Lucia’s POVThe scent of freshly baked bread filled my room as Alina pressed a small tray into my hands.“You keep forgetting to eat,” she said, a teasing lilt in her voice. “And I don’t need you fainting in Dante’s presence. He might actually enjoy that.”I rolled my eyes and tore off a piece of bread. “Oh, sure. He’d probably smirk and say it proves I’m helpless, then lock me away like some fragile doll.”Alina chuckled but didn’t argue. She sat beside me, her presence making this cold house feel a little less lonely.“You did an amazing job with the dress,” I told her, running my fingers over the silk she had altered for me. “You’re the only reason I don’t look like a mess every day.”She grinned, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s nothing, really. Besides, it’s nice to have someone to talk to.”And I knew what she meant.She was my only link to something human. Something normal. Without her, I’d be alone with Dante’s world.The door slammed open and the warmth va
Dante’s POVMy consigliere was right to suspect her. The betrayal in my ranks wasn’t just bad luck or coincidence. Someone had been feeding information to the cops, and my empire was bleeding because of it.But Lucia?No.I didn’t want to believe it. I couldn’t.She was reckless, stubborn, but a traitor? The thought made my jaw clench. If she were guilty, I’d have seen the signs. Yet doubt curled in the back of my mind like a serpent, whispering that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as innocent as I wanted to believe. I had planned to deal with her head-on… but I couldn’t bring myself to. Not without solid proof.My phone buzzed on the desk.“The car is ready,” the voice on the other end informed me.I exhaled, running a hand through my hair before pushing away from the desk. I had bigger problems than my own suspicions. If I wanted answers, I needed to go straight to the source.Antonio Castellano wouldn’t lie to me.I made a quick stop at his house before heading to the meeting.Antoni
Lucia’s POV I spent the day combing through scattered notes, some hastily scribbled, others underlined to the point of tearing. The more I pieced together, the clearer it became that Vincenzo was the common denominator in everything that had gone wrong. But it wasn’t enough.I needed more than a gut feeling and circumstantial evidence. Dante would never move without solid proof, and neither would the men in his ranks. Without hard facts, Vincenzo would keep getting away untouched.I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair. Frustration burned in my chest.The journalist, though...I flipped through my notes again, rereading the little I had on him. His articles were brutal, painting Dante as a criminal and trying to expose him for what he truly was. It made it seem like Dante was desperately trying to clean up his image, but it wasn’t working. That wasn’t surprising, since Dante had no shortage of enemies. But the man himself? His background didn’t add up.I traced a finger
Lucia’s POVI didn’t move. I couldn’t. My pulse pounded so hard it felt like my ribs would crack under the pressure.The maid sobbed, her body trembling as the blade pressed against her delicate throat. The three men standing before me weren’t faceless intruders, I knew them.They were Dante’s men.And leading them? His consigliere.My breath caught. I’d seen Enzo many times before, standing by Dante’s side and quietly giving him advice. Always calm and composed. But now, his face was cold and merciless, eyes filled with nothing but fury.“What do you want?” I demanded, forcing steel into my voice despite the terror clawing at my throat. My gaze flickered to the maid, her eyes begging for help. “Let her go. She has nothing to do with whatever is going on here.”Enzo tilted his head, as if amused by my boldness. “Do you know what you are, Lucia?” His voice was smooth, almost conversational. “Misfortune.”I gasped.“You’ve done nothing but bring ruin since the moment you set foot into
Lucia’s POVI sucked in a sharp breath, my lungs finally remembering how to function.Dante’s face was hard like stone, his eyes were deadly. The room was silent, and in that silence, I heard only one thing.Death.Enzo remained eerily still, his hands loose at his sides. But I knew better than to think he wasn’t calculating or plotting, trying to find a way out of this.Dante tilted his head slightly, gaze never leaving Enzo. His voice when he finally spoke, was soft., yet dangerous. “Killing her wasn’t your call to make.”The words slid through the air like a final verdict.The moment dragged on, heavy with tension that felt suffocating. Then, footsteps echoed from the hallway. A group of Dante’s men spilled into the room, surrounding us with more guns.My pulse roared in my ears as I was still tied to the damn chair.Enzo let out a slow exhale, shaking his head as if Dante was the one being unreasonable. “I’m trying to do what you refuse to, Dante. I’m trying to protect what’s left
Dante’s POVThe blood on my hands was already drying, but I could still feel its warmth. Enzo’s words echoed in my mind, each syllable crawling under my skin like a slow poison.I should have seen it coming. Enzo had been challenging my decisions for weeks now, questioning every move I made, watching me with those knowing eyes. He had been testing me, pushing me toward this inevitable moment.And I failed his test.Because in the end, I didn’t kill him for betraying me. I didn’t kill him because he overstepped his boundaries.I killed him because he put her in danger.I dragged a hand down my face, exhaling slowly. The idea that Lucia could be the mole still lingered in the back of my mind like a shadow I couldn’t shake. It didn’t matter that I had just put a bullet in my most trusted adviser to protect her—what if Enzo had been right?Had she really twisted my mind so completely that I couldn’t see the truth anymore?Before I could entertain that thought any further, a soft knock cam
Lucia’s POVI had never been so aware of silence until the ride back.Dante didn’t speak. Not once.He kept his eyes fixed on the road, his expression like it was carved from stone. The only sound was the occasional turn of the signal and the low hum of the engine, but each passing second made my skin itch, the weight of what I’d done pressing down like fog between us.Fiancée.Had I gone too far?The moment I’d said it, I saw something flicker in his eyes. Shock, yes—but underneath it, something possessive and dangerous. But now… all I could feel was distance. And it scared me more than his anger ever could.When we pulled up to the mansion, he didn’t wait for me. No parting glance. No words. He just stepped out of the car and disappeared into the house like I was nothing.I stood there for a long second before dragging myself inside.My feet took me to my room on autopilot, but sleep didn’t come. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my chest tightening with every passing minute. Had
Dante’s POVTrust was a currency more dangerous than blood in this business. And right now, I was running short on both.I stared at the burner phone in my hand, the screen still lit from the last call. The guy on the other end had sounded too sure of himself. He promised the new route was safe, hidden behind fake businesses and paid-off border guards.“Nothing will go wrong this time, Signor Romano,” he’d said.I believed him.But I wasn’t fucking stupid.Last time, I trusted the wrong man and lost an entire shipment. That cost me more than money. It cost me power. It made me look weak. I wouldn’t survive another mistake like that.So I set up a test run. An empty truck. An unmarked driver. I kept everything secret, no records, no paperwork.Three hours later, I got a call that the cops had intercepted it.They didn’t find anything, but that didn’t matter. They were waiting for me. Again. And it wasn’t Lucia, obviously.I slammed the glass in my hand onto the desk, sending shards eve
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