Hey, everyone! I’m back with a chapter to ease you all back into the story—it’s more of a little breather before things pick up again. Enjoy! XOXO 💋
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ Viviane stood in the corner of the FBI breakroom, clutching a folder close to her chest. The news still buzzed in her veins. The Costello case. She’d been handpicked to assist. It was the kind of opportunity rookies could only dream of. Her cheeks ached from holding back a smile, but this wasn’t just personal excitement; it was validation. The kind of validation she’d never been given before. Logan was across the room, leaning back in his chair, his arm draped lazily over the backrest, laughing too loud at a joke one of his buddies had told. He was the golden boy of the bureau, always surrounded by a pack of equally smug agents and he’d set his sights on Viviane the moment she walked through the door. At first, it seemed harmless, his charming smiles, the way he stayed near her desk. Viviane had brushed it off as standard office flirtation, nothing she couldn’t handle. But Logan Barlowe had a way of making himself unavoidable. He’d always be there, offering
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I dragged my gaze across the room, meeting each of their stares one by one. Every single one of them looked like they were debating the best way to get rid of me. Prolonged torture? A quick bullet to the head? The way Lorenzo’s fingers twitched against his thigh, I’d bet he was leaning toward something messier. Nikolai broke the silence, "Talk." It was an order that got on my nerves and for a split second, the idea of walking out crossed my mind. Turning my back on these people and never looking over my shoulder again but I wasn’t that naive. So I straightened up, “You know,” I started, “I half expected a thank you for saving all of your asses.” I tilted my head, “But then again, I know gratitude isn’t exactly your strong suit.” Scott’s lips twitched like he wanted to say something, but even that felt dangerous. Lorenzo’s glare darkened, his jaw ticking like he was ready to lunge at me. Nikolai just kept watching. "Speak fast," Marco snapped, "
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ No one spoke, but I could feel their anger, their doubt, their fear, all of it swirling together. They weren’t just suspicious of me anymore. They were starting to understand. I didn’t have time to waste. I pulled out my phone, unlocking it with a few swipes, and slid it across the table toward Nikolai. “Here. See for yourself.” He hesitated, his piercing blue eyes narrowing as if the device was something that would ruin him of he touched it. Slowly, he picked it up, scrolling through the photos and documents I’d taken from the FBI records room. Screenshots of classified files, pictures of handwritten notes, meeting logs, operational blueprints, it was all there. The others shifted uncomfortably, their eyes flickering between him and the screen, trying to gauge his reaction. Scott finally snapped, pushing back his chair and striding over to Nikolai. He leaned in, his jaw tight as he scanned the evidence, his eyes flicking between the screen and Nikolai like he w
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ Nikolai was calm today, like a man who already knew the end of the story and was just here to watch it play out. My attention snapped to the front of the courtroom the second she walked in and approached the stand. She raised her hand to take the oath, and I felt everything catch in my chest. The words were routine, the same for every witness, but hearing them from her, seeing her there... it hit differently. Nikolai glanced at me, like he knew something I didn't but I ignored him, my focus locked on her as the questioning began. Viviane Kane was on the stand, and I was in hell. She sat there, like none of this was a big deal, like she wasn’t sitting at the center of the storm she created. That fiery red hair of hers was slicked back into one of those tight buns. That grey pantsuit was just another lie. It made her look like she had her shit together, like she wasn’t the same woman who’d been crying in my bed a few nights ago, clutching me like I was her
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ “What the fuck is she doing here?” Alessandro barked, his finger stabbing the air in my direction, though his eyes stayed locked on Nikolai. Nikolai shot me a brief look before turning back to him. “This is what I wanted to talk to you about.” I stayed by the door, forcing myself to stay calm as every memory of him came rushing back, hot and biting, like a wound torn open too soon. Ghost. “Talk about what?” Alessandro’s voice dropped an octave. Nikolai hesitated, and that was a first. He glanced between us before sighing. “She works for me now.” Alessandro laughed incredulously. “You’ve got to be kidding me. What the fuck does that mean, Niko?” I’d had enough. My patience had already been stretched thin, and I wasn’t about to let him bulldoze me again. Stepping forward, I slapped a file onto the table in front of Nikolai, the sound echoing through the room. “It means exactly what he said,” I cut in, turning to face Alessandro, “I work for Nikolai Costell
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ I ignored Viviane like my goddamn life depended on it, like she didn’t exist, and she returned the favor like a pro. Every other day, she showed up with something new to hand over, evidence, a strategy, or another clever way to make the FBI and the Cartel bleed. And every single time, Nikolai gave her just one name of a cartel member, leading her back to the bastards responsible for her sister’s death. It was a deal between them, a trade of trust. She didn’t hang around my family like someone looking for forgiveness. No, Viviane Kane walked in like she’d already claimed it. She was making herself indispensable, carving her space back into our world. Sometimes, I’d catch her on the couch with the girls, sharing a drink, laughing at one of their jokes, her guard down just enough to make her seem human again. Other times, she’d be in the corner with Nikolai and the other men, throwing back sarcastic words like they’d been friends for years. It fucked with
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ I’ve always had an ego. And I’m not exactly shy about it either. Call it arrogance if you want. Call it self-awareness. Doesn’t matter to me. I know who I am, and I own every part of it. The problem was when someone like me goes head-to-head with someone just as stubborn, just as egotistical, it’s not just a spark...it’s a fucking wildfire, and nothing survives that. Not pride. Not patience. Not us. We hadn’t spoken directly in over a month. Every word, every message, every order was funneled through his brothers like some sort of twisted game of telephone. I knew he hated it as much as I did, but neither of us would break first. It wasn’t just about stubbornness. It was about principle. I refused to be the one to crawl back, and Alessandro, well, he’d rather set himself on fire than give me the satisfaction of seeing him bend. Whatever. Let him stew in his own ego. Let him send his brothers to speak for him, like the coward he is. “Ms. Kane, the bo
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ The table felt lopsided, or maybe that was just me. I leaned forward, elbows planted on the table like some heathen with no manners. Across from me, Alessandro was laughing—a deep, rumbling laugh that I found fucking annoying and it grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. Because his arm was draped around her. He was playing a new game, "I'm-going-to-make-Viviane-homicidal" game. Miss Bubblegum-Lip-Gloss-And-Too-Much-Perfume laughed at something he said, her perfect teeth gleamed under the lights. She was laughing like he was the funniest man alive. “Here,” he said, as he lifted a forkful of whatever overpriced dish was on his plate. “Try this.” She tilted her head, batting her eyelashes as she parted her lips and leaned in to take the bite he was offering. She ate the damn thing like it was a scene from a rom-com, her eyelashes fluttering like she had a severe medical condition. I nearly choked on my wine. I slammed my wine glass down harder than
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩“God forbid anything in your world not revolve around her,” she spat and I could hear the hurt buried underneath her words, “Your loyalty. Your blind devotion. She could burn you alive, Alessandro, and you’d still protect her. You’d throw me to the flames just to keep her warm.” I opened my mouth to argue, to explain, but no words came. I couldn’t even breathe past the knot in my chest. How could she think that? Viviane stood there, glaring at me, she wrapped her arms around herself like a shield, not against the world—against me. And it wrecked me because I could see it in her eyes. She believed every word she said. She thought I’d put Francesca above her, that I’d choose anyone over her. She couldn’t be more wrong. “You don’t get it,” I finally bit out, “You think this is about her? You think I’d protect her over you? Goddammit, Viviane, you are so far off the mark, it’s insane.” Her jaw tightened, “Am I?” she muttered, “Then explain it, Alessandro. Expl
Viviane☩═✦═☩I used to think nothing could break me. That I was untouchable. Unshakable. Unbreakable. And now I was curled up on the couch in Brandon’s empty apartment, clutching a spoon like it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart. A half-melted pint of chocolate ice cream sat in my lap, barely touched, while some cheesy rom-com played on the TV. Never thought I’d end up here. Viviane Kane, the one who walked away before anyone else could reduced to this. Alone. Pathetic. Watching strangers pretend love fixes everything while mine left me shattered. Maybe this is what karma looks like. Maybe I deserved it. I thought I could handle anything. Thought I could keep my walls high and my heart out of reach. But then Alessandro happened. And now...now I couldn’t even hold myself together. The tears came before I could stop them, hot and bitter, sliding down my face in waves that wouldn’t let up. I wiped at them angrily, furious at myself for feeling this way. For
Viviane☩═✦═☩Scott dragged a chair across the room, the legs scraping against the floor in a sound that made my teeth clench. He didn’t seem to care about the noise, though; he was grinning like this was his favourite sick game. Alessandro carried a second chair in one hand, a gun in the other, the weight of it swinging casually at his side. They positioned the chairs back-to-back, like they were setting up for an execution. Once the chairs were in place, they each took a side—Scott on one, Alessandro on the other. My heart pounded like it was about to burst, my eyes flicking to Angelo and Joey. Their gazes locked onto mine, filled with silent, desperate pleas. Joey’s chin quivered, and in that moment, a fierce instinct surged through me, I would protect those boys with everything I had. “Sit,” Alessandro ordered. Angelo and Joey exchanged a terrified glance, their faces pale as ghosts as then they looked at me again, but they didn’t dare to refuse them. Scott grabbed Joey by th
Viviane☩═✦═☩“Stick to the script I gave you,” I said. The boys nodded in the rearview like their lives depended on it—because it did. The Costellos were laying low, their operations still on ice but that doesn't mean they were any less dangerous. No flashy parties, no public outings, no throwing their weight around. They weren’t taking any chances. Instead, they holed up in each other’s mansions, surrounded by family, playing house like they weren’t the most dangerous people in the city. I pulled into the long driveway of Nikolai’s estate, the towering gates opening. My car glided to a stop, and I turned to the boys in the backseat. “If you embarrass me in there, I’ll make you wish you had never crossed paths with me.” I didn’t wait for their shaky nods before stepping out. I adjusted my jacket and strode to the front entrance, the boys trailing behind me on the steps. Danilo was by the front door, patrolling as usual. He caught sight of me, and his whole demeanor changed. Hi
Viviane☩═✦═☩This had to work. Failure wasn’t an option, not for me, not for her, and definitely not for the truth. If this plan fell apart, it wouldn’t just ruin everything I’d clawed my way toward; it would rewrite the narrative, paint her as the victim when she was anything but. The thought made my stomach churn. I stood at the head of the table, my arms crossed, watching the two boys fidget under my gaze. Their mothers stood protectively behind them, throwing nervous glances at each other. They weren’t scared of the courts or the cops. No, their real fear had a name: Nikolai. “Do I need to remind you how much I’ve already paid you?” I said.I leaned forward, my palms flat on the table, watching their faces carefully. One of the boys, the taller of the two, finally mustered the courage to speak. “Yeah, but… going in front of Don Niko wasn’t part of the deal. We agreed to testify in court, not to lie to him.” Before I could answer, one of the mothers stepped in, “Ms. Viv
Alessandro ☩══♛══☩ The morning air bit at my skin, cold enough to clear my head. Coffee in hand, I leaned against the front door. Last night replayed in broken flashes—her body beneath mine, her breathless moans, the way she looked at me. I shouldn’t have touched her. Not again. Not after everything. But fuck me, when she’s near, it’s like every ounce of logic burns away. And God, she makes it so fucking easy. One of my men stepped out of the car, with the garment bag in his hand. “Sir, the dress,” he said, holding it out. A dress for her. Something elegant, beautiful, tailored to fit her perfectly. Because, apparently, I’m the kind of man who has shit like this ready for a woman I can’t trust, can’t forgive, but still can’t fucking let go of. I snatched the bag out of his hand, and dismissed him with a wave of my hand. Inside the house, I dropped the garment bag onto the couch. The coffee in my hand was lukewarm now, but I drank it anyway, the bitterness biting at my to
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ His lips dragged a lazy path down my stomach, he kissed the sides of my waist, his stubble scratched against my skin, and when he reached the edge of my lace blue panties, he paused. His bloodshot eyes locked onto mine, half-lidded, intense, and filled with so much lust that made my stomach flip. His lips parted, his teeth brushing over the delicate lace as he caught the fabric. It wasn't smooth, it was messy, slow, and really sloppy. He tugged the panties down with his teeth, the fabric catching briefly against my thighs before sliding lower, until they pooled at my ankles. Every nerve in my body seemed to be on edge, my head spinning from the booze, the heat, the way he looked at me like I was something he was about to ruin in the best possible way. His mouth hovered just close enough to make me squirm. My head tipped back against the pillows, the room spinning like I was on a carousel I couldn’t get off of. When his tongue finally swept between my folds, I c
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ Then he spoke again, and his voice hit me like a bucket of cold water. Oh, he was real. Too real. “You're the biggest headache of my life... and the only thing I can't stop wanting,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. His hand raked through his hair, and he looked down, like he was trying to find the words buried somewhere in the concrete beneath us. “You’re so goddamn...pretty. It’s infuriating.” I blinked at him, caught off guard, “What?” His head snapped up, and he looked at me like I was the problem, like I was the one ruining his life. “You heard me,” he said, “You’re pretty, okay? Too fucking pretty. And I hate it. I hate you. You make everything impossible.” My breath hitched, and I hated myself for it. “You hate me?” my voice trembling with anger or maybe it was something, “Good. Because I hate you too.” He stepped closer, and suddenly there was no space left between us. I could feel the heat rolling off him, his breath warm and tinged with whis
Viviane ☩═✦═☩ The table felt lopsided, or maybe that was just me. I leaned forward, elbows planted on the table like some heathen with no manners. Across from me, Alessandro was laughing—a deep, rumbling laugh that I found fucking annoying and it grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. Because his arm was draped around her. He was playing a new game, "I'm-going-to-make-Viviane-homicidal" game. Miss Bubblegum-Lip-Gloss-And-Too-Much-Perfume laughed at something he said, her perfect teeth gleamed under the lights. She was laughing like he was the funniest man alive. “Here,” he said, as he lifted a forkful of whatever overpriced dish was on his plate. “Try this.” She tilted her head, batting her eyelashes as she parted her lips and leaned in to take the bite he was offering. She ate the damn thing like it was a scene from a rom-com, her eyelashes fluttering like she had a severe medical condition. I nearly choked on my wine. I slammed my wine glass down harder than