Mag-log inAdriano slowly lifted his boot, letting the blood drip off the leather onto the concrete as his stare swept across the rest. "Now," he whispered, a terrifying smile finally touching the corners of his lips, "Who else feels like telling me a story?" Morgan started sobbing violently. I shook my h
No, no! "I wasn't even there when they hurt the girl!" Cole yelled, "They brought her to me already bleeding! Brianna was the one who hit her in the head! She used a heavy wooden club from the garage! They carried her in here like a sack of rocks, and I was the one who washed the blood off her fac
Cole’s chest heaved, his eyes turned frantic, like a rat looking for a hole in the wall. "I know how Chicago works. You don't survive in this city by picking a fight with the Capones," he slowly shook his head, "I'm not suicidal." My stomach twisted. No. He was lying. I made a desperate sound
"Move!" Capone guards surged forward with frightening speed. Cole's men reached for their weapons but they never got the chance. One guard twisted a man's arm behind his back before he had even cleared his waistband. Another kicked a pistol across the concrete floor. Boots thundered in every dire
I looked at Cole again. He wasn't even watching us. He was checking his phone. Rage exploded inside me, "MMPH!" I lunged forward as far as the ropes allowed. "If she keeps doing that," he said calmly, "she'll reopen the wound." I wanted to claw his face apart. I wanted to scream. Instead, anoth
Gianna ━⊰ ❦ ⊱━ Pain. That was the first thing I felt. It was a deep, heavy ache that pulsed through the back of my head. It throbbed with every heartbeat, every breath, every tiny movement. A quiet whimper escaped me before I even opened my eyes. The world slowly came into focus. The ceiling a
I sniffled, "What?" A small smile appeared on her face, "Never seeing you dance again." I shook my head immediately, "Mom—" "I'm serious." "No." "Gianna." "I can't." "Why not?" "Because..." My voice cracked. "Because I can't stand up there pretending everything is normal." Mom's expression
Gianna ━⊰ ❦ ⊱━ The gardens behind the estate were beautiful. The flowers were in full bloom, filling the air with sweet scents that drifted with the gentle breeze. Tall hedges lined the stone pathways, fountains bubbled quietly in the distance, and sunlight filtered through the large oak trees o
Gianna blinked, then something softened in her face, "She's okay." The pressure eased immediately. Gianna looked down briefly, then back at me, “I waited.” “Why.” She shifted slightly on the trunk, fingers tightening around her arms, “You know why.” My mind ran through possibilities. Logical on
"We're friends," I repeated firmly. Claire kept looking at Raphael. Something flashed across his face. It was gone so quickly I almost missed it. Finally, he spoke, "Yes." Claire perked up immediately, "Yes?" Raphael's jaw flexed, "We are friends." The words sounded strangely forced coming f







