The warm water cascaded over Valerie’s shoulders as she leaned against the tiled wall of the shower, letting the steam wrap around her. She should have been relaxing, letting the tension ease from her body. But no matter how much she tried, her mind wouldn’t stop racing. Her brother Adrian had been acting strangely lately. Distant. Guarded. And she knew exactly why. It was her fault. Or maybe not exactly her fault, but she hadn’t done enough to stop it. Ever since that woman came into their lives, things had started to change. Isabelle the conniving, manipulative bitch Adrian had so foolishly brought into their home—had dug her claws into him so deeply that Valerie barely recognized the brother she had grown up with. Adrian used to trust her used to tell her everything. Now, he kept secrets. And Isabelle? She was always there, always watching, twisting everything, making herself seem like some perfect angel when Valerie she was anything but. She could see right through h
The morning sunlight filtered through the kitchen windows as Selena hummed softly, rolling up the sleeves of her oversized sweater. She had woken up feeling restless and decided to do something useful—like making breakfast. She wasn’t exactly a great cook, but how hard could it be? As she stepped into the kitchen, she found a maid standing by the stove, stirring a pot. The woman turned, startled. “M-Mistress?” The maid blinked rapidly, clearly not expecting to see her there. Selena offered a small smile. “You can call me Selena.” The maid hesitated, shifting awkwardly. “I’m Maria.” “Nice to meet you, Maria,” Selena said cheerfully, walking toward the counter. “I thought I’d make breakfast today.” Maria’s eyes widened. “You… you want to cook?” “Yes.” Selena nodded, grabbing an apron and tying it around her waist. “I mean, how hard can it be?” Maria opened her mouth, then closed it, looking conflicted. “Mist—I mean, Selena… you don’t have to do that. That’s our job.”
Selena sat on the terrace long after Nathan left, staring at the untouched glass of orange juice. The morning breeze felt cool against her skin, but her mind was burning with thoughts she didn’t want to have. Mafias don’t divorce.That one sentence had unraveled everything she thought she knew about her situation. She had signed a contract, believing that once it was over, she would be free. But now? Now she was trapped. Footsteps echoed behind her. She turned to see Maria standing at the doorway, hesitant. “Mrs,” Maria said softly. “Breakfast is ready. Should I bring it here?” Selena shook her head, forcing a smile. “No, I’ll eat inside.” Maria nodded and disappeared back into the house. Selena leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping against the glass as she let the weight of Nathan’s words settle. No divorces. No easy way out. The only way to be free was through death—hers or Adrian’s. She let out a slow breath before speaking. “Then I need to learn the rules.”
Adrian sat in his office, his fingers loosely holding a pen while his eyes remained locked on the file in front of him. He hadn’t flipped a page in the last five minutes. The words blurred together, meaningless, as his thoughts spiraled elsewhere. Selena.She wasn’t just angry—anger, he could handle. She wasn’t avoiding him, either. Avoidance meant she still acknowledged him, even if only in irritation. No, Selena had gone beyond that. She treated him like he didn’t exist. No glares, no insults, no hatred. Just… nothing. And somehow, that was worse than any argument she could throw at him. His jaw clenched as he drummed his fingers against the desk, his patience thinning with every second that passed without her looking at him, speaking to him, or acknowledging that he was still there. Matteo stood nearby, watching with an amused expression. He had been observing Adrian brood in silence for far too long. He smirked. He knew why. Adrian had messed up. Bringing Isabelle into the
Selena slammed the bedroom door shut, the sound echoing through the lavish suite. "Damn him," she muttered, pacing the plush carpet. She felt like a caged animal, trapped in Adrian's gilded cage. Her phone was still in her purse downstairs, and she cursed herself for not grabbing it. She needed to contact Nathan, to let him know where she was. Or maybe she should call the police. But would they even help her? Adrian had connections everywhere. She was practically invisible to the law if Adrian wanted it that way.She stalked over to the window, gazing out at the city lights twinkling below. It was a beautiful view, but all she felt was a suffocating sense of confinement. She needed to escape, to regain control of her life. But how?A knock on the door made her jump. "Go away!" she yelled.The door opened anyway, and Adrian walked in, a bottle of wine and two glasses in his hands. He closed the door behind him, his expression unreadable."I brought wine," he said, holding u
He deepened the kiss, his arms wrapping around her waist. For a moment, Selena was complacent, lost in the familiar pull of his touch. It was like coming home, a dangerous, intoxicating comfort. But then, the reality of her situation crashed back down on her. She remembered the argument, the forced intimacy, the way he had manipulated her. She remembered Nathan, the hurt she had seen in his eyes. And she remembered the lie she had told him.She pulled away from Adrian, her hands pushing against his chest. “Stop,” she said, her voice trembling.He looked at her, his eyes searching hers. “What’s wrong?”“Stay away from me, Adrian,” she said, her voice stronger this time.He frowned, his expression hardening. “What are you talking about?”“You know what I’m talking about,” she said. “Last night… it wasn’t right.”“It’s what you wanted,” he said, his voice low.“No, it wasn’t,” she said. “I was vulnerable. You took advantage of me.”He scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”“Don’t p
Selena crossed her arms, staring at Adrian with a scowl. “Take me home.” Adrian leaned back against the car, his eyes scanning her face. “No.” She clenched her fists to prevent them from trembling. “Adrian, I’m not in the mood for this. I want to go home. Now.” His jaw tightened, but after a long pause, he sighed. “Fine.” Without another word, he opened the car door for her. She slid in, arms still folded, heart still racing from the earlier encounter. Adrian got in, started the engine, and drove in silence. Selena glanced at him. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white. He was pissed. No, beyond pissed. But she didn’t care. She was just wanted to get out of there. She wondered how many of these fights she would have to endure.When they finally reached the house, Selena pushed open the car door before Adrian could say anything.She pushed open the heavy front door, her shoulders tight. The familiar smell of the house – the rich scent of aged leather
Selena lay in bed, but sleep evaded her. The attack, Isabelle’s disappearance, Adrian’s frustratingly overprotective attitude – it all swirled in her mind, a chaotic mess of worry and anger. She stared at the ceiling, the ornate patterns blurring in the dim light. She felt restless, trapped.A soft knock on the door broke through her thoughts."Come in," she said, her voice a little rough.Valerie peeked her head in, a concerned look on her face. She was wearing her usual oversized t-shirt and sweatpants, her hair a mess."Can’t sleep?" Valerie asked, padding over to the edge of the bed and sitting down.Selena shook her head. "Too much going on."Valerie nodded, understanding. "Yeah, tell me about it. Isabelle disappearing like that… it’s creepy.""Creepy and weird," Selena agreed. "It’s not like her to just leave without a scene. Did you find out anything else?"Valerie sighed. "Nothing. Matteo checked with all the usual places she’d go – fancy hotels, spas, even some of her ri
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and fear.Selena sat in the hallway, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, Adrian beside her, silent. The last hour had felt like a lifetime. Paramedics had managed to stabilize Nathan, but the bullet had done damage, too close to his lungs. Now, he was in surgery, fighting for his life.“He saved me,” Selena whispered, her voice barely audible. “He could have let me die... after everything...”Adrian turned his head slowly, eyes shadowed with guilt and pain. “He wasn’t always a traitor.”“He’s still your cousin.”Adrian’s jaw clenched. “And he was still working with the woman who tried to destroy us.”Selena didn’t argue. Because he wasn’t wrong but neither was she.“I want to see her,” she said suddenly, her tone sharp.“Who?” Adrian asked.“Isabella.”---The police had taken Isabella into custody, but Adrian still had strings to pull. Within the hour, Selena stood behind a pane of glass, watching the woman who had nearly taken everything from
Isabella's phone buzzed sharply that evening. She answered without checking. The voice on the other end made her sit up straighter.“It’s done,” Your father said. “He was one of them. Adrian’s sister, she was caught in our crossfire that year.”Isabella gasped, hand flying to her mouth. “Are you serious?”“She trusted one of us. And it got her killed.”Isabella’s shock quickly twisted into excitement. “Adrian doesn’t know, does he?”“He doesn’t. But you can change that. Leave a trail. Let him find it himself. If he connects the dots, he’ll never look at Selene the same again.”A slow, dangerous smile spread across Isabella’s face. “Consider it done.”She ended the call and practically flew out the door, her mind racing. She reached Nathan’s place breathless and laughing.“I’ve got it,” she said, barging in.Nathan raised an eyebrow. “What?”“The information that will destroy them more. Since they have reconcile too quickly, I have found something to break them back. Adrian’s sister’s
Adrian stood by the window of his study, hands clasped behind his back. He hadn’t slept.Not out of fear or restlessness, but because his mind was already three steps ahead—plotting, calculating, ensuring no detail escaped him. The blueprint sat in a locked briefcase on his desk, untouched since he'd retrieved it from the safe.Every line on that paper held power. Power people had killed for. Power that could dismantle empires or birth new ones.A soft knock disrupted his thoughts.He turned, voice low. “Come in.”Matteo entered, freshly changed, though his knuckles were still stained red. “The chamber is secured. Both men are restrained. Specter’s injuries are worse, but they’ll live.”Adrian nodded once. “No one gets near them unless I authorize it.”“Understood.”Matteo hesitated. “And the court tomorrow—are you sure it’s wise to go yourself?”“I won’t trust this to anyone else,” Adrian said, his voice like steel. “Too much has been sacrificed for it. I need to see it through.”Ma
Silence.Not the peaceful kind that comes after a storm, but the haunting type, the one that settles over a place that has seen too much blood, too much loss. The kind of silence that screams.Adrian stood in the middle of the aftermath.His estate, his home was now a battlefield littered with corpses. Blood pooled around bodies, soaking into the soil, painting a gruesome picture of what had transpired only moments ago. He didn’t flinch. His eyes were steady, scanning the carnage with a sharpness that betrayed no emotion. He had seen worse. But he had never tolerated betrayal.His boots crunched over gravel and glass as he moved, his gaze settling on one of the only bodies that still drew breath. The figure was barely conscious, chest rising and falling in shallow, labored intervals. A black veil obscured the face.Adrian narrowed his eyes.There was something about this one.He crouched slowly, his movements controlled, almost calculated. He reached forward, fingers tightening aroun
Matteo blinked hard, blood draining from his face the moment Rosco stepped out from behind Alvarez. His breath hitched, and for the first time in a long while, the hardened warrior faltered.“No…” he whispered.Rosco smirked, eyes gleaming with venomous satisfaction. “Hello, Matteo. Still wagging your tail behind him, I see.”Matteo took a step forward instinctively, but Adrian raised a hand, his arm sweeping across Matteo’s chest to stop him. The motion was subtle but firm.Matteo’s chest heaved with betrayal, his eyes fixed on Rosco. “You were with us… you trained with us.”Rosco chuckled, slow and condescending, before turning to Adrian, the amusement on his face deepening.“But him?” Rosco nodded toward Adrian. “He trusted me. Gave me everything. Took me into his inner circle. Showed me where the real power lies.”Adrian arched a brow, his expression unreadable.“Power?” he echoed, voice cool and distant. “What power?”Rosco sneered, reaching behind him.With a flourish, he reveal
Nathan stood by the window, his arms crossed as he watched another group of Adrian’s men load ammunition into vehicles. He didn’t like the feeling in his gut.“What the hell is he planning?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.Isabella sat on the edge of the couch, scrolling through her phone in frustration. “Victoria still isn’t answering. I’ve called her five times.”Nathan’s brows furrowed. “She’s not the type to ignore calls but since it is yours she can definitely ignore you. Isabella tossed the phone beside her and stood. “Something is going on, Nathan. This silence… this secrecy, it’s not just about protecting the pack. Adrian is hiding something.”Nathan’s gaze flickered to her, unreadable. “Then maybe it’s better we stay out of it.”Isabella looked at him, stunned. “You’re just going to sit back and do nothing?”He shrugged slightly. “It’s not my fight. Adrian made that clear a long time ago. And honestly? I’m not about to throw myself into a war that has nothin
A large map was spread out before them, covered in markings and notes detailing every inch of the Ghosted’s operations.“The celebration will end soon,” Alvarez muttered, his fingers tracing a key location. “Their leader thinks he’s untouchable, but his arrogance will be his downfall.”The masked leader tilted his head slightly. “You want him dead, or do you have something else in mind?”Alvarez smirked. “Dead, but not yet. I want him to watch as everything he built crumbles first.”The leader nodded in understanding. “Then we’ll strike fast and without mercy. We have our entry points secured. The Ghosted will never see it coming.”Meanwhile, deep within Adrian’s pack territory, the Ghosted were moving ahead with their own plans, Their informants had pinpointed a potential weakness in the pack’s security—an underground passage leading to a hidden vault where the blueprint was rumored to be stored.Three elite members of the Ghosted, clad in dark tactical gear, crouched near the pass
The Cartel had been shattered, And yet, amid the wreckage, Alvarez still drew breath.His body ached, every nerve screaming in agony as he forced himself to move. He pressed a hand to his bleeding side, the warm, sticky sensation of his own blood soaking through his fingers. The pain was nothing compared to the fury burning in his chest. He had been played. The Ghosted, his supposed allies, had turned against him at the last moment, throwing the battlefield into complete chaos. But why? Who had ordered this betrayal?His fingers curled into fists as he staggered forward, his boots crunching against shattered glass and spent shell casings. He needed to find answers. He needed to find the one who had orchestrated this disaster.A low groan echoed from the rubble. Alvarez turned sharply, gun raised, but his aim wavered when he saw who it was—one of the masked assassins, barely alive, clutching a deep wound in his stomach. Blood seeped through his gloves as he struggled to breathe, his ma
The air vibrated with gunfire, screams, and the rhythmic thunder of boots pounding against the cracked asphalt. The war had begun.Mikhail, the ruthless leader of the Monadikos, stood atop the ruins of an old industrial complex, his sharp gaze cutting through the chaos unfolding below. His fingers clenched into a fist as he watched his men swarm the abandoned shipyard where the Cartel had foolishly stationed their latest shipment of illicit arms. The plan was simple, wipe them out, seize the weapons, and cripple their operations."Push forward! No mercy!" he bellowed, his voice slicing through the night.His men responded with a battle cry, surging ahead like a tidal wave of vengeance. Gunfire erupted from every angle. Sparks flew as bullets ricocheted off rusted shipping containers, and the metallic scent of gunpowder thickened in the air. The Cartel, caught off guard by the ferocity of the attack, scrambled to mount a defense.****Alvarez, the cold and calculating leader of the Car