Page 1 of Stolen Seconds

Prologue

IRINA

One Year Ago

Appearances were a deception. One could alter it and hide what was inside. Emotions were the same. It was easy to manipulate and control them, swallow them into the depths of your soul.

Feeling had only ever caused me pain and the only way I avoided it from consuming me was to let it die inside of me, in the hollowness of my chest where it yearned to be fed.

Over the years, it became easier to bear, yet I sensed the strain chip at me bit by bit.

“Are you almost done?” My best friend's soft voice filtered through the door. “You never takethislong getting ready.”

With one last glance in the mirror, my hair pin straight and face marked with makeup, I pinched out a smile and exited the bathroom.

“Oh, yeah?” I cocked an eyebrow at her. “How would you know now that we live miles and miles apart?”

Aurora scowled at me, green eyes narrowing in distaste. Although she knew my joke was lighthearted, it was a bitter one.

My partner in crime had the misfortune of dealing with circumstances she couldn’t avoid or change. Hence, why she moved back to her hometown in Italy, married to a made man, no less.

It was my first time in the colorful country and when I arrived a week ago, tension I had thought would diminish from seeing her, only intensified with the horrible situation she was in.

“Too far?”

“Miles and miles,”she sighed.

It was my last day with her before I flew back home to New York and I intended to make the most of it.

Home hadn’t been the same since Aurora left. She was a constant in my life and possibly the only one capable of stitching that hollowness inside my chest. And as soon as I understood that, I held on in hopes of one day waking up to feelnormal.

“Well, I’m ready for the spontaneous day ahead of us.” I linked my arm with hers. “Shall we?”

Aurora huffed incredulously, trying and failing to appear annoyed, but I spotted the slight grin stretching across her face.

She patted my arm. “The only thing that bastard of a man did right was allow you to visit.”

Bastard of a man, being her husband, Roman Mancini.Donof the Cosa Nostra.

That would’ve scared an ordinary person, but I truly gave zero fucks about who he was. Besides, I knew of Aurora’s upbringing, her past, and family. I was only sorry that she was sucked back into this world that she worked hard to escape.

“Key word being bastard.”

The morning and afternoon were spent stuffing our faces with Italian delicacies and shopping at luxurious boutiques.

Italy was utterly breathtaking; the landscapes of the cities and ancientness of its architecture were awe inducing.

It was how I ended up dragging Aurora to a private event. It beckoned me to have a peek inside.

The white building was ethereal, enticing me with its gold detailing to enter.

“Irina, we can’t cut in line!”

Aurora never took risks unless I forced her into it. Considering where she was at this point in her life, a small act of mischievousness would do her good.

I admit, adrenaline gave me a high that I constantly chased. It grounded me, allowing me to block the impending spiral of chaos. Every fix left me wanting more, eager to numb the empty space between my ribs.

“Sure, we can,” I retorted. I usually got my dose from less respectable places, but this would do.

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