Veil 1

It’s strange how the world never really changes, no matter how many years you’ve been away from it. The same dark streets, the same cold wind, and the same faint hum of the city’s underbelly that never quite dies. I should’ve expected it, but even now, standing at the edge of it all, I feel the weight of the past pressing down on me. My heels click on the pavement, but there’s no rhythm to it, just the sound of a woman who’s walked through hell and back.

I haven’t been here in years—haven’t let myself even think about this place. I wasn’t supposed to be alive after everything that happened. I wasn’t supposed to survive, but somehow I did. The world thought I was dead, and for a long time, I let them believe it. It wasn’t just the Moretti family who had abandoned me, though. No, I had to leave everything behind to keep breathing. Every connection, every piece of myself I’d once been proud of, it all had to go. And yet, here I am again, stepping back into the same shadows I was once a part of.

I’ve changed—of course, I have. My appearance is different, my name is different. The old Elena DeLuca no longer exists. But the rage, the need for revenge, the mission I set out to accomplish all those years ago? That part of me hasn’t changed at all. It’s only grown, like a fire that’s been fed with every betrayal, every hour of agony, every second I spent fighting to survive when they thought I was dead.

I stop in front of the hotel, feeling the pull of memories, but I shut them out. I don’t have time for them now. Not when I’m so close to what I came here to do. The Moretti family has a private meeting place here. It’s the last place they’d expect me to be, and that’s exactly why I’m here. The plan has been in motion for months now, every move calculated, every piece in place. Tonight is the night I make my return known, and nothing is going to stop me.

I don’t take a deep breath before walking through the door. There’s no need. Fear hasn’t touched me in years, not since I decided to come back. My heels click sharply on the polished marble floor as I enter, drawing the attention of a few patrons scattered around the lobby. I don’t care about them, not tonight. They’re not who I’m here for.

I move like I own the place, shoulders back, head high, every step measured and deliberate. I’ve learned a lot since the last time I was here. Strength, control, patience—things I didn’t have before. But that’s the price you pay when you survive something like I did.

And then, I see him.

I knew I would, of course. I had to, if my plan was going to work. Helios Valenti, the Moretti family’s enforcer, sits in a corner booth, his eyes scanning the room like they always used to, sharp and calculating. But I know better now. I know that look, that quiet confidence that once fooled everyone, including me.

It’s not him, not really. The man who failed to protect me all those years ago doesn’t exist anymore. This man before me is just a shadow of the enforcer he once was. He’s older now, his face more hardened, his posture still commanding, but there’s something about him that feels different.

I pause for just a moment, letting the weight of my presence settle in the air around him. I can almost hear the thoughts running through his head, his disbelief that I’m here, standing in front of him. He’ll never see it coming, I think. And that’s exactly how I want it.

I approach the table, making sure every movement is deliberate. My eyes never leave his as I stop just short of him. The world feels like it slows down as I watch the recognition flash across his face. He’s not the kind of man who would show surprise, but I see it. It’s there, hidden behind the stoic mask. His jaw tightens, his hand hovering over his drink, but he doesn’t move.

“You thought I was dead, didn’t you?” I say, my voice low but steady. I can see him trying to find the words, but nothing comes. He just stares at me, his face pale, his eyes betraying a flicker of guilt.

“E-Elena?” His voice cracks, barely audible. There’s a slight hesitation before he speaks again. “How—?”

I cut him off, a small, bitter smile tugging at my lips. “I’m not here to explain myself, Helios. I’m here to make sure you remember what you did. What you let happen.”

His eyes flicker briefly to the other patrons, then back to me, as if he’s trying to gauge the situation, trying to figure out if he’s dreaming or if this is real. But this is real. I am real, and I’m here to remind him, remind them all, of how easily I was discarded.

He clears his throat, finally finding his composure. “I... I didn’t know you were alive. After the attempt—”

“The attempt?” I interrupt him, my voice hardening. “You mean the one you were supposed to stop? The one where I was left to die while you sat back and did nothing?”

I see the pain flash in his eyes, but it’s too late for apologies now. Too late for regrets. Too late for any of the excuses he could offer. He had his chance, and he failed me. And now, it’s my turn to take control of this situation.

I take a step closer to him, leaning in slightly, watching as his posture straightens. The fear is subtle, but I can see it. It’s in the way his hands tense, the way his breath comes a little faster. He’s still the enforcer, still dangerous, but he’s no longer in control. Not with me standing here.

“I didn’t come back to hear you beg for forgiveness,” I continue, my tone sharp. “I came to make you remember what you did to me. To make sure the Moretti family knows that you don’t get to forget someone like me. That’s why I’m here. To remind you that you’re the one who failed.”

His gaze softens for a moment, and for the first time since I walked in, I see something that almost looks like regret in his eyes. Maybe guilt. Maybe both. But I’m not here for that. I’m not here to rehash old wounds or seek comfort.

I stand there for a moment, letting the weight of the silence settle between us.

“You’re still the same,” he says quietly, his voice barely a whisper. There’s a tinge of admiration in his words, but I don’t let it soften me. “Always so determined. So fierce.”

“Fierce enough to survive what they did to me,” I reply, my voice colder now. “Fierce enough to take everything back that was stolen from me.”

He hesitates, glancing down at the table for a brief moment before meeting my eyes again. “What do you want from me, Elena?” His voice is a little steadier now, but there’s still a hint of uncertainty in his gaze.

“I want you to remember,” I say softly, but there’s steel in my voice. “I want you to remember how you let me die. And then, I want you to remember that you’re the one who’s going to help me take everything back.”

The words hang between us, thick with the weight of the truth. He doesn’t respond right away, and for a brief moment, I wonder if he’ll refuse. But I know him better than that. Helios Valenti might have failed me once, but I’ll make sure he doesn’t fail me again.

“You’re not the same, Elena,” he finally says, his voice tight. “You’ve changed.”

“Of course I have,” I reply with a slight smile. “I’m no longer the woman you failed. I’m the woman who’s going to take everything you and your family hold dear.”

I turn and walk away, feeling his gaze follow me. I don’t look back. Not this time.

As I leave the hotel, my heart pounds—not with fear, but with something far more satisfying. This is just the beginning. They thought they were rid of me. They thought I was dead. But tonight, I’ve reminded them all that Elena DeLuca is very much alive—and the Moretti family is about to pay the price for what they did to me.