Chapter 5. The Birth Of An Empire.

Mia's POV. 

Italy smelled like freedom and fresh espresso. It was a stark contrast to the suffocating opulence of my past life. Here, I wasn’t the Valisteen Princess; I was just Mia. No bodyguards trailing my every move, no constant threats looming over my head. Or at least, that’s what I wanted to believe.

But danger had a way of finding me. That bitch.

It's been three weeks since I escaped the chaos Dylan Griffin left behind with the help of Victor, who I told to go back to Ray. I kept my head down, moving from town to town, never staying anywhere long enough to be noticed. The quiet anonymity was comforting at first, but I couldn’t ignore the itch in the back of my mind—the urge to reclaim what had been stolen from me.

I had just stepped out of a cafe in Florence when the first shot rang out. Instinct kicked in before I even registered what was happening. I dove behind a parked Vespa, my heart pounding as bullets sprayed across the cobblestone street. Tourists screamed and scattered, their footsteps echoing against the ancient buildings.

“Stay low." Victor’s voice rang in my ear. I swiftly moved my hand to my back and brought out my gun, moving it towards my chest. My eyes scanned for the source of the attack.

A sleek black car idled a few meters away, its tinted windows rolling down just enough for the barrel of a rifle to peek through.  

Not again. I sigh. 

I was holding the gun tighter to me and ready to shoot when she appeared—a girl, no older than me, dating out a nearby alley. Her hair was cropped short, dyed an elegant blue that stood out against the chaos. She moved like a shadow, silent and swift, a small device in her hand.

Within seconds, the car's engine sputtered and died. The gunfire ceased as the windows rolled up and the locks clicked into place. The attackers inside pounded on the door, their panicked shouts muffled by the thick glass. 

The girl turned to me, her grin mischievous. “You're welcome." 

—-

Her name was Mimi Ray. Unlike anyone I've ever met. Funny how her last name is Ray’s first name. She confirmed that she has nothing to do with Ray, genetically or whatsoever. 

“Hackers,” she said, flipping a knife between her fingers as we sat in the cramped safehouse she had found somewhere. “We’re the real power players, you know. People think guns and muscle win wars, but it’s information that changes the game.”

She was cocky, sure, but she’d just saved my life, so I let it slide.

“What were you doing there?" Still wary despite her help. 

She smacked, “Same thing you were—trying not to die." 

Over the next few days, I learned that Mimi wasn’t just a talented hacker; she was a mastermind. She’d spent years building networks, gathering intel, and taking down bigger players than the likes of Dylan Griffin. When she discovered who I was, instead of running, she leaned in closer.

“You’ve got potential,” she said one evening, tapping away at her laptop. “But you’re wasting it hiding out like this. You want to take back control? You need to stop thinking like a princess and start acting like a queen.”

I didn’t need convincing. 

“And it's Gonzalezs.” 

" What?” I asked, staring a bit confused.

" My last name is actually Gonzalezs. Mimi Gonzales. I lied to you the other day.” Her Spanish accent finally kicked in, and a hint of guilt in her voice. 

I stared at her, amused and intrigued, knowing fully well why she lied. I mean, she didn't know who I was until a few days ago, but she helped me that day, knowing she didn't have to. “ Okay. Thanks for telling me.” I said, turning back to my laptop.

" You're not gonna ask why I lied?” 

" Should I?” 

—

Our first move was subtle—a territory in Florence controlled by a low-level dealer with more arrogance than brains. Mimi’s hacks made it easy to dismantle his operations. By the time I confronted him in person, his resources were drained, and his men had already turned against him.

“I’ll take care of it!” he begged, on his knees before me. 

I glanced at Victor, who nodded his head. He came to find me a few days ago. 

“No,” I said, my voice cold and unyielding. “You’re done.”

That night, the dealer’s former crew pledged their loyalty to me. It was the beginning of something bigger.

—

Mimi’s skills were invaluable. She hacked into accounts, rerouted shipments, and gathered intel on every rival in the area. With her at the helm of our tech operations and Victor handling strategy, our influence spread like wildfire.

But it wasn’t just about power. It was about respect.

I made it clear to everyone under my banner: loyalty was rewarded, betrayal punished. I wasn’t Ray Valisteen, and I sure as hell wasn’t Dylan Griffin. I wasn’t going to rule through fear alone. They both can suck my dick if they oppose. Yeah, I know I'm a girl, and I don't have a cock, but what I do have is a middle finger.

Within months, I wasn’t just Mia, the runaway. I was Mia Valisteen, the woman building an empire from the ground up.

—

One night, as we sat in our new headquarters—a converted villa overlooking the Arno River—Mimi looked at me with a rare seriousness.

“You’ve got the spark,” she said, sipping her wine. “But you know this isn’t just about taking back what’s yours. You’ve got a shot to be something more. To create something bigger than Ray ever dreamed of.”

I nodded, sipping from my wine as the weight of her words settled over me. She was right. This wasn’t just revenge anymore.

This was my legacy, and I'll be damned if Dylan or anyone thinks they can take that away from me without a fight. 

“So what's our next step?" Mimi asked, looking at me. 

An evil grin played on the corner of my lips as I was wait

ing for her to ask. “Something fun, Mimi. But for now, let's relax, and watch the show.”