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Chapter 18EdenStanding with the mop in my hand, I read the text Dario sent me a minute ago.Can you take time off work to accompany me to the opening night?I don’t have anything fancy enough to wear to a ballet show, and people will recognize me.Which means I have to tell Dario that I’m a janitor. After the amazing Sunday night we spent together, I don’t think he’ll fire me or break things off.And I can scrounge up a few dollars to get a dress at a thrift store. The corner of my mouth lifts as I type out a reply.I’d love to. Can we meet up tomorrow morning? I need to tell you something.I see he reads my message, then it shows he’s typing.Dario: 9 am at Half n Half? Eden: Okay.Suddenly, someone grabs hold of my shoulder and yanks me until I turn around.“Where is it?” one of the ballerinas barks in my face. “Where’s what?”“Don’t play dumb. Where’s my ring?”The hell?“Vivian, what’s going on here,” Mrs. Stafford asks as she comes down the hallway.There’s a sinking sensation
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Chapter 19DarioI can’t focus on the rehearsal, and halfway through, I hold a hand in the air and say, “Everyone go home. Come in an hour earlier tomorrow.”Mrs. Stafford gets up from where she’s sitting and heads in my direction.When she stops near me, I mutter, “Go home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”“I just want to apologize again. I should’ve handled the situation better.It won’t happen again.”I take my phone out to show her she’s dismissed and press dial on Eden’s number.It rings longer than usual before she answers, “Hi.” “Come to the auditorium.”“Okay.”While I wait, I think about how many times I saw Eden cleaning, and not once did I recognize her. Upset with myself, I stare at the empty stage.Now, it makes sense how she managed to evade me after dancing.When she comes into the auditorium via the side door, I stand up and move out of the aisle. Taking the steps down, I meet her in front of the stage.I reach for the cap and take it off her head. Wrapping my fingers aroun
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Chapter 20EdenWhen Tyrone opens his front door, I ask, “Want to come dress shopping with me?”He lets out a sigh, then mutters, “Let me grab my coat.”I grin at him, and when he’s done locking the door behind him, I hook my arm through his. “I need a fancy dress for a ballet show. I’m going as Dario’s date.”Tyrone’s eyes widen on me as we take the stairs down to the exit. “Does that mean he knows you work for him?”I nod. “Last night, shit went down at the ballet company. One of the ballerinas accused me of stealing her wedding ring.”Instantly angry, Tyrone snaps, “The bitch.”“Yeah. She slapped me just as Dario came into the office.” I shake my head. “He was so angry I thought for sure I was done for.”“Why was he angry at you?!” he exclaims.“No, not at me. He was angry at Mrs. Stafford and Vivian – she’s the one who slapped me.”When we step out onto the sidewalk, we both notice Junior at the same time where he’s standing across the road.“What are you doing here?” Tyrone shout
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Chapter 21EdenDuring an intense scene where the ballerinas are twirling and flying through the air, my phone starts to ring.“Shit,” I whisper. Grabbing my handbag, I dig the device out so I can silence it, but when I see Tyrone’s name on the screen, I answer and say, “Give me a minute.”I give Dario an apologetic look before I get up and quickly leave the auditorium.The music is still loud as I walk down a hallway, and holding the phone to my ear, I say, “What’s up?”“Yo- need t-.”“Hold on, the reception is bad,” I mutter, hoping he can hear me.The call is disconnected, and once I reach the lobby and make sure all the reporters are gone, I dial Tyrone’s number while stepping out on the sidewalk.“Hey, can you hear me?” his voice comes clearer over the line. “Yeah. Why are you calling?”Jesus, it’s cold. I should’ve brought my coat.“Shit went down. Men came looking for you and Mandy, and when Junior confronted them, the fuckers shot him.”“What?” I gasp as shock vibrates through
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Chapter 22EdenI feel completely disorientated and helpless as I’m lugged over a shoulder and carried somewhere.Sounds come and go, not really registering.I lose touch with reality, and when I come to enough to make sense of my surroundings, I hear a motor droning and water splashing.My body’s shivering uncontrollably from the ice-cold air blowing over me, and I manage to let out a groan.“How was the high, baby?” A man asks.High?Baby?Where am I?I have to fight to pry my eyes open, but my vision keeps going in and out of focus.Someone slaps my cheek lightly, then a man laughs, “She’s still out ofit.”I realize I’m in a boat as it starts to slow down, and a minute or so later,I’m hauled over a shoulder again.I manage to make out a bigger boat, and some control over my body begins to return. Bile churns in the pit of my stomach, and for a moment, it feels like I’m going to puke.I’m tossed down on a hard surface, and the back of my head takes a knock, drawing another groan f
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Chapter 23EdenOpening my eyes, I find myself upside down as I’m lugged over a shoulder again.The world sways, and I manage to see a short hallway with steps leading up to what I assume is a deck.I’m still on a boat?I hear a door open, and a second later, I’m tossed on the floor like a sack of potatoes. A groan escapes me, and when my eyes focus on the man who threw me down, I don’t recognize him. He’s dressed in a suit instead of regular clothes like the others were.“Remove the dress and shoes,” he mutters before walking out of the room and shutting the door behind him.Huh?I’m grabbed by my arms and hauled to my feet, and when I hear the zipper of my dress go down, the lingering effects of the drugs they gave me vanish at the speed of light.“The hell,” I snap, but it sounds more surprised than angry.I begin to twist and turn my body while slapping at the hands reaching for me. There’s a hard blow to the side of my head that makes me fall on my hip.I push through the pain, a
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Chapter 24DarioCarlo has to circle the boat as the helicopters take turns to land and drop off their passengers.We wait until last before Carlo sets us down on the supersized yacht. Angelo shoves the door open and gets out first, followed by me, then Damiano.A man dressed in a tuxedo frowns at us. “We weren’t expecting a fourth party.”An armed guard gives us a wary look, his fingers twitching around his weapon.“We invited ourselves,” I mutter, impatient to search the yacht so I can find Eden.Another man, who’s escorted by two guards, comes up the stairs, and his eyes lock instantly on Damiano. “What’s the Cosa Nostra doing here? This isn’t your territory.”I glance at Damiano. “You know him?”“Kristian,” my boss murmurs. “Sex trafficker. Let me handle this.” Damiano takes a step forward and lets out a sigh. “I’m here for a specific girl.”“We don’t have anyone who belongs to the Cosa Nostra,” the man replies calmly, as if he isn’t worried we’ll kill him.“Show us the girls, and
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Chapter 25DarioIt’s been over thirty-six hours since Eden was taken, and I’m starting to lose my mind.I’ve just called Mrs. Stafford and asked her to check in on Quincy.When she asked what happened, I told her I had no idea.I can’t deal with the ballet company right now, and she’ll have to run everything in my absence.All I can think about is Eden.I’m sitting in my office and staring at useless information.A phone ringing draws my attention, and I glance at my jacket that’s still lying on the floor where I threw it after I took it off.Getting up, I dig Eden’s phone out, and seeing Tyrone’s name, I answer, “Hi.”“I’m losing my mind over here,” he whimpers, the heartache and worry making his voice sound much deeper. “I need to know something.”I close my eyes. “I have nothing yet. I’m still looking.” “But you’re the mafia. You can do shit. Right?”I glance at the monitors where information is popping up all over, but there’s nothing of use to me.“I’m looking for her, Tyrone,”
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Chapter 40GabriellaI was allowed a very quick shower before a nurse tended to my wounds.I sit on the side of the hospital bed, and clench my jaw while I watch as Damiano talks with a doctor.I just want to be alone with my husband.Somehow, I manage to keep my expression neutral as I struggle to keep all my emotions from spiraling out of control.Finally, the nurse leaves, and I slip off the bed. Even though my feet are raw and ache from running barefoot through the damn woods, I walk to the window and pull the blinds shut.“I’ll take her home first thing tomorrow morning,” I hear Damiano tell the doctor while I gingerly move back to the bed.I brace my right hand on the white sheets and suck in a desperate breath of air.I hear the door shut, and I glance at Damiano to make sure we’re alone.I suck in another breath of air, then all the trauma I’ve been forced to endure shudders through my body.Damiano moves closer to me, and when his fingers wrap around the back of my neck, I ca
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Chapter 39DamianoDirt shoots into the air as we come to a screeching stop in the lot at the front of the property. The house is medium-sized and looks like it hasn’t been painted in the last decade.There are a dozen armed men scattered around the property, and they open fire on the SUVS while they try to find cover against the sides of the house.I shove the door open and order, “Launch the fucking grenades!”Tommy sends a grenade flying into the side of the house where a group of men are taking cover, and bodies fly into the air.Using the door as a shield, I open fire on the fuckers that are shooting from inside the house, and I have to reload the magazine before I’m able to move away from the SUV. With the submachine gun held in position, I run toward the house while shooting every fucking man I lay eyes on.My vision tunnels on the front door, and I riddle it with bullets before my body slams into the wood. It gives way easily, and I keep going, taking out target after target u
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Chapter 38DamianoWith Mamma and the other women and children safe, we all focus on getting everything ready for the attack.Impatient as fuck, I glance at Dario, who hasn’t stopped working since I gave the order. “Do you know where Stefano is?”“His phone signal is bouncing off three towers. I have the area but not a precise location.”“Where?” I bark.“Somewhere near Manorville. Just over an hour away by car.”My phone buzzes, and I rip the device out of my pocket. Unlocking the screen there are more messages from Stefano.I haven’t tried to call him, because then I’d be playing straight into his hands.They’ve had Gabriella for twenty-four hours now, and I try to brace for the worst as I open the text.You’re quiet, cousin. I hope you don’t think you have any other option than to step down.I suck in a deep breath before pressing play on the attached video. It shows Gabriella still hanging from the ceiling by a rope.She must be in so much fucking pain.“Let’s get started,” the sa
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Chapter 37GabriellaWhen I startle awake, my entire body aches so badly, I let out a gasp before groaning.Dio.They left me hanging overnight, and the room is freezing. The extreme chill in my body makes the pain so much worse.There’s complete silence as I glance around the room.Yesterday, I was too shocked by the attack and torture to take in anything.I see a metal table and various tools and knives. There’s also a stick with prongs, which they used to electrocute me with. The laptop is still on the table, and the camera’s pointed at me. It looks like I’m in a basement.Knowing I’m being recorded, I lift my head and school my face into an emotionless expression.What doesn’t break you makes you stronger.With nothing to do but think, my thoughts turn to the attack.Aunt Greta. Gerardo. Martha.Sorrow pours into my chest.Please let Aunt Greta be okay. Dio. I hope they got to her in time.When a lump forms in my throat, I try to swallow it down.Before I’m able to process my sorr
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Chapter 36DamianoI’m standing in the armory with Angelo, Franco, Renzo, and Dario.Dario’s set up a working station for himself by my systems where he’s searching for anything that can help us find out who’s behind the attack.My phone starts ringing, and letting out a growl, I pull the device from my pocket.“What?” I snap.“The club,” Pippa, the manager of my club, says. Panic laces the words. “There was a car bomb, Mr. Falco. It blew the side wall away. We won’t be able to open.”“Motherfucking Christ,” I shout. “Deal with the shit. I’m busy.” “Yes, sir.”I end the call, and before I can throw my phone against the wall, Carlo grabs it from me.“We need the phone,” he reminds me. “In case the fucker calls.”The fucker, being the person who’s attacking me.I let him keep the phone as I stalk a few steps away before turning to face the men.“Who is behind the attacks?” I bark.“We took out Miguel’s entire family, but maybe it’s one of his men,” Angelo says.“No. The person knew wher
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Chapter 35GabriellaMy body jerks as I regain consciousness. My shoulders strain, and rope bites into my wrists as I jerk again from being hauled into the air.A headache starts to pulse behind my temple, and when I crack my eyes open, I see a concrete floor beneath me.Shit.The memories of the attack pour through my mind.I remember the mansion shuddering from loud blasts. Gerardo falling.Aunt Greta gasping for air.Aunt Greta.Dio, I hope she survives the gunshot.I lift my head, and seeing two men in a room with me, horror ripples through me.One of them secures the rope so it will keep me hanging in the air.My shoes are gone, and the pencil dress I’m wearing is pulled up high on my thighs.Shit.“She’s awake,” one of the men mutters. “Get the boss.”Boss?My mind starts racing, flashes of the attack hitting me while I worry about what’s going to happen.I hope Mamma’s okay.Maybe Damiano found out about the attack, and he got to her in time.Damiano.Suddenly, Stefano walks in
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Chapter 34DamianoCarlo lands the helicopter on top of the building, and I wait for him to switch everything off.“Who would attack the warehouse?” Carlo asks as he joins me“I have no fucking idea,” I mutter while sending Emilio a text demanding an update.Anger vibrates in my chest as we walk toward the elevator. When my phone vibrates, I read the message from Emilio.Three men dead. Nothing was taken. It’s weird. I don’t feel it’s safe for you to come here. Go to the club. I’ll meet you there.Letting out a sigh, I mutter, “We’re going to the club. Emilio will meet us there.”The news of the attack was unexpected. Sure, an enemy can crawl out of a fucking hole at any time, but usually, things are quiet over the festive season.We take the elevator down to the basement and head to the SUV, and soon, Carlo steers the vehicle in the direction of the club.A couple of blocks from our destination my phone starts ringing while it buzzes with message after message.“Jesus fucking Christ,
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Chapter 33GabriellaWhile Martha carries the clothes between my old suite and Damiano’s room, Aunt Greta helps me pack everything into my side of the closet.Aunt Aida’s sitting on a chair we brought into the room for her, keeping us company.“Did you enjoy the wedding before Damiano dragged you away?” Aunt Aida asks.“Yes.” I let out a chuckle. “Thank you for everything you did to make it a perfect wedding, Aunt Greta.”“You’re welcome, cara.”“Oh, I just remembered,” Aunt Aida says. “You can call me mamma or mom. Whichever you prefer.”I stop what I’m doing and drop the hanger on the floor. “Really?”When she nods, I rush to her, and leaning down, I wrap her up in a hug. “Thank you.”“No need to thank me,” she chuckles as she pats my back. “We’re family now.”Letting go of her, I get back to work.Damiano comes into the closet, then glances over the clothes. “Is it all going to fit?”“Yes.” I shoot him a smile. “I’ll make it fit.”“You can always leave your summer clothes in the ot
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Chapter 32DamianoWith every passing second, where the guests are drinking champagne and enjoying the reception, I grow more and more impatient for them to leave.“Stop scowling at everyone,” Gabriella whispers, where she’s sitting beside me.“How much longer?” I mutter.“We only get one wedding,” she says, “try to enjoy it.” “I am, but I also want to be alone with you.”She pats my chest and smiles at Samantha as she walks by the table.“You look stunning, Gabriella,” Samantha says, not even daring to look in my direction.“Thank you,” my bride accepts the compliment like the queen she is.Aunt Greta rushes toward us and says, “It’s time to open the dance floor.”“Dance floor?” I mutter. “No one said anything about dancing.” “Do it for me,” Gabriella whispers before standing up.Unable to refuse her anything, I climb to my feet and follow her to the middle of the floor.A song starts to play, and as I take Gabriella into my arms, I ask, “Which song did you pick?”“Anyone by Tommee P
