~ALINA’S POV~His weight collapsed against me.Heavy, bloody and lifeless.“Valentino!” I screamed, my voice sharp enough to cut through the rain, through the gunfire, through everything.But he didn’t move.My knees buckled under him as we hit the wet pavement. I cradled his head to my chest, trembling fingers sliding to his throat.The pulse was there, faint, rapid, but thank God, still beating.I was soaked, shaking, but I didn’t care. The blood pouring from his shoulder was too much, too fast.“Stay with me,” I whispered, brushing his soaked hair from his forehead. “Don’t you dare leave me. Not like this.”Around us, chaos faded.Gunshots slowed, then stopped. I barely registered the retreating footsteps of the men as they scattered into the night.Outnumbered, outgunned and defeated by the Romanos.I looked around for anything, anything that could help. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. Just skin, ink, blood, and rain.I grabbed his belt, yanked it from his waist with trembling hands, a
~ALINA’S POV~ The rain had stopped, but the wind still whispered through the cracks in the castle walls. It was early, the sun just rising, but I hadn’t moved from his side. For two days, Valentino had drifted in and out of consciousness, feverish and stubborn, refusing to let anyone near him but me. I sat curled up in a chair beside his bed, chin on my knees, watching his chest rise and fall beneath the covers. The bandages on his shoulder were still clean, no new bleeding. That was a good sign. A subconscious exhale left my mouth. I should have left for Toronto by now. The attorney was waiting. Guilia even called him yesterday—he said he’d still be in Toronto until Friday, but after that, he’s traveling. Today is Wednesday. If I don’t leave soon, I might miss the chance to claim my inheritance as soon as possible. But I can’t go.Not while he looks like this. Not while the man who took a bullet for me still lies half-dead in bed because of me. I reached forward, brushing a
~VALENTINO’S POV~“Thank you.”The words leaped out of my mouth before I could stop them.I hadn’t said that in years, maybe longer, and never like that, never with that kind of weight. But here I was, saying it for her.I watched the way her lips parted, the way her eyes searched mine like she was trying to figure out who I was.I didn’t blame her.I didn’t even know who the fuck I was in that moment.What the hell is this woman doing to me?I’d taken bullets before—plenty—but never thrown myself in front of one, not for anyone, not even my brothers. They were the ones who took bullets for me; that was the code, the way the world worked when you were at the top.But for her?I didn’t even think twice.And that kiss… Dio mio, I hadn’t kissed a woman like that in my entire life.Soft, tender, and real.Like it fuckiing meant something. Like she meant something than just my fake contract wife.I stood still for a beat longer, trying to shake the feeling crawling through my chest. Then I
~ALINA’S POV~ The jet touched down in Toronto with a soft jolt, the wheels screeching briefly against the runway. I shifted in my seat, nerves tightening in my stomach as I peered through the small oval window. The sky above was a muted gray, heavy with the threat of rain. The moment we stepped outside, the cool Toronto air wrapped around us. I breathed it in, feeling the buzz of a city that once was my home… but now felt like nothing more than a graveyard for my most painful memories. The maids had dressed me in black from head to toe. A soft black robe-like coat, featherlight but dramatic, wrapped around my body, cinched tightly at the waist. Valentino was beside me, dressed in sharp, tailored black as always. His injury was hidden so well under his clothes that no one would have ever guessed he had taken a bullet two days ago. Dante and Rocco flanked our sides like twin shadows, silent and deadly. Dante had insisted on coming. He didn’t trust the city, not with Val still he
~ALINA’S POV~ Dash & Associates was located in an old but elegant brick building, tucked between glass skyscrapers, the kind of place that whispered of old money, and power that didn’t need to shout to be felt. Inside, everything moved quickly. The shiny hardwood floors gleamed underfoot, and the scent of lemon polish and old paper greeted us. Tall bookshelves lined the walls behind the glossy reception desk, each shelf crammed with thick leather-bound legal tomes. A young woman greeted us as we entered, flashing a professional smile. She wore a fitted navy-blue pencil skirt, a crisp white blouse, and her dark hair was twisted into a sleek bun. Her makeup was flawless, just enough to say “I care” without looking overdone. “Good afternoon,” she chirped, her voice bright and efficient. “Do you have an appointment?” I nodded, clutching my purse a little tighter. “Alina Moretti. I’m here to see Barrister Dash.” “Ah, yes. Mr. Dash mentioned he was expecting you. Please,
~Alina~ The clock read 10:15 p.m. when I pulled into the driveway of Ashford Road. A cool wind rattled the trees, sending a shiver down my spine as I stepped out of the car. Maybe it was the late hour, or maybe it was something deeper, but unease curled in my stomach. Shaking it off, I made my way to the front door. Tomorrow, this house would be my home, the place where Ethan and I would start our life together. I could already picture it—lazy Sunday mornings, laughter in the kitchen, and falling asleep in his arms every night. Marrying Ethan Lockwood, the man I had loved for five years since college and my best friend’s cousin, felt like a dream come true. Tonight, we were following the age-old wedding tradition of spending the night apart. Ethan was here in our new home while I was supposed to be at Jade’s apartment. But as I was double-checking my things, I realized I had forgotten something important. My late mother’s necklace, the one I planned to wear tomorr
~Alina~ “What!?” My breath hitched, my entire body freezing as Ethan’s words echoed in my ears. Dennis was Jade’s son. The child she had in her final year of college. The little boy I had helped raise, loved like family. She had told me it was a one-night stand, a mistake. That some random guy at a club had gotten her pregnant and disappeared. She had cried in my arms, sworn she didn’t know who the father was. And I, God, I had believed her. I had stood by her, paid for her pregnancy and after-birth expenses, held her hand through every doctor’s visit, every sleepless night. At one point, I even stole from Dad’s safe and from my mom’s purse, using my family’s money to make sure she and Dennis never lacked anything. I had sacrificed for them. And the whole time…… Ethan was Dennis’s father. A sharp, ugly sob tore from my throat as I stumbled back. “You,” my voice broke, “you lied to me. Both of you.” Jade smirked, completely unbothered. “You shou
~Valentino Romano~ “The shipment from Colombia arrived last night,” Rocco, my PA reported, standing across from my desk, his voice businesslike. I swirled the golden liquid in my glass, watching the ice melt into the whiskey. “And?” He hesitated for half a second. “They were short,” he admitted. “Five kilos missing.” Silence settled over the room like a thick fog. The sound of my glass tapping against the large L-shaped executive desk was the only thing that filled the air. Five kilos. I exhaled through my nose, setting my drink down. “Let me guess,” I murmured. “The shipment was handled by the Cortés crew?” Rocco nodded. “Sí, Boss [Yes, Boss.].” “Then they are either incompetent or they think I’m blind.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk. “Which one is it?” “Does it matter?” Rocco asked. “The disrespect is the same.” He was right. It didn’t matter. A message needed to be sent. I picked up my gun from t
~ALINA’S POV~ Dash & Associates was located in an old but elegant brick building, tucked between glass skyscrapers, the kind of place that whispered of old money, and power that didn’t need to shout to be felt. Inside, everything moved quickly. The shiny hardwood floors gleamed underfoot, and the scent of lemon polish and old paper greeted us. Tall bookshelves lined the walls behind the glossy reception desk, each shelf crammed with thick leather-bound legal tomes. A young woman greeted us as we entered, flashing a professional smile. She wore a fitted navy-blue pencil skirt, a crisp white blouse, and her dark hair was twisted into a sleek bun. Her makeup was flawless, just enough to say “I care” without looking overdone. “Good afternoon,” she chirped, her voice bright and efficient. “Do you have an appointment?” I nodded, clutching my purse a little tighter. “Alina Moretti. I’m here to see Barrister Dash.” “Ah, yes. Mr. Dash mentioned he was expecting you. Please,
~ALINA’S POV~ The jet touched down in Toronto with a soft jolt, the wheels screeching briefly against the runway. I shifted in my seat, nerves tightening in my stomach as I peered through the small oval window. The sky above was a muted gray, heavy with the threat of rain. The moment we stepped outside, the cool Toronto air wrapped around us. I breathed it in, feeling the buzz of a city that once was my home… but now felt like nothing more than a graveyard for my most painful memories. The maids had dressed me in black from head to toe. A soft black robe-like coat, featherlight but dramatic, wrapped around my body, cinched tightly at the waist. Valentino was beside me, dressed in sharp, tailored black as always. His injury was hidden so well under his clothes that no one would have ever guessed he had taken a bullet two days ago. Dante and Rocco flanked our sides like twin shadows, silent and deadly. Dante had insisted on coming. He didn’t trust the city, not with Val still he
~VALENTINO’S POV~“Thank you.”The words leaped out of my mouth before I could stop them.I hadn’t said that in years, maybe longer, and never like that, never with that kind of weight. But here I was, saying it for her.I watched the way her lips parted, the way her eyes searched mine like she was trying to figure out who I was.I didn’t blame her.I didn’t even know who the fuck I was in that moment.What the hell is this woman doing to me?I’d taken bullets before—plenty—but never thrown myself in front of one, not for anyone, not even my brothers. They were the ones who took bullets for me; that was the code, the way the world worked when you were at the top.But for her?I didn’t even think twice.And that kiss… Dio mio, I hadn’t kissed a woman like that in my entire life.Soft, tender, and real.Like it fuckiing meant something. Like she meant something than just my fake contract wife.I stood still for a beat longer, trying to shake the feeling crawling through my chest. Then I
~ALINA’S POV~ The rain had stopped, but the wind still whispered through the cracks in the castle walls. It was early, the sun just rising, but I hadn’t moved from his side. For two days, Valentino had drifted in and out of consciousness, feverish and stubborn, refusing to let anyone near him but me. I sat curled up in a chair beside his bed, chin on my knees, watching his chest rise and fall beneath the covers. The bandages on his shoulder were still clean, no new bleeding. That was a good sign. A subconscious exhale left my mouth. I should have left for Toronto by now. The attorney was waiting. Guilia even called him yesterday—he said he’d still be in Toronto until Friday, but after that, he’s traveling. Today is Wednesday. If I don’t leave soon, I might miss the chance to claim my inheritance as soon as possible. But I can’t go.Not while he looks like this. Not while the man who took a bullet for me still lies half-dead in bed because of me. I reached forward, brushing a
~ALINA’S POV~His weight collapsed against me.Heavy, bloody and lifeless.“Valentino!” I screamed, my voice sharp enough to cut through the rain, through the gunfire, through everything.But he didn’t move.My knees buckled under him as we hit the wet pavement. I cradled his head to my chest, trembling fingers sliding to his throat.The pulse was there, faint, rapid, but thank God, still beating.I was soaked, shaking, but I didn’t care. The blood pouring from his shoulder was too much, too fast.“Stay with me,” I whispered, brushing his soaked hair from his forehead. “Don’t you dare leave me. Not like this.”Around us, chaos faded.Gunshots slowed, then stopped. I barely registered the retreating footsteps of the men as they scattered into the night.Outnumbered, outgunned and defeated by the Romanos.I looked around for anything, anything that could help. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. Just skin, ink, blood, and rain.I grabbed his belt, yanked it from his waist with trembling hands, a
~VALENTINO’S POV~ Outside, the low growl of engines cut through the night as blacked-out SUVs rolled into the lot behind the club, their tinted windows swallowing the dim neon glow. The doors opened one by one, and out stepped the Anselmo Syndicate, dressed in black suits and shiny black shoes. Armed, deadly, and dangerous. I knew every face, especially the smug bastard in the middle. Adriano Anselmo. Leader of the Anselmo Syndicate. Sons of traitors. A Milan-based pack of wolves who thought they could piss on southern soil and call it rain. They had already broken one of our most sacred laws, moving illegal weapons on Italian land without clearing it through us. No permission. No cuts. No tribute. They had tried to smuggle in arms under fake paperwork, set up a deal on my turf like we wouldn’t notice. And tonight, Adriano Anselmo himself had the balls to show up and finalize it. That’s why I was here. To burn this operation to the ground before it spread li
~VALENTINO’S POV~ I stared at her. Those green eyes, usually soft, curious, a little lost, now blazed with courage. Fierce and unshakable. I’d always seen her as naive, innocent, someone tossed into a world far too cruel for her. But the woman standing in front of me wasn’t the fragile woman I married a few days ago. She was steel. She stood between me and my Capo like she wasn’t afraid of the fire burning in our eyes. And God… it was the most beautiful thing I’d seen all night. I stepped closer, cupped her jaw with two fingers, forcing her to look up at me. “Piccola,” I said quietly. “Do you even understand what you’re saying? This is not a fairytale. This is blood and war. You don’t get involved in this world without a price.” “I already have,” she said firmly. I clenched my jaw. “Don’t get yourself involved in matters beyond you. Just sit down. Let me handle it.” “No,” she said, shaking her head. “I won’t let you fight your own men because of me. I won’t let you rui
~ALINA’S POV~ Dante dropped to one knee immediately, head bowed and eyes locked to the floor. “My apologies, Don,” he began, voice trembling. “But this maid was disrespectful to Lady Bianca and insubordinate to her superiors. Per house rules, such maids are to be punished through public auction. I only followed protocol.” Valentino said nothing. At first. Then, without warning, a deep laugh rumbled from his chest, low and unhinged. It vibrated against my back where I sat curled in his lap, clinging to his collar for balance. I knew that laugh. That laugh never meant something funny. It was the quiet before the storm. And then the storm hit. With a violent sweep of his arm, he slammed his palm against the glass table so hard that the crystal bottles and expensive glasses shattered, spilling liquor across the floor in a violent splash. “You have the balls,” he said slowly, his voice rising with venom, “to compare my wife…” His gaze snapped up, burning through Dante.
~ALINA’S POV~ Giulia looked at me like she wanted to punch me. But then she just sighed and nodded. We stepped into line behind the other women, all of us masked, half-dressed, high-heeled, and lit like some surreal, glittering nightmare. The stage curtain in front of us pulsed with colored lights while heavy bass music thudded through the entire floor. Then the curtain rose. For a moment, I couldn’t see. The light was blinding. I had to squint, letting my eyes adjust, until the crowd came into focus. Then followed the loud whistling , cheering, and howling of hungry-looking men. My skin crawled with disgust as their eyes raked over my body. “DAMN!” “THAT ONE, RIGHT THERE!” “FIVE GRAND FOR THE ONE IN BLACK!” I scanned the room until my eyes landed on Dante and Bianca sitting in a corner, looking far too pleased with themselves as they giggled and toasted each other with expensive drinks. I cursed them under my breath. The DJ didn’t waste time. The music began i