Chapter 87Vincenzo⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼I leaned against the SUV’s door, staring out at the dark, rain-soaked streets. Everything felt too quiet now. The jet ride, Allesia’s labor and childbirth, the emergency services swarming around Allesia and her baby—all of it was still sharp in my memory. But what lingered most was the image of Stacy, kneeling on that blood-soaked floor, her hands trembling as she worked to save Allesia’s life.Despite my reservations about Russel, seeing him like that—a father—was almost surreal. A part of me wondered if I’d ever experience something like that.No. That kind of life wasn’t for me.It had softened something in me though, watching Stacy like that. For Russel and Allesia, no less. A woman who lived by manipulation and games had, for once, done something selfless. It made no sense. Stacy Salvatore wasn’t supposed to be someone who cared. And yet, tonight, she’d been that person.Now she sat beside me, her head tilted against my shoulder, her body slack with
Chapter 88 Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ As soon as my head touched the pillow after a sluggish shower last night, I went to lala land. This morning, I felt like I’d been hit by a truck—then reversed over for good measure. I stretched lazily, yawned for the longest time and stretched again, then pushed the covers away only to discover I was completely naked. I shook my head at that carelessness. Well, thankfully I remembered to lock the door as soon as I entered the room. Not like Vincenzo couldn’t come in even if he wanted to, but he didn’t. I let my eyes trail lazily across the room, it wasn’t necessarily a prison, though it might as well have been. The space whispered opulence, with its dark wood bed frame, soft-as-sin sheets, and a faint scent of something expensive and citrusy in the air. Subtle, tasteful, and just arrogant enough to scream Vincenzo Mancini owns this place. I didn’t linger. The bathroom called, and I answered like it was salvation. Under the punishing spray of the sho
Chapter 89Vincenzo ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼I’d never really seen Stacy as the type to have a haunting past. Then again, she’d always been a master of theatrics, draped in humor and an unapologetic tendency to make you feel like the idiot in the room. But like many perceptions I’d had of her, this one seemed to be about to change.She sat beside me, stiff as a board, she’d drawn her knees up, they now hugged to her chest like she could somehow protect herself from whatever memory she was struggling to suppress. She’d been talking in fits and starts, her words stumbling out like a drunk who couldn’t find his footing. I listened, silent, smoke curling around my face, waiting for her to give me something to work with.“It was a science project,” she said finally, her voice very low. “Something about chemical reactions—whatever. It doesn’t matter now.”“Sounds thrilling,” I murmured, flicking ash into the water. “Bet you were the star of the class.”Her lips twitched like she wanted to laugh but couldn
Chapter 90Stacy⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼The pool water rippled faintly, like it had heard my evil confession and was trying to carry it away. Vincenzo sat beside me, silent as ever, his cigarette burning down to the filter. The smoke curled around him like some ominous crown, and I swear, if silence were a weapon, he’d be wielding it like a pro. Did I think he was some priest in an old, echoing cathedral, ready to absolve my sins? Hell no. But I also didn’t expect him to sit there like a grim reaper deliberating over whether I deserved a swift death or slow torture for the heinous crime I’d committed at fourteen. His eyes bore into me, sharp and emotionless, like he was trying to solve a murder mystery where I was both the victim and the suspect.“Just say it already,” I snapped, my nerves fraying.Still nothing. The man was quieter than a corpse, and for a terrifying second, I wondered if he was contemplating how to make me one.I hated that look. I hated him.But most of all, I hated myself. Fo
Chapter 91 Vincenzo ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ “She’s been locked in her room the five days since you were away,” Vito said, falling into step beside me as I walked through the cabin. His tone was casual, but the way he kept glancing at me spoke volumes. “And?” I asked, not bothering to stop. “She’s mad as hell. The kind of mad that makes a woman throw things. And she’s been throwing things, capo. A lot of things.” I smirked. “Let her throw them.” “She also hasn’t eaten much,” he added, ignoring my dismissal. “And considering the flash drive you left her with, I’m guessing you know why.” That stopped me. I turned to face him, one brow raised. “Are you suggesting I should feel bad about that?” Vito held his hands up, a rare flicker of amusement breaking through his usual stoic mask. “Not my place to tell you how to run your house—or your woman. Just thought you’d want to know what you’re walking into.” My woman. That was a reach. But I didn’t correct him. I nodded once, continuing toward the
Chapter 92 Vincenzo ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ FIVE HOURS EARLIER; SICILY So you’re telling me,” Nikolai said slowly, his voice dripping with disbelief, “that all of this—all of it—comes down to Ignacio once again?” Before I could answer, a loud, shrill cry pierced through the air from the baby monitor, making everyone in the room freeze. Kegan grimaced. “Jesus Christ, that kid’s gonna be louder than all of us one day,” he muttered, glancing at the monitor like it was a ticking time bomb. “Most grown men don’t make that kind of racket.” “I’m just saying,” Marcel piped up, his grin widening, “I’ve heard you scream like a toddler after a bad haircut, Kegan. The kid might take after you.” The room erupted in laughter, and even Russel—exhausted as he was from the sleepless nights with Allesia and the baby—couldn’t suppress a grin. I was tired and way too sober for this circus. I rubbed my temples, fighting the urge to tell them all to just shut the hell up and get to the point. “Can we p
Chapter 93Stacy⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼PRESENTThe cabin was too small for all the anger I felt. Every breath I took burned my chest. My legs gave way beneath me, but I didn’t fall. I couldn’t. My chest ached so fiercely it felt like my heart was physically shattering, every breath jagged and shallow.“How could he do this?” My voice cracked, but the words hung in the air like a curse. “How could he—”I pressed my palms to my temples, trying to quiet the storm raging in my head. Useless. I was just a means to an end, even to my own father. Insignificant. Nothing.The thought made bile rise in my throat.“This whole time… I was nothing to him. Nothing!” My voice rose, sharp and raw, and the sound startled even me. I clenched my fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms until the pain was the only thing keeping me grounded. “He used me! Like I’m just some…some piece of property to trade away when it suits him!”Tears blurred my vision. I whirled around to look at Vincenzo. Why was he just watc
Chapter 93Vincenzo⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼She looked so peaceful in my arms. Her cheek rested against my chest, she was exhausted from all that sex and it showed on her pale face and ragged breathing, even in sleep. Her hair, still damp from our shower, spilling across her face like auburn silk. The scent of lavender mixed with saltwater clung to her skin, faint but potent enough to stir something in me I wasn’t ready to name. Vulnerability wasn’t a word I’d ever associate with Eustacia Salvatore, but right now, she looked… fragile. Breakable, even. And for reasons that made no sense, I didn’t like it.I traced a finger along the curve of her shoulder, careful not to wake her. If I stayed here long enough, I might convince myself that the world outside didn’t exist—that the troubles I’d built my life on couldn’t reach us in this remote little slice of Italy.But the world didn’t work that way, not for people like me. Peace wasn’t something we got to keep, it was something we stole in fleeting mom
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