MADELINE Victor handed me a glass of wine before quickly unlocking his phone with forceful taps on the screen. I observed his actions, committing his code to memory. The tension between us remained palpable, the silence during the ride creating an uncomfortable atmosphere. Moments after entering the house, Victor snapped a photo of a folded piece of paper. "Grinder. I'm sending you a picture. We need to locate this individual," he said, pacing back and forth, occasionally glancing in my direction and rubbing his brow. "And I need more information about the contract on Madeline's life. Shake every possible source. I want details. And I want Satori." After ending the call, he continued his agitated pacing, muttering curses under his breath. "Contract? Can you talk to me? Explain?" I was stunned by his words, shaken to my core. Now, a numbing sensation took hold. "I don't understand." He had refused to discuss the matter until we were safely behind closed doors. Standing at the windo
I was filled with an overwhelming urge to scream at Victor for his persistent use of my name, as if it held some kind of added weight or truth. The silence that followed was suffocating, each passing moment intensifying my unease. Finally, he broke the silence. "What happened to your sister?" he asked, his voice carrying a mixture of curiosity and concern. I sighed heavily, burying my face in my hands as I took a few deep breaths. Reluctantly, I knew I had to delve into the painful past, exposing the truth that both Victor and I sought. "My sister, Sasha, was drawn into what she believed to be the allure and glamour of the mafia," I began, my voice laced with a mix of sorrow and bitterness. "She idolized our father, blinded to his flaws. She yearned to be the companion of a powerful, wealthy, and dangerous man." "And she found one," Victor said softly, his tone filled with understanding. "Yes," I continued, my voice tinged with sadness. "Always the life of the party, she had her wi
I held my breath until both men had exited the room. It was only when I heard the front door open and close that I finally exhaled. My actions were bound to result in some form of violence and bloodshed, much like a distant memory I tried to push away. I couldn't change the past or do anything for my beloved sister. But I was determined not to make the same mistakes again. I resolved to follow Victor's orders and abide by his rules. I would even learn to accept them. No, he wouldn't break me using any means. I had come too far in my life. There was one condition, though. If my father had lied to me, I would cut off all contact with him. Only if you survive... I stood up and paced the floor, waiting for screams or the sound of a gunshot. But there was nothing of the sort. Until five minutes later, when the door opened and a lone man walked in. I recoiled, fearful of what Victor would say or do. He entered just as quietly as he had left, retrieved his drink, and made his way to the
I refused to let the silence linger any longer. I turned towards him, gently placing my hands on his chest. His eyes pleaded with me, revealing the immense pain he had endured. "She was killed in a drive-by shooting while we were walking from a coffee shop," he disclosed, his voice carrying a mixture of grief and frustration. "The police believed it was a random act, wrong place at the wrong time. But I knew better. It was an assassination attempt, and she took the bullet meant for me. Just two days later, my mother was killed, a bullet intended for my father." The weight of his words hit me with a force I couldn't ignore. Tears welled up in my eyes once again, empathizing with the profound pain we had both experienced throughout the years. He tilted his head and used his knuckle to wipe away my tears, bringing his finger to his mouth. A single tear slipped past his long, beautiful eyelashes, tracing a path down his face. My heart ached for him, and without hesitation, I rose up on
VICTOR "Are you sure you want to go through with this, boss?" Grinder inquired, his voice tinged with concern. I could sense the hesitation in his tone, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on both of us if I were to extinguish Satori's life. But in that moment, I found myself questioning whether I still cared. "It's necessary. What did you find regarding the picture I sent you?" "I've been making inquiries. Don't worry, boss. We'll track down that bastard." Worry. This entire situation was spiraling out of control. "The information better come through. Did you make any progress on the contract in the streets?" "You're not going to like it." "Tell me." "The shooter goes by the name of the Slayer. Some sadistic lunatic. No one seems to know much about them. Even our own soldiers are scared. There's talk that the hit list is extensive, if you catch my drift, and, uh..." He stumbled over his words, something that never sat well with me. "Just say it." "You're on that lis
He appeared visibly unsettled, his face turning a shade of red that betrayed his nerves. "A couple of months ago, Dante contacted me. He presented me with a deal that seemed too good to pass up," he confessed, his voice laced with unease. I couldn't help but wonder why a powerful figure like Dante Massimo would bother with someone as insignificant as Louis. It seemed there was more to this story than met the eye. I took a step closer, urging him to continue. "He claimed that I could take control of the Racini business because your father was marked for elimination. According to him, your father had caused too much trouble and needed to be dealt with. He believed I was the right person for the job," he explained, his bitter laugh a mix of resignation and bitterness. My fist instinctively clenched, anger surging through me. "You expect me to believe this? That Dante orchestrated all of this, and you willingly went along with it?" I questioned, my voice dripping with skepticism. "I sw
I walked away, sensing a newfound respect from my soldiers. Grinder's face displayed an expression of anxiety as he paced back and forth, gripping his phone tightly. "Damn it," he muttered quietly. I hadn't intended to fall deeply in love with Madeline. It was both irresponsible and dangerous. But there was little I could do about it, despite the nagging thoughts in my mind and the uneasiness in my stomach. I had never been a believer in love at first sight, nor was I a romantic. I also knew I wasn't good for her. However, deep down, I knew I could never allow her to slip away. "Answer the damn phone," Grinder whispered, wiping sweat from his face. I had never seen him so nervous and anxious. "Goddamn it." "What's wrong?" I asked. He took a deep breath and gestured towards me. "Neither of them is picking up." A surge of anger and hatred flooded through me. I should have known better than to leave her alone. Madeline had released the grip the demon had on me for so many years, al
He raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, blinking to confirm his understanding. I let go of him abruptly, stepping back as confusion and frustration flooded my mind. The situation made no sense at all. If Madeline had been alive all these years, where the hell had she been? And what was her involvement in this damning scheme? "What's our next move?" Grinder asked, his voice filled with uncertainty. "First, we need to find out who owns that phone number. If my suspicions are correct, Sasha has been alive all this time," I replied, my tone resolute. Grinder raised an eyebrow. "You think she's behind all of this?" I surveyed the room, taking in the chaos and destruction. Something didn't add up. "We have to consider the possibility." "Then what, boss?" "We hunt." Madeline had vanished, and we had deployed our resources to monitor airports, train stations, and bus terminals. Anyone attempting to take her out of the state or the country would be intercepted. But capturing Mad