Bastian

BASTIAN IN LOVE & WAR II Adriana Brinne Copyright © 2023 ADRIANA BRINNE BASTIAN “IN LOVE AND WAR II” (UNHOLY TRINITY #6) Copyright © 2023 Adriana Brinne Cover Design by Cat at TRC Designs Formatting by Adriana Brinne Editing by Elsa (bookishaurora) All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the author's express written permission except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, brands, and places are fictitious. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are coincidental. Any trademarks, services, marks, product names, or features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for reference. Contents Playlist Author’s Note What is the Unholy Trinity? Who is who in the Unholy Trinity? Prologue LOVE & WAR BASTIAN BASTIAN ELLAIZA BASTIAN THE GOSSIP ROOM ARIANNA ARIANNA ARIANNA BASTIAN ARIANNA ARIANNA ARIANNA BASTIAN ARIANNA ARIANNA LOVE & HATE ARIANNA BASTIAN ARIANNA ARIANNA ARIANNA ARIANNA ARIANNA ARIANNA BASTIAN ARIANNA BASTIAN LOVE & US ARIANNA JUNE JULY AUGUST BASTIAN ARIANNA ARIANNA BASTIAN ARIANNA ARIANNA ARIANNA ARIANNA ARIANNA ARIANNA THE WASHINGTON WEAKLY Epilogue One Epilogue Two Epilogue Three THE END UP NEXT KENTON Afterword Also by Adriana Brinne Acknowledgments About the Author Trigger Warnings Dedication To my brother. I don’t say it much but I love you, dipshit. Playlist Listen to the full display on Spotify “Both Of Us” – Mimi Webb “The Great War” – Taylor Swift “War Paint” – FLETCHER “We Go Down Together” – Dove Cameron, Khalid “Heartbeat” – James Arthur “Freezing” – Mimi Webb “One More Try” – Calum Scott “Someone Who Loved You” – Teddy Swims “I Miss You, I’m Sorry” – Gracie Abrams “Forget Me”(Piano Version) – Lewis Capaldi “Pains My Only Home” – Zevia “Nervous” (Piano Version) – John Legend “To Die For” – Sam Smith “Hate Me” – Ellie Goulding, Juice WRLD “Know It’s Wrong” – Skylar Stecker Author’s Note Bastian “In Love and War II” is the sixth book in the Unholy Trinity series. The story contains sensitive topics that might be triggering for some. I took some liberties while writing the story regarding politics and the White House history. This, in no way, is accurate, only fiction. Please keep this in mind before starting the book. I hope you enjoy Arianna and Bastian’s journey towards happily ever after. It’s power and heartache wrapped in a beautiful, chaotic but sweet package. Note: This is the conclusion of the In Love & War duet. Please read book 1 before starting this one. Trigger warning: Check for trigger warnings here: TW What is the Unholy Trinity? The Unholy Trinity is the most notorious crime organization in the United States of America. It was once run by three crime families who joined forces after a war over Detroit City. They each rule over their own family, but only one controls the entire organization. Currently, the organization is fair game since the Volpe family was extinguished, and the Holy Trinity was taken over by the remaining families and the Irish (O’Sullivan Family). The Nicolasi and Parisi families hold a small percentage of the city, while the other half is fair game to the Irish and Russians. The Holy Trinity is not pure anymore. It is Unholy. The Unholy Trinity is composed of the Nicolasi, Parisi, and from now on, the O’Sullivan family. The Nicolasi family deals in the gun trade, the O’Sullivan family deals in the drug trade, and the Parisi handles the organization's more legitimate side, including the casinos and strip clubs. For years, the three most ruthless crime families of Detroit City ruled together in peace. The Capo fell from grace, and now the others lead by greed and sin. Who is who in the Unholy Trinity? NICOLASI FAMILY Andrea Valentina Nicolasi Lorenzo Antonnio Nicolasi (Capo of the Unholy Trinity) Valentino Alexander Nicolasi (Fixer of the Unholy Trinity) VOLPE FAMILY Lucan Tomas Volpe Cara Mia Volpe PARISI FAMILY Arianna Luna Parisi Kadra Sofia Parisi Mila Areya Parisi OUTSIDERS Sebastian Kenton Thiago Sandoval Dionysius Arnault Epigraph “A relationship is like couture; if it doesn’t fit perfectly, it’s a disaster.” - Carrie Bradshaw Blurb To the outside world, I am the picture-perfect politician who leads the country with integrity and morality, but deep down, I know the truth of what hides beneath the surface. A flawed man with a rotten soul and not-so-selfless intentions. The Commander-in-Chief. I am all of that and more. I am also a selfish man hell-bent on ruining everyone’s life, including my own, over the woman who sets my world on fire. I couldn’t risk getting distracted. I couldn’t risk another heart. Another life. I had one Prologue Past “Sebastian,” My father sighs before continuing. “You know that what you did was wrong, right, son? Us Kenton men treat people better than that.” He looks down at me sternly but still lovingly as we wait outside for security to pull up with our car. Thank fuck father decided to leave the event early. Socializing with those brainless pricks exhausts me, both mentally and physically. On more than one occasion tonight, I had to suppress the overwhelming urge to roll my eyes and call them out