Alessio's PovI was boiling inside. Gabriella had just accused my uncle of something terrible. I couldn’t even process it properly, it felt like a punch straight to the gut. I slammed my palm against my desk, the sting of pain burning me a little. How dare she say that about him? My uncle may not be perfect, but he wasn't a monster. No,” I growled under my breath, running a hand through my hair. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”I hadn’t heard from him since that mess in New York. That night still haunted me, the blood, the screaming, the chaos. It reminded me of that night, the night my parents passed. I grabbed my phone and dialed his number. One ring. He picked up."Alessio," his voice came through, weak but familiar. "Uncle, how are you? Are you okay?" I asked, trying to sound calm, but I knew my voice was tight."I’m managing, boy. I'm healing slowly." He let out a breath. "What’s wrong? You don’t usually call unless something’s wrong.”I exhaled, releasing a breath.
Gabriella’s Pov I woke up to darkness and pain.My head throbbed like it had been smashed against a wall. My body was sore, limbs numb, and it took me a full minute to register why I couldn’t move.I was tied.My wrists burned from the tight rope binding them to the arms of a wooden chair, ankles strapped down too. Panic rose in my chest as I tried to move, tried to scream, but something was stuffed in my mouth. A cloth. I was gagged.I let out a muffled cry and struggled against the restraints, but the ropes barely budged. My heart pounded louder, harder, echoing in the cold silence of the room. There was a small, cracked window near the ceiling. Barely any light came through, but enough for me to see shadows. Dust floated in the air, heavy and slow. The walls were gray concrete, bare, dirty, and screaming captivity.Then I turned my head. To the left.And my breath caught in my throat.There, on the floor, was someone else. Slumped. Still. Her hands were tied in front of her, her c
Gabriella’s Pov "Amelia," I whispered, shifting slightly to glance at her "Are you awake?"She groaned, then coughed. "Yeah... I think so. My head is killing me."“Mine too,” I muttered, blinking hard. “How long do you think we’ve been here?”“No idea,” she replied, her voice shaking. I looked down, struggling against the ropes, and that’s when I saw it.An old, rusted knife lying just a few inches from my hand.My heart raced.“I think… I think I can get us out,” I whispered quickly. “There’s a knife here.”“What?” she gasped. “Gabriella, no. What if they come back? What if they catch you?”“We’ll be dead either way if we don’t move,” I said, my fingers stretching toward the knife. It scraped against the floor. “We’re not waiting around for a miracle. Hold stillz I’m getting us out.”It took what felt like forever, my fingers aching, sweat pouring down my back, but the rope finally gave way with a rough snap. I barely breathed. My wrists were raw and red, but I didn’t care.I spun
Alessio's Pov The night had a strange silence to it, the kind that wraps around you like a suffocating fog. I hated that silence. It felt like it was mocking me, like it knew something I didn’t. And maybe it did. I sat in the front seat of the car, staring out at the dark, narrow streets of Italy. My jaw clenched as my thoughts raced. Gabriela was still missing. My fists curled tighter.I slammed the dashboard. “We should’ve found her by now.”Carlo looked at me from the passenger seat. “We’ll find her, boss. We just need time.”Time. That’s what everyone kept saying. But time was running out, and we didn’t have the luxury of waiting anymore. I shoved open the door.“Follow me,” I barked, signaling to the men in the second car behind us. “Carlo, you're with me.”We moved swiftly through the tight, dimly lit alleys, the cold night air hitting my skin. Every shadow, every faint rustle made my heart pound harder. I kept scanning the sidewalks, searching for anything, anything that might
Gabriella’s PovI sat there, motionless, staring blankly at the white hospital wall, but in my mind, all I could see was Amelia. Her face. Her eyes. The way they took her, so violently, so suddenly, it kept replaying over and over like a broken record I couldn’t shut off. My heart ached in a way I didn’t know was possible. I felt numb, cold. Nothing could distract me from the pain that had settled into my bones.When the doctor walked back into the room, I barely registered his words. Something about being discharged. His voice was calm, too calm, like none of this had happened, like Amelia hadn’t been ripped from my life just hours ago.Alessio was the one who responded. He always was. Always in control, always taking charge. He walked over to me and spoke softly, “Come on. Let’s go home.”I didn’t say anything. Couldn’t say anything. He helped me up, so gentle with his touch, as if I’d shatter into pieces if he wasn’t careful. Maybe I would. He walked me to the car, opened the door,
Alessio's Pov I stormed out after Gabriella left the room like that, no explanation, no glance back, nothing. The way she walked off, like she couldn’t stand another second near me or them, it messed with my head more than I was willing to admit. I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, pacing toward the sitting room where the others were still chatting and laughing like nothing just happened.Lorenzo noticed the tension all over me before I even stepped fully into the room."You good, man?" he asked, leaning back against the couch with a drink in hand."I'm fine," I muttered, brushing past them and heading toward the bar. I wasn't in the mood to talk, not even to Lorenzo who practically grew up beside me.Before I could pour myself a drink, I felt Stephanie’s presence beside me, way too close.“You look tense,” she said in that smooth, sultry tone of hers, the one she always used when she wanted something. “Still the same Alessio... always carrying the weight of the world.”I ig
Gabriella's Pov I slammed the wardrobe door harder than I should’ve, a sharp crack echoing through the quiet room. I was angry, no, furious. My chest still burned from the way Alessio had handled everything with Stephanie, like I was invisible. Like I was nothing.He didn’t even try to explain himself.The moment I walked in on them whispering out on the balcony, something in me snapped. Stephanie stood too close. He didn’t stop her. And even though I had turned and walked away without a word, I was dying inside. I had been ever since.I shoved another dress into the suitcase, biting my lip to keep the tears from falling. He didn’t even follow me. Didn’t even bother to check if I was okay.“Gabs,” Ariel's voice pulled me from my storm of thoughts. She leaned against the doorframe, her expression soft and careful, like she knew I was one second from breaking. “You need to calm down.”I gave her a sharp look. “Don’t tell me to calm down.”“I’m just saying,” she walked in and sat on the
Gabriella's Pov The drive was almost too quiet. The kind of silence that presses down on you, heavy and unwelcome. I sat in the front seat, my head against the cool glass of the window, pretending to sleep so I wouldn’t have to speak. Stephanie’s voice floated in and out of my thoughts, too bright, too cheerful. She and Alessio were talking about some event from last year, laughing like they didn’t notice the tension twisting in my chest.I didn’t want to be here. Or maybe I did. I wasn’t sure anymore. All I knew was, with each mile we got closer to the beach house, my heartbeat quickened—not from excitement, but from something else. Something I couldn’t yet name.About thirty minutes later, the car slowed. I must have drifted off, because when I opened my eyes, Stephanie’s face was uncomfortably close to mine.“We’re here,” she said, her lips curled in a smirk. She didn’t bother hiding her amusement at waking me up. “Don’t sleep the whole trip away, Gabriella.”I clenched my jaw and
The next morning, Gabriella woke up with her heart pounding in her chest, the bitter memory of last night still hanging over her like a storm cloud. She didn’t want to see him. Didn’t want to hear him. Every fiber of her body ached with frustration.Kicking the covers away, she stood and marched over to the balcony. Her eyes scanned the property. Guards. Lots of them. Standing still like statues, guns hanging from their shoulders, eyes constantly sweeping the grounds. It was clear—Alessio wasn’t taking any chances this time. There was no escape.Gabriella let out a deep breath and turned away. The room felt like a golden prison. Big bed, soft rug, polished floor—none of it mattered. It was still a cage.She walked into the bathroom and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water run over her skin, hoping it would wash off the weight sitting on her chest. She stayed there longer than necessary, not wanting to come out. Not wanting to face what was waiting.A soft knock on the bedroo
The tension in the De Luca's mansion could be sliced with a knife. Alessio stood by the large window, arms folded, eyes scanning the grounds with an expression that teetered between fury and fear.Carlo entered without knocking.“She’s not home,” he said flatly.Alessio’s voice dropped, dangerous and cold. “Who?”“Gabriela. I checked her room, the garden, and the west wing. Nothing. I asked one of the maids. They said she left a couple of hours ago. With Stella.”Alessio’s eyes darkened. “With Stella?”“Yes, boss. The guards thought she had your permission.”Alessio turned fully now. “And they’re both missing?”Carlo nodded. “I sent two men to check the nearby blocks. Nothing yet.”Alessio slammed his hand down on the table beside him, making the vase rattle. “Traitors in my own walls, and the one person I need safe is strolling around the city like it’s a damn holiday?”Carlo stayed silent, knowing better than to interrupt when Alessio was on edge.“Mobilize every man we’ve got. I do
The sky was beginning to turn golden as the cab Maria was in finally stopped in front of a small, cozy, looking house with white windows and a porch that had potted flowers sitting on the rails. Hidden just a little down the road, Gabriella and Stella sat inside their own cab, watching closely.“There,” Stella whispered, pointing.“I see her,” Gabriella replied, narrowing her eyes. Her tone was calm, but her fingers were drumming nervously on her knee. “We wait till she goes inside.”Maria stepped out of her cab, adjusting the strap of her bag. She glanced over her shoulder once, then walked briskly to the front door and disappeared inside.“Now,” Gabriella said.They got out quietly and walked toward the house. Stella’s heart was racing like a drum in a parade.“Are you sure about this?” Stella asked, tugging on Gabriella’s sleeve.“Yes,” Gabriella said firmly. “But follow my lead. No surprises, okay?”Stella nodded. Gabriella stepped up to the porch and knocked softly. The door cre
Gabriella's Pov Despite having a good time with Alessio, I was pissed off because he cut off my encounter with Maria. I needed to hear what she had to say. I headed downstairs toward the kitchen area and spotted a girl cooking by the counter. “Can I help you?" I asked curiously. The girl spun around and a smile made a way to her lips. "You must be Gabriella,” she cleaned her hands on the towel before walking towards me. "I'm Stella. Alessio has told me so much about you." I stared at her like she had grown two heads. She noticed my stiff posture and moved closer to me, holding my hand. “I…..” she was cut off by the sound of noise coming from outside. Alessio walked in looking devilishly handsome as ever. I couldn't stop gawking at him and the memories of last night's kiss kept flooding in, the way his hands were wrapped around my waist, the way his soft lips felt against mine. He looked up his eyes looking between me and Stella “Ahh Stella, I guess you must have met my wife,”
Alessio's Pov I slammed the door shut behind me, the echo bouncing off the marble floors of the villa. My steps were heavy, fast. I didn’t even take off my coat. I needed a drink. No, screw that, I deserved one. The whiskey bottle was already on my office shelf, waiting like it knew I'd be back this pissed off.I grabbed the bottle, twisted the cap off, and poured a generous amount into the glass. The amber liquid caught the light for a moment before I downed it in one long gulp. It burned like hell going down, but not nearly as much as the fire that was raging inside my chest.Gabriella.Her voice was still playing on a loop in my head like a damn song I couldn’t turn off."I’ve never been with anyone, Alessio… I’m still a virgin."I couldn’t breathe when she said that. I stood there like a fool, trying to process those words. She looked at me with those big eyes of hers—so honest, so vulnerable—and for a second, everything stopped. I wanted her. God, I wanted her so bad. Every fibe
Gabriella's Pov The music pounded through my chest, vibrating deep in my bones. I don’t even know how long I’d been dancing. Could’ve been minutes, could’ve been hours. I was spinning, swaying, laughing—just completely lost in the moment. The lights flashed like a thousand tiny stars and the crowd was a blur of color and sound. I didn’t care. I didn’t want to care.I’d had one too many shots, maybe three too many whiskeys. My head felt light and the floor kinda floated beneath me, but I was smiling. God, it felt good to smile like that."I need to sit," I said, grabbing Maria’s arm mid-spin. "Gimme a sec. Bar. Now."She laughed and nodded, pushing me toward the bar with a wink. “Go, mama. Hydrate or die-drate.”I slid onto the stool, my legs a little wobbly, and waved down the bartender. My throat burned from the alcohol, but my heart still raced with the adrenaline of escape. This was my night. My little secret. Just me, a drink, and some freedom.“Another whiskey,” I muttered, tapp
Gabriella's Pov The morning light peeked through the curtains, soft and quiet like it didn’t want to disturb me. But I was already awake, staring at the empty space beside me in bed. Alessio was gone. Again. I sighed and dragged myself out of bed, trying to shake off the heavy feeling in my chest. My gut whispered that something was off, and I couldn't ignore it any longer.I padded downstairs, heart thudding just a bit faster than usual. The smell of toast and coffee hit me before I saw him. Alessio sat at the dining table, phone pressed to his ear, casually eating breakfast like nothing was wrong in the world. He gave me a nod as I walked in, eyes unreadable."Good morning," I murmured, sliding into the seat across from him.He hung up the call and looked at me. "Did you sleep okay?""Yeah... I guess. Just had a lot on my mind," I replied, trying to sound normal, but my voice cracked a little at the end.He nodded slowly. "If you need anything, you just have to say it."The maid br
Alessio's Pov I woke up to the faint sound of waves crashing outside the window, sunlight seeping through the linen curtains, warming the edge of the bed. Gabriela lay beside me, her back rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Her hair was splayed across the pillow, tangled and soft like silk. I didn’t move. I just stared at her, like an idiot, tracing every curve of her face with my eyes, trying to memorize the way her lips parted slightly in sleep, the way she looked peaceful… untouched by all the chaos. But of course, peace never lasted long.My phone buzzed, the nose sharp and loud. I flinched. Gabriela stirred, mumbling something I couldn’t catch. I reached over the nightstand and grabbed it. It was Vicenzo.My anger flared. If course it had to be one of these motherfuckers. “Yeah?” I whispered, stepping out of the bed quietly.“You need to come home. Now,” he said.“What happened?”“Just get here. I’m at the house. I’ll explain when you get here.”The line cut. Just like that
Gabriella's Pov The drive was almost too quiet. The kind of silence that presses down on you, heavy and unwelcome. I sat in the front seat, my head against the cool glass of the window, pretending to sleep so I wouldn’t have to speak. Stephanie’s voice floated in and out of my thoughts, too bright, too cheerful. She and Alessio were talking about some event from last year, laughing like they didn’t notice the tension twisting in my chest.I didn’t want to be here. Or maybe I did. I wasn’t sure anymore. All I knew was, with each mile we got closer to the beach house, my heartbeat quickened—not from excitement, but from something else. Something I couldn’t yet name.About thirty minutes later, the car slowed. I must have drifted off, because when I opened my eyes, Stephanie’s face was uncomfortably close to mine.“We’re here,” she said, her lips curled in a smirk. She didn’t bother hiding her amusement at waking me up. “Don’t sleep the whole trip away, Gabriella.”I clenched my jaw and