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i strides in, Vincent's uncle, the mafia king. He strides toward me with purpose, his eyes burning with an int

ifts, thick with his presence. He turns his gaze toward Vincent, growling

ge as he yells, "What the fuck d

s, "I'm taking what's rightfully mine, away

my veins. I limp in Carter's arms, unable to hold myself up. He holds me, his grip firm but gentle against his chest

out of the room and into the waiting black sedan. The cool air hits me as the car pu

-

reign beneath my skin. I try to make sense of what happened, but the confusion is overwhelming. I glance around and

ned by Vincent for being infertile. Alone. But

"Water." I whisper weakl

a weight I can't escape. Gently, he lifts my head, his rough hands surprisingly careful as he bring

sip quietly, my body weak. His eyes never leave me

wearing black boxers, his tattooed body on full display. His muscles are lean, his dark hair messy. His

asks, his voice softer now, but

y of Vincent away, but it floods back. Th

gged me, made me sign the divorce papers, because I'm infert

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deserves everything that's coming to him. I pull Rose into my arms, letting her cry against my chest, feeling

gentle, as I stroke her hair, trying to soothe her

lightly. She wipes her face, but her hands shake. Her vo

doned, and even less so for her to leave. My grip tightens around her waist, pulling her back against me before she can pu

My stubbled jaw ticks as I fight the urge to hold her tighter, to tell her that I would never let her go. But I can't say

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ed me cope with being alone, with surviving in a world that didn't care. But I was stupid, stupid for coming to Italy, stupid for falling in love with Vincen

ed gaze. His dark eyes blaze with something I can't quite decipher: obsession,

ottom lip roughly, his touch sending a strange j

ressing down on me. London? Behind me? Can it real

? Besides, I'm your nephew's ex-wife. I don't have any reason to be with you." I try to

s hands gripping my hips as he leans back against the

r my face, mingling with the heat between us. "Because, unlike that piece of shit nephew of mine, I actually g

s painfully around my hips, pulling me flush against him. I can feel something hard press

ark eyes challenging me to