Chapter 6
They say the dead don’t return. They’re wrong. I wasn’t just back–I was
hunting.
The first whispers came from the docks. A supplier went missing. Then another. Contracts were delayed, shipments ruined. Lorenzo’s empire, so untouchable before, was now riddled with cracks. And he had no idea I was the one holding the hammer.
“Rumors are spreading,” Ronan muttered beside me, his sharp gaze scanning the port. “Some of his men think you’re alive.”
I smirked, adjusting the black gloves on my hands. “Let them.”
Darius leaned against the hood of the car, watching me with amusement. “You’re enjoying this.”
I turned to him, my expression unreadable. “You think I came back just to
kill him?”
it.”
He chuckled. “No. You want him to suffer first, and I’m enjoying watching
I did. And I was just getting started.
The air inside La Rosetta was thick with cigar smoke and whiskey, the scent of power and corruption clinging to every corner. I moved through the crowd, my red dress a flame in the dimly lit club. Every step was calculated. Every glance a lure.
I found Riccardo Morelli exactly where I wanted him–sitting in the VIP lounge, surrounded by men too drunk to care about the way I slid into the seat beside him. His dark eyes landed on me, lingering, assessing.
“Who the hell are you?” His voice was rough, but there was intrigue in it.
I tilted my head, letting my lips curve into a slow smile. “Now, what fun would it be if I told you that right away?”
Riccardo chuckled, leaning back against the plush leather seat. “Mysterious, huh? I like that.”
I took the drink from his hand, bringing it to my lips without breaking eye contact. I barely tasted the burn of the liquor as I swallowed, placing the glass back in front of him. “Expensive. You must be someone important.”
His ego practically swelled. “You could say that.”
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I leaned in, my fingers tracing the rim of the glass. “Tell me, someone important, what does a girl have to do to get your attention?”
Riccardo smirked, his gaze dipping to my exposed collarbone. “You’ve already got it, sweetheart.”
I let out a soft, amused hum, swirling the drink in my hand before offering it back to him. His fingers brushed mine as he took it, his touch lingering.
“You’re dangerous,” he murmured.
I dragged a finger down his arm, slow and teasing. “And you like that?”
“I love that.” His voice was hoarse, his pupils blown wide with something between desire and intoxication.
Good.
I laughed softly, tapping a manicured nail against his glass. “Drink up, then. You’ll need it.”
Riccardo grinned, lifting the drink to his lips without hesitation. He didn’t even notice the tiny dissolving pill I had dropped in when he wasn’t looking. Didn’t notice the way my smile sharpened as he swallowed. Didn’t realize that in less than ten minutes, he’d be too dazed to think straight.
I leaned in, lips just inches from his ear. “Tell me something, Riccardo.” My breath was warm against his skin. “Do men like you ever regret the things they’ve done?”
He let out a lazy chuckle. “Sweetheart, men like me don’t have time for regrets.”
I trailed a hand down his chest. “Not even when it comes to your boss?”
His eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place. “Lorenzo?*
I smiled, resting my chin on my palm. “Mmm. You two must be close.”
He scoffed. “Close enough to know he’s a fucking idiot sometimes.”
Bingo.
I let out a soft, playful gasp, pretending to be scandalized. “Really? A man like Lorenzo De Luca? An idiot?”
Riccardo took another sip, already loosening under the drug’s effects. “Tch. He used to be sharper. Ruthless. But lately? He’s been distracted.”
I tilted my head. “By?”
Riccardo laughed, his words beginning to slur. “You know, some of his men
Chapter 6
They say the dead don’t return. They’re wrong. I wasn’t just back–I was
hunting.
The first whispers came from the docks. A supplier went missing. Then another. Contracts were delayed, shipments ruined. Lorenzo’s empire, so untouchable before, was now riddled with cracks. And he had no idea I was the one holding the hammer.
“Rumors are spreading,” Ronan muttered beside me, his sharp gaze scanning the port. “Some of his men think you’re alive.”
I smirked, adjusting the black gloves on my hands. “Let them.”
Darius leaned against the hood of the car, watching me with amusement. “You’re enjoying this.”
I turned to him, my expression unreadable. “You think I came back just to kill him?”
it.”
He chuckled. “No. You want him to suffer first, and I’m enjoying watching
I did. And I was just getting started.
The air inside La Rosetta was thick with cigar smoke and whiskey, the scent of power and corruption clinging to every corner. I moved through the crowd, my red dress a flame in the dimly lit club. Every step was calculated. Every glance a lure.
I found Riccardo Morelli exactly where I wanted him–sitting in the VIP lounge, surrounded by men too drunk to care about the way I slid into the seat beside him. His dark eyes landed on me, lingering, assessing.
“Who the hell are you?” His voice was rough, but there was intrigue in it.
I tilted my head, letting my lips curve into a slow smile. “Now, what fun would it be if I told you that right away?”
Riccardo chuckled, leaning back against the plush leather seat. “Mysterious, huh? I like that.”
I took the drink from his hand, bringing it to my lips without breaking eye contact. I barely tasted the burn of the liquor as I swallowed, placing the glass back in front of him. “Expensive. You must be someone important.”
His ego practically swelled. “You could say that.”
He Let Our Daughter Die for His Ex’s DEALS
6.91%
I leaned in, my fingers tracing the rim of the glass. “Tell me, someone important, what does a girl have to do to get your attention?”
Riccardo smirked, his gaze dipping to my exposed collarbone. “You’ve already got it, sweetheart.”
I let out a soft, amused hum, swirling the drink in my hand before offering it back to him. His fingers brushed mine as he took it, his touch lingering.
“You’re dangerous,” he murmured.
I dragged a finger down his arm, slow and teasing. “And you like that?”
“I love that.” His voice was hoarse, his pupils blown wide with something between desire and intoxication.
Good
I laughed softly, tapping a manicured nail against his glass. “Drink up, then. You’ll need it.”
Riccardo grinned, lifting the drink to his lips without hesitation. He didn’t even notice the tiny dissolving pill I had dropped in when he wasn’t looking. Didn’t notice the way my smile sharpened as he swallowed. Didn’t realize that in less than ten minutes, he’d be too dazed to think straight.
I leaned in, lips just inches from his ear. “Tell me something, Riccardo.” My breath was warm against his skin. “Do men like you ever regret the things they’ve done?”
He let out a lazy chuckle. “Sweetheart, men like me don’t have time for regrets.”
I trailed a hand down his chest. “Not even when it comes to your boss?” His eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place. “Lorenzo?”
I smiled, resting my chin on my palm. “Mmm. You two must be close.” He scoffed. “Close enough to know he’s a fucking idiot sometimes.” Bingo.
I let out a soft, playful gasp, pretending to be scandalized. “Really? A man like Lorenzo De Luca? An idiot?”
Riccardo took another sip, already loosening under the drug’s effects. Tch. He used to be sharper. Ruthless. But lately? He’s been distracted.”
I tilted my head. “By?”
Riccardo laughed, his words beginning to slur. “You know, some of his men
2 Mar w
Chapter 6-
They say the dead don’t return. They’re wrong. I wasn’t just back–I was hunting.
The first whispers came from the docks. A supplier went missing. Then another. Contracts were delayed, shipments ruined. Lorenzo’s empire, so untouchable before, was now riddled with cracks. And he had no idea I was the one holding the hammer.
“Rumors are spreading,” Ronan muttered beside me, his sharp gaze scanning the port. “Some of his men think you’re alive.”
I smirked, adjusting the black gloves on my hands. “Let them.”
Darius leaned against the hood of the car, watching me with amusement. “You’re enjoying this.”
I turned to him, my expression unreadable. “You think I came back just to kill him?”
it.”
He chuckled. “No. You want him to suffer first, and I’m enjoying watching
I did. And I was just getting started.
The air inside La Rosetta was thick with cigar smoke and whiskey, the scent of power and corruption clinging to every corner. I moved through the crowd, my red dress a flame in the dimly lit club. Every step was calculated. Every glance a lure.
I found Riccardo Morelli exactly where I wanted him–sitting in the VIP lounge, surrounded by men too drunk to care about the way I slid into the seat beside him. His dark eyes landed on me, lingering, assessing.
“Who the hell are you?” His voice was rough, but there was intrigue in it.
I tilted my head, letting my lips curve into a slow smile. “Now, what fun would it be if I told you that right away?”
Riccardo chuckled, leaning back against the plush leather seat. “Mysterious, huh? I like that.”
I took the drink from his hand, bringing it to my lips without breaking eye contact. I barely tasted the burn of the liquor as I swallowed, placing the glass back in front of him. “Expensive. You must be someone important.”
His ego practically swelled. “You could say that.”
I leaned in, my fingers tracing the rim of the glass. “Tell me, someone
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12:27 Sun, 2 Mar
important, what does a girl have to do to get your attention?”
91%
Riccardo smirked, his gaze dipping to my exposed collarbone. “You’ve already got it, sweetheart.”
I let out a soft, amused hum, swirling the drink in my hand before offering it back to him. His fingers brushed mine as he took it, his touch lingering.
“You’re dangerous,” he murmured.
I dragged a finger down his arm, slow and teasing. “And you like that?”
“I love that.” His voice was hoarse, his pupils blown wide with something
between desire and intoxication.
Good.
I laughed softly, tapping a manicured nail against his glass. “Drink up, then. You’ll need it.”
Riccardo grinned, lifting the drink to his lips without hesitation. He didn’t even notice the tiny dissolving pill I had dropped in when he wasn’t looking. Didn’t notice the way my smile sharpened as he swallowed. Didn’t realize that in less than ten minutes, he’d be too dazed to think straight.
I leaned in, lips just inches from his ear. “Tell me something, Riccardo.” My breath was warm against his skin. “Do men like you ever regret the things they’ve done?”
He let out a lazy chuckle. “Sweetheart, men like me don’t have time for regrets.”
I trailed a hand down his chest. “Not even when it comes to your boss?”
His eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place. “Lorenzo?”
I smiled, resting my chin on my palm. “Mmm. You two must be close.”
He scoffed. “Close enough to know he’s a fucking idiot sometimes.”
Bingo.
I let out a soft, playful gasp, pretending to be scandalized. “Really? A man like Lorenzo De Luca? An idiot?”
Riccardo took another sip, already loosening under the drug’s effects. “Tch. He used to be sharper. Ruthless. But lately? He’s been distracted.”
I tilted my head. “By?”
Riccardo laughed, his words beginning to slur. “You know, some of his men
are convinced his dead wife isn’t so dead after all.”
Chapter 6
12:27 Sun, 2 Mar
are convinced his dead wife isn’t so dead after all.”
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My heart clenched, but I forced a giggle, twirling a strand of my hair around my finger. “Sounds like a ghost story.”
He leaned in, his breath fanning against my cheek. “Maybe. But Lorenzo’s been off. And trust me–when Lorenzo is off, the whole empire feels it.”
I pretended to pout. “Poor thing. Maybe he needs… a distraction.”
Riccardo groaned, his head lolling back against the seat. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.”
I smiled sweetly, brushing a hand over his cheek. “And you’re drunk.”
He smirked. “Drunk on you, baby.”
I almost rolled my eyes. Instead, I traced my nails down his chest, watching as his eyelids grew heavier. Five minutes. Maybe less.
I pressed a kiss to his jaw, whispering, “Then why don’t you sit back and let me take care of you?”
Riccardo groaned in approval, slumping deeper into the couch. By the time the drug fully hit him, his head lolled to the side, his breathing slow and heavy. I ran a finger along his collar before standing, smoothing my dress as I turned
toward the exit.
“Sweet dreams, Riccardo.”
He wouldn’t remember a thing. But I would. And I wasn’t done yet. By the time the sun rose, Riccardo’s bank accounts were compromised, his trade routes altered. He wouldn’t notice until it was too late. And by then, Lorenzo’s empire would already be bleeding.
A week later, I found myself standing outside the cemetery. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I had told myself I wouldn’t come. But Amara’s grave called to me like a ghost I couldn’t escape.
My feet moved on their own, my breath shallow as I approached the small marble headstone. Then I froze. Because I wasn’t alone.
Lorenzo was there. He stood in front of our daughter’s grave, his broad shoulders tense, his head bowed. For a moment, I didn’t breathe. I had seen Lorenzo in every state–ruthless, cruel, cold. But I had never seen him like this.
Regretful. His fingers brushed over the headstone, his lips moving, but I couldn’t hear his words. I wanted to step forward. I wanted to demand to know what he was saying. But I didn’t.
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Instead, I watched. And I hated myself for the part of me that still felt something. Hated the way my heart clenched when he knelt down, his head resting against our daughter’s grave.
No. Lorenzo didn’t deserve to grieve her. He had chosen to let her die.
My fingers curled into fists, nails digging into my palms. The hatred inside me burned hotter, searing away the last piece of weakness I had left. He would suffer. I would make sure of it. And when I was done, he would lose everything. Just like I did.
Darius was waiting in the car when I returned, his gaze flicking over my tense frame. “You saw him.”
I exhaled sharply. “He doesn’t get to mourn her.”
He studied me, silent for a moment. “Grief isn’t weakness, Valeria.”
I met his eyes, my voice cold. “It is when it belongs to a man who let her die.”
12:28 Sun, 2 Mar 0
He Let Our Daughter Die
