Page 24 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

BELLA: Hey, famous. I’m great. How’re you?

ME: I can’t decide if I’m having a meltdown or am happy. Are the kids asleep?

BELLA: Not yet. They’re in the living room watching cartoons, but their eyes are already drooping. Don’t tell me you’re feeling down because of the comments on your Instagram.

Ah, that too. A while ago, one of my videos sparked a lot of serious comments. Once in a while, my comment section goes crazy, with different people airing their opinions on how I achieve my success. After all, the Rossi family is famous for so many top establishments—hotels, real estate companies and more. And somehow, carrying that name cancels out all my hard work.

I briefly contemplate whether I should name all my problems or drop them, but I decide on the latter. Today is for checking up on her.

ME: No. Just normal business stress. Tell the kids I miss them.

BELLA: We miss you, too. But you totally killed it today. The teaser pics look amazing. I’m so proud of you.

Warmth settles in my chest.

ME: Aww. We should hang out soon. TTYL.

Bella sends a heart emoji and a photo of the twins sprawled across the couch, one with a blanket halfway off, the other clutching a stuffed dinosaur.

I trace the screen with my thumb, letting the ache of missing them bloom quietly. More than anything, I’m happy that she finally found love with Dominic, one of the most powerful mafia dons in New York—even if it took the universe rearranging everyone’s plans to get her there. Funny how the life she never asked for turned out to be exactly the one she was always meant to have. I’m glad that fate finally rewarded a girl who once doubted anyone would ever choose her, after all the hell she’s been through.

And that’s why I refuse to tell her about the death threats. I know she’d jump in and offer me protection through her husband’s mafia, but I don’t want my calamity to befall them.

I set the phone down, exhale slowly, and glance at Adrian through the rearview mirror. His jaw is still clenched, knuckles still pale around the armrest, rage simmering under his skin like a living creature.

And yet… he protected me today in a way no one ever has.

He senses me watching and turns his head slightly. Our eyes meet for a split second. The connection is sharp enough to steal the breath straight from my lungs, but he looks away again.

I sink back into my seat, my heart thudding softly, and stare out the tinted window as the city lights blur past. There’s so much I want to say to him, so many questions burning holes in my ribs, but the words stay locked behind my teeth.

Instead, I close my eyes and whisper into the dark leather interior, “I don’t know why it feels like you’re the only one who truly sees me.”

He doesn’t hear it, or maybe he does, but as usual, he chooses to remain silent. And I don’t know why that both terrifies and thrills me.

My phone buzzes. I think it’s Bella, but when I glance at the screen, my blood runs cold. It’s a text from an unknown number.

We’re coming for you.

Chapter eight

Adriano

My fists are meant for jaws and throats, to make men understand where they stand and who owns the ground beneath their feet.

Serving a mafia princess wasn’t in the plan when I was pulled out of the rubble of death and swore to hunt down the bloodline of all the men involved. Still, I’m walking around playing guard and running errands instead of lurking in the shadows of my prey, harvesting their souls like the grim reaper.

She asked me to fucking get her towels, for God’s sake!

Scowling at the pool house attendant who’s busy applying lip gloss, I slam my hand down on the counter.

“There should be at least one fucking towel you can find.”

Her eyes widen as the tube drops from her hand. She chuckles nervously, excuses herself, and disappears into a corner.

I’ve been standing here for close to seven minutes, waiting for fresh towels because this fucking pool house decided they’re out of fresh towels and the supplier is still on the way.

Fuck knows why Elena made us come all the way to this private pool instead of simply using their own fucking huge pool at the mansion.