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Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ She froze, her eyes locking onto the vases like she’d just seen a ghost. I audibly heard her breath hitched, and could practically see the wheels turning in her head. Something about those vases didn’t sit right with her, and I knew exactly why. “Are those—” Her tone confused as she tried to hold it together. “Are those the same vases I brought from Canada?” I watched as the men shaved off the clay, revealing the shining diamonds buried deep inside. The small flickers of light caught her attention, but her mind was racing to catch up. “Yes,” I said, walking up to Niko's office, taking her along, “Some of them.” Her jaw tightened, the shock starting to fade into something sharper, more suspicious. Her eyes darted between me and the vases, connecting dots I had deliberately left scattered. “You’re telling me those vases,” she gestured with a stiff hand toward the men meticulously pulling out diamond after diamond, “were contraband? You—” She stumbled over her
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I don't usually get rattled over shit. But when five sets of eyes, dark and menacing, locked onto me like I was their next project, it took everything not to let them see my nerves. “The FBI?” I repeated, leaning back like I’d misheard. My mind was already running a mile a minute. “You seriously want me to hack the FBI?” I wasn’t looking for an answer. I knew they meant every word. But I needed to stall, just for a second, to wrap my head around the insanity of their demand. I glanced from face to face before glaring at Alessandro, "You do realize they have encryption that takes years to crack and surveillance on a scale you wouldn't believe." But the silence in the room was thick—no one even blinked. They expected me to do it. I raised an eyebrow, letting out a dry laugh, "We’re talking federal heat, not your everyday gangster rivals. You want me to walk into a minefield, and you're telling me to bring a lighter?" "It's not that big of a deal," Scott said c
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ We’d been at it for hours. My eyes burned from staring at the screen for so long, and the blue light reflected off Alessandro’s face in the dim room. The clock on the wall showed just past two a.m., but we still had a long way to go. FBI servers weren’t exactly child’s play, even for us. Alessandro leaned back in his chair, the leather squeaking as he stretched his arms above his head. “We’re in the final layer of encryption. Once we get through this, their database is ours to play with.” I glanced sideways at him through the haze of exhaustion. “Sounds like you’re enjoying yourself a little too much.” He smirked, that slow, arrogant twist of his lips. “Hacking the FBI? It’s better than sex.” I rolled my eyes, typing rapidly as I bypassed another firewall, “You must not be doing it right, then.” “Hacking or sex?” he asked. “Sex,” I answered. He let out a low chuckle, leaning in closer as he watched my fingers fly over the keys. His arm brushed mine, and then I
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I don’t usually feel like this—this mix of exhilaration and satisfaction. That rare sense of being fulfilled. Sure, I love what I do, but today... today was different. Working in that office with Alessandro, everything felt right in the most unsettling way. Like that’s exactly where I was meant to be, and I couldn’t tell if it was fate or something much darker pulling the strings. Being around him, it’s like walking a tightrope between fascination and annoyance. Alessandro thrives on pressure, on failure. And I knew, without a doubt, that if I made even the smallest misstep, if I missed a detail so minor it could slip past anyone else, he’d see it as an unforgivable failure. It’s unsettling, this need he has for perfection, like he’s always daring you to trip up, and I can’t tell if I should be repulsed or flattered that he holds me to such a high standard. Flattered? No. Repulsed, definitely. He repulses me because he knows how to get under my skin without lif
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I woke up to the suffocating scent of wax and smoke, the taste of cloth thick on my tongue. My head felt heavy, like it had been filled with lead, and I blinked against the flicker of dim candlelight bouncing off the walls. Where the hell am I? My arms ached, numb from being in the same place, and I realized I was tied to a chair. Both of my arms tied to both of the arms of the chair. Rough rope burned into my wrists, and my legs—also bound—felt like lead weights. Panic flared up like a match to gasoline, but I shoved it down. Breathe. Focus. In front of me, there was a knife. Just sitting there. A thin blade, placed right across my lap. The silver glinted under the soft, shaky light from the candles. And beside it, a note, messily scrawled in handwriting so jagged it looked like it had been carved into the paper: “Free yourself and run, darling. I’ll savor every fucking second of hunting you down. Each scream. Every tear. All the steps you’ll regret.” Ghost...
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck—or maybe run over by one, dragged along the asphalt, then hit again for good measure. Every muscle in my body ached, a deep, satisfying soreness that radiated from my thighs all the way to my shoulders. I didn’t need a mirror to know there were probably bruises blooming across my skin like some messed-up form of art. The burn between my legs was the most potent reminder of last night. Ghost had taken me apart piece by piece, left me raw in the best, most brutal way. But as my eyes fluttered open, the confusion set in. My room? How the hell did I get back here? I shifted under the sheets, realizing I was completely naked, my body still buzzing with the aftermath of Ghost's rough touch. The sheets clung to my skin, sticky with sweat, and the faint scent of him still hung in the air like a ghostly reminder. I scanned the room, my brain piecing together fragments of the night. I remembered his hands on me, the weight
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I wasn’t new to the feeling of being close to a man. I’d had my share of relationships—Ghost and I had been tangled up in ways that blurred all kinds of lines. But none of them had ever gotten under my skin the way Alessandro did. It wasn’t just his proximity; it was the way his presence filled the air around me. It was like he could unnerve me without even trying. The slightest brush of his shirt against my arm, the whisper of his breath too close to my ear, and I’d feel this pull, like gravity, dragging me toward him whether I wanted it or not. I hated how aware of him I was. My pulse quickened, my skin buzzed, and my thoughts scattered. It pissed me off how easily he could do that, how effortless it was for him to throw me off my game with just a glance or a shift in his posture. And the worst part? He knew. Alessandro knew exactly what he was doing. That sly smile he wore, the one that barely reached his eyes, it said everything. He stood next to me. I c
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ I didn’t let go of her hand the entire ride. Viviane’s grip was tight, her knuckles white, fingers trembling against mine. She was hanging by a thread, and I wasn’t about to let that snap. I kept my eyes forward, mind focused on what had to be done, but every once in a while, I glanced at her—pale, eyes wide with fear, breaths still too shallow. She was on the edge, and seeing her like that, it… bothered me. The streets blurred past the window as I pushed the car to its limits. Every few seconds, Viviane’s phone would buzz again, but she ignored it. Her focus was on the fire. On her niece. And I couldn’t blame her. The image of that kid, trapped inside a burning building, was enough to make even me uneasy. I slowed the car down as we approached the scene. My jaw clenched when I saw the flashing lights. Red and blue reflected off the windows of the neighboring buildings. Fire trucks were lined up on the street, hoses snaking out toward the burning apartment c
Hey, everyone! I know this might feel like it’s out of nowhere, but I did try to give you a heads-up a few chapters back that this book was coming to an end. If you’ve loved reading this first part, please don’t forget to leave a 5-STAR review. It really makes a difference, not just for me, but it helps other readers find their way to this story. Your support means more than you’ll ever know. And now for the exciting part… Mafia Men VI - Alessandro’s Ruin.is coming soon. It’ll be right here, waiting for you. As much as I wish I could get straight into it, I need to sort out some things on my end first. Life’s gotten a bit messy, and I need to tackle it before bringing A and V's story back to life. So, thank you again for every vote, comment, and moment you've spent with me in this world. I’ll be back soon... P.s. Don't worry, I'll be back in a few days. XOXO 💋
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ He had my attention, all of it. And yeah, I know how that sounds—stupid as hell. But there it was, pulling at me, sneaking up every time I tried to put my focus anywhere else. I told myself it was nothing. Just a phase. A momentary lapse of judgment because we were alone with nothing better to do. He’s not special, I kept repeating. But now that I am here, he still has all of my attention, that pissed me off more than anything. I clenched my jaw, forced myself to focus on anything—emails, documents, hell, even staring at the coffee stain on my desk would’ve been better. But every damn time I tried to get back on track, my brain betrayed me. A flicker of movement from him, a low hum in his voice when he was on a call, and I was right back where I started. "Viviane," his voice slid over me, smooth as sin, "What did you have on your desk today?" I forced myself to glance back at him after trying so hard not to, "The security breaches," I said, as if he didn’t a
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ When I walked into the office today, something was different. I felt it before I even crossed the threshold. It was surreal—me, actually smiling. And not the kind of smile that came from hacking, landing a deal or putting someone in their place. No, this was something else. Dom was the first to spot me. He froze, mouth half-open, and then, like a domino effect, everyone in the room followed his gaze. I watched as they all rose from their seats, shock and relief written across their faces. They looked at me like I had died, as if I’d been buried six feet under instead of just off the grid for a bit. Then came Calla and Ha-yoon, practically tripping over themselves in their rush to get to me. Calla moved like she was on a mission, she didn't even let Ha-yoon get close; instead, she practically threw herself into my arms, clutching onto me like I’d vanished forever. She smelled like vanilla and some kind of floral perfume, something I recognized from the countles
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ The elevator doors slid open, and the second we stepped into Scott's penthouse, I barely had time to blink before Magnus shot across the room, launching himself at me. “Hey, bud,” I murmured, burying my face in his fur as he head-butted me, purring loud enough to drown out Allegra’s laughter. “Did you miss me, little troublemaker.” Allegra, who was waddling in right behind him, laughed softly, holding her belly with one hand. "Oh, believe me, he did. I’ve tried to keep him happy, but I think he’s been counting down the days till his ‘dad’ came home.” Scott gave me a dry look, walking over to Allegra, he pulled her into his arms, one hand cradling her belly like she was made of glass, "He could’ve fooled me. Little menace acted like I was a complete intruder in my own place," he muttered, half to himself, half to Allegra, who simply laughed at him, "And for the record, the little beast was living like a king here." I nodded, "Thanks, Allegra. Really, I owe yo
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ No one had ever killed for me—never for my honor, my safety, or anything at all. The blood was still fresh, still seeping through the cracks in the boat’s wooden floor. Sal’s body was nowhere to be seen, and here I was, wrapped in this strange sense of safety. I glanced around the boat. Nearly a dozen men, all of them tattooed and scarred, men with knuckles rough enough to scrape bone and eyes that didn’t blink twice at the sight of blood. I was strong, I have worked my ass off to be this strong, tougher than people usually guessed but against a group of men like this? Against the strength in their fists, I’d be crushed in seconds. But Alessandro alone made me feel safe around them, a barrier they wouldn’t dare breach. I felt safer with Alessandro than I ever had with anyone, safer than I probably had any right to feel in a place like this. He made me feel... soft, in the best, most terrifying way. With him, I didn’t have to be the strong one. With him there,
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ Two days… Nikolai said he’d send a boat for us in two days. After that, everything became a haze. Time didn’t exist here, not in the way it did out there. Hours, days—it all blurred together, the lines between night and day erased by the way we drowned in each other. The sun had dipped lower, casting an orange glow over the beach as we swam in the ocean. The water was warm against our skin, the sound of our laughter echoing around us but then he stopped, eyes darkening as he pulled me close. His lips found mine, like he had no intention of rushing. Like we had forever. His hands traced lazy patterns on my back as we floated together, I wrapped my legs around him, and for a moment, we were weightless, suspended in the water and in each other. The setting sun became the perfect backdrop to our kiss in the ocean, the fading light wrapping around us like it was made for this moment. Alessandro wasn’t one to keep things gentle for long. We were barely out of the wate
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ If this is heaven, then screw everything else. I could throw my entire life away for this. This is the only thing that makes sense right now, and if I get to feel like this for the rest of my life, sign me the fuck up. His head was buried between my thighs, and the morning light spilling through the window made my bare skin glow. My nipples were stiff, the air teasing them, and all I could hear—aside from the waves crashing outside—was the sound of Alessandro’s mouth on me. My fingers dug into his hair, pulling him closer, harder. His tongue moved in ways that had my head spinning, and every inch of my body felt like it was on fire. I let out a low moan, my back arching off the bed as I gripped the headboard like it was the only thing tethering me to reality. He was everywhere—teeth scraping along the inside of my thigh, tongue pressing against me like he was a man on death row savoring his last meal. His stubble burned deliciously against my skin. The way
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ The day Viviane turned sixteen, her life split in two. According to her, that was the day everything changed—for the better. She sat on her bed, legs crossed, laptop propped up in front of her, while her family sang from miles away. Stella, John, and their daughter Felicity were huddled on one side of the video chat, Brandon on the other. The cupcake with a single candle flickered beside her. She wasn’t with them. She was here, in this empty house that barely acknowledged her existence. She blew out the candle, holding back the sting in her eyes. When she playfully pretended to feed them the cupcake through the screen, Stella opened her mouth wide in a theatrical "ahhh," and Brandon joined in with an exaggerated laugh. They were trying, but it wasn’t the same. It never was. Her siblings had sent gifts ahead of time, and after the song, they asked her to open them. Brandon’s was first. She didn’t bother with caution; she tore into the box like she was opening the
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ High School Graduation... Alessandro Costello was the guy every guy wanted to be. Good-looking in that unfair way—sharp jawline, blue eyes that seemed to pull you in, and a smile that made people weak at the knees. He wasn’t just popular, he owned the school. Captain of the football team, straight A's without even trying, and with a last name that carried power far beyond the hallways. The kind of name that made teachers look twice, that had parents whispering when he passed by. He drove cars that turned heads—sleek, fast, and expensive—cars that left everyone else staring in his rearview mirror. Girls flocked to him like he was the sun, orbiting his every move, waiting for just a glance or a smirk thrown their way. He didn’t have to chase anyone; they came to him. Alessandro didn’t need to try—he was it, the one everyone wanted to be close to, even if it was just to get a glimpse of what life looked like on his level. But that was just what people sa