ManyWriters

"You're a weapon, Alessia. You're strong enough to survive this."
To save the family's cherished adopted daughter, Isabella, my fiancé Marco handed me over to our Russian rivals.
My own father, Don Falcone, saw my sacrifice as a small price for a truce.
My only hope was Luca, my childhood friend, who swore he'd bring me home.
He lied.
A week later, as I was being psychologically broken, I was forced to know a lavish party at the Falcone villa to celebrate Marco and Isabella’s engagement.
The Bratva leader saw it as an insult and left me to die in a fire.
But I was reborn from the ashes.
This time, when Marco knelt and begged me to go, I simply said, "Fine."
Now, five years later, Marco and Luca look at me with haunted eyes, begging for the girl I was.
"I’m not Alessia."
"And I’m already married."
My debt is paid.
Now, it's time to collect theirs.

Love Blooms From Embers

The black queen was beautiful, and deadly. Dante had carved it for me.


I thought for a long time before I slowly began to speak, recounting our silent life together.


Finally, I placed the chess piece on the cold marble slab.


Looking back, I saw a field of identical, nameless tombstones covering the hillside.


I took out our wedding photo and smiled as I spoke to my Dante:


"This life was too short. It wasn't enough."


"In the next one, let's meet earlier. You can pursue me, and I will say yes. We will be the most ordinary couple in the world, growing old together from our youth."


In the photo, Dante's eyes were crinkled at the corners in a smile, as if agreeing with me.


Chapter 11