🎶 She’s just a girl and she’s on fire. . . 🎼
Chapter 10Vincenzo °° °° °° °°I spent another three hours with Aurelio and Vito, going over important footage and trying to extract any useful information from the bastard who drove Tristiano to his end. His story hadn’t changed—whether from years of practice in the art of lying or because he was telling the truth, I’d find out tomorrow.By the time I left Aurelio and Vito, it was nearly 11 PM. There were some personal findings I needed to make. Usually, I would return to my room to do this, but there was a ball of fire in that room—one that would talk me to madness if I went back. So, I opted for my study instead.I reached my study, the room was dark, lit only by the dim glow of the city outside, filtering through the large windows that stretched from floor to ceiling. I didn’t bother turning on the lights. The darkness was more comfortable, more familiar.I moved to the bar, pouring myself a glass of bourbon, the liquid amber catching the faint light as it swirled in the crys
Chapter 11Stacy°° °° °° °°The pain started as a low, nagging ache, the kind you could almost ignore if you will yourself to, and ignore it I did. But when I stretched and changed positions, the dull throb in my abdomen quickly morphed into something far more sinister. It felt like someone had ignited a bonfire in my lower belly, the flames licking my insides, churning them into a blistering, molten soup. The devilish cramp twisted through me, wrenching an involuntary gasp from my lips, and I shot up in bed, clutching my stomach. Panic surged alongside the pain, a sinking dread filling my chest as I felt something warm and wet beneath me.No. No, no, no.I whipped the duvet off in a frenzied motion, only to stare in horror at the sight beneath me. Blood. So much blood. Spreading like a sinister inkblot across the fabric. Staining Vincenzo’s pristine white sheets.I was furious—no, I was fuming. This was the first time I’d gotten my period in three months, and it had to happen now
Chapter 12Vincenzo°° °° °° °°“How the hell does something bleed so much without dying?”I grumbled the words to myself as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie. The question wasn’t rhetorical. I genuinely couldn’t wrap my head around it. I’ve seen men lose a few pints of blood in a fight, and most of them didn’t make it. But this thing with women was something else entirely. Bleeding like a damn open faucet, yet she’s still there, breathing, talking, making my life hell. I finished adjusting my tie, then I straightened my hair. I was in one of the guest rooms, my frustration mounting with every second as I went over my life choices in the last seventy two hours of my life. The Irish Mob were expecting me today, even though they never responded to my message, and I couldn’t afford to show up late or worse—cancel. They’d sniff out weakness faster than a pack of wolves, and right now, I didn’t need a pack of barbarians breathing down my neck.Not when Tristano’s death
Chapter 13Stacy°° °° °° °°Years of following my dad into these kinds of meetings had trained me to spot the boss from a mile away. In this room filled with four stout men with smart tailored suits, I couldn’t find a single one with that quiet confidence that comes from knowing that everyone else in the room would jump at your command like the one Vincenzo has. None of them even resembled a Clyde Cummiskey.Vincenzo must know that too because he wasn’t being nice to any of the guys who were trying a little too hard to make him believe they were in charge. He simply brushed them off with curt nods and dismissive glances. Well, even if Vincenzo doesn’t know it, I’d made my mind to avoid saying anything that would draw attention to me more than this damn collar and cuffs were already doing. These men might as well carve out my captor’s eyes and hold it up in a stake for all I care. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a guy leaning against the far wall, his gaze fixed on us with
Chapter 14Vincenzo°° °° °° °°This was the kind of place that thrived on secrets and the power of men who operated outside the law—dimly lit corridors with a labyrinth of peeling paint and grime, many exits for emergencies and scattered weapons. I had always found a twisted sense of belonging in these places, a perverse comfort in the shadows. But not right now. Now, I was hunting.I moved through the narrow passage quietly, the scent of dampness clinging to the air, mingling with the acrid stench of gunpowder from the recent firefight. The bastard had escaped through a hidden door—a clever trick, but not clever enough. I had ways of finding people, even in the most rundown and crude places.As I approached the end of the corridor, faint voices and hurried footsteps reached my ears.Good. They hadn’t gotten far.I reached the end of the hallway where the passage split into two. I took the left without hesitation, trusting my instincts. The voices grew louder, more distinct. I cou
Chapter 15Vincenzo °° °° °° °°“Vincenzo,” he drawled, his Irish accent thick, more pronounced now, as if he were savoring every syllable. “You know, I’ve heard a lot about you, Mancini. Crawling between women’s thighs like a fucking snake.” He grinned, flashing teeth that seemed too white for a man of his nature. “You cleaned up nicely, I must confess I could use your charms with women.”I snorted, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. The flame from the match briefly illuminated his face, casting shadows that danced in his eyes. They were sharp, glinting with amusement, as if he found this entire situation entertaining.This fucker’s enjoying himself.I took a deep drag, letting the smoke fill my lungs before blowing it out slowly. The wind, cold and biting, whipped the smoke away into the night, leaving the scent of burning tobacco mingling with the stench of blood and death.“Funny,” I said in an emotionless tone, the words burning my lips. “You must know so much about me, ye
Chapter 16Stacy°° °° °° °°There’s nothing quite like that post-period horniness—a ravenous itch you just can’t scratch, especially when you’re lying in bed with your bones still aching like a 90-year-old grandma who fell down the stairs. It’s been a week since that damn incident with Vincenzo and his Irish bastards, a week since I thought I’d die thrice in the same day, a week since I survived that damn crash— and my body still feels like it was wrung out and left to dry. Aurelio might as well have smirked at me while driving us into that wreck; I’m still convinced the bastard did it on purpose. A little “oops” to keep me in line, silenced and out of the way.Well, mission accomplished. By the time I woke up that day, I was back in Vincenzo’s little slice of hell—a room so perfect it makes me want to scream. The bandage on my head was tight enough to make my brain throb, but what really got under my skin was the collar still around my neck, his name etched into it like I’m som
Chapter 17 Stacy °° °° °° °° “Looking for something, little mouse?” His voice was a low purr, laced with an edge of suspicion. I swallowed hard, slipping my hands into my pockets to hide the trembling. “Just putting away some clothes,” I lied smoothly, but I could almost hear the doubt in the way his eyebrows lifted suspiciously. “What clothes?” “None of your business.” I returned in irritation. “Why, are you afraid I’m going to escape through the fucking closet?” I scoffed, “Then you must have such little faith in your henchmen.” His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, as if he could see straight through the flimsy walls of the closet, straight into the depths of my thoughts and right through the ruse. And for a split second, I wondered if he knew. But instead of pressing further, he merely nodded, a tight smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Alright,” he said, turning away to pour himself a drink. “Finish up your food.” As he moved across the room, I slipped my
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
Chapter 72 Stacy ⟻⟼ ✦ ⟻⟼ I pushed him back against the opposite wall, taking a step forward to close the distance. His mouth parted, eyes widening in surprise as I straddled him, effectively trapping him beneath me. “How does it feel, Mancini?” I whispered against his ear, letting my breath tickle his skin. “To be at my mercy?” He groaned, hands trembling with the effort to obey me, his self-control hanging by a thread. “You’re killing me, Stacy.” “Good,” I murmured with a smile as I pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to his lips, I felt his resolve weaken with each passing second. “Now beg.” He let out a strangled sound, and for a moment, I thought he might snap, might wrest control back and remind me just who I was dealing with. But he didn’t. He took a shaky breath, his gaze locked on mine, a hint of something vulnerable in his eyes. “Please,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, the word like a gift. And it was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard. With a victorious smile,