RAFAEL

"What do you mean you have Melina?" My knuckles go white around the edge of my desk as I stare at James, the bastard who dares to call himself my ally.

"I got Kimberly to help me kidnap Melina," he says, smug like he just pulled off the heist of the century.

"The woman whose apartment we're using to keep Frankie safe?"

"Yeah, she was real helpful with this whole plan—"

I'm around the desk before he can finish, my hand at his throat. "You stupid fuck. What have you done behind my back?"

"Boss!" he chokes out while he struggles to breathe, eyes wide with fear.

"Explain to me why the fuck that was a good idea!" I yell, so close to emptying my gun into his head. This pendejo has ruined everything.

Every fucking thing I've done. Frankie is going to hate me—more than she probably already does after thinking I chose revenge over her.

If only she knew I didn't.

If only she knew I sent her away because I couldn't risk losing her like I lost my mom and sister. If only she knew seeing her father try to take her scared me fucking senseless and made me realize she's the one.

She's the one I want to spend my life with. The one made for me—the only person who's made me feel genuine fear in years. Not just fear but every other emotion I thought men like me weren't capable of feeling. She brought me back to life, and now this piece of shit, James, has made everything worse than it already was.

"We would kill two birds with one stone. I get my ex-wife back, and you kill Thomas when he comes for her." His casual tone makes my blood boil.

"You fucking bastard." My fist connects with his face, the satisfying crunch of cartilage under my knuckles doing nothing to ease the rage burning through me.

"Boss!" He cups his bleeding nose.

"If you don't want me to put you in a grave, you send her back. Now!"

"Boss..." The gunshot drowns out his protest as I put a bullet through his foot. His scream echoes off the wood-paneled walls.

"The next one's in your head." I press the still-warm barrel against his temple.

"I'm going, I'm going!" He scrambles out of my office, leaving a trail of blood on my imported carpet.

The door barely has time to close before I hear more footsteps. Spinning around, ready to finish the job, I lower my gun when I see it's Julio.

"I was coming to ask how you're holding up, but I guess I don't need to." His attempt at humor falls flat in the tension-filled room.

"That bastard James kidnapped Melina. I can't imagine how worried Frankie will be when she finds out." My voice sounds raw, even to my own ears.

"Right now, that wouldn't be such a fucking bad idea." I holster my gun, my hands itching for something to destroy.

Julio smiles grimly and places a hand on my shoulder. "But seriously—how are you holding up?"

"I'm fine." I shrug off his hand, but the gesture only emphasizes the hollow feeling in my chest. Last night was the first time in weeks I'd slept without Frankie beside me, and I hadn't closed my eyes once.

"I won't push it. You're probably going through a lot right now."

"Good." I stalk to my mini-bar, grabbing a bottle of the expensive whiskey. Fuck glasses – I drink straight from the bottle, hoping the burn will drown out her memory.

"I'll leave you to it." Julio's footsteps fade, and for the first time in my life, I don't want to be alone. Being alone means my mind won't stop replaying every moment with Frankie. My hands won't stop aching to touch her soft skin, my nose searching for her sweet scent that still lingers on my sheets. My mouth won't stop craving her taste like she's the last meal I'll ever need.

Fuck, I miss her.

I fucking miss her, and it's only been one night. One fucking night.

How the hell am I supposed to spend the rest of my life without her?

I sigh and take a long swig from the bottle. I need to get drunk enough to forget how empty my world feels without her in it.

FRANKIE

I pace the room Luca designated as "mine" in this apartment, my footsteps echoing off unfamiliar walls. Hours have passed, and he still hasn't answered my questions about Rafael. The worry that's been gnawing at my gut has grown into full-blown panic. I was stupid - I knew something was off about how affectionate and open he'd been with me, but I never imagined he was planning to send me away. Why would he even do that? Having me as his captive gave him the upper hand. None of this makes sense. There's something bigger happening, something I don't understand, and I'm sure it's the reason I'm in this apartment in Sicily. The distinctive architecture outside my window made that location clear enough.

"You know, if one didn't know your sister fell in love naturally, they would believe Stockholm syndrome runs in the family," a voice cuts through my thoughts, making me spin toward the doorway.

"Kimberly," I breathe, my voice betraying my shock. She's the last person I expected to see.

She steps into the room with the kind of confidence that borders on arrogance, her sharp features twisted into a smug grin. "You and your sister do look a lot alike," she remarks, tilting her head as if studying me. "Makes sense why the fools Rafael sent took me in her place. Not that I wanted them to, but... things happen."

Her words hit like a punch to the gut, and I struggle to make sense of them. "What's going on? What are you doing here?"

Her eyes widen in mock surprise. "Wait... he didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" I snap, narrowing my eyes.

Kimberly throws her head back and laughs, the sound sharp and sinister. It sends a chill down my spine. "Wow, this just keeps getting better."

"What are you talking about?" I demand, my voice rising.

She smirks, and the malice in her expression is unmistakable. "Rafael has agreed to exchange you in place of Thomas."

Her words don't register at first, their meaning too far-fetched to believe. "I... I don't understand."

"Oh, you will." She steps closer, her smile lacking any warmth. "Your sister is going to hate you for this. It's absolutely perfect."

"What the fuck are you talking about, Kimberly?" I yell, tired of her cryptic words.

"You're here because Rafael let you go," she says simply, savoring each word like poison she knows will seep into my veins. "He chose revenge. And because of that, your sister is going to lose the love of her life—and she'll blame you for it."

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. My knees buckle, but I force myself to stand.

"No." I shake my head, my voice barely audible. I don't even know which is worse - that Rafael chose his revenge over me or that I'm the reason my sister is going to lose the love of her life.

"It's true. Why else would you be here?"

"No!" This time, it tears from my throat as a scream.

Kimberly sighs dramatically, clearly enjoying my anguish. "You know," she says, walking toward the door, "I wish it were her. I was hurting this way. But too bad—it's you. Still, I doubt she'll sit back and let you rot in Rafael's care for so long." She pauses at the doorway, looking over her shoulder. "I suggest you rest. You're going to need it."

She walks away, leaving the door ajar, and suddenly, my legs give out. I collapse to the floor, the weight of her words pressing down on me like a crushing tide.

My chest heaves as tears sting my eyes, but the pain in my heart eclipses everything else. Of course, Rafael chose revenge over me. I shouldn't be surprised. But after everything that happened this past week, I had let myself hope—hope that he might hesitate, that he might even consider me.

I was wrong. So, so wrong.

And now, because of me, my sister will lose the love of her life. She'll hate me for the rest of her days, and the thought of it tears me apart.