RAVENNA
~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤♤I came to a stop at the kitchen’s entrance, damn sure I was seeing things.“Anthony, you’re cooking?”“That’s the same expression we had on our faces when we came into the kitchen this morning,” Nana said, giving Anthony a motherly smile.“It’s a little thank you for letting me stay at your place last night. Don’t worry. I made sure I wiped the all the counters,” he said with a smirk, winking at Zypher who choked on the juice she had been drinking.My eyes danced between the two of them. What was going on with two of them? Zypher avoided looking at anyone in the kitchen, while Anthony grinned from ear to ear.They definitely did something last night. That was why Zypher didn’t want to look at anyone.“This is interesting,” I said, grinning from ear to ear as I took a seVALENTINO~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧“My body hurts all over. I just feel like sleeping and never waking up,” Ciro said as I lowered him to his bed. “That’s wishing for death, Ciro. Stop saying shit like that.” I found an envelope on the bed next to Ciro, but as I reached for it, he quickly snatched it off the bed. “What are you hiding?” “Nothing.” He was definitely hiding something. I could tell from his tone. “Ciro!” I snapped. “What’s inside that envelope?” “It’s private pictures of this woman I’m seeing.” I knew he was lying, but I let it slide. “Next time, keep it where no one can see.” He forced a grin. “Yeah. I was looking at it before I had to leave the house, so I just left it on the bed. My bad.” “Whatever. I’m leaving, okay? Send me a text if you need anything. Or don’t. It’s fine with me either way.” “You love me and you know it. You even killed a bunch of men for
RAVENNA ~~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤♤“Slade and the rest will be fine. Thankfully, it’s nothing too damaging,” Uncle Leo said, patting my shoulder as we waited for an update on the men. “Uncle, did you see the fire that burnt our house down?” “Yes.” “It was a raging fire. Nothing could have saved them. We must have stayed long at the park because the fire didn’t look like it just started. Can you imagine getting burnt by that?” “It was brutal, Ravenna, but even in their dying breath, they made sure they typed out a text to you. Who knows? If they hadn’t sent that message, you might be dead by now. They loved you a lot.” My vision got blurry as tears poured out of my eyes. “Did you know Mom was pregnant?” Uncle Leo raised a brow. “She was?” “Yes. She was going to tell D
RAVENNA~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“What’s going on here?” I repeated when Aria just stared at me with wide eyes, and Valentino looked away from me. “It’s none of your business,” Aria hissed, scrambling for her clothes. “Not really, but care to explain why you’re naked in front of your step son?” Even though the question was directed at Aria, I kept my eyes pinned on Valentino. “Drop it, Ravenna. It’s none of your business,” he said. Aria smiled triumphantly. “See? He agrees with me.” “Shut up, Aria. I’ll only let this slide today. Don’t ever try it,” he said before walking out of the room. “You just had to ruin everything, didn’t you? I just wish you would die,” Aria spat as she put her clothes on. “You should be disgusted with yourself. He’s only two years older than your biological son, and you want to sleep with him? I’ve never met a more fucked up and disgusting woman like you.” “You’re j
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧“What are you doing in here, Paul?” I asked as I walked into my kitchen. I took off my jacket, placing it on a stool. “I was dreading making a call to you, so I grew some balls and come see you for myself,” he replied. “You’re just in time. I made you something to eat.” I went to the sink to wash my hands before returning to the table. “You were dreading making a call to me because you finally told me the truth about my mother.” He placed a plate of Lo mein in front of me. “You’ll have to hit the gym with this one.” I took a bite of the noodles. “Tastes good. I didn’t know you could cook.” He took a seat at the other end of the table. “I didn’t always come from money, you know. I couldn’t splash thousands of dollars on food at a pricey restau
RAVENNA ~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“Boss, she’s refused to eat anything for almost a week now. She also refused to tell us more about that Sawyer guy.” I heard a voice I was already accustomed to say from outside the room they kept me in. “Is that so? Open the door,” Eamon said. The door got unlocked and Eamon walked in, but I was too tired to sit up on the bed. He walked to the side of the bed so he could look at my face. “Why are you punishing yourself?” He asked, taking a seat on the armchair placed next to the bed. “I am not punishing myself. You insisted on keeping me here.” “Only because you refused to say anything about Sawyer. I already told you. They took my family heirloom, and it’s very important to me.” “You must be out of your mind if you think I’m gonna tell you anything. If you’re go
The next time I woke up, I was on a bed. I tried to sit up, but a muscular arm pushed me down on the bed. “Stop being so stubborn and get some more rest,” Valentino said. I turned my head to side to find sitting on the bed with a laptop on his thighs. “It wasn’t a dream. You really came.” He closed his laptop, placing it on the nightstand next to him. “I did. I think you have a penchant for getting yourself into trouble, and I’m always left saving your ass.” “Not true. The time my men’s house got burnt, you didn’t come to help me, did you?” “There are some certain things you need to take care of yourself or you won’t be able to stand on your own.” “Not that I’m complaining, but you’re always the one coming to my rescue without me even having to ask you.” “Reallly?” “Mhm. If this continues, I think I might actually get used to having my personal superhero coming to save the day.”
RAVENNA ~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“Do you want to come inside?” I asked Valentino as the gate to my house slid open, and there stood Nana, Uncle Leo, Zypher, Drake, Jacob, and Alaina. “Nana would want to say thank you.” “Come on in, you two,” Nana shouted from the other side of the gate. “I’m not staying long,” Valentino said as he drove into the compound. “Right.” He had barely parked the car before Nana was yanking open the door to my side. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said, pulling me into a hug. She pulled away from me and went over to Valentino, wrapping her arms around him. “Thank you for bringing her back.” I hugged Uncle Leo and the girls next. Valentino stood there awkwardly, and I could see he contemplated hugging her back or not. Nana pulled away from him, looking up at him. “You’ve grown so much. You tower over me now,” she said with a smile. “I always towered over you.”
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧“It’s been long since you dropped by,” Payton said as she opened the door to her apartment for me and I walked in. “I had things going on. How’s Jasmine doing?” “She’s fine. She’s sleeping in her cot. Do you want to see her?” “No. Maybe some other time. Are you and the baby doing okay?” “Yes, but the other day, I saw some men watching us. Did you send them over?” I didn’t send anyone to monitor them, but I knew telling her that would only worry her. “I did, but I told them to do it subtly. I guess they’re not doing their job properly.” I made a mental note to send some men over to her place. “You really don’t have to do that. Jasmine’s father is no longer in the picture.” “It was just precautionary. I just dropped by to say hi. I have to go visit Paul, and then I have to grab Renegade from Ciro’s place.” “Don’t let me keep you waiting. You can stop by an
RAVENNA~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤ FOURTEEN YEARS LATER... “Don’t call. Don’t text. Wait until we’re back. Understood?” I asked Jasmine, fixing the last of my makeup. “What if the house is on fire or there’s an earthquake?” She asked, crossing her arms. I paused with the mascara wand to my eye. “Why would the house be on fire?” “You know the sons you have. Domenico in particular. He broke the windshield of Uncle Ciro’s car when we visited the last time. Or the time he beat some kid up at school because he called him frost. The kid wasn’t wrong, though. His hair is white. I could go on and on, and you and Dad won’t get to leave for your meeting. We’re not raising normal humans, Mom. We’re raising wrestling champions.” A laugh broke out of me. She was right. Our first son was a bundle of trouble and his two younger brothers took after him, wreaking havoc around the house. “Okay, fine. You ca
VALENTINO ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧“He’s amazing, isn’t he?” Ravenna whispered, looking down at our son in her arms. “He’s perfect.” “I can’t believe we made him. Having him in my arms is worth all my sleepless nights. And yours.” I shrugged. “I don’t sleep that much, anyway. You were amazing.” “Where’s Jasmine?” “Outside with Sofia and the rest. They’re dying to see you, but if you’re not up for it, I can turn them away. I suggest them waiting until you’re out of the hospital.” “I’m kind of exhausted right now, but Zypher will strangle you if you deny her entrance.” “I can handle her. I’ll go deliver the news to them.” “Thank you.” “Can we see the baby now?” Zypher asked. “No. Ravenna is tired right now. You can see her when she gets home later today.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why do I have a feeling this is all you and not Ravenna?” I shrugged. “There’s no way of finding out, is there? Except you plan on causing a scene in
RAVENNA~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤MONTHS LATER... “Isn’t this Anthony’s car? What’s he doing here? Didn’t Zypher tell him I wasn’t home?” I asked as Drake helped me out of the car. “She knows you’re returning today. They probably came to check on you.” “That has to wait until tomorrow. I’m dead on my feet.” “I’d offer to carry you, but you’d probably slap the shit out of me.” “True that.” Drake shook his head at me. “Stubborn woman.” “Besides, you couldn’t carry me if I agreed to it.” “I lift weights in the gym every morning. I think I could manage, since it’s just a short distance.” “It’s all fun and games until we both come tumbling down the stairs.” He threw his head back in laughter. “Have zero faith in me, Ray?” I pushed open the front door. “I don’t trust myself to make it up the stairs without dozing off.” “Sneak up the stairs. I’ll handle Anthony and Zypher. Since Anthony is here, he’s probably in the kitchen.” “Thanks for
RAVENNA ~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“The people want a word, Ravenna,” Uncle Leo said. “Word got around. They have been pinning the death of every member of The eredità on you.” I turned on my stool to face him. “Well, they’re not wrong. I did kill those men.” “If you admit this to them without a background story, they’re going to be angry, and might vote to have you removed from your position as leader.” “That will only happen if I choose to step down. Otherwise, they’re stuck with me. Like I’ve said in the past, this isn’t a fucking democracy, but I’ll entertain their little tantrum. Whoever has a question for me can write it on a piece of paper alongside their contact information. Have some men gather the questions, and I’ll send out replies.” “Will do,” Uncle Leo said before walking out of my room. There was a knock on my door before someone pushed it open and in walked Alaina. “I’d have come in earlier, but I didn’t think you’d want to see me.” I rose fr
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
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
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~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤“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 ~~~~~~~~♧♧♧♧♧♧“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