I drift in and out of consciousness as a bright beam of light casts over me. Through a daze, I vividly see Alessandro leaning over my body, checking every inch of me as he removes his t-shirt from his torso and uses it to cover me. “Don't give up on us, Farfalla.” He says in a voice that is laced with distress. “We found you, you're safe and Selena is going to take good care of you.” I can see him touching my body, but I can't feel him, nor can I feel the tears that are slipping through my closed eyelids. Giving up on trying to stay awake.I don’t fight to re-open my eyes and drift off, losing consciousness once again.---I do my best to peel my eyelids open, but they won't budge. I can hear voices, whispering tones, but I can't make out what they're saying. I try to focus, but the slight burning sensation that is coursing through my veins overwhelms me and I start to scream, imagining myself pulling at my hair as my entire body feels like it's on fire. “It burns! Ena, Alessandr

“Me?” She screeches, placing her open hand over her chest in utter shock. Riccardo moves to stand beside me and Savannah, waving to one of the men guarding the perimeter to come over. The man jogs over to us, “what do you need me to do?” He asks, sounding serious. “I need you to take Savannah to the kitchen and get Mia to serve her some lunch,” Riccardo orders, looking at the man sternly. "Si, sir. Right away.” He replies and takes Savannah by the hand. “Venga con me, Let’s get some food in that belly of yours.” Savannah sighs loudly as she places her hand in the man's grasp, then waves at me with a sad look on her face. I wave back, blowing her an air kiss as I watch her being led away. When we can no longer see them, Mrs DeLuca continues with the dramatics. “How dare you speak to me in such a manner, Don Valentino. I know for a fact that your Mamma taught you better manners than this. I am your mamma’s most trusted and loyal friend. Yet, you choose to stand by her, some stray

I clear my throat as I stand from the chair and step away from him.Distance. I need to keep my distance from him.“You need to stop doing that.” I breathe out emotionally. He sits on the edge of his desk, crossing his arms, and a ghostly smirk stains his annoyingly handsome face. “Why?” He asks with amusement. “You know why.” I deftly brush my fingers across my abdomen where my scar is. “This is wrong, and I am not my sister – I’m not Rose.”He snorts, “I can see that. When I look at you, I don't see or think of Rose. I see you, Ivy, and only you.” His brows knit together as he speaks, looking taken aback by his own admission.Licking my dry lips, “I can't give you what you want,” I whisper with embarrassment. "And what is it that you think I want from you, Farfalla?”“A good time?” I arch my brows, challenging him to correct me if I'm wrong.“And what's wrong with that?” “Everything. You know about my traumatic past. You are my sisters' ex-lover, and now you're…you're Savannahs

“Mi dispiace, Farfalla. But I can't share that information with you.” He says in a protective tone. I sigh, “I didn't think you would.” Which I didn't, it's not like I was holding my breath or anything.I totally was. “It's safer this way.”“And what makes you believe that? Now I'm going to be a jittery mess, forever looking over my shoulder like some crazy, paranoid woman.” I groan. “At least you'll be more aware of your surroundings.” He rubs his hands up and down my arms, sending waves of tingles down my body.“Can I at least have a gun?” I ask him anxiously, hoping he will say yes. Instead, he chuckles, “Uh, no.” He replies as if I've just asked him to marry me. He didn't bother to give my request a moment's thought.“And why not? I can’t rely on you and your henchmen to watch over me all the time” I ask with irritation slowly seeping into my veins. “It's not about why you cannot have one, Ivy.” He becomes serious as his eyes penetrate mine with ferocious intensity. “It's a

“I am a breath away from ripping your arm off, Mrs DeLuca.” Alessandro snarls in a murderous tone. I cup my stinging cheek, glaring at Mrs DeLuca with shock written all over my face, mirroring her eyes.“What the cazzo is going on?” Alessandro asks harshly, dropping her hand as he comes and stands in front of me.Mrs DeLuca gulps, her eyes darting between Alessandro and me as she remains standing in front of us in silence. “She… I… We…" “I bumped into her as I was exiting the office, and she nutted off at me.” I simply state the truth as I remove my hand from my face. “And why did you slap Miss Bishop across the face?” He growls. “She was rude, and she was telling me about-”“I accused her of eavesdropping.” I cut her off mid-sentence. Sidling up to his side, he ensnares her upper arm with a firm grip, causing her to gaze up at him with eyes brimming with sheer terror. She knows damn well what she did, and she isn't going to be able to spin her lies this time.We got eyes on he