SARAH “Dad, we don’t have time to argue. Just pack a bag!” My voice shook as I tossed a duffel bag at him. The urgency in my tone must have jolted him because he finally started moving, albeit slowly.“Sarah, what’s going on? Why do we need to run?” he asked, eyes wide with confusion and worry.“I’ve done something big, Dad. I had to get away from Marco, and this was the only way. I set a fire at the mansion to create a distraction. It worked, but he’ll figure it out soon, and then he’ll come for us. We need to leave now before they start looking for us.”He stopped packing and stared at me. “A fire? Sarah, you can’t be serious.”“I am serious, Dad. Marco is dangerous. He’s not going to let this go. We have to stay ahead of him.”“But where will we go? We can’t just run without a plan.”“I don’t care where we go, as long as it’s far from here. We’ll figure it out on the way,” I said, my voice rising in panic. “We just need to move.”He looked at me, his face etched with concern. “Sar
SARAHI woke up feeling like I had been hit by a truck. My head throbbed with a sharp, relentless pain, and every muscle in my body ached. I groaned, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Everything was blurry, my vision still adjusting.The floor beneath me was hard and cold, the air stale and musty. I blinked a few times, trying to clear my head. The dim light made it difficult to see much, but I could make out the outlines of a small, windowless room. The walls were bare, the only furniture a rickety chair in one corner.I struggled to sit up, my movements slow and clumsy. My wrists were sore, and as I looked down, I realized they were bruised from the bindings. I tried to piece together what had happened, but my mind was a foggy mess.Groaning, I managed to pull myself into a sitting position. My head felt like it was splitting open, and I had to close my eyes for a moment to keep from being sick. I took a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself.“Where am I?” I whispered to
MARCOI paced around my office, frustration boiling over. Papers and maps were strewn across my desk, each one mocking me with the failure to pinpoint Sarah’s location. My fists clenched at my sides, the tension coiled tightly in my muscles.“How could she just vanish like that?” I slammed my fist on the desk, sending a few papers flying. “We had every possible lead!”Tony stood by the door, looking nervous. “Boss, we did everything we could. She’s quite smart it seems, and she knows how to cover her tracks.”“Smart?” I snapped, turning to face him. “She’s playing a dangerous game. She doesn’t know what she’s up against.”Tony nodded, swallowing hard. “I understand, boss. But we’re dealing with just a girl we’d find her. She’s managed to stay one step ahead of us, but not for long.”“That’s not good enough, Tony!” I shouted. “We can’t let her slip through our fingers. We have too much riding on this.”“We’ve checked every lead, every contact,” Tony said, trying to keep his voice stead
SARAHCold water splashed onto my face, shocking me awake. I jolted up, gasping, my head pounding like a drum. The memory of their hands all over me, groping and squeezing, played in my mind like a horror movie on repeat. I took a deep breath, trying to stabilize myself, blinking away the water and tears."Rise and shine," one of the goons sneered, the one who had thrown the water. I glared at him, pure hatred burning in my eyes."Fuck you," I spat, my voice shaky but defiant."Watch your tongue, bitch," he snapped back, his face hardening. "You're in no position to mouth off."I ignored the throbbing in my head and focused on him, rage boiling inside me. "You think you can just treat me like this? You think you can get away with it?"He laughed, a cold, cruel sound. "Honey, we already have. No one's coming to save you. You’re ours to do with as we please."The way he said it made my skin crawl. I wanted to scream, to fight, but I knew it would only get me hurt again. I forced myself
SARAHI sat there, stunned, unable to process what Viktor had just said. “What do you mean, use me to kill Marco?” My voice trembled, a mix of confusion and fear. Viktor’s cold laughter echoed in the room, sending chills down my spine.“You heard me right,” he said, leaning back in his chair, his eyes glinting with malice. “Marco took something precious from me, something so valuable that I’ve dedicated my entire life to hunting him down.”I stared at him, trying to make sense of his words. “What did he take from you?”Viktor’s expression shifted, a shadow of pain flickering across his face. “A long time ago, Marco and I were on opposite sides of a business deal. It was supposed to be straightforward, just another transaction in our line of work. But Marco, being the ruthless bastard he is, decided he wanted more. He wanted it all.”He paused, his jaw tightening as he relived the memory. “I had a family back then. A wife and a little girl, Eva. My wife, Lena, she was my rock, my every
SARAHViktor walked back in, leaned against the wall, a smug smile playing on his lips. “You really don’t understand how important you are to Marco, do you, Sarah?”I glared at him, my mind racing with fear and confusion. “Marco doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”He chuckled, shaking his head. “Oh, you poor, naive girl. Do you really think Marco marrying you was just a coincidence?”I frowned, the doubt creeping in. “What do you mean? Of course it was. He needed a wife for his image, for his business. It was all a facade.”Viktor’s eyes gleamed with a predatory light. “You’re wrong. Marco loves you more than you can imagine. He would comb to the ends of the earth to find you.”I shook my head vehemently, refusing to believe his words. “No, that’s not true. Marco is a monster. He doesn’t know how to love. He’s used me, hurt me. He can’t love me.”“Is that so?” Viktor’s voice was laced with mockery. “Then why do you think he’s been so relentless in his search for you? Why do you t
MARCOI paced back and forth in the cyber room, the soft hum of the machines around me doing nothing to calm my nerves. The glow of the monitors cast an eerie light, making the room feel more like a prison than a high-tech command center. I rotated a small pocket knife in my hand, the familiar weight grounding me, if only a little.“Damn it,” I muttered to myself. “How could I let this happen? How did I lose her?” My voice echoed in the room, the frustration clear. “I should have tightened security more around the house. I should have seen this coming.”I couldn’t shake the image of Sarah from my mind. The thought of her in Viktor’s hands made my blood boil. I stopped pacing and slammed the knife into the table, the blade sticking out at an angle.“Viktor,” I growled. The name tasted like poison on my tongue. I closed my eyes, remembering our last encounter. I had spared his life then, thinking it was a mercy. A weakness. And now that same weakness had come back to hurt me, to hurt Sa
MARCO: The private armory room buzzed with the sound of guns being loaded and tactical gear being secured. The metallic clinks and clicks echoed around the room, blending with the quiet murmur of my men discussing strategies. Each one of them was focused, their faces etched with determination. This wasn’t just another mission; this was personal.I moved among them, checking in on their preparations. “Remember, no slip up guys,” I said, my voice firm but low. “This is about sending a message to Viktor and anyone else who thinks they can mess with us.”Tony was adjusting his bulletproof vest. He glanced up at me and nodded. “We’re ready, boss. We’ve got your back.”I gave him a tight smile. “Good. We’re going in fast and hard. No mistakes.”Mikey, the new guy, looked up from loading his rifle, his hands trembling slightly. “Boss, what if Viktor has backup? What if this is a trap?”I walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Listen, Mikey. Viktor thinks he has the upper hand b
MARCOThe city lights blurred through the tinted windows as we cruised down the highway. The engine hummed low, steady. Nobody was talking much, just the faint sound of the radio playing some old blues song under the noise of the tires slicing through wet road.I sat in the backseat, window cracked just enough to let the night air slip in. The blunt burned slow between my fingers — smoke curling up against the roof. I took a long drag, letting the smoke sit heavy in my chest before passing it forward.“Here… calm your nerves.”Tony snorted from the passenger seat, taking it without missing a beat.“Come on, Marco… what the fuck you think this is? First rodeo?” He puffed out a cloud, passing it straight to Petrov in the driver’s seat.Petrov grabbed it with a grin, eyes fixed on the road.“The man’s treating us like fresh meat.” He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, that crooked smirk tugging at his lips. “I ain’t been nervous since Danzo’s funeral.”I couldn’t help the faint s
MARCOI sat back in my office, the glass swirling slow in my hand. The whiskey tasted bitter tonight — or maybe it was just me. The window stretched wide in front of me, showing the whole city flickering under the night. New York always looked peaceful from up here… but I knew better.The whole place was a ticking bomb.I watched the headlights crawling along the streets, the faint horns echoing through the night. Somewhere down there… someone was dying. Someone was making money. Someone was getting betrayed.This city doesn’t sleep.I let out a slow breath, tapping my finger against the rim of the glass. My chest felt heavier with every second ticking by. Tonight was going to change everything — one way or the other.I wasn’t scared.I’ve been in worse situations. Buried men with my own hands. Watched bodies bleed out inches away from me. I’ve done shit that still wakes me up at night.But tonight… it was different.Aisha.Her name had been drilling through my skull ever since Tony m
MARCONight had swallowed the city whole. The air hung thick, heavy with something I hadn’t felt in a long time. That familiar tension before a job. The kind that made your blood move slower… made every second feel like it was stretching out.I stood in the armory, loading rounds into a Glock magazine, one click at a time. Tony was by the table, checking the sights on an SMG. Petrov leaned against the wall, spinning a knife between his fingers like he was playing with a toothpick.Petrov smirked.“Been a while since we went on a night like this.” He flipped the knife once, catching it clean. “Not since we took out Danzo.”I glanced up at him, the name stirring up old memories I buried deep. “Danzo…”I sighed, sliding the mag into the Glock with a cold snap.“Yeah… I wish the peace had lasted.”Tony looked up from the SMG, his face tired.“We all do.”The room fell quiet for a second. None of us were built for peace, but we learned how to live in it. Now… that was all gone.Petrov brok
MARCOMartha set the tray down gently on the dining table, arranging the cutlery without making a sound. The smell of fresh eggs and coffee filled the room, but I barely noticed.Three days.Three days since I set the plan into motion — putting Tony and Petrov out on the streets to flush Aisha out and hit back on every bastard who thought I was finished. Three days since I decided to stop sitting back and waiting for the walls to close in.The house had been quiet ever since.Too quiet.I picked up the fork, forcing myself to eat. The food tasted like nothing, but I kept chewing, bite after bite. I needed the strength. The plan had to work.Failure wasn’t an option.Martha lingered by the corner, wiping her hands on her apron. I caught her watching me from the corner of my eye, but she quickly looked away when I glanced up.I cleared my throat, cutting through the silence.“How’s Sarah?”Martha straightened up, clasping her hands in front of her.“She’s been eating better, sir. I made
MARCOThe evening was dragging — slow, heavy.The sun had dipped behind the skyline, leaving streaks of orange bleeding into the sky, but I was still here, trapped between four walls, waiting for the city to get darker before I moved.The vultures were still outside, media dogs camping at the gates like they were waiting to see me buried. The last thing I needed was another fucking scene. Not after the one I gave them earlier.Tony sat across from me, arms folded, eyes fixed on the glass of whiskey he’d barely touched. The whole room felt like it was holding its breath — silent, thick with smoke and tension.I leaned back in my chair, cigarette between my fingers, eyes pinned to the ceiling as I exhaled slowly.The door knocked twice.Sharp. Precise.Tony’s head turned, then the door cracked open. Petrov stepped in — tall, broad, cold-eyed like always.His heavy boots echoed against the marble floors as he shut the door behind him.The mood in the office shifted instantly — darker, he
CHAPTER 263MARCOTony stepped in, shutting the door quietly behind him. His eyes swept across the office, taking in the mess — broken glass scattered by the window, papers tossed across the desk, the whiskey bottle half-empty and lying on its side. The air was thick — like the whole room had been swallowing smoke for hours.He let out a low whistle under his breath.“Jesus…” His eyes flicked back to me. “Place looks like a fucking crime scene.”I didn’t respond. I just leaned further into the chair, fingers pressing into my temples, trying to push the pounding headache out of my skull.I felt Tony’s eyes lingering on me — sizing me up like he was trying to figure out just how bad the damage was.His voice dropped lower.“Boss… you okay?”I let out a slow breath, eyes still shut.“Do I look like I’m fucking okay, Tony?”He didn’t answer — because he knew there was no point.He knew I’d talk when I was ready, knew better than to push me when I was on edge like this.The room stretched
MARCO I walked out of the house, the sun already hitting hard against my face like it had a personal vendetta against me. The guards stood stiff by the gates, their faces blank — the same faces I’d been seeing every fucking day while my life burned down to ashes behind these walls. I was certain they didn’t see me. Not really. I could be bleeding out in front of them and they’d still stand there like statues, pretending they didn’t notice how I was breaking apart piece by piece. I stuffed my hands in my pockets, trying to bury the shaking in my fingers. “Get the car ready… the one with tinted windows.” The guard barely nodded before rushing off. None of them would even meet my eyes. Probably because they believed the headlines too — believed I was just another De Luca bastard who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. I stood there waiting, the heat pressing down on my skin, but I barely felt it. All I could feel was the weight — the fucking pressure of everything closi
MARCOThe sound of my phone vibrating against the nightstand pulled me out of sleep. I groaned, rubbing my face as the buzzing continued, relentless. I blinked against the dim light in the room, reaching blindly for the phone. My fingers finally wrapped around it, and I lifted it to my face. The screen was flooded with notifications—calls, emails, and text messages, all demanding my attention.I sighed, unlocking the phone. The first few messages were from business associates, men who had stood by me when everything was stable, when my name was untouchable. Now, they all wanted answers.Giovanni Fabbri: Marco, what the hell is happening? Investors are pulling out. We need a statement ASAP.Emilio Rizzo: This scandal is making waves in the wrong places. The board is restless. Call me.Colonel Bianchi: The media pressure is mounting. This is dangerous. Handle it before it gets worse.Valentino Russo: The stock is plummeting. Your silence is making things worse. Damage control. Now.I cl
DAMIEN I watched Isabella walk away, her head high, her steps firm, like she hadn’t just refused me for the hundredth time. I smirked, shaking my head as I leaned back against the couch, swirling the drink in my hand.Persistent. That’s what she was. A woman who knew what she wanted—or at least thought she did. Most women melted the moment I so much as looked at them. But Isabella? She resisted, turned me down like I was some desperate bastard begging for a scrap of attention. It was almost amusing.Almost.Because at the end of the day, she was still mine to have. Whether she liked it or not.I took a slow sip of my drink, my mind still turning over the interaction. She wanted control, that was clear. She thought saying no to me gave her power, that it kept her in charge of the situation. But I knew women like her. They built walls, thinking they were protecting themselves, not realizing they were only making the chase more interesting. Sooner or later, those walls would crack, and