BRIAN DE STEFANO;My brother and I had a simple philosophy: we got what we wanted, no matter the cost. Whether it was eliminating obstacles or buying our way into power, we didn’t play by the rules. My current obsession? Vincenzo Volkov. He’s cocky, self-assured, and walks around like he’s untouchable. But he has no idea what’s coming for him—fast, ruthless, and devastating.Friday nights were sacred—Before Club nights. It wasn’t your average hangout. Only the elite, the dangerous, and the connected could step foot inside. Membership required more than wealth or power; it demanded a golden card, an exclusive badge of loyalty. My best friend, Desmond Troy, finally earned his. We’d been brothers in arms for over two decades. Desmond was rich, infamous in the corporate world, and, on the surface, the cool-headed owner of a top modeling agency. But beneath the facade? A ruthless, cold-blooded monster who thrived on chaos.Desmond was the kind of man who should’ve been locked up, guarded b
Vincenzo Dante Volkov;The sleek black car rolled into De Stefano’s Empire, the hum of the engine cutting through the air like a blade. As we approached the main entrance, my driver guided us into the exclusive parking area, where only those who mattered dared to leave their vehicles.I leaned back, my lips curling into a smirk. This building, this empire they clung to so desperately, was about to crumble. Their arrogance would soon be replaced by chaos, and I couldn’t wait to be the one to light the match.The driver stepped out first, walking around to open my door. I emerged, adjusting my jacket as my polished shoes hit the pavement. The sun gleamed off my suit, the kind of sharp tailoring that made people stop and stare.Beside me, Little Mouse stepped out quietly. She didn’t need to say anything—her calm presence said enough.Whispers filled the air like electricity.“Wait… is that—?”“No way. That’s Vincenzo Volkov!”The murmurs grew louder as faces appeared at windows and doors
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“Woah… This is a total mess. How do you plan all this?” Little Mouse questioned, climbing onto my lap. I smiled and pressed a soft kiss to her neck.“Easy, sweetheart. Just get to know them, their weak points… straight. Why do you ask? Want to be a Donna? A little Mafia queen?” I teased.She laughed, sliding off my lap and sitting on the couch, a glint of curiosity in her eyes.“Would it be wrong? I mean, there isn’t much Donna in Russia, you know.”I raised an eyebrow. “Is this a joke, or are you serious? Women never take these things seriously…”“Ah, come on, Vee. Women are the best at this kind of thing. We don’t need to act like you people,” she said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Then, she shifted, leaning forward slightly. “So, who are the ones in the game? The real players?”I let out a short breath, thinking about how much I should reveal.“You know my elder brother, Nikolai? His one was a pretty damn good Donna. Had a reputation for silencing
Vincenzo Dante Volkov;I had every intention of skipping dinner, and I told my mother as much. But, as usual, her tears and dramatic pleas were impossible to ignore. Somehow, she even managed to drag Little Mouse into it, who gently insisted we should go.And now, here I am, sitting amidst the Volkovs, feeling like an outsider in my own family. My gaze drifted to my father, his expression unreadable as he silently worked through his plate.“Vince, aren’t you eating? I spent hours cooking this meal for everyone,” my mother said softly, her hand squeezing my shoulder.I glanced at her, expecting my father to speak—maybe a snide remark, a glare, anything to remind me of my unwelcome presence. Instead, he remained silent.“Thank you, Ma,” I replied with a forced smile. She leaned in to kiss my cheek before taking her seat again.“How’s your company doing, Vince? I’ve been hearing a lot about Prime Estates lately,” Lorenzo piped up, his tone light but probing.Before I could respond, my mo
Victoria Bella Washington;“Are you alright, babe?” I asked, pouring him a glass of orange juice. “Didn’t know Mafia men were prone to tears…”He scoffed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Oh, please... I’m still human, you know.” He took a sip, clearly trying to regain his composure.Curious, I leaned in. “What’s the family tattoo like?”He shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. “Nothing special... Just a few random words and designs. It’s got no real meaning.”“Liar,” I teased, but before he could protest, Cassandra appeared, stepping onto the balcony with a graceful air.“What a view…” she murmured, gazing down at the city below. “The Volkov family tattoo is legendary. Many would kill to be marked by it.” She turned to me, her grip gentle as she took my hands in hers. “You have a beautiful soul, Victoria. And you’re more than welcome to join this family. Now, let’s get you your tattoo.”"Be careful, honey," Vincenzo warned as we left, his voice g
Victoria WashingtonHe wasn't coming.I could feel it in my bones. The hour was late, the candles on the table had burned down to nothing but stubs. My phone was still dead silent. The waitress's eyes lingered on me too long, giving me that sympathetic look, the one reserved for the pathetic girl who had been sitting alone for hours waiting. My fingers hovered over my phone, the screen still blank. No calls, no texts. Nothing.Today of all days—my birthday.I stood up slowly, my legs stiff from sitting too long, my heart heavier with each second that passed. I had dressed up for him. For us. Now I looked like a fool.I stepped out of the restaurant, the air biting against my skin like ice. I couldn’t cry, not here. Not in public. But the tears were close. Too close.Maybe something happened to him. Maybe there’s an explanation.Maybe…I swallowed the lies I was feeding myself, my mind too exhausted to believe them. I just wanted to go home. Sleep. Forget this night ever happened.But
"You can't do that!" I glared at my father, my heart filled with anger. After everything I explained to him, he still chose to side with his precious biological daughter, Marianne. "Why? Why did you even adopt me if you were going to treat me like this?" I shouted, tears streaming down my face."Victoria, you're doing this for the family. Think of it as paying back for all the food, the credit cards, the house—everything we've given you," my father said, his voice cold and indifferent. I gasped in disbelief."Payback? Is that all I am to you? A debt you need to settle? Fine, I'm just an orphan you brought in to clear your conscience. But what about Clifton and Marianne? How long has this been going on? They're getting married tomorrow, and no one—no one told me!""Were you blind?" My mother's voice cut through, and I turned to face her. She was dressed in a sleek red gown, her hair styled perfectly, as if none of this chaos affected her. "How pathetic were you to think Clinton would s
"Keep a straight face and smile, Victoria!" Mother glared at me as I stepped out of the car.We had been on the road for the past hour before arriving at St. Louis Catholic Church, the largest church in Russia. There was something powerful about it."Yes, Ma'am," I replied, walking inside while some maids helped with my gown. Since it was a small family wedding, I didn’t expect many people—just the Washingtons and the Volkovs.As soon as the big doors opened, my heart started racing like it would jump out of my chest. I was trembling with fear, each step feeling heavy and forced.To my right, I noticed men in black suits. They looked dangerous, and something told me I shouldn’t cross them.The church's grand interior was dimly lit, with soft light shining through the stained glass, casting shadows on the pews. I could feel my pulse in my throat, and my breathing became uneven as I kept moving forward.The Washingtons and Volkovs sat on either side of the aisle, their faces unreadable.
Victoria Bella Washington;“Are you alright, babe?” I asked, pouring him a glass of orange juice. “Didn’t know Mafia men were prone to tears…”He scoffed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Oh, please... I’m still human, you know.” He took a sip, clearly trying to regain his composure.Curious, I leaned in. “What’s the family tattoo like?”He shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. “Nothing special... Just a few random words and designs. It’s got no real meaning.”“Liar,” I teased, but before he could protest, Cassandra appeared, stepping onto the balcony with a graceful air.“What a view…” she murmured, gazing down at the city below. “The Volkov family tattoo is legendary. Many would kill to be marked by it.” She turned to me, her grip gentle as she took my hands in hers. “You have a beautiful soul, Victoria. And you’re more than welcome to join this family. Now, let’s get you your tattoo.”"Be careful, honey," Vincenzo warned as we left, his voice g
Vincenzo Dante Volkov;I had every intention of skipping dinner, and I told my mother as much. But, as usual, her tears and dramatic pleas were impossible to ignore. Somehow, she even managed to drag Little Mouse into it, who gently insisted we should go.And now, here I am, sitting amidst the Volkovs, feeling like an outsider in my own family. My gaze drifted to my father, his expression unreadable as he silently worked through his plate.“Vince, aren’t you eating? I spent hours cooking this meal for everyone,” my mother said softly, her hand squeezing my shoulder.I glanced at her, expecting my father to speak—maybe a snide remark, a glare, anything to remind me of my unwelcome presence. Instead, he remained silent.“Thank you, Ma,” I replied with a forced smile. She leaned in to kiss my cheek before taking her seat again.“How’s your company doing, Vince? I’ve been hearing a lot about Prime Estates lately,” Lorenzo piped up, his tone light but probing.Before I could respond, my mo
Vincenzo Dante Volkov:“Woah… This is a total mess. How do you plan all this?” Little Mouse questioned, climbing onto my lap. I smiled and pressed a soft kiss to her neck.“Easy, sweetheart. Just get to know them, their weak points… straight. Why do you ask? Want to be a Donna? A little Mafia queen?” I teased.She laughed, sliding off my lap and sitting on the couch, a glint of curiosity in her eyes.“Would it be wrong? I mean, there isn’t much Donna in Russia, you know.”I raised an eyebrow. “Is this a joke, or are you serious? Women never take these things seriously…”“Ah, come on, Vee. Women are the best at this kind of thing. We don’t need to act like you people,” she said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Then, she shifted, leaning forward slightly. “So, who are the ones in the game? The real players?”I let out a short breath, thinking about how much I should reveal.“You know my elder brother, Nikolai? His one was a pretty damn good Donna. Had a reputation for silencing
Vincenzo Dante Volkov;The sleek black car rolled into De Stefano’s Empire, the hum of the engine cutting through the air like a blade. As we approached the main entrance, my driver guided us into the exclusive parking area, where only those who mattered dared to leave their vehicles.I leaned back, my lips curling into a smirk. This building, this empire they clung to so desperately, was about to crumble. Their arrogance would soon be replaced by chaos, and I couldn’t wait to be the one to light the match.The driver stepped out first, walking around to open my door. I emerged, adjusting my jacket as my polished shoes hit the pavement. The sun gleamed off my suit, the kind of sharp tailoring that made people stop and stare.Beside me, Little Mouse stepped out quietly. She didn’t need to say anything—her calm presence said enough.Whispers filled the air like electricity.“Wait… is that—?”“No way. That’s Vincenzo Volkov!”The murmurs grew louder as faces appeared at windows and doors
BRIAN DE STEFANO;My brother and I had a simple philosophy: we got what we wanted, no matter the cost. Whether it was eliminating obstacles or buying our way into power, we didn’t play by the rules. My current obsession? Vincenzo Volkov. He’s cocky, self-assured, and walks around like he’s untouchable. But he has no idea what’s coming for him—fast, ruthless, and devastating.Friday nights were sacred—Before Club nights. It wasn’t your average hangout. Only the elite, the dangerous, and the connected could step foot inside. Membership required more than wealth or power; it demanded a golden card, an exclusive badge of loyalty. My best friend, Desmond Troy, finally earned his. We’d been brothers in arms for over two decades. Desmond was rich, infamous in the corporate world, and, on the surface, the cool-headed owner of a top modeling agency. But beneath the facade? A ruthless, cold-blooded monster who thrived on chaos.Desmond was the kind of man who should’ve been locked up, guarded b
VINCENZO DANTE VOLKOVThe team set out the next day as planned. Venom, Logan, and Dee would handle the house invasion, while Freddy and I were tasked with visiting the De Stefano empire, known for their renowned beauty products.Lucian De Stefano built the empire from scratch. Initially, he was just a marketing strategist, offering innovative ideas for product management. Rumor had it that during his two years working for the Beauty House Empire, he contributed enough valuable information and unique cosmetics combinations to significantly boost sales. However, his boss silently stole his ideas, presenting them as his own.The truth was finally exposed in a high-stakes meeting attended by product managers, the board of directors, and the CEO. Lucian’s cunning boss, Timothy, always ensured Lucian accompanied him to meetings, where he’d rehearse Lucian’s explanations and confidently present them as his own. But one day, Timothy’s façade crumbled.During a presentation aimed at marketing
VINCENZO DANTE VOLKOVI had just left the towering warehouse complex when a little mouse scurried into my plans—Victoria. She was on a mission with Juliet, and knowing her penchant for simplicity wrapped in elegance, I had already laid out her outfit: a crisp white skirt, a blue blouse, matching gladiator sandals, and a white purse. The perfect blend of sophistication and subtlety.As I handed the driver instructions to take her to Venom's place, I chose my own ride for the day—a sleek, 2024 black Bugatti. It had been a while since I'd unleashed one of my beauties, and the raw power beneath my hands felt exhilarating.The drive to the warehouse was short, thanks to the Bugatti’s untamed speed. My men were already waiting, their faces grim with anticipation. Today wasn’t about small moves; we were strategizing the collapse of the De Stefano empire. Their stocks, shares, and strongholds—all of it would crumble.“Logan,” I called out as we descended into the meeting room. Time wasn’t on
VICTORIA BELLA WASHINGTON;Listening to Juliet recount her past, I realized pain and suffering can indeed come in forms far greater than my own. She had borne and raised her child entirely alone, abandoned by the father who should have been her partner in this journey. Worse still, the father wasn’t just any man—he was her handler, the CEO of the agency where she worked.And as if that betrayal wasn’t cruel enough, he’d gone further—assaulting her in front of her five-year-old child. The thought alone made my blood boil. How deranged could this ex-boss be? He was undoubtedly out there, searching for her, determined to finish what he started. Little did he know Juliet wasn’t alone anymore. She had allies now—people who cared and who would fight for her.“I need to pick Annabelle up from school,” Juliet said gently. “Please don’t think I’m trying to rush you out. You’re welcome to come with me or wait at the park nearby—whatever works for you.”Her tone was considerate, almost apologeti
VICTORIA BELLA WASHINGTON;Vincenzo and I already discussed it—not really a conversation, but I made him aware that I would be going over to Julie's, which is practically Venom's house. It was time I carried out my part of the job: getting all kinds of information from Juliet.That morning, I woke up as early as 7 a.m. I treated myself to a nice warm bubble bath. I played with the bubbles a bit before thoroughly scrubbing every part of my body. For some reason, I wanted to glow even brighter today. Vincenzo was about to leave the room the moment I went in for my bath, so I doubted he would still be in the bedroom. So, I rinsed the soap off my hair and body, walked out of the bathtub, dried my body, and walked to my dressing table, bare.The manual dryer worked on my hair as I spent a few minutes trying to perfectly dry it. Next, I went for my lotion—Vincenzo's, for some reason I couldn’t resist the fragrance of it. I applied it all over my body, then used the facial cream and every ot