"Clear," Greg said.She ended the call, her fingers tightening into a fist. The excitement of premonition coursed in her veins. Tonight everything would change. Tonight, she would remind Arnulfo—and Valentine—that nobody crossed Victoria Giupere without paying the price for it.Inside the estate, Arnulfo sat in his study, his instincts on high alert. Matteo had just returned with an update, his expression grim."All patrols doubled, and we've got the main gates reinforced," Matteo reported. "But something doesn't feel right. It's too quiet out there."Arnulfo nodded, his mind racing. "It's the calm before the storm. Keep your men sharp. We can't afford to slip up.""Understood," Matteo said, turning to leave.Just as he could raise himself to step out, the faint rustling noise outside the window reached Arnulfo's ears. He sprang up and went to the glass to peer out into the dark. The gardens were quiet under the soft glow of the lights from the estate's exteriors, but something in the
Sharp gunfire cracks resounded through the estate, breaking the night stillness. Valentine flinched at every sound burst; her heart was pounding in her chest. Guards sprinted through the corridors with their radios crackling urgently.“They’re in the east wing!” Matteo’s voice came through Arnulfo’s earpiece. “Heavy resistance. At least six armed men. We’ve lost two guards already.”Arnulfo cursed under his breath, his hand clenching tighter around the gun in his possession. He pulled Valentine close, holding her close to himself as they moved towards the safer rooms in the estate. "Stay low," he said, his voice sharp but steady.Bullets thudded into walls. Sweat trickled down Arnulfo's face, mixing with the tension in the air. Valentine clutched onto his arm as her fear rose with every step."Arnulfo," she whispered, her voice barely above the din. "What if they—""They won't get to you," he cut her off, his voice firm. "I won't let them.Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the hallway
As Victoria's men entered, Arnulfo stood in the way of Valentine, gun raised, face set in a deadly grin that was at the same time resolute and furious."Well, you're going to have to go through me first," he said, voice steel.Victoria's laughter echoed off the hallway walls: cold and mocking. "Ah, Arnulfo, you always loved playing the hero.Let's see how far your boasts take you."The confrontation was tense, the air full of expectation. Valentine tightened her fists, her heart racing as she stayed behind Arnulfo. She wouldn't let fear have its way with her, but the view of Victoria's men coming in so precise and deadly made her want to not breathe.With a flash, Arnulfo shot, his movements slick and calculated. Two of Victoria's men went down, but others quickly returned fire, driving him and Valentine back along the hallway. Bullets ricocheted off the walls; the deafening sound rang through the cramped space."Run!" Arnulfo shouted, pushing Valentine toward the secret passage."No!"
"Game over, Arnulfo," she said, her smile cold and triumphant. "Where's your precious Valentine now?"Arnulfo's face didn't flinch. "Far from you.Victoria’s eyes flickered with rage. “You’ll regret this,” she hissed, her finger tightening on the trigger. But before she could fire, the sound of sirens in the distance made her pause.Victoria’s hand froze, the sirens growing louder with each passing second. Her men exchanged uneasy glances, their confidence faltering. The flashing blue and red lights illuminated the estate, casting long, ominous shadows over the carnage.She spun to Greg. "Get everyone out," she said, and for once her voice wasn't all sharp whip. Instead it was the steady quietude of authority: now.Greg didn't miss the beat by half of one. He began yanking orders from his jaws; they began retreating through the darkness, casting frightened side glances their raging leader's way.Victoria's eyes returned to Arnulfo, slumped against the wall, a gash over his eyebrow fro
Victoria sat in the back seat of her sleek black sedan, watching the city lights disappear behind her. The silence felt thick and uncomfortable. She could sense the disappointment from her men in the front. Her men in the front were bruised and quiet, their eyes glued to the road. They didn’t dare speak, knowing how much was at stake.The interior of the car was as cold as it was luxurious, soft leather seats and a faint smell of expensive perfume that hardly seemed to mask the tension. Victoria's manicured nails drummed out a rhythm on the armrest, her anger churning beneath the surface. This failure tonight was going to be a bitter pill to swallow, but it was far from over—not by a long shot."Fools," she spat, her voice interrupting the heavy silence. "How could you let them slip from your grasp?"Greg, her second-in-command, stiffened slightly in his seat, his features tense. "Boss, the police arrived. We couldn't take—"Victoria's glare silenced him mid-sentence. "Do not make exc
Her father cut her off, his voice like a whip. "Enough! You will stop this madness, Victoria. Effective immediately. I'm pulling resources from your little crusade. If you so much as make a move against Arnulfo or Vito again, you'll answer to me."Victoria's lips parted in disbelief. "You can't be serious."Oh, I am," he growled. "This family is bigger than your vendetta. If you can't see that, then perhaps I made a mistake trusting you with any responsibility."Her chest heaved with fury, but she forced her voice to remain steady. "Father, if you think pulling your support will stop me, you're gravely mistaken. I don't need your resources. I'll do this on my own if I have to."“You’re walking a dangerous line, Victoria,” her father warned. “Don’t push me.”The line went dead before she could respond.Victoria stared at the phone, her breath coming in sharp bursts as anger and humiliation boiled inside her. Slowly, she lowered the device, her knuckles white around it.Greg and the oth
"Arnulfo," she whimpered as he bit down.He pulled his mouth from her breast, making a popping sound, cocking his eyebrow at her. Hi moved his hands, slowly stroking her hips while teasing the waste bans of her stockings."Yes, princess?"She writhed under his gaze, "Please touch me," I begged.He smirked and slowly pulled at her stockings. "I thought I told you that I was the one in control here." He pulled her stockings off her legs, and looked at her body like a starving man.And suddenly, he wrapped his hands around her thighs and spread them apart, leaning down and peppering her legs with soft kisses. The polar opposite of what was to come. He slowly made his way up to her core, running his fingers around the seams of her panties.she threw her hips up, in search of more friction, as he rubbed his fingers across her clit. Arnulfo quietly laughs, then tugs my panties to the side. He rubs his fingers along my slit while continuing to kiss my inner thigh."Arnulfo," I whimpared out.
The morning light colored the sky gold and pink and cast a gentle glow over their new estate spread. The world looked quiet, almost serene, as if it had paused to take a breath along with them.Valentine leaned into Arnulfo's side, resting her head against his shoulder. The warmth of his presence wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. She held onto it tightly, remembering everything they had faced together and all that lay ahead. With a hint of worry in her voice, she turned to Arnulfo and asked softly, “Do you think we’ll ever have a normal life?” The question hung in the air, filled with hope and uncertainty, as she searched his eyes for reassurance.Arnulfo didn't blink. He kept his eyes on the horizon, his gaze thoughtful. "Normal?" He allowed himself a soft laugh. "I don't know if that's in the cards for us, Valentine. But peace? Safety? Happiness? Those are things I'll fight for. For you."She turned to look at him. Her eyes hunted his face. "You have given up so much alr
Arnulfo pulled at his collar. "Remind me again why I'm marrying your daughter?" Valentine raised an eyebrow. "Because you love me?"Arnulfo groaned and threw up his hands dramatically. "Damn. You got me there." Don Victor chuckled. "You'll live, Vegas." Valentine stood in front of the mirror staring at the wedding gown. It was breathtaking-ivory lace, delicate beadwork, a flowing skirt that made her feel like she was floating. But what caught her breath was how Don Victor sat behind her as a reflection. His eyes were misty, his face unreadable. " Papa?" she whispered He clears his throat: "You just look like your mother." A boulder formed in the throat of Valentine. "She'd be proud," he managed to breathe the words out so that his emotions were trembling about. Watering eyes with Valentine, "Really think so?" He bent down and cradled her face. "I know so." And in the blink of an eye, she dissolved in his arms. "I love you, Papa," she whispered. Don Victor's eyes closed, and he tighten
The morning sun trickled through the grand estate's windows, dimming to a golden view of the room in which Valentine sat, carrying her newborn baby, Victoria Elise. She sighed, taking a sip from her tea when suddenly, the doors burst open. Don Victor strode into the room, full of confidence as if he had just decided to move mountains. His voice boomed across the room."Well, Valentine, mi hija, it's off again. This time, we're getting married."Valentine nearly gagged on her tea. "What?" she blinked at him, wondering if her father had finally lost it.Don Victor gave her a look of annoyance, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You and Arnulfo. Another wedding. A proper one. A wedding that will be remembered for generations!"Valentine opened her mouth, then closed it. “But we’re already married!”Her father waved a dismissive hand. "That wasn't a wedding. That was a disaster! Do you call being shot at, running for your life, and your sister trying to kill you a wedding
Arnulfo looked at the scene. His heart was heavy but not hollow. This was the man he had been fighting for—the man who once tried to kill him. Yet today, Don Victor was merely a father holding onto his final opportunity for redemption. Arnulfo stretched out, his gaze unyielding. To this, Don Victor displayed an expression that was unreadable. Neither spoke for some time. Then, among all the men standing there, the motion of Arnulfo's hands reached out towards him. It was a challenge, a gesture of peace offering, a guarantee. Don Victor held Valentine next to him, frozen. Then, in his slow drag, he took an indrawn breath and clasped Arnulfo's hand in return. Their grips were tight—not against foes—but two men who had seen each other enough to know for far too long. Two men whose pasts would contradict themselves yet could feel the same love, a love more ample for Valentine. “Take care of her,” muttered Don Victor so low that only a few words' meanings might be gathered. The smooth si
Then Don Victor wanted to patch things up with Valentine, so he approached her again. "Valentine, you are my only living daughter. I hope you can forgive your father for not knowing you. I tried to search for your mom, and lately, I found the truth. Please, Valentine, my dear, forgive your dad." Tears filled Valentine's eyes. "But how can you forgive me? For killing Victoria, my only sister?Don Victor shivered. "Because I failed you first."Her breath hitched."You grew up alone," he went on, his voice thick with remorse. "You suffered alone. If I'd been there-if I'd known-you would never have had to fight for your life in the first place."He touched her hands, his fingers digging into hers. "So if you can do in your heart forgive me then I—" His voice broke. "Then I'll spend the rest of my days proving to you that I'm worthy to be your father."Valentine watched him as if studying every feature on his face for one sign of lies. Every mark of the brutal Don Victor that she knew seem
A very trusted man of Don Victor arrived at the hospital when the sun was barely rising. His face was serious, though his body was stiff with unspoken words. Valentine sat on a chair by the window; Arnulfo rested beside her. His wounds healed considerably, though he still needed to recover more time.She heard the footsteps turn. She saw the man. Her heart fell. There was something about him, and she felt her chest constrict."Señora Vegas," he said, respectful but low. "I come on behalf of Don Victor."Valentine stiffened, her fingers going instinctively to grab at the material of her dress. "What is it?" she asked sharply.The man took a deep breath before his eyes met hers. "It's about Victoria."Her heart stopped."Today is her final interment," he said. "Don Victor wanted you to know. He hopes you will come… to send your sister off."A lance shot through Valentine's chest. She gasped and felt her fingers begin to quiver.Her sister.Victoria was her sister.And she had murdered h
There on the veranda of his estate, Arnulfo sat sipping the sweet scent of a breeze carrying wet earth. He had healed the wound, and though the marks both on body and heart remain, he blew out slowly as he rested one hand over where the bullet tried to take him from this life. Nearly from Valentine and the child she had inside her womb.His tranquility was only temporary.The stillness shattered with the heavy sound of his steps. He need not turn around to know who he was but the heavy-laden air that felt fraught with tension and something else, deep within—it was something left unsaid.Don Victor.The older man stood behind him, a storm rolling in behind him. Whatever words were being said, his silence was saying louder than they ever could.Arnulfo straightened himself but did not turn. "I was expecting you.“Is that so?” Don Victor’s voice was gravelly, lined with years of authority. Years of power. But beneath it was something else—grief, perhaps. Or anger. “Then you know why I’m
Dark eyes met his; something she had never seen in him before; regret, pain, a sadness so deep that there weren't enough words to account for it. They were both silent for what felt like an eternity. And then, after the great long silence,he spoke."Valentina," he said, his voice rough, unsteady.She flinched. She hated it when he said that. That wasn't his name for her. Not today. Not ever before.Her fists were curled tight at her sides. "Don't say that."He exhaled, nodding slightly. "I… I understand." His voice cracked, but he went on speaking. "I don't expect forgiveness. I don't even expect you to look at me without hatred. But I need you to know—I never knew. If I had—She laughed, the laugh sharp, bitter. "If you'd known? What, Don Victor? Would it have been any different? Would you have come to find me? Raised me?" Her voice cracked as she took a step closer, the burning eyes intense. "Or just another soldier in your empire?His face contorted into a grimace as if she slap
The door shut with a soft click behind Don Victor, and silence swallowed the hospital room. The revelation was like a boulder, suffocating Valentine's chest.She could hardly believe it.Victoria. her sister.Don Victor. her father.It felt like a bad joke on truth.Arnulfo grasped her hands in a tight grip but a gentle one as he said worriedly, "Valentine, speak to me.".She shuddered, drawing an involuntary breath into her lungs. Her fingers were clutching him hard. "I don't know what to say my love," she whispered. "I don't know how to feel,Arnulfo."Arnulfo touched her cheek and raised her chin. "Then don't make yourself understand everything right now," he said, soft. "Just breathe."Breathe.How was she supposed to breathe when her entire world had just been turned inside out?She forced her hands free from his hold, wrapped them around her body to hug herself, and started pacing the room. "All this time," she said shaking her head in disbelief. "I thought I was alone. I thought
Valentine sat up on the bed in the hospital, her head in her hands. Arnulfo sat besides her, had his arm thrown over her shoulder, said not a word while holding her back.Valentine sat up when she heard a knock on the door.Arnulfo's muscles tensed. The door opened slowly, and Don Victor entered.Valentine's head snapped up. Her eyes were red and puffy. "What do you want?" she croaked.Don Victor's eyes softened, but his face remained unreadable. "To talk.""There is nothing to talk about."Don Victor took another step inside. "There's everything to talk about."Valentine shook her head, turning away. "You can't come out of the woodwork now and pretend you care about me."Don Victor took a breath. "I always cared."She laughed, and the sound was bitter. "Liar.""I didn't know about you," Don Victor said. "If I had—""If you had known," Valentine cut him off, her voice shaking with anger, "what? You would have raised me in your world? In a world full of blood and power and control?"Do