POV: BeatriceIt gnawed at me, an ache I couldn’t ignore. My family had let me go too easily. The realization cut deep, deeper than I wanted to admit. They had fought when I was married off, but now? Nothing. I had been ripped from them, and in the void they left behind, all that remained were my father’s lies and betrayals.I swallowed hard, fingers twitching over my phone. Where was Dario? Had the Morunagas done something to him? Had he returned to Italy without telling me? Why wasn’t he answering my calls?I could dial Ryuu, demand answers—but what would I even say? If he had hurt Dario, he wouldn’t admit it. And if he hadn’t, would I even believe him?Maybe I should reach out to my other cousins. But if Ryuu was involved, and they found out, I’d be the one who set everything ablaze. A war would break out, and I would be trapped in the center of it. No matter how distant I felt from them, my loyalties were now bound to Ryuu. If a battle ignited between our families, I wouldn’t have
POV: BeatriceI hesitated before answering, pressing the device to my ear. "Didn’t think you’d respond so fast."A pause. His silence was thick, suffocating."You’re drunk."How the hell could he tell? I had barely spoken. I blinked, trying to remember how many drinks I’d had. My mind blurred around the number."Where are you?" His voice sharpened, all warmth stripped away.I frowned, glancing at Caleb, who was still watching me with interest. "Where are we again?""The Alchemist," Caleb answered, smirking. "You really can’t hold your liquor, huh?""Did you hear that?" I asked, ignoring Caleb entirely. "Ryuu?"Silence. Then, a sharp, clipped response."Who are you with?""Sophia and some of her friends."The line went dead.I stared at the screen, dumbfounded."Everything okay?" Caleb asked, resting a casual hand on my shoulder. I shrugged him off, irritation flaring hot in my veins.What a bastard. He called just to hang up? It was the first time I had heard his voice in two weeks, a
POV: RyuuBeatrice and Sophia stumbled into Esposito’s mansion, their laughter spilling down the hallway, reckless and unguarded. If I hadn’t been there, steadying her, Beatrice would have hit the floor long ago. Every time she lost her balance, I pulled her back, keeping her upright. I hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, but she had more than made up for it. Twice over. I wasn’t sure how she had even made it this far, but now we stood at the base of the grand staircase, Sophia swaying toward her own room while Beatrice clung to me, barely conscious of her own movements. By the time I got her to the bedroom, she collapsed onto the bed, her breath uneven from laughter, her face flushed from the alcohol burning through her system. "Sit with me," she demanded, her voice thick with intoxication. She sprawled across the mattress, fingers grasping at the sheets before lifting in a lazy, beckoning motion. I shut the door behind me, quietly, deliberately. "You’re drunk," I stated, wat
POV: BeatriceMy mouth was dry, a dull nausea settling in my stomach, but it was manageable. I watched him, trying to untangle the mix of emotions tightening in my chest. Seeing him so at ease in Esposito’s mansion, in a bed that wasn’t ours—should this bother him as much as it did me? Should I say something? Instead, I asked, "Why are you fluent in Italian? Nitta and Fukui aren’t." Ryuu’s brow lifted slightly, caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation. "How do you know that?" "They never understand Mena when she talks to them," I said, remembering the blank look on Nitta’s face whenever our housekeeper scolded him in rapid Italian. "Fukui knows a little, but Nitta… I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say a single word." Ryuu smirked. "When Suniza married into the family, she barely noticed me. I was mostly raised by the staff—Italian staff. And my mother was Italian, so the language was always there. I think they spoke better Italian than English." "But you don
The moment I stepped out of Ryuu’s black Audi, the sharp night air cut through me, a stark contrast to the suffocating silence that had filled the car. He was right behind me, handing his keys to the valet with the same detached efficiency he handled everything. He hadn’t spoken the entire drive. The tension between us had settled into something heavier, something that coiled beneath my skin. Something was wrong. I felt it. We stepped inside, and the restaurant's warm lighting did little to soften the weight pressing against my chest. Large, exposed bulbs cast a golden glow over crisp linens draped across rustic wooden tables, an elegant balance between modern and traditional. The perfect setting for an intimate dinner. Or, in our case, whatever this was. His hand found the small of my back as he guided me forward, the warmth of his palm seeping through the thin silk of my dress. A touch that once would have felt rehearsed now lingered just a second too long. A reminder of a time
POV: Beatrice"What do you want?" Ryuu asked, his voice lower now, steady. His arm stretched behind my chair, his fingers brushing the bare skin of my shoulder in a casual, possessive motion. I hesitated, then shrugged. "A salad is fine." He gestured to the waitress—the same nervous girl from earlier—who rushed to take our order. He rattled off selections in flawless French, his focus never once breaking from me. "You speak French?" I asked, caught off guard. "I have many talents." The smirk that followed was slow, calculated. A predator toying with its prey. My pulse spiked. He saw it, enjoyed it. I reached for my water, trying to cool the heat rising beneath my skin. "Don’t forget I’m still here," Mateo cut in, stretching back in his chair. "Next time, let’s just grab drinks. And if either of you bring a date, warn me beforehand so I don’t end up as the third wheel." "Are you seeing anyone?" Ryuu asked, his fingers still tracing lazy patterns against my shoulder. Mat
POV: RyuuNitta’s gaze burned into me. I could feel the weight of my brother’s judgment, every rigid inch of his posture screaming disapproval. He stood beside me, arms crossed, head snapping in my direction."So that’s why you didn’t bring her home," he said, his voice devoid of doubt. No questions, just condemnation.My jaw clenched, but I kept my voice steady, cold. "There were a lot of reasons, Nitta. But yeah, that was part of it. You saw what happened when she got too close to our world. I won’t let that happen again."My throat tightened, but I buried it. It was an ugly truth. No matter how much I needed her close, Beatrice wouldn’t return until I’d cleared the path for her. For good.The men began filtering into the mansion, stepping through the double doors like they owned the place. Once, I had known them. Now, they were strangers—shadows of who they used to be. They moved with arrogant grins, unchecked entitlement. And I wasn’t going to tolerate it. Not here. Not on my gro
POV: BeatriceThey jolted apart. Mateo’s wide eyes met mine, shock flickering across his face as Nitta scrambled awkwardly. Mateo’s hair was a mess, his body half-covered by the sheets, and the sight of his bare skin made me want to look anywhere else.Stop staring, Beatrice."Bea!" Nitta blurted, his voice laced with panic as he shot up, moving away from Mateo, who was hastily pulling the covers over himself.Heat surged up my neck, burning my face. They were both completely naked. My feet moved on their own, almost tripping as I set the tray down and turned toward the door, desperate to leave. I barely made it out before the door clicked shut behind me."I shouldn’t have seen that," I whispered to myself, pressing my back against the hallway wall, struggling to steady my breath. My heart pounded so hard I could barely hear past the rush in my ears.From behind the door, Mateo’s muffled voice broke the silence. "She’s going to tell Ryuu."My hand instinctively clutched my chest, tryi
Ryuu’s POV"We have a rare opportunity," I said, my voice edged with steel. "The power I inherited from Esposito gives us an advantage, but it also raises expectations. From now on, we can’t allow anything—or anyone—to threaten the foundation I’m building. That means betrayal will be met with a punishment that is swift and unquestionable."Sofia’s expression hardened. "Daiki’s family," she said, her voice clipped. "They’ll serve as the example?"I nodded."Exactly. They will be a reminder of what happens when you cross the Don. When we eliminate a threat, we don’t leave loose ends. Loyalty in our world isn’t optional."Mateo’s smirk deepened in satisfaction. Nitta and Sofia both gave small nods, unde
Ryuu’s POVThe heavy scent of metal and dampness filled my lungs the second I stepped into the basement. The cold was almost tangible, seeping from the concrete walls like a ghost of everything that had happened here. Ahead of me, Daiki knelt on the ground, wrists bound behind his back, his expression flickering between fear and defiance.The man who had once treated me like something disposable. The father of the bastard who had used my wife’s blood as his weapon.Mateo, Sofia, and Nitta stood around him, guns drawn, aimed straight at his chest. A circle of steel and hostility, a reflection of the atmosphere pressing down on the room. He saw me—his nephew—standing before him, but not the boy he had once manipulated. That version of me had died long ago."Y
Beatrice’s POVA heavy silence settled between us, thick enough to take form. I watched Ryuu, waiting for a response he seemed hesitant to give. Then, finally, he exhaled deeply, his voice low but steady."I'm here. With you. I promise."The words hung between us, weighted and certain. His gaze met mine, carrying the full gravity of that vow. And before I could think better of it, I leaned in, pressing my lips to his. It was soft, hesitant—charged with something raw and unspoken. I wanted to lose myself in him, but this wasn’t the time. There were too many cracks between us, too many wounds—both seen and unseen—that needed healing first.His hands slid to my face, holding me with a tenderness I barely recognized. He kissed me b
Beatrice’s POVRyuu’s gaze stayed locked on the group as he tightened his grip around me, turning me toward the other side of the bar. His arm around my waist pulled me away before I could see Sophia’s next move. The possessive hold, the tension crackling in the air, told me everything I needed to know.I didn’t have to look to know what was coming next."What was that?" I murmured, frowning as he guided me through the dimly lit space, straight toward a cluster of men who greeted him with quiet reverence."What was what?" he replied without looking at me, his jaw set."Mr. Morunaga?" I echoed, the words barely above a whisper, dripping with exasperation.
Beatrice’s POVDays had passed before we finally parked in front of the church. Neither of us moved to get out. Outside, a sea of black-clad mourners gathered, their hushed voices blending into the weight of grief hanging in the air. I hadn’t expected so many people to show up. Even less, I hadn’t expected Ryuu to be here, not in his condition."You shouldn't be here," I murmured, my fingers tightening around his as we sat in the silent shelter of the black limousine.I had begged him to stay in bed this morning. Pleaded. But nothing I said mattered. Ryuu was determined to be here, and nothing short of death would have stopped him."Don’t you think it’s my duty to attend my grandfather Vincenzo’s funeral?" His voice was sharp, eyes fixed on the crowd filter
Beatrice’s POV"And Ryuu?" I pressed, my gaze flicking back to my husband’s unconscious body. "I can't leave him.""His cousins have already arranged everything. Trusted people, outside your grandfather’s empire." Sophia stepped closer, her voice laced with urgency. "Please, Beatrice."I gave in. I agreed to go with her, but every step I took away from that hospital felt wrong. Like I was making a mistake. Like I was leaving something vital behind.By the time I stepped into the Espósito estate, the echoes of what I’d left behind still rattled inside my head.I didn’t eat. I didn’t shower. I didn’t change my clothes.
Beatrice’s POVRyuu had fallen asleep again, and I took the opportunity to find something—anything—to keep myself awake. The moment I stepped into the hallway, I caught sight of Mateo, his lips curling in disdain as he shook his head. "You let your mother suffer for years, and now you punish me for setting her free? What Ryuu did was mercy. You should be grateful." His voice dripped with mockery. "Why are we even discussing this right now? This isn't the time. I'm here for them, not you." The cold fury in Mateo’s words echoed through the empty corridor. Whatever Ryuu had done to create this rift between Bion and him… it had cut deep. "Do you always eavesdrop?" A sharp, youthful voice snapped from behind me. I exhaled, pressing a hand to my chest as I turned slowly. Nitta stood there, watching me with a smirk that was both amused and knowing. "I wasn’t…" The words trailed off, my ears still tuned to the remnants of the conversation between Mateo and Bion. "Oh, save it," he
Beatrice’s POVHe looked better. A little more color in his skin, a little less fragile. But I knew, just as surely as I loved him, that appearances could be deceiving. He was still bound to this hospital bed, still far from the man I knew. His recovery would be slow, grueling. And he knew it too.I traced my fingers along his jaw, feeling the rough scrape of his unshaven beard against my skin. He exhaled softly at my touch, his features softening in a way I rarely saw. A vulnerable Ryuu. Exposed."Are you hurt?" His voice was deep, laced with concern, as he gently pushed strands of hair away from my face. I shook my head, my eyes locked on his, as if keeping him in focus was the only thing anchoring me to reality. He studied me a second longer, his gaze catching on the clean clothes I wore—so different from the last time he
Beatrice’s POVThe moment Giorgio took his last breath, it was as if a spell had finally broken. I turned slowly, my body heavy with exhaustion, my hands still stained with blood as my gaze found Ryuu.He was pale, his skin damp with sweat and pain. His face was contorted, his eyes shut tight as if keeping them closed would somehow lessen the agony. I leaned over him again, pressing my hands firmly against the open wound on his abdomen, but it was useless. It felt like trying to hold his life together with nothing but my bare hands. The blood kept coming, relentless, spilling between my fingers no matter how hard I pressed.Then, the basement door burst open, slamming against the concrete wall.I whirled around, lifting the gun instinctively. I didn’t know who was coming, but I wo