Lorenzo's POVI was at the gym in the warehouse, taking out my frustration on the punching bag which hung from the ceiling."You need to calm down" Raphael who was shirtless, sweating heavily with a towel hung across his neck walked up to me."This is my way of calling down" I threw a few punches at the punching bag, then continue to speak "otherwise, you won't be standing in front of me alive""Anthony's calling you" Alex walked in, informing me. We call our father by his name, simply because we never had any bond with him, I don't know about my siblings but I sure do hate Anthony."The old man's calling me" I smirked breathing heavily. I knew exactly why he was calling me. He returned from Italy with my mum and sister last night, he must've probably found out the niece of Alonso was here."Anthony didn't seem to be happy when he was yelling your name all over the warehouse" Alex spoke"Is there ever a time he's happy?, I'll answer him when I'm done" I continued punching the bag "Ju
Jacqueline's POV"I can't seem to find any dress that fits me perfectly" Melinda complained and she went through the dresses on the rack in the boutique over and over again."Just pick something" I groaned from one of the chairs in the boutique I was sitting on whilst using my phone"I can't just pick something" she placed an air quote on the something while speaking. "I need a hot dress, something that would drive the boys at the ball to me" she winked at me "you can't be serious" I chuckled still not looking away from my phone"I am damn serious... now help a damsel in distress" Melinda was quite dramatic "I haven't even picked a dress" I pointed out to her. I didn't know what to wear talk-less of what to pick out for her."Help me, then I'll help you" she suggested."Fine!" I put my phone in my pocket, got up from the chair and walked up to her.I took Bianca's advice and tried to get to know Melinda better, she was actually a nice person, I guess what they say is true; you should
I was in my room doing my makeup when Bianca and Melinda walked in, dressed in their fabulous dresses, Bianca had a purple gown on and Melinda, the red gown from the boutique. Today was the masquerade ball and it was half past ten in the night. Alonso had instructed me, according to his word; "be ready at ten thirty sharp", I was kind of late."You're still not ready?" Melinda face palmed because of the fact I was still dressed in my robe."I'm done" I dropped my red lipstick on the vanity table next to my mask and got up from the stool, I didn't feel excited about going to this ball, but I had to because of my uncle and because I didn't want to miss whatever fun thing that happened."Put on your clothes before Alonso barges in, yelling" Bianca shook her head.I hurried into my closet. In less than two minutes, I came out dressed in the black gown I had gotten from the boutique."wow," Bianca spoke softly."I told you" Melinda nudged Bianca's elbow.We heard a knock on the door, Bian
I pulled Melinda to the side and spoke to her almost whispering so that Leonard won't hear us."What are you doing with this guy? Didn't you have a thing for Kayden?" "Not anymore, Kayden doesn't pay attention to me, I can't waste my life chasing a guy that doesn't even notice me" she answered "Okay, I get you but do you know this guy? where did you meet him and what's he doing in this ball?" I interrogated her "That's Leonard, a rich boy I met on the internet, I invited him to the ball. He flew all the way from Australia to see me" she answered innocently"Hmm that's nice" I smiled evilly, Leonard has walked into his death trap... "Bianca and Warren are searching for you, it's urgent" I lied to her"Then I have to get going""Yes, you do.. in the meantime, I'll say hello to Leonard" I spoke politely"Nice, you two should catch up, I'll get back to you guys soon" she spoke as she walked away.I put on a straight face and walked to Leonard "So, you're the rich guy from the internet
The ballroom was filled with blood-curdling screams and bloodshed. Those who knows they had betrayed their mafia in one way or the other started crying profusely, begging their leaders not to kill them.I stood there watching the horrific scene of brutal killings without flinching a bit. This was expected of Don Drew's ball, it's what keeps it exciting because you never know what he has in store. "Jacqueline I need your help" Melinda spoke with a shaky voice "With what?" I asked, still staring at a mafia underboss who was about to kill his traitor "Not here.." "You know we can't leave here now, the doors are sealed shut" I reminded her "At least, towards the door, we'll talk there"She dragged me towards the entrance door, we bumped into several people but Melinda didn't mind."MELINDA!!!" I heard Alonso yell out from the front of the ballroom.Melinda trembled in fear as we stood by the entrance door... She wasn't able to speak up, she just stood there, trembling, I could see th
It was a stormy night. The high speed of winds made the nature of torrential rain violent. I was running on the lonely street seeking shelter, I was far away from Scarface's warehouse and my uncle's mansion.I stood in front of a three-story building which appeared to be abandoned, shivering, the biting wind was becoming unbearable for me. I walked to the side of the building hoping to find some sort of shelter but there was none, I kept walking about the surrounding, I was tired of running. I needed to hide somewhere."Freeze!"I heard a masculine voice from behind, I quickly put my hands up in surrender."Good, now slowly turn around"I did as instructed only to see a red-haired man pointing a gun at me. "Please don't shoot, I'm unarmed" I begged."Who are you and what are you doing here?" The man questioned."I'm... I'm Jacqueline, I mean no harm... I just need a place to spend the night" "Wait a minute" The man looked at me from head to toe... "I know you, you're Jacqueline Catta
I had been in this disgusting room for hours but it seemed like years. I sat hopelessly on the bed without any thoughts."Hi, I brought clean clothes for you" A girl with hazel eyes and dyed purple hair walked in."Thanks" I stood up from the bed and took the clothes from her... "If only I could change without cameras watching me" I threw the clothes on the bed."You could turn away from the camera and put on the clothes. They can see, but they can't touch" she laughed sarcastically."The heck" I didn't know when I burst into laughter."Wow, so you do laugh" she chuckled."What do you mean?" I raised an eyebrow."I was expecting the person who battered Raymond to be an emotionless monster" she laughed.I was so mad at Raymond for mentioning my parents, I couldn't care less if people were watching me through the camera. I beat him up black and blue, he was lucky I couldn't put a bullet through his head."Oh, how's that idiot doing now?" I asked with an evil smile on my face. "Receivin
"I thought you'd be dead by now" I looked up towards the door and saw Alexa coming in, behind her was Raymond whose face was covered in bandages except for his eyes and lips."You want me dead?" I chuckled a little bit."Absolutely not" she squealed as she hugged me. She heard the news about me being spared and joining the gang."I wish they killed you" Raymond rolled his eyes.I shot him a death stare without uttering a word. I could literally hear him swallow something, he quickly walked out of the room in fear."You're officially my favourite person" Alexa laughed as she squeezed me in a tight hug again. I honestly wasn't expecting anyone from the Hernandez family to be sweet. I hate hugs but I guess I have to learn to deal with Alexa's constant hugging."A few hours from now, you'll officially become a Matrix" Alexa spoke with excitement."I can't wait" I forced out a smile."Let's get you a new outfit for your initiation" Alexa dragged me by my hand out of the room."Wait!" I s
Lorenzo's POV I sat in my private study, staring at the glass of whiskey in my hand, Jacqueline’s words replaying in my mind like a broken record. “Your family murdered mine.” It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. My family’s sins were plenty, but slaughtering the Cattaneo family wasn’t one of them. I knew every dark secret, every body buried in our name. The Cattaneos weren’t part of that bloody ledger. But as much as I tried to dismiss her accusations, her voice, raw and broken, stuck with me. Still, doubt lingered like a shadow I couldn’t shake. Her pain, her anger… It felt too raw to be a lie. And yet... I knew the history of my family. I’d made it my business to know every skeleton in the Hernandezes’ closet, every bloody handprint left behind. I slammed the glass down, the sharp clink breaking the silence. Why was I even giving her words this much weight? Jacqueline was a liar, a manipulator. She’d infiltrated my family under false pretenses, tangled herself in my life with her v
The night air was cold, the kind of chill that seeped into your bones and refused to leave. My breath came out in ragged puffs as I ran deeper into the forest, my bare feet crunching against the damp leaves and twigs below. I couldn’t feel the pain anymore… not in my legs, not in my lungs. Adrenaline was my only companion, driving me forward as I clutched the stolen keys in my trembling hand. I could still hear Lorenzo’s voice echoing in my mind, that smug tone he always used when he thought he had me under control. But I was free now… or so I thought. A crack of a branch snapped behind me, freezing me in place. I whipped around, scanning the shadows. My heart pounded in my chest as fear clawed at the edges of my mind. "Jacqueline." The voice was sharp, cutting through the stillness like a blade. I recognized it instantly, and dread flooded my veins. I spun back and started running again, faster this time, but it was useless. His footsteps were closer now, relentless and unfo
“Enough is enough!!” I muttered to myself as I sat on the bed.. I looked hopeless, and I hated it. I was treated like a slave, If not even worse.. I hadn't taken a good shower in days, I was starving and that's mostly because I refused to eat whatever was served to me… but I can't keep on living like this! I am Jacqueline Cattaneo and I won't sit here and wait for my death like a turkey in its cage waiting for Thanksgiving. I had been trying to think of an escape plan but nothing… The metal door was impenetrable and bolted tightly, there was a camera at the corner, watching me… judging me.. and then the small window which could barely fit me to jump off.While on the bed, my gaze moved from blank space to the CCTV camera… the camera’s red light blinked steadily, I've been watching it for days and I just realized I'd memorized it's angle and timing, the seconds it would pan slightly off the bed, leaving just enough blind spot.“I have to get out of here… I don't care if I die trying”
The following dayThe door creaked opened, I didn't bother to look at who it was, I fixed my gaze outside the window. it was probably Lorenzo or one of his men and I didn't want to deal with them. my mind was racing, I wonder what Alonso was planning, I could think of how panicked Sophie would be since she hadn't heard from me in days and mostly I wondered how Théo was doing."Jacqueline" a familiar voice I hadn't heard in years called out in a soft tone, cutting me from my thoughts.I turned slowly toward the door, and for a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. But there he was, standing at the entrance of the room like a shadow from the past.Haze.The moment I saw him, a whirlwind of emotions hit me all at once: shock, relief, confusion. I hadn’t heard from him since the fallout. No one had. And now, after everything, here he was.“Haze…” My voice faltered, and I swallowed hard. “What are you doing here?”He stood there, his expression unreadable. "I came to finally see you, Jacq
The door creaked open, and I froze. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. His presence was heavy, oppressive, the air itself growing colder the moment he stepped inside.I kept my gaze fixed on the small window at the far end of the room, the only source of light in this cold, suffocating prison. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear. He walked in slowly, his steps measured, his presence suffocating. Lorenzo didn’t need to shout or threaten—his silence was far worse. I kept my expression blank, my chin high, even though my heart pounded against my ribs.“You’ve been silent for days,” he said, his voice calm but cutting. The sound of the door closing echoed in the room, making my skin crawl.I didn’t respond.“Still loyal to Alonso, I see.” His footsteps were deliberate, measured. I could feel him circling me, a predator toying with its prey. “Even though he hasn’t come for you. Even though he won’t.”My jaw clenched, but I refused to rise to the bait.“You’re
It had been days since Lorenzo dragged me across the ocean and locked me away in this secluded estate deep in the woods. Every hour in this prison felt heavier than the last, the oppressive silence gnawing at my sanity. I could still feel the lingering ache in my arm from his iron grip, a painful reminder of how far he was willing to go to extract the truth from me. Lorenzo’s interrogations had ceased for now, but the tension between us simmered like a storm waiting to erupt. I wasn’t naïve—I knew his silence wasn’t mercy. He was planning something, and whatever it was, I knew it wouldn’t end well for me. The simplicity of the room grated on my nerves, reminding me of how much I had lost. My life back in Australia felt like a distant dream—a life of luxury and freedom. The sprawling estates, exotic cars, multi-million-dollar businesses and the bustling casinos I owned all felt like a distant dream now. Back there, I had built a life of power and wealth—a legitimate empire that thr
The room Lorenzo had shoved me into was plain, almost insultingly so, given the luxurious lifestyle I was used to. Four bare walls, a wooden bed with a thin mattress, and a small window with a view of endless trees. It was a prison dressed as simplicity. Lorenzo had gone out of his way to strip me of any comfort, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.I perched on the edge of the bed, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. Outside the small window, the thick woods stretched endlessly, a maze of greenery that seemed to mock any thought of escape.I had spent hours pacing the room, cursing under my breath, replaying every wrong turn that had brought me here. The sound of heavy boots against the wooden floor outside the door pulled me from my thoughts.The door swung open, and there he was—Lorenzo, towering and dangerous, his eyes dark and filled with calculated fury. He didn’t say a word at first, just stood there, holding his phone in one hand and a cold smirk on
I didn’t see it coming.The last time I saw Lorenzo, I was certain he was dead.Revenge drove me then. The fire in my veins wouldn’t let me stop until the Matrix was in ruins, just like they had ruined my family. It didn’t matter who stood in my way. Lorenzo, Anthony, the entire organization—they were all targets. Sydney had been my sanctuary for five years, a quiet haven where I rebuilt my life far from the chaos I once knew. I built walls around myself after it all ended, both literal and figurative with the billions my father left behind—his legacy of wealth and power—I crafted a world of luxury and independence at just the age of twenty-three.The casinos he once owned became a foundation, generating consistent revenue, but I didn’t stop there. I poured my resources into high-end fashion boutiques across Australia and Europe, luxury real estates, and even a thriving art gallery in Sydney. Every venture was legitimate, every dollar clean.My life in Australia was built to forget,
Five Years Later I’d had a strange feeling all day, like a dark cloud hanging over me. My instincts screamed that something bad was coming. It wasn’t a feeling I got often, but tonight, I couldn’t shake it. It was a drizzling night, and under normal circumstances, I would be tucked away in my luxury penthouse, sipping on a glass of wine. Instead I found myself stepping into Elite Emporium, an upscale boutique grocery store known for catering to the city's wealthiest clientele. My heels clicked against the polished marble floor as I approached the counter, my basket laden with the finest wines, imported chocolates and cheese, and delicacies most people couldn't even pronounce. The cashier, a poised young woman in a sleek black uniform, flashed me a practiced, polite smile. "That will be twenty five thousand dollars", she said, her tone smooth and professional. I handed her my sleek black card with a faint smile, though my hands trembled slightly. Something felt off tonight but I p