All Chapters of Beneath The Mask: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

Valenti - Ghost POVThe newspaper in my hands feels like poison, each word seeping under my skin and clawing at my bones. The engagement. That damn engagement. It’s all anyone can talk about, as if the very world hinges on this spectacle of pomp and pretense. But they’re wrong. Dead wrong. It’s not the grandest union of the century—it’s the gravest mistake. And I know it.The De Lucas parade their son’s engagement like a trophy, their arrogance spreading like wildfire. If there’s a corner of the earth untouched by their boasting, I’d be shocked. And the lovely Serena Castelli, the radiant bride-to-be? She has no idea of the monster she’s promised herself to. Not a clue.The sharp rip of paper tears me from my thoughts, and my father’s voice detonates like a bomb in the room. “This is an embarrassment!” he roars, slamming his fists on the table, the newspaper now crumpled in his iron grip. “Their daughter is married, their son is next, and you—you’re nothing!” His voice is acid, each w

GhostI watch him walk away, his shoulders tight with anger, every step radiating tension. Perfect. I can feel the satisfaction curling in my chest. He likes to act untouchable, doesn’t he? The perfect son. The golden boy. The heir who’ll one day run his family like a king on a throne. But he’s not perfect. Far from it. He’s hiding things—dark, ugly secrets that claw at him from the inside. And I’ll be the one to rip him apart. I’ll drag the truth out of him, piece by piece, and make him see the man he really is. The man I already see.Kicking off the wall, I take slow, deliberate steps toward the burning crate. The flames crackle and spit, the smell of scorched wood and tobacco filling the air. Smoke rises in curling tendrils, like ghosts reaching for the night sky. Sure, we lost a lot tonight, but what I gained? That’s worth more than every dollar that just went up in flames.His reaction—oh, it was fucking perfect. The way his voice snapped, the way his fists clenched like he was o

LorenzoThe ride back to the estate feels longer than usual. The air inside the car is heavy with unspoken words, the tension thick enough to choke on. My fists rest on my thighs, the knuckles raw and stinging, a reminder of the punches I threw at Ghost. He’d laughed—laughed—while I was bleeding rage all over him. The image of his smug grin burns in my mind, stoking the fire in my chest.He’s out of control. Unhinged. A walking disaster who lives to taunt and provoke, pushing me to the brink. And the worst part? He’s winning.By the time we pull up to the estate, the sky has darkened, the soft glow of lanterns casting long shadows across the cobblestones. The driver opens my door, and I step out, the cool night air doing little to calm the heat in my veins.Inside, the estate is as pristine and imposing as ever. Everything is too polished, too perfect—a stark contrast to the chaos I just left at the docks. Men move silently through the halls, their eyes lowered, their loyalty absolute

Ghost POVMy feet halt mid-step as my eyes lock onto a window in the main house. And there he is, Lorenzo, my Princess, oblivious to my presence. He’s in front of the glass, his body moving with purpose, her wrapped around him like a fucking ribbon. Serena Castelli, his perfect little fiancée.Fuck the pool house. I have a better idea.I grab Chase, spinning him to face me, and kiss him hard, my lips bruising against his. He grunts into my mouth, startled but pliant. Releasing him, I shove him against a nearby tree, his hands automatically bracing against the rough bark. He doesn’t resist. He never does.Good.My eyes flick back to the window. Lorenzo hasn’t noticed me yet, too wrapped up in his perfect life, his perfect fiancée. It’s maddening. Watching him, knowing he’s touching her the way I want to touch him, makes my blood boil and my body burn.My hands move quickly, unfastening my trousers with practiced ease. Chase is already pulling his down, eager and compliant. I grab the c