MasukI memorized every word, nodding. "Make sure, there is no alcohol, no driving, no strenuous exercise. No situations where she could hit her head again." He tapped the folder. "If she vomits repeatedly. If she becomes difficult to wake. If one pupil becomes larger than the other. If she becomes co
Vincenzo watched them carefully, "You wanted this?" "No." "You wanted to spend your nights around men like Cole?" "No." "You wanted debt collectors, guns, blood, and basements?" All three shook their heads harder, "No..." "No, sir..." "We never wanted this..." For a long moment, Vincenzo sim
Mine didn't. To me, guilt belonged to the individual responsible for the act. To Gianna, guilt spread through grief until it touched everyone left standing. Eventually... It would reach me. She wouldn't see a calculated investigation. She would see the man who allowed her entire world to disap
Adriano let out a laugh, he bent over, slapping his knee, his eyes bright with a dark, twisted amusement as he watched Cole flop around in the dirt. "Oh, look at him go!" Adriano mocked, "He’s doing the dance! Look at the moves on him! Hey, Don Capone said he’d spare your life, Mercer! He didn't sa
"No! She forced me! She—" "She forced you to get a front-row seat to our sister's blood?" Adriano laughed again, "You’re a real hero, Cole. Maybe we should put your face on a plaque. 'Here lies Cole Mercer: He was too scared to be a criminal and too stupid to be a friend.'" Cole started to sob, hi
Raphael ━━ ⛓ ━━ Adriano’s arms were capable, but they were not mine. I stepped forward before his arms could even settle into a permanent hold. I took her from him, sliding my hands beneath her knees and behind her shoulders, careful not to disturb the bandage wrapped around her head. I kept h
My body remembered everything: the hallway, the heat of his breath, and the way I had screamed his name into my pillow just a few hours ago. I took a slow sip of coffee, the bitter liquid burning my throat. I focused on the sound of Salvatore's newspaper rustling. "You're quiet this morning, Gian
Gianna ━⊰ ❦ ⊱━ The wall was freezing against my bare back, but my skin was screaming. "If you’re still standing here in the next few seconds…" Raphael’s voice wasn't just a sound. It was a vibration that started in the floor and crawled up my legs, settling right in the pit of my stomach. "…I
The meeting in the library dragged on for another hour until Claire finally called Vincenzo and told him to end it as it was five in the morning. One by one, my brothers drifted out. I walked through the dark halls of our estate. I climbed the stairs, my mind stuck on the sick irony of the word ad
Vincenzo’s eyebrows furrowed, his jaw setting hard, "Decided what, Dad?" Our father looked at each of us, one by one, "I’ve decided to officially adopt Gianna and Jules," he said, "The legal paperwork is already with my lawyer. It’s a full, binding adoption. Since Jules is still a minor, her mother







