Victoria's perfectly manicured nails dug into my cheek, not enough to break skin, but enough to make her threat clear. I refused to flinch, even as my heart hammered against my ribs. The cold stone of the railing pressed against my back, a stark reminder that I was cornered. "You're nothing but a g
What were the chances that he would even spare me a thought now that Bertha was there…did he truly mean all those words? "No, I... could we just get a drink instead?" Vincent hesitated. "Are you sure? What happened here-" "Please," I cut him off. "I just... I need a minute. There's a bar just o
AMELIA The world swayed as Roman guided me through the dark hallways of the building as we made our way outside, his grip on my waist firm but gentle. The alcohol in my system made everything feel distant and hazy, like I was watching the scene unfold through frosted glass. My thoughts kept circlin
"Nothing?" I straightened in my seat, anger cutting through the alcohol haze. "You could barely keep your eyes off her or even hear a word I said! You haven't even bothered to look at me…to really look at me, Roman!” I snarled back at him with equal ferocity. I was sure I had scratch marks on my fac
Roman's expression darkened as his eyes landed on my cheek, finally seeing what I assumed would be red nail marks. "She put her hands on you?" I nodded, feeling tears prick at my eyes. "She said... she said such horrible things about my mother, about me. About us. And you were inside with Bertha, a
GREECE I watched as the waves rose and crashed repeatedly against each other and sometimes soak the sand by the shore. I was quiet. I hadn't spoken to anyone or even myself in hours. It gave a strange sensation, like I'd forgotten the sound of my own voice. Like I'd always been here, sitting on th
GREECE The club was noisy, that was the first thing that registered. The music was so loud I could feel each bass drum in my feet and head like a throbbing headache. Still, I managed to maintain my composure as I weaved through the crowd of gyrating bodies and drunk adults, going deeper into the cl
“Hey!” One of them called out, stepping down from her stool and grabbing his arm, ripping it away from mine. “She says she's not interested, asshole!” The rest of them blocked me from Mike's view and I could tell he was fuming. “Stay out of this you fucking whores!” “Oh? Who are you calling a
"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
"And sitting back and doing nothing is better?" My voice rose, a mixture of frustration and desperation. "I'm tired of being the victim. Tired of being passed around like a piece of property, like something to be traded and bartered." His blue eyes flashed. "I would never let that happen to you aga
AMELIA Why was I so hesitant? I had been sure of my choices, I had accepted that it was what I really wanted and what I needed. But sitting here, with his head on my shoulder and his eyes looking so distant, I couldn't bring myself to say a word. Nothing. “Amy?” “Hm?” Roman raised his hea
Hi! Its me Dchenemi but you already know that lol. I want to thank you for sticking with this book this far and answer a few questions. Firstly O would like to apologize for the lack of updates, I have ongoing exams and I'm unable to focus on writing while the pressure of getting good grades are
AMELIA My mother had always told me I was destined for great things, and at some point in my life, I thought it was being a well-established painter or perhaps a tycoon like she wished to be. But now I realized what she truly meant. No matter how much she had tried to escape it, her past still cau