Valerie was overcome by grief. Ellie was not just a sister-in-law to her. She was also her best friend. They had been friends since high school, she was River's first love and now...She was gone.Will River be okay? Valerie sobbed at her brother's loss. And the kids. Oh my god, they lost their mother!She had tucked Tiffany and Lucas into their beds. They were all cried out for the night, and exhaustion slowly took over them. And now, she was standing outside of their closed door, contemplating."Mi amore." Antonio's voice brought her back.She looked at him with her eyes full of tears. "What will happen to River and the kids? How will they cope?"Antonio stroked her cheek. "It will get easier with time. And we will be there for them."Valerie nodded. "I am sorry."Antonio lifted his brow. "For what?""I can't help but feel responsible for Ellie's death. She died because...because she tried to save me," she choked out.Antonio suddenly bent down and lifted Valerie into his arms, crad
Valerie stepped out into the crisp air and looked around the area. There was nothing but woods all around them.They decided to have their honeymoon by the lake, away from the city. Nothing fancy, nothing big, just simple peace and quiet. That's what Valerie needed.Antonio closed the door behind them. Valerie looked around the room, her eyes drinking in the simplicity of the rustic decor, the quilt-covered armchairs, and the braided rugs."Feels like we can breathe here," Antonio murmured.Valerie nodded, feeling the truth of his words settle around her heart. "Are you sure it's okay to leave the children behind?"It had been two weeks since the incident at the wedding. During those two weeks, Both Antonio and River had their men watch them like hawks. During that time, Valerie felt like a prisoner but she didn't want to risk going outside either."No one had attacked the house for the past weeks and we still have them guarded. They will be fine for two days, trust me," Antonio said.
River's heart pounded in his chest like a caged animal desperate for escape."I will punish him for you, Ellie," he whispered to himself, his breath a thin mist in the cold air. His mind was a whirlwind of memories - her laughter, her smile, her touch. But now, all that remained were the haunting echoes of their love, and the bitter taste of vengeance consuming him from within."Ellie," he said again, louder this time. "I will find justice for you. I swear it."The prisoner's silhouette was barely visible, chained to a chair in the farthest corner of the dimly lit basement. River could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he approached."Tell me," River began, his voice low but firm, "why did you attack Antonio?"The prisoner lifted his head slowly, revealing a face bruised from earlier interrogations. His eyes locked onto River's with a cold, unyielding defiance."None of your business," the man spat.River clenched his fists, feeling the anger building inside him. He took a deep
Valerie settled into her new routine at the mansion. It had been four months, and things had been quiet since their wedding night, and there had been no more problems.The mansion was still and serene, but there was a lingering sense of emptiness that Valerie couldn’t ignore. After a month of living with her, River sent Tiffany to a prestigious boarding school. The decision, though necessary, left a void in Valerie’s life. At least he was allowing Lucas to live with her since he was only five years old.She missed Tiffany’s presence. She was so much like her mother, Ellie. But Valerie understood that the school would be good for her. Tiffany needed to be far from where her mother was killed. She needed to heal.Antonio was devoted to her and Landon as always. He tried to do things to cheer her up, but Valerie still felt gloomy.“You alright, mi amore?” he asked as he watched her play with her scrambled eggs.“Yes,” she said quietly.“Are you lying to me?” he asked.Her eyes snapped up
River kicked at Marco's jaw again.Marco groaned, slowly coming to as River towered over him, eyes cold as ice. Blood trickled from the traitor's broken nose, pooling on the grimy concrete. River seized the front of Marco's shirt, hauling him up to stare directly into those dazed, fearful eyes."Start talking," River growled through clenched teeth. "I want to know everything about Alexander Torres and his operation. Now."Marco coughed, crimson spattering his lips. "I'll tell you nothing," he spat defiantly, though his voice shook. "You think I'm scared of you?"A humorless smile twisted River's mouth. "Oh, you will be."With ruthless efficiency, he set to work, each calculated blow fueled by the searing pain of loss. Images of Ellie's lifeless casket being lowered into the earth, flashed through his mind as his knuckles split and bones cracked beneath them.After enduring a relentless barrage of beatings for what felt like an eternity, Nolan finally broke down and confessed the ident
The heavy oak door splintered under River’s boot as he stormed into Alexander’s sprawling mansion. His heart pounded with pure adrenaline, blood roaring in his ears.Following the sound of music and laughter, River burst into the main hall. An extravagant engagement party was in full swing. They all looked so happy. Happiness that River forgot how to feel.Then the screams began.Guests frantically dove for cover as River advanced, his eyes wild with barely contained rage. How dare Alexander celebrate while Ellie lay cold in her grave? The bastard’s time had run out.Scanning the panicked crowd, River caught no sign of his target. Alexander was a coward, no doubt slinking away to safety while his innocent guests took the fall. But there would be no escape this time.“Where is Alexander Torres?” River bellowed, his deep voice cutting through the din. “Show yourself, you spineless piece of sh**!”An older man in a tuxedo stepped forward, hands raised in supplication. “Please, señor, I b
Being kidnapped was not as exciting as the books and movies made it sound.That was what Riley Torres thought when she was thrown into a tiny room after a long drive.Okay, she WAS terrified the first half hour of the kidnapping. But after sitting in the car for who knows how long and then in this room for an even longer period of time, she was starting to feel rather...Bored.Riley looked around the dimly lit room, noting the lack of any remarkable features. The walls were a bland beige, the floor was a cracked concrete, and the only furniture was a rickety old chair in the corner. She sighed and rolled her eyes."Seriously? This is what kidnapping looks like? I was expecting a bit more... flair," she muttered to herself.She glanced at the door, which had been shut with a rather anticlimactic thud. "He didn't even bother with a dramatic slam," she thought, feeling slightly insulted by the lack of enthusiasm from her captor.Apparently, he was some big-shot Mafia boss. Well, so was
River thought about the young woman calmly asking him for snacks as he walked down the hall. Riley Torres, the daughter of his enemy Alexander, seemed completely unfazed by the fact that she had just been kidnapped and her life was in danger. She met his gaze evenly, not a trace of fear in her hazel eyes.River clenched his jaw, both perplexed and irritated by her nonchalant attitude. How could she be so calm in a situation like this? Was she crazy or just naive?Probably just naive. She was ten years younger than him, after all.Shaking off his musings, River reached for his phone. It was time to make the call he'd been waiting for, the one that would finally force Alexander's hand. His fingers punched in the number.The line clicked, and a familiar voice filled his ear. "Torres.""Alexander," River drawled, letting the name drip with disdain. "I believe I have something of yours."A pause, heavy with tension. Then, "If you've touched a single hair on her head, I swear I'll-""Spare