The quiet was suddenly shattered by the sound of gunshots, echoing through the night. I bolted upright in bed, my heart racing. Selena's eyes snapped open, wide with terror. The sound was close, too close for comfort."Stay here," I barked, jumping out of bed and reaching for my gun.Selena's eyes were wide with terror, but she nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. I could see the fear in her eyes, but there was something else - trust. She trusted me to protect her, to keep her and our child safe.I pulled on my pants and shirt, not bothering with the holster. The gun felt cold and heavy in my hand as I moved silently through the house. The guards had been stationed outside, but the shots were much too close. They were supposed to be a deterrent, a warning of an incoming threat. But it seemed we had a breach.The house was eerily quiet, the only sound the distant echo of the shots that had woken us. I moved through the hallway, the adrenaline pumping through my veins. Th
Working with Torres was not the most pleasant business, but now that I have Selena I can take over the Family as it should have been. Joseph will be dead before sun up. Selena was in and out of consciousness. I had instructed the men to drug her so she wouldn't cause trouble. I saw great fear in her eyes that only grew stronger as we approached the warehouse where Torres was waiting. "Please, Salvatore, just let me go." Selena's voice was faint, barely a whisper against the harsh roar of the truck's engine. She was bound in the backseat, her eyes swollen from crying and her face a mess of bruises. Despite the pain, she hadn't stopped begging for her freedom and for her baby's life. "Shut up," one of the men yelled, his grip on her arm tightening. Selena winced but didn't stop pleading. "Please, I'll do anything." I turned in my seat to face her. "You've done enough already," I said, my voice cold as ice. "Your little act of playing house with Joseph, thinking you could be pa
The next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake by rough hands. My eyes snapped open to find myself in a cold, dimly lit room. The smell of antiseptic and blood hung in the air, and the pain in my chest was a constant, pulsing throb. Antonio hovered above me, his face etched with concern. "Boss, you're alive," he exclaimed, relief flooding his voice. I coughed, my chest burning with every breath. "Selena," I rasped, my eyes searching the room. "Where is she?" Antonio's expression darkened. "They took her, Boss. Salvatore had her taken." Rage boiled in my chest, the pain momentarily forgotten. "Where?" I demanded, struggling to sit up. "We don't know yet. By the time I got here, everyone was gone. Dante is the only one to survive and he is still in surgery." The room was spinning, and I felt my consciousness slipping away. "Find her," I managed to say before the world went dark again. When I came to, the room was brighter, and the smell of antiseptic was stronger. I was
I am so scared for myself, the baby, and Joseph. They shot him right in front of me. There was so much blood. My mind was racing when I was shoved into a cold, metal cell. The smell of the warehouse was a nauseating mix of dust and mold. I could feel the baby kicking as if she was reminding me to stay strong. I sat on the floor, my back pressed against the wall, and I tried to slow down my breathing. The sound of distant voices and footsteps echoed through the building, reminding me that I wasn't alone in this hell. I had to keep my head clear and find a way out. The cell door creaked open, and a figure stepped into the dim light. It was one of the men who had taken me. His eyes raked over me, his gaze lingering on my stomach. "You're the one they want," he sneered, tossing me a bottle of water. "Make sure you stay hydrated. We don't want any problems with the merchandise." The door slammed shut, the echo reverberating through the metal chamber. I clutched the water to m
Regardless of how much pain I am in, the only thing I can think about is Selena. She is innocent in all of this and so is our baby. Salvatore will pay for what he has done to me and to my family. When we arrive at the warehouse, it almost looks abandoned. My men, armed and ready, fan out around the perimeter, each one sticking to the shadows. My breath is ragged, my chest a constant throb of pain, but the thought of Selena and our baby pushes me forward. The sound of distant voices and the occasional shout echo against the metal walls. We move swiftly and silently, the tension thick. As we approach a side door, I catch the faint whiff of something sweet—Selena's favorite perfume. A flicker of hope ignites within me. "Break it down," I whisper to the men surrounding me. The door gives way with a crash, the sound echoing through the silent warehouse. We spread out, our footsteps barely make a sound as we search the vast space, our eyes peeled for any sign of her. The first fe
By the time Antonio and I got back to the estate, I was beyond exhausted. The only thing keeping me standing was pure adrenaline. "Joseph, you need to rest," Antonio said, his voice thick with concern. "Rest? How can I rest?" I snapped. "My wife is out there, pregnant with my child, and all we have is a boat that's been turned into a floating morgue." Antonio sighed heavily. "We'll find her," he assured me, his own eyes filled with a steely determination. "But you're no good to her if you're dead." I knew he was right, but the thought of Selena in the hands of those monsters was eating me alive. I stumbled into my office, the room where I had made countless deals and taken so many lives, and slammed the door shut. I needed to think, to plan, to find a way to get her back. "If I don't have her Antonio, I might as well be dead. She taught me how to live life. She is carrying my child. I promised her that I would protect her and I have failed her." Antonio nodded, understandi
**Parts of this chapter may contain triggers for some readers of reference to a sexual assault. Discretion is advised** I have been tossing and turning for hours. I have been praying that Torres was lying about Joseph being dead. We are supposed to be together to raise this baby. How could our lives be turned so upside down? I heard the lock click on the door and a young girl walked in with a tray of food in her hands. She looked no more than sixteen, with wide eyes that had seen too much and a tremble in her step that betrayed her fear. She paused just for a second before she set the food on the table. "They told me to give you this." I sit up slowly and take the tray from her. "Thank you. What’s your name?" "Anna. Please don't tell anyone I talked to you." "Of course, Anna. Is there anything you can tell me that might help me get out of here?" Anna's eyes widened, and she took a step back. "I-I don't know anything. I'm just here to work." The door clicked shut
I lay on the bed, my body trembling with the aftershocks of what had just happened. The dress felt like a prison, sticking to my damp skin. I needed to get out of these clothes, out of this room, out of this nightmare. With shaking hands, I untied the dress and let it fall to the floor. The fabric pooled around my feet, a sad reminder of the violation I had just endured. I stepped into the shower, the water scalding my skin as I tried to wash away the doctor's touch. I scrubbed until my skin was red and raw, the tears mixing with the water as they streamed down my face. When the hot water turned cold, I stepped out, wrapping a towel around my shivering body. I felt exposed, like every inch of me had been laid bare. I needed to find a way out of here, to escape this hellhole. Our baby deserved a future, and I would not let anyone take that away from us. I sat on the bed, my eyes scanning the room for any hint of a way out. The walls were bare, the window too high to reach,
The night before the meeting with the De Angelos, Selena and I sat on the balcony overlooking the city we had sworn to protect. The stars above were a stark contrast to the shadowy streets below, a reminder of the dichotomy of our lives. "We can do this," she said, her voice soft but strong. I took her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin against my own. "We will," I promised. "For our children, and for the future we've worked so hard to build." Our gazes locked, the love between us as unshakeable as the concrete jungle beneath our feet. Together, we had faced , and we knew this was just another challenge to overcome. The following day, the De Angelos arrived at our mansion, their presence a stark reminder of the alliances we had forged over the years. Their leader, Don Carlo De Angelos, walked in with an air of authority that matched my own, his eyes taking in the tension that hung in the air. "My dear friends," he said, his voice filled with concern. "What brings y
We sat in the nursery, holding each other, until the early light of dawn began to peek through the windows. The storm outside had passed, leaving the city washed clean and ready for a new day. Our hearts, however, remained heavy with the weight of our son's words. The following days were filled with tension, as Selena and I navigated the delicate dance of family dynamics and mafia politics. Michael was distant, often leaving the house early and returning late, his mind clearly preoccupied with the burdens he felt as the soon-to-be Don. Isabella, torn between her love for her brother and her loyalty to us, tried her best to mediate, but the divide grew wider with each passing moment. In private, Selena and I discussed our strategy, our voices hushed so as not to carry beyond the confines of our suite. "We must be firm," she said, her eyes gleaming with determination. "We can't let him believe that love is weakness." "Agreed," I replied, stroking her belly gently. "But we must
Isabella looked between us before slowly leaving the room, her gaze lingering on Michael, a silent plea for her brother to come to his senses. The moment the door clicked shut, the dam holding back my anger broke. "You dare to question my love for your mother, for our unborn child?" I roared, slamming my fist on the desk. "You dare to speak of survival as if love and family are weaknesses?" Michael flinched but held his ground. "Father, you're not seeing the big picture," he said, his voice tight with frustration. "This isn't about us, it's about the Family. We need a leader who will make the hard decisions, not one who is blinded by emotion." I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. "You think I don't make hard decisions?" I leaned forward, my eyes boring into his. "Every day I wake up with the weight of this city on my shoulders. Every day I make choices that could mean life or death for those I love." "But this isn't about you," Michael said, his voice ris
The whispers grew into a murmur as the Families watched the confrontation unfold, the room buzzing with tension. Selena’s eyes searched mine, her hand trembling as she tried to process Michael’s outburst. The baby, once a whisper of joy, had become a battle cry for a struggle we hadn’t anticipated.I hated the sadness in Selena's eyes. She was holding up the best she could until the guests started to leave the party."Let's go to our room," I suggested, my arm around her waist. She nodded, her steps heavy with the weight of Michael's words.Once we were alone, Selena sank onto the bed, her hands covering her face. "I can't believe this," she sobbed. "Our own son, telling us to... to end our baby's life."I sat beside her, pulling her into an embrace. "He has some explaining to do to me, my love. I have not completely stepped down as Don, and will not allow him to talk like that to you."Selena's sobs grew quieter, her body relaxing slightly into my embrace. "Joseph, make love to me?
Selena and I turned to face the twins, our hearts racing with excitement and trepidation. Their eyes searched ours, looking for the answer to the unasked question. With a deep breath, Selena announced, "Michael, Isabella, we have something to tell you." The twins looked at us, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. "Mom, Dad," Michael spoke first, his eyes searching ours for a clue, "what is it?" Selena took a deep breath and spoke with a smile that could illuminate the darkest of nights. "We're going to have another baby," she said, her voice filled with a softness that seemed to make the very air around us quiver with joy. Michael's expression froze, his eyes widening slightly before a flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. He was silent for a moment, his gaze flitting from Selena to me and back again. "Another baby?" he finally echoed, his voice low and measured. Isabella, on the other hand, lit up like a Christmas tree. "Oh my God!" she squealed, rushi
Selena and I dance, our hearts light despite the gravity of the day's events. Our eyes meet and we share a knowing smile, a silent acknowledgment of the journey we've taken together. The whispers of our love story have grown into a legend that has inspired not just our Family, but the entire city. Our partnership, once a secret, is now the foundation upon which our children will build their reign. The whispers of change continue to echo through the grand hall, a gentle reminder that our work is never truly done. The city is safer, the Families more united, but there are always those who seek to disrupt the peace. Our children will face challenges we could never have imagined, but we have faith in their strength and wisdom. They have been taught to rule with love and compassion, to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and to never lose sight of the legacy we've worked so hard to forge. But amidst the celebration, Selena pulls me aside, her eyes filled with a secret she can n
It’s time for me to step down as Don and let my children take over. He and Isabella are now twenty-one and it’s time for them to take over the Rossi family. Over the years, sometimes against Selena’s wishes Isabella has been trained to be an equal with Michael in running the family. Selena’s gaze meets mine, filled with a mix of pride and fear. We’ve raised them to be strong, to be leaders, but the world is still a dangerous place. The whispers of our past are now just whispers, but we know the reality of the mafia is never truly silenced. We’ve built a legacy of peace and prosperity, but the shadows of our history lurk, waiting for an opportunity to reclaim what we’ve worked so hard to change. The twins stand before us, poised and ready. Michael, with his sharp intellect and unyielding resolve, a mirror of his father. Isabella, with her mother’s grace and strategic mind, a force to be reckoned with. They are the embodiment of our love, our hope for the future. Together, they will
The room fell quiet as the gravity of his words sank in. Selena's hand tightened in mine, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Our love had been tested by fire, forged in the crucible of fear and betrayal, but it had never wavered. From the moment I claimed her as my own, she had been the beacon that guided me through the darkness. One by one, the Family members approached us, their expressions a mix of awe and gratitude. They had seen the horrors of the mafia firsthand, the lives lost and the hearts broken in the quest for power and vengeance. But our story, our unyielding bond, had given them a glimpse of something else—a possibility of redemption and peace in a world that seemed to offer only bloodshed. Selena's eyes met mine, and I knew she felt the same hope swelling within her chest. Our love had been a catalyst for change, a reminder that amidst the chaos, there were moments of purity and beauty worth fighting for. We had survived the storm, and now, together, we would lead
"Marta, how am I supposed to go on without Joseph? The babies will never know how wonderful he was." I was trying so hard to hold back my tears, but they just would not stop flowing. "Selena, you're stronger than you know," Marta's voice was firm yet gentle. "You have the twins to live for, and Joseph's spirit will live on in them. Besides, we still have hope." Her words lingered in the air, hinting at something unspoken. My eyes searched hers, looking for a glimmer of what she wasn't saying. "What do you mean?" "The twins are a part of him, Selena," she said, her gaze never wavering. "And as long as you carry his legacy within you, so does he live. You must find the strength to keep going, not just for them, but for yourself." Her words resonated within me, a gentle reminder of the resilience that had carried me through so much already. I took a deep breath, willing the pain to subside, and nodded. "You're right," I murmured. "For Isabella and Michael, I will." "Marta, we need