CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHTMAXIMOThe soft golden light of morning filtered through the dark curtains, warming the room and brushing against my skin. My eyes opened slowly as they adjusted to the brightness, and that was when I saw her—Aria, curled against me, her head nestled against my chest.Her delicate fingers traced idle patterns over my bare chest, and when I looked down, I saw her watching me, her lips curled into a faint smile.“How long have you been awake?” I murmured, my voice still heavy with sleep.“Long enough to know you were smiling in your sleep,” she teased in a light and playful voice.I raised an eyebrow, brushing a stray strand of red hair away from her face. “I was smiling, was I?”She nodded, her smile widening. “Care to share what made you so happy?”I couldn’t help but grin. “You.”Her cheeks flushed, but she tilted her head, clearly wanting more. “Really?”“I dreamt about you,” I admitted with a nod.Her curiosity deepened as she shifted closer, her leg brushing a
CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINEMAXIMOThe memory of the pleasant morning I spent with Aria was further pushed to the back of my mind as I arrived at the site of the explosion. The air was heavy with the lingering scent of ash and debris as I stepped out of the car. The space stretched before me, and as I stared at the blackened remains of the building where I would have had a meeting with my men and handed the mafia over to Roberto, I realized that it could have been one of us in this situation right now. My boots crunched against broken glass and rubble as I moved forward, surveying the destruction. Enrico walked beside me, his face etched with a mixture of anger and regret. “We lost five men that night,” he said, his voice low. “They didn’t stand a chance.”I nodded, my jaw tightening. I’d already visited the hospital earlier before coming here. I spoke to the survivors and settled the finances and bills of anything they would need. I also planned to visit the families of the deceased, and I
CHAPTER NINETYMAXIMOThe tension in the air was subtle but ever-present as Lorenzo walked into my office with a look of curiosity playing in his eyes. “What was that about?” he asked, nodding toward the door where Luca had just exited.I shrugged, keeping my movements deliberate as I packed the remaining files on my desk into my sleek black briefcase. “Nothing important. We were just tying up some loose ends.” My voice was casual, but the weight of the folder in my inner jacket pocket burned in the back of my mind. I didn’t know what was inside yet, and although I never kept things from Lorenzo, I wondered why Luca told me not to tell anyone about it yet.Lorenzo hummed low in his throat before taking a seat in front of my desk. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he watched me closely. “You’re really doing this, huh? Running away from all of it.”“Not running,” I corrected, snapping the briefcase shut. “I’m just leaving this life behind.”A chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Yeah,
CHAPTER NINETY-ONEARIAI stared at my phone for what felt like the hundredth time in the last hour. Maximo’s last text still glowed on the screen.‘You’re so naughty. Give me a few more minutes.’That was over an hour ago.I’ve tried calling him at least ten times since then, but I got no response.“Maybe he’s just having so much fun,” I muttered to myself, pacing back and forth across the room. I tried to tell myself that, tried so hard to believe it, and even tried to be jealous that he was having fun without me. It was easier to focus on that than on the gnawing feeling that clawed at my chest.Maximo was never late. He always kept to time, and even if there had been a change in plans, he would have kept me updated. There was definitely something wrong, and the dread in the pit of my stomach was eating me alive.Exhaling a shaky breath, I reached for a small button on Maximo’s bedside table and pressed it. It took a few minutes, but in no time, I heard a soft knock on the door.“C
CHAPTER NINETY-TWOMAXIMOLuca’s funeral was set in the small graveyard of a chapel on the outskirts of the city--a place Luca had picked years ago in one of his rare candid moments. “My Papa was buried here. If I’m ever killed, I want to be buried here too,” he’d told me once. I never thought I’d be standing there, watching it happen.The air smelled of fresh-cut grass and incense, the kind that always felt heavy in my lungs. A priest stood by the white coffin, and in a steady voice, he recited prayers that pierced the thick silence hanging over the men who surrounded the grave.Dark suits, stiff shoulders, and lowered gazes--it was the mafia’s version of grief. None of the men spoke, though I caught a few glances aimed my way. Pity. Respect. It all weighed heavy in their eyes. I ignored them all and returned my gaze to the coffin resting over the open grave.Luca’s mother stood closest to the dug ground before us. My heart clenched as I watched her small frame sway slightly under th
CHAPTER NINETY-THREEARIAThe morning air was cool and quiet as I stepped outside. My shoes crunched lightly on the gravel path as I stepped away from the main house. For a moment, I just stood there, letting the breeze brush over my skin. It felt so peaceful out here, and I didn’t feel like I was suffocating.I didn’t know why—maybe it was the weight of finally leaving Milan all behind—but I felt something uneasy gnawing at my heart.Someone had just tried to kill Maximo yesterday. Whoever it was had succeeded in killing Luca. I’d tried to calm Maximo down yesterday. I’d offered him the comfort I could give, but deep down, I was troubled and scared. I barely slept a wink last night, even after Maximo and I retired into bed. I kept thinking about the blood I washed off his clothes and body. Luca’s blood. I kept thinking about how, even though we were so close to leaving, it still didn’t make me feel at ease. There was still someone out there who wanted Maximo dead. And heck, the perso
CHAPTER NINETY-FOURARIAMy heart thumped heavily within my chest as I slowly turned to face him. The air between us crackled with tension as Lorenzo’s dark eyes fixed on mine. I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat, pretending I didn’t hear or understand a single word of his phone call. “Oh, Lorenzo, I hope I didn’t interrupt your call,” I chuckled lightly. “I was just walking around the compound, admiring it for one last time before we finally leave. I didn’t expect to bump into you.”His expression was unreadable as he studied me for a moment too long, making my stomach churn with nerves. My palms were slick with sweat, and I clasped them tightly behind my back to keep from fidgeting.“You didn’t interrupt my call,” he said finally. His voice was smooth but sharp, like a blade wrapped in silk.I faked a frown, pulling my brows together. “But you look upset. Irritated even.”He chuckled, and the sound was more of a harsh one than an amused one. He took a step closer, and
CHAPTER NINETY-FIVEMAXIMOI couldn’t wrap my mind around what Aria had just said. Her words echoed in my mind, loud and jarring like a bullet through the air. It didn’t make sense. It couldn’t be true.“I don’t believe you,” I finally said, and I saw the way her eyes fell.“I’m telling the truth, Maximo. What will I gain by lying about this?”I gritted my teeth and stepped away from her, needing to clear my head. The woman I loved just told me that my own blood brother, whom I’ve known my whole life, is planning to have us killed. What the fuck was I supposed to make of that?She took a step towards me, and I raised my head to look at her again. My eyes narrowed at her as I tried to understand if she was lying, if she had misheard something, if this was some kind of sick joke. “Have I ever done anything to break your trust?” She asked, and I could hear the hurt in her voice. The fear in her eyes and the slight wavering in her voice were too raw to be fake.“Are you sure?” My voice
CHAPTER NINETY-FIVEMAXIMOI couldn’t wrap my mind around what Aria had just said. Her words echoed in my mind, loud and jarring like a bullet through the air. It didn’t make sense. It couldn’t be true.“I don’t believe you,” I finally said, and I saw the way her eyes fell.“I’m telling the truth, Maximo. What will I gain by lying about this?”I gritted my teeth and stepped away from her, needing to clear my head. The woman I loved just told me that my own blood brother, whom I’ve known my whole life, is planning to have us killed. What the fuck was I supposed to make of that?She took a step towards me, and I raised my head to look at her again. My eyes narrowed at her as I tried to understand if she was lying, if she had misheard something, if this was some kind of sick joke. “Have I ever done anything to break your trust?” She asked, and I could hear the hurt in her voice. The fear in her eyes and the slight wavering in her voice were too raw to be fake.“Are you sure?” My voice
CHAPTER NINETY-FOURARIAMy heart thumped heavily within my chest as I slowly turned to face him. The air between us crackled with tension as Lorenzo’s dark eyes fixed on mine. I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat, pretending I didn’t hear or understand a single word of his phone call. “Oh, Lorenzo, I hope I didn’t interrupt your call,” I chuckled lightly. “I was just walking around the compound, admiring it for one last time before we finally leave. I didn’t expect to bump into you.”His expression was unreadable as he studied me for a moment too long, making my stomach churn with nerves. My palms were slick with sweat, and I clasped them tightly behind my back to keep from fidgeting.“You didn’t interrupt my call,” he said finally. His voice was smooth but sharp, like a blade wrapped in silk.I faked a frown, pulling my brows together. “But you look upset. Irritated even.”He chuckled, and the sound was more of a harsh one than an amused one. He took a step closer, and
CHAPTER NINETY-THREEARIAThe morning air was cool and quiet as I stepped outside. My shoes crunched lightly on the gravel path as I stepped away from the main house. For a moment, I just stood there, letting the breeze brush over my skin. It felt so peaceful out here, and I didn’t feel like I was suffocating.I didn’t know why—maybe it was the weight of finally leaving Milan all behind—but I felt something uneasy gnawing at my heart.Someone had just tried to kill Maximo yesterday. Whoever it was had succeeded in killing Luca. I’d tried to calm Maximo down yesterday. I’d offered him the comfort I could give, but deep down, I was troubled and scared. I barely slept a wink last night, even after Maximo and I retired into bed. I kept thinking about the blood I washed off his clothes and body. Luca’s blood. I kept thinking about how, even though we were so close to leaving, it still didn’t make me feel at ease. There was still someone out there who wanted Maximo dead. And heck, the perso
CHAPTER NINETY-TWOMAXIMOLuca’s funeral was set in the small graveyard of a chapel on the outskirts of the city--a place Luca had picked years ago in one of his rare candid moments. “My Papa was buried here. If I’m ever killed, I want to be buried here too,” he’d told me once. I never thought I’d be standing there, watching it happen.The air smelled of fresh-cut grass and incense, the kind that always felt heavy in my lungs. A priest stood by the white coffin, and in a steady voice, he recited prayers that pierced the thick silence hanging over the men who surrounded the grave.Dark suits, stiff shoulders, and lowered gazes--it was the mafia’s version of grief. None of the men spoke, though I caught a few glances aimed my way. Pity. Respect. It all weighed heavy in their eyes. I ignored them all and returned my gaze to the coffin resting over the open grave.Luca’s mother stood closest to the dug ground before us. My heart clenched as I watched her small frame sway slightly under th
CHAPTER NINETY-ONEARIAI stared at my phone for what felt like the hundredth time in the last hour. Maximo’s last text still glowed on the screen.‘You’re so naughty. Give me a few more minutes.’That was over an hour ago.I’ve tried calling him at least ten times since then, but I got no response.“Maybe he’s just having so much fun,” I muttered to myself, pacing back and forth across the room. I tried to tell myself that, tried so hard to believe it, and even tried to be jealous that he was having fun without me. It was easier to focus on that than on the gnawing feeling that clawed at my chest.Maximo was never late. He always kept to time, and even if there had been a change in plans, he would have kept me updated. There was definitely something wrong, and the dread in the pit of my stomach was eating me alive.Exhaling a shaky breath, I reached for a small button on Maximo’s bedside table and pressed it. It took a few minutes, but in no time, I heard a soft knock on the door.“C
CHAPTER NINETYMAXIMOThe tension in the air was subtle but ever-present as Lorenzo walked into my office with a look of curiosity playing in his eyes. “What was that about?” he asked, nodding toward the door where Luca had just exited.I shrugged, keeping my movements deliberate as I packed the remaining files on my desk into my sleek black briefcase. “Nothing important. We were just tying up some loose ends.” My voice was casual, but the weight of the folder in my inner jacket pocket burned in the back of my mind. I didn’t know what was inside yet, and although I never kept things from Lorenzo, I wondered why Luca told me not to tell anyone about it yet.Lorenzo hummed low in his throat before taking a seat in front of my desk. A small smirk appeared on his lips as he watched me closely. “You’re really doing this, huh? Running away from all of it.”“Not running,” I corrected, snapping the briefcase shut. “I’m just leaving this life behind.”A chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Yeah,
CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINEMAXIMOThe memory of the pleasant morning I spent with Aria was further pushed to the back of my mind as I arrived at the site of the explosion. The air was heavy with the lingering scent of ash and debris as I stepped out of the car. The space stretched before me, and as I stared at the blackened remains of the building where I would have had a meeting with my men and handed the mafia over to Roberto, I realized that it could have been one of us in this situation right now. My boots crunched against broken glass and rubble as I moved forward, surveying the destruction. Enrico walked beside me, his face etched with a mixture of anger and regret. “We lost five men that night,” he said, his voice low. “They didn’t stand a chance.”I nodded, my jaw tightening. I’d already visited the hospital earlier before coming here. I spoke to the survivors and settled the finances and bills of anything they would need. I also planned to visit the families of the deceased, and I
CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHTMAXIMOThe soft golden light of morning filtered through the dark curtains, warming the room and brushing against my skin. My eyes opened slowly as they adjusted to the brightness, and that was when I saw her—Aria, curled against me, her head nestled against my chest.Her delicate fingers traced idle patterns over my bare chest, and when I looked down, I saw her watching me, her lips curled into a faint smile.“How long have you been awake?” I murmured, my voice still heavy with sleep.“Long enough to know you were smiling in your sleep,” she teased in a light and playful voice.I raised an eyebrow, brushing a stray strand of red hair away from her face. “I was smiling, was I?”She nodded, her smile widening. “Care to share what made you so happy?”I couldn’t help but grin. “You.”Her cheeks flushed, but she tilted her head, clearly wanting more. “Really?”“I dreamt about you,” I admitted with a nod.Her curiosity deepened as she shifted closer, her leg brushing a
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVENARIAIt was finally the day I would be getting discharged from the hospital, and it felt like a strange dream. The sunlight streaming through the windows seemed too bright, and Maximo’s presence beside me, with his hand lingering near my lower back, kept me at ease.“Are you ready?” he asked in a soft voice.I nodded, clutching the hospital bag Maria had packed for me. I said my goodbyes to Doctor Rossi, who jokingly warned me that she didn’t want to see me near a hospital anytime soon, except it was for the birth of my child. As we finally stepped out of the hospital building, the cool, crisp air filled my lungs, a reminder that I was finally free from the sterile, suffocating confines of the hospital walls.As Maximo opened the car door for me, his hand grazed mine—a fleeting touch that sent a ripple of desire and longing through me. The car came to life, and soon, we were pulling out of the hospital premises and onto the highway. As we were on the road, he glan