~Salvatore's POV
The man deserved every bullet. I did not feel guilt, not even a trace of it.
If anything, what stayed with me was the anger. Betrayal always did that to me. It was not just the act itself; it was the insult behind it. The assumption that I would not find out. That I would not respond. I always responded. Five shots to the head were not overkill.
It was a message.
I left him where he fell, blood spreading across the floor in a slow, quiet way, like even death understood it had no right to be dramatic in my presence. My men handled the rest. They always did.
"Drive me to the party," I said to Matteo.
Matteo's brow lifted just a little, then a knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"The one Livia invited you to?" he asked.
I did not answer immediately.
"That would be the one," he added, almost amused now. "She must want to show you off badly."
A quiet scoff left me before I could stop it.
"Drive," I said simply.
His smile did not fully fade, but he nodded anyway.
"Of course, boss."
He stepped aside to open the car door, and I got in without another word.
Moments later, the engine started.
And we drove. By the time we got to the party, there was no sign of what I had done. The place looked like something out of a dream. Soft lights hanging from trees, polished cars lined up like they had been arranged for a photograph, and people moving around as if they had never known a hard day in their lives.
I stepped out, adjusting my cuff slightly, my expression already set into something neutral.
Matteo was the first to approach.
"Boss," he said, his tone respectful, his head dipping just slightly.
I glanced at him. "Everything is in place?"
"Yes," he replied quickly. "Security is tight. No issues."
Then he stepped aside, letting me pass. Matteo knew his place. He always had.
"Salvatore."
Livia called out. She moved toward me quickly, like she had been waiting, and before I could react, her arms wrapped around me. The embrace was familiar, practiced, but I did not return it.
Instead, I placed a hand lightly on her arm and eased her away.
She did not look offended. If anything, she smiled, as if she expected it.
"You came," she said, her eyes scanning my face like she was checking something.
"You invited me," I replied.
"That does not mean you always come," she said lightly, then slipped her hand around my arm without waiting for permission. "The party has already started."
I let out a quiet breath but did not pull away again. She handed me a glass of champagne that she was holding and pressed it into my hand.
"I had a drink already,"
"At least pretend you are enjoying yourself." she said.
I glanced at the glass, then at her, but said nothing as I took a slow sip.
The music was low, controlled, the kind that made conversations easier and movements smoother. Livia stayed too close. She spoke, introduced me to people I did not care to remember, her hand occasionally brushing against my arm like she was reminding everyone I was hers to present.
I drank just one glass. Not enough to lose control, but enough that the sharp edge in my mind began to dull slightly. Few minutes later, I started feeling tipsy, which is unusual.
The night had already been long. Too many faces, too many fake smiles, too many useless conversations. I had stepped out of the main hall earlier, already done with the noise, and that was when Livia found me.
"Leaving already?" she had asked, her voice soft, practiced.
"I'll be in my room," I told her, not bothering to look at her for long.
She nodded quickly, like she had been waiting for that answer. "Alright… I'll join you soon. Suite 204."
I didn't reply. I just walked away, or at least… I tried to walk straight.
Because by the time I got to my suite, the alcohol had started settling in a way I didn't like. It wasn't strong enough to knock me out, but it was enough to make everything feel slightly off. I pushed the door open, stepped inside, and shut it behind me, then I loosened my collar as I moved toward the bed.
The room felt too quiet. I dropped onto the bed without thinking twice, one arm resting over my eyes as I exhaled slowly.
Just a glass, I thought, and yet my head felt heavier than it should have.
But before I could think about another thing, a loud banging sound hit the door.
My eyes snapped open instantly.
I stayed still for a second, listening.
Then it came again. I let out a sharp breath, already irritated.
"Do you have a death wish?" I called out, my voice rough and cold, expecting whoever it was to stop immediately.
But the banging didn't stop, if anything… it got worse.
That was when I pushed myself up, ignoring the dizziness that followed, and walked to the door with slow, controlled steps.
The moment I pulled it open, I saw a lady. Her hair slightly messy, her breathing uneven, her eyes… unfocused but stubborn at the same time.
That should have been the point where I threw her out. But I didn't. And that… was the problem.
Because after that moment, everything blurred. I remember the door closing, I remember her voice… arguing, insisting the room was hers.
The heat in the room… or maybe it wasn't the room, a face too close, and then, darkness.
Morning came like punishment.
My head was pounding before I even opened my eyes, a deep, heavy ache that made it hard to think, hard to breathe properly.
I let out a low breath and forced myself to sit up slowly, my hand pressing against my temple.
"What the hell…"
I blinked, trying to adjust to the light, and that was when I noticed it. I was completely naked.
I frowned immediately, my mind trying to piece things together, but it wasn't working. Everything felt… distant. Like trying to remember a dream that slipped away the moment you woke up.
I dragged a hand down my face, exhaling sharply.
"Think."
There was a party, champagne, Livia, and then… a lady. I paused because I remembered kissing someone. I could remember the closeness.
But nothing else made sense.
"Matteo," I called out, my voice low but firm despite the headache.
The door opened almost immediately, like he had been waiting.
"Good morning, boss," he said as he stepped in, but his expression shifted slightly when he looked at me properly. "You don't look fine."
"I'm not," I replied shortly, swinging my legs off the bed.
"I had champagne. One glass." I paused, my jaw tightening slightly. "And after that… I couldn't control myself."
That alone was enough to irritate me.
"I was with someone here yesterday, and I need to find out what really happened to me. Get the staff," I added, already standing up despite the discomfort.
"Wasn't it Livia?" Matteo asked.
"No," I cut in immediately, my tone leaving no room for argument. "It wasn't her. I didn't even get the chance to get her name all because of that damn champagne!"
Matteo nodded without hesitation and left immediately.
I dressed quickly, my movements sharp and efficient, even though my head still throbbed, and by the time the staff arrived, I was already seated, waiting.
"I need the guest lists and the CCTV footage from this room," I said coldly, not wasting time. "Last night."
One of the staff nodded. "Yes, sir."
They left quickly after that, and the room fell quiet again.
I leaned back slightly, my gaze fixed ahead, my mind still trying to catch something… anything.
They returned with a laptop and the guest about thirty minutes later. I was watching the footage.
I watched the lady leave the room, her steps unsteady, a flicker of panic on her face. I froze the frame, zoomed in, and memorized her features.
"Got you," I muttered.
"Matteo," I said.
"Find her."