In the heart of a modern city, two rival families hold the power. Valentina, a fiercely loyal daughter, and Matteo, a cunning and determined son, find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous feud. But when their paths unexpectedly intertwine, th...
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I slammed the door behind me, barely controlling the rage that was bubbling under my skin. My father's words about Vito's fury were still ringing in my head. I dialed Vito's number, each ring pushing me closer to snapping.
When he answered, the explosion came before I could even speak.
"You better have some good news for me, Matteo," Vito barked. "Because right now, I'm ready to fucking bury you."
"I'm working on it," I said, my voice taut. "I'll get the shipment back, I'll fix this."
"Working on it? You lost a shipment worth millions! Millions, Matteo!" Vito's voice cut like a knife. "Do you know how bad this makes me look? Makes your father look?"
I gritted my teeth, trying to stay calm. "I know, Vito. I get it—"
"No, you don't get it!" He didn't let me finish. "This was supposed to be simple. You were supposed to handle it, to show everyone you could be trusted. Now I've got people doubting whether you're even capable of running shit! You've embarrassed me, you've embarrassed your father."
My grip on the phone tightened, but I forced the words out. "I know. But I'll fix it. You have my word."
"Your word?" Vito practically spat. "Your word means nothing now, Matteo. You're done."
The call went dead. I stood there for a moment, staring at the shattered silence. Then the anger exploded inside me.
I tossed my phone across the room, watching it crash against the wall and shatter, pieces scattering like my thoughts.
Vito's words circled my head, relentless. Done. Untrustworthy.
I couldn't stand the suffocating feeling. I needed to clear my mind—no, I needed to escape it, just for a bit.
My hands were shaking as I reached into the drawer by my bed, pulling out a small, hidden stash.
The joint between my fingers was familiar, almost comforting, as I lit it and inhaled deeply.
The smoke filled my lungs, but the tension didn't ease.
Not enough. I needed something stronger.
I grabbed the small vial sitting next to it. I knew I shouldn't, but fuck it—I couldn't think, not right now. A thin line of white powder was all it took to numb the edge.
I snorted it in one smooth motion, the burn in my nose almost welcome, reminding me I was still here, still alive.
Leaning back against the headboard, I closed my eyes, letting the haze take over. It dulled the sharpness of the anger, blurred the edges of Vito's voice in my mind.
The tension in my body started to ease as the high settled in, my pulse slowing down, thoughts quieting.
But even in the fog, the image of Camilla gnawed at me. She didn't understand how much I'd sacrificed, how hard I'd worked for this.
