VALENTINA'S POV
"Mr. Leonardo. I sincerely admire your paintings." Mark started shaking Mr. Leo's hand with a firm grip. "It's truly an honor to finally meet you in person."
I stood behind him, sipping my champagne, totally uninterested as I recalled Russo's words from yesterday.
'Work with me, and I'll give you everything you ask for.'
Work with him? He never mentioned what for. Now I am currently with my boyfriend.
Besides, he didn't bother introducing me. It was as though I was non-existent to him.
I rolled my eyes and looked around, sighting all the gentlemen and women laughing amongst themselves with elegance.
I mentally mocked myself. I could never be one of these high classes. I was just too unsophisticated.
A professional stripper raised in the hoods.
"And who is this beautiful lady?" Mr. Leonardo asked, catching my attention.
"Oh, this is my fiancee." Mark finally introduced. I nearly rolled my eyes again, but instead forced a professional smile.
A smile that seemed real after so many months of practice. Being a stripper is huge work.
"Pleasure to meet you ." He complimented while I gave a warm smile.
"And you too Mr. Leo." I said before he gave Mark a knowing look.
"You really outdid yourself Mr. Valdin." Mr. Leo let out a laugh while Mark forced him just to join him.
I was sick of this place already. Can we get out of here?
I was here not because I wanted to be, but because I was invited by my boyfriend Mark.
The scent of prosecco mingled with the sharp tang of fresh paint filled my nostrils.
As an artist, he had his painting mixed with the prestigious paintings of the cavernous space of Galleria d'Oro.
Flickers of tiny fairy lights cast warm glows on the polished marble floors.
Tonight was the opening of Marco Rossi's latest exhibition, "Luce e Ombre" as I heard... meaning light, and shadow.
I had no idea that Leo was already gone till Mark gripped my hand and pulled me close.
"I saw what you fucking did there Sabrina. Flirting with a man in front of me." His grip was so painful I winced.
"But I did nothing, I didn't even speak until he spoke to me." I defended myself.
"Talking back. You're fucking starting to grow wings. " He eyes were so menacing that I couldn't even bring myself to utter another word because of the terror of what he'd do that whirled in me. "Now behave."
He really seemed to have forgotten that I got him to this level in his life. If it weren't for me, he wouldn't be here today and he remains so ungrateful.
For weeks I helped him prepare for this night. My heart swelled with so much pride for him and yet, he had never done one big thing for me.
Not as much as buying chocolate gifts on my birthday.
I sighed before turning to walk away. He gripped my hand again.
"Where the hell are you going?" He questioned angrily.
And before I could open my mouth to say anything a commotion erupted at the entrance.
Four men in black leather jackets and menacing expressions walked in, their eyes darting around the room.
Perplexed, an unsettling chill snaked down my spine as realizations dawned on me.
Intruders.
The leader, a man with a cruel twist to his lips and a shaved head etched with a menacing scar, shoved a security guard aside with a sneer.
He reached into his pocket, and my breath hitched as the glint of a switchblade caught the light.
He wasn't here for art appreciation.
"Questa festa è finita," he growled, his voice gravelly and laced with menace. (This party is over.)
"Run." I said and Mark saved himself, leaving me to stand. Coward.
People scramble back knocking over glasses and spilling wine.
A shriek pierced the air as a crystal sculpture toppled, shattering into a million glittering pieces.
I spotted Enzo Ferrari, the owner of the rival gallery. He stood there in shock,his eyes darting between the intruders and Marco Moretti.
"Pensavi di potermi superare, Enzo?" The leader whose name I later knew as Luca spat, his voice dripping with disdain. (Did you think you could outdo me, Enzo?)
Moretti straightened his spine, a flicker of defiance replacing his initial shock. "La galleria è mia," he retorted, his voice surprisingly firm. (The gallery is mine.)
"Non più," Luca snarled, pulling a gun from his jacket holster. (Not anymore.)
A deafening gunshot pierces through the air, splintering another one of the chandeliers. Glass rained down like a deadly hailstorm.
The floor seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
A wave of nausea washed over me. I had to do something, anything. My eyes darted around the room, desperate for a weapon. My gaze fell on a fallen wine bottle, the ruby liquid shimmering on the polished floor.
Without a second thought, I snatched it up, the cool glass biting into my palm. With a wild throw of my arm, I launched the bottle at Luca's head. It sailed through the air with surprising accuracy, the impact connecting with a satisfying crack.
The bottle shattered against his temple, sending shards of glass flying. Luca stumbled back, momentarily stunned, the gun falling from his numb fingers. It clattered across the floor, skidding several feet away.
Enzo didn't waste the opportunity. He lunged at Luca, tackling him to the ground. They grappled like wild animals, a flurry of fists and kicks. But this time, Enzo seemed fueled by a righteous fury, raining blows down on Luca.
The silence that followed was thick and heavy. People began to stir, murmuring amongst themselves.
But the jovial atmosphere of the evening was gone, replaced by a lingering sense of unease.
A folded piece of paper caught my eye nestled beneath a fallen easel.
Curious, I picked it up. It was just a white card, smooth and pristine.
"You know too much about Valentine. And I'm coming for you."
My heart jumped to my throat as I read the content in the paper.
I looked around trying to see any suspicious movements lurking between the crowd.
My eyes suddenly landed on a pair of cold calculating eyes.
They belonged to a man that I never thought I'd see again.
His lips were curved into a chilling smile, one that could send shivers down your spine.
His eyes pierced through my soul, and I found it difficult to look away.
A silent threat trapped in a single look.
VALENTINA'S POVHe pushed me against the bed."Mark, do not do this." I warned while he went ahead to take off his clothes."How long am I supposed to wait?" "You know I'm not ready yet." I said while he removed his belt."Then when will you ever be?" He was frustrated. "I really wish you could be more like her.""Like who?" I questioned with furrowed brows ."Kaitlyn!" He yelled.This wasn't the first time he'd mention that to me though."If you loved her that much, you should have never left her." I said and his face twisted to something terrifying."What did you just say?" He questioned.I was sick and tired of him thinking he could boss me about."I have somewhere to be Mark. I really don't have time for this." I said, about to leave when he thrust me back onto the bed."You're going to your stripper's lodge again aren't you. To sleep with men again isn't it?""I told you I'm sleeping with nobody. It's to make money. And you know it's the money I get out of it that I use to susta
VALENTINA'S POVThe footsteps got closer and louder, and I could see his shadow...a man holding a gun.My heart thumped with trepidation as I stumbled back, eyes traveling around the room, as I tried to find where to hide. I looked towards the corner and saw a refrigerator.I gagged, nearly spilling the content in my stomach as I opened the fridge. It was filled with so much dust and rotten foods and cobwebs. I didn't have a choice and hurried into it before closing it against myself.The footsteps finally echoed in the room."Where is she?" The growl sent shivers down my spine but why didn't it sound like him? "I...I don't know where she is." Her voice trembled.My heart jumped into my throat. They'd come for me. Seeing I wasn't at the strip club today. I was in trouble."I'll advise you to tell the truth. If not..." I heard a gasp."I...I was here the whole time, unconscious until I heard footsteps. Pl...please... spare me." She sobbed.She was really covering up for me?"Then I g
VALENTINA'S POV"How is she?" I was hearing voices."You can rest assured. There are no severe damages. She just needs to rest and in a couple days will be up on her feet.""Matteo." I heard the authoritative tone of a man's call. "Yes, Don.""What about him?" The don, as I heard he was called, questioned."He has been locked up in the confinement room for now." Matteo said, and from the voice I could tell it was the man from before. "What about her?""She's good. Just waiting for her to wake up." The don said.I was too weak to open my eyes, even though I was fully awake."I'll leave the boy to you. Don't kill him, yet." The don stated before I heard footsteps distancing. Then a breeze of masculine cologne wafted into my nostrils, I had to hold myself from moaning. "I guess, I didn't warn you enough, if you refused to run at the first hint." He said, and his voice, like stone dipped into water. That was how low and gruff it was. It sent shivers down my spine that I nearly shivered
Valentina’s povI don't know where this confidence came from because it arrived right on time for me to do something stupid. I lifted my chin to meet his gaze, “Then tell me, Don Russo, where exactly is my place?”He smirked sinisterly. "Smart girl."I was forced to swallow hard. What the hell did he mean? “Marcus?” He called out, his eyes never leaving mine. Marcus appeared at the door holding a blank expression on his face. I could tell from the corner of my eyes. I wonder if he was used to seeing his boss like this with other women.“Have Miss Valentina escorted to her room.” Russo said, shifting his gaze to Marcus. My lips tightened and my mouth betrayed me. “You seriously don't think I'll go back to the room I escaped from, do you?”Russo turned to me with a grin playing on those sinful lips of his. “Did you think you actually escaped?”“Y -” I swallowed my words before I could blurt them out. Now was not the time to play foolish. This man could kill me any second if he want
Mateo's povThey all offered me appealing gazes but I knew that was a mask underneath their menacing looks. It was safe to say that no one in the mafia could trust each other but with the way things were moving, my height of paranoia would stretch to its limit and my patience was wearing thin. “Matteo has delivered the painting… but uh, is it safe here now that girl is around?” Angelou linked his fingers together. The man has more rings in his fingers and a scar on his left eye, evidence of five failed marriages. His eyes darted left and right as he spoke as though waiting for someone or backing him up.Jonathan cleared his throat before leaning in. “She won't be caught wandering around. Besides, it would look like an ordinary painting to her. She would never know what it contains, right, don?”Everyone who had their attention on Jonathan turned to me, waiting for me to speak and I gave them what they wanted to hear.“The painting is right where I want it. Who would wander right in
Valentina's pov The moment I bolted from Russo's mansion I didn't stop till I got to our apartment building. The elevator was occupied so I took the stairs not minding my heavy breathing. Mark. You better be alive, asshole.I punched the keycode to the door and pushed it open. I walked into the apartment not recognizing it anymore.Specks of white material and foams laid dormant on the red couch. No one needed to tell me it was sliced open. The lamp I had gotten Mark for Christmas last year stared at me, the delicate glass broken into yellow shards, pictures of us ripped and portraits in ruins. Whoever ransacked our apartment was looking for something. It could be a thief or it could be Mark. I crossed the glass heap gently and leapt to the other side of the room though the kitchen. The next place to check was our bedroom. I rushed to the room and found it in the same mess as the living room. Without thinking, I walked to the drawer and pulled out every last one. All of my jewelry
Russo's povApart from my phonk playlist, the kind of music I enjoy listening to are the sound of metal scratching against the wall, the sound of a gun when it goes off and most certainly the blood-curdling screams of my victims. I gripped his jaw one last time, staring at him squarely in the face. “The tattoo on your chest is from the Al Aziz Brotherhood. Who sent you? Ah Kash? How is your older brother?”“Fuck you!” He spat his blood on my face.“Wrong answer!” I drove my knife into the same spot I had been stabbing for a while on his lap and his screams filled my ears.“Jesus!” Mark shivered as I turned my gaze on him. “Jesus isn't here with you, dear Mark, I am.” I wiped my face with the kerchief Marcus offered me.He tried to get off the chains by binding his hands but he couldn't. They were too tight. “Did you really think you could escape?” I grabbed a chair and took a seat in front of him.“Hey, man. I don't know what you're talking about. Let me go.” Mark's eyes darted aro
Valentina's povI watched mom pass me a cup of coffee with a look of concern etched on her face. “Are you alright, baby?”I put the mug to my lips and took a sip to avoid her question. I've been avoiding this question all morning and she goes asking it again. “Val,” she reached out to touch my arm. “What's wrong?”Looking at her made me feel more guilty. For as long as I can remember, I've always brought trouble to her door step. Was it when I cussed at dad and ran away from home? Or when I got into a fight with the neighbor's kid? Or when I first stole with my first ever boyfriend. I have always been trouble to me and she'd always welcome me with open arms. Was it because she was the one that gave birth to me or was this just a side effect of divorce? “Val?” She called again and I snapped from my train of thoughts. I cradled the mug in my hand, staring at the brown ripple I made when I moved the mug. With a light exhale, I lean back in the dining chair. “Do you remember how you f
Russo’s POV“We have a bigger problem than I thought,” I said to Marcus over the phone. I continued.“I think I just saw Rick with the Moretti, I want you to monitor him closely and gimme a report of his location during and after your operation.““Okay Boss" Marcus answered reassuringly.Rick was in charge of the Western territory, I took over, the same one that made the Morreti family start lurking around. Suddenly I heard faint voices and rushed footsteps from the hall which barely drew my attention at first. My focus had been locked on the blur surveillance footage from Marcus’s failed operation. But when the muffled sounds grew louder, sharp, and urgent, I became alert.The door swung open without my permission. Valentina brushed past, her face very flushed.Then a guard followed behind.“Get out,” I said, my eyes fixed on her. The guard obeyed, shutting the door behind him.Valentina was breathing hard, her fingers fidgeting at her sides. She glanced at the papers scattered acr
Valentina’s POVThe silence of this mansion was both good and bad. Everything has its own advantages I guess.When it's quiet it represents blue, go. I can pretty much boast of mastering the art of moving in the shadows through hallways and rooms, staying out of sight. But tonight, it was a different kind of silence. One that pushed me to make a choice I’d been avoiding for far too long.It has been a long week and I could feel the impact as well. Russo’s eyes were always on me, the constant feeling of being trapped. I lied to myself and the worse I lied to my mother, the thought of this, and my stomach twisted. How much more can I endure this hell?Then when I remembered the two options he gave; Death or life in hell with me. Which I was forced to choose. I mean who would choose death anyway?But the two options sound similar and bad enough.I have to find a way out because I know I can't stay in this place any longer.I couldn’t stay here any longer.With that thought I felt my c
Russo’s POVThe vent cover was still slightly open. My fingers brushed over the tear on its edge, a small piece, torn from clothing.I straightened, my jaw tightening as I handed the scrap to Marie.“If it's her then she’s testing my patience,” I muttered, with a dangerous tone.Marie stood silently without flinching, crossing her hands. She was a smart woman and stayed enough to know better when to offer commentary when I was furious.“Secure the vent,” I ordered.“And triple the patrols in this part of the mansion. I don’t want her getting any ideas.”Marie nodded and left to carry out my instructions. As she walked away.She paused at the door.
Valentina’s POVThe knock on the door startled me as I grabbed tightly on my bed shit. I looked at the makeshift map I had drawn and shoved it under the bed. Just in time. The knock came again, sharper this time, then a familiar voice.“Valentina, it’s Marie. Open up.”I hesitated, my pulse racing. Why is she here? Did Mr. Russo send her?My hands trembled as I approached the door, forcing myself to appear calm. When I opened it, Marie stepped in, her eyes scanning the room.“How are you," she asked." What do you think?” I said, rolling my eyes She sighed. Then continued. “The boss wanted me to check on you,” I swallowed hard, stepping back to give her space. “I’m fine,” I replied quickly, perhaps too quickly.Marie’s eyes now focused on me more than ever as she crossed her arms. “The word fine doesn't look like it's on your face,” she said, tilting her head and trying to read my thoughts.I looked away. “I was just resting. This place is stifling, that’s all.”“You sure?” she a
Russo’s POVHearing the faint echo of footsteps down the hallway made me freeze for a bit. I moved my fingers over the glass of whiskey on my desk as I reached for my gun resting on the edge of my desk. I enjoyed it's cool feel of the steel against my hands, as I rose silently from the chair.I moved across the room, When I opened the door, the hallway was empty, just dimly lit by the wall lights. “Who's there?” I called out, my voice a low growl.The only answer I got was silence.I stepped into the corridor, I raised my gun looking for any sign of movement. I felt the air of someone lurking around. I took a peek at the end of the hallway, where the corridor curved toward another section. Then I thought of my polema in her room, I wondered what she was up to now, is She sound asleep? Maybe dreaming of me perhaps, I hated the flicker of concern coming to my mind about her because it was irritating me. I walked forward being on high alert.When I reached the end of the corner.I sa
Russo’s POVThe kind of smoke in the room was choking, one that annoyingly stuck to clothes and was bad for the lungs. There was a light murmuring of voices accompanied by sounds of clinking glasses which echoed off the walls. I straightened my spine leaning back in my chair, feeling the smoothness of the leather, I scanned the faces of the men gathered around the long table. Each one of them was a don in his own right, a ruler and protector of his territory. Suspicion was obvious on each of their faces.The assassination of Don Bianchi had sent shockwaves through our world, we were all gathered to discuss the way forward, the aftermath. I looked at my glass of vodka on the table untouched, the ice was melting slowly. I was running out of patience, but this meeting was too necessary. If I have learned anything in this business, it is that silence and observation could be as effective as violence. We started the conversation with the usual meaningless pleasantries and condolences
Valentina’s POVDespite been awake in bed, my eyes where still close. I tried as much as possible to go back to sleep, to find rest. If that was truly a thing one could find in this world. But the voices outside my room made it difficult to go back to sleep. I felt restless in bed, stirring my body from right to left. At the same time feeling the after-effects of the ropes Russo has used to tie me to that pole.I finally gave up, opening my eyes slowly. I immediately felt the brightness of the dim light that passed through the curtains of my new room. Annoyed initially at the brightness, but after a few seconds appreciated it's beauty. It's part of nature anyways.I looked around the room admiring it, the expensive gold furniture, the intricate Chandelier hanging above, not to talk of the closet designed with beautiful wood. I wouldn't lie this room can be mistaken for a royal palace if not that it's my prison cage now.I sat up stretching my arms to my sides, I felt the cool mornin
Russo POVThe silence in my office was quite suffocating, the only sound I could hear was the ticking of the wall clock on the far right of the room. It's surprising that I have never paid attention to that sound from the clock before, I guess it needs a pin drop silence to be heard.I sat at my desk, placing my hands beneath my chin. I stared at the glass of whiskey on the table before me. I poured that whiskey a while ago but I have not had the stomach to take it yet. I leaned my head to the right taking a closer look at the glass, I could see flashes of the chandelier lights above through the liquid.Don Bianchi’s assassination was more than just a loss, it was an insult to me and my world, not that any man can't die.Don Bianchi wasn't just any man he was a beacon to admire in the mafia world and also a close ally, the audacity at which the assassination was carried out, at a very secure place, was challenging my authority also, it makes me look weak. Whoever orchestrated it did
Russo's pov.People screamed. Tables were turning over. Glasses crashed to the floor.I sprang up from my chair and was at Bianchi’s side in seconds. His eyes were still wide open and Romigi, his personal bodyguard was already trying to take off his bloodied suit. I could hear my father shouting for an ambulance to be called and all the doors locked until they found the shooter.With a few calls, I gave out orders to my men to surround the area immediately and comb the entire place.“Where were you?!” I shouted at Romigi so he could hear me amid the chaos. “You're supposed to be alert at all times. You should have seen this coming!”“I was attending to Madam Bianchi that second. They must have seen I was distracted and attacked,” he explained as he pressed a handkerchief to the hole in Bianchi’s chest.“Fucking unbelievable!” I cursed and turned to look at Bianchi’s wife, his third one after two failed marriages. She looked lost and pale and there was another expression I couldn't qui