Rhea’s heart dropped into her stomach and time stood still.Her pulse raced as she processed the sight of him.He was standing tall with a perfect posture and the same come expression.It was unmistakable.Her chest tightened as memories began to crash into her like a flood, overwhelming and sudden.She couldn’t look away.Her fingers gripped the counter in front of her, trying to steady herself as the room seemed to tilt. She felt lightheaded, and disoriented, as her mind spiraled into chaos.Adrian’s face, his voice, and everything about him felt like an electric jolt to her system. And suddenly, all the fragmented memories she’d buried under layers of confusion, the pieces she hadn’t understood, began to fall into place.She didn’t know how long she stood there, staring, but it felt like an eternity.Her first instinct when she came to herself was to hide from him.This man and his family killed her and dumped her body into a river. “Let this be a lesson to anyone who dares think
Holed up inside her room for hours, reminiscing on her past, the moment of raw pain slowly began to harden into a strong resolve.She had survived death, she had lived without her memories and her name, all these while being pregnant. But that was all over now.They would all pay. Dante Moretti Viktor Vitale….that old son of a bitch who pulled the trigger on her. Luca Vitale And most especially Adrian. No one who had a hand in her near-death experience would be sparedBut first, she needed to move smart. No impulsive reactions. She would not let her emotions get ahead of her strategy. Not now It was a good thing her first instinct when she saw Adrian at the Cartier store was to hide because she was going to return with a bang! Everyone assumed her dead, so she was going to work and grow in anonymity. For now, only she would know Rhea Moretti was still alive. ‘Sofia’ was going to do the work needed until Rhea Moretti was ready to deal with her enemies.She wiped her face with
Dmitri wasn’t back yet. Maybe the meeting had lingered more than expected.She exhaled sharply, rolling onto her side. The baby kicked lightly as if sensing her unrest. Her thoughts rambled within. Pietro.She needed to see him. After everything he did for her, saving her life and holding her hand through the pain, the confusion, and recovery, without asking or expecting anything in return, it was only right she gave him this news face to face. She needed to see his face when she told him all about herself and her ordeal. And she also had selfish reasons as well because if anyone could help her plot a comeback, it was Pietro. His wisdom, knowledge, and his guidance would be very much needed.The problem was that she just got back from seeing Pietro a few days ago and if she mentioned it again to Dmitri, he wouldn’t want her going back. As much as she was doing her thing and growing in Dmitri’s empire, it was all under his watch and surveillance. His men were always trailing h
The cottage was too quietPietro’s confession was like a knife was plunged into her heart.Rhea sat on the floor beside Pietro’s chair, her head resting against his knee like a child seeking comfort.His fingers absently stroked her hair, the way he’d done on the nights when she had nightmares. Back when she was just a broken girl with no name. Now she had a name, a past, and a revenge to plan. And she was about to lose the only person who ever loved her without conditions. She could not stop shaking. She didn’t want to move, because moving would mean facing it.“Show me the scans,” she said, her voice hollow. Pietro sighed. “Bambina…” “Show me.” He hesitated, then went into his tiny bedroom, reaching for an old wooden box under his bed, he pulled the box out and opened it. Inside it lay a stack of medical reports, scans, blood tests, etc.Rhea took them with trembling hands. The clinical terms didn’t really make sense but some words stood out. Words like *metastatic*, *ino
“Say my name!” “Adrian!”, the woman screamed“You know what? Today is your lucky day, so tell me exactly how you want me.” Adrian said to her amidst playing with her clit, teasing and rubbing it as she moanedWith lightning speed, he pulled his fingers and inserted them into her wet pussy. She wasn’t expecting that, so she screamed.“Adrian, I want…” she moaned. She was already on edge as he fucked her intensely with his digits. She couldn’t say anything else but his name. She couldn’t even bring herself to make demands. He only stopped finger-fucking her when he saw her cum on his fingers. She was spent.“I’m gonna fuck you hard. This is just the beginning, so brace yourself, you whore.” Before she could reply, he pulled her closer to his face and buried his face in her chest. He latched his lips around her swollen nipples, which, in his opinion, had been calling out to him.He suckled on her breasts in fierce tugs like a hungry child on his mother’s breasts while his fingers hover
“You expect me to marry him?”Rhea’s voice sliced through the dimly lit study, filled with the heavy scent of cigar smoke. Her father, Enrico Moretti, sat behind his grand polished desk, exuding authority as he observed her outburst with cold detachment. Across from him, Dante leaned against the bar, arms crossed, watching her with something close to amusement.“Lower your voice, Rhea,” Dante murmured. “Unless you want the whole damn house to hear you.”“I don’t care who hears me!” she snapped, pacing in front of them. “You can’t seriously think I’m going to marry Adrian Vitale.”“As in, Adrian, the son and successor of our family’s biggest rival?”Enrico exhaled, rubbing his temples as if her anger was nothing more than an inconvenience. “You will do as you’re told.”Rhea let out a bitter laugh. “I knew you were ruthless, Father, but this? Selling me off like a—”“Enough,” Enrico cut her off sharply, his deep voice laced with finality. “This is not about marriage. This is about war.”
Rhea had experienced a turbulent two weeks. Her father had ordered her to infiltrate the Vitale family under the guise of marriage, claiming it was the only way to finally bring them down. And now the wedding day she dreaded was finally here.Rhea stood before the full-length mirror in the bridal suite, the silk of her wedding dress cascading around her beautiful, shapely body. It was an exquisite creation, hand-stitched lace framing her delicate shoulders, the fitted bodice hugging her form before spilling into an ethereal train. A vision of perfection. A vision of a dutiful bride.But inside, she was suffocating. A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.Izzy came into the room and stood beside her, adjusting the delicate diamond tiara placed on Rhea’s rich, curly brown hair. “You look… breathtaking,” she murmured, but there was sadness in her voice.Rhea’s lips curved into a hollow smile. “Isn’t that the point?”Izzy’s grip tightened on Rhea’s hand. “You don’t have to go
The Vitale estate home was everything one would expect from mafia royalty. Deep in the countryside of Italy, it was more of a kingdom than a home. It was also a fortress, as there were security cameras, armed guards, and reinforced gates to ensure no one left or entered without permission.The giant mansion itself was a symbol of old money with an Italian Renaissance theme. Inside the house, opulence dripped from every corner. Long, heavy crystal chandeliers adorned the ceilings, and centuries-old paintings hung on the walls.“Welcome to the family, Rhea.” Luca, Adrian’s brother, smiled, easygoing, warm, like this wasn’t the worst day of her life. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”Rhea matched his expression with one of her own—soft, almost grateful. “Thank you. That means a lot.”Luca tilted his head, studying her. “Are you nervous?”She let out a careful breath. “Wouldn’t any woman be, in my position?”Luca chuckled. “True. My brother can be… intense.”A warning. Subtle
The cottage was too quietPietro’s confession was like a knife was plunged into her heart.Rhea sat on the floor beside Pietro’s chair, her head resting against his knee like a child seeking comfort.His fingers absently stroked her hair, the way he’d done on the nights when she had nightmares. Back when she was just a broken girl with no name. Now she had a name, a past, and a revenge to plan. And she was about to lose the only person who ever loved her without conditions. She could not stop shaking. She didn’t want to move, because moving would mean facing it.“Show me the scans,” she said, her voice hollow. Pietro sighed. “Bambina…” “Show me.” He hesitated, then went into his tiny bedroom, reaching for an old wooden box under his bed, he pulled the box out and opened it. Inside it lay a stack of medical reports, scans, blood tests, etc.Rhea took them with trembling hands. The clinical terms didn’t really make sense but some words stood out. Words like *metastatic*, *ino
Dmitri wasn’t back yet. Maybe the meeting had lingered more than expected.She exhaled sharply, rolling onto her side. The baby kicked lightly as if sensing her unrest. Her thoughts rambled within. Pietro.She needed to see him. After everything he did for her, saving her life and holding her hand through the pain, the confusion, and recovery, without asking or expecting anything in return, it was only right she gave him this news face to face. She needed to see his face when she told him all about herself and her ordeal. And she also had selfish reasons as well because if anyone could help her plot a comeback, it was Pietro. His wisdom, knowledge, and his guidance would be very much needed.The problem was that she just got back from seeing Pietro a few days ago and if she mentioned it again to Dmitri, he wouldn’t want her going back. As much as she was doing her thing and growing in Dmitri’s empire, it was all under his watch and surveillance. His men were always trailing h
Holed up inside her room for hours, reminiscing on her past, the moment of raw pain slowly began to harden into a strong resolve.She had survived death, she had lived without her memories and her name, all these while being pregnant. But that was all over now.They would all pay. Dante Moretti Viktor Vitale….that old son of a bitch who pulled the trigger on her. Luca Vitale And most especially Adrian. No one who had a hand in her near-death experience would be sparedBut first, she needed to move smart. No impulsive reactions. She would not let her emotions get ahead of her strategy. Not now It was a good thing her first instinct when she saw Adrian at the Cartier store was to hide because she was going to return with a bang! Everyone assumed her dead, so she was going to work and grow in anonymity. For now, only she would know Rhea Moretti was still alive. ‘Sofia’ was going to do the work needed until Rhea Moretti was ready to deal with her enemies.She wiped her face with
Rhea’s heart dropped into her stomach and time stood still.Her pulse raced as she processed the sight of him.He was standing tall with a perfect posture and the same come expression.It was unmistakable.Her chest tightened as memories began to crash into her like a flood, overwhelming and sudden.She couldn’t look away.Her fingers gripped the counter in front of her, trying to steady herself as the room seemed to tilt. She felt lightheaded, and disoriented, as her mind spiraled into chaos.Adrian’s face, his voice, and everything about him felt like an electric jolt to her system. And suddenly, all the fragmented memories she’d buried under layers of confusion, the pieces she hadn’t understood, began to fall into place.She didn’t know how long she stood there, staring, but it felt like an eternity.Her first instinct when she came to herself was to hide from him.This man and his family killed her and dumped her body into a river. “Let this be a lesson to anyone who dares think
“Welcome, Signora Sofia,” the store manager greeted with a practiced smile, recognizing her instantly. “Mr. Volkov called ahead and said to give you anything you need.”Of course, he did.The midday sun was high over Milan when Rhea stepped out of the black SUV, the tinted windows gleaming as the driver held the door open. A pair of Dmitri’s guards flanked her silently, dressed in sleek dark suits and earpieces. They drew attention, but she didn’t care.This morning wasn’t about business. It wasn’t about secrets or lies or fragmented memories either.It was for her and the tiny life growing inside her.She had been putting off shopping for a while, but after tossing and turning in bed all night thinking about the meeting she and Dmitri would have with the Vitales, the people who could probably connect her to her past, she decided to take her mind off things by spoiling herself The designer district buzzed with life. All the luxury designer brands from Prada to Gucci, to Versace, Lou
Vitale.Rhea froze.The Vitale crest stared back at her from the envelope…a stylized *V* intertwined with a dagger.Her fingers hovered over the envelope as her mind raced. The familiar Vitale crest stared back at her from the seal. She had seen this before. A flash of memory; a mahogany desk littered with documents bearing that same crest. The scent of cigar smoke and leather in the office.The crest was everywhere, on the letterheads, the seals. Was that table in Vitale’s office? Did she work for them? Who were they?A million questions filled her mind, but before she could sort through them, Dmitri’s call ended. He looked over at her, eager to resume what they’d started, but the change in her was very noticeable. Her expression was off.He narrowed his eyes. “Sofia… what is it ?” He asked in a thick voice Rhea quickly shook her head and smiled, brushing him off. “Nothing. I’m fine.”She couldn’t focus on anything else but the envelope. She picked it up carefully and glanced at
Dmitri's fingers traced the raised scar along Rhea's chest, his calloused skin catching slightly on the uneven flesh. The soft rustle of the sheets was the only sound in the dimly lit room, a quiet contrast to the storm of thoughts swirling in Rhea’s mind.“Missed you, davushka,” Dmitri murmured with a husky voice. “Two days of your absence felt longer.”Rhea smiled, her lips curving softly as she turned toward him, her face relaxing in the warmth of his presence. “I missed you too,” she replied in a genuine voice.Leaning in, she pressed a soft kiss to his chest.She had spent two days away from Milan, away from Dmitri’s world, her new world. She went to visit Pietro to ensure her savior was alright. He was forever going to remain a part of her life, no matter how far or how high she went.Pietro’s concerned eyes never left her as she sat beside him on the front porch just like old times, the small cottage by the river a far cry from the lavish spaces of Dmitri’s mansion. “You rea
The villa had gone silent.The last of the mourners had driven off hours ago, the scent of cigar smoke and expensive perfume lingering faintly in the hallways.Staff moved like shadows through the corridors, cleaning up after the storm of people and power.Upstairs, behind a heavy oak door, Luca Vitale lay back on silk sheets, his chest rising and falling slowly and his skin, bare.The girl beside him was sprawled out with her limbs tangled in the sheets, her body still glistening from their earlier session. She was out cold, breathing softly. Her black hair was scattered over her face and her red lipstick was smeared. Her presence didn’t hold his attention anymore.Luca reached for his phone on the nightstand, the screen lighting up his face as he swiped it open. He hesitated a moment, then dialed a number.He brought it to his ear, staring blankly at the ceiling.“Hello,” he said in a low and smooth tone A pause. Whoever was on the other end responded, but their voice was low.Luc
“My deepest condolences, Don Vitale. Your father was a pillar of this community," said Governor Ricci to Adrian, stretching his hand out for a handshake and a politician’s smile plastered on his face.The church service for the burial of Viktor Vitale was brief and solemn. No tears or overdragged eulogies; just the cold efficiency of a mafia sendoff. The real business happened afterward at the Vitale estate, where crystal glasses clinked and alliances were tested under the guise of paying respects.Now, the reception hall was full of men in black designer suits, expensive perfume, and silent posturing.Adrian stood near the grand fireplace, his black suit blending with the shadows. The room was packed with every significant name in Italian organized crime. It was the gathering of who's who of power brokers.Adrian accepted the handshake, his grip was just tight enough to remind the governor who really controlled the city. "We appreciate your presence."The governor lowered his voice