Chapter 43Stacy⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼I’ve never been one to possess self control.It’s almost amusing to think of that now, standing here under the scorching sky, next to Vincenzo’s mother’s tombstone of all places. What did it say about me that I had more issues with the dirt under my nails than the fact that he might just snap my neck before dinner?“You’re quiet,” he observed, his voice like a slow, dangerous melody. “What’s going on in that head of yours, little devil?”I gave him a sweet smile, feeling the tension rising between us like a hot current. “Oh, you know. Just thinking about how you remind me of a cheap cologne—overpowering and leaves a lingering headache.”His dark eyes gleamed with amusement, as he invaded every inch of my personal space. “Funny.” His hand suddenly snaked up behind my throat, fingers wrapping around my neck with a grip that was tight enough to make my pulse quicken but not enough to stop my breathing. “But you’re wrong about the ‘cheap’ part.”My heart did a ri
Chapter 44 Stacy ⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING⚠️ ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ “What the fuck are you?” I roared. If my wrists weren’t cuffed, I would have slapped him so hard he’d have my palm prints branded on his face for years. “A sick psycho? A fucking ritualist? Were you dropped on your head as a kid?” He said nothing, his expression unchanging as he continued to drag me out of the now almost dark woods. My wrist ached from his grip, and from the barbaric cut he’d given me. As much as I tried resisting the constant pull, he wouldn’t let go and so the cut wouldn’t stop bleeding. “Were you raised by some halfwit cavemen?” I continued to rant, because it was all I could do to keep me from going insane. Although it did nothing to stop me from thinking about the fact that I’d practically just been made to bleed for some dead woman. “I wouldn’t call my stepmom and a bunch of Tristiano’s men cavemen,” he responded nonchalantly, his voice laced with exasperation, as if dealing with a petulant child. I glared a
Chapter 45Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼The drive back to Nikolai’s place was awkward, to say the least.Thankfully, Vincenzo left me alone with my thoughts, his usual unreadable self. He didn’t so much as glance in my direction, which was another bonus, because how do I look at him after what he’d just shoved his dick down my throat and then swiftly reminded me how miserable he intends to make my life?The heavy door to Nikolai’s place clicked shut behind us, and that familiar sense of dread washed over me. It wasn’t just the grand, sterile hallways or the coldness in the air—it was the unsettling feeling of being trapped with two of them.I followed Vincenzo, my stomach churning with unease. My mind was still buzzing from everything that had happened, while he moved with his usual air of indifference.The moment we stepped into the foyer, Nikolai appeared at the top of the staircase, his eyes sweeping over us. His gaze lingered on me for a second longer than I liked before he focused on Vincenzo,
Chapter 46Vincenzo⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼She didn’t come down for dinner. Or any meals, for that matter, over the next three days.I wasn’t exactly losing sleep over her silent treatment. Hell, if anything, it gave me space to think and work. I had bigger issues on my plate, and I was still pissed at myself for letting my temper get the best of me the other day. I’d taken advantage of the moment, of her, and made her suck me off. The memory made me smirk, but the second that thought crossed my mind, I slapped a hand to my head, scowling.I should probably apologize to her.But I’d have to kill her after.A grin tugged at my lips again. My little mouse might be quick-witted, sassy as hell, and unapologetically wicked, but one thing she wasn’t good at? Sucking cock. And for some damn reason, that made me proud. Proud that my dick was the first one shoved down her throat, that she nearly choked on it.And I plan to teach her.I wasn’t apologizing because, deep down, I knew I had every intention of d
Chapter 47 Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ It’s crazy how this guy switched up. When Vincenzo reached for my arm, I flinched. Half expecting he’d hurt me again, push me further into the abyss he’s thrown me into, but his touch was… gentle. He lifted my arm, and for a second, I thought I imagined it. Was that concern in his eyes? “Why didn’t you do anything about this?” The question left his mouth like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. I didn’t answer right away. What was the point? Fixing a cut on my skin when I was bleeding out from the inside felt absurd. “It’d be better if I just died of a maggot infestation or tetanus,” I thought. Hell, maybe I’d finally be free. “Why?” he asked again, his voice louder now as he dragged me out of the shower. I stumbled, naked and dripping wet, and he didn’t even blink. Typical. His eyes flicked to the first aid kit on the sink. Neither of us cared that I was standing there in my birthday suit. Apparently, he was doing me a favor by avoiding look
Chapter 48Stacy⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼If there was an award for “Top 10 Moments to Fake Your Own Death,” this one was easily top three.My heart was still pounding, and whether that was from the orgasm or the sheer shock of it, I had no idea. I mean, God knows how long it’s been. Hell, I don’t think any guy’s ever made me cum from just his fingers. My cheeks were on fire, not just from the steam of the shower, but from the fact that my body basically turned into jelly under his touch, and now I was supposed to walk out there and act like a normal human? Sure.I stood under the shower, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of my nerves, but it wasn’t strong enough to erase the memory of Vincenzo’s hands on me. I couldn’t face him after that. Shy? No, that wasn’t the word. Embarrassed? Maybe. Awkward? Definitely.The way his gaze had seared into mine before he finally left the bathroom… yeah, I needed a moment. Or maybe several moments. I’d been in here for twenty minutes since he left, and
Chapter 49Stacy⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼Vincenzo didn’t come home last night. Neither did Nikolai.Manuel, one of Nikolai’s men, was stationed outside my door with a couple of others, making sure I knew they were there. Not that I had any plans of running. But still, the constant echoing of their footsteps outside the room made me feel so caged.I slumped down onto the bed, staring at the blank ceiling as the hours dragged on. By the time the next day rolled around and there was still no sign of either man, I was restless. My fingers itched to do something. Anything.The burner phone he’d given me sat idle on the table. I wouldn’t reach out first—I had too much pride for that. I wasn’t about to call him, ask where he was, or act like I cared. But after nearly two days of nothing, the silence started to wear on me. Finally, I caved. Grabbing the phone, I typed out a message before I could talk myself out of it.Stacy:What’s the point of locking the door if you don’t even come home to check on me?
Chapter 50Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼Later that nightI woke to the scent of cologne and the eery feeling of being watched. My heart pounded in my chest as I lay perfectly still, my body frozen beneath the sheets. Someone was here, in the room with me.For a second, I thought—hoped—it was him, that maybe Vincenzo had returned, but the scent was wrong. Sharper, more musky, unfamiliar. And then I felt it—the warmth of someone close, too close. My breath caught, as I slowly forced my eyes open, expecting the worst.Dante—Clyde.He was leaning over me, his face inches from mine like he’d been watching me sleep. His dark eyes bore into mine, unreadable, mysterious, and just a little too calm for the situation. A fresh cut slashed across his brow, still oozing blood, the stark red a shocking contrast against his pale skin.I gasped, jerking back instinctively, but the bed was suddenly too small. There was nowhere to go. Fear coiled tight in my stomach, my body frozen in place as my mind raced.Vincen
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