Gritting his teeth, he muttered, “Backup’s on its way. Pretend you don’t know me until then. I will kill you if you move again.” The latter he blurted loudly for Elias to hear. “I didn’t kill her. She begged for it. I freed her.” Elias’s words made my head snap toward him, and my frown deepened. Fr
I discovered during the police investigation that she had been working for a strip club where she had been the most in demand for a private dance. I shut my eyes. We needed money, but Mamma had promised to look for a way. Zia didn’t have to do it. “I may be a bastard, but I’m not the one who treate
ADONIS “Congratulations, Vitale. You figured it all out,” Matteo said, giving a swift glance to Valery. She and Cole were seated at the sidebar, their faces still filled with worry. “I reckon it was hard.” Dom shook his head, sitting beside me on the long couch. Dom didn’t like the idea of Matteo
“Lack of judgement, you say? I did what I had to do.” She poked Matteo’s chest over his tailored suit. “Desperate? Maybe. But without judgment? Never.” Matteo’s jaw tightened. “This is not—” “The time and place for this?” She arched a brow. “I think this is exactly where we should discuss things a
I didn’t object and gave a curt nod as Matteo pulled his gaze to me. My men stood by until they all left the mansion, silently. I finally looked down at the paper and realised it wasn’t a paper. It was the reel, the only picture I’d ever taken with Zia—Leona. I had kept it as a reminder of what she
BELLA [Eight years ago] Matteo was close behind me, tensed as if I could get lost any moment if he looked away. I could feel his worry through my bones. But it wasn’t only because we were in unknown territory. He didn’t fear the unknown. I was eighteen and tiny and he was twenty-six and huge, wit
“Blood for blood is not the answer, son.” The pastor was still calm, despite Matteo’s outburst. “Besides, it was one of her last wishes.” “I’ve always respected her wishes and look where it got her.” I could barely catch the sadness in his voice. The pastor studied his expression and then reached
“Because she is a part of Zia... and not just the father’s.” The pastor held the baby’s head and slowly stroked a thumb over her light brows. He met my flickering gaze and asked, “Do you need more reasons to care for her?” The nun held her out to me and carefully placed her in my arms. Alessia’s li