to know I was supposed to arrange them.This entire screw-up is on me. Which means it’s on me to fix—not Prince, not anyone else. I walk for a while, my mind racing, before sitting down to come up with a plan.If I bring in soldiers, if I get anyone involved, my father will tell the De Lucas that I’m planning to retaliate. Prince has already been hurt. I can’t risk dragging anyone else into this. I have to do this alone. And it’s not like I can’t—I know how to handle myself. I know how to protect myself.I start walking again and head to the warehouses. The guys there watch me but don’t say a word. Their eyes follow me as I uncover the SUV, their expressions growing more curious. I ignore them and begin loading up weapons, tucking them into every available space.Deano is dead. I don’t care if I die trying. What he did went to
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