Mag-log inThe Rocci attorney attempted recovery quickly. “Miss Andrea, are you suggesting Giovanni Rocci abused his wife?” Andrea’s gaze sharpened. She didn't even spare him a glance.“I am saying her injuries, behavior, and psychological state were all medically consistent with prolonged domestic abuse.”The lawyer’s expression hardened. “And yet she remained around dangerous men afterward.”“Yes,” Andrea answered calmly. “That is extremely common for trauma survivors.”The attorney looked briefly irritated by how composed she remained. “Including organized crime figures?”Andrea did bat an eyelid.“Trauma changes a person’s understanding of safety,” she replied. “Especially when violence and pr
Milan leaned against the door slightly once they disappeared around the corner.“You terrified my friends,” she muttered.“That was not intentional.”“That somehow makes it worse.”For a second, neither of them spoke.“Let’s talk inside.” Milan broke the silence.“They filed publicly,” Vito said coldly the moment he stepped inside. “Antonio wants humiliation before judgment.”He looked dangerous as he spoke and it was so hot that Milan couldn't look away.She closed the door and swallowed hard.“I already know.”“I will handle it.”The tone alone told her exactly what he meant.“No.”His violet eyes snapped toward her. “What do you mean by ' no '?” Vito said coldly. “If he ends up dead like his brother, how exactly is he supposed to fight for cus
The court summons arrived on a rainy Tuesday morning.Milan had just returned to the hotel after meeting with a private investigator when the receptionist stopped her quietly near the lobby.“Miss Romano?”She turned.“There are legal documents for you.”The moment she saw the official seal, anxiety curled through her stomach.By the time she reached her suite and opened the envelope, her hands had already gone cold.Antonio Rocci was filing for custody of Roma.The accusations hit harder with every line she read.Unfit mother.Psychological instability.Dangerous criminal associations.Complicity in the murder of Giovanni Rocci.Worst of all, Antonio’s lawyers claimed Milan had conspired with Vito to orchestrate Giovanni’s death for financial and personal gain.For several seconds, she simply stared
The lights flickered briefly across his face, honing the cold intensity in his expression.He wore dark clothes as usual, no tie, and his sleeves were rolled slightly upward.He looked nothing like the sophisticated capo tonight and more like the dangerous man the city whispered about quietly.Her breath seized.“You’re coming with me,” he growled. Before she could respond, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms.“Vito!” Milan hissed. “Put me down.”Around them, Priscilla and Lillian stared in complete shock.“Oh my God,” Priscilla whispered loudly. “THAT is the Don?”Lillian looked close to fainting from excitement.Meanwhile, Milan was mortified.“Put me down right now,” she demanded again, struggling slightly against him.Vito ignored her completely.People moved out of his path automatically as he carried
Milan’s phone rang just after midnight. She had been sitting alone on the balcony of her hotel suite, files spread across the small table beside her while the street lights stretched below. The moment she saw her father’s name on the screen, unease settled immediately in her chest. She answered at once. “Papa?” “Milano.” His voice sounded strained and tired. The older man didn't hesitate to talk about why he had called. “Antonio Rocci came to the house today.” She straightened instantly. “What?” “He brought armed men with him,” he disclosed quietly. “There was nothing I could do.” Milan’s expression hardened. “Did he take Roma?” “No. But he demanded a DNA test for her.” For a moment, all sound around her disappeared. Her grip tightened painfully around the phone. “I’m sorry,” her father continued quickly. “I tried to refuse, but there were too many of them and I…” His voice
“How many cases are there?” Milan asked Vito but he provided no response.“Five?”Vito was still silent.“Ten?”“Enough,” he barked. She looked back at him. “And you are handling all of it alone.”“I said enough.”His cold voice cut through the room harder this time, but she heard what rested beneath it. Exhaustion. Frustration. Maybe even desperation carefully buried beneath anger.Neither of them spoke until Milan broke the silence. “You protected everyone else your entire life,” she said carefully. “But you never learned how to let someone stand beside you.”Vito laughed again. This time, the sound carried no amusement at all. Only exhaustion honed into anger.“Depending on people is the quickest way to get killed.”The words settled heavily between them.Milan felt her chest tighten painfully because she understood immediately that he was not speaking only about
Vito’s hands dropped when he registered her lack of resistance. He moved away, giving her a moment to breathe. The air in the foyer was thick, charged with tension and the lingering adrenaline of the drive. He didn't want her compliance out of fear. He wanted the fire he knew she was hiding
The neon lights of Angel’s Den flickered in the rearview mirror as Milan climbed into the passenger seat of Vito’s car. She smelled of spilled gin, fried chips, and cheap tonic. She sighed heavily as she thought back to her shift. It was a blur. She had rushed through the night in a complete d
Milan started to keep her distance from Vito even though they lived in the same house. Her fear had turned into anger. Their last confrontation had opened her eyes. What he did to Mateo was unforgivable. Asking her to abort if she were pregnant was also unforgivable. She continued preten
Vito leaned his forehead against the cool mahogany of the door, his eyes closing in a rare moment of defeat. He could break the door down in seconds. He was the Capo, and nothing in this house happened without his consent but he reminded himself that forcing his way in would only push her furthe







