Aria I woke up gasping for air, my hands flying to my throat. The memory of Max's fingers crushing my windpipe made me choke on nothing but fear. For a moment, I didn't know where I was, the unfamiliar ceiling spinning above me. I tried to sit up, but my head pounded so violently I had to lie back down. This wasn't our apartment. The room was larger with heavy curtains blocking out most of the daylight. Some kind of villa or mansion, by the looks of it. The door opened with a soft click, and Max strolled in casually, as if we were on some romantic getaway. His expression was neutral, almost bored as he assessed me. "Ah, I can see you're awake," he remarked, leaning against the doorframe. I couldn't help but roll my eyes despite the fear coursing through me. "How observant of you," I replied, my voice hoarse and raw. His face changed instantly. "I'm not in the mood for your sass," he warned, taking a step closer. "That makes two of us," I retorted, forcing myself to sit up despit
Cassian I drove the rental car to its limits through the winding Tuscan countryside. The GPS indicated I was twenty minutes away from the address Max sent to me, but even that felt too long. Every second Aria was alone with Max increased the chance that Silas would get to her first. I couldn't let that happen. I have failed Lucas , and I was determined not to fail Aria too. "Fuck," I muttered, taking a sharp curve faster than I should have. The tires screeched in protest. I'd left my men behind, not wanting to intimidate Aria with a show of force. That decision now seemed like another potential mistake. But I had to trust Max. He'd been reliable up to this point—moving Aria to a secure location after my warning about Silas's escape was exactly what I needed him to do. My phone vibrated in the console. Viktor. "What?" I barked, putting it on speaker. "We've got a lead on Silas," Viktor's voice came through. "He was spotted at a private airstrip outside Milan six hours ago." "He
Aria The name sent a chill down my spine. Images flashed through my mind—being dragged from my bed in Cassian's house , the dark room where I'd been held, the terror and fear I’ve felt.Max's features contorted with hatred, transforming his once-handsome face into something monstrous. "He was my brother, and you bastard killed him," he snarled at Cassian.Cassian burst into laughter. I couldn't understand his reaction. This wasn't funny; this was horrifying. It means we are dead. I raised my hand to my mouth as the pieces suddenly clicked into place. "My father and your brother kidnapped me," I whispered, the terrible truth dawning on me. "That means you lied to me about Cassian. You lied when you told me he never cared."Cassian's laughter faded, his eyes locking with mine. I could see something in them—regret? Pain? Or was I just imagining what I wanted to see?Max's expression turned even more menacing. "You think the truth changes anything?" he sneered. "Your precious Cassian s
CassianI watched Aria crumble, her body shaking with sobs as the adrenaline drained from her system. She knelt on the floor, surrounded by shattered glass and blood—Max's and her own. Her hands trembled violently, still gripping that jagged shard she'd used to save both our lives."Aria," I said, keeping my distance. "Let me see your hand."She looked down at her palm, seeming almost surprised to see the deep cut there, still oozing blood. "I'm fine," she muttered, but her voice cracked on the second word."You're not fine," I countered gently. "You're in shock. Let me help you."I wanted to hold her, to tell her everything would be okay, but when I reached for her, she jerked away."Don't," she said again, more forcefully this time. "I said... don't touch me right now."I raised my hands in surrender, ignoring the burning pain in my wrists where the ropes had cut into them. "Okay. No touching. But we need to clean that wound, and we need to get out of here."Aria looked down at her
Cassian"Well, enough of that," Silas continued, his tone suddenly businesslike. "I have to finish this off and take back what is mine."I scoffed, disgust evident in every line of my body. "You're not man enough to fight me yourself? You have to get one of your dogs to do it?"Silas chuckled darkly. "Why have a dog and bark yourself?" He turned to the masked man, his expression cold. "Slit his throat. I'm done listening to this bullshit. I need to round this shit and get going.."As Silas disappeared down the hall, heading in Aria's direction, a surge of desperate energy rushed through me. No fucking way was I letting him near her again.The masked man tightened his grip on the blade, pressing it harder against my skin. I felt a trickle of blood run down my neck, but I was beyond caring about my own safety. All that mattered was getting to Aria before Silas did.With a sudden movement, I backhanded the man holding the blade, jerking my head away from the knife. The blade nicked my sk
My father is dead. What am I feeling? Relief seemed too simple a word, yet nothing else fit. All the pain and misery he put me through, all the sleepless nights filled with fear and dread—it felt like I could finally breathe again.My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of adrenaline and the realization that it was over. The suffocating grip he had on my life had lifted. I felt like I was emerging from a dark tunnel into light for the first time.I looked at his body, but I felt nothing. There's no grief handbook for moments like this. Is this feeling normal? How should I feel about someone who didn't care whether I lived or died, someone who wanted to use me for his selfish interests?Cassian touched my shoulder gently. "We need to go."I nodded, unable to form words. He helped me to the car and drove to the safe house."You're safe now," he repeated as he parked the car. "No one knows about this place."The safehouse was sparse but clean—a typical Cassian space. Minimalist furnitur
CASSIAN The whiskey burns my throat, but it's not enough to dull the rage. Three million. The number flashes through my mind like a neon sign as I stare out at Chicago's skyline from my office. Lucas clears his throat behind me. "I’ve found who has been stealing from you. You're not going to like this, boss." "When do I ever?" The ice clinks against my glass. "Just tell me who's been bleeding my accounts dry." "Silas Herrera The glass freezes halfway to my mouth. "What did you just say?" "Your accountant. The one you trusted the most with everything." Lucas drops a folder on my desk. "He's been siphoning money for months. Three mill, at least." The whiskey glass shatters against the wall. "How long have you known?" My voice comes out eerily calm, even as my pulse pounds in my ears. "Got confirmation today. But here's where it gets interesting." Lucas slides a photograph across my desk, licking his lips in a suggestive manner. "He's got a daughter. Nineteen. Very pret
ARIAPain and cold. That's the first thing I register. My head throbs like someone's taking a jackhammer to my skull. When I try to move my hands to check for damage, they don't budge.My hands are tied behind my back, the rope digging into my skin. I test the bindings. They are too tight. Each movement sends fire through my shoulders.Don't panic. Think.I force my eyes open. The room swims into focus—concrete walls, no windows, a single bulb hanging overhead. Is this a house? Maybe a warehouse? My mouth feels so dry, and there's a metallic taste that makes me want to gag.A door creaks open somewhere behind me. Footsteps echo—the sound of heavy boots on concrete. I keep my eyes closed, pretending unconsciousness while my heart hammers against my ribs.The footsteps stop right in front of me . A boot nudges my side."I know you're awake." Male voice.I open my eyes. The man looming over me wears a black mask, but I recognize his build. The one who grabbed me outside Bella's."Water,"
My father is dead. What am I feeling? Relief seemed too simple a word, yet nothing else fit. All the pain and misery he put me through, all the sleepless nights filled with fear and dread—it felt like I could finally breathe again.My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of adrenaline and the realization that it was over. The suffocating grip he had on my life had lifted. I felt like I was emerging from a dark tunnel into light for the first time.I looked at his body, but I felt nothing. There's no grief handbook for moments like this. Is this feeling normal? How should I feel about someone who didn't care whether I lived or died, someone who wanted to use me for his selfish interests?Cassian touched my shoulder gently. "We need to go."I nodded, unable to form words. He helped me to the car and drove to the safe house."You're safe now," he repeated as he parked the car. "No one knows about this place."The safehouse was sparse but clean—a typical Cassian space. Minimalist furnitur
Cassian"Well, enough of that," Silas continued, his tone suddenly businesslike. "I have to finish this off and take back what is mine."I scoffed, disgust evident in every line of my body. "You're not man enough to fight me yourself? You have to get one of your dogs to do it?"Silas chuckled darkly. "Why have a dog and bark yourself?" He turned to the masked man, his expression cold. "Slit his throat. I'm done listening to this bullshit. I need to round this shit and get going.."As Silas disappeared down the hall, heading in Aria's direction, a surge of desperate energy rushed through me. No fucking way was I letting him near her again.The masked man tightened his grip on the blade, pressing it harder against my skin. I felt a trickle of blood run down my neck, but I was beyond caring about my own safety. All that mattered was getting to Aria before Silas did.With a sudden movement, I backhanded the man holding the blade, jerking my head away from the knife. The blade nicked my sk
CassianI watched Aria crumble, her body shaking with sobs as the adrenaline drained from her system. She knelt on the floor, surrounded by shattered glass and blood—Max's and her own. Her hands trembled violently, still gripping that jagged shard she'd used to save both our lives."Aria," I said, keeping my distance. "Let me see your hand."She looked down at her palm, seeming almost surprised to see the deep cut there, still oozing blood. "I'm fine," she muttered, but her voice cracked on the second word."You're not fine," I countered gently. "You're in shock. Let me help you."I wanted to hold her, to tell her everything would be okay, but when I reached for her, she jerked away."Don't," she said again, more forcefully this time. "I said... don't touch me right now."I raised my hands in surrender, ignoring the burning pain in my wrists where the ropes had cut into them. "Okay. No touching. But we need to clean that wound, and we need to get out of here."Aria looked down at her
Aria The name sent a chill down my spine. Images flashed through my mind—being dragged from my bed in Cassian's house , the dark room where I'd been held, the terror and fear I’ve felt.Max's features contorted with hatred, transforming his once-handsome face into something monstrous. "He was my brother, and you bastard killed him," he snarled at Cassian.Cassian burst into laughter. I couldn't understand his reaction. This wasn't funny; this was horrifying. It means we are dead. I raised my hand to my mouth as the pieces suddenly clicked into place. "My father and your brother kidnapped me," I whispered, the terrible truth dawning on me. "That means you lied to me about Cassian. You lied when you told me he never cared."Cassian's laughter faded, his eyes locking with mine. I could see something in them—regret? Pain? Or was I just imagining what I wanted to see?Max's expression turned even more menacing. "You think the truth changes anything?" he sneered. "Your precious Cassian s
Cassian I drove the rental car to its limits through the winding Tuscan countryside. The GPS indicated I was twenty minutes away from the address Max sent to me, but even that felt too long. Every second Aria was alone with Max increased the chance that Silas would get to her first. I couldn't let that happen. I have failed Lucas , and I was determined not to fail Aria too. "Fuck," I muttered, taking a sharp curve faster than I should have. The tires screeched in protest. I'd left my men behind, not wanting to intimidate Aria with a show of force. That decision now seemed like another potential mistake. But I had to trust Max. He'd been reliable up to this point—moving Aria to a secure location after my warning about Silas's escape was exactly what I needed him to do. My phone vibrated in the console. Viktor. "What?" I barked, putting it on speaker. "We've got a lead on Silas," Viktor's voice came through. "He was spotted at a private airstrip outside Milan six hours ago." "He
Aria I woke up gasping for air, my hands flying to my throat. The memory of Max's fingers crushing my windpipe made me choke on nothing but fear. For a moment, I didn't know where I was, the unfamiliar ceiling spinning above me. I tried to sit up, but my head pounded so violently I had to lie back down. This wasn't our apartment. The room was larger with heavy curtains blocking out most of the daylight. Some kind of villa or mansion, by the looks of it. The door opened with a soft click, and Max strolled in casually, as if we were on some romantic getaway. His expression was neutral, almost bored as he assessed me. "Ah, I can see you're awake," he remarked, leaning against the doorframe. I couldn't help but roll my eyes despite the fear coursing through me. "How observant of you," I replied, my voice hoarse and raw. His face changed instantly. "I'm not in the mood for your sass," he warned, taking a step closer. "That makes two of us," I retorted, forcing myself to sit up despit
Cassian My mind wasn't on the job; I was distracted. I let my feelings cloud my judgment, and now LucasI is dead. All because I took my eyes off the ball. Everyone is out there looking for Silas, but the fucker has gone into hiding. He's probably burrowed himself underground. But he won't stay underground for long. The first place he would head to would be Italy. To her. To Aria. If he wants a war, he will get a war. I slammed my fist against the wall, feeling the plaster crack under the impact. The pain shooting up my arm was nothing compared to the rage boiling inside me. Lucas's blood was on my hands. His lifeless body discovered in that cell haunted me every time I closed my eyes. "VIKTOR!" I bellowed, my voice echoing through the hallway. My second-in-command appeared almost instantly. "Boss?" "Any word from our contacts in Florence?" I demanded, pacing the length of my office like a caged animal. "Nothing concrete yet. But we've got eyes at every airport, train station, an
AriaThere was a moment of stunned silence, then a chuckle that haunted my nightmares."Well, well. If it isn't my darling daughter."My father. Silas.My knees nearly buckled. "How—" I swallowed hard. "You're supposed to be—""Dead? Locked up?" His laugh was dry, humorless. "Sorry to disappoint you, sweetheart.""What are you doing?" I demanded. "What is Max to you?""Ah, Maxwell," my father said, his tone disturbingly pleased. "Such a useful young man. So eager to help when I told him about a certain mob boss who needed to be taught a lesson. And about his lovely little captive who needed rescuing.""You sent him? To—to what? Spy on me?""Among other things," my father replied. "The money from Cassian is quite substantial. Did you know that? Of course not. Cassian wouldn't have told you. He wanted to keep you dependent on him."My head spun. "That's not true.""Isn't it? Why do you think he kept you around? Out of the goodness of his heart?" My father's laugh was cruel. "Men like Ca
AriaThe water from the shower cascaded down my body, each drop a small comfort against my skin. I tilted my head back, letting the warm stream wash over my face, hoping it would clear my mind. Max was making dinner tonight—his famous pasta with the sauce his grandmother taught him to make. I should have been excited. Any other day, I would've been.But these last few days, something felt off.It wasn't just paranoia. Every time Max went out of town, that creeping sensation returned—the feeling of being watched, followed.I shut off the water and wrapped a towel around myself, my skin prickling with goosebumps despite the steam filling the bathroom. As I padded across our bedroom, I glanced at the framed sketch Max had done of me sleeping. He'd caught me in a rare peaceful moment, free from the nightmares that still occasionally haunted me.The sound of the front door opening pulled me from my thoughts."Aria?" Max's voice called out. "You home?""In the bedroom," I called back, quick