LINDA’S POVMy stay in Italy so far had been everything I wanted and more. Every day reminded me of just how lovely the country was, especially in Turin.My friends came over to visit and regularly dragged me out, making sure I was in an inconspicuous disguise as they led me on tours around their lovely country. I had imagined retiring in Turin with my husband and two children, gentle and calm all around, a perfect life to come home to all the time.I had also signed up for many activities. There were regular knitting classes full of young, bored, rich ladies who just needed something to do with their hands. The instructor had told us we had a fun knitting competition for learning coming up, and the ladies had been complacent. Those cowards wouldn’t know what hit them when I was done with mine. I thrived in competitions, even when the competitions weren’t worth it.Darren and Bianca tended to hang out at my place, and although I valued peace, the company of my best friends was more va
Meanwhile, LUCA’S POV I loved being at Daddy’s villa. It was super wide and had lots of space, so I could fly around like a superhero more easily. Today, Mommy and Daddy were busy doing business stuff in their wing, and I wanted to hang around the pretty flowers. There was a mean lady I didn’t like who always glared at me when I went there, but she didn’t scare me. Aunt Linda was in Turin, and she told me she was just a call away. She could use her super spy skills to protect me. I wandered outside into the maze of shrubs and flowers. They reminded me of Aunt Linda—super tall, pretty, and super strong. She always carried me on her back and did push-ups, acting like I didn’t weigh anything, and I was almost six! She was as strong as Daddy! I looked around. The guards, who wore the kind of suits my Mommy liked me wearing, were all staring straight ahead, like my toy soldiers standing at attention. Giosio One said I would soon have to learn to stand straight and stare ahead, but I did
LINDA’S POV“I wasn’t following you!” I placated, stopping short when I collided with his chest. He didn’t even flinch. For a moment, I froze. It felt so disorienting to look up at him—I rarely looked up at people.“Then why are you everywhere?” His voice hardened, and his eyes were steadfast and mean, full of evil intent and immense tiredness. What could be making the evil man tired? Had he gone around killing all day?“I’m a tourist!” I blurted, partly right because I was simply visiting the nice places I knew tourists generally tended to skip over. They never knew what they were missing, and I wouldn’t tell them because I wanted it for myself. Realizing I was still too close to a man who could very well go off with my head if he so wished, I took a gracious step back.“These aren’t tour spots. If you do not refrain from following me, I will have to take back my kindness,” he said softly. I almost couldn’t hear the sound of his voice with the way it matched the wind. It was golden h
BIANCA’S POVI was disoriented and incredibly frustrated. I had first started looking for Luca sometime in the afternoon, but he typically disappeared with one of his uncles somewhere in the other wings in the afternoon, so I wasn’t completely worried.That was until I saw Giovanni and Lazarro walking into the main villa without my son in tow. I had shot out of my seat, furrowing my brows in slight worry at first. After asking them and ensuring they really didn’t know where he was, I began to worry properly.I called Alessandro, asking if he had Luca sent somewhere I didn’t know, and when he denied it, I knew I was in trouble. He came back from work immediately before I could begin to hyperventilate, and we searched for Luca alongside the guild members, then I felt my heart shatter.The guild members could almost always find Luca when he was playing, and now they said they hadn’t set their eyes on him all day. I was going crazy. I called Darren, Leo, and even Linda. Anyone that could
RICARDO’S POV“Whoa, are you one of the super spies?” the tiny voice asked. I squinted and looked down to see a mini-copy of Alessandro looking up at me with wide, guileless eyes and a wide-open mouth, too. Who were the super spies this boy was talking about? It seemed as though he didn’t realize how frantic his parents were.“Your parents are searching for you,” I said flatly. Children never needed to hear a curated voice; they could see through everything anyway. The boy stepped back and cocked his head.“Searching for me? But I just got here. Is mommy very worried?” he asked with a knowing pout. Perhaps his mother was prone to bouts of overreaction. I didn’t care all that much for a child’s opinion or thoughts.“I suppose so.”“Daddy looks a lot like you,” he said, coming closer. I would rather he didn’t, so I stepped back. He noticed it and halted his advance. It seemed like much didn’t escape the notice of this child, except perhaps the fact that he had been wandering in here for
RICARDO’S POVLuca chattered incessantly about every little thing and nothing at the same time, as children enjoyed doing. He talked about how the Lira was magical and how he had the most magical nap ever, and that helped me understand what exactly had happened.Somehow, he had stumbled into this place and fallen asleep. Then, when he woke up, he didn’t know the difference between afternoon and evening because of the trees that had formed extra thick canopies covering the sky. That meant he didn’t realize just how late it was and how he should have gone home already.“Do you know that something that studies dinosaurs is a palle-onto-logist?”“Do you mean paleontologist?” I corrected, and the boy nodded into my shoulder.We had reached the hole now, and I had to drop him so he could squeeze through. He didn’t even need to squeeze; he just slipped through like he was lubricated. Oh, to be a child able to slip through the smallest crevices.After I squeezed through, I held out my hand, b
BIANCA’S POV“Where did you go?!” I tried my hardest not to yell at my baby. He was looking plump and well-rested, so at least it seemed like he hadn’t suffered the whole day he’d been awake. In fact, there were telltale markings of his drool and the imprint of his hand on his face, like he had been sleeping.“The gardens. I was there all day with the faeries,” he pouted, and I knew I was not getting anything out of him again. I didn’t know when he started thinking he could keep secrets from his mother, but he felt like he was a big boy now, and who was I to query my big boy?“Next time you go out with the faeries, notify me or your mother first, okay?” Alessandro said, the boy still tightly in his grasp. Luca was grinning like a mischievous imp, and I shook my head. He took after his father. I couldn’t believe I had nearly turned the whole villa upside down. I had even called in people who hadn’t been in the villa in days, like Linda, Darren, and even Charlie.“Okay, Daddy. See, I go
BIANCA’S POV “You,” I pointed to Alessandro, “come with me,” I said and left for our room. “Ooh, someone’s getting kinky, that’s our cue to leave, my love,” I heard Darren say. Just because I wanted to see Giovanni’s face, I rushed back down silently. As expected, his face was aflame, and he had a silly smile on his face, despite the fact that they were already officially dating. I wondered offhandedly if I ever smiled like that at Alessandro because I remembered clearly that he often did the same. “Ugh! You fall in love once, and I can’t have any peace anymore,” Linda deadpanned, getting up and cleaning off her purse. “I’ll be in my home; I refuse to be stabbed in the eyes any longer with romantic nonsense.” If not for the smile in her voice, I would have thought she was being serious. She was so obsessed with being on her own that it wouldn’t have been out of pocket if she actually said it seriously. I couldn’t remember what the last person Linda dated even looked like; that was
ALESSANDRO’S POV“Looks like the future’s here,” Bianca murmured in reference to what the patriarch had said before, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. Her gaze was fixed on the Dobre patriarch, whose previously smug composure now seemed on the verge of crumbling.I tilted my head slightly and slipped a hand around her to bring her closer, unable to resist. “What a shame it’s not the one they envisioned.”Darren sauntered over with a large smile on his face, and I could relate to him. He had been wanting to release the information about Matteo for such a long time, and I was certain it felt like a balm on his wearied soul to finally enact revenge against the scum.“Showtime,” he said, just loud enough for us to hear. The crowd was awash with murmurs and people whispering loudly, clearly intending to target the Dobres and make sure they heard their speculations. Lumari was confused, Samuel was furious, and Toria was trying to play the good wife. The negative energy in the room had
ALESSANDRO’S POVI leaned against the marble pillar, my fingers drumming idly on the rim of my untouched champagne glass. The evening was a disaster. Not the catastrophic, bloody kind of disaster I was used to handling, but the sort of slow-burn chaos that made me wish I’d missed the whole spectacle in the first place.And of course, it all started with Giovanni.My younger brother’s camera crew was bustling around the room, shoving microphones and lenses into the faces of people who, mere minutes ago, had been dignified power players. Now, they were giddy fans jostling for selfies and sound bites, trying to get their good sides.Larisa was hanging on to my arm for dear life like I was going to fade away into dust if she didn’t, and irritation clawed up my throat. If Bianca had been beside me instead of this bitch, I would have been able to enjoy the look on the Dobre patriarch’s face as his revered gala became a celebrity meet-and-greet. I only had to wait a little; she was in the ro
LIMARI’S POVThe conversation had become a tangled mess of pleasantries, small talk, and carefully crafted smiles. It was all just so… predictable. I could feel the eyes on me, but not in the way I wanted. Tonight was supposed to be mine—mine to shine, mine to be the center of attention. I had worked hard for this, after all. I was the newest Dobre, the woman Samuel had chosen, the one who would help bring the family into the new age. I wasn’t just attending this gala; I was the gala.And yet, despite everything, my heart still thudded uneasily in my chest. The sensation wasn’t from Samuel, who stood tall beside me, a constant presence as calm as ever. No, the feeling came from Ricardo, Ricardo of all people, who, of course, had shown up looking effortlessly handsome, as though he hadn’t even tried. And, worse yet, he was with… her.Linda Collins.She stood beside him, the actress and writer who had quietly slipped into the crowd as though she owned it. People had already begun to rec
LUMARI’S POVI leaned in slightly toward Samuel, keeping my voice casual. “I’m going to have a word with my sister-in-law,” I murmured, referring to Larisa.I didn’t wait for his response, knowing he’d be fine with whatever I chose to do. I turned toward the four people—Ricardo, his new companion, Larisa, and Alessandro—and made my way over, every step calculated to project confidence.As I approached, Larisa’s eyes immediately locked onto me, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her gaze. She was always so composed, so perfect, the princess of the Dobre family. She had the bloodline, the power. There was no sarcasm here, no sharp words from me. No, tonight, I needed to tread carefully.“Lumari,” she greeted, her smile bright and almost affectionate. “How wonderful to see you. I’m so glad you could join us tonight.”I returned her smile, though it felt a little strained. “Of course, Larisa. How could I miss it? It’s such an important night for the family.”We exchanged pl
LUMARI’S POVThe grand ballroom of the Dobre quarterly gala shimmered with the quiet elegance that only the highest branches of society could orchestrate. Chandeliers hung like jewels in the night, their soft light spilling over the polished floors, the delicate lace of crystal illuminating every corner of the room.The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes, finely aged wine, and the muted hum of polite conversation between rich people.I stood at the entrance, making sure my presence was nothing short of commanding. I wasn’t just attending this time; I was the event, the brand new wife of the Dobres that would be showcased.The crowd seemed to part as I moved through it, their eyes drawn to me like moths to a flame. My emerald silk dress clung to my curves, cascading to the floor in an elegant pool behind me. The color was chosen not only for its beauty but for the power it projected. Samuel had made sure to choose it for me himself.A life with Ricardo could have never
THIRD PERSON’S POVThe tension in the room was palpable as Ricardo took his place at the helm of the dining table, his calm yet commanding presence silencing even Giovanni’s sarcastic mutterings. Linda leaned back in her chair, watching with barely contained amusement as the group settled into something resembling order.They were at his villa, only because most of the sensitive plans were in his study and would be dangerous to transport from place to place so casually.Bianca had immediately felt at home, claiming the color scheme made her calm. Ricardo suspected that all was not normal with Bianca. She was looking a bit more round than she did last week, and she was as sporadic as she was moody, but what did he know? He only had sharp eyes; he couldn’t really interpret what it meant.His voice, low and steady, cut through the room. “I have already started dismantling the Dobres’ foundation. Their partners are suffocating under the pressure I’ve applied—financial audits, legal threat
THIRD PERSON POVRicardo’s breath was ragged as he carried her from the wall to the bed. Her legs wrapped tighter around his waist, her hands threading into his hair as their lips clashed again—fiery and insistent.“Was this…” she managed to gasp, her voice a mix of amusement and desire. “The grand tour you had in mind?”Ricardo growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating against her lips as he lowered her onto the bed with a control that belied the hunger in his eyes. He loomed over her, his weight pinning her, his lips moving to her neck.“Keep talking, Linda,” he rasped, his voice dark, rough, and tantalizingly close to a threat. “Let’s see how long you keep that sharp tongue of yours.”Her soft laugh turned into a breathless sigh as his hands roamed her body, his touch firm and possessive. He pulled her closer, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist—like he needed to feel every inch of her.“I’m not scared of you, Moretti,” she whispered, her hands tugging at his shirt, exp
THIRD PERSON POVBianca leaned against the kitchen counter, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her coffee cup. The late evening light cast a warm glow across the room, but her mind was elsewhere, on the entirely self-inflicted predicament she’d thrown Linda into.“Do you think I made a mistake?” she asked, glancing over at Alessandro, who was sitting at the kitchen table, meticulously slicing a pear for Luca, who was arguing with Lazarro about how ‘rocking’ green bikes were compared to blue. A perfectly lovely day, save for the fact that she had pushed her best friend into going on a fake date, twice.He raised an eyebrow, not looking up from his task. “Depends. What mistake are we talking about today?”Bianca huffed. “You know. Pushing Linda into those dates with Ricardo. She barely agreed to it, and he’s…” She gestured vaguely as if the act of describing Ricardo required divine assistance. “He’s Ricardo. What if I shoved her into a lion’s den? What if he devours her?”Alessand
THIRD PERSON’S POVRicardo was annoyed, but he was used to dealing with situations like these. This was Claire Davenport, the woman who had reportedly sent the members of Livodi after Linda. He had asked Edward, one of his informants, to make sure that she wouldn’t be able to harm Linda or anyone associated with her anymore. How had he not realized that it meant Claire should disappear?“At least I’m not dating a gigolo!” Claire exclaimed, angry and embarrassed. She had purposely gone to seduce Kalam, the mob boss of Livodi, just so she could have the upper hand over Linda for once and end their rivalry with finality. He was ugly and rough, but she would do anything to own the kind of power Livodi had. Kalam had assured her that he would take care of Linda for her, so why was she still alive and going on a date with someone so handsome?“Gigolo? Your informants need to get another job. They’re terrible at the one they currently have,” Linda sneered, turning to face Claire fully. Befor