Chapter 21 I slammed my fists down, again and again until the carpet tore. "She isn't just mine. She's beyond me now." Mateo crouched beside me, voice low. "Do you still want her, boss? What if she claims the Anderson wealth too? What if she turns it all against you?" I stared at the broken glass on the floor, at my reflection warped in shards. My throat raw, my heart clawing me open. Want her? I wanted her like a man drowning wanted air. Like blood wanted fire. Like death wanted my name on its lips. ANNETTE'S POV I was in the pool when Peter came swaggering in like the little devil he is, sunglasses on, holding a glass of juice like he owns the world. "Weeew, mummy girl," he whistled loud enough for the guards to turn. "You should've seen Rufus last night. He's like a mad dog since that bar. Obsessed. If Vince had been there? Jealous prince incoming. I swear, that cold bastard's got special feelings for you." I flicked water at him and rolled my eyes. "Shut up, Peter." But he wouldn't stop, grinning like a fool. "Nah, I'm serious. Rufus is cooked. Toast. He was pacing his hotel like a lunatic. Mateo's terrified of him. It's funny actually." I pulled myself out of the pool, towel around my shoulders, calm as ever. "I'll go to his suite tonight. I know he wants to see me." Peter choked on his juice. "What?! Are you insane? Do you have a death wish?" I smirked, drying my hair slow just to irritate him. "No. I'll seduce him. Record it. Then send it to Maisie and his whole rotten family. Let them know I'm alive. Let them choke on it. Payment for everything they did to me." Peter blinked, then laughed and clapped like I was giving a performance. "You really are a monster. I like it." Miranda stepped into the terrace, arms crossed, her tone sharp. "Be careful. Rufus is more dangerous now that he knows who you are." I winked at her. "Don't worry. I'll take care of this face you gave me." By nightfall, I was ready. Red lips, heels sharp enough to stab a man, aura thick with power. My pulse wasn't fear. It was rage. Desire for control. I walked down the hall toward Rufus' suite, my heels echoing like a countdown. I was just about to knock when the door swung open and a hand yanked me hard into the shadows. It was Vincenzo. 3/3 80.0% 11:43 am His eyes were ice, his breath hot with fury. He slammed me against the wall, no space left between us. Before I could speak, his mouth crushed mine. It wasn't tender. It was punishment. And my body betrayed me. I should've shoved him off. Instead, heat exploded in my veins, his hands locking around my waist, possessive, claiming. His kiss was a storm and I drowned in it. Damn him. He's not supposed to touch me like this. He's supposed to be my shield, not my ruin. The kiss turned wild, messy, our breaths ragged. He broke away just enough to growl against my ips. "You think I don't know what you were about to do? Seduce Rufus? Record him? Don't tes ne. If you want to ruin a man's body, ruin mine. Use me. But don't you dare go back to Rufus." Damn you, Vince," I gasped as his mouth found my neck. "You're making it hard for me to thin straight." Then I kissed him back. His jacket hit the floor first, then my heels kicked off loud against the vall. Vincenzo didn't bother being gentle. He lifted me like I weighed nothing, slammed me dowr ›n the table in the corner, wine glasses shattering under us. Vince-" I tried to breathe, but he cut me off with another kiss, deeper, hungrier. You drive me insane," he muttered against my mouth, pulling at my dress until the zipper gave vay. His hands were rough, impatient, sliding over my skin like he'd been starving for years. arched into him, nails clawing his shirt until buttons flew. My body moved before my brair could catch up-I wanted him. All of him. You're supposed to protect me," I whispered, even as I pulled him closer. He groaned low in his throat. "I am protecting you. From every man but me." 'he table rocked under us, wood creaking with every push. My head fell back, a sharp cry reaking free as his mouth trailed down my chest. His name left my lips like a prayer, a curse oth at once. Louder," he demanded, biting down just enough to make me gasp. "Let them all hear you. Let hem know you're mine." And I gave in. No strategy, no revenge, no Andersons. Just us. The way he filled me, the way lung to him, every thrust pulling me deeper into madness. The walls shook with the rhythm we made, sweat and heat and desperation turning into omething neither of us could control. When it finally broke...when I shattered around him... I wasn't Annette Lombardo, heir, daughter venger. I was just a woman burning alive in Vincenzo's arms. Morning light. My head was spinning. I slid from the bed, reaching for my dress, but Vincenzo caught me, pulling me back into his arms. If you're leaving to run to Rufus, to put yourself in danger, I won't allow it... Destroy him by narrying me instead." froze. "What?" He kissed me again, slow, deep, rough. "Marry me. Use me." Chapter 21 2/3 82.7% 11:43 am & D I laughed, shaking my head. "Stop it, Vince." Then my phone rang. Father. Edwardo's voice on the other end: "Where are you?" "I'm coming home," I answered. We got dressed, walked out together. The elevator doors slid open-right as Rufus stepped out of his suite. His eyes landed on me. Then on Vincenzo. Then on my neck, my body, covered in bruises and marks only Vince could've left. His face twisted with fury, disbelief. "Annette! You're my wife! How could you have sex with someone else?" Inside, I smiled. Sweet, sharp, dangerous. Rufus grabbed my arm so hard I felt his nails dig into my skin. His eyes were wild, veins popping in his neck. "You belong to me," he snarled. Before I could even answer, Vincenzo's fist connected with his jaw. The sound was brutal, clean Rufus staggered, blood spraying from his lip. Vince's voice was ice. "Touch her again and I'll kil you where you stand." Guards swarmed in, hands on their guns, but I raised my hand slow, calm. "Nobody moves." My voice cut through the chaos like a knife. I wanted to see them rip each other apart. Rufus clutched his jaw, spitting blood, but his rage didn't die. He pointed at me, shaking. "He's using you! You were my wife first. You'll always be mine!" I smiled coldly, leaning close so only he could hear the venom in my voice. "I was never yours. You just rented my soul until you broke it." 1:43 am E In "Someone Loved is Never Lost" by CrushReel, readers are immersed in a captivating CEO drama that explores the intricacies of love, loss, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of corporate power struggles and personal relationships, this ongoing novel delves deep into the lives of its characters as they navigate the complexities of both the boardroom and the heart. Themes of ambition, betrayal, and resilience intertwine with complex character dynamics, making for a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. CrushReel's unique storytelling style brings a fresh perspective to the CEO genre, offering a blend of emotional depth and strategic intrigue that sets this novel apart from others in its category. What makes "Someone Loved is Never Lost" special is its ability to seamlessly blend high-stakes corporate drama with heartfelt human connections, creating a story that resonates on multiple levels. Available to read at CrushReel, this novel promises a literary experience that will leave readers eagerly anticipating each new chapter.