"Dante," I said, my voice calm, though my pulse quickened.He stepped into the clearing, his broad frame illuminated by the faint moonlight. His expression was a mix of anger and disappointment."You really are a traitor," he said, his voice cold and heavy.I crossed my arms, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me rattled. "I don't know what you're talking about.""Don't play games with me, Jacqueline," he snapped. "I’ve been watching you for weeks, putting the pieces together. You’re working with Scarface, aren’t you?"I stayed silent, knowing anything I said would only confirm his suspicions.Dante took a step closer, his hand resting on the gun holstered at his side. "You think I wouldn’t notice? I gave Lorenzo that fake cassette as bait. No real evidence, just a blank tape. I wanted to see who would take it. The very day you came to Lorenzo’s office to report Alexa’s supposed escape plan with Warren, the cassette was replaced. You’re the only one who could’ve done it."
The sun was barely up when the news spread—Dante’s lifeless body had been found dumped in front of the Matrix warehouse. The sight was a chilling reminder that even the most loyal could fall, and the tension within the family was palpable. Everyone was on edge, whispering, speculating.Lorenzo stood at the head of the dining table, his fists planted firmly on the polished wood. His jaw was clenched, his dark eyes scanning the room. “Whoever did this will pay,” he said, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through the silence. “Dante was family, and I will find out who is responsible.”The room was heavy with unease. I kept my head down, my expression carefully composed, even though my pulse was erratic. No one could know the truth—not now, not ever.Raphael leaned toward Lorenzo and whispered something that made Lorenzo’s face darken further. I caught a fragment of their exchange: “Scarface... betrayal.” My stomach churned, but I didn’t flinch.Lorenzo’s gaze swept across the room, l
“I have a deal” she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat.I tilted my head, intrigued. “Go on.”her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “The Matrix is falling apart. Dante’s death, the failed deals, the mounting pressure from law enforcement—it’s all crumbling. And when it does, I don’t want to be caught in the rubble. I want out.”My gaze sharpened. “Out? What are you saying?”“I’m saying I want to join you,” Cheyenne said, her tone turning serious. “I know you’re working against the Matrix. I don’t care why. What I care about is my future. When this family fall…. and it will fall… I want to be on the winning side. Help me secure that, and I’ll keep your little secret. I don’t care about loyalty to this family. What I care about is survival. And you, Jacqueline, are my ticket out of this sinking ship.”I chuckled softly, the sound dripping with mockery. “And what makes you think I’d agree to that?”Cheyenne leaned in closer, her voice a venomous whisper. “Because if yo
The crisp night air embraced me as I sat perched on the rooftop of the mansion, overlooking the sprawling estate of the Matrix family. The stars above twinkled with an indifferent brilliance, as if mocking the chaos I was about to unleash. My heart raced with anticipation and dread. Tonight, everything would change. Scarface was poised to take over the Matrix empire, and with their fall, my revenge would be complete.I clutched the edge of the cold railing, staring out into the endless void of night. Memories of my parents’ brutal murder at the hands of the Hernandez family flickered in my mind like shadows—painful and persistent. Revenge was all I’d lived for, and now, on the brink of victory, doubt crept into my heart.“Couldn’t sleep?”The familiar voice startled me. I turned to find Lorenzo stepping onto the rooftop, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing the tense muscles in his forearms. His tall frame was bathed in the soft silve
The rain poured relentlessly as I stood on the balcony of my room in the Scarface mansion… it's been a while since I was here. Alonso’s victory had brought celebration and jubilation to the Scarface family, but inside me, there was only a void. The rooftop conversation with Lorenzo haunted me like an echo I couldn’t escape. His words, his confession, his quiet strength—it all replayed in my mind like a broken record. I had pulled the trigger, but had I truly killed him? Or had I destroyed myself instead?My fingers tightened around the glass of wine I held, but my gaze remained on the horizon. The distant laughter and chatter of Scarface operatives celebrating in the mansion only deepened my isolation.Alonso walked in, his expression smug. "Our time has come, nipote. You’ve proven your loyalty to the family, and now the empire is ours."—Down in the dungeons of Scarface’s stronghold, the remnants of the Hernandez family were kept under tight security. Anthony paced like a caged beas
So... I made a mistake in numbering my chapter before publishing it after Chapter 50, comes Chapter 51 and i made a mistake and wrote chapter 52.. I want to clarify that the Chapter 52 after the Chapter 50, is supposed to be Chapter 51. nothing changes and the story goes accordingly. I haven't been able to update in a really really long while, years even... which I apologise for .. I've been phoneless (my phone got bad) ... I recently logged in a relative device in hopes to complete the book. peace out.
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
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,
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