DanteI smirked as I watched Rafe through the hidden camera feed in his warehouse. The grainy footage did little to soften the sheer fury etched into his face. Two days ago, my men and I had intercepted his shipment—several million dollars worth of coke, gone up in smoke. He was beyond pissed. Good.Payback was a bitch and she was mine to collect.I leaned back in my chair, fingers steepled under my chin as I watched him pace like a caged animal. He ran his hand over his slicked-back hair, muttering curses under his breath. Then, without warning, he pulled his gun. His movements were so fast that I barely saw them before two loud bangs echoed through the air.The guards on duty fell to the ground, screaming as blood spread beneath them. Their knees were gone—blown out in one swift, merciless motion. My stomach didn't so much as clench at the sight. In our world, men didn’t just inherit power or money. They inherited grudges, vendettas, and wars. Those guards had chosen their allegianc
MatteoIt was almost time.Two weeks in this hellhole felt like two years. The stench of sweat, blood, and desperation clung to the air, seeping into my skin, and my bones. I curled my fingers around the cold steel of the prison bars, my knuckles turning white. Every second in this place fueled my hatred—not just for this prison, but for him. Dante. My own brother. My own flesh and blood.There was a time when I had adored him. But not anymore. He has grown weak. The only thing keeping him going was past glory.A sudden roar erupted from a few cells down. A man slammed his fists against his gate, his voice raw with rage. Others quickly joined in, a symphony of violence rising through the cellblock. Metal clanged. Fists pounded. A chaotic storm was brewing. Good. I thought, smiling."Quiet!" the guard barked, his voice laced with irritation. But the men only booed him.Then, the lights went out.
DanteThe bathroom door banged shut, and I finally let out a breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding.When Matteo stepped out, dressed in a loose hospital gown, he looked different—weary, smaller somehow. His usual arrogance, the sharp edge of defiance in his eyes, was dulled. He wasn’t just tired. He was broken.He took a slow, deliberate step toward the hospital bed and sank onto the edge with a heavy sigh.“Fra…” His voice was rough, worn down like sandpaper. “I don’t want to go back.”I met his gaze. The shadows under his eyes, the tightness in his jaw—Matteo had seen hell these past two weeks. And hell had changed him.“Let me come home, please,” he murmured. “I promise I will behave.”Part of me wanted to make him beg a little longer, to remind him of the mess he’d made, the blood he’d spilled, the risks he’d taken without thinking. Finding this once-proud man slouched down before me now — defeated — I knew he had already been punished plenty.I nodded. “You can come home, M
GabriellaShe was starting classes today.The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass and warm coffee from a nearby café. Students bustled around her, their chatter blending into a hum of excitement and nerves. She stood at the foot of the grand administrative building, its imposing columns and intricate stonework a stark contrast to the turmoil within her.Enzo stood just behind her, ever-watchful, ever-present. Dante had assigned him as her shadow, a bodyguard in the guise of a fellow student. She had protested at first—how much danger could she possibly be in, surrounded by college kids? But Dante had been unyielding, his dark gaze silencing any further argument. She hadn't felt a need to prod him, not when over the course of the last few days there had been a semblance of normalcy.And yet, in the midst of the streaming multitude of students, she felt a dissonance strike her unexpectantly. She had dressed informally—a bright yellow sundress, sneakers, and ha
The gasp escaped her before she could stop it, sharp and unmistakable.Elio.Her heart lurched in her chest as she stared at him, every muscle in her body going rigid. How had she not known? How had she never made the connection that his father worked here? He had mentioned his dad casually a couple of times while they were seeing each other, but she had never met the man—not once while they dated for months. And now he was standing in the doorway immobilized, his face suspended between shock and astonishment.Elio took two steps forward, his mouth parting slightly before he found his voice."Gabby?"Her fingers grasped the fabric of her dress, fingernails digging into cotton as the air in the room thickened to heavy silence. The weight of every set of eyes in the room was bearing in on her, yet she would not turn, keeping her face set on the old wood of the desk in front of her in a desperate effort to hide from the confrontation that was unfolding.But there was no place to hide.So
“Elio, please,” she tried again, stepping forward slightly.But Enzo didn’t move, his presence still a solid wall between them.“I don’t like the way you’re talking to her,” Enzo said, his voice low, deliberate. “And I'm certain her husband won't like the way you’re looking at her. So unless you want me to rearrange that pretty face of yours, I suggest you walk away.”Elio let out a dry, bitter laugh. “Wow. Real tough guy.”Enzo took a slow step forward. “You have no idea.”The tension was suffocating. Gabriella could feel people passing by, throwing curious glances their way, sensing the charged energy between the three of them. The mention of Dante sent a cold chill down her spine and she desperately wished Elio took the warning and left.Elio clenched his jaw, glaring at Enzo before his eyes flicked back to hers, searching for something—an explanation, maybe. But she had none to give.“Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath, then shook his head and turned on his heel, disappea
Gabriella“Who the hell is Elio?”Dante's voice cut across the silence of the room, his tone harsh as if it cut through the air. A knot formed in my stomach at that question, a queasy feeling I struggled to conceal. My previously calm, steady hands, which I was using to hold my note, were now in tight, knotted fists, evidencing my underlying fear.Enzo had promised. How dare he? But at the back of my mind I knew Enzo was not the type to go back on his word. None of the mafia men were. So how the hell had Dante found out?So how in the hell did Dante know the truth?I paused to collect my thoughts and looked up slowly, ensuring that I met his gaze without expressing the panic that threatened to shatter my calm. My voice was calm and even, masking all of my tension.“He was a friend,” I told him.Dante's jaw was set hard, a telltale indicator of his rage. His fists were knotted at his sides, and I could feel the tightness of his muscles, his knuckles whitening."A friend?" he said, his
DanteThe door banged shut behind me, rattling the walls as I stormed out of the study. My chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles cracked. I needed a drink—something to dull the fire coursing through my veins before I burned everything to the ground.I stumbled to the small bar by the corner of the living room, grabbing the half-empty bottle of whisky on the shelf. Brown liquid splashed into the glass as I poured with my shaky fingers. I didn’t stop. I guzzled it in one swift gulp, the burning liquid churning in my throat. But that wasn’t enough. It didn’t subdue the fire in me.I was beyond angry as I hurled the glass against the wall. It shattered in an instant, pieces splintering in all directions, shining in the low lights like tiny knives. I ran a hand down my face, exhaling heavily. I shouldn’t have let her push me this far. I shouldn’t have let her get to me like that.Gabriella swore we were good. Said things were great between us. And
The door clicked shut, and the sound made Gabriella freeze. She stood still, listening closely as the lock turned with a harsh, scraping noise. That sound told her one thing — she was trapped. Outside the room, she heard Dante’s voice, calm but firm. There was no kindness in his tone, only authority."No one goes in or out until I say so. Not even for food."His words hit her like a blow. Through the thin wooden door, she heard the quiet movement of the guards standing outside. They didn’t question him. They simply obeyed.She remained in place, listening intently until she caught the sound of Dante’s footsteps ascending the stairs to the more affluent, upper levels of the house. The stillness that ensued felt denser than the atmosphere surrounding her.Only then did she realize she had been holding her breath.Gabriella eventually scanned the space where she had been confined. It was tiny and barren, lacking anything comforting or inviting. The walls were empty, and the sole piece of
Gabriella“This is your new room now.”Dante’s voice cut through the silence like a knife. It was icy, piercing, and utterly conclusive, enveloping my heart with the heaviness of his words like steel shackles. He towered above me, his towering figure creating a shadow so immense it seemed to engulf me entirely. And at that instant, I understood — truly understood — that any remaining hope I possessed was quickly and irretrievably fading like sand slipping through my hands.My body was in pain. My back ached with agony, and the intense, glaring light streaming in through the windows caused my head to pound. However, none of it measured up to the pain in my heartThe ache of knowing that everything was falling apart. The memories of last night hit me all at once, crashing into me like a storm I wasn’t prepared for. The whispers. The accusations. The fear. It was too much, too fast — and then before I could even catch my breath, the door burst open. It slammed against the wall so hard
Matteo."Now get out. And pray you haven’t ruined everything." The door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot. I stood there for a moment, fists clenched at my sides, as the walls seemed to close in — the weight of my own frustration pressing against me. Sofia. Reckless, impulsive, foolish Sofia. I’d known from the start she’d be a liability, but I needed her. At least for now. But if she kept pushing like this… well, even my patience had its limits. And Sofia was standing right on the edge of them. I began pacing, each step tapping out my irritation on the hardwood floor. Everything had been going according to plan — perfectly, even — until she decided to take matters into her own hands. I should have seen it coming. She was ambitious, but ambition without control was dangerous. And right now, the last thing I needed was danger from my own allies. I sank onto the couch — still warm from where she’d been sitting — and let out a slow breath,
Sofia.I had not expected the girl to deliver such a great job. I couldn’t believe it had worked. I couldn’t believe all it had taken to turn Dante against her was one reckless night of partying. Just one night — and everything shifted. I chuckled quietly, recalling the expression on Gabriella’s face as she understood there was no way to regain Dante’s approval. The ruin, the embarrassment. She had completed it. What now? Dante belonged to me. The idea sparked a wave of excitement within me. The thought of becoming the upcoming mistress of the mansion, along with its riches and influence, thrilled me to the core. I could already picture it — the lavish gatherings, the power, the pure opulence of everything. Before long, everything would be mine. With a pleased grin, I glided down the corridor toward Matteo’s room, my heels tapping gently on the glossy marble. The atmosphere was heavy with excitement. I opened the door without knocking, eager to revel in my triumph. Yet as soon as
Dante.Everything went still the moment she collapsed. The clang of chains hitting the metal pole resonated into stillness, a stark and conclusive tone that lingered in the atmosphere. Even her screams appeared to be overshadowed by the darkness, and for a brief moment, it felt as if the entire universe had stopped.The silence was unbearable. Maybe—just maybe—I shouldn’t have killed the poor bastard. But the thrill was there, undeniable and electric, pumping through my veins the way it had earlier. That sharp rush, that surge of power, was like a drug.But it was the anger that stayed. It simmered in my blood as I uncuffed her wrists, the marks on her skin standing out like bruised flowers. I cradled her like a child, her body limp and fragile against me. And then I stood over her, towering and silent, just watching her sleep. The room was filled with the scent of sweat, fear and blood. He had died for her—Elio—and she didn’t even know it.In the mafia, women don’t betray their husba
Gabriella"No." I whispered, panic clawing up my throat.Dante's grip on my hair got tighter. "Watch."I fought desperately against the bindings, the metal digging into my flesh; however, I was helpless. Enzo swiftly crossed the room, his gun shining in his hand.Elio's chest heaved and sank in quick, uneven gasps. His gaze fixed on me—imploring, urgent.A profound silence extended between us. And then the pop of the gunshot shattered it.Elio's body convulsed, blood pouring across his chest. A cry escaped my mouth as he crashed down, his head turning to the side."Please don't... no, no, no..." I cried, shaking my head.Dante's grip loosened, causing me to tumble onto the table. My vision dimmed as I watched Elio's body lie still, the light of life dwindling from his eyes.I could not catch my breath."You ought to be grateful to me, my dear," Dante whispered, sweeping my hair from my damp, sweaty face. "He was destined to die." He continued. "At least now... he passed away watching
GabriellaI hesitated but I realized that I had chosen my own fate.From across the room, Elio’s eyes shone with profound fear. He was seated in the leather armchair, bound with rope, blood running from a gash on his forehead. Every rapid breath made his body convulse, and his mouth opened, as if he were reaching for me.Dante towered above me, a tempest in the still atmosphere. The warmth of his breath on the nape of my neck caused chills to run down my spine, accompanied by a potent aroma of whiskey that lingered afterwards. I clenched my fists at my sides, digging my nails into my palms while I tried to hide my sense of panic. “You didn’t think you could con me, did you, darling?" His tone was low, a menacing whisper. I flinched but was silent. My heart pounding wildly in my chest, each thump reverberating in my mind.He advanced gradually—intentionally—letting his fingers glide along the strap of my red dress. I shut my eyes tightly, nausea building in my throat. The space seeme
Gabriella“Take your dress off.”The words sliced through the air, cutting and piercing. My heart thumped, my breath caught in my chest when the large, heavy door thudded shut behind us.I turned toward him, a terror tightening my throat. Dante stood a few steps in front of me, his face impenetrable, though his stiff stance sent shivers down my spine. My palms were dripping in perspiration since we had first set foot on steps leading down the basement. With each downward stride, it had been like I was walking in the direction of my grave, tremors, chasing themselves down my spine, foretelling a horror beyond understanding.I blinked hard, fighting to see clearly as Dante leaned in and flicked a switch.A blinding flash of white light filled the room.I squinted, my eyes fighting to adjust, taking in the room which looked like some sort of observation room— cold, chilling. The room was partitioned by a thick slab of glass, us and it, between us and another room. And there, I caught a f
The quiet in the car felt like it was suffocating — the kind of silence that pressed on Gabriella’s chest so that just breathing was a chore. Only the gentle radiating engine of the car and the beating of her heart could be heard.She was too scared to talk anymore, and had long since ceased her attempts at reasoning with Dante when she could see that his cold, stony expression wouldn’t budge. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white, his jaw set in that hard, unforgiving line she knew all too well. And she knew there would be no mercy for her this night. She sank back against the far end of the seat, her body glued to the door, as if that distance would shield her from his fury. It was a familiar position — one that reminded her of the first day Matteo had torn her from her father’s arms. That same impotent terror ran through her veins now, cold and paralyzing. The muffled cries from the trunk broke the silence, sending fresh shivers through her. Elio. Her mind