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Chapter 33Vincenzo ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼I watched her sleep.Her fever had finally broken, though she still looked pale. The stubborn little mouse had been fighting me all day. But tonight… was too weak to argue much, and I had no patience for her foolish pride either.Her chest rose and fell steadily now, a stark contrast to the labored breathing she had earlier. I should’ve left her alone, let her deal with it, but something kept pulling me back. It wasn’t just obligation.I kept telling myself it was because she was valuable. Stacy Salvatore. The girl whose family dragged mine through hell. She was leverage. And yet, seeing her like this, fragile and worn down, I couldn’t bring myself to think of her as just another tool.I turned away from the bed, trying to shove the unwelcome thoughts aside. I wasn’t here to save her. I wasn’t her knight in shining armor. If anything, I was the monster keeping her locked in a tower, making sure she couldn’t run. The quiet sound of her breathing filled th
Chapter 34 Vincenzo ⚠️TRIGGER WARNING⚠️ ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ Bloodstone Lane was as much a fortress as it was a playground. Anyone who got past the doors knew the rules: what happened inside stayed inside. The outside world didn’t exist here. For the right price, everything was for sale—including lives. Getting to Gielio wasn’t going to be easy, but I hadn’t come this far to leave without him. I tugged at the sleeve of my tailored suit as we entered the club. Liam had done his job well in securing us the invites that came with every item we’d be needing for the masquerade party of bitches. The anonymity was perfect; no one here cared who you were as long as you had money, power, and a willingness to play along with the disgusting sin behind these walls. Fi, though irritated at having to sit this one out— had to understand. It would have been too risky for her to try to sneak in here. No women were allowed unless they were part of the entertainment. I had Vito and Aurelio with me, both
Chapter 35Vincenzo ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼Gielio, meanwhile, watched from the corner, a twisted grin on his face. “Such a surprise,” he cackled, clapping slowly. “You think you’re better than us? That’s cute. And look at you now, fighting for your life in my club. I bet your daddy’s proud.”Ricci launched another punch, catching me off guard, but I quickly retaliated, driving my knee into his gut and knocking the air from his lungs. “I swear, Ricci, I didn’t take your son,” I gritted out between blows. “If anything, we had a truce and you violated it by coming at me, I should be pissed.” “You took my son first!”“I didn’t! We had a fucking truce!” “My truce was with Tristiano,” Ricci hissed, “But you’ve gotten him killed because you wanted all the power for yourself, haven’t you?”I caught Ricci’s fist mid-swing, twisting his arm and sending him crashing into a side table. “That hurt my feelings, you know?” I hissed in feigned annoyance, “Use your damn head!” I growled, delivering a quick jab to
Chapter 36Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼My skin prickled as soon as I heard the door creak open.And there he was, dark, cold, and even more dangerous than he looked when he left— Vincenzo. The man moved like a predator returning to its den, his eyes sharp, calculating. The air in the room shifted, suddenly turning to Nitrogen in my lungs. I pressed my back against the wall, desperately trying to make myself smaller.Blissfully unaware of the tension curling in my chest, Vincenzo stepped inside, the door creaking shut behind him. Then he flicked the switch and bright light flooded the room, sealing me in his presence. I had no time to even pretend I was asleep. His eyes swept across the room until they landed on me, almost like he’d been dying to do that since. He didn’t speak, simply stood there, his breathing steady but labored.His once perfect white shirt was now stained with blood, splatters I could only imagine came from whoever had the misfortune of being in his way tonight. But his face
Chapter 37Vincenzo⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼What the fuck just happened? My chest heaved, breath short, and for a moment, I couldn’t believe what I’d done. She had bewitched me—me, Vincenzo, the one who never let emotions get in the way of control. But now… Her taste still lingered, an unwanted brand on my lips. I cursed myself, every fiber of me rebelling against the moment of weaknessBut God, did she taste amazing.The worst part was I didn’t know if I hated her more for making me feel this way or hated myself for giving in to it. My entire body was on fire. Her lips, her soft skin, the way she melted against me, her hands in my hair. I could still feel it, and I wanted to feel it again.I shook my head in frustration. This was a mistake, the worst thing I could have done. Fucking Eustacia Salvatore would be the greatest sin in the history of sins. Yeah, you said that before. Yet you went ahead to fucking kiss her! Fuck me! Oh, I’ll gladly offer myself to her to do just that. She was the enem
Chapter 38Vincenzo⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼There was something primal about the anticipation of violence.Part of it was the way people gathered like vultures, waiting for the first drop of blood to hit the floor.Gielio. That piece of shit wasn’t worth the dirt under my shoes. A predator who’d slithered his way through life untouched. Until now.I gave Ricci the truth straight from his son’s mouth last night. The bastard had refused to believe it, even when it was staring him in the face, so I beat a confession out of Gielio last night. There’s only so much denial a man can choke on before it kills him. I could see the shift when Ricci realized it. Gielio would die. But not before I made him bleed for every scream he silenced.The crowd downstairs was waiting, restless. My fingers flexed at my side as I rode the elevator, already imagining the sounds of bones crunching, the sickening thud of flesh hitting the floor.For a man who’d survived everything else—by preying on the weak, Gielio had final
Chapter 39Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼It was dark. I was running.“Don’t… don’t come near me,” I muttered under my breath, though I knew it was useless. My legs pumped harder, my shoes skidding against the dirt and roots. But it didn’t matter. Every second, he gained on me. I felt him—his eyes on me like I was prey.I glanced over my shoulder, and there he was, a dark silhouette moving faster than any man should. My heart slammed against my ribs, fear rising, but there was something else, deep in my stomach. It was almost… electric, stirring up a heat that shouldn’t have been there.I tripped over a branch, crashing down hard. My palms slapped against the ground, dirt and leaves sticking to my skin. Before I could even scramble up, a hand wrapped around my ankle, yanking me back“No—” I screamed, kicking, but he was too strong. His grip burned, and even though I fought, the heat inside me surged. His shadow loomed over me, and I knew I should have been terrified.Part of me was— just not my va
Chapter 40 Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ New York City, the place I once called home. The streets were the same, the skyline unchanged, but everything about it felt… alien, like a distant memory. I kept my eyes fixed out the window as Vincenzo drove out of the airport, taking in the lively scenery. The cold wind bit at my skin, reminding me of all the nights I had once walked these streets freely. Now, I was just a captive— Vincenzo’s captive, literally shackled by his twisted sense of revenge. My wrists ached under the weight of the cuffs, and the cold metal collar around my neck made every breath feel heavier. Whatever small flicker of humanity or compassion I thought I saw in him these last days was gone, had vanished right before we boarded his jet, replaced by the cold, detached aura he had when he first dragged me to Chicago as his new slave. It was like flipping a switch. One moment, that morning, he was somewhat tolerable, teasing me and being all cocky and the next, he was ruthless a
Chapter 81Vincenzo⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼She was fuming, but that served me well. I returned to the sitting room where Vito and Aurelio were waiting once again, their postures stiff. I settled back into the chair, the leather groaning under my weight as I poured myself another glass of whiskey. The warmth slid down my throat, but it did nothing to calm the fire burning through me.My mind stayed in that room upstairs, where Stacy was no doubt pacing like a caged animal, spitting curses that couldn’t touch me. The memory of her glare—sharp enough to flay a man alive—made the corner of my mouth twitch.She wanted to act bold, sauntering around half-dressed like she owned the place. By the time I was done with her, she’d understand that I owned her.Aurelio cleared his throat, snapping me back to the moment. He and Vito sat across from me, the look on their faces confirming that something was very wrong, but they didn’t seem to know how to put it into words. Aurelio’s elbows rested on his knees, hi
Chapter 80Stacy⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼Vincenzo was very mad at me, again. He let Luca drive Allesia, let Vito ride with them, but he insisted I ride with him, and worse, sit in the passenger seat. The disapproving look of anger, disappointment and maybe hatred he constantly gave me was practically a living, breathing thing. He didn’t say a word to me since we left the mall, even through the ride, his brooding silence and the occasional suspicious looks he gave me were as loud as any argument. Not that I cared.Okay, I cared a little.Fine—a lot.But I wasn’t about to let him know that.If Vincenzo suspected I had something up my sleeve—and knowing him, he already did—he wouldn’t rest until he tore apart every thread of my lies. God help me if he demanded the security footage from the mall. If he saw even a glimpse of my meeting with Elixir, it would be over. Not just for me, but for everything I’d been working toward.The man didn’t trust me as far as he could throw me—well, not without a plan
Chapter 79 Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ I’ve had near death encounters in the past, today felt like the worst. The mirror bit into my back, cold and unforgiving, but it was nothing compared to the heat of his body pressed against mine. His hand was tangled in my hair, the sharp pull forcing my head back until my eyes met his in the reflection. “Look at yourself,” Vincenzo growled, his voice low and edged with something primal. “See what you do to me.” His eyes burned into mine, dark and unrelenting, and I hated the way he knew just how that made me feel, my breaths coming quick and shallow. I tried to push against him, to claw back even an inch of control, but his grip tightened, and I froze as the sting shot through my scalp. “Fighting me again?” His smirk twisted cruelly, his other hand sliding up my thigh, dragging the hem of my dress higher. “You don’t learn, do you,? Maybe that’s why I enjoy this so damn much.” I hated him. Hated how he could strip me bare, even when I was fully clothed
Chapter 78Vincenzo⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼I hate being played for a fool. The phone nearly slipped from my hand, but I tightened my grip, my body freezing before it erupted with raw fury. “Jesus, Vito,” I dragged a hand down my face, “A fucking mall! She could be anywhere, for fucks sake, she could be halfway across the country by now!” Vito stammered on the other end, his fear palpable even through the static. “She… she slipped away, boss. One minute she was in front of me, and the next—gone.”My blood ran cold, then boiled just as fast. “And you’re telling me this so I can call for you? How long has she been missing?”There was a pause, heavy with hesitation. “About thirty minutes, maybe less. We thought she—”I cut him off, my patience gone. “You thought? You thought wrong, Vito. I don’t pay you to think—I pay you to act. If she isn’t found in the next ten minutes, you’d better hope you disappear too.” Before he could say something else, I added, “Have that fucking mall locked down until I ge
Chapter 77Vincenzo⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼The scent of saltwater and diesel hit me first—a deeply unpleasant reminder that I wasn’t in bed where I belonged. Instead, I was standing on the docks at an ungodly hour. Well, maybe not so ungodly if I were following Russel’s logic, but still.The cold wind sliced through my coat and bit at my neck, making me curse every life choice that had led me here.Declan had picked this fucking spot well. Neutral territory, or so he thought. A place where neither side had the upper hand, but I couldn’t care less. Neutrality meant nothing when my brothers and I didn’t play by the same rules as the Irish.Russel walked ahead of me, his posture tense but calm, the perfect diplomat. I knew he’d been rehearsing his speech for hours, carefully piecing together whatever excuses he thought would smooth things over after my little… mishap with Dante’s cargo.Too bad I had no intention of apologizing.“You’re late,” a gravelly voice greeted us as we stepped onto the dock. Th
Chapter 76Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼By the time we left the boutique, Vito and Luca had to make three trips to the car with bags full of clothes, shoes, baby stuff and accessories.“Now that we’ve got the essentials,” Allesia said with an exaggerated stretch, “let’s go to the mall. It’s a perfect time to really stock up, that house has everything but food in it.” Vito’s hands gripped the steering wheel even tighter, but there was no escaping it. He barely muttered a response, only the occasional grunt of resignation. Luca, ever the silent observer, let his body language do the talking. He looked tense, but that wasn’t going to stop Allesia.We drove for another mile, the city sprawling out in front of us. And then—bam—there it was. A giant billboard plastered with a photo of none other than Allesia Mancini herself.“Ahhh!” Allesia squealed. “That’s me! That’s me! Oh my God, I look amazing!” She was practically vibrating with excitement, and I couldn’t suppress my eye roll. The sound of her voi
Chapter 75 Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ By the time I woke up again that morning, Vincenzo had left with Marcel and Russel to handle some business. Perfect. I’d half-expected him to leave me with some ridiculous restriction, his little promise last night forgotten, but he actually surprised me by making good on his promise and informing Vito to pick up all the things I’d need for me. Restless energy coursed through me. Waiting around for Vito to bring back his idea of ‘stuff Stacy needs’ wasn’t exactly thrilling. If he got his way, I’d end up with plain, functional dresses that wouldn’t inspire a single spark of joy. No, I didn’t survive nearly being turned into a tomboy only to end up in nun girl dresses. I needed to get out myself, to feel some semblance of normalcy. Now I just had to figure out how. I found Vito in the kitchen, munching on a sandwich and sipping his coffee, his eyes downcast and his usual brooding aura in full force. He barely acknowledged me as I slid onto the bars
Chapter 74 Vincenzo ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ Several groggy steps later and I found myself outside my door. My waist hurts from all the work it did last night, Fuck separate rooms, I’ve got to rid this house of all of my brothers so I wouldn’t have to worry about sneaking back into my own room at 4 AM like a rebel teenager. In my own fucking house. Pfft. I pushed the door open, rubbing my temple, and flipped on the light, only to freeze in shock. Marcel was sprawled out on my bed, one leg hanging off the side, looking like he’d been waiting up for me all night. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I snapped, my voice low but laced with irritation. Marcel propped himself up on one elbow, smirking like he’d been waiting for this moment his entire life. “I think the question is where the fuck are you sneaking in from—and, what happened to your clothes?” He pointed to the gym shorts I had on, clearly a size too small, barely hanging onto my hips. “Wait, isn’t that a female’s…?” Before h
Chapter 73Stacy⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼By the time we staggered out of the shower, I was beyond spent— weak, sore, my entire body shaking like I’d run a marathon. It was nearly four in the morning, and he was still here. My heart still beat lazily from the countless times he’d had me, again and again, like his appetite was a bottomless well. What was supposed to be a sneaky sex had somehow spiraled into Vincenzo spending the entire night in my room, our bodies tangled like we were all that existed in the world.I’d never had this much sex in my life, and he made sure there wasn’t an inch of me he hadn’t explored, claimed, and left tingling with satisfaction.I tried to roll over, but his arm clamped around me like a bear trap, pressing me to his bare chest. We’d swapped positions so many times, I wasn’t even sure which way was up anymore. Right now, he was spooning me, but not even half an hour ago, he’d done a full 180, grabbing my arm and pulling it over himself like he was starved for a cuddl