Hey, everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying today’s update. School has been keeping me super busy, so I couldn’t update earlier, but I’m glad to finally share this with you. Don’t forget to comment and vote—your support means the world to me! XOXO 💋
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I’m not the type to fall apart easily, not over the small stuff anyway. I’ve learned how to keep it together, to stay composed. But sometimes—sometimes things hit you out of nowhere, like a punch you didn’t see coming. Like Felicity’s tears. Her health. Her fragile, precious life hanging in the balance. It’s a different kind of fear, the kind that claws at you from the inside, not loud but constant. It’s like walking a tightrope, knowing one wrong step could send everything crashing down. I can handle the stress, the uncertainty—but watching her struggle? That’s something that breaks me in ways I didn’t know I could break. What I never expected, though, was how it felt to have someone else step in. To have someone stand up for me, protect me—even when I didn't ask for it. Especially when it's against my own family. It’s strange, the way it shakes you. You spend so long being the one who’s strong, the one who holds it all together, and suddenly someone else is t
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ Alessandro grew up steeped in violence; it surrounded him like an unshakeable fog. His father, Vito Costello, was the epitome of the mafia lifestyle—loud, boisterous, and unapologetically chaotic. Parties raged in their home, fueled by an endless supply of alcohol and the kind of bravado that only came from a life spent unrepentantly at the top of the food chain. Vito reveled in his power, flaunting his mistresses while his wife and ex-wife looked on, as if that kind of public debauchery was just another part of the family dynamic. He wanted his son to be just like him but as much as he tried, Alessandro was different. He found no attraction to his father's world of excess. While Vito thrived on the attention and extravagant parties, Alessandro preferred the solitude of his room, where the hum of machines provided him comfort his parents could never. He lost himself in the glow of computer screens, fascinated by the way code could bend reality to his will
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I love my brother. And when I say love, I mean it wasn’t your average kind. I’d kill for him—no hesitation. Bleed people dry if I had to, handle all the dirty work so he could keep his hands clean, his conscience clear. But what I couldn’t handle? Him shutting me out. He could scream in my face, fine, but he had to talk to me. Silence wasn’t something I could tolerate. We rang the doorbell once. Twice. Three times. Finally, Brandon opened the door, eyes narrowing on me first, then on Fliss. He didn’t even say a word before he tried to slam it shut, but I wedged my foot in just in time. “How the hell did you get this address?” he asked, glaring between the two of us. I bit my bottom lip, holding back the smirk that was dying to come out. Fliss, on the other hand, didn’t bother. She grinned wide as I explained, “I may have hacked your phone to track your current location—no big deal. I mean, I’ve known all your passwords since I was seven, so…” He moved to clos
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I’ve always been the type to think three steps ahead, playing out every possible scenario in my head before things go sideways. But here, now, in this place? My instincts were scrambled, my mind clouded. I couldn't get a grip on what was happening, let alone what was coming. As Alessandro and I walked through this sex club, every glance, every sound, hit me harder than I expected. My heels clicked against the marble floor. What the hell was Alessandro playing at, bringing me here? What was the angle? I thought we were going to some charity event or a gala or a fundraiser, anything but not this. I glanced sideways at him, trying to read his expression, but his face was calm, too calm. He hadn’t given me a hint of what he was thinking since we walked through the door, and that was setting me on edge. Did he expect me to do something tonight? And then it hit me: Was I supposed to sleep with Lee? I felt a chill run down my spine, my skin prickling at the thought. I
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ Pleasure... soft, unfamiliar pleasure. This wasn’t something I was used to. Hell, it wasn’t supposed to be this good. I’ve had boyfriends before—two decent guys, and then there was that one complete asshole. And honestly? Most of the sex I’ve had in the past was crap. Guys always seemed to care more about getting their own satisfaction, and maybe that’s because I have a horrible habit of dating narcissists. The first narcissist I dated was in high school—classic story. He was a drug addict too, the guy who took my virginity. I dumped him right after because, honestly, I was terrified I'd get too attached to someone like him. Then there was the college boyfriend. Nice, sweet, gentle... but, surprise surprise, another narcissist. Not exactly the winning combo, if you ask me. And the third one? Let’s just say I’d rather forget he even existed. Take out Ghost, and I can count on one hand the times I’ve actually come with a guy. Once. Twice, tops. And now here I
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ We stepped out into the hallway, guns already raised. My eyes locked onto the first guard, and I didn’t hesitate—one clean shot to the head, and he dropped like a stone. “Headshot!” I muttered under my breath, adrenaline spiking, Alessandro caught it, his lips twitching in that cocky, amused way. He shot me a quick side-eye, like he was holding back a grin. And then chaos erupted. The rest of the guards reached for their weapons. Alessandro moved like perfection—lethal, methodical—taking out one after another. Headshots, nothing wasted. Bodies crumpled to the floor before they even had a chance to react. I was right behind him. Three shots, rapid-fire. Two to the chest, one to the head. I didn’t stop to see them fall. My life had taught me to keep moving in situations like this, and right now, stopping meant dying. “Freckles, left!” he barked. I spun, gun already raised, and fired. The guard trying to sneak up on me—my bullet hit his kneecap, and he dropped, screa
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ There’s something about the sea that just gets to me. The endless stretch of dark water, the way the waves keep smashing into each other like they’re in on some secret. It’s peaceful, but powerful—makes you feel small in the best way. I wrapped my fingers tighter around the cool metal railing of the yacht, leaning forward to take in the scent of the salty night air, and let the crash of the waves drown out every other thought. I didn't know where Alessandro was—probably up front with the guy piloting the yacht. We were being dropped off at some safe house the Costellos used to stash their family members when things got messy. Part of me wasn’t sure what I should feel that Nikolai was lumping me in with his inner circle, tossing me in with his cousin like I belonged here. But, I guess I’d earned my place by now. Twice, I’d come through for him. The first time, I saved the children—I may have orchestrated it but he didn't need to know that. And the second time, I
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ There was one bed. One fucking bed. My stomach twisted as I stared at it—a single, large bed in the middle of the room, made up with annoyingly neat white sheets. No couch, no extra mattress stuffed into a corner. Just the one bed, sitting there like it was mocking me. Great. The universe really had it out for me today. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath, my hands clenching into fists. I stared at it for three whole seconds before making my move. Without sparing Alessandro a glance, I darted across the room and threw myself onto the mattress, my body bouncing on the soft surface. The sheets crinkled beneath me as I stretched out, claiming every inch I could. “Dibs,” I declared with a grin, staring up at the ceiling like I’d already won. He was silent for a beat, and then I heard his slow footsteps coming closer. I could feel him staring at me—like he was burning holes into me with just his glare. “You can’t be serious,” he finally said,
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