ARMANDOI slammed the door to Eleanor's room, her sobs still ringing in my ears as I walked down the hall. Her words replayed in my head, not because they meant anything, but because of how pathetic she sounded—begging, crying and ranting like that was going to change anything. There were more important things to worry about than her petty little tantrums so I couldn't care less.Fighting those two idiots had been easy but it left my knuckles sore—though this was nothing really new to me. I'd been fighting for as long as I could remember and being a mob boss meant you had to learn to live with pain. Fights happened all the time—bare fists, knives, guns. You name it, I’d seen it all, and most times, I won. So this wasn't a big deal. The real issue was the reason I left the mansion in the first place—that damn mole in my crew.Whoever he was, he continued feeding my enemies information. My drug deals had been hit twice in the past week, one of my weapon shipments got intercepted last mo
ELEANOR The evening was cool, almost too perfect for what I was about to face. The sun was setting, leaving behind streaks of gold and orange that faded into the night, allowing the stars a moment to shine brightly. I could hear the music from inside the venue even before we reached the gate. It was beautiful—violins and other instruments playing in perfect harmony. This wasn’t just any party and it was already clear from just the music alone. Only the elite—ones with unimaginable power, could attend something like this.When we got to the gate, the chauffeur rolled down his window and showed the security some kind of pass. They didn’t ask any questions; they just waved us in. I sat in the back of Armando’s limo, stiff and uncomfortable. The tension between us was thick, the same kind of silence that had filled the air the first time he brought me to his mansion. But this time, I was more afraid. I knew him now, or at least I thought I did. I knew what he was capable of.I couldn’t h
ARMANDO Faces I recognized were everywhere—some more familiar than I’d like. Most of them were my enemies, but that was the thing about the families—whenever we were called to gather, we all sat together until the goal was met, then we could go right back to killing each other another day. It was one of the unspoken rules, a part of the life we lived.Knowing that, and knowing I’d be surrounded by these same enemies, was exactly why I showed up tonight. I liked keeping my enemies close because watching and reading them always gave me an edge—that way there were no surprises. If I could find even the smallest clue as to who was sabotaging my business tonight, I’d be out of here the minute I got it.After Don Alessio greeted me and moved on, I started to make my way around the room with my head held high. I was a powerful man in a room full of powerful men, and I carried myself like it. Nothing about my demeanor would suggest I was worried or suspicious, even though I was watching ever
ELEANORThe night had been going smoothly, and to my surprise, I was actually starting to feel a little comfortable. The room was luxurious in a way that made you forget where you came from—the cool air, the fine tablecloths, the vibrant colors, and the guests who looked like they had never worked a day in their lives. It was overwhelming at first, but after sitting for a while, I let myself relax just a little.I shouldn’t have.Just when I thought I could breathe, the organizers announced a dance—a waltz, of all things. Tension gripped me instantly, I didn’t know how to waltz. Hell, I barely knew how to dance in general. My heart skipped a beat, and I silently prayed they wouldn’t ask us to join.But then, as if she had been waiting for the right moment, Don Fabio’s wife leaned over and smiled—the kind that said she was about to enjoy watching me squirm.“You two should dance,” she said, her voice sweet but full of intent. “You’d look lovely out there.”I forced a polite smile, sha
ARMANDOThe moment the music ended, I noticed Don Fabio shift in his seat. It wasn’t the kind of shift people made when they were settling back into their chairs. No, this was different. One of his men had leaned in, whispered something in his ear, and just like that, Fabio stood up. It was quick, almost too quick, like he didn’t want to be seen leaving the table.I didn’t hesitate to send Eleanor back to the table. She had served her purpose for the night, and I didn’t need her tagging along anymore. These parties weren’t just for appearances. I had long suspected that behind the music, food, and fake smiles, there was always something going on. The dons didn’t gather unless they had a reason. Most of them were too paranoid to be around each other just for social niceties.As soon as Fabio left, I maneuvered through the crowd, keeping my eyes on him. The lights were dim enough that I could slip through the hallways without drawing much attention. It didn’t take long to catch up wit
ELEANOR We finally arrived back at the mansion and I could feel the tension rolling off Armando. He stepped out of the car without a word, his face hard and his eyes distant as usual. I trailed behind him, unsure of what to expect next.The moment we entered the living room, he turned to me with a cold look on his face. “Prepare something for me to eat,” he ordered, “And it better not be as tasteless as the trash you made the last time.”I blinked, utterly surprised. Me? Cook again? But that wasn’t what he wanted before. I kept my tone polite, even though my heart was pounding. “But you told me not to enter the kitchen last time Armando. You said I wasn’t allowed, and that the maids couldn’t even bring me food either.”He didn’t miss a beat. “Are you stupid or just arrogant!?” His voice dripped with condescension, his eyes narrowing. “Just because I gave an order before doesn’t mean I can’t change it. I can do whatever I damn well please in my house.”I felt my hands clench slightly
ELEANOR "You hadn’t even started yet," he finally said, his voice sharp. "I came to watch how you were planning to make my meal, but it seems you were just standing here wasting time."I flinched, the sting in my finger now forgotten in the face of his presence. "I’m sorry," I said quickly. "I wasn’t sure what to make for you since you didn’t like the last meal I prepared. And then... I cut myself while dicing the tomatoes. I’ve been trying to work through the pain."He looked at my hand, unimpressed. "Move aside," he ordered. "I’ll show you how to cook actual food."I blinked in surprise. Him? Cook? I nearly laughed, but I held it in, forcing myself to look apologetic instead. This was going to be interesting. I didn’t think Armando, of all people, knew how to cook anything. It would be a disaster, and frankly, it would be a little satisfying to see him mess up in the kitchen."Bring a stool," he added, his tone full of arrogance. "You’ll watch closely. If you’re going to be my per
ELEANOR Armando scooped some of the pasta onto his plate, then filled mine as well. The aroma hit me immediately—rich and savory, making my stomach rumble. I hadn't eaten a proper meal in what felt like forever, and this—this looked too good to be real.He glanced at me. "Take your plate to the dining room and wait for me there," he ordered. "And don’t even think about taking a bite until I’m seated."I blinked, taken aback by his tone, but I nodded. "I wasn’t going to," I muttered, picking up my plate. As I turned to leave, I paused, thinking I’d at least try to be polite since he did the cooking. "Do you want me to take yours as well?"He shot me a look that could’ve frozen fire—a look that said more than words could. Did he really think I’d poison him or something? A wave of irritation rolled through me, but I swallowed it down. Why did I even bother?"Fine," I mumbled under my breath and headed for the dining room, trying to ignore the sting of his distrust.The table was alread