Roman shook his head, “Not any time soon,” I understood immediately. They were probably closer than he was letting on. Best friends even. But it seemed what transpired between them was enough to destroy the friendship that was between them. I could tell there was more to it. But I didn't probe a
MARCUS What is a man without a craft? Without a passion? Without a purpose? I spent the first half of my life roaming endlessly, doing what was expected of me, doing everything a good son would do for parents as expectant as mine. A diploma, a degree, a doctorate, a phd, whatever the fuck i c
I let her go and spent the coming years watching and enjoying what her time with me did to her. There was no light in her eyes, no flames in the words she spoke and no one seemed to give a shit…i found it funny and fulfilling, she stayed silent about it like it was a bad dream and i enjoyed watching
AMELIA I once used to think that I wasn't meant to find happiness or deserve to be loved by anyone. Because my father and Monica stopped at nothing to remind me. My father's beatings and Monica's verbal abuses were enough to bring down my self esteem or rather burn it to ashes. Despite how much I
The warmth of Roman's lips lingered on mine as he finally decided to leave. His fingers traced the curve of my cheek, his touch so gentle it almost felt like a whisper against my skin. I watched him, my heart swelling with a mixture of love and that inexplicable fear that I couldn't quite shake. Ev
AMELIA Vincent's movements seemed sluggish, almost mechanical. As more time passed, his usually vibrant energy seemed to have dulled, replaced by a weariness that hung around him like an invisible cloak. I watched him carefully, my instincts picking up on the subtle and yet obvious signs of exhaus
ROMAN “We've been unable to trace the number, sir.” Came the second disappointing reply for the day, from the one hacker Dimitri trusted enough to get the job done. My grip on my phone tightened as I struggled to rein in my emotions, my frustration almost spilling over. I was sick and tired of
ROMAN My father and I haven't spoken since I received the invitation to his wedding. Now, I wasn't claiming to be perfect. I was also unfaithful to my wife and hurt her in ways I would continue to regret for the rest of my life but him? He was making a decision that wouldn't benefit him in an
Hi, hope you're doing good and the year has been going well for you? You must've noticed the lack of updates and I sincerely apologize for it. After my grandma's passing, things haven't been the same and I'm sad to admit that I went down a spiral and I had to take a step back for my mental health
That now seemed like a lifetime ago. A lifetime of promises I broke. "I know," I whispered, reaching across the table to take her hand. "And I'm so sorry, Greece. I was wrong, and I was selfish, and there's no excuse for it." She didn't pull away, but her eyes remained full of hurt. "Do you have
Maybe I was foolish, I was too afraid to face Roman and even her… I was a coward, the one thing I told myself I wasn't. I sank into the chair opposite her, hands clasped tightly in my lap to hide their trembling. "It's complicated," I managed, knowing how inadequate the words were. "Complicated,
AMELIA I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, all the air leaving my lungs in one desperate rush. Greece Wellington's presence was like a ghost from my past life, one I'd tried desperately to forget. My fingers tightened around the shopping bags, knuckles turning white as I struggled to maintai
"I swear," she laughed, her voice filling the car with warmth, "if he could bubble-wrap me and the baby, he would." I couldn't help but smile, watching her face light up as she talked about her husband. "He's just nervous. First-time dad and all that." "Oh, speaking of nervous," she grinned, tur
AMELIA Morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of my bedroom, casting warm patches across my chilly sheets. I should have felt lighter, triumphant even. The family was finally under control, the threats neutralized, and the Guerrero name secure. Yet as I lay there, staring up at the ce
The color drained from their faces so quickly it was almost comical. Uncle Stefano actually tugged at his collar, while Uncle Paolo seemed to sink further into his chair. "Ricardo made his choice," Uncle Marco said, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity despite his obvious fear. "We are mere
AMELIA The meeting wasn't one I was looking forward to but it was something I had to get done. Something that I hoped would remind me of all the reasons why I was in Italy. All the reasons why I became a completely different person. I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, taking in ho
AMELIA TWO YEARS LATER… I was twenty-seven years old, younger than my mother was when she had me, and five years older than she was when my grandfather entrusted the Guerrero family's responsibility to her. Despite trying my best not to think about her, everything I did, everywhere I walked in It