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Huling Na-update:
2025-02-26 18:44:51
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I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 044
~Hayden’s POV~I woke to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the sheer curtains, casting golden streaks across the hotel suite. My body was sore in the best way, a lingering reminder of last night—of the power I had seized, the way Vincenzo had unraveled beneath my touch. A smirk tugged at my lips as I stretched, the sheets cool against my skin. But then, something felt…off. The suite was silent. Too silent. I turned my head toward the other side of the bed, expecting to see Vincenzo still asleep or at least stirring, but it was empty. The covers were barely disturbed, as if he hadn’t even spent the night there. A strange unease settled in my stomach as I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Where the hell was he? My first instinct was irritation. Typical Vincenzo—doing whatever the fuck he wanted without so much as a word. But then, annoyance gave way to something sharper. It wasn’t like him to just disappear, not without telling me where he was going. I s
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-27I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 045
Chapter Forty-five ~Vincenzo's POV~ I had woken up earlier than usual, the soft glow of the morning light creeping through the blinds. Hayden was still asleep, lying there so peacefully, unaware of the world. He looked vulnerable in his sleep, his face softened, and for a moment, I allowed myself the luxury of admiring him. I took in the sight of him. His hair was slightly tousled, his body warm and relaxed against the sheets. The night had been intense—far more so than I’d expected—but there was something deeply satisfying about seeing him like this. I exhaled slowly, quietly, careful not to disturb him. The reality of the situation settled in. Last night, despite the passion, there were things I had to consider—things I couldn’t afford to ignore. I had my own plans, and Hayden, as much as he made things more complicated, still played a role in them. I slid out of bed, careful not to wake him, and dressed quickly. There was no point in lingering. I had business to atten
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-27I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 046
~Vincenzo's POV~ The ice in my glass clinked as I swirled the last of my whiskey, eyes trained on Max from across the bar. He had no idea I was watching, no idea that I had been watching him for a while now. The moment I spotted him sitting alone, his shoulders hunched and his fingers wrapped tightly around his own drink, I knew he was hiding something. A man doesn’t drink like that unless he’s carrying weight—secrets, guilt, fear. I had given him the opportunity to explain himself inside, to answer my questions without force, but Max was proving to be stubborn. When I started applying pressure, he had stiffened, muttered something about needing to leave, and now he was standing from his stool, tossing a few bills onto the counter before turning toward the exit. I let him go. I didn’t move, not immediately. A hunter doesn’t chase his prey the second it bolts—he waits, lets it think it has the advantage, then strikes when the timing is perfect. Lifting my glass, I took the
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-27I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 047
~Hayden’s POV~I couldn't breathe. Max was tied to the chair, shirtless, his chest rising and falling with shallow, panicked breaths. Sweat slicked his skin, his wrists red and raw from struggling against the restraints. The second he saw me, his eyes went wide, pleading. "Hayden," he croaked. My stomach twisted. I turned sharply to Vincenzo, my pulse hammering against my throat.Vincenzo stood there, completely composed, one hand wrapped around a crystal glass of scotch. He swirled the amber liquid lazily, watching me with that unreadable expression of his, like he hadn't just kidnapped someone and tied them up in his hotel suite. I was barely able to comprehend his words. I looked at Max again—disheveled, panting, scared out of his mind. He wasn’t some hardened criminal; he was just a guy. He was innocent. Just a guy I’d met and spent time with at Rue de la Paix. A guy who had just happened to cross paths with me again here in Italy. I didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-27I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 048
~Vincenzo’s POV~Max sat slumped in the chair, sweat trickling down his forehead. His wrists were bound tightly, his chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. He looked exhausted, yet his eyes still carried a glimmer of defiance. I stepped closer, my fingers tightening around the grip of my gun as I pulled it from my holster. Hayden stiffened at the sight of it, but I didn’t acknowledge him. My focus was on Max. “Let’s try this again,” I said smoothly, lifting the gun and pressing the cold barrel against his forehead. “Who do you work for?” Max inhaled sharply, but his gaze remained locked onto mine. “I told you already. I don’t work for anyone.” I let out a humorless chuckle. “And I told you I don’t believe in coincidences.” Hayden took a sharp step forward, placing himself slightly between us, his voice edged with urgency. “Vincenzo, put the gun down.” I didn’t look at him. “I’m going to count to three,” I said evenly, ignoring Hayden’s tension beside me. “If I don’t g
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-27I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 049
~Vincenzo’s POV~The bartender was still watching me. Not in the way a man observes his customer, but in the way a man studies something he can't quite figure out. I swirled the remaining scotch in my glass, letting the amber liquid catch the dim light of the bar. "You keep looking at me like that. Got something on your mind?" The bartender smirked, wiping down a glass with slow, deliberate movements. "Just wondering what kind of business brings a man like you to a place like this." I gave him a lazy smile. "What kind of man am I?" He set the glass down and leaned against the counter. "The kind that walks into a room and makes people sit up straighter. The kind that drinks like he's got something on his mind but never lets it slip." I chuckled. "That obvious?" He shrugged. "I’ve seen enough men come through here to know when someone’s carrying weight on their shoulders." I took a slow sip, letting the burn settle before setting the glass down. "Maybe I just like good sco
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-27I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 050
~Hayden’s POV~The suite felt suffocating. I had never noticed how heavy the silence could be, pressing against my chest like an unbearable weight. Every tick of the clock on the wall sent another jolt of anxiety through me, reminding me that time was slipping away, and I still hadn’t figured out what the hell I was supposed to do. Vincenzo was gone. But not for long. And Max? Max was still tied up in the other room, his labored breaths the only sound breaking the suffocating quiet. He hadn’t said anything in the past few minutes, but I knew he was waiting—waiting for me to come to my senses, waiting for me to do something. But what? I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the floor in tight, agitated circles. **Think, think, think.** There was no right choice. No perfect solution. Either way, I was about to betray someone. Vincenzo was convinced Max was working for the rival faction. And when Vincenzo had a theory, nothing short of undeniable proof would shake it. He was a
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-27I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 051
Hayden’s pov“Laura sent me. She told me you can help,” I said into the phone receiver as I stood and walked away from the bar. The bartender seemed to know too much about Vincenzo and my business for me to trust him that easily.“Laura…” the woman on the other end trailed off. “Ah, the housekeeper from the US? She contacted me just last night. So you’re the one she said to help out, si?”“Yes. I need information. And fast. A man’s life is on the line here,” I spoke in a rush. “Find out everything you know about Max. He’s been spotted in Paris and he’s now in Italy.” I went on to describe his appearance.“Hmmm…” she sighed. I could hear the sound of shuffling on the other end. “I’m not sure I know of this Max. But I know who can give me the information. Give me three hours.”“I don’t have three hours.”“Well I do. And that’s all I can guarantee you. So either take it or leave it. Three hours,” she sounded a little annoyed at the end and I sighed heavily. Three hours felt like an eter
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-27
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I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 120
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
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 119
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,
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 118
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.
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 117
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
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 116
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
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 115
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
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 114
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
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 113
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
I'm Not Your Property , Don Vincenzo 112
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
