Chapter 17

Valentino’s POV

“There can’t be any light without darkness, and there can’t be success without struggle.” His voice recoiled in my head as I puffed the smoke into Sasha’s face.

I had lived my whole life, hidden in plain sight. Like a lyricist, I had penned down my every move. Markos, my late mentor, had taught me the way of the streets, even the deeds of Wall Street elitist movers and shakers.

I was well-versed in business dealings and knew how to seize opportunities when I saw them lurking around me. For a moment, I looked at Sasha and asked if I spotted an opportunity in her or if it was my emotions trying to drag me to a place I never wanted to be.

As difficult as it was for me to understand, love was also hard for me to comprehend. “I don’t let people into my world. I’ve got to save something for myself. I can’t just let everybody know everything about me,” I muttered, looking her in the face.

“Am I everyone, Val?” Sasha said as she turned, facing me with her mouth wide open.

“Don