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âDamien,â My father's voice, though weak, still carried the authority that had defined him as the head of the Sullivan family for decades. âYou know what must be done.âI nodded, though the words tasted bitter on my tongue. âYes, Father. I know, but as I stated the last time we spoke, I can not marry Lisa.âDominickâs eyes, though clouded with age, still held a sharpness that belied his physical state. âthere is no room for arguments, Damien. Youâre the first son of the first son. Itâs your duty to marry and continue the Sullivan line. Weâve made our choice, and you need to accept it.âI gritted my teeth as I clenched my fist, holding back the bitter words I had. My mind immediately went to Lisa. She was a beautiful woman, no doubt about that, but she wasnât the one my heart had chosen, she never will be. She wasnât the one I wanted by my side as I navigated the treacherous world of the Cosa Nostra. But my fatherâs words echoed in ny mindâthe Sullivan legacy demanded loyalty, sacrific
"I can handle sly," I said. "We need to be cautious about this..." My father's expression softened, but only slightly. "Caution is essential. We canât afford to underestimate the Montellis, nor can we afford to miscalculate the Gallos' intentions. They are just as dangerous." I nodded, absorbing his words. He was right, of course. The Montellis were not to be taken lightly, and neither were the Gallos. It was a good thing we were both on the same team. But if we were going to make a stand, we needed all the support we could get. "How do you want to play this?" I asked, feeling the weight of leadership settling on my shoulders. It was one thing to take the reins of the family, but another to do so in the midst of a brewing war. "We need to arrange a meeting with Enzo," my father replied, his tone steady. "And weâll lay out our terms. We have to be clear about what we expect from them and what they can expect from us. No surprises." I nodded again, this time with determination. "
Vivian's pov Things between me and Damien have been like a dream and words could not express how glad it made me. He always made me feel special, like I mattered. He let me see sides of him not everyone gets to see and it really touched me. And for the first time In a really long time, I truly felt something. Even when I had been with Bruce, things weren't this great and I don't think I've ever felt the things that I felt with Damien, with Bruce. As usual, I had clocked in to work. Things between me and Damien might have taken a step forward, but my role in the agency hadn't changed. The people here depended on me to get things in order. At around 11 there about, I decided to step out of my office and do my routine check around, go see if everyone was where they were meant to be and the models were happy, but something felt out of place as I walked past everyone, I couldn't get over this prickly feeling that they were all staring at me and that made me feel exposed. The models gave
I've always prided Myself on control and power, I was always Ten steps ahead of life and I was tactical when it came to handling things. There was always a plan, a way out of any situation, no matter how daunting it might seem. This was how I ran my business and my empire as the next Don of the Sullivan family, and by extension, this attitude was carried into my relationships through the years. But right now, this very moment, I wasn't in control. All hell had broken loose and it was all because of one confounded desperate woman who was hell bent on ruining the one good thing in my life right now. The only peace of mind I had. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" I snarled, my voice low and dangerous. Lisa stumbled back, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and satisfaction. âDamien, Iââ . Lisa planned this, she fucking planned all this out to ruin my relationship with Vivian. I swear it took all the patience I had left in me right now not to empty my bullets into her skull as the d
Damien's POV I ran after Vivian, praying I caught up with her in time to explain everything, but my face paled the second I saw Bruce putting her into his car. Just before he got into the driver's seat, we made eye contact for the briefest of seconds. My guts knew something was off, I gritted my teeth as I ran to the door Screaming her name. I didn't care about the stares I got from the employee's and passer-by, because for the first time in a very long time, I lost my cool. Off course I did, Vivian was in danger! "VIVIAN! STOP!!" I yelled, but the car had stated to move. Before I could reach the front Bruce sped off with Vivian in the car with him. My heart hammered in my chest, rage boiling in my veins as I watched Bruceâs car speed away with Vivian. The look we exchanged just before he got inâthe cold, detached expression in his eyesâconfirmed everything my gut had been screaming. From the very first day I set my eyes on Bruce, I never liked him. I wanted to tell Vivian to stay
Ten minutes passed by, and I heard the low rumble of Lucaâs car pulling up next to mine. With practised ease, I put the gun back it its holster and straightened up, putting on the mask of indifference I had perfected over the years. This was just another job. Just another necessary step to keep myself alive. I was doing this to keep myself alive. That's what I've always told myself. And that's what I'd always believed. It was a necessary move in this world to ensure my own survival. I stepped out of my car, the gun tucked away inside my coat. Luca stepped out of his car, rain droplets shimmering in the dim light as he walked over. He pulled his coat closer to shield himself from the rain. The unkept stubble and dark circles underneath his eyes carved out his dedication to the precinct. A signature of the years he'd spent as a detective, chasing one criminal after another. But after years of toiling in the underworld, I've learnt the difference between him and me. I knew when to loo
I let out a long breath, my exhaustion seeping into my bones. I could feel the weight of the gun on my hip, a constant reminder of the life I led now. Ever since I was young, I dreamt of being an outstanding cop, to serve and protect...tch. life had a way of playing sick jokes on people. A bitter smile cracked on my lips as I sped down the road. This life had driven me to the point of no return. I wasnât the man Vivian had fallen in love with all those years ago. That man was long gone. In his place was someone elseâsomeone shaped by the Montellis, by Rico, by every dirty deal and decision that had led me to this point. His phone buzzed again, and my jaw clenched. I knew what needed to be done. The Montellis were breathing down my neck, and i couldnât afford to make a mistake. âDamn you, Vivian,â I muttered under my breath, my voice thick with emotion. âWhy did you have to leave?â ---12:50pm--- I glanced at the clock on my dashboard. The red lights felt blinding as the car pulle
His glare was fierce, but I held my ground. âThis isnât the time to act reckless. And you know it. We need a plan. If you go after them now, you'd be playing right into their hands.ââI donât care! They took her, Nik. They crossed the fucking line,â he huffed, knocking over a stack of magazines on his desk.I took a breath, keeping my voice steady. âI know. But if you charge in there like this, you could lose more than Vivian. You could lose everything. Theyâre waiting for you to snap, and when you do, theyâll be ready.âDamienâs eyes flickered with rage, but deep down, he knew I was right. He was smart enough to see the bigger picture, but in moments like this, his emotions were getting the best of him.I placed a hand on his shoulder, locking eyes with him. âWeâll get her back. But not like this. You need to stay focused, stay sharp. Weâll find another way.âHe didnât say anything, but the tension in his shoulders eased, if only a
âPlease⌠give me another chance,â he begged, his words raw with desperation. âI canât lose you. I don't think I can go on without you. I know Iâve hurt you⌠I know Iâve failed you⌠but I swear, Iâll do anything to make it right.â His eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper. Compared to the cold hearted killing machine she had just witnessed some hours ago, this version of Damien, the way he made himself to bare and vulnerable to her made her heart clench, but could she forgive him so easily? He lied about who he was, putting her in danger. But he hadn't been the only one who lied, Bruce. She couldn't tell who's betrayal hit her more. Bruce or Damien? âBut Vivian⌠if you want to leave⌠I wonât stop you. I wonât force you to stay in a life you donât want. Iâll let you go, if thatâs what you need.â The silence that followed was suffocating, heavy with uncertainty. Damienâs heart pounded in his chest as he waited patiently for her next wor
Damien stood there, still holding the gun in his hand, as if Marcelloâs death meant nothing to him. He didnât flinch at the sound of Vivianâs distress, didnât look away from the corpse lying at his feet. This was just another day in his world. But somewhere deep inside, something twisted in his chest at the sound of Vivianâs sobs.Nikolia glanced at him, his expression unreadable. âEnzo will be here soon,â he said quietly, as if the violence they had just witnessed was already being brushed aside. âWeâll take care of the rest.âDamien nodded, his jaw clenched. Without another word, he holstered his gun and turned to face Vivian. But before he could reach her, she swayed, her body giving out from the sheer exhaustion and trauma of the night. She collapsed, her world turning black as she slipped into unconsciousness.---When Vivian woke again, the harsh lights of the white room assaulted her senses. She blinked, disoriented, her body feeling heavy
Marcelloâs heart dropped into his stomach. For a split second, it felt like he had seen a ghost. Nikolia stood there, bathed in the faint moonlight, his tall frame exuding a cold menace that froze Marcello in place. His expression was hard, disgust etched into every line of his face and his golden eyes cutting through Marcello like a silent reaper of damnation.âGoing somewhere, Marcello?â Nikoliaâs voice was as cold as the night air, sending a shiver down Marcelloâs spine.Marcelloâs eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find words. âN-NikoliaâŚâ he stammered, taking a step back, but there was nowhere to run. The fat in his cheeks trembled. The wall behind him felt like a cage, closing in around him.Nikolia stepped closer, his eyes darkening with contempt. â what's the matter, uncle Marc? You look like youâve seen a ghost,â he said quietly, his voice dripping with disgust. âI guess betrayal has that effect, doesnât it?âMarcello tried to swallow, but his thr
Rico stormed back to the center of the room, his face twisted in fury as more gunfire erupted outside. âThis was supposed to be foolproof!â he spat, turning on Bruce with venom in his eyes. âYou told me this would work!âBruce gave a nonchalant shrug, not bothering to defend himself. Heâd done what he was told. If Ricoâs plans were crumbling, that was on him.âLooks like youâre the one who underestimated Damien,â Bruce muttered under his breath.âYouââ Ricoâs hand shot out, grabbing Bruce by the collar of his shirt, yanking him to his feet. âI swear to God, if you had anything to do with thisâââEnough!â Marcello barked, stepping between them, his eyes wide with barely concealed panic. âThis is getting out of hand! We need to get out of here before itâs too late!âFor the first time since the gunfire began, Bruceâs pulse quickened. He could hear the approaching footsteps, the gunfire getting closer. The time had come. The inevitable was h
Bruce had taken a photo of Vivian and driven down to the fake location where Rico and Marcello had planned to ambush him when he showed up. About a dozen foot soldiers were positioned at strategic places around the warehouse, waiting for the time. But as Bruce stood before the depleted building, he couldn't tear his gaze away from the the picture of Vivian. He stared at the picture for what felt like an eternity before delivering the message to Damien along with the fake location. A bitter smile appeared on his lips as he watched the file deliver. Somehow, he felt Damien wouldn't believe this crap. If he truly did love Vivian, he could tell from a mile away that these coordinates were bullshit. A part of him wanted to call it off, but he knew better than to intervene. No, that's not it. Bruce was just a coward, a dog on Rico's leash and it gnawed at him.Vivian was now a part of his past, but she wasn't the one to blame for the path he had condemned himself to be
Vivian gasped, her eyes widening in horror to think that Bruce was confessing to a murder made her question everything now. âNo⌠no, Bruce, thatâs notââ She shook her head, refusing to believe what she was hearing. The man she once knew, the man she had loved, couldnât be capable of something like that. âYou didnât⌠You couldnât haveâŚâHis face twisted in a madden excitement. A sick smile marked his features as he grinned from ear to ear like a mad man, but there was no denying it now. âI did. Hah, I shot him. Clean, one bullet to the heart. Just like Rico told me to.âRico?? Why did that name sound so familiar. Vivian recalled going through Damien's notes the days he had been absent from work. But who exactly was Rico and how were Bruce and Damien even connected to it all.Vivian recoiled in her chair, her body trembling. âHow... how could you?"âI didnât have a choice!â Bruce snapped, his voice rising, raw and defensive. âThey have everything on
Sly turned back to his laptop, as if he hadnât just tried to push my buttons. âWe make our move tonight. They donât know that we know where they are, so we have the upper hand. Weâll strike fast, hit them from all sides.âRight in the middle of our conversation, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out immediately, my gut tightening the moment I saw the notification. An unknown number had sent me a message. I opened it immediately, and my blood ran cold.It was a picture of Vivian. She was tied up, her face streaked with tears, her eyes wide with fear. A message followed: **âCome alone, or she dies.â**I stared at the screen, my breath catching in my throat. Rage, fear, and panic crashed into me all at once, threatening to rip through the thin control I had left. I tightened my grip on the phone, the edges digging into my palm.Nikolia leaned in, his face hardening as he saw the picture. âShit.âSly glanced over, his smirk fading when he saw the image. âAh... there it is. The bai
Nikolia nodded in agreement, though his gaze remained locked on Sly, watching his every move. âEnzoâs right, Damien. The moment you go after them, youâll be walking right into their trap.â I took a deep breath, trying to let the words sink in. Rico and Marcello were conniving bastards. They would use any weakness to get a leverage. âWhat do you suggest, then?â I asked after a moment, my tone hard but more measured now. Enzo relaxed slightly. âSly," he motioned for Salvatore and the man moved quickly, pulling out a laptop from his bag. He perched himself behind a wooden desk and turned on the system, the cold light reflecting over his face as his fingers worked through the keys like a madman. "We got our Intel..." Sly grinned, his fingers already flying over the keys of the laptop. âIâve been digging into Ricoâs operations. I might have an idea where heâs keeping her.â My eyes locked onto Slyâs. âWhere?â Sly pulled up a map on the screen, a series of routes and locations highligh
His glare was fierce, but I held my ground. âThis isnât the time to act reckless. And you know it. We need a plan. If you go after them now, you'd be playing right into their hands.ââI donât care! They took her, Nik. They crossed the fucking line,â he huffed, knocking over a stack of magazines on his desk.I took a breath, keeping my voice steady. âI know. But if you charge in there like this, you could lose more than Vivian. You could lose everything. Theyâre waiting for you to snap, and when you do, theyâll be ready.âDamienâs eyes flickered with rage, but deep down, he knew I was right. He was smart enough to see the bigger picture, but in moments like this, his emotions were getting the best of him.I placed a hand on his shoulder, locking eyes with him. âWeâll get her back. But not like this. You need to stay focused, stay sharp. Weâll find another way.âHe didnât say anything, but the tension in his shoulders eased, if only a