The Heist of Hearts

Elena Romano understood firsthand that in the world of thieves, everything had a price—except resurrecting dead men. If that had been on the table, her father would still be alive, and Lorenzo Salvatore wouldn't be on her hit list.Her olive-toned skin blended with the darkness, making her almost invisible. For the right price, anything could be bought on the thriving black market of the underworld—maps, blueprints, access codes. Her underworld connections yielded the blueprints to the Salvatore estate. It was pretty easy to kill someone in their own home, no matter how secure they thought they were. The Mafia bosses weren't immune to secrets sold on the black market, though it was pricier to gain information on them; a slip-up could mean a dead body turning up the next day. She instinctively rubbed the faint scar below her collarbone, a thin line etched from a heist gone wrong—a constant reminder that she was no stranger to danger.A low chuckle escaped her lips. Lorenzo probably tho

Elena stepped out of her doorway, the porch light casting a warm glow. She walked down the path, past the carefully arranged flowerbeds. The sidewalk led her through streets lined with tidy lawns and ornate mailboxes. As she reached the corner, a taxi slowed to a stop beside her. She got in, giving the driver a brief nod.As the taxi navigated through quiet streets, Elena observed the scenery outside the window. The elegant homes and manicured lawns soon gave way to strip malls and neon signs. She let out a sigh and directed her thoughts to the rendezvous, a calculated risk in her carefully managed world.At Broad and Market, she exited the taxi and scanned the crowded sidewalk. Elena ducked into an alleyway, every sense on high alert. Long, ominous shadows stretched across the deserted street, cast by the flickering streetlights. The air reeked of street food, exhaust fumes, and decay, wafting from crumbling brick and rusty dumpsters.She paused, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. T

The invitation had been unexpected. One moment, she was mingling at Lorenzo’s exclusive, her laughter blending seamlessly. The next, Nico had appeared at her side, his presence disrupting the carefully cultivated ambiance. “Lorenzo wants you to see something,” he’d said, “follow me.” “Come on, finish him!” Elena hovered near the edge of the pit, her posture relaxed but senses on high alert. She felt Nico’s eyes on her, hot like a blade scraping across her skin.Blood. Sweat. The roar of a frenzied crowd. The underground fight club pulsed with a feral energy that seeped into the walls, filling the air with the stench of violence and desperation. Men cheered and jeered, their voices blending into a cacophony of madness, as two fighters savaged each other in the center ring. “Enjoying the show?” Nico’s voice was low and dangerous. Elena didn’t flinch. “Not really my kind of entertainment.” One man went down hard, his face a crimson mask of blood. “I prefer something… less barbari

The evening air hummed with tension as Elena stepped aboard La Regina. The opulence of the yacht matched the grandeur of the gala she'd attended days before, with a guest list that read like a Who’s Who of society's elite. Tonight, though, she was Vincent Macini's co-host, on paper. They’d been together for months now—partners in crime, occasional lovers, but always walking the razor’s edge of mutual benefit and distrust.Dressed in a tailored black tuxedo, Vincent’s bowtie was slightly askew, his sandy brown hair styled in a windswept look that added to his roguish charm. The way he carried himself with a cocky flair always rubbed at Elena the wrong way."Stay close, Elena," Vincent murmured, his tone laced with possessiveness as he grabbed her arm. She arched an eyebrow, slipping her arm out of his grasp with practiced ease. “I wouldn’t dream of wandering off, darling.” Her smile was tight, and the sarcasm in her voice sharp enough to cut.Vincent's eyes narrowed briefly before he