Hayden's POV
Weak. Pathetic. Nothing. My fists clenched, my nails biting into my palms. I let the hot, unstoppable tears fall without resisting. It wasn't a place I'd usually go, but I entered the bar nonetheless.. I slid down onto a stool at the bar and let my body sink into the old, worn-out leather. A bearded middle-aged man waited on me as he approached; his face showed no expression. "What's your pleasure?" he said. "Whiskey," I rasped. "Straight." The bartender raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that, kid?" "Do I look like I don't know?" I barked, the sudden rage pumping through me. He didn't bat an eyelid, just shrugged, and poured, holding the drink out in my direction. I poured it into my mouth in a single motion. It set something on fire inside of me, some parts scorching me on its way down. But it would not matter—nothing did. "Another," I snarled, slamming the glass on the counter. The bartender hesitated this time. "Maybe you should—" "Another," I said, overriding him, squinting at him. He muttered but filled the glass again. The second went down just as quickly as the first, and the room started spinning, but just a little. I didn’t care. The pain in my chest was sharper than any alcohol burn, and I needed something, just anything, to dull it. I leaned my head against the bar and began to cry. "You know what's funny?" I spoke, my voice muffled against the wood. "I gave him everything. I gave him my time, my love, and my soul. He simply threw it all away. For what? For my very own cousin. For his selfishness!” The bartender said nothing, but I could feel his eyes on me. "Two years," I went on, my voice cracking. "Two fucking years, and this is what I get? This is what I deserve?" "Listen, kid," he said softly then. "The heartbreak's a bitch. I mean, I've been there, buddy. But you gotta let it go. Forget about him for the remainder of tonight. "Forget him?" I repeated this, glaring at him and lifting my head off the bar. "You have no idea the extent to which I exerted myself in an effort to bring that man joy."How much of myself did I put into it? And for what? To be told I am pathetic?" He sighed and leaned over to scrub a glass dry with a cloth. "The best way to forget about someone is to find someone new. Trust me, it helps." Those words slapped me in the face, and I sat up straight, swaying slightly. "Find someone else," I muttered. The bartender nodded, not expecting me to take it to heart; I could tell. But I did. The liquor buzzed through my blood, and the notion took hold. I pounded my fists upon the bar and stood drunkenly. "Yes!" I bawled louder than I intended. "I'll cheat back! I can find somebody, too!" The bartender looked taken aback. "Hey, kid, I didn't mean—" But I wasn't listening anymore; my eyes scanned the room until they landed on a guy in the corner, sitting by himself. He was tall, with broad shoulders and an air of quiet confidence that set him apart from anyone else in the bar. The dim light illuminated his firm jaw, and his dark eyes scanned the place. Even in my drunken state, I could see how handsome he was. "That's him," I said, or tried to say, as I staggered sideways away from the bar. "That's mine. My revenge." "Wait, kid, I don't think—” The barman still tried to stop me. But I pushed through the crowd of people toward the man. He sat back in his chair, cradling a glass of whiskey as he watched me advance expressionlessly. I did not hesitate, hoisting myself up and climbing onto his lap, twisting my arms about his neck. "What the—?" he began, his voice still tight with anger. His hands gripped my waist, threatening to push me away, but I clung to him tightly. "Don't," I whispered. "Don't push me away. Not you, too." His dark brows snapped together, and he looked at me like I was crazy. "Who the hell are you?" "I'm Hayden," I whispered, holding onto his neck. "And you... you're my new boyfriend." His lips started to twitch, and for a moment, I couldn't tell if he was laughing or angry. "Get off me," he said. "No," I said, shaking my head. "Everybody hates me. My boyfriend, my cousin, even my father." My voice cracked, and the tears flowed all over again. "Why? Why does everybody hate me? Why don't I deserve love?" The man's face eased up a notch, but he didn't loosen his tight grasp on my waist. "You're drunk," he told me. "Go home." "I don't have a home!" I cried out, voice breaking. "I don't have anyone! Please… please love me." His eyes widened with shock flashing through them. "You're insane," he spat. "Maybe I am," I retorted, leaning into him until we were only an inch or two apart. "But I don't care. ... love me. Please." Before he could utter a word, I crushed my lips to his, shutting down any protest he might make. His body tensed beneath me, his hands tightening around my waist as if to pull me off, but then he froze. I deepened the kiss, tangling my fingers through his hair, pressing my body closer to his. A low whimper tore through me, and his resistance finally dwindled. "Darn it," he growled, his lips muffled against mine due to his struggle against his desire. His lips pressed against mine with such intensity that it caused my head to spin, while his hands settled on my hips, firmly gripping me as he returned the kiss. I gasped at how he pulled me closer, my legs curling up around his waist in reflex. "You asked for this," he growled, breaking the kiss to look at me. His dark eyes blazed with intensity, sending a shiver racing down my spine. "No going back now." I barely heard his words as he swiftly stood up and effortlessly pulled me into his arms. I locked my legs around him, my head falling back, as he walked from the bar out into the fresh night air, crisp with a springtime frost, which slapped at me. "Where are we going?" I mumbled. He didn't say a word; he held me to himself as he continued down the sidewalk. I didn't care. His arms enfolded me, and for the first time all evening, the ache in my chest receded, replaced by a wrap of warmth.This was a mistake, but I didn't care.
Vincenzo's POVThe moment he sat on my lap and then kissed me, I could already feel my dick twitch. I hope he doesn't regret it, but even if he did, it's too late.There was no going back.Ten minutes later, we were in my private hotel room. I unlocked the door with my card and then carried him in. As I used a leg to lock the door behind me, I pressed him against it, and, not giving him time to breathe, I smashed my lips on his.I entered his mouth by sucking on his lips and biting his tongue, which caused me to gasp.My tongue swept across his mouth as if I were inspecting my territory, and he tasted like whisky. Then I took hold of his tongue and sucked and played with it, making him groan, turning me on.Slowly I left his mouth and kissed his neck; then, my hand impatiently opened his shirt to reveal his chest. I looked at him with a smirk, then bit his nipple, making him yelp in pain.I stepped back up to give him another kiss, but this time with more force. I smirkd as I felt his
Hayden's POV~I woke in a strange surroundings, my head throbbing and my throat parched. Above me, the ceiling was high and ornate with accents of gold, catching the sun through the windows. Last night's events rolled back into place.Jason. Marcus. Betrayal.The bar.And then him.A heat wave blasted through me as fragmented images of the night flooded my mind. My face burned with shame. I could see myself climbing onto his lap, pressing my lips against his. I could feel his hands gripping my waist, hear the low groan he'd made when I—I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "What the hell did I do?”My body ached in places it never had ached before. A dull throbbing between my legs made it painful to sit up with. I shifted just a little and felt another flash of sharper pain. "Ow! Damn it!" I hissed and let myself drop onto the bed.That was when I saw the note.The note was folded in half on the bedside table. I hesitated for a moment before picking it up, my heart pounding in my
~Vincenzo's POV~The doors opened, and the slam shook through the room, cutting off the hum of voices. I walked in, flanked by my men, guns glinting under the golden light of the chandelier. In a beat, the heavy air changed.Seven pairs of eyes turned my way. Surprise, confusion, and dread painted their faces, but none interested me. My gaze landed on him.Hayden.He stood off to the side, head bowed, clutching the pen as if it weighed a hundred pounds. Our eyes met the moment he lifted his head, and recognition dawned in his wide, tear-streaked eyes.He froze, lips parted in a silent gasp. He saw the guns then, and I saw his slight tremble that ran over his frame."Come here," I barked, a voice slicing the silence like a blade.Hayden blinked fast, chest rising, his head bowed in front of me, gazing up and shaking his head so little. Fists clamping down tight onto his hips."No," the man stammered but proudly.I grinned crookedly. Stubborn even now. My boys tensed, but I waved a han
Hayden's POV It had been over an hour since the chaotic, surreal scene at my wedding. The image kept replaying in my head like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. Guests gasping in shock, my father’s cold, stoic face as he practically handed me over like a pawn in some twisted deal. The black SUV hummed steadily beneath me as it sped away from the disaster I left behind. Two of Vincenzo’s bodyguards sat in the front, their presence silent but intimidating. Their dark suits and earpieces made them look more like secret agents than criminals. Beside me, Vincenzo sat with the calm, composed authority of a man who always got what he wanted. The subtle scent of his expensive cologne mingled with the smell of leather seats, and it made my stomach churn. I forced myself to stare out of the tinted window, watching the blur of city lights fade into distant hills. My thoughts were chaotic. How could my father do this to me? Did he even care about what would happen to me? I didn’t know whe
Hayden’s POVIt was already 7:00 a.m.“What a night,” I thought to myself as I lay stretched out across the plush mattress.The early sunlight filtered through gauzy curtains, casting long shadows over the rumpled sheets. Even as I tried to savor the warm embrace of sleep, memories of the previous night ran through my mind. Each one so…intense.Every detail flashed before my eyes like a movie. The way Vincenzo’s gaze burned into me, the rough caress of his hand, the heady mixture of desire and danger.I closed my eyes at the memory, a smile curling on my lips.The sensation of his touch, so commanding and yet so tender, had left me both trembling and yearning for more. There was something raw and undeniably intoxicating about Vincenzo—his presence a dangerous magnet pulling me into a world where I could lose myself. Where I wanted to.After a long, reflective moment, I reluctantly pushed aside the soft covers.The memory of last night still clung to me like a delicate perfume I wasn’t
~Hayden’s POV~My mind was a whirlwind as I descended the sweeping staircase, my thoughts tumbling over one another. Every step toward Vincenzo seemed to echo with the uncertainty of my own desires and fears.I couldn’t help but wonder aloud, “Who came to get me? Was it my father?”The question, though softly spoken, carried the weight of a life I might have once known—a life free from the complications of desire and danger.Vincenzo’s response was curt, laced with possessiveness as if the answer was meant to dispel any lingering hope of escape. “It was no one. No one is coming to get you. You are mine and mine alone.”His words sent a shiver down my spine, a mix of terror and thrill that made my heart pound uncontrollably.In that moment, I realized that I should have felt trapped, suffocated by the gravity of his claim. Instead, I found myself inexplicably drawn deeper into his world—a world where I surrendered not only my body but also the fragmented pieces of my soul. It was a dan
~Hayden’s POV~I had spent the evening before Vincenzo returned wrestling with my own demons, lying on the couch and staring blankly at the ceiling. The hours of loneliness had been restless, haunted by thoughts I couldn’t quite shake. Rest had been a distant memory, and the thought of facing another day in this intricate web of power and submission had filled me with both dread and a curious sense of anticipation.In the quiet gloom of the late night, I had finally mustered the strength to rise from my place at the couch which had been a fort throughout the day, though every fiber of my being resisted the idea of facing the world.Going upstairs for a brief shower before dinner, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a punishment for my mistakes or simply another test of my resolve.Just as I entered my room, I heard footsteps approaching with a deliberate cadence. Then a knock came at the door and I paused, my heart quickening its pace, before hastily making my way to open it. Stan
~Vincenzo's POV~The meeting room smelled of aged wood, cigars, and tension. The faint hum of conversation died the moment I stepped inside, my shoes thudding against the marble floor. The men seated around the long table were some of the most powerful in the underworld—old friends, enemies forced into peace, and blood relatives bound by duty.At the far end of the room, Maria sat with her arms crossed, her tailored black suit crisp and imposing. She always had a way of commanding attention without saying a word. Her sharp eyes locked on mine as I took my seat at the head of the table, right where our father used to sit before I inherited this burden."You're late," Maria said flatly, tapping manicured fingers on the polished wood."I had business to handle," I replied curtly, thinking briefly of Hayden locked up in Block B. His defiance lingered in my mind, gnawing at me in ways I didn't want to admit.The room was silent for a beat until Don Alberto cleared his throat. He was a barr
Hayden’s POVThe room felt still, like the walls were holding their breath. I stood in the middle of my father’s study, the photograph of my parents still on the desk, the weight of everything pressing down on me. The scent of old leather and wood lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a memory I never got to make.I stared at the ring on my finger, the Romano crest catching the soft glow of the lamp, and tried to convince myself this was real. That this was mine now. That I belonged here.But then I heard the door creak open behind me.I didn’t need to turn. I felt it. His presence filled the room like smoke. Cold and familiar.“Hayden.”His voice was low, a little rougher than usual. I turned slowly to see Vincenzo standing there in the doorway, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat, his eyes locked on me like he’d been watching from the shadows for hours.“You found it,” he said, stepping inside. “T
Hayden’s POV Two Weeks Ago The rain poured down, thick and relentless, soaking Me to the bone as he walked through the dark, buzzing streets of Miami. My shoes splashed through puddles, the cold biting at my skin, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. My mind was a whirl of disbelief and horror while my heart dragged against the weight of what I had just found out from Antonio, that he wasn't my true father. My real parents were murdered by my uncle. He killed them. He killed my parents. My heart still throbbed from the pain, the weight of the truth heavy on my shoulders. There were so many questions. I stopped walking for a moment, standing still under the flickering streetlight. The rain had only grown worse, but it wasn’t the cold that froze me now. It was the truth. A car’s headlights blinked in the distance, cutting through the rain,
Hayden’s POVThe metallic scent of blood clung to the air like smoke after a fire. My hands were shaking, warm and stained red. The gun—still clutched tight between my fingers—felt heavier than ever. I didn’t hear anything at first. Not the rain outside, not the murmurs around me. Just silence, broken only by the echo of that final gunshot still ringing in my ears. Antonio’s body was sprawled on the cold marble floor behind me, lifeless. A smear of crimson trailed beneath his head, pooling slowly. I turned around and looked at him one last time. His mouth was slightly open, eyes blank, still wearing the same smug expression I’d hated since I was a boy. Only now it was frozen in death. I stepped forward. My boots left red prints on the floor. A few of Antonio’s guards stood at the base of the stairs, frozen, unsure of what to do. Their rifles lowered. They looked at me—not with hatred, not with vengeance—but something closer to… respect.
Hayden’s POVThe sound of the door slamming behind Antonio echoed in my ears. I was alone now. My hands were bound, but the ropes didn’t feel tight enough to keep me from escaping. I could feel the anger building up inside me. He thought he had me cornered. But he didn’t know me like Vincenzo did.The minutes dragged by, but I knew I had to act. I wasn’t going to wait for him to come back. I wasn’t going to wait to die. I was going to make my move.My heart was pounding in my chest as I struggled against the ropes. It took everything I had to break free. My wrists were raw, but I managed to loosen the knots just enough to slip my hands out. I looked around the room for something I could use. There, just behind the door, lay one of the guards. The gun was close. Too close.With a swift movement, I grabbed it, holding the cold metal in my hand. The feeling of power was fleeting but satisfying. I could feel my pulse quicken as I stood and crept
Hayden’s POVThese two idiots. They really thought they could double-cross Vincenzo. As if they’d ever stand a chance. And now? Now he was coming for them, and they knew it.Antonio’s face went pale as he slammed a trembling hand on the table. “How is that even possible?” His voice cracked halfway through the question.“It—it must’ve been deactivated,” Jason stammered, eyes darting back and forth. “They must have a hacker on their side. The men we sent to infiltrate the safehouse where Vincenzo was hiding… they’re all dead.”He didn’t even say it like a report. More like a confession. His voice was hollow, full of horror. He sounded like he’d seen the devil himself.I laughed under my breath, but it came out dry and bitter. These fools had no clue what kind of monster they poked.“Jason, you son of a bitch!” Antonio roared, charging at him. He slapped him so hard, Jason was thrown to the floor, crashing into a chair on the way do
Antonio's POVAh, the sweet smell of victory. I'd finally done it. I’d cornered Vincenzo De Luca, made him vulnerable, and now, Hayden was the key to everything. His pain, his suffering, everything had led to this. I could almost taste the power I was about to take.I turned back to look at him, hanging by chains from the ceiling, his body swaying slightly, exhausted and drained. A pathetic sight. I couldn't help but chuckle."Oof, are you falling asleep, Hayden? Don't pass out just yet. I still need you," I said, walking up to him, slapping his cheek lightly, just enough to make him stir. Hayden’s head rolled back slightly as his eyes fluttered open, his voice thick and slurred. "Screw you, Antonio," he muttered, like he was half-drunk, the words slurring together.I raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. "That's no way to talk to your father, now is it?" I clucked my tongue, shaking my head. "I thought I raised you better than that." I stepped forward, smirking. Hayden’s eyes narrow
Vincenzo's POV"Can someone trace that call now?" I shouted, my voice echoing through the underground facility."Yes, boss. Right away," one of the techs responded, already typing furiously on his keyboard.I paced back and forth, the concrete floor beneath my feet doing little to ground the storm brewing inside me. Antonio had made his move sooner than expected, and now Hayden was missing. I had anticipated betrayal, but not this swiftly. The fact that Hayden was being held in an undisclosed location only added fuel to the fire."Check every security footage, every street camera. I want to know when and where Hayden was taken," I ordered, my tone leaving no room for argument."Understood, sir," another team member replied, already pulling up feeds from various cameras around the city.It had been a few hours since I learned about the hit on Hayden. We found what was left of my men—loyal soldiers, now lifeless bodies strewn across the streets. Antonio would pay dearly for this."Any
Antonio Romano's POV“Goddamn it, Marcus!” I roared, my voice bouncing off the walls as the glass in my hand smashed against the far side of the room. Pieces scattered across the floor, but I didn’t care.Marcus flinched. He had the nerve to stand there like he didn't do everything that caused this goddamn mess.“What the hell were you thinking?” I stepped toward him, jabbing a finger in his direction. “You dimwitted son of a bitch. My instructions were clear—crystal fucking clear. You were supposed to stay away from this operation. Away!”“I—I thought—” he began, trying to find the words, but I cut him off.“You thought?” I shouted. “You thought? Since when do you get paid to think, Marcus? Huh?”“I was just trying to help. I thought maybe—”“I don’t give a shit what you thought!” I snapped. “You don’t get to help. Not when it risks the entire plan I’ve worked on for months.”I turned sharply to Jason, who stood stiff by the door, clearly trying not to make eye contact. “And you, Jas
Hayden's POVMy heart was thumping, and adrenaline flooded my veins, turning my body into a well-oiled machine of pure alertness. This wasn’t supposed to be how things went. I wasn’t planning on just sitting around and being dragged off. I wasn’t dead yet, and as long as I had breath in my lungs, there was a chance to get out of this.These guys were after me. Alive. That meant I had an advantage.I wasn’t stupid enough to think that they wouldn’t kill me if they needed to. But for now, the orders were clear. Bring me in alive. And if I could outsmart them, I could turn that advantage to my side.I acted fast.Without warning, I ducked low, throwing my free arm across, knocking the gun from his hand. It slid across the floor, skidding out of reach, but I didn’t stop there. I struck hard, punching him in the side as I spun my body and pushed him back. With the momentum, I used my elbow to drive into his chest, knocking him off balance. His grip on me loosened.For a moment, I was in c