Dante’s POV The room felt suffocating. The dim light from my desk lamp made shadows stretch across the walls, distorting the faces in the framed photos. My fingers brushed the only picture I had of my father. His cold eyes stared back, frozen in time. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. Everything was falling apart. Failed deliveries. Attacks on my warehouses. Rats scurrying in the dark, feeding my enemies information. And now, Daniel being Lucia’s fiancée. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that she was still a virgin despite being engaged to Daniel. Or had I been mistaken? My grip tightened on the frame as I exhaled sharply. What would you have done? I wanted to ask my father. Would he have slaughtered every traitor, or would he have let the empire burn just to rebuild it stronger? I reached for my phone, scrolling to Gabriel Rucci’s number. He had been a mentor, a guiding force when I took over the family. One call, and he’d tell me exactly what to
Dante’s POV I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders to shake off the tension. I had more important matters to deal with. I crossed the room and poured myself another drink, but just as I brought the glass to my lips, my phone buzzed on the desk. I grabbed it, already expecting bad news, but instead, what I saw made me pause. A news article, no, an entire exposé was spreading like wildfire across the media. ‘Dante Romano: The Enigmatic Philanthropist Behind the Shadows.’ I frowned, opening the link. The article painted me as some kind of misunderstood hero. A businessman with a dark past who had turned his wealth into something noble. Generous donations. Secret charity work. Support for orphanages and struggling communities. I let out a sharp laugh. This was bullshit. I had never, in my entire life, been painted as anything other than a criminal. The media loved to throw my name in the dirt, feeding the world’s hunger for scandal. But this? This was an entirely new narra
Lucia’s POV The call came just after Dante left. I had been sitting in Dante’s office, scrolling through the aftermath of my carefully crafted media spin. It had worked better than expected. The internet was eating up the new narrative, and even the more skeptical outlets were starting to shift their stance. It was amusing, really. A few well-placed articles, some strategic donations, and suddenly, the devil of Palermo was being rebranded as a misunderstood saint. Not that Dante seemed particularly grateful. The way he had confronted me earlier, suspicion sharp in his eyes, had sent a thrill down my spine. He had known it was me. Seen straight through the careful deception. And yet, he hadn’t shut it down. Because some part of him felt good about it. But before I could dwell on it any further, my phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. Daniel. I hesitated for a moment before answering. “What?” “Meet me.” His voice was clipped, urgent. “It’s about Vincenzo.” I sighed, glan
Lucia’s POVThe cool night air hit me as I stepped outside, my pulse racing. I pulled out my phone and dialed Lucas.He picked up on the second ring. “Lucia?”“I need a ride,” I whispered, glancing over my shoulder. The hotel lobby was quiet, but I didn’t want to risk Daniel trailing behind me.He paused. Then, “Where are you?”I gave him the name of the hotel, hurrying toward the street. I had no money, no car, and no plan except getting the hell out of there. Lucas didn’t ask questions.Within fifteen minutes, a sleek white car pulled up, and I slid into the passenger seat, my hands gripping my dress. Lucas didn’t say a word at first, just pulled away from the curb, his sharp gaze flicking to me more than once.Then, finally, he exhaled. “What the hell were you thinking?”I stared out the window, my pulse still unsteady. “I needed to leave.”“No shit,” he muttered, his hands tightening on the wheel. “You realize Dante will have your head on his plate when he finds out you snuck out,
Lucia’s POVFor a heartbeat, I couldn’t move, my pulse hammering in my ears as his body hit the floor with a dull thud. My stomach twisted at the sight—Dante Romano, always so untouchable, reduced to this.“Shit,” Lucas hissed, snapping me out of my shock. He crouched beside Dante, shaking him roughly. “Boss. Come on, wake up.”My hands trembled as I pressed my fingers to his neck, searching for a pulse. It was faint, but there. Relief shot through me, but it was short-lived. His breathing was shallow and uneven.Panic clawed at my throat, but I shoved it down. I needed to think. Fast.“We need help,” I said, already pushing to my feet. “Alina—”Lucas caught my wrist before I could take a step. “Wait. You can’t just—”“Lucas, he’s bleeding out!” I yanked free. “Are you seriously telling me to stand here and watch him die?”His jaw clenched. “No. But we have to be careful.” He glanced around as if making sure we were alone. “Dante wouldn’t want just anyone seeing him like this.”I unde
Dante’s POVPain. That was the first thing I registered. A deep, burning ache spreading through my torso. My head felt like it had been split open, my limbs heavy, as if lead had been poured into my veins.I forced my eyes open, the dim light stabbing through my skull. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar. The scent of clean linen, antiseptic, and something distinctly not mine filled my senses. Where the hell was I?A shadow moved beside me and Instinct took over.Before I could think, my hand shot out, fingers locking around a delicate throat. The person gasped. My vision swam, but I didn’t loosen my grip. My body was running on reflex… on survival.“Wh—” The voice choked out, barely a whisper.I sat up with a ragged breath, my muscles screaming in protest, and my focus sharpened just enough to make out the terrified expression of the woman in front of me. She clawed at my wrist, eyes wide, struggling against my hold.Too fragile. Too weak to be a threat.A maid.Then a sharp voice cu
Lucia’s POVI was lucky. Too lucky.Escaping that night had been a miracle, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come. Every step of my investigation had led me down the same road, and now, all signs pointed to one person—Vincenzo.I still couldn’t understand his motivation. He was smart, calculating, but to orchestrate something of this scale? To have the nerve to challenge Dante like this? It was a dangerous game, and if I was right, then I wasn’t just dealing with betrayal. I was dealing with a war.Dante had refused to tell me what actually happened. I needed answers.And there was only one person I could think of who might have them.My father.As I stepped out of the building, the cool evening air hit my skin, but it did nothing to ease the heaviness in my chest. My thoughts raced, tangled with the weight of everything I had learned and everything I still didn’t know.I didn’t even make it far before I heard a familiar voice behind me.“Lucia?”I turned to
Dante’s POVThe room was thick with tension. My men stood quietly, shoulders rigid, eyes shifting nervously as if one wrong move would bring down my wrath, waiting for me to address them. I stood at the front, my eyes cold and steady, studying their faces and trying to figure out who could be trusted and who needed to be weeded out. The recent attack had shaken my operations, and I wouldn’t stand for weakness or betrayal.My hand rested on the polished wood of the table before me, and I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could utter a word, the door swung open with a bang. Heads turned, and I found myself narrowing my eyes at the unexpected interruption.Lucia stormed in, her footsteps pounding against the floor. Anger radiated off her, practically nearly heating up the room. She didn’t look at me, no, her eyes were locked on one of my men standing near the back, an older, rough-looking bastard named Valentin.Valentin straightened up, trying to act unaffected by her approach, but
Lucia’s POV The venue glimmered like something out of a dream or a very well-funded lie. Crystal chandeliers hung from ceilings so high they could scrape heaven. Women in fancy dresses moved through the room like ghosts dipped in gold, while men in dark suits stood around the edges with whiskey in one hand, secrets in the other. Soft buzzes from security earpieces filled the air.I stood near the bar, pretending to sip champagne. I hadn’t taken more than two mouthfuls. My stomach was still knotted from what I’d learned days ago.Betrayal tasted like blood at the back of my throat and no matter how much champagne I drank, I couldn’t get rid of it. It ruined everything, turning something sweet into something so bitter and rotten.Dante was busy speaking to a cluster of high-ranking Mafia associates near the grand piano, his jaw tight and gestures sharp. His dark eyes scanned the room constantly, every movement like a predator calculating its next strike. I watched him and couldn’t help
Lucia’s POVThe message came at 5:13 a.m., the screen lightening up in the early dawn light like a warning I should’ve taken more seriously.“Meet me at 8. It’s urgent. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t. Same spot as before. – D”I stared at it longer than I should have, my thumb hovering over the keyboard, then pulling back. My stomach coiled with uncertainty.After a long time, I decided I had to see him.I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving. Not Dante. Not Lucas. Not even the maid who always insisted on bringing me coffee and watching for the slightest crack in my expression. I slipped out of the mansion before the sun could fully rise, a scarf wrapped around my neck and a hoodie pulled over my head like I was trying to disappear.Dante had paid me generously for my work as his accountant, so I had more than enough to get a cab now. The air outside bit at my skin. Chicago was never gentle, not even in April. I decided to take the train instead of calling a car, it was safer that way. No t
Dante’s POV The cigarette burned between my fingers, the nicotine barely touching the storm inside me. I stared at Gabriel like I was trying to piece together a puzzle I never asked for. He looked the same. Dark trench coat, polished shoes, and a smugness that could outlast the cold wind slapping Chicago’s streets. Always watching. Always waiting. “What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, flicking ash onto the sidewalk. He straightened, stepped forward with a relaxed elegance that only made me more paranoid. “Looking out for you.” I narrowed my eyes. “You following me now?” “No.” He shrugged. “Just… keeping tabs. There’s a difference.” My jaw tensed. “I don’t need babysitting.” Gabriel chuckled. “You always say that. Even when your world’s on fire.” “I’ve got it under control.” “Do you?” he asked, voice dipping low with implication. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like your kingdom’s got more than a few cracks.” My spine went rigid. He raised his h
Dante’s POVShe wasn’t supposed to see that. Not again.The gunshot still echoed in my mind—not because I regretted pulling the trigger, but because of who had been watching.Her gasp. Her eyes. The way she ran from me like I was the devil himself.I’ve heard that sound before—bones snapping, air leaving lungs, the final sputter before silence—but none of it ever made me flinch. Not until I saw her standing there.Now? Now I can’t get the image out of my head: her wide eyes, pale face, hand clutched over her mouth like she might vomit. She looked at me like I was unrecognizable.I knocked on her door three times. Nothing. I knocked again. Still nothing.Behind me, one of the guards shifted. “Boss,” he said lowly. “Do you want us to break it down?”The suggestion should’ve rolled right off my back. But it didn’t.I stared at the door handle. My hand itched to grip it, twist it, and walk in like it was still my home—like she was still mine to command.But that wasn’t how this worked. No
Lucia’s POVI ran out of the room and down the hallway, ignoring the nurse calling after me. My flat shoes slapped against the floor as I pushed through the care home’s front doors into the cool afternoon air. My heart was racing as I looked around the sidewalk, the curb, and the street.Nothing.The man had vanished.I turned in a full circle, biting my lip. Had I imagined him? Was I just being paranoid? After everything that had happened—the fire, the article, the accusations—it wouldn’t be a stretch.But no… I saw him. And I knew that face.I needed answers.Back inside, I approached the front desk where a nurse sat typing. She looked up with polite curiosity.“Hi,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I need to see today’s visitor log.”She blinked, unsure. “Is there a problem?”“No. I just… I think someone came to see my father without permission. I need to check.”Her brows furrowed, but after a moment, she turned the screen. “It’s mostly regulars. Here.”My eyes scanned the
Lucia’s POVThe soft murmur of the television stirred me awake before the sunlight did. My eyes were still heavy with sleep, but the voice coming from the screen made my stomach twist before I even understood the words.“…a once-promising businessman turned thief, Antonio Castellano’s fall from grace is not only a personal tragedy but a reflection of deeper corruption in Chicago…”I shot up in bed, every trace of sleep gone. My father’s name blared from the television like an alarm bell.“…rumored ties to Romano Enterprises raise eyebrows, especially in light of the fire that claimed the lives of Dante Romano’s family. Some sources suggest the fire wasn’t accidental…”What?I blinked at the screen, stunned as the report claimed my father might’ve been involved in both fires—the one that destroyed Dante’s family home, and the recent warehouse blaze.My heart hammered against my ribs. My hands trembled as I grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.“…anonymous sources believe the bla
Dante’s POV“Just stay put, Lucia,” I snapped, cutting her off. My voice softened slightly, but there was no mistaking the edge of command. “Please. For now, stay in here.”Her gaze flickered between me and the door, the tension between us thickening as I hit the call button.I waited, the seconds feeling like hours, until Lucas answered on the third ring. “Boss?”“Get to the beach house. Now,” I barked. “Pick up Lucia and take her home. Don’t let her out of your sight. Got it?”There was a pause on the other end. “Understood. We’ll be there in ten.”I hung up without another word. Turning back to Lucia, I made sure she saw the seriousness in my eyes. “I’m leaving someone here to watch you,” I added, grabbing my coat off the chair. “Just stay in the room. Don’t open the door for anyone except Lucas or me.”She took a step back, still processing. “You’re not telling me what’s going on,” she said, a trace of frustration creeping into her voice.“I can’t explain right now,” I said, not a
Dante’s POVShe pushed me away again.I should’ve been used to it by now. But every time she flinched from my touch or caught my wrist with those trembling fingers, it hit harder than I ever let on.I could’ve taken her that night. She was right there. Breathing heavy under my mouth, hands trembling like she didn’t know what she wanted. The way she closed her eyes when I kissed her… it wasn’t fear of me. It was fear of herself.And ever since I found out she was a virgin, everything shifted. It wasn’t just about claiming her anymore. It was about doing it right. I’d never waited on a woman before—not for anything—but with Lucia every instinct told me not to rush, that she wasn’t like the others. She wasn’t truly mine yet. But she would be.I had to show her the side of me no one else had seen—the part of me that wasn’t all rage and control. She had to feel it, even if she didn’t know it yet.Starting with her birthday.She never mentioned it, but I’m not stupid. A date like that does
Lucia’s POVHospitals always smelled the same: bleach, sadness, and something too clean to feel normal. I hated it.The white walls felt like they were closing in as I rushed past the nurses’ station, Rico just a few steps behind me.A nurse with tired eyes stopped me at the door to my father’s room. “You’re his daughter?”I nodded quickly, my heart stuck somewhere between my throat and stomach.“He was found unconscious on his porch,” she said. “We believe he fell down a short flight of stairs. The damage is minor—bruised ribs, slight concussion. He’s lucky. A little more force and—” she stopped herself. “He’s awake now. Confused, but awake.”My fingers tightened around the edge of my coat. “Thank you.”She smiled and stepped aside.I walked into the room.My father looked smaller. Thinner. His bones pressed against the sheets, and his face looked pale under the harsh lights. Tubes ran from his arms, and a dark bruise covered his temple like a shadow.“Dad,” I breathed.He stirred, e