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
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
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
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
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 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
Teresa Ellis took a quick gaze out of the convent's stained-glass window, her thoughts began to drift deeply to the world beyond the sacred walls. As a novice nun that she became not by choice but by fate, she was expected to devote herself to prayers and service which her heart never agreed to because she yearned for a life of freedom and adventures.The Convent was situated in the heart of East Harlem and it was a sanctuary for the community. Teresa's mother was a devout Catholic and that was one of the reasons why the convent chose to nurture Teresa after her parents’ tragic demise. The sisters had now become Teresa's family but she couldn't just shake off the feeling that her life was meant for more beyond the Convent.As she began to ponder her future, a soft knock interrupted her thoughts. It was Sister Margaret, the convent's wise and compassionate leader. Teresa replied that she could enter the room."Teresa, My child, I need to speak with you," Sister Margaret said as her war
It was late at night, a few minutes to 9 pm. Teresa headed to the third floor as she earlier agreed with Louisa. She began to pace back and forth waiting for her Convent friend. A part of her felt Louisa was probably teasing her but she was determined to wait.“Just as I expected,” Louisa whispered just behind Teresa.Teresa was startled but not for long as all her mind was about them going beyond the walls.“Sorry to startle you that way, are you ready?” Louisa asked in confirmation.“More than ready, Louisa. Let's go already.”They both began to sneak downwards to the basement of the Convent. Desperately scaling through the active nuns discreetly. “The Convent has a basement?” Teresa asked in shock.“Yes it does, and they never share this with anyone unless it involves an emergency,” Louisa answered confidently.They walked through the basement and finally into the vibrant streets of East Harlem with a great determination to forget the sadness in Teresa's heart. Louisa decided to t
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