~Vincenzo’s POV~"Is Hayden here?" I asked, my voice steady, though anticipation curled in my gut like a predator waiting to pounce. "Yes, boss," one of my men replied. "We brought him here just as you asked." I grinned, slow and deliberate, as satisfaction rolled through me. Good. My fingers flexed at my sides as I took a moment to picture him—waiting, likely restless, probably trying to piece together why I had him brought here instead of letting him stay at the hotel. I turned to Alphonso. "Where is he?" "In your room." Perfect. Without another word, I strode through the hallway, the weight of the night shifting into something else entirely—something darker, more enticing. The mansion was silent, save for the faint hum of conversation from the men stationed downstairs. I climbed the stairs with purpose, my mind already envisioning how this would go. Hayden had been testing me, knowingly or not, pushing against the boundaries I’d set. But now, in my space, under my c
~Hayden's POV~I sat on his bed, staring at the door as if willing it to open, but it never did. Vincenzo had locked me in, a decision that didn't surprise me at all. He never let me move freely, always keeping me under his control, like a puppet on a string. I could feel the walls closing in on me as I shifted uncomfortably on the soft, smooth bed. I sighed heavily and leaned back, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.The bed was almost too comfortable, and for a moment, I allowed myself to forget where I was, but then the reality of the situation hit me again. This was his bed, his room, and I was just a temporary fixture in his life. I knew I shouldn’t be here, should be looking for a way out, but the thought of leaving—of facing whatever was out there, with him so volatile—made me hesitate. A flicker of concern gnawed at me. There had been something different about him earlier, something I couldn’t quite place. A shift in his mood, like a storm brewing just beneath the surfac
~Hayden’s POV~I made my way down to the dining hall, my heart pounding in my chest. The atmosphere in the mansion had changed the moment I stepped out of my room. The usual opulence felt suffocating, the weight of the silence pressing down on me like a storm cloud ready to burst. As I got closer to the hall, I could feel the tension rising. It wasn't just the air; it was palpable, the kind of pressure that only comes from a gathering of powerful people.I paused just outside the dining hall, hidden behind one of the grand pillars that lined the corridor. The voices of the council members—an amalgamation of different families—filled the space, but the words were muffled, indistinct from where I stood. It was a murmur of words, of hushed whispers, like the buzzing of bees before an attack. I strained my ears, trying to catch something, anything, that would make sense of this strange gathering.Then, the chatter abruptly stopped. The room quieted, and I felt all eyes focus on the figure
~Sofia Esposito's POV~ Pfft! I scoffed inwardly at the very thought of getting married to that arrogant man. Vincenzo De Luca—feared by many, ruthless, and unpredictable. He was exactly the kind of man I had spent my whole life avoiding. Yet here I was, being forced into an arranged marriage for the sake of power and alliances. The idea made my skin crawl. I wanted nothing more than to bolt out of this room and forget any of this had ever happened. I sat silently at the dining hall, my hands resting stiffly in my lap as the discussion dragged on. The others—my uncle Federico, Maria De Luca, and the other council members—spoke in hushed yet firm voices about the wedding preparations, discussing everything as if I wasn’t even here, as if I were just a pawn to be moved into place. To them, I might as well have been. "So now that we're all in agreement, this meeting is over. We can start making preparations tomorrow," Maria announced, her voice firm, leaving no room for argument
~Vincenzo’s POV~The weight of the night still hung over me, a dull irritation lingering in my chest. Hayden had been testing my patience earlier, pushing boundaries he wasn’t supposed to cross. His little act of defiance had stirred something in me—something dark, something restless. I needed a release. There was only one place to go when I wanted to forget, even for a few hours—the club. Not just any club, but one of the wildest in town. A place where alcohol flowed freely, where bodies moved in an intoxicating rhythm, and where I could lose myself in the chaos. As soon as I walked through the doors, the heavy bass of the music vibrated through my bones. Neon lights flickered, cutting through the dim haze of cigarette smoke and expensive perfume. The crowd was alive—dancing, drinking, indulging in the night’s pleasures. This was exactly what I needed. I made my way straight to the bar, ordering whiskey without bothering to look at the bartender. Within seconds, the glass was
~Hayden’s POV~I paced back and forth in my room, my fingers tapping against my palm in frustration. My thoughts were spiraling, tangled in a mess I couldn’t seem to unravel. Vincenzo was going to get married. Married. And me? What did that mean for me? Did I even matter? Or was I just some temporary plaything he’d discard now that a wife had been chosen for him? My chest tightened at the thought. The idea of being tossed aside like I was nothing made my stomach churn. I’d known all along that I was at his mercy, but this—this felt like a slap to the face. A reminder that no matter what happened between us, no matter how much control he had over me, in the grand scheme of things, I was nothing. Just a body. Just a toy for him to use until he got bored. I shook my head. No. I needed answers. I needed to hear it from his mouth. I needed him to look me in the eyes and tell me exactly where I stood. I stormed out of my room, my feet carrying me down the long, dimly lit hallways of t
~Hayden’s POV~The car rolled to a slow stop in front of the house—my father’s house. It wasn’t too big, but it wasn’t small either. Luxurious enough to flaunt wealth but not over-the-top. A calculated kind of opulence, the kind that made a statement without being gaudy. The exterior was pristine, the lights casting a warm glow over the carefully landscaped driveway. But no amount of luxury could mask the suffocating feeling crawling up my spine. The door opened, and I stepped out, my movements sluggish, like my body knew this was a mistake. A few of my father’s guards were already waiting, standing in a rigid line, their unreadable gazes fixed on me. “Welcome home, Hayden.” Marcus’ voice was a sickening mix of mockery and amusement, and when I turned to glare at him, his smirk only widened. I clenched my fists at my sides. “This isn’t my home,” I muttered under my breath. Marcus only chuckled. “That’s cute. Keep telling yourself that.” I didn’t respond. There was no p
~Hayden's POV~I decided it was time to make a call—time to reach out to one of the few people I knew I could count on. If anyone could get me the information I was looking for, it was him. Guillermo. He wasn’t just some low-level informant. He was sharp, cunning, and above all, discreet. He once worked for my father, a skilled agent tasked with gathering intelligence on my father’s rivals. There was no one better at uncovering secrets, tracking movements, and exposing hidden dealings. If there was dirt on Nadia, Guillermo would find it. But my father had always been paranoid, always afraid of betrayal—even from those who served him. The moment he decided Guillermo was a liability, he ordered him to be taken out. I wasn’t supposed to know about it, but I did. I remember the night I found Guillermo, barely alive, running for his life. He had been hunted like an animal, left with nowhere to turn. And in that moment, I made a choice—I hid him. I helped him disappear before my f
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