Valenti - Ghost POVThe newspaper in my hands feels like poison, each word seeping under my skin and clawing at my bones. The engagement. That damn engagement. It’s all anyone can talk about, as if the very world hinges on this spectacle of pomp and pretense. But they’re wrong. Dead wrong. It’s not the grandest union of the century—it’s the gravest mistake. And I know it.The De Lucas parade their son’s engagement like a trophy, their arrogance spreading like wildfire. If there’s a corner of the earth untouched by their boasting, I’d be shocked. And the lovely Serena Castelli, the radiant bride-to-be? She has no idea of the monster she’s promised herself to. Not a clue.The sharp rip of paper tears me from my thoughts, and my father’s voice detonates like a bomb in the room. “This is an embarrassment!” he roars, slamming his fists on the table, the newspaper now crumpled in his iron grip. “Their daughter is married, their son is next, and you—you’re nothing!” His voice is acid, each w
Lorenzo - PrinceThe estate feels suffocating tonight. The chandeliers hang heavy with their false brilliance, illuminating a world of polished wood and expensive lies. My father’s men move like shadows along the edges of the room, their presence more of a threat than a comfort.When I hear the roar of tires on wet cobblestone, my chest tightens. Mac is late. He’s never late.The car screeches to a halt outside, and I move to the window, watching as Mac stumbles out. Even from here, I can see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands shake as he adjusts his jacket. Something’s wrong.“You’re empty-handed?” My father’s voice cuts through the room like a blade, sharp and full of accusation. He’s already standing by the door, the commanding presence that has ruled this family for decades.“I’ll handle this,” I say, raising a hand to stop him. There’s no use in letting him go off now—not until I know what’s going on. I step out onto the front steps, my shoes echoing against the ston
GhostI watch him walk away, his shoulders tight with anger, every step radiating tension. Perfect. I can feel the satisfaction curling in my chest. He likes to act untouchable, doesn’t he? The perfect son. The golden boy. The heir who’ll one day run his family like a king on a throne. But he’s not perfect. Far from it. He’s hiding things—dark, ugly secrets that claw at him from the inside. And I’ll be the one to rip him apart. I’ll drag the truth out of him, piece by piece, and make him see the man he really is. The man I already see.Kicking off the wall, I take slow, deliberate steps toward the burning crate. The flames crackle and spit, the smell of scorched wood and tobacco filling the air. Smoke rises in curling tendrils, like ghosts reaching for the night sky. Sure, we lost a lot tonight, but what I gained? That’s worth more than every dollar that just went up in flames.His reaction—oh, it was fucking perfect. The way his voice snapped, the way his fists clenched like he was o
GhostYeah, he’s not so fucking innocent, for months we were seeing each other, spending time together. That night we kissed, and it was fucking epic. Then…Everything shattered.**Years before**The air is thick with tension, every step toward the De Luca estate tightening the knot in my chest. My father walks ahead, his posture rigid, his hand never far from the gun holstered under his coat. The damp night air feels suffocating, and I can see the looming figure of Giovanni De Luca waiting for us, arms crossed, his frown carved deep into his face like stone.“Giovanni,” my father says, his voice even but sharp as a blade. “We’re here.”“Salvatore,” Giovanni growls back, his tone dripping with disdain. “A pleasure to have you here. But don’t think this is any sign of an alliance. We’re still at war.”My father smirks coldly. “Like I’d have it any other way. We’re here to pick up our dead, nothing more.”Giovanni nods, his lips curling in a sneer. “Fine. My son, the future heir, will sh
LorenzoThe ride back to the estate feels longer than usual. The air inside the car is heavy with unspoken words, the tension thick enough to choke on. My fists rest on my thighs, the knuckles raw and stinging, a reminder of the punches I threw at Ghost. He’d laughed—laughed—while I was bleeding rage all over him. The image of his smug grin burns in my mind, stoking the fire in my chest.He’s out of control. Unhinged. A walking disaster who lives to taunt and provoke, pushing me to the brink. And the worst part? He’s winning.By the time we pull up to the estate, the sky has darkened, the soft glow of lanterns casting long shadows across the cobblestones. The driver opens my door, and I step out, the cool night air doing little to calm the heat in my veins.Inside, the estate is as pristine and imposing as ever. Everything is too polished, too perfect—a stark contrast to the chaos I just left at the docks. Men move silently through the halls, their eyes lowered, their loyalty absolute
GhostBoredom is a dangerous thing for me. It creeps in like a shadow, curling around my mind, whispering temptations I’m too eager to entertain. And when I get bored, I do stupid, reckless shit—shit that usually comes back to bite me the next day.I should probably reign it in tonight. Probably.If only probably was a year, it's not which means tonight is going to be as wild as the other nights when I'm bored out of my damn mind.But as I sit here, nursing a drink I’m not even enjoying, a thought slips in—one I can’t shake. I’ve got a guy lined up for the night, sure, but that’s predictable, isn’t it? I’ve already fucked him twice—Jake, Josh, John… something with a J. And predictable is boring. He's here, already giving me the eye, so I at least have something to do tonight, or should I say someone?No, I need something different. Something thrilling. And then it hits me.The Prince. Lorenzo.Did he think I’d forget? He once told me about a secret entrance to the De Luca estate, hidd
Ghost POVMy feet halt mid-step as my eyes lock onto a window in the main house. And there he is, Lorenzo, my Princess, oblivious to my presence. He’s in front of the glass, his body moving with purpose, her wrapped around him like a fucking ribbon. Serena Castelli, his perfect little fiancée.Fuck the pool house. I have a better idea.I grab Chase, spinning him to face me, and kiss him hard, my lips bruising against his. He grunts into my mouth, startled but pliant. Releasing him, I shove him against a nearby tree, his hands automatically bracing against the rough bark. He doesn’t resist. He never does.Good.My eyes flick back to the window. Lorenzo hasn’t noticed me yet, too wrapped up in his perfect life, his perfect fiancée. It’s maddening. Watching him, knowing he’s touching her the way I want to touch him, makes my blood boil and my body burn.My hands move quickly, unfastening my trousers with practiced ease. Chase is already pulling his down, eager and compliant. I grab the c
The PrinceI’ve always known Ghost sneaks into the estate. It’s his thing—his twisted way of taunting me, pushing my buttons, trying to provoke a reaction. He’s relentless, like a shadow that refuses to stay where it belongs. But tonight? Tonight, the thought of him being here didn’t even cross my mind. It wasn’t even a consideration.That was my first mistake.I should have known better. Normally, I’m careful. I keep my time with Serena private, calculated, even rehearsed. I know where we can be seen, where we can’t. I’m meticulous because I have to be.So when I looked up—when I happened to glance at the window while I was buried in Serena—and saw him outside with some guy? That wasn’t just a shock. It was a gut punch. Dumbfounded doesn’t even begin to cover it. I felt… frozen. Confused. Lost.He was watching me. Watching us. He knew I was there, knew exactly what I was doing, and yet he didn’t flinch. He didn’t hide. He didn’t stop.And that guy he was with? I don’t know who he is,
Prince POVMy father’s voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts. “Myself and Salvatore have worked to ensure these stay private! Only he and I know. Everyone else thinks we never got anything.”I don’t let my expression falter as I respond coldly, “Keep it that way. I don’t want them out.”His face hardens as he stands abruptly, glaring at me with the full force of his authority. “Are you really giving me orders?”“You just said I’m officially the boss,” I snap, meeting his glare without flinching. “So yes, I fucking am! Delete every single fucking copy.” I stand, the tension between us thick and suffocating. “If they get out, people will know we have weak spots, and others will try to take me again. Not to mention they had fucking Josie! Using her to make us do shit, so delete it.”He tilts his head, studying me, as if weighing his next move. “They never had her! When you two didn’t return, we locked down everything. It was fake!”Fake? My fists clench at my sides as I fight to kee
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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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. “