Lissy Romano

65| Pissing me off.

Vincenzo Romano

I did everything to keep her safe. Yet I failed—again. I've kept her shielded from enemies more powerful and dangerous than most can even imagine. But I can't protect her in that fucking school.

I can't even keep her safe from schoolboys.

What the actual fuck? Am I a mafia don or some weak, useless excuse of a brother?

She's not going back to that school. Not again. Every time she's there, something bad happens. I don't care what excuses anyone makes—that place isn't just bad for her, it's destroying her.

They're damaging her self-esteem, breaking down her mental health. That's not the kind of life I wanted for my baby sister. That's not what school is supposed to do.

I wanted her to have a normal school experience, like we all did. Something carefree, with memories she could look back on and smile about. But no—these assholes have to hurt her.

Hurt me. Hate me. Do whatever you want to me, but leave her out of it. She's a kid—a kid with a horrible past she didn't deserve. And even now, when I'm here, I still can't protect her.

It makes my blood boil.

When Dante called, I thought it was to confirm Xander's death. But no. He told me they hadn't found him yet.

"Dante, I don't give a single fuck. You know that. Find him. Kill him. And make sure everyone knows what happens when they mess with our sister," I said, my jaw clenching so tight I thought my teeth might crack.

"He's a traitor," Dante began. "He was working with the Orlov family from the start. And there's something else—something you're not going to like."

"I'm listening," I snapped, sinking into my chair, already dreading what he'd say.

"He's Viktor Orlov's illegitimate son. He's not Xander Greco. He's Alexander Orlov. Does that make sense now? Our Russian enemy. And that's not even the worst part," Dante continued.

I dragged a hand down my face, my frustration mounting. "Tell me everything."

"He's obsessed with Lissy," Dante said, his voice shaking with disgust. "His apartment? It's covered with her pictures. He has notes about her—what she eats, what she wears, where she goes, every single thing she does. It's all in his diary. And..." Dante's voice faltered.

"What else?" I growled, needing to know what Xander had planned. The key to winning is always being two steps ahead.

Dante hesitated before continuing.

"I quote," Dante said, his voice laced with barely restrained fury. "'I imagine her naked in front of me. She would suck my dick and kiss me afterward. Just imagine. And I don't even have to imagine—I have pictures of her being naked in bed. She was drugged, and the guy I paid took photos of her for me. She makes me hard whenever I think about her. It's not my place to touch her, but I know that if she's drugged, she won't resist. I would fuck her nonstop.'"

Dante stopped, his voice shaking. "I can't read this anymore, Vincenzo. I feel sick. There are pictures too. Fuck, I can't even look at them."

My mind went blank. My rage burned hotter than anything I'd ever felt before. This wasn't just sick—it was evil.

The bastard who drugged Lissy? He's already dead. Dante killed him. But now it all made sense. Back then, we couldn't get information from him because Dante killed him too quickly. Now we know why.

Xander didn't physically assault her that way, but he violated her in the worst possible way. He used her vulnerability, her innocence. He had pictures of my baby sister—my baby sister—naked and drugged. And she couldn't fight back.

I slammed my fist into the desk, the wood splintering under my hand.

The phone call ended with Dante promising he'd find him, but I knew it wouldn't be easy. The Orlov family is smart and ruthless. They don't give up easily.

If they touch her again, it's war. No, scratch that—it's already war.

Touch my family, and you die. That's the rule. You touch my sister, and you don't just die—you suffer. I'll feed you to dogs—not Jax, though. He's Lissy's sweet little puppy.

Still, I couldn't stop replaying everything Dante told me. Xander's obsession, the photos, the way he talked about her.

My heart shattered at the thought of Lissy going through all of that. She's the light of our lives, the purest soul in a world full of darkness. How could anyone want to hurt her?

When she smiles, it's like the whole world lights up. Her voice is music, her presence is warmth. She's an angel.

And then it hit me—I hadn't checked on her yet tonight.

I went upstairs, quietly opening the door to her room, only to freeze.

Matteo was asleep in her bed. Jax's playpen was empty. Her shoes, her jacket, her backpack—gone.

My heart stopped. She ran away.

"Fuck," I muttered, shaking Matteo awake. "Get up. She's gone."

Panic swept through the house as we called everyone we knew, sending them out to search. If the Orlovs find her first... No. I can't even think about that.

I can't imagine what they'll do to her. She's been through too much already—more than anyone should ever endure. If they get to her first, I don't think she'll ever recover.

"What would make her run away?" I muttered to myself.

"Enzo... I think it's because I slipped up earlier. I mentioned killing Xander in front of her. Maybe she pieced it together," Matteo said hesitantly.

"You think?" I shot back, my voice filled with frustration. Then my stomach sank. "No... she would've asked. Wouldn't she?"

I dialed her number, praying she'd pick up. She didn't. I sent her a message instead:

Me:
Lissy, I'm not mad at you. I know you have questions, and I'll answer all of them. Please, come home. You're in danger. Xander is our Russian enemy. Please call me, sweetheart.

Then it hit me. The location tracker on her phone. If she hasn't turned it off, I can find her.

I will find her.

No matter what it takes, I'll bring her home.

____________________
Vote and Comment