Page 1 of Die for You

“You’re in so much trouble,tesoro mio.”

Calling her that is habit, a verybadhabit, one which I should break, but with Valentina, old habits die hard. Although it’s been five years, she’s a bad habit I don’t think I’ll ever kick. Looking at her now and knowing all the things we’ve done to one another over the years doesn’t change the fact that I still want her.

I hate her.

I honestly do.

But the fucked-up thing is that makes me crave her even more.

Our relationship has always been complicated. I think we’ve always hated one another more than we’ve loved. But for two fucked-up people, the hatred has us appreciating the love so much more because you cannot have one without the other.

Valentina is covered in blood.

The blood of one of my men.

She did this to make a point.

She did this to be seen.

So the question is, what does she want?

Why has the rabbit come out of hiding?

“I’ve heard you loud and clear,” I say, closing the motel door behind me. “What do you want?”

I don’t bother putting out my cigarette because I don’t plan on being here long. It’s better this way because bad things always seem to happen when Valentina and I are alone.

And considering the last time I saw her, I fucked her so hard so she’d never forget who she belongs to, it’s best if we don’t dally.

Yes, it was a stupid, dishonorable thing to do, but it’s pretty evident Valentina is bad for me, and I’m bad for her, which is why I’ve stayed away.

Well, I have for the most part. Seeing her again after so long is like a kick to my solar plexus, and I somehow have forgotten how to breathe.

And she knows it.

That arrogant smirk reveals she knows that no matter who I’m with or how many miles are between us, she will always get under my skin.

“What do you want, Valentina?” I ask again.

She runs her pointer finger over the tip of the bloody blade, that sly grin tugging at her sinful red lips. She sashays her hips as she walks over to me, a ploy she learned from the Antichrist to lure in stupid men.

Just the thought of Gianna Ricci has me wanting to hurt something. It’s because of her that we’re here.

I thought Valentina would see the light, that she would see Gianna for the lying psychopath she is. But sadly, all I see is more of Gianna in Valentina.

It shouldn’t surprise me since Gianna is her mother. A fact Valentina does not know. Well, I don’t think she does because if she did, I doubt she’d be here, doing her bidding.

The million-dollar question is, why haven’t I told her?

Gianna and I are the only two people…alive, who know the truth.

The person who told me this bombshell is dead, thanks to Gianna. She killed Aldo Cattaneo in cold blood because she knew he was the only person who could bring down her empire by telling the truth. And she believes her secret died with him.

How wrong she is.

Aldo knew that if Valentina found out the truth, she would destroy Gianna for lying to her. Aldo wanted to adopt Valentina as he knew the power she held. She has Ricci blood running through her veins. She is a Mafia princess who can change the world. He wanted her on his side.

But Gianna got to Valentina first, poisoning her.