Nora P.O.V
I was speaking with some women when the lights dimmed , almost too dark. Murmurs started to rise inside the hall when the sound of the door opening stole everyone's attention followed by heavy footsteps. The presence behind me made the hair on my nape stand up . I turned to see the reason behind my body’s reaction. Standing there at the entrance of the hall was a tall figure, light shining behind him like a halo making his brown luscious hair radiant like brown glass. His face was hidden in the veil of darkness inside the room.Just as he took a step into the room the lights brightened back . He was facing the other side. From the side the three piece suit stretched against his muscular body like a second skin ,the dominating aura he was emitting made everyone's attention gravitated towards him . The black mask was covering half of his face, he stood there like a dark prince observing every movement . His presence was enough to make the weaker cower away. I looked around and then back at the man just when the man turned his face , our eyes met. I recognised him immediately but kept my expression natural. Standing there was none other than the new head of the Italian mob, Robert DiFronzo Jr. Those icy sea green eyes are hard not to recognise. Damn the family genes are strong. The two of his younger brothers followed him. Some great people had said keep your friends close and enemies even closer. Robert is the oldest son of the DiFronzo family and the most vicious . His father trained him to be the capo of the Italian mafia from the young age of thirteen. There is no deadly work he has not done. From killing the people who were not able to pay them back or betray them to eliminating the evidence from under the nose of the government. Riccardo, DiFronzo family’s third son and would be second -in-commander of the Italian mafia. He is Robert’s right hand man and nothing gets passed under his watch . All the foreign business, trading of drugs, illegal weapons, diamonds and many other things were handled by him . The fourth in line was Dante , the family accountant. The only thing that got through his thick head was numbers. Nicolas Cage DiFronzo was Robert Jr DiFronzo’s twin . While the other three were spawned by the devil Nicolas was a saint. He was a professor of one of the most prestigious colleges in Chicago in astrophysics, completed his studies in an ivy league college, and was a student at the top of his class . If he was not teaching then he would spend his time in research. Nic left the family at the young age of eighteen after his stepmother died in an attack. He was supposed to be Robert's right hand man but he chose to leave . Created his own life, far away from this darkness. Nicolas had not attended any family events for almost half a decade . Last in the family was Lily , Lilian DiFronzo. She has been kept out of the crime world since the day she was born. She has been shielded from the ugly face of their family business her entire life. Her brothers became more overprotective after Dante’s and Lily’s mother died. The kids had different mothers. Robert Jr, Nicolas and Riccardo’s mother was Robert Sr. ‘s first wife who was later found out to be working with the Mexican mafia to bring the Italian mafia down. Sources said when they found out they killed her. After that Robert Sr. married his second wife , Dante and Lily were their children. His second wife passed away in a war between two mobs . Lilian entered the hall followed by two bodyguards and came to a stop beside her brothers in a sleeveless peach pink gown whose front end was just above her knees and the back was long . Her four inch white heels with embedded crystals giving her five foot four some height. Her luscious dark hair ends just below her breast. She was curvy but did not hide herself, she looked like she belonged here whereas I am hardly able to hide my gloomy mood of wearing this dress. She completely ignored the stares of the men while her brother sent death glares towards them . She moved towards the bar followed by the other two olders. Women flawed upon the three men like they are some male models. Maybe they could be if there was not a long ass list of crime records and half of Chicago's police were not chasing them. Not wanting to waste any more time I started walking on the opposite side towards the hallway which leads to the back staircase when someone caught my wrist . I turned to see the devil himself was standing behind me , he was holding my wrist in his grip with a smirk on his face. His cold dead eyes were dancing with wickedness. “Dance with me”. Before I could open my mouth to reject the lights dimmed further and the music started to play. He pulled towards the dance floor. His hand slid around and moved down, resting just above my lower back . He pulled my body closer until no space left for the wind to pass. One of my hands landed on his broad shoulder and other on his biceps. I looked at him,stunned. His hand lifted mine and placed it around his neck and if possible closer than before until our bodies were one. We started moving with the music. His face inches closer made me turn mine. His hot breath hit the side of my neck. “You did not tell me your name, beautiful?”. “You didn't ask a girl their name before you drag them to dance with you ?” I sassed back with more attitude. His smile widened. At that moment I want to stab his mouth with my five inch heel, I want to see how good he looks sucking my heel while choking on it. He jerked me closer and I may have accidentally or not so accidentally stepped on his foot. “I am sorry”. Not sorry at all He twirled me and then pulled me back in his arms with my back meeting his front . We swayed to the music “ My bad . Let me introduce myself. I am Robert DiFronzo and you are”. I put my hand on his nape and turned in his arms until I was facing him . I slipped my fingers up in his perfectly styled hair. “What are you going to do knowing my name?” I looked at him seductively. I parted my lips like I was turned on by him. He lifted his hand ,cuffed the side of my jaw and ran his thumb over my parted lower lip “You already know what name you have to scream by the end of the night it's only fair if I know yours”. He will surely scream my name when I bite his dick off. Not even one inch will be left when I am done with him. Instead of saying that I took his thumb between my lips and gave it a good suck before giving a bite to the pad of his thumb and then let go while keeping eye contact with him the entire time. I slid my hand and grabbed the front of his collar and pulled him towards me, our noses were almost touching, “Scream is the last thing you will make me do and as for who I am . You will soon know ”. I pushed him away and got lost in the crowd before he could find me.Robert P.O.V The ice melted slowly in my glass, the clinking sound a faint melody against the bustling cityscape of Chicago below. The city never sleeps , much like me. My thoughts swirled, much like the amber liquid in the glass I held, heavy with the weight of decisions I was going to make, the ones I could not take back even if I wanted to, and the ones I was about to make tonight are going to stay with me forever. "What is on your mind?" I turned my head to see Riccardo, my younger brother, leaning back in the plush leather seat of the limo with legs crossed , his sharp gaze cutting into me like a scalpel. His eyes were narrowing further with each second passed, probably trying to see what was going through my head . These days I don't even know what is going through my head myself. "Nothing," I muttered, setting my glass down on the minibar beside me. "Don't lie to me," Riccardo said with a faint smirk. Before I could answer, Dant's gruff voice interrupted from the seat oppo
Nora P.O.V. The keypad glowed faintly in the dimly lit vault as I carefully typed the password Cyber had whispered into my earpiece. My fingers trembled, not from fear, but from the adrenaline coursing through me. A sharp beep rang out, and I froze for a moment before the soft click of the lock disengaging brought relief. Slowly, I turned the circular grab handle of the vault, its metallic groan echoing ominously in the small chamber. With a final heave, the door creaked open, revealing a brightly illuminated space that momentarily blinded me. There they were the twelve blue stones, gleaming in their flawless perfection, sitting neatly on a velvet tray in the center of the room. Their brilliance seemed almost surreal, a treasure coveted by countless others but entrusted to my care for retrieval. Yet, something else caught my eye. In the middle of the vault stood another safe sleek, made of fine transparent glass, with a digital keypad embedded in the surface. You can not realise it
Nora P.O.V“Started the party without me, '' I said after taking the last step to the terrace . He was sitting on the edge of the terrace ,lost in his own thoughts. He turned to face me then again turned back to look at the city that was lightened up in the dark and took a sip from the bottle. I walked closer and sat down beside him, dangling my legs just like him, from the edge of the building. “Do you still miss him?”. I took the bottle and took a big gulp . “Damn it is strong''. I swiped my mouth on the back of my hand while passing the bottle back to him. “ Humm ''. He hummed but his eyes never moved from the view as he took the bottle and gulped down. He was not looking at anything particular and had his head far away in his thoughts. “What was the password ?” . He handed over the bottle to me, for me to take the next sip. “Charlie”. I took my drink looking straight ahead . I could feel his eyes were boring holes at the side of my face. “I have something for you ”. I pull
Nora P.O.VI turned off the ignition and parked my car in the underground garage . The garage was empty , only one or two tube lights were on . I stepped out of my BMW and went straight to the elevator. When the elevator arrived I stepped inside the empty cart and pressed my floor number and waited for it to reach the floor. It was night time so no one was in the corridor . Other than me there are two other families that have apartments on this floor. If it was up to me I would have brought the entire floor. The entire hallway was almost dark and the only light was shining outside my door. As I stood outside my door to pull out my keys ,I looked at the doormat and then pulled out my phone to disable the security alarm of the apartment. Upon unlocking the door I entered the apartment, switched on just the hall light and closed the door behind. I walked deeper in the apartment, into the living room.“ I did not see that my shoelace was open, I think work is catching up to me ”. Crouche
Nora P.O.VThe dim light from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling casts long shadows across the interrogation room. The attacker, bound to a sturdy chair with thick rope, has a faint bruise circling his neck where the telephone cord had cut into his skin.I stood over him, a jug of water in hand, anger and determination etched on your face. With a quick motion, I threw the water into his face. He jerked awake, sputtering and gasping, his eyes wide with shock and disorientation."I see it did not take you much longer" I say coldly, setting the jug aside. "We should go down to business ,shall we? ”The attacker struggled against the ropes, but they held firm. He glared at me, his eyes filled with hatred but I ignored his defiance and stepped closer, my face inches from his."Who sent you?" you demanded, your voice was deadly calm . I leaned against the table before him, arms folded.He clenched his jaw, remaining silent.I took a deep breath, trying to keep your composure. "You and y
Robert P.O.VThe air hung heavy with the scent of blood and despair.In the dimly lit underground basement the man tied to a chair was barely recognizable, his face a grotesque mask of agony and torment. His lips were parted and hardly able to keep his eyes open as he watched me run the sharp tip of the blade over my lips . I was sitting on a chair completely in ease with my legs crossed , one of my arms was resting on the armchair and the other hand was playing with the knife.My men were lurking in the dark like predators waiting for their turn to play with the prey.I leaned forward resting my elbows on my thighs , my fingers were intertwined into first with the knife in the middle."You've been stealing drugs from me," I said. “Then my money”. I got up ,stood before him and the sharp tip of the blade on the edge of his jaw while bending close to his face.“Did you really think you could get away with it? I will not find out”.He tried to speak, but his words were a garbled mess. Hi
Nora P.O.V. The city’s neon-lit streets pulsed with life, casting their glow across the sleek, tinted windows of our black town car as it moved steadily through the heart of the bustling nightlife. From the back seat, I watched the world speed by, flashes of red, blue, and yellow merging into a chaotic blur. Beside me, Agent Lee, my partner for this operation, sat reviewing the details of tonight’s mission. His sharp, focused gaze never left the screen of the tablet resting on his lap, illuminating his face with a cold, blue hue. Lee was dressed to impress or intimidate, depending on who you asked. He wore a royal-blue, three-piece suit with the sharp lines of a designer cut, complete with polished black leather shoes, a gold wristwatch, and thin wire-rimmed glasses. His entire look was the epitome of sleek professionalism, but his eyes held a quiet ruthlessness that spoke volumes. Lee had the kind of face that rarely smiled, and when it did, the effect was more chilling than comfort
Nora P.O.V The atmosphere in the room was dense, a mix of cigar smoke and the faint musk of expensive cologne hanging heavily in the air. The dim lighting from the overhead chandeliers cast an amber glow over the polished mahogany table, accentuating the opulence that only power and money could buy. Tony leaned back in his seat, crossing his thick, tattooed arms as he studied us with the calculating gaze of a man who’d seen everything—and trusted nothing. Lee sat beside me, his posture relaxed but alert, every gesture carefully calculated. "No catch," he said smoothly, his voice unwavering as he met Tony's scrutinising stare. "Just good business. We believe in building strong, profitable relationships. We know what you bring to the table, and we respect that.” A slow, genuine smile spread across Tony’s face. "I like your style," he admitted, finally letting his guard down, if only slightly. "Alright, you have gotten my attention. We will do a trial run. If everything goes as smoothl
Nora P.O.V I ran my fingers down the fabric of my dress, smoothing out the silk as I gazed at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The black and red gown hugged my figure perfectly, the intricate floral lace carving delicate patterns over the sheer black overlay, while the royal red silk underneath added a touch of richness. The detachable black skirt trailed behind me like a shadow, enhancing my every step with an air of mystery. My dark waves cascaded over my shoulders, shining under the dim glow of the vanity lights like a river kissed by moonlight. I had returned to the DiFronzo estate this morning after completing the case, though formalities had dragged the process out longer than expected. I hadn’t spoken to Robert properly since I left a few days ago. Our last interaction had been brief, filled with unspoken words and unreadable expressions. Lily had barely given me a moment to settle in before dragging me off for dress shopping, her excitement contagious despite my exh
Nora P.O.V The room was steeped in darkness, the kind that felt suffocating, pressing in from all sides. The only source of illumination was a weak, flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling, its light barely reaching the corners of the space. The bulb swung slightly, creaking on its loose fixture, casting long, shifting shadows over the stacks of cardboard boxes piled against the walls. The air inside was thick with dust and the stale scent of sweat and old wood. Each breath I took felt heavy, tainted by something metallic smell. The distant echoes of gunfire and chaos outside barely reached this place, but even with all of that, nothing in this room disturbed me more than the sight before me. Layson’s arms and legs were tightly restrained with thick ropes, the fibers biting into his skin. His face was a mess of bruises, his right eye swollen, his lip split open, and a deep gash above his brow left a jagged streak of blood trailing down the side of his face. The blood had begun to d
Nora P.O.V The warehouse loomed ahead, its steel exterior bathed in the pale glow of the distant streetlights. A thick, eerie silence blanketed the area, broken only by the occasional rustle of the wind against the stacked shipping containers. The air was tense, charged with the weight of the mission ahead. Inside, Layson and his son were being held captive by the Cutlers, and there was no telling what condition they were in. Our van was parked a few yards away, tucked into the shadows, where Cyber and his team monitored the interior movements. The dim glow of their screens illuminated their faces, their fingers flying over keyboards as they fed us real-time updates through our Bluetooth devices. “Heat signatures confirm at least two dozen men inside,” Cyber’s voice crackled in my ear. “More might be deeper in. No sign of Layson or the child yet, but we are tracking.” I nodded, my grip tightening around my firearm as I surveyed the agents standing with me. I had already distribut
Nora P.O.VThe conference room was silent except for the quiet hum of the projector as the video began playing. The large screen flickered to life, casting a dim glow across the dimly lit room. My seniors sat at the long table, their expressions grim, while Cyber stood near the laptop, ready to control the playback. A few other agents were scattered throughout the room, watching with keen eyes.The video was grainy, likely recorded from a hidden camera. It showed a weak, sickly child strapped to a chair inside a dark room. The only source of light was a dim bulb hanging overhead, casting eerie shadows across his frail body. The boy’s head drooped forward, exhaustion visible in the way his shoulders sagged. He barely moved, except for the occasional twitch, as if he lacked the strength to even lift his head properly.I clenched my jaw. This had to be Ryan, Layson’s son.Several figures stood around him, just beyond the reach of the weak light. Their faces were obscured, but their voice
Nora’s POV I adjusted my dress, smoothing out the wrinkles as Robert fixed his tie. The air inside his office was thick with the remnants of what just happened between us, but I refused to dwell on it. Instead, I reached for my blazer, but before I could slide it on, Robert pulled out his black credit card and handed it to me. "Get a dress and whatever else you need for next weekend’s ball." His tone was firm, almost dismissive, as if this was a mundane transaction."And whatever else you need for next weekend’s ball.” I took the card between my fingers, my brows furrowing. "Why?" I asked, looking up at him. "I can buy my own clothes. Working at DiFonzo's pays me well, and the party is next weekend. I have time." Robert straightened his cuffs, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Because you’re mine," he said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "And I take care of what’s mine." His words were effortless, like he was not aware of the weight they carried. I s
Nora P.O.VThe ride to DiFronzo Enterprises was tense, the air in the car thick with unspoken frustration. Robert had taken a call the moment we left the mansion, his voice low but sharp, each clipped word laced with irritation. I sat quietly beside him, watching through the side of my eye as his grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenching harder with every passing second. Whatever was being discussed on the other end, it was clearly not good. When the call finally ended, he tossed his phone onto the seat beside him, exhaling through his nose in a way that told me he was barely holding onto his temper. His knuckles were white against his knee, his fingers twitching as if itching to break something. I did not say a word. I knew better than to try to pry when he was in this state. Instead, I simply observed, letting him simmer in silence. By the time we arrived, Robert did not wait for the driver to open his door ,he shoved it open himself and stepped out with a force that se
Nora P.O.V The sun cast a golden hue over the dining room, filtering through the sheer curtains that framed the tall windows. The table, grand and ornate, stretched the length of the room, covered with an array of breakfast dishes that screamed wealth, freshly baked croissants, glistening fruit platters, cured meats, and steaming pots of coffee. The clinking of cutlery against fine china was the only sound filling the room as the DiFronzo family began their morning ritual. I sat between one of DiFronzo’s men and Riccardo, an awkward position considering the unspoken tension that always hung over these gatherings. To my left, Riccardo leaned back in his chair, a picture of casual arrogance, his dark hair slicked back and his suit impeccably tailored even for breakfast. His tattoos were peering out from under his sleeves.He whispered something to Robert, who was seated beside him, just to the right of his father, Robert DiFronzo Sr., who occupied the head of the table like a king sur
Aldo P.O.V The heavy oak door to the DiFronzo mansion’s east wing creaked open, and I stepped into the lavish bedroom that was now mine. A slow smile spread across my face as my gaze swept the room. Gold-framed mirrors, antique furniture, and deep burgundy curtains. It was everything I expected from the family I despised,opulent, arrogant, and far too secure in their false sense of power. I ran a finger along the edge of the polished mahogany dresser, feigning admiration for the craftsmanship. In truth, I hated everything about this house. It was not the grandeur or the wealth that disgusted me; it was the memories tied to it. Memories of being cast out, belittled, and treated like I was nothing. Elinor DiFronzo did not bring me into the family out of kindness. She brought me to pay for my mother's sin. While his son was treated like a prince I was treated worse than a servant. No one came to save me when she beat me behind closed doors, not even my deadbeat father. For the world E
Nora P.O.V I moved carefully, each step light and deliberate as I made my way toward the living room. The tension was palpable even from the hallway. I did not want anyone to know I was there; the last thing I needed was to be dragged into whatever family chaos was unfolding. I pressed my back against the wall near the doorway, craning my neck just enough to get a glimpse of the room. Aldo Bianchi stood in the center, his posture as smug and self-assured as ever, surrounded by his men.The sight of them in the DiFronzo mansion was jarring, like seeing a fox in a henhouse. Robert was there, standing at the forefront with Dant and Riccardo flanking him. The other members of the family formed a tense semi-circle, their expressions ranging from anger to confusion. I edged closer, careful not to let the wooden floorboards creak underfoot. I did not need to see Robert’s face to know he was seething, his shoulders were rigid, his hands clasped behind his back in an effort to maintain contr