The Repercussions: Captured in His GravityIt was too quiet in the room.That sort of quiet that was like a warning.My heart was still racing from the events at the club when I stood in the centre of Dante's penthouse.based on how he had seized the man's throat.based on the way he had publicly kissed me.based on how I had allowed him.As if he had endless time, Dante leaned against the bar and rolled up his sleeves with deliberate slowness.As if my whole body did not still burn because of him.I tightened my jaw. "That overreaction was fucking ridiculous."Dante poured himself a drink and grinned. "Was it?"I sneered. "You almost killed him."Dante sipped his whisky and let out a slow exhale. "He touched my property."My breath caught.Because it was there.Just one damn word.mine.Dante put down his glass and fixed me with his dark eyes."You are not fond of it?" He whispered. "So why did you not stop me?"My throat became suddenly dry as I swallowed forcefully. "I—"Dante's he
The Following Morning: A Perilous RealityIt was warm when I woke up.He was hotter than the blankets.Dante.His body pressed against mine as if he had no intention of letting go, his arm slung over my waist, his breath steady against my shoulder.As if he would already decided I was welcome here.I was his property.My heart was beating too quickly as I swallowed forcefully and looked up at the ceiling.Because of the truth?I had no desire to relocate.did not want to back off.did not want to consider the implications of this.Because the instant I—I would have to acknowledge that.I was not prepared for that, either.Dante is not yet finished.I tried to put some distance between us by shifting a little.An error.Dante tightened his hold on my waist and made a low, groaning sound of protest before opening his eyes.Fuck.I never saw him like this before.Dark hair a little untidy, eyes a little softer than normal, a sleep-rough voice.Not the untouchable king of the mafia.Just
The Setting – A Room Full of PowerThe poker table was lined with the city’s most dangerous men.Crime bosses, cartel heads, men who held power, influence, and blood on their hands.And Dante sat at the head of it all.Calm. Unshaken. Completely in control.I leaned back in my chair, nursing my drink, keeping my posture relaxed even though I could feel the weight of every fucking stare.Because tonight?I wasn’t just another man at the table.I was Dante Valenci’s right-hand.And everyone in this room knew it.But apparently, someone wanted to test just how true that was.The Disrespect – Someone Dares to Challenge HimIt was subtle at first.A comment here, a smirk there.But then, Martinez made a mistake.He was a smuggler, connected to the cartel, a man who thought he was bigger than he was.And tonight?He thought he was bold enough to challenge Dante’s claim.“So tell me,” Martinez mused, swirling his drink, his sharp eyes flickering to me. “How does it feel to be in Valenci’s po
The Repercussions: A Risky IdeaI should have left as soon as we returned to the penthouse.I should have told him to go to hell, slammed the door behind me, and made it obvious that I was not his property.However, I didn't.Because I knew in my heart.He already had me.Worse?He was also aware of it.Luca's Final Battle EffortWith my mind a complete mess and my heart still racing from the events at the poker table, I paced the living room.I had been kissed by Dante.in the public eye.had ensured that everyone in the city knew I was his.With a sharp exhale, I combed through my hair. "You were not entitled."Standing by the bar, pouring himself a drink, Dante laughed. "Did I not?"I glared as I turned. "You believe you can simply assert me in that manner? As if I were some kind of fucking property?Dante sipped his whisky without a care in the world. "That is precisely who you are."I gasped. Fuck.Because what is the worst?That is what I wanted to happen.I tightened my jaw. "I
A Sign Too Large to Ignore: The Weight of a RingThis was not how it was intended to feel.It was only a ring.It was just a piece of expensive, subtle metal that was chained around my finger.The cool weight of it taunted me as I absently turned it over.Because this was not a gift at all.It was a brand.A reminder that I was claimed by Dante.that I was his forever, not just his property.What is the worst?I had not removed it.I did not leave the bedroom. Not while I was taking a shower. Not while I was sitting at the bar feigning that nothing had changed from the previous evening.I tightened my jaw.Fuck.There is no room for denial under Dante's control.Before I could see him, I could hear his footsteps.Slow. steady. total control.Then his voice, knowing and smooth."You still have it on."I let out a sharp exhale without raising my gaze. "Do not take it too seriously."With a low, contented laugh, Dante laughed."That is too late."Against my will, my pulse spiked as I fin
The Words' Weight: What Have I Done?I ought not to have said it.I should not have let him hear me say, "I am yours," and I should not have let it slip.Because right now?There was no turning back now.My pulse was too quick, and my knuckles were white as I held onto the counter's edge.Behind me, Dante was still standing, close but not in contact.As if he was in anticipation.As if he knew I was going to snap.Staring at the ring on my finger, the evidence of what I had just given up, I swallowed hard.I had lost my freedom.I was not mine.What is the worst?I had no desire to be.Fuck.Dante Allows Me Some Space, But Not EnoughDante moved, but not in my direction.Just enough so that I could sense his steady, unflinching presence.He whispered, "You are thinking too much."With a rough voice, I scoffed. "Yes? What else am I supposed to do, anyway?Dante let out a calm, slow breath as if he had been ready for this."Do you think this makes a difference?" he enquired.I stiffened
The Calm Before the Storm I should have known it was too quiet. Dante and I had spent the last three days in a rare kind of peace—if I could even call it that. No fights. No power plays. No running. I still didn’t know how to define what was between us, but I knew one thing—I wasn’t leaving. And neither was he. But that night? Everything fucking changed. The Setup – A Meeting That Goes Wrong It was supposed to be simple. A quiet, controlled meeting at one of Dante’s clubs—neutral ground, nothing out of the ordinary. I was standing by the bar, watching the conversation unfold, keeping my distance like I always did. Dante sat at the head of the table, completely at ease, dealing with some cartel associates from Miami. Everything seemed fine. Until it wasn’t. Until the doors slammed open. Until the first gunshot rang out. The Moment Everything Falls Apart I barely had time to react before the chaos erupted. Men yelling, flipping the table, reaching fo
The Hospital: A Novel Form of SilenceThe shooting had taken place two days prior.Observing Dante's recovery for two days.I sat next to him for two days and would not get up, even though I told myself I should.I avoided his gaze on me for two days.since I was aware.He waited.waiting on me to quit acting.waiting on me to acknowledge what we both knew.that I would not be leaving.Luca Wonders What Will Happen NextI felt it as I stared at my hands.The touch of Dante's fingers on mine.informal. Hardly there.but purposeful.I swallowed hard and remained motionless."You appear worn out," Dante whispered.I sneered. "You are worried about me after you were shot?"Amused, Dante hummed. "You have hardly moved from this chair."I stiffened.since he was correct.since I had not departed.Because my chest had felt so damned tight at the idea of leaving him alone in that bed.My knuckles were touched by Dante's thumb."Luca, are you staying?" he said softly.My breath caught.I took
POV: LucaNo amount of training prepares you for walking into a place you know you might never leave.The Boston freight yard looked like it hadn’t seen daylight in a decade. Rusted tracks. Chain-link fences curling like dead ivy. Everything coated in soot, fog, and silence.But beneath it?The summit.Umbraion’s table.The heart of the Ember Pact.Dante and I crouched beside a rusted cargo container, hidden in shadow as the drone above fed us intel. Enzo’s people were tracking five vehicles arriving from different directions.Selene’s voice crackled through the comms. “They’re moving into position. 14 confirmed targets. Two more unconfirmed.”Dante whispered to me, low and close. “You still sure?”I looked at him.“No.”He smiled faintly. “Good. That means we’re sane.”We moved in with four others—two ex-military, two loyal soldiers from Dante’s original guard.It was surgical.Or it was supposed to be.We breached through the maintenance hatch on the northeast side. Metal screeched
Luca’s POVThe war room felt different with Selene in it.Not colder. Not warmer. Just… sharper.She stood at the edge of the table, arms crossed, gaze flicking over every face like she was still calculating threat levels. You didn’t spend a decade inside the Hollow Sect and walk out of it clean.But she wasn’t their soldier anymore.She was ours.Dante leaned over the map, voice low and clipped. “Start from the beginning. Everything.”Selene nodded once. “Umbraion’s plan isn’t local anymore. It’s not about turf. It’s not even about power. It’s ideological collapse. He believes if he destabilizes the five strongest criminal systems globally, the rest will fold like dominos.”Enzo stiffened beside me. “You’re saying he’s building a world war for the underworld.”“Yes,” Selene replied. “And New York was his first test city.”I felt the weight of that.We hadn’t just been at war.We’d been part of a trial run.And we’d failed.Dante moved the pawn on the table map to our west district. “
Luca’s POVThe city’s underbelly had always been a network of shadows and whispers, but the Hollow Sect operated in a realm even deeper—where silence was law and identity was fluid. Infiltrating them wasn’t just a mission; it was a descent into anonymity.Dante handed me a dossier, thin and unmarked. Inside, a single photograph: a woman, mid-thirties, eyes like obsidian, expression unreadable. Her name: Selene.“She’s our in,” Dante said. “Disillusioned with Umbraion’s methods. If anyone can be turned, it’s her.”I studied the photo, committing every detail to memory. “What’s her role?”“Recruitment and indoctrination. She shapes minds before they’re broken.”Perfect. If I could reach her, I could understand the Sect’s psyche.The initiation was brutal. Blindfolded, I was led through a labyrinth of corridors, each step echoing with the weight of unseen eyes. Voices murmured in languages I couldn’t place, and the air was thick with incense and something more metallic—blood, perhaps.Th
Luca’s POVThey used to call this part of the city “untouchable.”Our territory. Our ground. Our rules.But today, it looked like a graveyard.The fires from the café had been put out. The buildings were boarded up. The smell of smoke clung to everything like bad history. It had been three days, but no one was coming back. The neighborhood was dead.And it wasn’t just here.It was spreading.We weren’t fighting a turf war anymore.We were fighting a doctrine.A religion. A revolution.And the man behind it was Umbraion.The morning meeting at the safehouse was colder than usual.No jokes. No small talk. Just Enzo, Dante, me, and the quiet hum of the old ventilation system cutting through the silence like a warning.Enzo dropped a folder on the table with enough force to shake my coffee.I opened it. I didn’t speak. I didn’t have to.Page after page—photos, names, intercepted calls, encrypted message fragments.“Confirmed intelligence,” Enzo said. “The ones we thought were just rumors?
Luca’s POVThe city smelled like smoke.Not the kind that drifts from chimneys or burns from cheap street food.This was acrid. Sharp. Angry.It smelled like something had been set on fire, and no one had any intention of putting it out.I stood on the balcony of the east end safehouse, watching black smoke drift into the pale morning sky.Two buildings had burned last night. One belonged to us. The other had innocents inside. Both were ash now.Umbraion had made his move.And now the city was unraveling.I gripped the railing until my knuckles turned white. This wasn’t just about power anymore. This was about war. And worse—this was personal.Hours earlier, I’d gotten the call.“Boss, it’s Paoli,” the voice crackled through the line, shaky, breathless. “They hit the docks. Four men down. Warehouse is gone. They torched it.”I was already halfway dressed. “Who hit it?”A pause.Then: “We don’t know. No insignia. But they moved like military.”Of course they did. Umbraion didn’t build
Luca’s POVThe city didn’t sleep, but it had gone quiet.Not peaceful—tense. Like the air before lightning.It had been three days since our meeting with Umbraion. Three days since we looked a ghost in the eyes and walked away knowing a storm was coming.Dante hadn’t said much since. He was in strategy mode—cold, calculated, untouchable. The part of him that made grown men kneel was wide awake now.I was watching him more than I was watching the streets. Because whatever was coming? He’d be the one to shape it or burn it down.DanteWhen Umbraion left that room, I knew what had to happen.There would be no treaty. No middle ground. He believed in fire—and fire only respected fire in return.I spent the next 72 hours rebuilding my empire from the inside out. I had Matteo’s betrayal on one end and Enzo’s silence on the other. Half my capos were looking to me for strength. The other half were waiting to see if I’d crack.And Luca… he was watching me with a kind of intensity that made it
Luca’s POVThe city pulsed with unease. After our confrontation with Enzo, a name lingered in the air like a specter: the Sovereign. Whispers of a new power rising in the underworld had reached us, but details were scarce.I sat in Dante’s study, sifting through intelligence reports. Patterns emerged—territories changing hands without bloodshed, alliances shifting silently. It was as if an invisible hand orchestrated the chaos, guiding events from the shadows.DanteLuca’s observations mirrored my own. The Sovereign was not just a myth; they were real and methodical. Their influence seeped into every corner of our world, challenging the very foundation of our power.I summoned our most trusted informants, demanding answers. One name surfaced repeatedly: Umbraion. A figure cloaked in mystery, known for manipulating events without ever stepping into the light.LucaThe name Umbraion sent chills down my spine. Legends spoke of a man who could bend wills and reshape empires with a whisper
Luca’s POVThe morning sun cast long shadows across the marble floors of Dante’s penthouse. I stood by the window, watching the city awaken, yet my mind was elsewhere. Matteo’s betrayal had left a scar, not just on our operations, but on our trust.Dante entered the room, his presence commanding as always. He handed me a cup of espresso, his eyes searching mine.“We need to confront Enzo,” he said, breaking the silence.I nodded, the weight of the decision settling in. Enzo had been an ally, a mentor even. But recent events cast doubt on his intentions.DanteEnzo’s estate was a fortress, both in structure and secrecy. As we approached, the guards recognized us, granting entry without question. Inside, the atmosphere was tense, the usual warmth replaced by a palpable unease.Enzo greeted us in his study, a room adorned with relics of his past victories. He offered a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.“Dante, Luca. To what do I owe this visit?”I got straight to the point. “Matteo be
Luca’s POVI wasn’t sure when I stopped sleeping with both eyes closed.Maybe it was the night I slit Salvatore’s throat, or maybe it was when Dante called me his empire. But I knew what that really meant.Empires burn.I woke to silence.Not peaceful.Tense.Even before I sat up, I knew something was wrong. I could feel it—like pressure in the air before a storm. I grabbed my gun from the nightstand, not because I thought someone had breached the penthouse, but because paranoia is survival in this world.When I stepped into the living room, Matteo was there.Alone.Too quiet.I didn’t speak. Neither did he.He stood, staring out at the city skyline, one hand holding a lit cigarette, the other tucked into his jacket like he was hiding something.Maybe regret.Or maybe a weapon.I waited.He finally said, “You think you understand this world now.”My jaw tightened.“I understand it better than you think.”He exhaled smoke, still not looking at me. “Then you know not everyone is happy w