ELENA.Sarah never ceases to amaze me. She's been dressing up for the past half hour, and I’ve already checked my wristwatch for what feels like the hundredth time. Maybe inviting her was a bad idea. I curse under my breath.Just as I’m about to lose my patience, I hear the soft click of heels against wood. I look up from my watch and see her descending the staircase, wearing a form-fitting pencil gown that hugs her curves perfectly. Her long brown hair cascades down her shoulders in soft waves, catching the light.“Wow,” I say, raising a brow as I give her a slow once-over. “Trying to seduce my old man?”“A girl’s gotta look good,” Sarah says, flicking her hair back with a practiced grace.She stops at the bottom of the stairs and extends her hand toward the door. “Shall we?”“Are you planning on going somewhere afterward?” I ask as she steps outside.“That depends,” she smirks, mischief dancing in her eyes.“On…?” I press.“If I meet a nice guy who sweeps me off my feet…” She pauses
ELENA THEN."Congratulations," the girl beside me said, her voice light and friendly. She had short, dark curls framing her delicate face—slim, model-like features that made her look effortlessly chic."Thanks," I replied, offering her a wide smile. We’d never spoken before, so her sudden friendliness caught me a bit off guard."Visiting Paris and participating in Fashion Week is one of my dreams. You’re so lucky," she said with a wistful smile.I returned her smile politely, glancing around the dressing room. The other girls were seated in pairs, talking and laughing quietly among themselves. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that their eyes kept drifting toward me. Whispered conversations, subtle glances.I pulled out my phone and started scrolling, trying to ignore the weight of their stares."When are you leaving?" the girl asked again, still smiling at me."We haven’t finalized it yet," I replied, my eyes fixed on the screen.Just then, the room fell eerily silent. A sudden shift
DELUCAI pushed through the heavy double doors of the venue, my steps quick and controlled. The soft hum of conversation and clinking of glasses barely registered over the sharp pounding in my chest. My jaw tightened as I scanned the room, the low lighting casting a golden glow over the sleek marble floors and crystal-draped chandeliers. Round tables were set with precision, the rich scent of fresh roses and expensive champagne hanging in the air.Lucas trailed at my side, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. He didn’t need to say a word for me to know he was amused. The slight lift of his brow and the curve of his lips said it all.“This way, sir,” a staff member said, gesturing toward the front. I barely spared them a glance as I moved toward the table I had selected earlier that day. Front row. Centered. The perfect vantage point. Close enough that she’d see me. Close enough that I wouldn’t miss a single detail.I pulled out the chair and sat down, my back straight, shoulders
DELUCA "Looks like your focus has changed. Or maybe… your interests have.”The voice sliced through me like a knife, sharp and deliberate. My grip tightened around the stem of my glass as I turned toward the sound.Camila stood at the edge of the table, her dark brown eyes gleaming beneath the soft glow of the overhead lights. Her long, chestnut hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, framing her sculpted cheekbones and full lips, which curved into a knowing smile. A figure-hugging black dress clung to her body, the plunging neckline and high slit leaving little to the imagination. Gold hoop earrings caught the light as she tilted her head, her gaze fixed on me with unsettling familiarity.She took a step closer, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. Then she slid into the seat beside Lucas, her manicured hand brushing over his arm as she leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek.“Which is it?” she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as they cut toward me.
ELENA.Surprising even myself, I moved toward Lucas—DeLuca’s friend—and pressed a quick peck to his cheek. There was something effortlessly charming about him, something that, for a fleeting moment, reminded me of Sarah. I adjusted my bag, preparing to leave before she could utter another. I had every intention of ignoring her first remark, acting as if I hadn’t heard it.But then she spoke again.“He’ll dump you like he did the rest,” the woman with long chestnut hair said, this time addressing me directly.I froze mid-step. The exhaustion I had felt moments ago evaporated, replaced by a sharp, simmering irritation. Slowly, I turned to face her, stepping forward with deliberate intent.DeLuca and Lucas both watched me, their expressions unreadable.“You mean the way he dumped you?” I asked, tilting my head, my tone laced with cutting amusement.Her dark brown eyes glimmered with a smug sort of pride. “Oh, sweetheart, you got that part of the story wrong. I left him, by the way.”I sc
ELENA.As soon as I got back to the house, Sarah began to question me on how the event went. “You know, if you wanted to know so much, you should have gone” I cut her off as I pushed open my bedroom door and walked in, going straight to the vanity stand to begin dismantling all the armor Sarah had put on me before I left. “Like that's ever gonna happen, I mean imagine the tension but I'll go the next time though. I'd love to see you walk. Now spill” I Iaughed at her eager look before walking to the door and pulling it open. “You don't mean it?” She gave me a fake offended look even as she walked past me and out of the room. “Good night Sarah” I chuckled at the tongue she stuck out at me before I closed the door. “This is not over yet” I heard her tell from the other side of the door before her retreating footsteps filled my ears. I was so exhausted and didn't have the strength nor the energy for anything this evening.My eyes went towards the pink box Dante had given me the othe
ELENA "Please have a seat" Came from behind me and I slowly turned around to stare pointedly at the indifferent looking Mr. deluca who promptly gestured to the chair there for me to take the seat and I did it without any other word.Getting comfortable before I looked up to his expectant look before I opened up my lips to speak but then the sound of the door opening made us both turn towards the intruder to find an annoyed looking secretary staring at our form.What was up with them and interruption. "What is it Nichole?" He asked, his voice devoid of any emotion at all and I saw her gulp before she composed herself and stepped into the office fully all this while without staring at me and I commended her for her composure in the face of all that Mr. Deluca is. "You ordered to inform you if any call came in from the dubai business manager" I glanced back to Mr. Deluca and saw him give her a slow deliberate smile that she seemed to understand because the next second, she was out th
DELUCA"You took your sweet time getting that out of you" Lucas settled into the chair like he owned it and I sent him a glare, he had cozied up to Elena when she was here and she had seemed easy going with him, but always on guard around me."Are you pouting?" His voice was filled with mirth and disbelief and I threw a file at him without thinking."Why is she always so cool around you, she even gave you a kiss at the show" I asked and yes, the great mafia Don was pouting, all due to an infuriatingly stubborn, beautiful, strong wom-."I like her, she likes me, the feeling is mutual. Am not like someone holding onto something that could save or mar his future love life and still choose to destroy it instead of the opposite" He gave me a smirk and I bit down slowly on my lips as I thought more on his words.He was right."Of course I'm right" He boasted and my hand went to my left pocket and he quickly raised his arms up in surrender."Good for y- Kane"I quickly picked up the phone fr
ELENA My hands tightened around the gun in my purse. I had Sarah behind me as I led her out of the backstage. My white dress was splattered with blood—it looked like something out of a horror movie. I probably looked just like Deluca had when he waltzed into the place with confidence, despite being stained from head to toe in blood.I had just finished changing when I heard the gunshots. My heart pounded with fear—fear for the life of my best friend, who had stubbornly followed me to the show.I came across a dead makeup artist with a gunshot wound to her head. I sidestepped her body and rushed to my purse, pulling out the gun.I turned down the hallway that led in and out and heard another shot go off. Blood splattered onto me, but I didn’t hesitate—I fired two quick shots.I had found Sarah being held at gunpoint and had shot the man before dragging her out to the stage.But I was confused by the chaos unfolding in the venue. Every dignitary was running, as though they had no train
DELUCA Waltzing into the arena, my body smeared with blood and my confidence soaring—perhaps for the first time in my life—stares and murmurs followed my every move. Everyone was either curious or, more likely, terrified of whose blood I wore like a trophy.I felt better. Two down, two to go.And Lucas had finally freed himself from that bloodsucking leech, Madeline.I coolly pulled out a chair in the VIP section and sat down, not caring in the slightest whom it was reserved for. I crossed my legs, clasped my hands together, and watched as the show began.The first models came and went, each exuding a kind of elegance that captivated the crowd. But I was growing impatient.Then, the curtains drew back—and out walked the only person I was certain everyone had come to see.She embodied elegance. She didn’t just walk the runway—she owned it. She moved with a confidence most women could only dream of. The sparkle in her eyes made one thing clear: she loved the attention. Everyone was ent
ELENA I refused to regret not taking the car—or Mr. Leo—along. I could’ve made a quick change and saved time, but the truth was, I had achieved my mission. That alone made it worth it.I’d helped DeLuca.Now, he owes me.But my small victory was short-lived. My smile faded the moment I saw a figure standing at the entrance, arms folded. As I got closer, I recognized her.Sarah.Thankfully, I’d already taken off the mask I used earlier.“It’s about time,” she said, voice flat.I ignored her tone, parked the bike in a hurry, and rushed past her, heading upstairs to my room for a quick shower.“Please inform Mr. Leo to get the car ready,” I tossed over my shoulder without slowing down.To my surprise, Sarah didn’t argue. She just watched me go, silent.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ten minutes later…I stepped out of the house and Sarah was nowhere in sight. Relief washed over me. Maybe she was letting me off the hook—for now. I didn’t have the time or energy for one of her lectures tonight
DELUCA I was surprised—shocked, even—and it showed on my face.I had prided myself on the ability to remain unshaken after the life I’d lived, but this infuriating woman surprised me daily.And this… this was the height of it.I looked around as I stood up, only to discover she was nowhere to be found.Lucas gave me an ear-splitting grin as he hopped over to me. I cut away his ropes.“Where is she?” I asked.He shrugged, but when I glared at him, he finally spoke.“She left.”“What do you mean she left?” My brows furrowed in frustration.“She did. She told me to shut up and disappeared into the night,” he said with that same irritating shrug before bending down to pick up a groaning Colton, whose eyes were starting to flutter open.“Do I send him back?”I looked at Colton and decided it was time he watched.Time he stopped being a child and finally understood what I had been protecting him from.Maybe then he’d stop being such a blabbermouth.Such an idiot.For years, I’d protected h
ElenaAs we drove back to the mansion, I suddenly had an idea—A very bad idea that could get me killed.I stayed calm until we got to the house. Sarah made an excuse to go clean up in her room, and I took that as my opportunity to hash out my ridiculous plan.If I could help rescue—or at least assist—Deluca, he’d owe me a debt, and he'd want to repay it.That was when my ridiculous plan got interesting enough for me to actually go through with it.I called his line, and an unknown male picked up.“What do you want?” he barked into the phone.I was already tapping on my laptop, tracing the call to its current location.“I was hoping to talk to the owner of the cell,” I began, dragging out my purpose for calling. He took the bait like a fool.“He’s not available. Who’s talking?” he demanded.Just then, my laptop gave a sharp ping. I quickly disconnected the call.My lips curved into a triumphant grin.I got dressed, not forgetting my face mask, and silently slipped out of the mansion.
DelucaA groan slipped past my lips as I forced my eyes open, instinctively trying to palm my head with my hands—only to find it hard to do so.Pain radiated from the back of my head as I slowly but surely glanced around, instantly spotting three men standing around me. Beside me sat an awake Lucas.“You awake yet?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.A slow smile tugged at my lips.“You still have the head to smile, bastard,” Lucas cussed, though amusement colored his tone.“What... happened?” I asked quietly. He gave me a look—and then it all came rushing back. I squeezed my eyes shut.That happened.“That happened,” I whispered, and he whistled.“No, we’re dreaming,” he said with mocking condescension, and I knew I deserved it—for not keeping a level head when I got that call.All I’d felt was rage. I still felt it. But I knew I needed to stay calm now.“Then we’ve got to wake up,” I muttered.I shot him a sharp glare, but he waved me off with a goofy look.“I know you’re my
ElenaA ping alerted me to a text on my phone. It looked like it was from Lucas, but I couldn’t decipher what the words meant.I gave Sarah a look across the breakfast table and turned the phone to her.She read through it and gave me a shrug.“Maybe ask one of their own?” she suggested, an unsure look on her face. I gave it some thought.As much as I didn’t want to have anything to do with them, they were slowly but surely pulling me into their affairs.This could be a way to get something on them—something that might force them to start telling me what I wanted to know.I stood up and nodded at Sarah. She gave me a look before standing up, too.“If you’re going, I’m going,” she declared.I gave her a disbelieving look.What did she think she was doing?“Um... no, you’re not,” I began, but she shushed me with a raised palm.That was insulting, but she was my friend, and I did that to her all the time—so maybe…“I want to help. Why? Think I’m too frail?” she cocked an eyebrow at me.I
DelucaMy hands clenched into fists as I watched Lucas work on his laptop, trying to uncover Ramsey’s hidden location.We had been at this for two straight days without a single moment of rest, and it was beginning to take its toll on all of us.Madeline slept on the couch, occasionally snoring—and it grated heavily on my nerves.I sighed, unclenching my fists and resting my head in my hands.My head was pounding, and with nothing to show for it, I was growing more and more agitated.It had been easy to pull up a photo of her, but tracking down her location was taking far longer than I’d like.My brows furrowed as the sharp, shrill sound of my ringtone pierced the otherwise silent room. I calmly grabbed the phone.Boldly written on the screen were two words: “Unknown Caller.”I picked up without a second thought, placing it to my ear.“We have Colton.”My spine snapped straight, and my eyes squeezed shut.What was it with Colton always getting kidnapped for ransom?“I know you’ve been
ElenaI sank down into the seat, dragging in deep breaths as I reconciled with the fact that I had come this close to death without having achieved anything.It was surreal to realize I felt no remorse for the dead man. But I simply couldn’t find it in me to feel anything.I knew that sooner or later, I would kill someone with this gun—but thinking about it and actually doing it were two different things.What was even more disturbing was my lack of anxiety or emotion altogether.I didn’t dare to glance at him again, afraid that doing so might awaken feelings I didn’t want to face.Slowly, I stood up, giving the room one last look. Nothing seemed out of place—except for the pile of burnt papers.Lately, I had been feeling suspicious. Who had burned them? Whoever it was had to be aware of Lorenzo’s dealings.And if that was the case, they must have been close to him.It could be Dante… or the Council Elders… or even Deluca.This was beyond frustrating. I was going around in circles, an