Captive Heart: Armani

Copyright © 2023 by Stella Gray All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Paige Press Leander, TX 78641 Ebook: ISBN: 978-1-957647-40-1 Paperback: ISBN: 978-1-957647-47-0 Editing: Erica Russikoff at Erica Edits Proofing: Michele Ficht CONTENTS Also by Stella Gray About This Book 1. Candi 2. Armani 3. Candi 4. Armani 5. Armani 6. Armani 7. Candi 8. Armani 9. Candi 10. Armani 11. Candi 12. Candi 13. Armani 14. Candi 15. Armani 16. Candi 17. Candi 18. Candi 19. Candi 20. Candi 21. Armani 22. Armani 23. Candi 24. Candi 25. Armani 26. Candi 27. Armani 28. Candi 29. Armani 30. Armani Epilogue Paige Press Also by Stella Gray About the Author ALSO BY STELLA GRAY * * * The Zoric Series Arranged Series The Deal The Secret The Choice The Arranged Series: Books 1-3 Convenience Series The Sham The Contract The Ruin The Convenience Series: Books 1-3 Charade Series The Lie The Act The Truth The Charade Series: Books 1-3 * * * The Bellanti Brothers Dante Broken Bride Broken Vow Broken Trust Marco Forbidden Bride Forbidden War Forbidden Love Armani Captive Bride Captive Rival Captive Heart ABOUT THIS BOOK Nothing lasts forever… except the Bellanti’s hatred for the Bruno family. My family prepared me to fight. My best friend taught me loyalty. My husband showed me who I am. And now I’m caught between them all. The thing about secrets is that they always come out. The past is never gone. No one expected it to explode. I finally understand why my life led me here. I was the only one who could uncover the truth. And I’m damn sure I’m the only one who can prevent a war. Men have pushed me around my whole life. But I was built for this… I am Mrs. Armani Bellanti. 1 CANDI The photo of Liliana Bellanti—aka Juliana Guerra, aka my best friend—trembles in my hand. I’m still reeling. It feels like the floor just dropped out from under my feet. Liliana didn’t drown in a boating accident all those years ago. She’s alive and well. And she’s been raised by…the Brunos. The Bellanti family’s archenemies. How the hell did this happen? I had no idea that such an earth-shattering revelation would come to me when I showed up at my sister-in-law’s house today to help her put together a christening scrapbook for her baby. But here we are. Our little crafting session has turned up quite a bit more than a dusty old box of Bellanti family photos. Yet even as I’m shocked into a stupor, I realize that I can’t go around making wild accusations without any proof. I can’t let on that anything is amiss until I fit all the pieces together and make a legitimate case. I have to be absolutely certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Liliana Bellanti in this photo really is Juliana. The very same woman who has spent her life plotting to get revenge on the Bellantis for killing her parents. The woman who’s about to marry into the Russian mob to seal a Bratva-Bruno alliance that will enable the Brunos to take the Bellantis down for good. Juliana just might be working to annihilate her own flesh and blood, and she doesn’t even know it. Does she? “Candi, are you okay?” “What?” I snap my gaze to Frankie. “You’re a million miles away,” she says. I force a sheepish smile. “Yeah, sorry. I totally zoned out for a second there.” Still in a daze, I set the photo back on the pile. That’s when a wave of dizziness suddenly washes over me. Gripping the edge of the table, I press the back of my hand to my forehead and silently remind myself to keep my shit together. “Let me get you some water,” Frankie says, sliding her chair back. “No! I mean, thank you, but I’m fine. I just…haven’t been sleeping well lately.” It sounds weak even to my ears, but Frankie just eyes me with concern. Is it possible I’m wrong about this? Maybe it’s just a coincidence that Jules looks like Liliana. In fact, I don’t even know when Juliana’s parents were killed. Maybe she was eight or ten or twelve; older than the girl in this photo who allegedly died the same day as her mother. Dammit, none of this makes sense. Dante admitted that Enzo Bellanti could have been responsible for the death of Juliana’s parents, and Juliana says that the Bellantis killed her parents…but if Juliana was the Bellantis’ sister, then…does that mean Enzo murdered his own wife and attempted to take out his daughter as well? Why would he do that? What could make him lash out at his own family so horribly? One scenario instantly comes to mind. Did Enzo maybe suspect—or find out—that Juliana wasn’t his biological child, and then order a hit on his allegedly adulterous wife and her daughter? It makes sense, but then…how did Juliana survive the boating accident? And how did she end up getting raised by the Brunos? I need more information. I need to talk to Juliana. As soon as possible. God, and I need to talk to Armani, too. But will he even take my suspicions seriously? “I’m actually feeling a little nauseous,” I tell Frankie, hoping it’s enough of an excuse for my odd behavior. “Maybe that water is a good idea.” “Of course. Just sit tight. I’ll be right back.” She quickly checks on Lili in the bassinet—still sleeping like a baby, of course—and then glides out of the room, returning moments later with a full carafe and two glasses, pouring a cup for each of us. I down half of mine in a rush and then lower the glass, slightly out of breath. “Ah.