Page 52 of Savage Hearts

“You think she’s dead?”

“No, I don’t.”

“How are you holding onto that hope, Massimo? I want to believe it,”—I shook my head—“but it’s been four months.”

He sighed and paused for a moment before speaking.

“Matias learned several men running an auction were slaughtered the night before the event. The women rescued swore it was a woman who’d set them free.”

“A woman?” I narrow my eyes at him in confusion.

“Yes, awoman. The women who were saved called her the Angelo Della Misericordia.”

His words cause me to straighten in my seat. “Angel of Mercy.And you think…”

My voice trails off as he nods his head.

“Yes. I think Carmela is alive… and I think she may have a little more Vincenzo in her than we realize.” He stands and tosses his empty bottle into the trashcan beside me. “You need to prepare yourself, Alex.When, notif, we find Carmela, she might not be the woman you remember.”

“I don’t care. I just want her back.”

“We all do.” His hand pressed against my shoulder. “We’ll find her, Alex.”

Nodding my head, I watched as he moved across the room toward his sister and wife. My body was finally mostly healed from the injuries I’d sustained when I’d been shot and shoved out of the helicopter, and I was done sitting around waiting. Pushing to my feet, I waved toward the others and headed inside the house. Massimo had spent a fortune buying up the land around Michael’s house. For the last five months, they’d been building homes for the family on the property. In addition, they’d surrounded the acreage with a massive fence meant to protect the people he loved. One of the houses was mine… and when Carmela finally came home, it’d be hers as well.

Shoving through the massive kitchen, I headed up to my room and locked myself inside. Massimo might have thought he was telling me something new, but he was wrong. I’d spent countless hours searching for any information on Carmela and had already learned about the Angel of Mercy’s killings. It took little to put two and two together. The only thing I didn’t understand was the description of the woman the women reported seeing. It didn’t match Carmela. But then again, she’d been through a devastating ordeal—perhaps she looked different now.

For now, all I could do was sit back and wait.

Eventually, I’d find Carmela… and when I did, I wouldn’t let her go.

* * *

He never gave up hope or his love…

But can she overcome her demons and learn to trust his heart?

Find if these two can find their way back to each other in Fractured Devotion.

The final book in the Anastasi Family Syndicate.

Coming 2024

bonus scene

MADISON

Fuck.

I stared down at the two pink lines glaring up at me from my palm. How in the hell had I let this happen? Sure… this family caught pregnancy like it was the flu, but I’d avoided it for years… until now.

The shit we’re dealing with has taken over every waking minute of our lives—obviously not everything, thus the positive pregnancy result I was holding onto, but still. Celestina nearly died and just came home from the hospital after giving birth to my newest niece, Emilia. This was the worst possible timing for another surprise baby.

“Madison?” Massimo called out as he snatched open the bathroom door. “Are you okay? Freddy said he took you to the drugstore because you were feeling ill.” He stepped into the bathroom, his eyes dropping to the white stick I held in my fingers. “Madison?” His eyes trailed up my body, his gaze landing on mine.

Swallowing down my nerves, I forced a smile. “Surprise?”

He blinked, confusion marring his expression. “Surprise?” He furrowed his brows in confusion. “I don’t understand. What is that?”

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