The sound of the city felt distant as the car moved through less-traveled streets. Maddox drove silently, his gaze fixed on the road as if nothing else existed. Dax, sitting beside him, scrolled through his phone with an expression that shifted between concentration and annoyance. I sat in the back seat, staring out the window as the urban landscape transformed into more industrial and desolate areas.Two hours had passed since we left the warehouse, and though no one had spoken since, the weight of what had happened lingered over us. The mysterious man who offered his alliance was just another piece on the board, one I couldn’t trust. Still, his proposal was as risky as it was tempting, and I knew the brothers and I were all thinking the same thing: Would accepting it give us an advantage, or lead us into an irreversible trap?The car stopped in front of an old building, its worn brick façade and broken windows giving it a neglected look. It was a different place from the ones we’d vi
The echo of my footsteps resonated in the large, cold room. Before me, the wooden walls seemed to absorb every word and secret shared in this place. Despite the dim lighting and the tense air, I stood tall, letting my slow breathing stabilize the tremor in my hands. Maddox always said that real players of power don’t sweat, don’t tremble, and never doubt in front of their enemies. Today, I was a player.I had agreed to infiltrate this Council meeting not only to support the Dangello family but also to protect myself. This power circle was a slippery terrain full of changing loyalties and betrayals. Every gaze I received felt like a dagger to the neck, and every word I spoke could seal my fate.Maddox was at the far end of the room, leaning against a column with his arms crossed, but his eyes never left me for a second. His presence, though distant, offered me a fragile sense of security. I knew that if things got out of hand, not only would he intervene, but he would do so with the fer
The sound of the wind hitting the windows of the penthouse was the only thing breaking the absolute silence that had taken over the place. The city, illuminated in the distance, seemed oblivious to everything happening within those walls, and I found myself trapped in constant thought. What was happening?After the meeting with the Council, something had changed. Maddox continued with his usual indifference, Max barely looked at me, and Dax... well, Dax had returned to his usual routines as if nothing had happened. No matter how much I tried to start a conversation or find something that felt real, the Dangello brothers kept their emotions in check, almost as if my presence didn't have the impact I thought it did.The heavy air in the room only increased the feeling of confusion I carried. What did Declan Beaumont want from us? That call, that veiled threat... every word echoed in my mind, but what worried me most was the apparent indifference of the brothers to everything that was hap
The dawn bathed the walls of the Dangello mansion in a soft golden glow, but inside the study, the atmosphere was cold, almost oppressive. Amalia entered after a soft knock on the door, immediately feeling Maddox’s presence. He stood by the window, his imposing silhouette outlined against the light. He wore an impeccable black suit, a perfectly knotted tie, and held a low glass with an amber liquid that seemed forgotten in his hand.“Amalia,” he said without turning, his voice low but firm. “Punctual as always. Come in.”She closed the door behind her and walked to the desk. There was something in his tone, something hard to decipher, that put her on alert. Maddox finally turned, his gray eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her breath catch for a moment.“Did Dax explain the situation?” he asked, placing the glass on the mahogany desk and crossing his arms. His posture was relaxed, but the way he looked at her suggested otherwise.“Yes,” Amalia replied, keeping her voice neut
My heart was still racing when I closed the door to Maddox’s office. It wasn’t fear, not exactly. There was something about him, in the way he measured every word, in the way his presence filled the room, that left me unbalanced. It was like walking a tightrope, knowing that any wrong move could have catastrophic consequences.The hallway was silent, interrupted only by the echo of my own footsteps. Dax was still leaning against the column, his mocking smile finding me immediately.“Everything okay, princess?” he asked, as if he enjoyed watching me try to pull myself together.“Perfectly,” I replied with a firmness even I didn’t fully believe. I walked past him, refusing to let his presence shake my resolve.Max appeared at the end of the hallway. Always so serene, always so impossible to read. He gave me a brief look before entering the office after Dax. There was no doubt: Maddox and his brothers were pieces of the same puzzle, but each brought a different mystery. Dax, with his braz
The cold dawn breeze hit my face as I stepped out of the hotel and into the waiting black car. There was something in the silence of the city, in the calm before sunrise, that allowed me to reflect on the tension from dinner with Khalid. Despite his insinuations, I had managed to keep the situation under control, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was playing with fire. The drive to the airport was silent, and the chauffeur, an older man with an impassive face, didn’t utter a word. I took the time to mentally review every word Khalid had said, every gesture and glance he had made. His insistence on mixing business with pleasure hadn’t escaped my notice, and while I had stood firm, his influence and charisma weren’t easy to ignore. I boarded the private jet Maddox had arranged for my return. The interior, as always, reflected the Dangello family’s controlled opulence: leather sofas, dark woods, and a glass of wine waiting for me on a side table. But this time, the luxury didn’t
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus
I tensed my jaw worriedly, as I tried to think of what to say, however, his burning eyes wouldn't let me think clearly. They seemed to be absorbing me, like a hurricane storm taking everything in its path."Max.""Do you really feel like murdering the people you love?" he interrupted me to ask and my breathing stopped for a second."I don't mean to, but...""But? Do you think this is a game?" he looked at me with intensity in his eyes, as if trying to understand what was happening to me. In any case it was very simple, I couldn't just tell him that he didn't love me anymore, it was suspicious and that was also going to hurt my family for my behavior, "Come here," he ordered pointing to his leg and with no intention of contradicting him, I approached him and sat on the leg he had free, while I looked sideways at the gun."How about we make a deal?" I asked softly and he looked at me curiously in silence."Do you think Dax and Maddox would be willing to make a deal with you, you've caus