MATTEOWhy didn't the alarm go off yet?I couldn't tell. My eyes narrowed as I watched the engineer working to mitigate potential damage to the ship. Vittorio had described it as minor, but the frantic activity in the engine room suggested otherwise.Stepping away from the engine room, I headed to the wheelhouse. "Where are we? I need our exact location," I asked the captain, sweat coating his face despite the air conditioning."That's the problem. For an hour now, we've been in the middle of nowhere, and...""An hour?" I snapped. And yet, no one had mentioned anything."Yes. We might be at risk of the ship sinking due to the storm. I predict a cyclone is on its way. We can only hope for the best," the captain said."Where's the nearest island from here?" I pressed. I didn't suppose the ship sinking had anything to do with the storm, and I doubted a cyclone was on the way."I wouldn't know," he admitted.Striding towards him, I grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him into the door. "

DEIRDRE POVI awoke to the sounds of birds chirping and flies buzzing, accompanied by a hand groping my shoulder."Wake up, Deirdre," Vittorio's unmistakable voice said, and I opened my eyes slowly.Grimacing as they felt glued together, I rubbed at them, regretting it immediately as they throbbed.Yet, I tried again."Vittorio," I murmured as soon as I could see clearly.I frowned, staring at my surroundings. I was still in the lifeboat, but it was now on a sandy beach.No, it didn't look like any ordinary beach; it resembled a remote island. I saw nothing in sight—no humans, just sand, water, and tall trees.The last thing I remembered before dozing off was us entering new territory. The storm that sank the ship seemed confined to that area, as the other side of our journey was much smoother with the storm that had occurred.Standing up, I groaned as my limbs ached from being cramped in the small space. Even though it was just the two of us, Vittorio's supplies had nearly filled the

MATTEO POVDeirdre was alive; that was all that mattered. Growing up, I vowed to keep my family away from my business and all that I did. Despite joining the gang because of them, shielding them was my responsibility.I took a liking to Deirdre not just for a child because it was never part of the agreement but for her connection to the Giussepe clan.Promising to ruin them for generations, a child between us, didn't change my feelings; I still aimed to destroy the clan through her.While instilling the same thoughts in Kendall seemed harsh, I could endure it until the last of them were down.Besides, what I had said on the ship was out of desperation; I thought I'd die, freeing her being the least I could do.Plus, I believed that the bastard that had caused the damage to the ship wasn't dead as well.After engaging in a scuffle with Javier, he caught me off guard by mentioning Kendall's name and how he planned to rip her from limb to limb.He fucking escaped from my grip, and that w

DEIRDREI lingered by the bathroom door, leaving only when I heard the sound of the door opening and closing, indicating that Matteo had likely exited the room.Taking a deep breath, I peeled off Matteo's shirt, now clinging to my body like a second skin, and headed for the shower. Turning it on, I tested the water, feeling it splatter on my feet before stepping in.As the warm water cascaded over my skin, Matteo's thoughts invaded my senses. I ran my hands through my hair, closing my eyes as my imagination ran wild. I resisted, but my desires took over.For three years after leaving Matteo, I had tried not to think about my desires for him, but it was impossible. Thoughts of him lingered, driving away any other men who came into my life. No one compared to him.Allowing my fingers to glide slowly down my body, I sighed, leaning against the shower wall. I couldn't recall the last time I had touched myself. Since having Kendall, I had convinced myself my libido was dead, but I knew bet

DEIRDREDAY THREEWould it be strange if I admitted this was my first bonfire ever? Perhaps.Despite being quite social, I'd never been to one before."Hey, bestie!" Leslie waved me over."We're not best friends," I muttered, then flashed her a wide smile, tucking a strand of my hair that swirled in the wind behind my ear.Wrapping my arms around me, I grimaced as more goosebumps formed. It was probably a bad idea to wear a teal halter neck tankini and blue denim shorts without a sweater, considering the wind.Sitting close enough to the fire to warm me but not so close to roast me, I sighed. Then, my nose wrinkled as it caught a scent other than burning wood.My mouth watered as the distinct smell of s'mores, grilled corn, and kabobs filled the air. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I had only picked at my food earlier after Matteo had seized the opportunity to tease me nonstop.It wasn't entirely his fault; I had woken up grabbing onto his dick as though I was holding on for de