Book two of 'The Vengeance Duology'
Five years ago, the lads and I made the biggest mistake of our lives-a reckless decision that shattered everything.
We destroyed what mattered most, but my deepest regret is how much I hurt her.
Every moment of pa...
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I must admit, ever since that talk with Valentina on the beach, I've been stuck in my own head a lot. Replaying every moment, every word. That look in her eyes—it was like she'd already made up her mind. I'm really starting to doubt I'll ever get her back. Part of me wonders if I even deserve to.
Oh, and Tom? Yeah, he knows about our past now. I overheard them. It wasn't exactly an argument, more like Valentina telling him straight up that me and her used to be a thing. He got pissed, naturally, but she snapped at him before he could even properly react. After that, he went quiet.
The worst part? I can't stop thinking about her. Even after all these years, the feelings don't go away. She's everywhere—whether I want her to be or not. But after that conversation on the beach, I can feel it slipping away. The distance between us growing wider.
I need to tell her the truth. We all do. Yes, she seems to be warming up to us slightly, but what if she switches? What if we never get the chance to explain? This isn't about me anymore; it's about my best friends getting their sister back. And I'm not just talking about Nicco and Gio—I'm talking about Theo and Lucas, too. They didn't speak to me for a year after we did what we did. Said there were better ways to handle it.
I wish there had been another way. But we couldn't risk it. Not then. Not when they were on the line.
A knock on the door sounds. "Alessio, can you get that for me? It's Bella," Estelle shouts from the bathroom. I roll my eyes, walking over to the door and pulling it open. Sure enough, Bella's standing there, flashing a sultry smile. It's grating.
"Hi, Bella," I say, stepping aside to let her in. I've known this girl for about a year now, though not by choice. She's Estelle's best friend, or at least that's what Estelle thinks. In reality, I'm sure Bella's just using that friendship to get to me—because she's tried. Hard.
The first time was right after we'd all come back from the club. I'd stayed sober, knowing I had business in the morning, as had the lads. Estelle and Bella, though? They were a different story—both wasted. I was half-asleep when I felt someone crawl into bed beside me, draping an arm over me like we were something. Of course, I kicked her out straight away, but that hasn't deterred her one bit.
Bella saunters in, her top practically non-existent and shorts that leave little to the imagination. She leans casually against the doorframe, her gaze fixed on me like I'm the only thing in the room worth paying attention to.
"So... what are you up to tonight, Alessio?" she asks, her voice dripping with flirtation as she steps closer. "I was thinking we could have some fun, maybe just the two of us?" She bites her lip in what I'm sure she thinks is seductive.
I sigh, trying not to sound as irritated as I feel. "I've got some work to do later," I say flatly, making it clear that I'm not interested. I glance at the clock, hoping Estelle would hurry up and save me from this situation.
