The ChoiceSilence hung heavy in the room, thicker than the tension that crackled in the air. I could feel the eyes of everyone around me—Dante, Sasha, Luca—all of them waiting, watching for my next move. But none of it mattered. The only thing that mattered was my son, standing just inches away from a man who could take him from me forever.Lorenzo’s ultimatum echoed in my ears, and my mind raced, trying to find a way out, a loophole, something that would let me save my son without condemning everything my father had built.“Think carefully, Elena,” Lorenzo said, his voice low and dangerous. “You have one chance. Choose wisely.”I swallowed hard, my throat tight with emotion. “How do I know you’ll keep your word?” I asked, my voice shaking. “How do I know you’ll let him go if I walk away?”Lorenzo’s smile didn’t falter, but there was something darker in his eyes now. “You don’t. But that’s the risk you’ll have to take.”I clenched my fists, anger, and fear warring within me. He was t
The GambleThe words spun in my head, and every instinct screamed at me to act—to tear my son away from Lorenzo and run. But where would we go? How could I protect him, protect all of them, when this world was built on violence and betrayal?Dante’s voice sliced through the tension, harsh and unyielding. “Don’t do it, Elena. You know he’s lying.”I turned toward him, my vision blurring with tears. “And if he’s not? What if he’s telling the truth?”Luca growled, stepping forward, fists clenched at his sides. “We’ll kill him before he can lay a hand on your son. You don’t have to make this choice.”Sasha remained silent, his cold, calculating gaze focused entirely on Lorenzo. His mind was already working through every possible outcome, but even I could see the doubt flickering in his eyes. Sasha didn’t gamble. He only played games he knew he could win, and this… this was too much of a risk.Lorenzo, sensing my hesitation, squeezed my son’s shoulder. “You don’t have the luxury of time, E
Shadows of BetrayalThe adrenaline surged as we burst through the door, stepping into the chaos outside. The moonlight illuminated the battlefield that had erupted in front of us, revealing the unmistakable silhouettes of armed men exchanging fire. My heart raced as I scanned the area, searching for my children and hoping they were safe.“Stick close!” Luca ordered, positioning himself in front of me as we ducked behind a wall. “We need to find cover and regroup.”Bullets whizzed by us, ricocheting off the walls with deadly precision. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel my pulse quickening with every moment. I had spent five years running from this life, trying to protect my children from its dangers, and now I was thrown right back into the storm.“Who are they?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Dante glanced around, his jaw tight. “I don’t know, but they’re not with us. They’re here for Lorenzo, and we can’t let them get to him first.”“Or the kids,” Sasha adde
The True EnemyThe chaos outside seemed endless as we fought our way through the throngs of men trying to reach us. Each gunshot and shout was a reminder of how perilous our situation had become. The fear for my children gripped me tightly, but I couldn’t let it paralyze me. I had to act.“Over there!” Sasha shouted, pointing to a narrow alley that led away from the fray. “We can use that to slip out!”“Let’s go!” Luca urged, leading the way. We darted toward the alley, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I couldn’t allow myself to look back, not when every second counted.As we reached the mouth of the alley, I felt a sense of urgency pulse through me. We needed to regroup and find my children. But before we could get too far, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed behind us. “Stay alert!” Dante barked, taking up a defensive stance. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, his features obscured by a dark mask. My breath caught in my throat. “Who are you?” I demanded, my voice sha
The ReturnI never thought I’d set foot in this city again. After everything I went through—after everything I sacrificed to keep myself and my children safe—it was the last place I ever wanted to be. But life has a twisted sense of humor. One wrong turn, one damn accident, and everything I’d been running from came crashing down around me.The sound of screeching tires still rings in my ears. It was supposed to be a quick stop on the outskirts of town, but fate had other plans. A drunk driver veered into my car at the intersection, pushing me into the spotlight. Cameras, cops, and witnesses swarmed the scene before I even realized what was happening. I could feel the walls closing in as the police officers asked for my identification, as bystanders snapped photos and filmed the aftermath with their phones. I wasn’t just another woman involved in a fender bender—I was Elena Romano, the ghost of the Romano mafia empire. And now, I was visible again.By the time I got back to the safe h
Shadows of the PastThe chill of the voice on the other end of the line cut through me, sending icy tendrils of fear creeping up my spine. I could almost picture him—tall and imposing, with a predatory smile that could freeze your blood. This was no ordinary man; he was the mastermind behind everything that had gone wrong in my life. “Who gave you this number?” I demanded, trying to sound brave despite my racing heart. There was a pause, a low chuckle that sent a wave of nausea washing over me. “Does it matter? You’re back in the city, my dear. You know how the game works. You’re in my territory now.”“Get out of my life,” I snapped, forcing the words out through clenched teeth. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my children from you.”“Protect them? You think you can protect them from me? From what’s coming? They are already in my sights, Elena. They are the keys to everything.” The line went dead, and the weight of his threat hung in the air like a storm cloud ready to unleash
The Calm Before the StormThe air outside was thick with tension, a palpable sense of dread hanging in the cool night. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as Ryder led us into the shadows of the alley. Each step was measured, every noise amplified in the eerie silence that surrounded us. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, a reminder that the calm we were experiencing was deceptive—a mere prelude to the storm that was sure to follow.“Stay close,” Ryder instructed, glancing back at me as he led the way. I nodded, tightening my grip on Luca’s hand, our fingers entwined as if he could anchor me to this world where danger was looming just beyond our reach.The dim glow of the streetlights barely penetrated the darkness, casting long shadows that twisted and turned with the wind. It was disorienting, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. Every rustle of leaves, every distant footstep sent my heart racing, and I forced myself to breathe ste
Shadows of the PastThe silence that followed his entrance was suffocating, like the air itself had frozen in fear. My heart pounded so violently in my chest I was sure everyone in the room could hear it. He stood there, tall and menacing, like a specter from my worst nightmares—a figure who had once been a ghost, but was now flesh and blood, staring me down.“How...?” I managed to choke out, my voice trembling. How had he found us so quickly? It didn’t make sense.The man who had burst through the door looked like he had stepped out of a nightmare—his eyes dark, calculating, and filled with cruel amusement. His presence alone seemed to suck the oxygen from the room.“I’ve always known where to find you, Elena,” he said with a sickening smirk. His voice was smooth, filled with the kind of calm arrogance that came from knowing he held all the power. “You didn’t think you could hide forever, did you?”Ryder moved in front of me, his body tense, ready for anything. Luca and Sasha flanked