ELENACrap.I hadn’t realized he’d caught me staring—until it was too late.One second I was watching him, letting my eyes trace the rigid lines of his face, trying to decipher what he was thinking as he stood there, so still, so unreadable. The next, his dark eyes locked onto mine with all the precision of a sniper. And just like that, I froze.My first instinct was to look away—pretend I was lost in thought or distracted by the kids—but it was useless. He was already moving. Strolling toward me with that quiet intensity that always made my skin feel too tight. I could practically feel the weight of each step he took, like the earth shifted just to let him pass.I exhaled slowly, steadying my nerves as I straightened my spine. This was not the time to show weakness. Not with him. Not after everything.“Deluca,” I managed, forcing the name past the knot tightening in my throat.He stopped just a few feet away, hands in his pockets, eyes unreadable. Still, there was something in his ga
Deluca"That was cold."A whistle sounded from behind me, and I didn't have to turn around to know who it was—Lucas."She needed to hear it," I simply said, eyes still on the bend Elena had disappeared into.Her eyes had communicated something to me when I said all those words—hurt. Utter despair, right before a realization—and she concealed it. Whatever that realization was, I wasn't sure I wanted to know. Or perhaps I did."Come on, something's happening at the casino," he beckoned, and I finally tore my eyes away from the bend to stare at him, my brows furrowing."What's happening?" I asked. The casino was one of the only places where exciting things rarely happened, so this was a bit surprising."Some resident folks are protesting for—you will not like this—but... it's for the death of O'Connor."I sucked in a deep breath as my spine straightened and a coldness seeped into my chest. What he said really sank in."They're doing what?" My voice was deathly calm as I pinned him down w
Elena"Elena, you came."Francesca sounded surprised that I was here again, and I gave him a small smile. I’d been feeling rather good recently. Every time I recalled my father and Sarah having the protection they needed, I felt relief—and that turned into excitement.It was a rare occurrence since Lorenzo passed away...My heart twinged with pain, but I brushed it away before taking a seat across from him."You look different," he observed, a small smile playing on his lips."Yeah, I finally arranged protection for Father and Sarah.""Sarah? She wouldn’t like that." He laughed shortly, and I gave him a playful glare.I was always so free with him—and with Sarah."Of course she would—because she won’t know, and you won’t tell her."I pointed at him, and he gave me a short look before making a zipping motion across his lips."Good. You asked me for something the other day—what was it?" I finally got to the real reason I was here, apart from seeing the kids."Ah, yes, I did. I need your
ElenaJustice...This single word had me dressed in black, with a matching face mask, ready to find something—anything—about my late husband's death.It was nighttime, I knew. It was also dangerous, maybe even reckless. But today, Deluca had struck a nerve.I slowly and quietly padded down the stairs, careful to avoid the patrolling bodyguard I’d hired for the estate, then went straight to the garage. I picked out a soundless bike Lorenzo had gotten me years ago.I’d found it funny and unnecessary when he first gave it to me, but he had said I would need it one day.He was right again, it would seem.The thought brought pain to my chest, but it also strengthened my resolve to find out more about his death—and get the justice he deserved.I left the garage with ease and made my way to the casino in no time.When I arrived, the whole place was dark and empty, save for the patrolling guards.They were fierce at first, but as soon as they saw my face, they let me in. I made my way quickly
ELENA I never imagined the day would come when the man I loved would be reduced to nothing more than a memory, his presence fading into the cold stone of his tomb. My knees ached from kneeling on the cold ground for so long, but the pain was nothing compared to the emptiness his sudden death had left in my heart. As I closed my eyes and ran my fingers lightly over his tomb, a part of me clung to the impossible hope that he would respond—that he would reach out, just as he always did, and gently pull me into his arms, lulling me to sleep like before. But the silence was deafening, and the cold stone beneath my touch only reminded me of the cruel reality—Lorenzo Russo—my husband, the powerful mafia don whose double life I barely understood—is gone. I felt someone gently pulling me by the shoulder. But, I remain rooted in my spot. “Elena, it’s time,” my father said, his voice firm yet laced with the quiet comfort only he could offer. It was time to lay my husband to rest. As the w
DELUCA The drive back to the estate was shorter than I had anticipated—or perhaps I had been too lost in my thoughts to notice the distance from the cemetery to Lake Michigan.Elena.I muttered her name under my breath, the sound barely audible over the hum of the engine. Seeing her reaction at the cemetery had been... unexpected. Surprising, even, compared to everything I had heard about her.I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes for a moment as her image flashed before me—young, bold, fierce, and simply captivating. For years, I had seen her face on the front pages of Chicago’s magazines, always untouchable, always out of reach. I had known there was something about her that intrigued me. But seeing her up close? That was different.A sudden surge of anger made me tightened my grip on the armrest."That son of a bitch!" I growled, my voice sharper than I intended.Lucas, seated across from me, raised an eyebrow. He had been my childhood friend, my business partner—the only man
ELENA The moment we arrived at Lorenzo’s mansion, my mind was fixated on the not-so-tiny box in my hands.Lorenzo had always been generous with gifts, often surprising me with presents whenever he returned from a business trip. But this one was different. Why? Because it could either hold the answers I desperately sought—or something far more dangerous.As soon as I stepped out of the car, I ignored the staff’s greetings and headed straight to my room, my pulse quickening with every step.Inside the master bedroom I once shared with Lorenzo, I swiftly locked the door and tore the box open with urgency.A small note fluttered to the floor."Be careful. They are watching your every move."My breath hitched. My gaze snapped back to the box, and my stomach dropped when I saw what lay inside—a pistol.A sudden knock on the door nearly made me jump out of my skin.Heart pounding, I realized I was still wearing my heels. I quickly slipped them off and shoved the box’s contents under my pill
DELUCAAs I stepped into the office that morning, my mind was set on one thing—something I needed to handle before attending to any other business."Good morning, sir. I brought your coffee," Nicole, my secretary, said, placing the cup on my desk.As she leaned forward, the neckline of her dress dipped just enough to offer a tempting view. She was petite, her curves more pronounced than her frame suggested. Her face wasn’t striking, but those curves? They more than made up for it.I didn’t bother looking away. I knew she wanted me—her lingering glances, the way she always found reasons to be close. All it would take was a few words from me.I cleared my throat, a silent reminder that the show was over. She straightened, adjusting her dress with a knowing smirk."I'll be at my desk, sir."I gave a curt nod.But she wasn’t the one I wanted. The only woman I wanted to hear screaming my name while I was fucking her probably hated me right now. And that was the real problem.Back to the ma
ElenaJustice...This single word had me dressed in black, with a matching face mask, ready to find something—anything—about my late husband's death.It was nighttime, I knew. It was also dangerous, maybe even reckless. But today, Deluca had struck a nerve.I slowly and quietly padded down the stairs, careful to avoid the patrolling bodyguard I’d hired for the estate, then went straight to the garage. I picked out a soundless bike Lorenzo had gotten me years ago.I’d found it funny and unnecessary when he first gave it to me, but he had said I would need it one day.He was right again, it would seem.The thought brought pain to my chest, but it also strengthened my resolve to find out more about his death—and get the justice he deserved.I left the garage with ease and made my way to the casino in no time.When I arrived, the whole place was dark and empty, save for the patrolling guards.They were fierce at first, but as soon as they saw my face, they let me in. I made my way quickly
Elena"Elena, you came."Francesca sounded surprised that I was here again, and I gave him a small smile. I’d been feeling rather good recently. Every time I recalled my father and Sarah having the protection they needed, I felt relief—and that turned into excitement.It was a rare occurrence since Lorenzo passed away...My heart twinged with pain, but I brushed it away before taking a seat across from him."You look different," he observed, a small smile playing on his lips."Yeah, I finally arranged protection for Father and Sarah.""Sarah? She wouldn’t like that." He laughed shortly, and I gave him a playful glare.I was always so free with him—and with Sarah."Of course she would—because she won’t know, and you won’t tell her."I pointed at him, and he gave me a short look before making a zipping motion across his lips."Good. You asked me for something the other day—what was it?" I finally got to the real reason I was here, apart from seeing the kids."Ah, yes, I did. I need your
Deluca"That was cold."A whistle sounded from behind me, and I didn't have to turn around to know who it was—Lucas."She needed to hear it," I simply said, eyes still on the bend Elena had disappeared into.Her eyes had communicated something to me when I said all those words—hurt. Utter despair, right before a realization—and she concealed it. Whatever that realization was, I wasn't sure I wanted to know. Or perhaps I did."Come on, something's happening at the casino," he beckoned, and I finally tore my eyes away from the bend to stare at him, my brows furrowing."What's happening?" I asked. The casino was one of the only places where exciting things rarely happened, so this was a bit surprising."Some resident folks are protesting for—you will not like this—but... it's for the death of O'Connor."I sucked in a deep breath as my spine straightened and a coldness seeped into my chest. What he said really sank in."They're doing what?" My voice was deathly calm as I pinned him down w
ELENACrap.I hadn’t realized he’d caught me staring—until it was too late.One second I was watching him, letting my eyes trace the rigid lines of his face, trying to decipher what he was thinking as he stood there, so still, so unreadable. The next, his dark eyes locked onto mine with all the precision of a sniper. And just like that, I froze.My first instinct was to look away—pretend I was lost in thought or distracted by the kids—but it was useless. He was already moving. Strolling toward me with that quiet intensity that always made my skin feel too tight. I could practically feel the weight of each step he took, like the earth shifted just to let him pass.I exhaled slowly, steadying my nerves as I straightened my spine. This was not the time to show weakness. Not with him. Not after everything.“Deluca,” I managed, forcing the name past the knot tightening in my throat.He stopped just a few feet away, hands in his pockets, eyes unreadable. Still, there was something in his ga
DELUCA "...Come now, Colton dear. You know you shouldn't be provoking your brother Deluca—he's far older than you," Mother’s voice filtered into my consciousness as I slowly opened my eyes. The bright lights in the kitchen of my old home made me blink, but my vision quickly adjusted.Tears stung my eyes as I struggled to stay calm, watching a treasured memory unfold before me like a movie playing in real time.This was what she had been reduced to—a memory."Adrian, be careful! Don’t go stealing all my cookies, you little thief!"For a quiet young boy, I adored my mother’s cooking. To me, it was the best in the world. It was as if the younger me instinctively knew our time together would be short, so he tried to savor every moment before it vanished.That was when the nightmare intruded on the memory.Blood. So much blood.Flashes of lifeless eyes stared into mine from my hiding spot.Laughter. The sound of those vile men echoed in my ears, forever etched into my mind.REALITY"...Wa
DELUCA I walked into my office, the exhaustion from the past few days still clinging to me like a second skin. My shoulders ached, my head throbbed, and all I wanted was a moment of silence. As I reached to power on my system, Nichole walked in."Good morning, sir," she greeted, her tone crisp and professional.I nodded and offered her a tired smile."Can I get you your usual, boss?" she asked, leaning forward ever so slightly, a subtle arch in her posture that didn’t go unnoticed."Yes, thanks," I replied, already turning my attention back to the screen in front of me."DeLuca."The sharp sound of my name pulled my gaze up. Nichole was struggling to keep Camila from barging in."Nichole, it’s okay. I’ll take it from here," I said, my voice calm."Who’s the bitch now?" I heard Camila mutter under her breath as she shoved Nichole out of the way and slammed the door shut behind her."Oh, DeLuca," she purred, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor as she made her way around my
ELENAI had Mr. Leo drive me and the two other bodyguards down to my father’s estate."Elena, what a surprise!" His face lit up with relief at seeing me safe and sound, and I felt comforted by the familiarity of it.For a while, it had felt like Sarah was the only person I had left. Seeing my father reminded me I wasn’t alone in this pursuit for justice and control."Father," I murmured, stepping into his arms as he pulled me close, burying his face into my neck.Nostalgia hit hard. I tightened my arms around him as my eyes stung with incoming tears. I held them back—better for him not to know the full weight of what my life had become.A whirlwind of emotions rushed through me, but I refused to let any tears fall."You brought friends?" His voice was skeptical, laced with curiosity.I chuckled softly as we pulled away from the embrace. I instantly felt the loss.Lorenzo used to hold me like that…I couldn’t let myself spiral into those thoughts. Not now.Clearing my throat to break t
DELUCA"I never did anything to you, Mr. DeLuca," he said in a croaky voice, and I smirked."You might not recall, but I do. Remember DeLuca?" I asked.His eyes showed confusion, but only for a moment—before it clicked in his dull brain. Pure, adulterated fear filled his eyes."Y—""I am."My hand flew straight into his jaw, his whole body shaking as he groaned in pain.I picked up a small chainsaw handle and wrapped it around my palm before making a fist.His eyes widened as I sent it flying into his face again. I watched four teeth fly out, coated in blood and spit, as he screeched.This was too little—compared, compared, compared to...FLASHESAdrian watched, tears streaming down his face, as she fell to the ground—eyes wide, staring into nothing.Her eyes were filled with everlasting terror…PRESENTHer eyes flashed in my mind as I beat into him, again and again.His screams echoed—loud and low—until I couldn’t hear them anymore.And even then, I didn’t stop."Deluca."The name sl
DELUCA“This was your brilliant plan?” Lucas asked for the umpteenth time since we were captured.I gave him a toothy grin. “Maybe it didn’t get past the front door part.”“You’re a shithead,” he cussed at me, grinning.“Show some respect, bitch,” I whispered.His wide, disbelieving eyes turned to me. “Bitch?” he whisper-yelled.I chuckled low in my throat just as the sound of a door opening filled the otherwise silent room.Four men walked in—and standing among them was a face I would never forget for as long as I lived.Mr. O’Connor. One of the four.I felt my blood run cold as I stared at him. The rage I’d felt when I first heard his name returned with even more force. I fought against it, holding myself back, forcing down the beast clawing at its cage.My eyes flashed red.I sat still, but calm was the last thing I felt.I wanted to destroy him. I wanted him to feel what my mother felt when he murdered her in cold blood.I would make all four of them feel what I felt—watching her