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thirty.
publish date:
2026-07-03 21:49:39
Latest chapter
To Love A Monster thirty-one.
NicholasI turn onto the driveway of the Russo house and drive up the long incline, parking the rented SUV out of sight. Although the Riccis will already have left for the gala, I don’t want to take a chance anyone might see me. I am breaking and entering, after all.The temperature is freezing. I’m in a tux, but don’t bother to put on my coat. I won’t be here that long. I make my way toward the porch, remembering how cozy it was when the Russos lived here. Now, debris has collected in the corners and the single chair left out here has toppled in the wind. I’d prefer to use the back entrance, but the lockbox containing the key is hanging on the front door, so here I am. I punch in the code Nigella had acquired from the realtor and the box opens. From inside, I retrieve the key and slide it into the lock to open the front door. Once inside, I close it behind me and pocket the key.The house is dark. I’m grateful for the moonlight shining in through the bare windows and off the snow on
To Love A Monster thirty.
NicholasI drive my rented SUV to the cul-de-sac where only the top of the Ricci mansion is visible behind the stone wall they’ve erected. Pretentious pricks. That’s not my destination, though. It’s the smaller house that belongs to the Russos. Well, at least for another few days.Is it considered breaking and entering once a number is agreed upon and paperwork finalized even if money hasn’t changed hands? Not that it matters for my purposes tonight. I need to get inside because I have a sense that time is running out.I think about my meeting last night with the Riccis. How smug they are still, even when they come to me, their enemy, for money. I should have made them beg, but I remind myself that is not the goal. My game is a long one. I will swallow what I need to now to have the final laugh in the end.But I know it hurt arrogant, self-satisfied Sly’s ego to have to come to me for money.My father is a self-made man. His money is as new as it comes, and as filthy.Born dirt poor,
To Love A Monster twenty-nine
ValentinaCielo follows me into the bedroom. "Tina? You can't do this.""I can't marry you, Cielo.""Great fucking time to figure that out.""And you can't marry me. It's not what either of us want." I pick up the ring from the nightstand and get to my feet. I hold it out to him."You don't know what I want." He pushes my hand away."Isn't that a problem?" I ask."You're tired, that's all. Look at you." He lifts my glasses off my face. "Are you getting any sleep? You look fucking exhausted.""I am exhausted, but it doesn't have anything to do with this. I can't marry you. I don't want to hurt you, but I don't love you, Cielo. Not like that. I'm sorry."He snorts. "This isn't about love. It has nothing to do with love.""What?" I ask, taken aback. It's not the response I expect. I was afraid I'd hurt him with those words, but that doesn't seem to be it at all.He shakes his head. "Nothing. Forget it. Look, you're tired," he says. He closes his hand around mine, the one that is holding
To Love A Monster twenty-eight
ValentinaMy mind wanders to the ball five years ago. I was seventeen, months from turning eighteen. Cielo had been away at college. He hadn't seen me since school had started, and I'd wanted to make an impression when he got home. Mira had helped me choose my dress then, too, and Dad hadn't liked it much because he'd thought it was too revealing. He'd made me wear a silk wrap, which Mira had hated, but I didn't mind. To be honest, the dress was a little lower cut than I was comfortable with, but Mira Ricci is not an easy woman to say no to.There is a pattern here. None of the Riccis take no for an answer very easily.That year I'd worn a full face, ornate mask bought from a specialty shop in Venice. It had cost a fortune, but I knew I wanted it as soon as I saw it in one of Mrs. Ricci's magazines, and I saved up. But it hadn't been Cielo who'd been surprised that night. It had been me.Nicholas Hendrick had come to the party. Not that he'd been invited, but given the masks, he'd man
To Love A Monster twenty-seven
ValentinaIt’s Saturday morning, the last weekend before Christmas. Just a few days to go.I used to love these days growing up, used to want to draw them out as long as I could. Most kids love Christmas morning. I get it. You’re anxious to get to the gifts.For me, though, it was always over too soon, and I wanted to make it last. I loved having my dad home with me and not off to his endless meetings, and for some reason, he’d talk about Mom more over the holiday. He’d tell the same stories every year and wipe away tears that didn’t lessen over time.Weirdly, I liked seeing this. It entranced me that my father loved this woman who’d given birth to me—who I had no recollection of—so very much. Mom loved Christmas, and they seem to be some of their happiest memories. I don’t think he realized how much I needed to hear those stories.Now, though, I dread it all. I wish it were over and it was January already.I sit on the edge of the bed in my apartment, a mug of coffee warming my hands
To Love A Monster twenty-six
NicholasThe top two floors of the Oasis Tower building are taken up by Russo & Ricci Enterprises. I ride the elevator to the top, watching the lights of the city below through the glass walled elevator. It’s after ten o’clock on Friday night, and the building is empty.Sly himself will be heading back to Sinistral tonight.Big night tomorrow. The Ricci annual masquerade ball will be back for the first time since the shit hit the fan with Russo. I’m sure Sly is anxious to get there and collect all those congratulations, the pats on the back, the nods of we knew it couldn’t be you bullshit because up until Horatio Russo took the plea deal and confessed to it all, those same people kept their distance from Sly Ricci, not wanting to be ensnared in his web.“Cecilia just emailed the last of the paperwork,” Nigella says, and I turn to her, having almost forgotten she was there.“Good,” I say, adjusting my tie and checking the time. “Once we get his signature, you’ll head back to Atlanta an
To Love A Monster ten
Valentina"Wait!" I call out, but he's already halfway to the house, and I'm not sure he hears me because he's laughing at something Anya said. "Cielo, wait!" I crane my neck, my back against the wall, my elbows up outside the pool edge holding me up. "Cielo!" But he goes inside without looking bac
To Love A Monster six
Valentina"What are you doing here anyway? How did you get in?" I ask."Sly's security system leaves something to be desired." He releases my hand, steps away, and I feel the loss of him like I felt the cold coming in through the open door just moments ago. It's like he takes the warmth with him, t
To Love A Monster five
ValentinaA light goes on in the cottage and I jump, remembering how he'd caught me watching them that first day when they all moved in. What he'd said to me, his cryptic message to a twelve-year-old girl:Some things are better left unknown.Thinking back on it now, it's like he was reading my fut
To Love A Monster four
ValentinaPresentI unlock the front door of my childhood home. I haven't lived here for over three years, but it's always been home. Now, though, since Dad's arrest and very public trial, since the federal agents trampled through every room, pried into every corner, and dissected every aspect of o
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