•GIANNI•After Kinley left, I felt as though I may just go insane.I was going over the different enemies I had made over the years trying to link them to Giovanni's death.But none of it made sense, there were too many loopholes. I just wanted to figure something out. But my head was spinning from the bottle I had finished.It didn't stop me from opening a second one, I couldn't sleep. Each time I tried to close my eyes, I would see Giovanni's body laying there with bullet holes everywhere and blood around him.I took a swig from the bottle and attempted to get to my feet. Falling over, I stayed there for a moment. I hated myself when my tears fell.I was an Esposito. How could I sit here, crying on the floor like a pathetic mess?Giovanni would be ashamed.I shook my head, it was no wonder why my father didn't want me.He had always told me I was too soft. I would never make it as an Esposito.I would always embarrass the family name. It was one of the main reasons I had become so
I stretched out on the bed, feeling for Gianni as I woke up.He wasn't there and I let out a sigh before getting up to take a shower and get ready for the day ahead.I was beginning to feel sluggish from all the stress about everything that was going on, and today I was going to the funeral home with Billie to go over everything for Giovanni's send-off.All things I would have rather put off, but I knew I couldn't.After my shower I went to find Gianni, he wasn't in his study and I noted that it was still left in a mess.I was surprised to find him sitting outside near the pool staring out blankly."Gia?"He immediately reached out for me as I approached him, "I'm sorry about last night."I nodded, "It's okay, you're dealing with a lot right now," I hesitated, unsure of my next words, "What was Billie doing with you?""She came in, probably to check on me after I broke the windows. Nothing happened if that's what you're thinking.""I'm not sure what I'm thinking. Gianni, maybe you sho
The day of the funeral came by a lot quicker than I had expected it to.There were a lot of people joining us and I tried my best to be support for Gianni, although I was still feeling sickly. More so now than before.Even as we stood beside the grave site I had to force myself not to throw up.When we got to the wake, I couldn't hold it anymore and rushed to one of the bathrooms to expel what little was in my stomach.Gianni had seen me rush off and came in, closing the door behind him, "Are you okay?""No. I feel like crap."Come, let me take you to the doctors.""Not now, how will it look if we leave?""I don't care how it looks, Gattina. You are my priority."I sighed and heaved, but my stomach was empty."Okay." I couldn't stand this any longer.Gianni helped me to the car before we left, I was feeling even more nauseas than before, and stuck my head out the open window in the hopes that the cool wind would help me a bit.When we got to the doctors, Gianni got a call so I went in
•KINLEY•Lola had been walked in much like she owned the place and demanded to see Gianni.Not wanting to have to deal with her again, Billie and I sat in the living room area discussing things for her baby.Luca knew about my pregnancy, but had promised us he would not mention it until we were ready.There was a knock at the front door and we both looked up with a frown, no one ever knocked to come in, one of the guards would tell us someone was around and Gianni would give the go-ahead to see them.They knocked again.Getting to my feet I went over to the door with Billie following behind.As soon as I opened the door, I realized my mistake.Men wearing all black with masks stormed us, knocking me to the floor before shoving Billie down. We each had a man pointing a gun in our faces as a hoard of more men rushed through the house.Panic set in and I screamed before I was hit across the face with the gun.Luca came running, but froze when he saw the situation we were in.Although he
•KINLEY•I was sitting on a chair, my feet bound and my wrists tied tightly to the window. I had already been here for twenty-four hours.Talon had brought me to a small apartment, it appeared that everyone in the building had something going on, no one had even looked out when I screamed.I watched him as he busied himself in the open-plan kitchen as if this was extremely normal to have someone tied up as your prisoner."Do you want something to eat and drink?" He asked as if I was a willing guest."No." My face hurt from where he had hit me, and I could feel the swelling."You need to eat. It's not good for the child if you don't eat."I frowned slightly, wondering why the hell he was acting as if he cared about Gianni's baby."Talon, cut the crap. You don't give two shits about me or this baby."He looked up at first before he walked over to me with the kitchen knife in his hand.He crouched down in front of me, "That's not true. I love you." It was strange, gone was the rage-fille
•KINLEY•I was still tied to the window and my body was beginning to ache from being in this position for so long.Not that Talon cared.He sat on the sofa watching television while I stared down at the street below trying to figure out where we were.It was a small side street we were in, but I couldn't see much more than that.I assumed we were facing away from the beach because I could see no hint at the sea in the view ahead."This is ridiculous, Talon. I can't sit like this for much longer, it hurts.""I'll take you to the room later. Once I can trust you, I'll stop tying you up."I leaned my head against the cool glass of the window, closing my eyes and wishing this could all just be a dream.It was going for day two that he had left me tied to this dreadful window and I was already giving up.I opened my eyes and caught sight of something in the street below.Men in black suits.I glanced over to Talon, making sure he was still occupied before turning back to the window with ho
•GIANNI•Walking into the mansion, the first thing I noticed was that both Billie and Tatum were no longer there.I was about to walk back out when Luca came running towards me."Boss. The men think they may have found her. A woman was screaming from a building.""Where? Let's go.""They haven't gone in, they are waiting for your go-ahead," Luca spoke as we made our way toward the car."Tell them to surround it and wait until we get there. I want to be the one to go in. Billie and Tatum are - What the fuck is that?" In front of our gate sat a string of black cars.I immediately pulled my gun and Luca did the same, we didn't have time for this. We needed to find Kinley."Going somewhere?" He asked as he stepped out of the car, an FBI bulletproof jacket strapped to his chest."Yes. My wife-""Allow me to introduce myself, Agent King."My blood boiled at the name. He was the one who had tried to turn Kinley against me."Lower your guns." He instructed us.I wanted to shoot my way through
•KINLEY•I felt like a coward. I didn't want to face Billie after what had happened to her.So I sent flowers and a card once I was released from the hospital.Gianni seemed to be keeping his distance from me, and it made me feel a bit hurt. But I also knew he was busy trying to find Giovanni's killer and Talon.Gianni would disappear downstairs for hours at night, I could only imagine what he was doing to Talon."Kin?"I tightened my hold on my warm cup of tea as Luca walked in."How are you feeling?"I shrugged, "Okay, I guess. But I keep having nightmares of him coming at me.""He can't get to you. I've been down there, he's not getting out."I looked over at Luca, "Why is Gianni keeping him alive for so long? Look what happened with Dom."Luca sighed and leaned over, dropping a hand to my knee, "I know it's scary. But Gianni wants him to suffer. We both do."I looked down at my tea cup when the tears formed in my eyes, "I've always believed that it's not our place to take a life.