THIRD PERSON POVIt had taken Ricardo half the day to rally his brothers together to begin the process of making a suitable plan. He had known he should have made one before. When they were alone, they were each master at what they did, even though he wasn’t really sure what Giovanni did. When they knew they had someone who could make it for them, they became brats.“This is a serious situation. I will need Alessandro to pretend to agree with Larisa so he will get an invite,” Ricardo began, spreading papers on the table documenting the Dobres' movements. He had been paranoid for years and had spent meticulous time tracking them down. Previously, it had only been to know when he would sacrifice himself. Now, however, it came in handy to free himself and his family from the imminent threat they posed.“How about you? How are you getting an invite?” Giovanni asked with a yawn, his legs splayed wildly over Ricardo’s. For someone who had claimed to not care for him, he had acclimatized to
LINDA’S POV“Bianca, the answer is no.” I held the phone a little too tightly, pacing the guest room I was staying in at Ricardo’s place. The carpet muffled my restless footsteps, but it didn’t do much to smother the rising panic I felt. He could be anywhere in the house, after all. I had gone out like a light after he had cut the ropes that tied me the previous night, and I woke up in a cool and cozy house that had brown and cream as the theme. It was rather disorienting to realize he matched his furniture, especially with such warm colors.Bianca had called me about three hours after I woke up. I hadn’t left because I didn’t really know if I was in danger of anything, so I’d let him give me free rein to go himself.“Linda, please!” Bianca’s voice came through the speaker, laced with desperation. “You don’t even have to do much. Just look pretty, say a few words, and let Ricardo handle the rest. It’s one night!”“One night,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “One night with Ricardo, your
RICARDO’S POVI could hardly believe I was going on a date when I was supposed to be making sure all the plans were foolproof. Bianca was annoyingly persistent, and her boyfriend was no less insufferable. I had practically been bullied into going on this date. What a thought—me, being bullied.I had given her the free rein to leave for Turin, having placed her on the no-harm list for all the gangs in at least 50 countries. She tended to travel even more than Giovanni, so I had seen it as fitting. She was such an irresponsible celebrity—having no guards at all. Did she think she was a superhero?Still, if I was going to go on a date for the first time, I supposed I had to ignore work for a bit. I knew I would regret this.✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✦✧✧✦✧LINDA’S POVThe café Bianca had picked was charming enough with subdued lighting, soft jazz in the background, and the faint aroma of fresh bread wafting through the air. It would’ve been perfect if I wasn’t sitting across from Ricardo, who so
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
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 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’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
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
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