MATEOI couldn’t kill him; not like I didn’t want to. But at least, I needed to know who this enemy he was referring to before I thought of ending his life.“Return him to the cell,” I ordered and turned my back to leave.Things were getting even more interesting as the day passed by, and I was beginning to realize all these while I was left in the dark, living with my little knowledge and fantasies that I’d known just enough about the games.Maybe I do know, but not as much as I expected.As soon as we were out of the dungeon, Dominic asked me why I couldn’t kill Bruno. “Don’t tell me you believe his words. He might be saying that to save his life, you know.”“I know. But sometimes we need to act stupid just to get what we want.” I looked at him, “And I just did that.”We continued walking, heading to the mansion. “Bruno seems to know more than enough, and if his words had any link to Renzetti, then that’s even more interesting.”“Let me guess, you want to use him as bait?”“I don’t
CLARAI wasn’t expecting him to notice that. If anything, I wasn’t expecting him to have thought there was something more. Why would my life have to be so complicated? Was it a crime to ever be loved or fall in love? Worse, to someone who wants you to share the same bed with him, yet expects nothing from you at all.“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten the contract so soon.” He had this smile that made me want to slap it off his face. “Or do I have to remind you of it?”At this point, my heart was beating so fast, his closeness was so intimidating that I doubted I could survive for the next five minutes. Mentally, I wished he’d create the longest distance between us.As if he read my thoughts, he pulled away. “I bet Lily would be waiting for us,” his smile grew even wider. For God’s sake, can he just stop smiling? “Let’s not keep her waiting.”I was left alone, wailing in my thoughts. I hated myself for being too cheap to be read. I never thought he’d find out one of these days. I never th
CLARAEverything that happened the previous day was still stuck in my head. Every single detail of how Mateo had pulled me to himself, how close his face was to mine, how his scent had almost made me go crazy. Not to talk of how intimidating his closeness was.We did sleep together, but I made sure I gave enough distance between the both of us. He did mention it, though not like he took it too personally.“I think I’m better off this way,” I told him. “I need to get some sleep, and you too.” As much as I tried every means to hate him, I just couldn’t find the perfect one.I mentally expected him to say something, at least a protest, but no. he didn't. Every reason I came up with only sprung my feelings for him, and I hated it. I was supposed to be hating him, and not the opposite.I woke up earlier than usual. I couldn’t sleep because my chest wouldn’t let me. It was so troubling that it felt like I was lifting the world’s burden. However, Mateo was still asleep, snoring soundly like
CLARAI sat on the stone bench in the garden, my fingers gripping the edges as I fought the tears that refused to stop. No matter how much I told myself to forget him, my heart wouldn’t listen. It was like a chain, pulling me back to him even when I knew I should run. “Clara?” I turned at the sound of Lucaa’s voice. She’s been walking helter-skelter for the best ice cream since we came here. She didn’t let me follow her when I wanted, she kept emphasizing on my baby. Staring at her, all I could see was concern written all over her face. I quickly wiped my tears and forced a weak smile. “You’re crying,” she said as he walked closer. “What happened?” I let out a shaky breath. “It’s nothing. I just—” I sighed. “I don’t understand myself anymore, Lucaa.” She sat beside me, waiting patiently for me to continue. She was always like that—calm, never forcing words out of me. “It’s Mateo,” I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “No matter how much I try to stop my heart, it
LILYAs much as I tried to tell myself it doesn’t matter, for a thousand reasons my heart kept reminding me how much it matters. After Clara had told me what type of person Lucaa was, I noticed an odd feeling growing inside of me, judging me, making me feel worse than I thought.Was that... Jealousy?“Lily?” Abigail called, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Is everything alright? You’ve been out for like ten minutes now, and you’ve barely touched your meal.”I sighed, deepening my spoon into my meal but I didn’t make any move other than that. “How does it feel when you try to be the real you but then, you end up being the bad person. It’s like everything about you scares other people away. As much as you try to be that person they hope for, you just can’t because the real you don’t want to.”“Did someone tell you that you scare them?” She asked back.“No, I’m just asking.”“Well, I’ve got two things to say about that.” She adjusted herself on her seat. “First, don’t be what other people
CLARAWe waited for about thirty minutes for a taxi or bus to show up, but none did. The road felt so empty and quiet. I sighed, rubbing my arms to keep myself warm. I wished Lily could pick me up, but since she seemed busy… what could I do? Lucaa stood beside me, arms crossed over her chest. “What about your friend? Isn’t she coming to pick you up?” “She’s a little busy with something, I guess,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road. “Sadly, I have to take the transport system.” “Least I forget,” Lucaa said, tilting her head, “you haven’t told me much about her.” She gave me a teasing look. “Is she Mateo’s sister or girlfriend?” I frowned, thinking about it. “I don’t know. But she’s been living with us for quite some time now. The last time Mateo talked about her; he mentioned that they were close since childhood. But he never said if she was his sister… or something else.” “They could be secret lovers,” Lucaa said with a sly smile. “Don’t be silly.” “It could be true, though.”
MATEOI sat at the small round table in my underground bar, cutting into my steak slowly. The dim lights of the room casted shadows over the rough brick walls. Across from me, Bruno sat stiffly, his arms crossed, his eyes burning with frustration. He hadn’t touched the drink I’d placed in front of him. Instead, he just stared at me with his fingers tapping against the wooden table. I didn’t care. I took another bite of my food, chewing slowly, savouring the silence. Bruno finally let out a sharp breath. “Why did you bring me here, Mateo?” His voice was filled with anger. “I was better off in the damn cell.” I wiped my mouth with a napkin and leaned back in my chair, meeting his glare with a calm expression. “That can be arranged,” I said. “Sending you back there doesn’t bother me one bit. Whether you live or die means nothing to me.” I tilted my head. “But before that… I need a little favour.” Bruno’s expression changed instantly. “I’m not doing anything for you, De Luca.” I smi
MATEOBruno took a deep breath, like speaking the words out loud would cost him his life. His eyes flickered with hesitation, but I waited. I had all the time in the world. Finally, after what felt like forever, he spoke. “Your real enemy,” he said, staring around like he was being so careful for outside not to hear, “is Renzetti.” I didn’t react. I didn’t blink. I just stared at him. His brows furrowed, and he tilted his head slightly. “You don’t look surprised,” he said, studying my face. “Did you already know?” I let out a short chuckle, shaking my head. “Of course, I knew.” I leaned forward, resting my hands on the table. “I just wanted to hear it from you.” Bruno exhaled loudly, rubbing his temples. “Since you’ve known it before now,” he said, observing me, “does that mean you’re going to kill me?” I stood up slowly, pushing my chair back with ease. Bruno stiffened slightly as I took a step toward him. His fingers twitched like he was preparing for the worst. I smirked. “W
MATEO "I'm going to ask you this one question, Bruno." I leaned closer, eyes fixed on him. "Whose side are you on?""What's that supposed to mean, Mateo?" He snapped."It's just a question, Bruno."He scoffed, nodding his head. I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, watching his face twist in frustration. He didn't want to show off that he was vexed at my question, but I could hear the slight tremor in his voice. He was angry, maybe even insulted, but underneath it all, he was desperate. "Don't you trust me?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. I tilted my head slightly, pretending to think. "At this point, Bruno, I’m not sure if I should." My voice was calm, but I knew he could feel every bit of it. "And you know... it’s not too late for me to have you killed." Bruno’s eyes flashed with fury. He scoffed, shaking his head. "And what exactly am I supposed to do to prove my loyalty, huh?" His hands clenched into fists on the table. "Because after a threat like that, do you really th
MATEOThe phone buzzed in my hand, and I answered without thinking. Dominic’s voice came through, low in a whisper. “Bruno wasn’t the one behind the men.”I sat up straight. “What?” “We roughed him up, threatened him to talk, but he wouldn’t say a word about who he met today. If Bruno was in on it, he would’ve cracked.”I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. If it wasn’t Bruno, then who the hell was it?“Since you said it’s not Renzetti, and from our attack, it’s not Bruno either, then you’re right. There’s someone else in the picture.”“I’ll figure that out soon.”The call ended, but the words stuck with me. I tossed the phone onto the nightstand and laid back, staring at the ceiling. My mind raced with countless thoughts, trying to place the pieces together. If not Bruno… then who? Renzetti’s name floated in my head, but something inside me refused to pin it on him. He had power, sure. But he shouldn’t know I had eyes on him this close.Damn it. I clenched my jaw. I
MATEOI walked into the mansion, my mind raced with everything that had just happened. The unknown caller, the man at the bar, and the warning… I didn’t like any of it. The moment I stepped inside, I called for Dominic. “Track this number,” I ordered, handing him my phone. “I want to know who it belongs to.” Dominic nodded without question and left immediately. I paced the room, trying to put the pieces together. Someone knew about my plans. Someone who wasn’t Renzetti—at least, that’s what it felt like. But who else could it be? Minutes passed before Dominic returned. “Boss,” he said. “The number can’t be tracked.” I frowned. “What do you mean the number can’t be tracked?” I barked. “That bastard just phoned me minutes ago, and it can’t be tracked?”“It’s unavailable. Whoever called you must have destroyed the SIM card immediately after the call.” For the first time in a long while, I felt something I wasn’t used to… defeat. I had dealt with enemies before, men who thought they
MATEOI sat at the bar, swirling the drink in my glass as I waited for Bruno to speak. He looked uneasy, his fingers drumming lightly against the counter. Whatever he had to say, I could tell it wasn’t good. After a moment of silence, he finally leaned in. “Renzetti has been meeting with the Minister of Finance,” he said, almost in a whisper. I lifted an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. “He’s been keeping track of the goods and products coming in and out of the state,” he added. “That means he wants to know what everyone does—their businesses, their incomes, their productivity. Not just the regular citizens, but also the Mafia lords.” I exhaled slowly, setting my glass down. This wasn’t entirely unexpected, but hearing it confirmed made things worse. Renzetti wasn’t just expanding his power—he was making sure no one could move without him knowing.I see.“How long has he been doing this?” I asked. Bruno shook his head. “I can’t say for sure, but judging from how organized ev
CLARAI couldn’t wait any longer. The dream haunted me, sticking to my every thought like a dark cloud that refused to disappear. No matter how many times I reminded myself it was just a nightmare, the fear wouldn’t leave me. I needed answers. Without telling Lily, without waiting for anyone, I took a taxi to the clinic. It wasn’t even my scheduled day for a checkup, but I didn’t care. I had to know. If there was still a chance, any chance, to stop this before it was too late… I needed to find out. As I sat in the back of the taxi, my hands trembled in my lap. The city passed by in a blur, my mind running in circles. What if the dream was a sign? What if the baby really wasn’t normal? Would they even allow me to get rid of it? Would Mateo stop me? The thought of him made my heart clench. I pulled out my phone and dialed Lucaa’s number. “Clara?” He answered almost immediately, his voice filled with concern. “Lucaa, I need you to meet me at the hospital,” I said quickly. “It’s
CLARAI stepped into the room quietly, hoping to avoid any conversation with Mateo. But as soon as I saw him standing by the window, my heart clenched. His back was to me, his posture straight, his hands tucked into his pockets. Something about the way he stood there made him look deep in thought, but I wasn’t about to ask what was on his mind. I turned quickly, ready to leave before he noticed me, but his voice stopped me. “Leaving so soon?” he asked, almost too calmly to neglect. I swallowed hard and turned back slowly. He was already walking toward me, his dark eyes locked onto mine. There was something unreadable in his expression, something that made my stomach tighten. I took a step back. And another. He kept coming closer. I stepped back again until I felt the cold surface of the door against my back. There was nowhere else to go. Mateo smirked, his head tilting slightly. “You feel scared around me,” he murmured, his voice low yet teasing, “and yet, you get jealous when
BRUNOI walked through the doors of my mansion, my fists clenched at my sides. All I could feel was anger. The moment I stepped in, my men turned to look at me, they all looked surprised to see me. Yes, I was locked up for three days if not mistaken, so they had every right to give me that concerned look. They could sense something was wrong, but I wasn’t in the mood to explain myself. “Boss, is everything okay?” Marco, my most trusted man, asked. I forced a smirk. “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” He studied me for a moment, but I didn’t let him see past my expression. I had already been humiliated enough today—I wasn’t about to let my men see how much it burned inside me. “Then why do you look like you just swallowed fire?” another man, Diego, questioned. I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. “I’m fine. Everything is fine.” But it wasn’t. Not even close. Inside, I was raging. Mateo had me right where he wanted me. He had made me look weak, like some puppet on a string, dan
LILYI watched Mateo closely, my arms crossed over my chest. “I think Clara has feelings for you,” I said, waiting for his reaction. He didn’t look surprised. Instead, he gave a small nod. I raised an eyebrow. “So, you knew?” Again, he nodded. I tilted my head, studying him. “And? Do you have feelings for her too?” For the first time, Mateo didn’t have an immediate response. He just stood there, silent. I sighed. “You don’t have to answer me, you know. But I asked Clara the same question, and she refused to admit it.” Mateo looked at me then, having this unreadable expression. “She said she was only annoyed that we didn’t let her in when she was knocking,” I continued. “But I didn’t hear her knock.” Mateo’s gaze shifted slightly. I narrowed my eyes. “Did you hear it?” He hesitated for a second before answering. “Yes.” I frowned. “Then why didn’t you respond?” He ran a hand through his hair. “She knocked once. We were in the middle of settling our misunderstanding. How was
CLARAI knocked twice, waiting for a response. Nothing. But I could hear voices inside, though they weren’t clear. My heart pounded a little as I hesitated. Maybe I should wait. Maybe they were busy. But something didn’t feel right. Without thinking much, I pushed the door open. And then I froze. Mateo was standing there, holding Lily’s hands. They were close—too close. Just an inch apart. My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. Mateo turned his head sharply, his eyes locking onto mine. The way he quickly pulled his hands away from hers made it even worse. It felt like I had walked in on something I wasn’t supposed to see. “Clara?” he called with an uncertain voice.I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My chest tightened painfully, and my fingers trembled as I reached for the door. Without another word, I stepped back, closed it behind me, and walked away. The pain in my heart was sharp, almost unbearable. I didn’t know why it hurt so much, but it did.I wa