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 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 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 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 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 82 Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ I heard the commotion from inside the room. Vincenzo’s voice was bouncing off the walls, he was furious. Then Marcel’s voice followed, his words were just as biting, matching Vincenzo’s tone, and though I couldn’t make out the details, I heard my name. That was enough to make my chest tighten. “Bring me Stacy.” I heard Vincenzo’s order. My stomach twisted. Had they found out about Elixir? I ran to the hidden corner where I’d tucked the phone Elixir smuggled to me. I retrieved it with trembling hands, fingers fumbling as I tucked it into the lining of my dress. My heart thundered in my ears as several scenarios of the phone falling out in front of Vincenzo played before me, engulfing me with panic. When I heard footsteps approaching, I ran back and took position in front of the door. I wore my best angry girl look and waited. The door swung open, and I braced myself, expecting to see Vito or Luca, maybe even Aurelio, but it wasn’t any of them. It w
Chapter 83Stacy’s POV⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼Driving to the airport in the dead of the night was hell enough. But doing it with a bunch of gangsters who’d sooner throw me into a shallow grave than exchange pleasantries was like being hand-delivered to my executioner. The executioner was sitting right beside me, gripping the steering wheel like he wanted to twist my neck instead.Vincenzo insisted on driving. Of course, he did. Control freak. He hadn’t said a word since after the room episode, didn’t even have to tell me to get into the passenger seat after him, all he had to do was glare at me and I was scrambling inside. Thinking about it now, that unconscious reaction from yours truly pissed me off even more. Every once in a while, I’d catch him flexing his fingers, like he was imagining them wrapped around my throat. He could do that later of course, just not in the kind of way that’d give him the long term satisfaction he wanted. Russel and Allesia were in the car ahead of us, cuddling, I b
Chapter 84Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼I needed to get out of that seat.Between Vincenzo’s constant micromanaging and the suffocating air in the cabin, my nerves were fried. The discomfort bubbling in my stomach was the perfect excuse.“I need to go to the restroom,” I announced, already unbuckling my seatbelt.Vincenzo shifted beside me, his glare sharp enough to cut glass. “You’re not going anywhere. Sit down.”I shot him a look that screamed try me. “If you want me passing out and drooling all over you, fine, I’ll stay. But otherwise, I need to go.”“That’s a lie. Sit down.” I let out an angry scoff, “Seriously, dude. It’s not like I’m going to jump out of a moving aircraft. I need to pee! My bladder is combusting!” He groaned, dragging a hand over his face. “Fine. Go. But don’t take forever. And don’t touch anything you shouldn’t.”“Yes, capo,” I snapped, brushing past him. I had bigger things to worry about than his perpetual grumpiness. Bigger things like the fact that I could practicall
Hey everyone, A huge thank you for sticking with me through this incredible journey! Writing this romance has been such a rewarding experience, and I truly hope it’s been as thrilling for you to read as it was for me to create. At a point, I felt like giving up, but the passion and you guys kept me going, I’m grateful. There’s been love, suspense, and plenty of drama to keep things interesting, and I loved every moment of putting it all together. This book started as a small idea with Russel and Allesia, then grew into these amazing characters that I hope to keep exploring with you all. Next month, we’ll be starting another book with one of these characters (Haven’t decided who yet) and I hope you’ll be there for it. If you’ve enjoyed this ride, I’d be forever grateful if you could take a moment to vote and leave a glowing FIVE-STAR RATING. It’s not just for me, it’s a chance to share the love with others who might not have discovered this story yet. Your rating can really h
STACY Six Weeks Later ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ The drive from the airport to God-knows-where was as stressful as the one to the airport. Vincenzo’s hand was on my thigh, warm, heavy, and impossible to ignore. I wasn’t sure if it was meant to comfort me or keep me from vanishing. Knowing him, it was probably both. “You’re quiet,” he said softly. “I’m tired,” I replied, leaning my head against the window. “And I’m trying to decide if I should nap or interrogate you.” His lips quirked, but his eyes remained fixed ahead. “Interrogate me about what?” “Hyacinth,” I said, shifting to face him. “What did you do with her?” His head snapped towards me instantly. Even Vito, ever the unbothered, tensed up in his seat. “Don’t worry about it,” Vincenzo said dismissively after a long look. “That’s not exactly informative,” I shot back. “She’s not going to, I don’t know, haunt us, is she?” His hand tightened on my thigh, a warning disguised as affection. “If she does, it’ll be your fault for asking too many
EPILOGUE Three Months Later ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ One moment I was alone in the study, going over the endless list of things Vincenzo thought we should do before the wedding, and the next, someone was there, like a ghost from another world, watching me. I should’ve known better than to expect peace. Between being a human and being a ghost, I was pretty sure Dante enjoyed the latter. He stood in the corner of the study now, his broad frame cloaked in silence, watching me with the calm intensity that made me want to cry out for Vincenzo. “Seriously?” I hissed, slamming the ledger I was reviewing shut. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” “Knocking is overrated,” he said smoothly, readjusting his position. “Dante…” I glanced at the door, my pulse picking up. Vincenzo was in the house, and while he wasn’t one to hover, he had a sixth sense for trouble. “You can’t keep doing this.” His lips curled into a faint smirk. “Doing what?” “Sneaking in here like some kind of ghost,” I snapped, k
Chapter 115 Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ “Manuel!” I shrieked, the weight in my chest momentarily lifting. I didn’t even wait for the car to stop completely before I threw the door open and bolted toward him where he was standing with Vito and a couple other guys I did not recognize. His head snapped up just in time for me to crash into him, throwing my arms around his neck. “What are you doing here?” I squealed in excitement, my hands still tightly wrapped around him. Manuel stiffened, his arms hovering awkwardly for a moment before he finally hugged me back, though cautiously. “Boss Nikolai’s orders. He’s staying at Boss Russel’s tonight, so we had to come.” I pulled back slightly, my hands still gripping his shoulders, my grin so wide it hurt. “What about the others? Are the guys okay?” “They’re all fine, Miss,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. His eyes scanned my face, softening. “You look… really good.” I felt my cheeks heat at the compliment, but before I could res
Chapter 114 Stacy’s POV ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ I’d never felt smaller, yet somehow, every slight gaze in this room made me feel impossibly large. “Vincenzo, you brought her here. What’s your plan?” The question made my stomach twist. Everyone at the table had gone into the kitchen for dessert, leaving just me, Vincenzo and Russel at the table. They were discussing business just minutes ago, and now, they were discussing me. I sank further into my chair, wishing I could disappear, but I kept my eyes down and my ears open. No weakness, no surrender. My father had taught me that much, even if everything else he taught me dug the shitpit I was currently swimming in. Vincenzo, however, looked utterly unbothered, leaning back in his chair to look at me like a king surveying his kingdom. “She stays with me,” he declared, his tone firm, final. Russel arched a brow, unimpressed. “Stays with you? Care to elaborate, or are you just collecting strays now?” Stray. My cheeks flushed hot, a mi
Chapter 113 Vincenzo ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ Fucking family meetings. The words danced in my head as I adjusted my cuffs, stepping out of the car and into Russel’s driveway. The whole fucking house was a fortress, just very fitting for my brother. Everything about Russel screamed control, even his damn lawn. Not a single blade of grass out of place. But as much as I hated these gatherings, tonight, I couldn’t afford to skip it. And so I brought my little mouse along. I glanced at her as she stood stiffly beside me, fingers fidgeting. Her usual fire was dim tonight, replaced by that gloomy look and the distant sadness in her eyes. “This is Russel’s place.” . “Good thing your memory is still good.” I placed a hand on the small of her back, steering her toward the door. She flinched at the contact but didn’t protest. That was new. We merely made it inside, when the sound of loud laughter buzzed, accompanied by the faint clinking of glasses. The scent of roasted meat and spices wafted through
Chapter 112 Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ Four days. Four long, suffocating days since I last saw Vincenzo. Four days since he stormed out of that room, leaving me with the weight of my own confession—my love for him—and his silence. I’d told him to kill me. And judging by the way he locked the door from the outside, maybe he was still considering it. It was the only explanation. He didn’t trust me anymore. He didn’t want me anymore. That night, I’d noticed it, and seen it in his eyes. The memory of the way he used to look at me, like I was a puzzle he couldn’t resist solving, had been replaced with cold, empty indifference. If anything, the only emotion in those deep blue eyes was pity, pity for the poor pathetic idiot I’d become. And yet, it wasn’t the thought of dying that made my chest ache. No, death would be a mercy. It was the thought of losing him—the man he’d been before I’d ruined everything. The man I knew only briefly, the man he’d been that night, how he had held me and told me hi
Chapter 111 Vincenzo ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ It’s easier to make enemies than friends. But, it’s better to make friends than enemies. Several minutes after Clyde was dragged out by Dante’s men, we were all still standing inside the vault, stressed as fuck. I still maintained my stance about letting the bastard breathe being a bad idea—he deserved a bullet, not diplomacy—but Russel and Nikolai were playing chess, not checkers. Their sights were set on the bigger picture, which was turning the Irish into allies instead of enemies. It made sense in the grand scheme of things, but letting Clyde walk out of here alive still felt like a slap in the face to every instinct I had. So, I let it rest. For now. But if Clyde so much as sneezed in the wrong direction again, all bets were off. “Well, that was dramatic,” Nikolai said with a grin, clapping his hand to break the oppressive silence. “Shall we toast to our little victory, or is there more bloodshed on the agenda?” I ignored him, my focus
Chapter 108 Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ Vincenzo strolled so casually, like he had all the time in the world to deal with me and he wasn’t going to stress about it right now. When he reached where I stood, he didn’t speak right away. Instead, his hand slid to my neck, pushing my hair to the side. His touch sent an involuntary shiver through me, equal parts unsettling and electrifying. Then he plucked the tiny Bluetooth from my ear, the one Clyde’s goons had been whispering their sinister threats through, and held it up like it was a piece of garbage. “You no longer have to be afraid of the lunatic,” he said quietly, his voice loud enough that Clyde could hear. But then his dark eyes flicked to mine, and his tone shifted. “But you should be afraid of what I’ll do to you for leaving the way you did.” It was a cold promise My throat dried up instantly. “You don’t understand,” I said in a trembling voice. “Elixir. They’re going to kill him. Clyde is going to kill all of them.” Vincenzo l