RAVENNA~~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤♤“Hi, Bradshaw. You didn’t think we forgot about you, did you?” I asked, taking a seat in front of him. He opened his mouth to speak, but words didn’t come out. “What was that? I didn’t catch that.” He spoke again, this time, his mouth widening more than the last time. I turned to Cruz. “Is it just me or Bradshaw is saying something we can’t hear?” “It’s not just you, boss. Why isn’t he speaking up?” “I’d go closer to him, but I’m not risking him biting my ear off. Is something wrong with his throat?” “I think we should call a doctor to check his throat. That’s the only way to know for sure.” “Call a doctor. Whether or not Bradshaw likes it, he’s going to open his mouth and speak.” He wasn’t faking it. That was for sure. It left me wondering what could have happened to him when he was all alone in this building. Half an hour later, the doctor Cruz called strolled in. “Who needs the check-up?” “Bradshaw.
RAVENNA~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“This doesn’t look like anyone is here,” Cruz said, walking around the front of the car to stand next to me. “He said he’s inside. He’s probably up in his apartment,” I said, moving towards the slightly ajar gate. “I have a bad feeling about this,” Cruz said as we made our way into the warehouse. “Relax. It’s just Drake.” I made a beeline for the stairs that led to his apartment. I knocked on the door several times, but there was no reply from inside. “I think we should get the fuck out of here. If someone’s in here, there has to be movement inside. No one is in here.” I distinctly recalled Alaina punching in the code to the apartment the first time we came up here together. I moved my fingers over the numbers, hoping I didn’t get it wrong. Luckily, I got it right, and I opened the door, walking into the dark apartment. There was a blur of movement in front of me, but before I could pull out my phone to turn on the flash
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧“I know you’re in there, Aria. Open the damn door.” When I got no reply, I turned to Carlo and Ryder. “Are you sure you two got the address right?” “Yes, boss. Maybe she’s not around,” Carlo suggested. I knocked a few more times, and after several minutes, we heard movement coming from inside. “What do you want, Tino?” Aria asked, standing in the open doorway. “I have something to ask you.” Folding her arms, she scoffed. “Yeah right. I’m not answering any of your questions.” “Let me rephrase that. I’m going to ask you a few questions, and you’re going to answer me.” “And what will you do if I don’t answer?” “Did I give you the idea that you had a choice? Fiore is no longer in control of the family funds. He no longer pays for the booze and pills you drown in, the lavish apartments, trips to the spa, shopping. Do I need to go on and on, or you’re getting an idea of what I’m saying?” “Come in,” she said, pulli
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧“It didn’t escape my notice that you ate nothing. Are you sick?” I asked, startling Ravenna, who was cleaning up her kitchen. “You actually noticed that when you and Drake were glaring at each other all night? Shocking,” she drawled, returning to wiping down the counters. “I was staring at Alaina. He grew overprotective. Sue me.” “The answer to who and where her mother is will not be slapped on her face,” Ravenna said with amusement. It was surprising that she knew what had been on my mind while I’d been staring at Alaina. She was the only one who could disclose her mother’s whereabouts, and she was proving stubborn. “I got the who part figured out. I’m more worried about the where part.” “Really? Who’s her mother?” “She used to work for your mother. Aria said to ask Leonardo, but I have no way of reaching him.” “So you need my help,” Ravenna concluded. I nodded my agreement. “I do.” “I’m afraid I can’t
RAVENNA~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“Are you two sure you don’t need some security with you? I know I said he doesn’t have many guards here, but you can never be too sure,” Aria said, her heels crunching on the gravel as we walked up the driveway. “We’re fine,” Valentino answered. “I just hope for your sake, this isn’t a trap.” “If it were a trap, I wouldn’t be here with you. I’d just give you the address and hang back at my house. Quiet down.” Aria pressed the doorbell, and we heard someone gasp from inside. Someone was close to the door. I met Valentino’s eyes, and he gave a single nod, confirming my thoughts. “Open it,” I mouthed to Aria, pulling out my gun. Aria twisted the handle, but it didn’t budge. “It’s locked,” she whispered before the cries of a baby filled the air. Valentino nudged Aria to the side, yanking on the doorknob. “Sofia, is that you?” He asked. Louder cries filled the house as we heard someone unlock the door. “Who the fuck are y
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧I came to a halt when I found Fiore on a chair, Ilda on her knees next to him with his gun pointed at her head. Where the hell was Leonardo? “Surprised to see me here this early? I know I’m an hour early, so why don’t we get this meeting started?” He asked, his lips curling up in a sly smile. “Please, Tino. Just give him whatever he wants. I don’t want him to kill me,” Ilda wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks. She had bruises around her neck and on her arms. They looked new, which meant he took her recently. “I’m giving you one last chance to come with me, son. There is no going back. Staying on Ravenna’s side will only lead to your death.” “This isn’t only about Ravenna. This is about me, Ciro, Sofia, Aria, and all other people you’ve caused pain. Do you know the shit you put Aria through?” “Not enough, seeing as she was still chasing your dick about. What? Did she finally give you her pussy? Is that why you’re tak
RAVENNA ~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“Where’s my uncle?” “Oh, dear Leonardo. He’s a great man, but just like your parents, he’s easily trusting. That’s a no-no.” “What. The. Fuck. Did. You. Do. To. Him? I’m on my last nerve right now. Don’t drag out your suffering, Ilda.” “Knocked him out with a bat. He should be awake by now. There’s nothing you can do. We both know you won’t pull the trigger.” That was where she was mistaken. I wanted nothing more than to bury a knife in her chest and watch the life leave her body. I couldn’t believe this was a woman I’d killed for. A woman I had been willing to risk everything for. “What are you gaining by doing this?” She acted like a sweet woman that I didn’t see her doing a thing like this. I didn’t even see the connection between the woman who had raised me and the one in front of me. “Like Carlo told Valentino, the Costas took something away from us. Matteo used my sister, and he tossed her to the side like she was
RAVENNA~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤Not again. That was what I thought when I saw Valentino’s lifeless body on the bed of a truck, a pool of blood gathering beneath him. “Ravenna,” Uncle Leo’s voice called out. His figure was blurry from the tears swimming in my eyes as he reached for me, pulling me into his arms. “Let it all out, Ravenna,” he mumbled. The softness of his voice did me in. I wrapped my arms around him, crying my eyes out for a long minute. “It’s okay. I heard about your pregnancy. Is the baby okay?” He asked. “Yes.” “Okay. Everything will be okay.” “No, it won’t. Valentino isn’t here. He needs to be here. It’s his kid. He should be here. I- I can’t do this alone.” “You have me, Ravenna. Until he wakes up, you have me.” “What if he never wakes up?” I asked, my anxiety skyrocketing. “What if he doesn’t wake up before I have the baby? I can’t do this. I don’t even know if he wants the baby. We never spoke about a baby. What if