Leonardo POV I couldn’t stop thinking about how her lips felt against mine—soft, warm, perfect. The way she looked at me afterward, her eyes wide with surprise, haunted me. And now I was furious. Furious with her. Furious with myself. “Control, Leonardo. Get a grip.” I slammed my fists into the punching bag, harder with every swing. Each hit sent sharp jolts through my knuckles, but the pain wasn’t enough to drown out the memory of Kimberly. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. Every time I breathed, I remembered the scent of her perfume—light and citrusy, like trouble waiting to happen. I hit the bag again. And again. But the frustration refused to go away. It simmered just under my skin, bubbling hotter the longer I stayed away from her. Avoiding her wasn’t working. I thought distance would calm me, but even here in Italy, the space between us only made things worse. I wiped the sweat from my brow, gritting my teeth. The memory of our kiss wasn’t going anywhere. And wors
Kimberly POV I woke to a persistent knock on my door. Did I mention I’ve moved out of this room already? Well, now I’m back here again, the only place that feels familiar in this twisted mansion.“Come in,” I said groggily, rubbing my eyes.Enzo entered, casting me a look laced with impatience.“You’ve been sleeping since yesterday, until now?” he asked, his tone dripping with judgement.I sighed, irritation stirring. This guy was really starting to get under my skin.“What—” I began, but he cut me off.“The boss wants to see you. Now,” he said.“The boss? Leonardo’s back? Since when?”“Please come with me,” Enzo replied, pretending he hadn’t heard me. He clearly had no intention of filling me in.I was still in shorts and an oversized T-shirt. Since he hadn’t suggested I change, I took that as permission to stay as I was. If Leonardo didn’t like it, he could blame Enzo, not me.Following his brisk pace, I realised we were heading to a part of the house I’d never seen before. The furt
Kimberly POV I paced the hallway, my mind racing. Was Leonardo serious? Would he actually hurt Lan? I’d been calling him for hours, but he wasn’t picking up. At one point, his phone had been switched off, and my heart leapt into my throat. “Please, Lan, answer me.’Seeing Mario near the entrance, I hurried over. He seemed friendlier than the others, and maybe he’d tell me something I could believe.“Mario,” I called out, my voice laced with nervous energy.He turned and offered a casual smile, as though nothing were wrong. For a second, I was stunned. “Didn’t he just witness a murder? How do they all do it?” “Hey, Kimberly, what’s up?” he asked, seemingly oblivious to my distress.“Kimberly? You okay?” he said again, his brows knitting together.“No, Mario. I need to talk to my brother.” My voice wavered. “Leonardo threatened him earlier, and now I can’t reach Lan.”Mario smiled slightly, but I saw something flicker in his gaze, just for a second. “Leonardo wouldn’t hurt Lan,” he repl
Kimberly POV Enzo soon called to tell me it was time to leave. I was glad I came. It had been a good day already.Luciana clung to my cargo pants as I tried to go. “It’s okay, she’ll come visit another time,” Emily said, trying to coax her daughter. Lucy reluctantly let go, but the tears in her eyes nearly undid me. “Babies—they’re so sweet,” I murmured, bending down to hug her. “You’ll come again, huh?” she whispered, her lip trembling. “Pinky promise,” she said, thrusting her tiny finger toward me. I laughed softly and hooked my pinky around hers. “Pinky promise,” I whispered, meaning it. I already saw family here, even if they weren’t supposed to be mine. Behind me, Enzo cleared his throat. I shot him to look sharp enough to cut glass. I understood their rules—emotions weren’t encouraged. But was he really this heartless? I hissed under my breath and gave Emily a final hug before following him out the door. In the car, I noticed the food flask beside me. Emily had
Kimberly POV I knew I wasn’t supposed to talk to this person, but curiosity got the better of me. At first, I tried to ignore the strange message—some random person offering me help out of nowhere—but something in the words pulled at me. “Help.” The idea of escaping this life, of leaving Leonardo and this sick life behind, was too tempting to resist. So, I opened the message and replied. “Who is this?” I typed. The response came almost instantly, making my heart skip. “Someone who can help you.” Help. The word wrapped around me like a lifeline, and suddenly, I couldn’t let go. Help meant hope. It meant a way out. “How?” I typed quickly, my fingers trembling slightly as I hit send. “I can help you leave that place,” came the reply. My chest tightened, and I sat up straighter on the bed, now wide awake. The weight I carried every day—the helplessness, the suffocation—shifted, just a little. Could this really be the way out? “Help me leave here? How?” There was a pause,
The night before That evening, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as my mind spun in circles. The air in the room felt too thick, pressing down on my chest like a weight I couldn’t escape. The phone beside me glowed faintly in the dark, a reminder that everything I knew was about to change. Sleep teased the edges of my mind, but it refused to stay. My thoughts raced. What if I had gone too far? What if there was no way back? Just as I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness, the phone buzzed, sharp and intrusive. I grabbed it with shaky fingers. A message from S. "Just a little push. Tomorrow, everything will change."I swallowed hard, my throat dry. I wanted to believe I'm just not doing the wrong thing.The Next Morning The moment my eyes opened, my hand instinctively reached for my phone. Lately, checking my I*******m has become a reflex—since I met s. Today was no different. I scrolled mindlessly until a message from S appeared, waiting for me like a coiled snake."You'
Kimberly POV A sharp sting jolted me awake, pain searing through my back. I blinked, struggling to piece together what was happening, as the sound of gunshots broke through the haze, bringing me back to reality.“Kimberly.” My name floated through the chaos, barely audible.“Kimberly!” The voice came again, louder this time, unmistakable. Leonardo. I could pick out his voice anywhere.Gritting my teeth, I made a feeble attempt to stand, but it was futile. The stone crumbled instantly under my fingers, tumbling down in a dusty heap. The mansion was nothing but rubble now, reduced to mere debris.Another explosion ripped through the air, and I stumbled back to the ground, clutching my side as pain flared up my spine.I forced myself up again, only to see Leonardo rushing toward me. But a pile of fallen bricks had already risen between us, forming an impassable wall.I couldn’t go out, and he couldn’t get in. All around me, the walls continued to cave, pieces collapsing one after anothe
Leonardo POV I rested my head on the desk, the world around me fading as the conversation with Salvatore played on repeat in my mind. His voice was so clear, full of malice, too alive in my thoughts, and every word was like a fresh reminder that he never left.****** The Day Of The Explosion I was sipping my morning coffee when my phone buzzed. It was an unknown number. I picked it up regardless.Silence hung in the air before a voice cut through it—cold, smooth, and maddeningly familiar.“Hello, Mr. Leonardo,” he greeted.The sound of his voice was enough to make my blood run cold. I gripped the edge of the table, forcing myself to stay calm. “Salvatore.”“Nardo,” he purred, his tone thick with mockery. Only Salvatore called me that, his favourite insult hidden under a thin layer of sarcasm.“So quick to remember me”My teeth clenched, jaw tight. “What do you want?”“Ah, straight to business, as always.” He chuckled—a low, grating sound that made me clench my fist around the coffe
The night stretched endlessly as we arrived at the port, only to be stopped by cops at the gate.“Hold it right there. You can’t go in,” a voice barked.I rattled the gate, testing if it was unlocked, but it held firm. A frustrated sigh escaped my lips as I stepped back and watched Enzo negotiate with the security officer. The man’s sceptical gaze shifted to me, his eyes narrowing as he took in my dishevelled appearance. I know I look no different from a street hoodlum. Part of my shirt torn, the dirty jacket I had grabbed earlier hung on my shoulder.“How do I know you’re a Fiore?” the cop asked, his tone laced with suspicion.Mario intervened, flashing our ID. “This is enough proof.” I stayed silent, too focused on the task ahead to entertain conversation. The clock was ticking, and every wasted second gnawed at my patience.After a moment of scrutiny, the cop relented. “Okay,” he muttered, unlocking the gate and letting us through.“Don’t cause trouble.” Trouble was the least o
The sound of gunfire echoed endlessly, a grim reminder that this nightmare was far from over. I tried contacting Enzo and Mario, but neither line was connecting. Salvatore’s men were dwindling in numbers, but reinforcements seemed to appear from nowhere, emerging like shadows. “Your last wish, Salvatore?” I asked, my voice sharp as I cornered him. “To hell with you,” he spat, fear and anger flickering in his eyes like a dying flame. “Are you sure that’s how you want to end it?” I tilted my head, cocking my gun. “After all, what have you done with your miserable life?” He moved suddenly, his hand darting toward his pocket. My finger tightened on the trigger, and I fired before he could pull anything out. But either I was too slow, or the force of the bullet knocked something loose. A small metallic ball rolled from his hand and clattered to the floor. My instincts screamed, but it was too late—a deafening explosion ripped through the air, and a thick, choking cloud envel
Kimberly POV The crusty, dry bread lay on the floor in front of me, its stale scent wafting up and twisting my empty stomach. My body ached, but my pride burned hotter. There was no way I’d stoop so low to eating something this disgusting. Marcus strolled in, his sharp eyes zeroing in on the untouched bread. “Why aren’t you eating, baby girl?” His voice was calm, but there was venom beneath it. I didn’t answer. He tilted his head, smirking. “What’s wrong? Has Leonardo been feeding you something better than what your father ever could?” My fists clenched, but I kept my face blank, letting my thoughts drift. Once upon a time, To be honest, this bread would have been a nice meal for me and my dad. But since I got in with Leonardo I only ate rich foods. Butter bread. Now, the memory of enjoying something so plain felt foreign I turned my head away, refusing to meet Marcus’s gaze. His footsteps closed the distance between us. “You know,” he began, his voice softer, “you’re beau
Leonardo pov "I tried to find a hint in the video, and here..." The tech bro's voice broke through the static hum in the room, drawing my attention to the monitor. He pointed at the screen. "There’s a reflection of neon lights."I leaned in, squinting at the faint glow. The lights were blurry, barely distinguishable against the shadows."This is useless," Mario groaned, pacing behind me. "Neon lights are everywhere.""No, not this time," I said, my voice sharp. My mind raced, connecting the dots. "This is spring—neon light production slows down during this season. It’s expensive to maintain, so only people who already have it would use it.""Which means what?" Mario asked, crossing his arms."Salvatore and Marcus wouldn’t bother setting up neon lights just to record this video," I replied. "If there’s neon light in the room, someone nearby owns it."The tech bro hesitated. "But neon lights aren’t exactly rare—""They are when it comes to private ownership," I cut in, dragging a chair
Leonardo pov Getting the territory permanently seemed so close, almost within my grasp—until now. The insistent buzz of my phone shattered my thoughts. I’ve been ignoring business-related calls lately, focusing solely on finding Kimberly. Yet, when I glanced at the screen, the unfamiliar number gave me pause. My brows furrowed. It could only be Marcus or the other bastard. I answered. “Nardo, I never thought our next conversation would happen so soon,” came the voice, too casual for the situation. “Salvatore,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. “Where the hell is Kimberly?” He laughed, a grating, mocking sound. “You took everything from me, Leonardo, and you think I’d let you live in peace?” His tone shifted, laced with malice. “Of course not, dear Nardo. I’ll take everyone who matters to you and ensure your precious Grece territory becomes utterly worthless.” “Get to the point,” I snapped. “What do you want? Let Kimberly go, and we’ll settle this.” Salvatore c
(Leonardo pov)The receptionist flashed me a wide smile as she gestured toward the hall leading to his office. I didn’t return it. The walls of this place, once familiar, now felt suffocating. It wasn’t the building—it was him. I didn’t knock. The door creaked open, and there he was—Colton Fiore, better known as *Supremo.* A newspaper in his hands, glasses perched on his nose, his expression unreadable as always. “You finally see it fit to visit me,” he said, not looking up. “Kimberly has been abducted,” I said, skipping the pleasantries. He didn’t flinch. Instead, he folded the newspaper carefully, resting it on the desk. When he finally looked at me, it was with the same calm precision he used to dismantle his enemies. “Sit down, Leonardo,” he said, as though we were discussing something as trivial as the weather.“Supremo, there’s no time—” “Sit.” The weight of that single word crushed any argument I had. Reluctantly, I sank into the chair opposite him. He studied me
Kimberly POV The room’s shadows crept closer, pressing in with the weight of stale, stagnant air. I squinted at the figure on the screen as Treo adjusted the phone on its tripod, its dull glow illuminating a face half-hidden in shadow. Something about him tugged at my memory, but I couldn't really fathom it.“Hello, pretty friend of mine.” His voice slithered through the silence.A sick recognition sank in my chest. I wasn’t chained this time, but that didn’t make me feel any freer. I swallowed hard, praying I was wrong. “Salvatore?” My voice was barely more than a whisper.“Smart. Kimberly” His grin widened, cold and calculating. The casual way he said my name made my skin crawl.“You bastard!” I shot forward, reaching for the phone as if I could somehow claw him from the screen. Treo’s hand grabbed my arm and threw me back so hard I hit the floor, the impact causing me pain. Salvatore’s laughter echoed, rich with mockery, drowning the room in its sound.I sucked in a breath, anger a
Kimberly POV I woke up on the cold, hard floor, my skin prickling with the room’s damp chill. The darkness was thick, swallowing everything around me, and the air smelled faintly of rust and mold. It was the kind of darkness that made memories creep in—the kind that reminded me of my first abduction, the terror that had taken root and never left.I tried to move, but a sharp pain in my wrists stopped me. A cold, metallic restraint cut into my skin, chaining my arms to something behind me. Every shift pulled at my shoulders, making them ache. The sting of metal biting into my flesh would surely leave a scar, another reminder of this nightmare.My breathing grew shallow as panic clawed its way to the surface, but I forced it back down. Not now. Not yet. "Is… anyone there?" I whispered, my voice barely audible in the silence. I sensed a presence lurking in the shadows, something close to the walls but hidden in the gloom.Silence.Just as I was beginning to think I was alone, a low fluo
Kimberly POV It took hours to convince Leonardo I was feeling better before he finally left for his meeting. I’m one of the lucky ones who only get four-day periods, so I’m back to normal, more or less.“You sure you’ll be fine on your own?” he asked, pausing by the door.“Yes, I’ll be fine…” I rolled my eyes as I walked toward the bedroom.We’d be flying back to Spain in a day, and I couldn’t help but reflect on how strange things had become between us here. How did we even get to this point? I didn’t know, but just the thought brought a small smile to my face.As I folded my clothes—taking my time as Helen isn't here—I noticed a pack of dark chocolate Leonardo had gotten for me yesterday. I reached for it, planning to munch on it as I packed, but as my fingers touched it, I saw a reflection in the mirror.A masked figure behind me.I froze. My hand hovered pressed down on the chocolate, a chill running through me as my mind raced. Leonardo…?” I whispered, barely breathing.The fig