LOGIND A M I A NI ran to my car and my hands were shaking as I gripped the steering wheel. I had to get home. Now.My mind was racing a million miles a minute as I drove through the city streets. He was watching them. He was watching her. And I wasn't there.I slammed on the brakes in the driveway, almost hitting a planter by the front door. I fumbled with my keys, my hands clumsy with adrenaline.The house was quiet when I burst through the front door."Bianca?" I yelled."In here," she called from the living room.I found her on the couch, curled up with a book. She looked up, her eyes wide with surprise."Damian? What's wrong? You're supposed to be in a meeting."I couldn't speak. I just stood there, my chest heaving, my eyes scanning the room as if I expected to find him hiding behind the curtains."Damian, you're scaring me," she said, getting up from the couch.I finally found my voice, but it was rough, strained. "Where's Ian?""He's asleep," she said, her hands on my arms. "He had
D A M I A NIt’s been a few days since I last heard from Leo. But I knew he was working on it. He was one of the best, and he wouldn't rest until he had answers.I stood in front of the full length mirror in our walk in closet, studying my own reflection. The sharp jawline, the brow that my mother always said was too serious. Was it possible? A long lost relative? A doppelgänger sent to torment us? The idea was absurd, a bad plot twist. And if the person were truly my relative, why go for Bianca if they had a problem with me? There were a thousand ways to get to me, to get my attention. Why start with her?I pulled on my suit jacket, my movements automatic. It was just another day, another board meeting, another round of managing an empire that felt suddenly insignificant. None of it mattered if my family wasn't safe."You've been quiet," Bianca said, her voice soft behind me. She stood in the doorway of the closet, her arms crossed over her chest. "More than usual.""Just thinking,"
D A M I A NIt’s been six years of loving the same woman. And I still couldn't believe she was mine.The morning light filtered through the blinds, painting stripes across our bedroom floor. Bianca was still asleep, her dark hair fanned out across the pillow, her breathing soft and even. I watched her, my chest tightening with love.She was everything to me. My partner, my best friend, the mother of my child. And I would do anything to protect her. And someone was trying to take that away from us.The text message from the previous night played on my mind. Who would do such a thing? And why? If it wasn’t Lucas, then who? It was obvious that this person wanted me to know about them.They were sending a message.I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. I needed some air.I walked out onto the balcony, the cool morning air giving me a slight relief. The city was already awake, the sounds of traffic and sirens filling the silence.I took out my phone, my fingers scrolling through my
B I A N C AI didn't sleep well that night. I kept tossing and turning, my mind racing with possibilities. Who would do this? And why?I was in the kitchen the next morning, pouring myself a cup of coffee, when Damian walked in. He was already dressed for work, a grim look on his face."Did you find out who it was?" I asked, my voice hopeful."We did," he said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "And you were right. It wasn't Lucas."Relief washed over me, followed by a wave of confusion. "Then who was it?"He took a sip of his coffee, his eyes locking with mine. "We don’t know for sure. The person made sure to cover their tracks. It's a burner phone, purchased with cash. No way to trace it."My blood ran cold. "So, it could be anyone.""It could be," he said, a dark look in his eyes. "Which is why you're not going to be alone for the foreseeable future. And it’s a guy. If it isn’t Lucas, who could it be? It’s obviously someone who hasn’t gotten over you because of that ‘she was mine fi
B I A N C AAs soon as the car door opened, Ian was the first to run out of the car and into my parent’s house. It was my parents' 40th wedding anniversary and we were celebrating at my childhood home."Grandma! Grandpa!" he yelled, his little legs carrying him as fast as they could.My mom appeared in the doorway, a huge smile on her face. "There's my big boy!" she said, scooping him up in a hug.My dad followed, ruffling Ian's hair. "Look at you, champ. Almost as tall as your old man."Ian giggled, squirming in my mom's arms. "I missed you!""We missed you too, sweetie," my mom said, kissing his cheek.We followed them inside, the house filled with the familiar scent of my mom's cooking and the sound of laughter."Damian, Bianca, it's so good to see you," my mom said, hugging us both."You too, Mom," I said, returning her hug."Happy anniversary," Damian said, shaking my dad's hand. "Forty years. That's incredible.""We've had our ups and downs," my dad said, a twinkle in his eye. "
B I A N C A"Ian Leandre Moretti!" I yelled, my patience worn thin. "If you don't put your shoes on right now, we are going to be late for school!""I can't find them!" he yelled back from somewhere upstairs.I let out a frustrated sigh. This was our new morning ritual. A frantic search for a missing shoe, a lost sock, or a favorite toy that absolutely had to come with us."Mommy, have you seen my dinosaur?" he asked, running into the kitchen, his bare feet padding on the hardwood floor."Ian, we don't have time for dinosaurs," I said, pointing to the clock on the wall. "We have ten minutes to get out the door."He pouted, his lower lip trembling. "But I need him.""Fine," I said, giving in. "But we have to find your shoes and your dinosaur in the next five minutes, okay?""Okay!" he said, a wide grin on his face.He ran off again, and I shook my head, a small smile on my face. He was definitely my son.I found his shoes hiding under the couch, and with a little coaxing, we managed to
L U C A SI slammed the car door shut, not bothering to open Natalia’s side for her. The engine roared to life, and I peeled away from the curb, the tires screeching in protest."Lucas, slow down! You're going to get us killed," Natalia shrieked, clutching the door handle."Good," I snarled, my eyes
L U C A S"Fuck!" I threw the glass of whiskey against the wall, the liquid splashing across a painting my mother had gifted me. But, I couldn't care less about it.The glass shattered, the sound as violent as the anger coursing through my veins.I looked at the articles flying around, my entire li
B I A N C AI was so confused. A part of me wanted to slap him, to rage against the chains he was forging around me. But another weaker part of me wanted to melt into him, to let him take control, to let him fight my battles. It was a terrifyingly seductive thought.He must have seen the war waging
D A M I A NI watched her go, a feeling of helplessness washing over me. I had pushed her too hard. I had laid my cards on the table, and she had run.I couldn't blame her. I had started this with a manipulation. I had forced her into this marriage, into this life. I had no right to expect her to tr







