Jacopo and I sat in silence, devouring the spicy wings he ordered. We didn't realize that we were hungry until the food arrived.We sat on the couch, eating every single wing like it was the first meal we had for the day.My mind was jumping from one thought to the next. I was thinking about what we read about the women of the O.G. motorcycle club. It felt like I was intruding on the women, reading about their personal lives. I felt horrible, especially knowing what each of those women went through.Their leader, Red, had the most horrible life, abused and violated by those who should have protected her. But once she found a way to escape, she never went back, gathering women who had lived a painful past just like her and making them a one big family. She built the motorcycle club from the ground up, making a name for herself in her world and protecting women who came to her for protection. She tore up those who meant her and her girls harm, and she built herself up with her own two h
Jacopo and I sat tense. The dark expression on his face worried me, his two different colored eyes planted on the door of the elevator, his gaze far away."What the heck does she want?" He snapped, and I had to stop myself from jumping away from his sudden outburst.Yes. It is definitely his ex-wife. Who else could it be then that he is this angry at the mere mention of her name?"She says she has some matters to discuss with you. You are going to pay her a visit..." The man started, but Jacopo was not having any of it."Like heck, I will." Jacopo snapped, immediately taking the phone off of his ear and hung up on the call.A short silence fell in the apartment, but it was quickly broken by the ring of his phone again.Jacopo looked down at the screen of his phone, and he looked like he was about to blow up.I placed the dish on the couch and stood up, pacing around in front of me as he answered the call again."Tell that woman that if she ever thinks about have me summoned like a do
The night could not go any slower. I could barely sleep with all the questions that were storming through my head, thinking about everything that had happened since morning.The sweetness that was Jacopo, the intensity of the small intimacy we shared, the deepness of the confession he made, and the curiosity that was brought up by the phone call he received... every single thing was making me lose sleep over it.I ended up taking a long hot shower and finished the book I started earlier in the day.I laid around in bed, rolling from side to side until the relentless sleep finally clamined me.I'd sent the alarm on my phone in case I ended up sleeping in, and it managed to wake me up at six.I turned off the alarm and rose from the bed. Despite not getting much sleep last night, I was more than ready to tackle the day like any other.I slowly limped towards the bathroom, washed up, and made my way to the living room.I ran into Jacopo in the open kitchen, standing behind the counter,
Jacopo Nicolo..."Have you found anything yet?" I asked Miles, our tech guy.There were a few things on my mind when I decided to give Miles a call this early. One, I wanted to know if he found out who was responsible for sending a video of my wife's torture to the group chat of the women of the web. I'd promised her that I would find a way to let her know who did it, and Miles was the easiest and quickest way to get the information I needed. The second reason why I called Miles was to give him another assignment, one separate from the web, and it had all to do with what happened the previous night and the odd phone call I received from a man."Of course, I did." Miles replied, sounding almost offended that I had to even ask him that question."It didn't even take me long. I was just waiting for the right time to let you know." He added."And when is the right time?" I asked, annoyance dripping from my voice."I'll let you know once I have you and the rest of the gang gathered up.
I stayed in my office for the rest of the time until Eza came and got me. My mind was doing cartwheels, trying to figure out the pieces of the puzzle I was missing, trying to piece them all together to get the bigger picture. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't figure out how and why all of it was connected.I couldn't figure out why she would want to do that to Ezabella, why she would send that video to the group chat knowing well enough that it would break my wife.Just why?Another thing I couldn't figure out was the stupid connection between Alex Fimbar and Elizabeth Williamson. I don't recall any relationship between the Fimabrs and the Williamsons at all. Other than the fact that they are some of the most influential families on the web, they never seemed to stand out together. They never had marriage alliances or business covers together like most of the other families do, which was why the connection came as a surprise, as something I didn't expect at all.No matte
Ezabella Viper...Jacopo didn't look like he wanted to drive me to the gallery. In fact, he looked like he didn't want me to go at all. I understood why, though, considering the fact that he just told me who was responsible for sending that torture video to the first group chat of the ladies of the web.I understood.Only, if Jacopo knew there was a second video sent to the new group chat, one much worse than the first video, he would change the pass code on the elevator and refuse to let me leave the apartment. That was why I didn't tell him.It took a great deal of control to not show just how torn up I was from inside out. Jacopo already looked like he was suspecting something, like he could scent the change in the air. If I gave him even a single clue that something was wrong, he would surely figure it out before I got the chance to go to the gallery.Despite looking like leaving the apartment was the last thing he wanted to do, Jacopo turned around and walked towards the ele
Jacopo Nicolo...I sat in my car for a few minutes, my grip tight on the steering wheel, my eyes focused in front of me.The anger that was coursing through my veins was making my vision blur, and I had to take a few minutes to calm myself before I decided to drive away.There were a lot of things I needed to get done in that casino. The place needed management. I am the damn manager. But there was no way in heck I was going to drive there and go to work as if nothing happened, as if I didn't find out less than an hour ago that Attiwood was the one who sent that video of Ezabella to the first group chat.I couldn't understand why that crazy woman wanted to do that, why she had a connection with Alex Fimbar, why she made him register for the phone number, and give it to her. Was she stupid? Did she really think she wouldn't get caught?Well, it really doesn't matter what was going on in that rotten head of hers. I was going to pay her a little visit and find out for myself, and so
Ezabella Viper...Ella and I had nothing else to say to each other on the matter of Attiwood Nicolo. She was silent as she was shocked by the information I gave her a few minutes ago, and I was silent because I was busy following my mother-in-law with my eyes.Attiwood did not look like the woman I initially thought she was, nor did she look like the woman I had figured her out to be.I initially thought that she was a strong woman who hid her pain and trauma well. After she hinted how awful her marriage was to Jacopo's father, after she hinted at how abusive her husband was, I thought she was a strong woman for keeping herself up and continuing to build her life away from her past. And now, I was seeing her as the woman who sat behind a screen and sent a video of my torture to a group chat.I understand that Attiwood sending my torture to the group chat doesn't just cancel out the horrible times that she has lived and the abuse that she had to endure. And while I still do feel sl
Ella and I left the twins to sleep some more in the bedroom and found ourselves in the open kitchen.She was telling me how her and the other ladies of the web missed my company, and it reminded me that it has been a long time since I joined the gatherings. To be totally honest, I did miss hanging out with some of the ladies of the web as well. I don't mean the mean mother-in-laws and constant glares of the younger women. I mean the women who went to those gatherings to genuinely have fun, to talk with one another, and had a good time outside of their houses."I do miss you guys too." I replied."Well, you can always come on the next gathering." Ella said. "I know things aren't great right now, but it would be good if you give yourself some time too.""That would be nice. Bit, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to show up at your gatherings when Jacopo wants nothing to do with the web." I replied.Ella and I were talking about having something to eat before we came to the ki
Ezabella Viper...I watched as Ella lovingly looked down at her two daughters, her fingers gently brushing their thick hairs off of their faces.I look at her, and I see a loving mother looking at her children. It was a beautiful sight, and I wondered if I could ever be the mother that she is.My hand was pressed against my lower abdomen as I stared at her."Is it hard?" I whispered, trying to keep my voice high enough just for Ella to hear me, and low enough not to disturb the sleeping twins."What is?" Ella asked, tearing her eyes away from daughters to look at me."Being a mother... being a mother in a place like this. Being the wife of a dangerous man working for a dangerous organization. Is it hard?"Ella let out a soft sigh, looking away from me as she thought through her answer. "I wouldn't say it is easy. What I can tell you is that I wake up every single day next to the man I am madly in love with. I have two amazing daughters who I would give my life for. I have a fami
Jacopo Nicolo...Elijah, Dante, Victor, and I sat in a circle, our focus on Victor as he restarted his explanation on how he was looking into Elizabeth while he stayed here to keep Eza safeEza and Ella were in our bedroom with the twins as Elijah had refused to talk about killing a bunch of people in front of his two daughters, and while both Eza and Ella wanted to stay and listen to our plans, they didn't protest against Elijah's request."As I was saying before, I was rudely interrupted by your unwanted appearance..." Victore said as he pointed at Dante and Elijah at the same time with two of his left fingers. "I've found out that Elizabeth is staying two towns over with a small mafia wannabe, boys. All we have to do is march ourselves there and wipe them off the face of the earth.""We need to be careful." Elijah commented."Of course, we need to be careful. That doesn't mean we should waste any more time than we already had." Victor countered. "It's been two whole months sin
A short silence fell in the home office as Dante and Jacopo stared each other down.Jacopo crossed his arms over his chest, refusing to make a single comment and forcing Dante to continue."Like Elijah said, I am sorry for what happened that night, but I, too, had someone I needed to save. And as much as it pains me to sat this, your mother was not my priority that night."My goodness... I get what Dante was saying, but damn it, he didn't have to say it like that."And what? I'm supposed to just believe you and be happy with your decision? I'm supposed to clap my hands for you and just move on?" Jacopo asked, hurt still evident in his voice."That is not what I am saying. What I'm saying is that the night was not easy for any one of us. We were all isolated and were forced to choose to save those we loved the most. Elijah had to choose his family and you had to choose your wife..." "Then what about you?" My father jumped in. "Who were you forced to choose?" He asked.All eyes turned
Ezabella Viper...I sat tense in Jacopo's home office, my back to the window, and my face turned towards the unexpected guests sitting in front of my husband.Dante, Elijah, Ella, and their twins. One look at Jacopo and I could tell that he was trying his best to control his anger, to stay come and hear them out before he can kick them out without Dante threatening to burn us all down along with the apartment building."This is very awkward." My father leaned in to whisper to me, shaking his head in disappointment for getting caught up in between the affairs of the people of the web."It sure is." I replied, keeping my voice hushed enough only for my father to hear."Are you sure you want to say with this man, Bella? Because if I were you, I would not handle this well." He added."Well, it's a very good thing that you are not me, then." I replied, glancing at him and seeing the face he was making at me."Are we going to sit here and stare at each other all day... or are you going
I was in the middle of preparing breakfast for Eza when the panel lit up with a notification. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to look at what had set it off.Victor was standing in the elevator, aggressively punching the button that would take him to my floor.Goodness.I pushed the pass code in through my phone and watched as he shoved his hands in his pocket and looked up at the camera.I returned my attention back to the breakfast I was preparing for Eza, which did not need the stove to be turned on. Thank goodness.I ignored the noise of the elevator door opening as I started plating the fruits and cookies."Is that why you eat? Or is that what you feed my daughter?" He asked as he stopped in front of the kitchen counter."Mind your own business." I mumbled."My daughter is my business." He replied."Dad?"My eyes are drawn to the hall at the sound of my wife's soft voice."What are you doing here this early?" She asked. "Did we make plans for today?""Good morning to you too,
I stood in front of the mirror, pulling a black t-shirt over my head, wincing as I felt the slowly healing gunshot wound on my shoulder.Eza was still asleep in bed when I got up to get ready. The previous night, after Eza and I had spent the day together forgetting the horror we were living, we'd returned home and spent a few more hours in each other's arms, talking about this and that until she fell asleep.After tucking her in bed, I'd returned to the living room to retrieve my phone, charge it, and make a phone call even though I knew it was past midnight.I knew I wouldn't be able to fall asleep if I didn't call Victor right that second and make plans. I just couldn't wait a few more hours until the sun went up.I was sitting at my desk in my home office, one I have not been in since the day I lost my mother, and almost lost my wife for the rest of my life.I expected to call Victor a few times before he picked up, but to my surprise, the phone didn't even ring three times befor
Jacopo Nicolo...If there is one thing going right in my life, it's having Eza next to me.These past eight weeks had been brutal, and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get out of my shell as fast as I could to start fixing our marriage. I was the one who messed up, yet Eza was still by my side, cooking my every meals and trying to get me out of my shell every single day.I didn't deserve her kindness. I still don't. But I recognize how blessed I am to have her.She was probably the only reason why I was back on my feet, walking around and not letting myself west away. As of now, she is also the biggest reason why I decided to go through with the visit to see my mother.I was not even close to being ready to fall at her grave, to say the things I wanted to say to her. But I also knew that the longer I took to get to the cemetery, the harder it was going to be for me to start healing, and that will only make it even harder to fix my marriage with Eza.I glanced at her
"Okay." Jacopo said once more, and I felt enough relief to reach for his hand again and lock our fingers.I turned to face the cemetery and started leading him forward to the place I knew where his mother's resting place was.Jacopo followed silently, his fingers tightening around my hands as he kept his eyes on the ground, refusing to look up.I stopped in front of a new grave."Vanessa Nicolo, a mother and a best friend." Was written on the head stone."Here it is, Jacopo." I commented, glancing to see that he was staring at the words. His hand fell away from mine, and I watched as he crumbled. His knees buckled, forcing him to fall to the ground right in front of his mothers grave."Mom..." He whispered, hus voice barely audible.I took a few steps back to give him some space and to let him be with her on his own, but I didn't move too far away just in case he needed me."I'm sorry." I heard him whisper."I'm sorry I didn't get to you fast enough. I'm sorry I let them do that to y