Teresa’s POVThe room suddenly felt smaller, as if the walls were pressing in around her. Stefano’s voice still echoed in her mind, a confession she hadn’t been prepared to hear."The first man I ever killed was Simon Ellis."Simon Ellis.Her father.Teresa’s entire body turned ice cold, her breath caught in her throat. It felt like the floor had been ripped out from beneath her. She wanted to move, to speak, to do something, but all she could do was sit there, unable to speak.But she had to say something.She replayed his words over and over, waiting for them to change, for them to make sense. But the more she thought about them, the more everything did make sense, painfully and devastatingly so.She had spent weeks hating Stefano, cursing his name, vowing revenge against the man who had taken her freedom.But now, she had walked into this room, sat across from him, and offered him comfort. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms.Why?Why did it have to be h
Stefano’s POVStartled, he watched as Teresa ran out of his study in a hurry, the moment the door shut closed behind her, he felt an unfamiliar weight, a certain burden lessened in his chest.He exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around the edge of the desk. The way she had left, it was too sudden, too hurried, like she was avoiding something.Something had changed in her expression after he spoke about his past, but he couldn’t place exactly what it was. He had expected her to recoil at his story, maybe even look at him in disgust, yet the way she looked at him was different.Not with hatred. Not with fear, but something else entirely.But there was no time to dwell on it. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, and he dragged a hand down his face before turning his attention to the man who had just entered.Guillermo stood near the door, his sharp, calculating gaze fixed on Stefano, a wry smile etched into his lips. Unlike Stefano, who always carried himself with a controlled demeanor, G
Teresa’s POVFor three days, Teresa stayed inside her room.She wasn’t restricted like a prisoner, the door wasn’t locked, and no one was keeping her inside. But the walls felt tighter with each passing hour, suffocating in a way that had nothing to do with the space itself.She curled into the chair by the window, knees drawn tightly to her chest, staring out at the vast stretch of Stefano’s estate. The gardens below, the flickers of the light from the headlamps stationed everywhere, the endless dark horizon beyond the iron gates. It was strange, wasn’t it? A few weeks ago, she would have given anything to escape this place. Now, she couldn’t even bring herself to step outside her room.Because if she left, she might run into him, she might meet Stefano.The man who had turned her world upside down. The man who had shattered her life, killed her father and yet, somehow, against all logic, had become the one person she couldn’t stop thinking about. She gritted her teeth in frustration
Teresa's POV The black sedan pulled up to the towering iron gates of Guillermo’s villa, its sleek exterior gleaming under the golden hue of the evening sun. Teresa sat stiffly in the back seat, her hands clasped together on her lap, she felt overwhelmed by this all, but tried her best to keep it together.She had expected Stefano to keep her close, even after everything. But instead, he sent her away.For her own safety, he had said. She didn't want to believe it, but she knew she was his weakness in a way. She didn't like that she could be used to get to Stefano but it made her feel better knowing that she meant something to Stefano.The gates swung open without a sound, and the car glided up a long, curved driveway lined with trimmed hedges and silver headlights. The villa came into view, an opulent, sprawling estate with stone balconies, grand arched windows, and white pillars supporting its towering structure. It looked like something out of a royal painting, untouched by the dir
Teresa's POV Teresa sat stiffly in the spacious, dimly lit room of the villa, her fingers curled into the hem of her dress. Despite the luxurious surroundings, an unease clung to her like a second skin. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the villa itself... too large, too empty, too foreign, or because of the woman standing guard near the window, arms folded, expression unreadable.Lisa. She had been thinking about her since she had moved in.Teresa had been introduced to her earlier that day, and the first thing she had noticed was the sheer presence Lisa carried. The woman had an air of danger about her, sharp, calculated, and utterly in control. She wasn’t much older than Teresa, but the scars on her cheek and the hardness in her eyes spoke of years of experience in violence.It wasn’t just the way she stood, poised like a panther ready to strike, or the way she barely blinked as she kept an eye on the outside world. It was the way she felt so… untouchable.Teresa hesitated bef
Teresa's POV Teresa leaned back on the cushioned chair, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her teacup. Lisa's words still echoed in her mind, bold and unshaken.'I want to be a Mafia Don. Or at least help someone strong enough to take control and put an end to the underground's reign.'The weight of such a statement made Teresa uneasy. She had just started to feel comfortable around Lisa, but this? This was something she couldn’t wrap her head around.Lisa sat across from her, arms folded, her icy blue eyes unwavering. She had the look of someone who had already made up their mind, who had been living with this conviction for a long time.“You… You really want to rule the mafia?” Teresa asked hesitantly, unsure whether she admired or feared Lisa’s ambition.Lisa smirked. “Not just rule. Reshape it. Take out the rats. Make it something powerful, something that no longer bows to the filth of the underground. The syndicates, the slave markets, the traffickers, the lot of them." she
Stefano's POV Stefano stood up from his black leather chair stationed at his desk, his fingers rubbing against his chin. He had decided to meet her, to speak with her atleast one last time before the war really started with The Paladin and Morano. Just how badly had he missed her?Before he could answer that thought, the heavy oak doors to his office swung open.Guillermo stepped inside, his expression set in a deep, unreadable frown.Stefano straightened slightly. His younger brother was always composed, but something about his demeanor tonight seemed…off."What is it?" Stefano asked, already anticipating bad news.Guillermo didn’t answer immediately. He reached into his coat, pulled out an envelope, and placed it on Stefano’s desk with a calm calculated slowness that betrayed the urgency in his eyes.The weight of the action made Stefano pause. His gaze flickered to the wax seal pressed against the paper. The insignia was unmistakable... Morano.Each Mafia family had their own set
Teresa's POV Lisa hung up the phone, her sharp eyes flicking toward Teresa, who sat on the plush couch near the window. The soft moonlight from the night moon highlighted Teresa’s hopeful expression as she stared outside, lost in thought.“That was Stefano,” Lisa said, her voice calm yet unreadable.Teresa perked up instantly, her heart skipping a beat. “He’s coming?”Lisa nodded. “He’ll be here soon.”A rush of emotions surged through Teresa, excitement, nervousness, and a lingering guilt from the last time they had spoken. She had left him standing in that room, unsure of what to say, but now, she had a chance to make it up to him.Without hesitation, she rushed to freshen up, hurrying into the bathroom and splashing cool water on her face. She ran her fingers through her curls, straightening her dress as she glanced at her reflection in the mirror.'Tonight, I’ll finally tell him everything. How I truly feel about him' she puffed her chest in confidence.She didn’t care that she w
Teresa's POV Teresa leaned back in her chair, swirling a glass of wine in her hand as Lisa stood beside her, giving out the latest reports. The dim glow of the room’s chandelier reflected in the deep crimson liquid in her glass, mirroring the reflection of the soon to be blood soaked city she was trying to control."Guillermo is making his moves," Lisa said, placing a folder on the dark mahogany table. "He’s securing his alliances with the Yakuza, and Stefano is back in the game. If we don’t act now, we’ll lose our foothold."Teresa exhaled, placing the glass down with a soft clink. "That’s what he thinks. But we move in silence, Lisa. Let the men scramble for power while we pull the strings."Lisa smirked, knowing Teresa’s mind was already ten steps ahead. "I assume you have a plan?"Teresa tapped the folder. "I do. We start by cutting Guillermo’s cash flow. His operations depend on bribes and loyalty bought with money. If we can starve his businesses, his men will scatter like bees
Guillermo's POV Guillermo adjusted his cufflinks as he stepped into the dimly lit, smoke filled private lounge of an upscale restaurant. The Yakuza didn’t do casual meetings, they did things close to events, and this meeting was no different. The air smelled of expensive cigars and aged whiskey, the kind of ambiance designed to remind you of power.Seated across the room, three men in sharp, traditional garment covered a fourth figure, whose presence immediately commanded respect. His slicked back silver hair and measured, assessing gaze spoke of decades in the game.Takashi, the man representing the Yakuza in Rome.Guillermo approached with a confident stride, offering a respectful nod but not lowering himself beyond that. He was the King of Rome’s underground, after all. He would not bow.Takashi gestured to the seat across from him. "Guillermo. We meet at last."Guillermo sat, taking a moment to study the man in front of him. "Takashi. I appreciate you accepting my invitation."Ta
Teresa's POV Teresa sat in the dimly lit lounge of one of her safe houses, fingers tapping idly against the surface of her phone as she waited for Lisa’s report. She had given the order as soon as she parted ways with Ethan, her instincts telling her that the charming stranger was more than he appeared to be.A soft buzz signaled Lisa’s incoming message. Teresa opened it quickly, scanning the short but important message."No immediate ties to Guillermo. But… he’s connected to someone powerful. Still digging." She read out loud, then pursed her lips.That was enough to set her further on edge. If Ethan wasn’t Guillermo’s pawn, then who exactly was pulling his strings? She needed more information, and she was going to get it the old fashioned way, by playing the game herself. She felt happily excited for some reason, thrilled even.The next evening, Ethan had chosen a high end but secluded cafe for their meeting, the kind of place that catered to the wealthy but maintained an air of qu
Teresa's POV Teresa studied Ethan with careful eyes, her mind racing with possibilities. This man was not from Rome, that much was certain. His presence, his posture, the way his men flanked him protectively... it all screamed foreign, yet powerful. But was he an ally? An enemy? Or just an outsider who landed in the den of Mafia's, death and agony? Was he really oblivious to the game being played or he didn’t even know he was playing?She couldn’t afford to be reckless. Not now. If Ethan was connected to Guillermo, she had to tread carefully. One wrong step, and she could be exposing herself, Vendetta, and everything she had worked to build.Ethan, however, seemed completely at ease. If he was aware of the tension in the air, he didn’t show it. Instead, he smiled, a lazy, confident grin that made Teresa’s suspicion flare even stronger."You seem tense," he said smoothly. "I hope I didn’t startle you.""Not at all," Teresa responded, keeping her tone neutral. "It’s just not every day
Guillermo's POV Guillermo leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling with a sly smile playing on his lips. If he couldn't crush the Yakuza outright, then he would make them dance to his tune. It was simple, if you couldn't destroy your enemy, turn them into your weapon. The Yakuza weren’t the problem. Teresa was. If he could paint himself as an ally, as the lesser evil in their eyes, he could maneuver them like chess pieces against her. Let them do his dirty work. And when the time was right, he’d deal with them, too.He picked up his phone and made a single call. "Send them an invitation. Tell them I want to talk." The person on the other end didn't hesitate. "Understood, Boss."Guillermo tapped his fingers against the desk. The plan was already forming in his mind. He would welcome them with open arms, show them the advantages of siding with him, and slowly weave them into his war against Teresa. They would be the sword, and he would be the hand that wielded it.And as for h
Guillermo's POVGuillermo sat back in the comfort of his chair, fingers stretched as he lost himself in the deliciously dark thoughts swirling in his mind. The past five years had been long, but now, now the game was finally shifting. Stefano was back. After all these years, after losing everything, his dear brother had finally crawled back into the world he had no place in anymore. 'How exciting', Guillermo smiled inwardly.Guillermo exhaled sharply, lips curling into a smirk as he thought about it. Five years ago, he had used Teresa to bring Stefano down. The way his brother had fallen, the rage, the pain... it had been glorious. Marvelous. Stefano who had been untouchable once, the heir to an empire. And now? Now he was nothing.But Guillermo wasn’t done. No, he would do it again. Only this time, he’d use Stefano against Teresa. The irony made him chuckle, a low, guttural sound that echoed in the quiet space of his office. The poetic irony of it all left a thrill running down his
Stefano’s POVThe rain hit the pavement in a steady, rhythmic shower, filling the silence between Stefano and Vincent as they walked through the dimly lit alleyways of the city. It had been years since Stefano had last been in a place like this, surrounded by people who knew nothing of who he used to be.But that didn’t change the fact that he remembered.The once feared leader of the King Mafia now walked through these streets like a ghost.A nobody.Vincent led him toward their apartment that they both lived in now. There was an understanding between them, unspoken, yet clear. Stefano wasn’t the same man he used to be, and Vincent knew it. Thankfully, he had gotten back his memories soon after Stefano had told him it his ordeal that happened five years ago, not that Vincent remembered every single detail, but he was no longer lost. And with that, he had really understood just how low Stefano has fallen.But that didn’t mean he would be satisfied staying this way.Stefano clenched h
Lisa’s POVLisa stormed through the front doors of Vendetta’s estate, her fury barely contained. The echoes of her boots striking the marble floor ricocheted through the grand hall, each step fueled by frustration.The meeting had been a disaster. A joke. A complete waste of her damn time.Vincent had refused to bow. Refused to acknowledge Teresa’s dominance. Refused to submit like every other fool who knew better than to challenge Vendetta.Lisa clenched her fists as she turned the corner, barely registering the guards who stood at attention when they saw her. She didn’t care about their presence. She didn’t care about anything right now, except making sure Teresa understood just how wrong this was.As she burst into Teresa’s office, she was met with a calm, knowing gaze. Teresa sat at her desk, leaning slightly back in her chair, fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished desk. The dim light from the chandelier cast sharp shadows across her face, making her almost unreadable.
Lisa’s POVLisa hated this.She hated stepping outside the estate, hated walking through the streets where danger lurked in the shadows, and more than anything, she hated that she was on her way to meet Vincent.She didn’t trust him. Didn’t like him. Never had. Never would.Vincent was too damn rigid, too stuck up, too controlling. He was too much like her and that was the worst part.The last time they met, it had been five years ago. On that night where she had held the gun and shot Guillermo's shoulder, then drilled three holes in Morano's chest. She hoped she would end it all there, but sadly she missed it. They had crossed paths for a brief moment, Vincent had been wary, of her but eventually let her go that night, after then, she wasn't sure what happened to him again.Lisa had hated that look in his eyes because it was the same one she gave him. Now, years later, she was walking straight into his territory.She had picked the bar. A local bar as usual, barely lit, barely staff