Empire of Ash and BloodRuling an empire with a sharp blade and an iron fist. A contradiction, yet a necessity.Andrea Morelli arrives in the late afternoon, a calculated hour when the sun hangs low, casting long shadows across the cobblestone driveway. His men follow in tight formation, their suits crisp, their hands never straying too far from their holsters.Like the kind that stole my father from me. Like the kind that forced me into this life before I even had a chance to choose.The stories of how I built my empire from the smoldering embers of war still linger in every alley and whispered conversation in this city. I was careful never to let the chaos spill over into a full-scale bloodbath—New York had already burned once at the hands of the Agostis. But I made sure that anyone who dared cross me understood exactly what kind of power I wielded.And now, it seems Riccardo Agosti wants a reminder.Andrea meets my gaze, his expression unreadable. His men shift subtly, a silent lan
I am happily lost in the pages of my latest borrowed novel when the door to our bedroom creaks open. My fingers still in the soft sheets, anxiety prickling at the back of my mind.Lucian strides in, his broad shoulders tense, his jaw set in a grim line. My easy smile falters. Something is wrong.I close my book and set it on the nightstand, watching him carefully. He doesn’t speak right away, inhaling deeply as if bracing himself for something unpleasant.“I need to talk to you,” he says at last, his voice low, grave.Gone is the quiet warmth of yesterday, the easy affection we shared. My stomach tightens.“What’s happened?” I ask, forcing my tone to remain light, unconcerned, though my heart is already pounding.His gaze is ice when it meets mine. “I handed your father over to Andrea Morelli.”The words hit me like a slap.I blink once. Twice. Three times. A sharp chill runs down my spine.“You… what?” My voice is barely a whisper.Lucian doesn’t flinch. “That was the price for Morel
The barn reeks of blood, sweat, and something fouler—something that makes my stomach curl in disgust. Aldo's body trembles against the ropes that bind him to the chair, his head lolling forward, his breath shallow. His shirt, once white, is torn and soaked in blood, clinging to his heaving chest. His boxers, stained and wrinkled, barely cling to his frame. I wrinkle my nose.At one point, I had feared this man. He was a towering figure in my nightmares, a shadow that loomed over me no matter how far I ran. But now? Now he’s just a sack of meat, barely holding on to life."Enough… f-finish it," he groans, his voice barely above a whisper.I tilt my head, watching as his blood pools around his feet. "You don’t get to make demands here," I murmur, dragging the tip of my knife down the inside of his thighs, slow and deliberate. The blade bites into flesh, and he lets out a strangled cry. "Oops," I mutter, watching the crimson pour faster. "Looks like I nicked something important. My bad."
Lucian’s POVAurora storms past me, the scent of blood and sweat lingering in the air between us. She peels off her ruined clothes as she moves, each motion sharp, unrelenting.I should stop her. Say something. Anything.But I don’t.I can only watch as she disappears into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her with enough force to make the frame tremble. My fists clench at my sides, the echo of that door slamming reverberating through my skull.She’s still a puzzle I can’t quite solve. A mosaic of contradictions. One moment a blushing angel, the next a bloodstained demon.And God help me—I want her.I drag a hand through my hair, pacing backward until I reach the edge of the bed and sink down, undoing the top buttons of my shirt with stiff fingers. Control has always been my strength, my ability to read people, predict their every move before they even consider making it.But her?Aurora defies all logic. A wildfire I can’t contain. A storm I have no choice but to weather.The si
I can’t keep the smug grin off my face as I tilt my chin up, meeting Lucian’s piercing gaze with a quiet challenge. My heart pounds, but I fight to keep my expression neutral. He’s watching me carefully, his sharp features unreadable, though I know I’ve stoked a fire in him. That was the point.Then suddenly, he stands. The legs of his chair scrape against the polished hardwood, the sound sharp in the quiet room. My stomach tightens, anticipation curling low in my belly. I’ve spent the entire morning pushing him, daring him, and now, I know he’s reached his limit.“Come with me.” His tone is firm, leaving no room for argument.I rise without hesitation, following him out of the dining room. My pulse thrums with excitement as he leads me upstairs, his pace controlled, purposeful. When we step into our bedroom, he shuts the door behind us with a quiet click.I don’t move. I wait for him in the center of the room, my body already attuned to his presence, my breath uneven with expectation
The city that never sleeps stretches out below me, glittering with a deceptive kind of beauty. From my vantage point on the rooftop of a crumbling apartment building, I watch as the last rays of sunlight dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of fire and blood. It’s a fitting omen for the night ahead.It’s been almost a week since Aurora walked into our meeting and proved herself in a way that left even the most hardened men in my ranks wary. Her plan to cripple the Agostis was ruthless, methodical—genius, really. Since then, we’ve spent our nights gathering intelligence, strategizing, preparing for this very moment.Now, as I stand here, I realize something unexpected. I’m ready for this to be over—not just because I want victory, but because I want to go home to my wife. That thought alone should be unsettling. This life, this chaos, used to be what made me feel most alive. The thrill of wielding power, crushing my enemies. But now… now I feel something else entirely. Whe
It’s late afternoon by the time my husband drags me from bed with the promise of hot coffee. I don’t know how he manages to look his usual sharp, handsome self when we were up until the early hours of the morning. Maybe his secret is just an insatiable bloodthirst.I, on the other hand, am bleary-eyed and only half-conscious as we settle at the breakfast bar with espressos and toasted paninis, courtesy of a chipper Chiara.“I don’t know how you’re managing that,” I mumble around a mouthful of food, squinting at Lucian. “Teach me your secrets for eternal energy.”He chuckles, squeezing my leg under the table. The casual affection sends my heart fluttering despite my exhaustion.“I’ve been thinking,” he says, his tone deceptively light. “You’ve made it clear you want to be more involved in what I do going forward…” He takes a sip of his espresso, watching me carefully. “Would you like to join me when I interrogate Luca?”My grip tightens around my cup. The invitation is unexpected, but
As soon as my top button is fastened, I swing my legs off the bed and storm toward the door—only to stop short. No, that’s too impulsive. I need a plan. Something more calculated. More extreme.Lucian has been avoiding me. Not just in the quiet, sulking way men sometimes do when they’re angry, but with deliberate precision. Rolling out of bed at the crack of dawn, locking himself in his office for hours, and only gracing me with his presence when duty requires it. And at night? He sleeps two feet away as if the very thought of touching me is repellent.I should ignore him. Let him stew in whatever storm brews behind those dark eyes. But I can feel the rage simmering under his restraint, growing stronger each time I turn my back on him in bed. It’s not enough to get a rise out of him. Not yet.So, maybe I need to escalate things.I’ve spent the last few days in silent defiance, but clearly, Lucian won’t cave. I’m running out of options. I can’t force him to let me leave—I don’t exactly
Excitement and alarm surged through Evelyn’s entire being, clashing like fire and ice. If his hands had the power to send waves of electricity skimming over her skin, then his words had done worse—igniting a wildfire within her, burning her from the inside out.A silent warning echoed in the recesses of her mind, a desperate reminder of her resolve, but her body—traitorous, weak, and desperate—pretended not to hear it. Oh, dear lord, help her…Michael’s hands, those hands that had already unraveled her self-control too many times, moved with an unhurried purpose. They glided over her skin, stroking, teasing, but never where she truly ached for his touch. She bit down on her lower lip, the tension coiling inside her like a beast waiting to be unleashed. She had to stop herself—not just from moaning, but from letting her lips betray her, from begging him for more. And God, she was so close to doing exactly that.The sound of rushing water ceased as Michael turned off the shower, the sud
Once the last dregs of wine have been drained from their bottles, I rise from my chair, moving toward the bar cart with steady deliberation. The low glow of the lamp casts long shadows across the room as I select a bottle of my finest scotch. Two cut crystal glasses catch the light, their sharp edges gleaming as I pour a generous measure into each.Lucian sinks into the chair across from mine with a tired sigh, the weight of the years evident in the way he carries himself. For a long moment, he says nothing, merely swirling the amber liquid beneath his nose before taking a deep pull.I watch him, my own glass resting in my hand, the rich aroma of peat and smoke curling into the air between us. There is a quiet understanding in the silence, a space carved out for words yet unspoken."Three years," I begin, my voice thick with emotion. "Three years of sitting with the weight of your name, your legacy—the foundation upon which so much has been built."Lucian exhales slowly, his fingers t
Andrea catches my eye as he rises to his feet. “Congratulations,” he murmurs, his voice low and laced with both fear and awe. “On your incredible wife, your child, and your overwhelming victory. They may not all be ready to admit it, but today, you became the king.”Lucian inclines his head, a quiet moment of respect passing between them. There’s something in Andrea’s gaze that reminds Aurora of her father—a solemn kind of pride, an acknowledgment of the weight that now rests on Lucian’s shoulders.With that, Andrea steps away, disappearing into the sea of people. As soon as the last man exits and the door clicks shut, Lucian turns, pulling Aurora into a fierce embrace.“As always, you were magnificent,” he breathes into her hair, his hands firm on her waist.She exhales a soft laugh, her fingers tracing gentle circles over his back. “Believe it, amore. You’ve worked so hard to make this dream a reality.”Lucian pulls back slightly, just enough to frame her face between his hands, his
Here’s your revised version with a slower pace and the name changes applied:---I crack one eye open the following afternoon when I hear the bedroom door creak.Lucian strides in purposefully, carrying yet another tray piled with enough food to feed several households. He places it on the nightstand before perching beside me on the bed, his ever-worried gaze sweeping over me as if he expects any significant changes to have happened in the single day that’s passed since he brought me home.“How are you feeling, principessa?” he asks, brushing a lock of hair out of my face with a gentle hand. It’s as if he’s convinced I might shatter like paper-thin glass if he doesn’t keep his touch featherlight.I heave an exasperated sigh, my fingers closing around his hand before he can pull away. “The same as when you asked me an hour ago, husband of mine. And the hour before that.”His worried expression splits into a smirk at my fiery tone. “Forgive me for asking again, wife of mine.”I roll my
Aurora’s piercing scream sends me bounding up the stairs, my heart hammering against my ribs. Panic claws at my chest as I throw the door open, bracing myself for the worst. I find her sitting up in bed, trembling, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the dim bedside lamp. My breath stutters as I take in her pale features and the way her fingers clutch something tightly. I’m beside her in two strides. "Aurora?" My voice is rough and urgent. "What happened? Are you in pain?" She shakes her head, but fresh tears spill over her cheeks. The smallest, almost disbelieving smile tugs at her lips, confusing me. My mind races through every possibility, every terrible outcome—until, slowly, she raises her hand. A plastic stick rests between her shaking fingers. I freeze. For a moment, I can’t make sense of what I’m seeing. My eyes dart from her expression to the test and back again. A faint pink line stares back at me, shifting the entire axis of my world. My throat tightens. "We’re...
The sway of Lucian’s steady steps carries me through the warehouse, each footfall a quiet promise that I am no longer trapped. Part of me is convinced this must be a hallucination—that any second, I’ll wake up, still bound, still drowning in the dark. But when I press my face into the crook of his neck, the heat of his skin grounds me. The scent of him—smoke, leather, and something distinctly Lucian—tethers me to reality.He doesn’t let go. Not once.The blinding sunlight stabs at my eyes as he carries me outside, the stark contrast making my vision blur at the edges. I cling to him like a lifeline when he lifts me into the backseat of a waiting SUV. My entire body feels like it’s still tied to that steel chair—muscles locked, nerves frayed, phantom pain pulsing across my skin. The fear hasn’t left me yet. Maybe it never will.Someone climbs into the front seat and starts the engine, but I don’t look up. My universe narrows to the sound of Lucian’s heartbeat beneath my ear, steady and
Aurora.That name is the only thing keeping me grounded as I scan the darkened monitors before me. Every second that passes without seeing her face feels like a blade twisting in my gut."Gotcha! I found them, boss," Lorenzo calls from the other side of the room.I'm at his side in an instant, my pulse hammering as I take in the grainy footage of a dark sedan crawling through city traffic. It turns off toward a high steel gate—the entrance to one of Riccardo Agosti's warehouses.I exhale slowly. He took her there.“That stronzo brought her to his biggest warehouse,” I growl, bracing my hands on the desk. “Guess we’re in for a straightforward raid after all.”Behind me, Nico shifts uneasily. “It has to be a trap, Lucian. The location is too obvious.”I barely hear him. The dull throbbing in my temple, constant since she was taken, sharpens into something close to agony. “That bastard has my wife, Nico. The time for smart has run out.”Nico exhales heavily, rubbing a hand down his face.
Aurora’s POVConsciousness returns in fragments, my mind struggling against the thick haze of whatever sedative Riccardo used to knock me out. The darkness around me is suffocating, the air heavy with dampness and something more insidious—fear. My limbs feel sluggish, but the sharp bite of rope digging into my wrists and ankles tells me enough. I’m tied to a chair.A low chuckle slithers from the shadows, sending a shiver down my spine. The sound is familiar, a cruel rasp I’ve heard before.Riccardo Agosti."You finally came back to us, Aurora. I was starting to get bored of waiting." His voice is all mockery, smooth with the confidence of a man who believes he has already won.I force my eyes open, blinking against the fog clouding my vision. The dim light in the bunker flickers, casting eerie shadows along the steel walls. My captor steps forward, emerging from the gloom with a smirk carved into his gaunt face.I yank at the ropes, testing their hold. The chair creaks under my weigh
Aurora is missing.The words slam into me like a freight train, cold and brutal.My world tilts, splinters.I force myself to breathe, but it feels like trying to inhale through broken glass. A sharp pang of longing lances through my chest as I picture her—the way she laughs, the softness in her eyes when she thinks no one is looking. The way she tilts her head when she’s deep in thought, lost in a world I desperately want to understand.And now she’s gone.“She was right there.” Gabriele's voice is hoarse, as if he’s already screaming at himself inside his own head. "One second, she was looking at something on the shelf. The next—" He swallows thickly. "I turned for one damn moment, Lucian. And she was just... gone."The office door slams open with a bang.Nico barrels in, eyes wild, chest heaving like he ran the whole way here. His hands rake through his unruly curls, his face ashen.My gut knots.“What’s happened?” My voice is tight, already dreading the answer.Nico hesitates for