Ruin Me

VALENTINA

I knew I shouldn’t have come back here.

Among all these people dressed in black with their heads bowed in respect were men whose hands were stained with blood.

Most of them were enemies, and any wrong move meant bloodshed.

It was glaringly obvious that I didn’t belong among them.

The mafia.

At my hiccup, I watched a few of my mother’s friends throw disapproving glances my way before returning to their whispered gossip and condolences to my wailing mother.

I scoffed.

She didn’t even love him, so why all this drama?

Don Alessandro Romano… my father had been a monster, even to his wife.

It was honestly a surprise I had been allowed to attend his funeral, especially since the last time he had seen me was six years ago.

On my sixteenth birthday.

The day all I had asked for was my freedom and he had given it to me at the cost of my last name.

I left home that day with nothing.

My eyes drifted to the framed picture of my beloved brother standing beside my father’s.

Victor Romano, his supposed heir apparent.

I scoffed, he was no better than his father.

They both got exactly what they deserved… It was only too bad I wasn’t there to see them die.

The last gunshot rang through the air and that meant my time here was almost over as both caskets had now been lowered into the ground.

“I pray they rest among the saints,” the priest said solemnly and an amen echoed from every loyal member of the Romano empire alongside their allies.

Saints?

As if.

They were surely rotting in hell where they belonged.

I couldn’t help but glare at all these hell candidates pretending they had lost saints while I tried not to scream from the sheer irony of it all.

My father had built this empire on blood and trafficking young girls and when Victor had come of age… I had watched him walk down that same path.

This was the result.

My eyes trailed over the bowed heads and my heart skipped a beat.

Because I met his gaze.

The other reason I never wanted to return to this hellhole.

Massimo DeLuca.

He hadn’t changed much.

And apparently neither had my feelings for him because I couldn’t believe that simply catching him staring had sent my heart racing.

His eyes held mine as he slowly looked me over, his face devoid of emotion.

My ex-best friend’s father.

The man who had stolen my heart when I was fourteen.

Six years later, he still looked infuriatingly handsome enough to make me question what Silas and I shared.

That didn’t mean I rated him any more, he was just like all the others.

I had the most annoying childhood crush on him until the night he brought me back home and aided in making the little time I had spent there absolute hell.

I knew I shouldn’t have but my curiosity couldn’t help but stare at the splitting image of him standing beside him.

Cassian DeLuca.

He too, like his father, was staring at me with a knowing smile on his face.

Some humiliations did not need sequels.

When I left six years ago, my foolish younger self had secretly hoped he would abandon the legacy he was meant to inherit and come with me, but I didn’t rather… at least not to him.

He had betrayed the trust we shared and ratted me.

Just the mere thought of it made my jaw tighten.

He too was just like them.

My phone vibrated and with both their gazes still on me, I quietly walked away.

Silas: I’m already on my way, baby… I should be there in less than an hour.

For the first time since stepping onto this estate, a smile touched my face.

Just one more miserable hour in this mausoleum and I would be back in my apartment with my fiancé, my dog… leaving every trace of this nightmare behind me.

“How are you holding up Tina?”

I glanced sideways at the caller.

Just when I thought I had become invisible.

I was damn hungry.

But I wasn’t about to stir up trouble so I feigned an emotion I wasn’t familiar with and gave a polite response until she walked away.

I flashed a fake smile at the other gossips approaching me before slipping out and heading to the kitchen.

I might as well quench my hunger before heading home.

Every eye that landed on me was accessing and condescending.

I just couldn’t wait for this day to end.

Quietly, I made my way toward the back kitchen, avoiding the main hall where more guests had gathered.

I didn’t want condolences nor did I want to be part of my mother’s dramatic mourning.

And if I was being honest with myself… I did not want to run into the DeLucas.

“Valentina won’t like this.”

I froze.

Mom.

I paused just outside the back door.

“No one cares what anyone likes here. That spoiled brat has failed her family in more ways than I can count, she’ll have to step up now.”

Apollo Romano, the empire’s elder.

I rolled my eyes.

I no longer bore that name—not even on paper—so as far as I was concerned, the only Romano left was my mother.

“She is the only Romano left with a legitimate claim,” Apollo added, causing me to scowl.

I no longer bear that name… not even on paper so as far as I was concerned, the only Romano with a legal claim there was my mother.

Gretchen lowered her voice, “Even though I can already tell whether the answer will be, what happens if she refuses him?”

I frowned.

What the hell were they talking about?

Who was I refusing?

There was a pause before Apollo gave a humorless chuckle.

“Massimo DeLuca has waited long enough, and we both know we cannot insult him now by allowing her to throw one of her stupid tantrums.”

Every muscle in my body went rigid.

Waited long enough for what?

Me?

Coming back home had been for Massimo?

Was that why they had both been staring at me like that?

“Deny it all you want but I know her.” My mother added, “She can be so stubborn…”

Apollo cut her off.

“You keep talking as though she has a choice in this. When you signed that contract with Massimo and sold her off…”

My blood ran cold.

“…did you ask Valentina for permission?”

What?

“Then get her ready for the wedding, Gretchen!”