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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Valentina kicked us out of her apartment two days ago. I don't blame her. After what we told her—after shattering the truth she held onto for five years—she had every right.
I sit at my desk, staring at the crumpled letter she wrote me all those years ago. She knows the truth now, the whole twisted, messed-up truth. But that doesn't make things better. It doesn't change the fact that she's still angry, still hurt. It doesn't erase the years she spent hating me for what I had to do.
My eyes drift to the familiar words, the ones etched in my mind like a scar.
"Congratulations on your breathtaking display of betrayal. It takes a special kind of talent to ruin everything we had so spectacularly."
I let out a bitter laugh. Even knowing why I did it, the truth doesn't make those words hurt any less. She was right to feel that way. I did betray her—maybe not in the way she thought, but I still broke her heart in the worst way possible.
She understands now, but that doesn't mean she forgives me. And I get it. We kept it from her for five long years—let her believe a lie, let her live with the pain and anger, thinking I had chosen someone else over her. That I had thrown her away.
I slam the letter down on the desk, my chest tight with guilt and frustration. What I did—what we did—was to save her life, to protect her from something far worse. But in doing that, we destroyed everything between us. I thought I was saving her, but I ended up losing her anyway.
Now, she's out there somewhere, furious, betrayed, and I can't do a damn thing to fix it. I don't blame her for kicking us out. I don't blame her for the walls she's put up. She has every right to hate us for what we did, even if it was for her own good.
I push the letter aside, feeling the familiar ache settle in my chest. I still love her, and I always will, but she has every reason to never let me back in.
My phone rings, cutting through the suffocating silence in my office. I glance at the screen and see Donno's name.
"Boss, we've got a problem at the warehouse," he says, his tone urgent.
I rub a hand across my face, trying to shake off the thoughts of Valentina. "I'm on my way."
Ending the call, I push myself up from my chair, the frustration still coursing through me. I need something to focus on—anything to distract me from the mess I've made.
As I head for the door, Lucas calls out, "Where are you going?"
"There's a problem at the warehouse," I say, already moving through the hallway.
Lucas doesn't say a word, just nods and stands up, falling in step beside me. We both know the drill. Whatever's going down at the warehouse, it's going to need handling, and after the past few days, I'm ready for something I can actually control.
