My heart felt shattered with all those revelations. It explained so much...So many things I had always wanted to understand but never could."I'm going to sleep, sweetheart. I'll let Salvatore know you're here.""No," I grabbed his arm. "Don't tell him. I'm going back there myself.""I'll ask one of the guards to go with you.""It's the middle of the night, there's no need. I'm using one of Matteo's bulletproof cars.""Alright, Lily. But go straight home."And so I went.Or rather, I ran.But not to the mansion.I just... drove. Aimlessly. Without direction. My mother’s voice echoed in my head, and the image of Matteo, cold and distant, blended with Luigi, always controlling, always hiding things.The streets became empty.Then the sky began to change.The dark blue gave way to orange, as if the day was trying to be born, even though my world was dying.I parked at the end of the Brooklyn Bridge.Got out.The wind cut through my skin.My hands were freezing. My heart too.I walked to
Rage consumed me.Lily wasn’t at the mansion.“How can you all be this useless?” I snapped, eyes on the open gate and the empty spot in the garage where her car should’ve been. “What the hell are you doing here? Playing cards while people come and go as they please?”“I’m sorry, sir…” the guard tried to explain, too afraid to meet my eyes.“Shove your apologies somewhere else,” I growled. “If Lily could leave without you noticing, anyone could’ve walked in. I don’t work with incompetents.”I jumped into the car and sped off, tires screeching on the wet asphalt.It was just past 4 a.m. The city was still asleep, but the chaos inside me didn’t care what time it was.I took a deep breath, trying not to explode again, driving 60 km/h down the empty streets. But the truth was, I was barely holding it together.I shouldn’t have told her about Bianca.I knew Lily was fragile, and still… I’d been an idiot.I grabbed my phone and dialed Luigi’s number. He picked up on the second ring.“Is Lily
Lily Montgomery.The man's hands tightened around my neck so hard I could barely breathe.My nails scratched his arms in desperation, but it was useless.My lungs burned.The world around me faded to black.I tried to scream, but not a single sound came out."You should never have been born…" his voice echoed. Cold.Andrei.My body no longer responded.I was going to die.And then… I woke up.“Lily!”Alessandra’s voice pulled me back. I flinched automatically when her hand reached for me.I looked around. The bedroom in the Salvatore mansion was quiet. It was just a nightmare.“I’m sorry… I…” I wiped the sweat off my face, still shaking.“Don’t worry,” she said softly. “I only came to call you for breakfast. Matteo asked me to… But you were screaming, so I came in.”“Thank you, Alessandra.” I sighed, sitting up on the bed.She came closer with an unexpected tenderness. She took my hands, holding them tightly, warmly.“If my brother cares about you… then you’re family. And famiglia is
Lily MontgomeryI tossed and turned all night. I didn’t feel safe—not in that house, not in that world, not with those people.Lying on my back, I stared at the ceiling, thinking about everything that was happening. I could try to come up with an escape plan, maybe find a place where no one could find me. But first, I needed money.This marriage was just the beginning of my downfall.After that cursed breakfast, I opened the bedroom door and locked myself inside for the rest of the day, writing. I didn’t want to see anyone—especially not Matteo. How dare he bring the woman carrying his child just to provoke me?I hated him.The smell of coffee and cake from downstairs filled the entire house, making my mouth water. I slipped on my slippers and decided to leave the room.As I walked down the hallway, a white door caught my attention.It was always locked, but this time, someone had forgotten it slightly ajar.Matteo had warned me not to meddle in his affairs, but I didn’t care. He didn
Matteo Salvatore Lily Montgomery had always been my weakness.No matter how hard I tried to stay focused, my rational side disappeared whenever she was around. Wanting us to work out with everything going on around us was like wishing for rain in the middle of the desert.“This won’t lead us anywhere,” she whispered.“Shh.” My index finger touched her lips. “I don’t want to talk, Lily.”The truth was—I was obsessed with her. And it was hard to admit that to myself.During all the time I spent away from her, I screwed more women than I could remember. A mafioso can have whoever he wants. Money buys everything—and everyone. But with Lily, it was different.I never kissed the women I hooked up with. I never liked kissing, actually. But with her, I made a point of kissing every part of her body.I found the damn zipper of her dress and pulled it down quickly. It felt like we didn’t have time—as if I needed her urgently, insatiably.Her hands tangled in my hair as I lifted her onto the
Lily MontgomeryWaking up in Matteo's arms felt like a dream — or a nightmare. I still didn’t know how to tell the difference.I tried to get up quietly to find my clothes, but it was no use. I felt his arm pull me back."Where are you going?" he murmured, his voice still tangled in sleep. "It’s still early.""I… I just don’t know if this is right. Everything’s so complicated, Matteo." I stared at the white blinds covering the window."You know I care about you, Lily. This marriage doesn’t have to be a lie… not if you don’t want it to be.""I have to go." I sighed, picking up my clothes from the floor.He looked at me but didn’t show any emotion. After last night, I was afraid to get close, afraid to fall... because deep down, I had always loved him."I have some things to sort out with Paolo, but at eight, I’ll be waiting for you at the shooting range downstairs."My eyes widened."Shooting range?""You need to learn how to shoot."My fingers froze around the fabric of my dress."Le
Matteo Salvatore"Protecting Lily is my top priority now." I said, holding a cigarette between my fingers, watching the smoke slowly fade into the air."Matteo..."Paolo crossed his arms, his voice laced with concern. "I know a woman can be a man’s weakness. I’ve seen it happen. We've been friends for a long time, and that’s why I’m taking the liberty to speak up."I stared at Paolo in silence for a few seconds before answering."You don’t know anything. I’d never let love cloud my judgment."The word “love” sounded strange on my own lips. Too strong. But too true to deny.We were sitting in the mansion’s office, the desk covered in documents, weapons, and a glass of bourbon I hadn’t touched. The world around me was spinning fast — alliances, deals, threats. But all of it blurred when her name came up.The intercom buzzed."Mr. Salvatore..." the guard’s voice echoed. "We caught a man near the south perimeter. He was armed."Paolo and I exchanged a look."Take him to the holding room
Hours earlierMy head was a mess. After the night with Matteo, I felt torn between logic and a feeling that was silently growing—one that scared me more each day.I didn’t want to admit it, but... I was falling for him. Again. And that was my biggest fear.I needed air. Distance. Clarity. I told Matteo I wanted to see my father, but the truth was different: I just needed to get out of that suffocating mansion.And maybe, deep down, I actually did want to see Luigi. After our last conversation, I felt like... maybe we could try to be a family.Luigi greeted me with a mix of surprise and restrained affection. We hadn’t spent much time together, yet I could see the weight of everything he was hiding in his eyes.“How’s life at the mansion?” he asked.“You know I didn’t want to get married. I did it because I didn’t have a choice.”“I’m a coward, daughter,” he confessed. “If I had done things differently...”I reached for his hand and sighed.“Let’s just make the most of this moment,”
The silence in the room was profound, filled only by the soft sound of my son's breathing. Leonardo was in my arms, and the warmth of his little body gave me a sense of peace I had never known before. He was feeding calmly, and as I looked at him, it was impossible not to think about how much my life had changed. Each beat of my heart felt lighter, stronger, as if I was finally beginning to live what was meant to be mine.I was breastfeeding my son, the little miracle I had dreamed of so much, the one I fought so hard to protect. He looked at me with his curious eyes, and I smiled, gently stroking his little head with my fingers. This was my world now. Nothing else mattered but him, the promise I made to myself to protect him at all costs. Everything I went through wouldn’t mean anything if I couldn’t give him a future without fear, without the shadows of the past.The door opened with a slight creak, and I didn’t need to look to know who it was. Matteo entered quietly, his presence a
The first cry of the baby cut through the night like a distant echo, but full of life. I couldn’t believe it. He was here. Our son. I had given birth in the middle of a war zone, in an improvised, dark warehouse, but the truth was that he was here, in my arms. I was exhausted, my body aching, but nothing else mattered now."You did it, Lily," Sasha whispered, also exhausted, as she adjusted the baby to my chest. "You brought him into the world."I looked at the small being in my arms, still in shock from what had just happened. The blood, the pain, the exhaustion... it all felt distant now. He was here. Our son. So fragile, yet so strong at the same time.He moved his tiny fingers, and as if he knew I was watching, he opened his eyes. Bright eyes, fixed on me. My eyes. My son.I was living what felt like a dream and, at the same time, a nightmare. The war was still out there, but I felt that, at that moment, the whole world had stopped. Nothing else mattered except him. The son I neve
The sound of the car flipping echoed through the night, a piercing crash that shattered the silence of the road. I accelerated, but the vehicle in front of me didn’t slow down, growing closer, the terror becoming more real by the second. When the last car turned the corner, its tires screaming in protest, I knew something was wrong. There was no time to wait anymore. The chase was no longer just about the truth. It was about Lily. And she was in danger.The phone vibrated on the back seat. A message from Sasha.“It’s happening. Lily’s in danger. Full force.”Panic gripped me instantly. Whatever had happened, I knew Andrei wouldn’t stop. He would never stop until he saw everyone who challenged him destroyed.The road seemed like a straight line to hell. I could see the last curve before I saw Lily’s car flying through the air. It was all I needed to understand what was happening. Lily was there, in the line of fire.“No, Lily, no,” I whispered, gripping the steering wheel.I placed my
Lily MontgomeryI took the last sip of coffee when I finished writing the letter. Each word seemed heavier than the one before, as if I were stitching a new identity for myself. The tarnished name, the murder accusation, the pain of everything I had been through... It was all about to be exposed. But the truth, as always, came at a price. And I knew it wouldn't be easy.In front of me, the evidence was spread out on the table—irrefutable documents, transcripts, contracts, Andrei Antonov's signature, and the involvement of the American senator. It was a key piece, but also a target. The shield I needed to protect myself also put me in the line of fire. I picked up the letter, my gaze fixed on the words I had written: "To the press, Today, at last, the truth will come to light. I, Lily Montgomery, was falsely accused of the death of my father, Luigi Romano. With the evidence now in hand, it is my duty to ensure that the truth is heard, without distortion or lies. I was not the one who c
Matteo Salvatore The night was loaded, like the barrel of a gun ready to fire.Fog crept between the old buildings of Jersey’s industrial port, where the meeting was set to take place. Russian mobsters, Italians, and a traitor with Antonov blood — all about to seal a pact.Dimitri stood beside me. Dark clothes, unshaven, eyes of a man who had buried more friends than he cared to count. We didn’t fully trust each other, but for Lily... we’d do anything.“You know this place?” I asked quietly.“I know every damn tile on this dock. I’ve killed men here. Almost died too.”“Great. Nostalgic.”“Focus, Salvatore. If we slip up tonight, there won’t be a second chance.”The warehouse was lit by cold fluorescent lights, two heavily armed guards at the entrance. We posed as smugglers from Poland, with fake documents and faces hidden beneath caps and scarves. The code was given. They let us in.Inside, the air was thick with cigar smoke and tension. Several men surrounded a long makeshift table
Lily MontgomeryThe rain fell in a fine mist over New York as I returned to the base. It wasn’t the same city it had been when all of this began. Now, every street seemed to hide a shadow, every alley, an informant. Lily was safe — for now. But nothing, absolutely nothing, had been resolved.The evidence I had handed her burned in my coat pockets like dynamite ready to explode. We knew the truth. We knew Andrei was behind Luigi’s fall, that he had orchestrated every move, every lie. But knowing wasn’t enough.We had to act.I stepped into the house that now served as Lily’s refuge. Renovated and guarded, it was a hideout disguised as a home, out of reach from the police and the eyes of the world. Lily was still considered a fugitive, and the last thing we could afford was to expose her.Paolo and Alessandra were in the map room, studying escape routes and potential strike points."Where’s Lily?" I asked, taking off my coat."In the war room. She’s with Dimitri," Alessandra replied. "T
The car moved silently along the dirt road cutting through the countryside, surrounded by tall trees and a low fog that looked like it came straight out of an old movie. Matteo drove with one hand, the other resting on my thigh, as if to remind me that we were still here. Together.“He’s going to test you,” I said, staring out the window. “He’ll provoke you. And if you respond, the war starts right there.”“He’s not the first father of a woman who’s hated me, ragazza,” Matteo replied with a crooked smile. “But maybe the first who commands a private army.”I frowned.“And who’s the other woman you had?”“I was joking, darling.”“He’s my grandfather. And if I love you, he’ll like you.”“And you trust him?” Matteo raised his eyebrows. “Even though his son set you up, and he faked his death for years, never reaching out to your mother?”It took me a moment to answer. Not because I wasn’t sure — but because the answer was deeper than simple words could express.“Yes, I trust him. He saved
The smell of coffee filled the kitchen like an old memory. Strong, bitter, comforting.Matteo was leaning against the doorframe, his hair still messy, shirt unbuttoned, and that look in his eyes—lighter, maybe... but only on the outside. Inside, I knew he still carried it all.I placed the cup on the table and slowly sat down, one hand resting instinctively on my belly. The baby moved, as if sensing the calm. Or maybe... knowing that his father was near.“There’s butter in the top cabinet,” I said, and he gave me a sideways smile, walking over with slow steps.“You’re telling me to get stuff in your kitchen?”“In my house. And yes. I’m in charge here.”Matteo let out a low laugh, grabbed the butter, and sat across from me.The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable. It was heavy. Like we were both waiting for the other to break the peace before returning to reality.Because we both knew... what we had was beautiful. But everything outside of it… was still ugly.With the cup in my hand
Matteo Salvatore The first rays of sunlight slipped through the half-open curtain like silent hands, drawing golden lines across the sheets.The light touched her face before it reached mine.Lily.My chest loosened the moment I saw her. Sleeping. Breathing.But it didn’t last.She jolted awake, and before I could say a word, her arm swung around my neck and pressed tight. Her knee came up, ready to defend.“Lily!” I choked out. “It’s me!”Her eyes widened. Her muscles froze for a second... and then she let go.She pulled back, panting, her eyes full of panic.“I’m sorry… God… I—” She covered her face with both hands. “I thought—”“It’s okay.” I adjusted myself on the bed, rubbing my neck. “You were alone for a long time.”She didn’t answer. Just sat at the edge of the bed, like she was still trying to convince her body it was finally safe.“You’ve really changed, huh?” I murmured, trying to soften things, but it didn’t come out the way I meant.“Yes,” she said, still not looking at