As we race away in the car, a storm of anger and fear swells inside me. How could she be so reckless? How could she risk everything like that?
When the empty road stretches before us, I slam on the brakes, my heart pounding in my chest. I throw the...
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Returning to New York felt like stepping back into a different world, but the weight on my shoulders remained the same. The moment my plane touched down, I couldn’t shake the tension that had followed me all the way from Naples. Gio was out there, playing his game, and I had to be ready for whatever move he made next.
The drive back to my mansion was quiet. Matteo and Antonio sat in the back with me, each lost in their own thoughts. I knew they were just as concerned as I was, but we had to keep our focus. Gio was always a few steps ahead, and this time, the stakes were even higher.
As soon as we arrived, I wasted no time. An emergency meeting with my most trusted men was already set up in the conference room. We needed to regroup, discuss what we learned—or failed to learn—in Italy, and strategize for what was to come.
I walked into the room, my men already seated around the long table, eyes sharp and ready. They knew the situation was serious. I took my place at the head of the table, glancing at each of them before I spoke.
“Italy was a bust,” I began, voice hard. “Gio’s playing us, making sure we can’t track him. But we know he’s here now. And that makes him dangerous. He’s already made his move. We need to be prepared for whatever comes next.”
The room was silent, tension thick in the air.
“I want everyone on high alert. No mistakes, no slipping up. Gio won’t stop until he gets what he wants, and we’re not giving him the chance. Stay vigilant, keep your eyes and ears open. Anything—any clue, any sighting of him—comes directly to me.”
I paused, glancing at Matteo and Antonio. “You two will stay back here with me for now. We need to regroup, and I’ll need both of you to keep a close watch on everything.”
They both nodded in agreement.
“And,” I added, turning to one of the bodyguards, “I need you to pick up Chiara and bring her to the mansion. No questions, just get her here safely.”
The man nodded before swiftly exiting the room.
Chiara. I hadn’t seen her since I left for Italy, and the thought of her being alone now, especially with Gio in the picture, gnawed at me. I needed her close, where I could keep an eye on her. She was smart, but she didn’t know how dangerous Gio could be. Not yet.
Once the meeting ended, Matteo, Antonio, and I stayed behind, the tension between us palpable. Antonio leaned forward, breaking the silence first.
“We’ve looked into that Adam guy,” he said, voice low. “There’s no one by that name in the FBI, at least not anyone connected to us.”
I frowned, feeling a knot tighten in my gut. “No one at all?”
“No one,” Antonio confirmed. “But if we ask Chiara for a description, we might be able to piece together who he really is. I have a bad feeling about this.”
I nodded, agreeing with him. There was something off about the whole situation. The timing, the mysterious threat—it didn’t sit right with me. “We’ll ask her when she gets here.”
Matteo and Antonio exchanged glances, before leaving the room and I could see they were just as uneasy as I was. This was bigger than we thought, and the more time passed, the more it felt like we were walking right into a trap.
After a while, I heard the faint sound of a car pulling up outside, followed by the familiar sound of Chiara’s voice as she entered the mansion. The second I saw her, a wave of relief washed over me. Without thinking, I crossed the room and pulled her into my arms, hugging her tightly. She smelled like vanilla and something sweet, and I found myself breathing her in, grounding myself in her presence.
She laughed softly against my chest, her voice teasing. “Missed me?”
I pulled back just enough to see her face. “You have no idea, tuono.”
She looked up at me, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Clingy".
I smirked, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “Yes I am.”
She rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face softened as she hugged me back. “I love it.”
She tried to say something, but I couldn’t resist. Before she could get the words out, I kissed her, deep and slow, lifting her off the ground as I carried her toward my desk. I set her down on the edge, not breaking the kiss until she was sitting there, her legs wrapped around me.
“I missed you,” I murmured against her lips.
She grinned, her fingers sliding into my hair. “I can tell.”
I pulled back slightly, my hands resting on either side of her. “You were saying something?”
“Nothing important,” she said with a cheeky grin, pulling me back in for another kiss.
We spent a few moments in that teasing back-and-forth, her laughter mingling with the pounding of my heart. It was easy, natural, the way we moved around each other. But the weight of everything going on pressed down on me again, and I couldn’t ignore it anymore. She must’ve sensed it too, because she pulled back slightly, her brow furrowed.
“Something’s bothering you,” she said quietly. “What is it?”
I hesitated for a moment. I didn’t want to burden her with the details of Gio just yet. She didn’t need to know how dangerous this was becoming. Not yet.
“It’s nothing, tuono,” I said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Just business.”
Before she could press further, Matteo and Antonio walked into the room, smirking as they took in the scene in front of them. Chiara quickly slid off the desk, clearing her throat as she tried to act nonchalant. But the amused looks on their faces said it all.
Matteo raised an eyebrow. “We interrupting something?”
I shot him a glare, but couldn’t stop the smirk from tugging at my lips. “Shut up.” Antonio looked at her and asked " Chiara, we want few details about Adam."
Chiara straightened, trying to regain her composure. “What about Adam ?” she began, and we all fell into a more serious tone.
“Can you describe him?” I asked, leaning against the desk now, all business.
She nodded, thinking for a moment. “He was tall, around 6'2, maybe. Brown hair, blue eyes… and he had this scar on his right eyebrow. It stood out.”
The moment she said that, a chill ran down my spine. I exchanged a glance with Matteo and Antonio, both of them going rigid as the realization hit us all at once.
Gio.
Chiara noticed the change in our expressions and frowned. “What? What is it?”
Matteo pulled out his phone, quickly scrolling through his gallery before showing her a picture. “Is this the guy?”
Chiara looked at the photo and nodded without hesitation. “Yeah, that’s him.”
The room went deathly silent. The color drained from Chiara’s face as she looked between us. “Who is he?”
I swallowed hard, the name barely escaping my lips. “Gio.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Your brother?”
I nodded, my mind already racing a million miles an hour. Gio had already started his game, and I didn’t know where or when the next strike would come. But one thing was clear—this wasn’t just a simple rivalry anymore. This was war.
“He’s dangerous,” I said quietly, my voice cold with determination. “And now that he’s made his move, I’m not backing down. I’m going to win this game, tuono. I don’t care what it takes.”
Because in this world, only one of us could come out on top. And it sure as hell was going to be me.
