Chapter 4
Martha had been with Summer for years.
But two years ago–right after Grace’s accident–she suddenly quit.
Wilder told her Martha had gone back to the States to take care of her grandkids.
Summer couldn’t get used to the food here in Italy.
And without Martha around, Summer lost weight fast–so much that Wilder started worrying.
He’d even made long–distance calls just to learn how to cook from Martha himself.
She could still remember how serious he’d looked standing in the kitchen.
So focused. So attentive.
Now, thinking about it, all she felt was how ridiculous it had all been.
Summer couldn’t remember how she left the airport–or how she ended up back in the car.
Her phone rang.
She picked up without thinking.
“Miss Reeves, we found the guy who attacked you at the mall!”
Her expression went cold.
“I’m on my way.‘
When she arrived, the man had already taken quite a beating.
A few days ago, she and Wilder had gone shopping for formalwear for a gala.
But while they were at the mall, a man had tried to ambush them.
Everyone assumed the attack was aimed at Wilder–his enemies weren’t exactly subtle.
So they’d focused on protecting him.
But they were wrong.
The bullet had grazed Summer’s leg.
She’d spent two weeks in the hospital recovering.
The gala? A complete bust.
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Now, the man who attacked her was hanging by his arms, covered in blood.
When he saw her, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Even with barely enough breath to speak, his voice was full of rage.
“You people were the ones who grabbed me? Where’s Wilder?! Get him out here!”
“He promised! Said it was over! What the hell is this? You think this is a game?!”
Summer’s mind went blank.
The group of men surrounding her turned cold in an instant.
One of them stepped forward and kicked the guy hard in the ribs.
“You talk shit again and I’ll rip your mouth off.”
More fists flew. The man couldn’t even groan anymore.
Ben Carter, one of her most trusted men, frowned as he stepped up beside her.
“Miss Reeves, don’t listen to him. He’s probably just trying to stir up trouble.”
Summer stood silent for a long time.
Then finally, as if her voice had just remembered how to return, she smiled.
It was bitter. Cold.
“What if he’s telling the truth?”
Ben stared at her, stunned.
“Miss Reeves-”
“Ben, I need to ask him something. Everyone else, get out.”
He hesitated, clearly worried.
But Summer’s gaze was steady. Unshakeable.
He gave in and waved for the others to leave.
Just as he turned to go, Summer stopped him.
“Not a word of this to anyone.”
Ben nodded, though unease still lingered in his eyes.
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- up.
To him, Summer seemed… different.
But she was the one who’d saved his life.
And no matter what, his loyalty belonged to her–not Wilder.
Once the door closed, Summer slowly stepped closer to the man on the floor.
“Tell me everything you know.‘
The man spat out blood–and a couple teeth with it.
Then he sneered.
“Your man’s side piece paid me to cripple you. He found out, offered me more money to shut
That’s it. What else do you want?”
Summer clenched her fists, nails digging deep into her palms.
Her face remained calm. But barely.
The man’s eyes flickered with something dark. Calculating.
In the next second, he lunged.
A thin wire snapped tight around her throat.
Outside, Ben had been standing guard.
He heard the struggle and kicked the door open.
Blood trickled down Summer’s neck. The wire had already cut deep.
Ben’s eyes went wide with fury.
He had no choice but to let the bastard escape–just to save her life.
The doctor had just finished bandaging Summer’s throat, wrapping layer after layer of gauze around the wound, when Wilder burst in.
Sweat poured down his forehead. His eyes were bloodshot and feral.
When he saw her injured neck, he let out a roar and kicked a chair across the room.
“Who did this?! Who the hell dared touch you?! Where is he?!”
Summer slowly turned to face him.
She stared at him with everything she had–like she was trying to truly see him.
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Back when they first arrived in Italy, Wilder hadn’t even found his footing.
His half–brother had tried to have him killed.
Once, he’d been stabbed four times–bleeding like a busted pipe.
She’d carried him on her back through the freezing night.
Barefoot. Bleeding.
It was her who got him to the hospital in time.
When he woke up, he gripped the back of her head and kissed her with all the strength he had left.
He pressed his forehead to hers, voice hoarse and raw.
“Summer… I never realized until I almost died–the one person I couldn’t let go of was you.”
He couldn’t let go of her back then.
But now?
Now there was another woman he couldn’t let go of either.
Summer’s chest felt hollow, like someone had dug something out of her and left nothing behind.
Her eyes were calm. Detached.
“I’m fine,” she said quietly. “I’ll handle it myself.”
Chapter 4
