All Chapters of The Heist of Hearts: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Lorenzo was lounging in his room, a glass of scotch swirling idly in his hand, when the door swung open, and Elena walked in. His brow arched in surprise, though he quickly masked it with a lazy scowl.“Elena,” he greeted her smoothly. “I didn’t expect you back so soon. Come to finish the job?” His tone was light, but there was an edge to his voice, a wariness.She stopped just inside the room, scanning the lavish space. The room was meticulously neat. A large mahogany wardrobe stood against the wall, its doors slightly ajar, revealing rows of tailored suits and shoes arranged with precision. A desk sat by the window, papers stacked neatly, a laptop blinking idly. Everything about the room screamed control. Power. Exactly like Lorenzo.The bruised wound from where she’d stabbed him was still visible beneath the tailored fabric of his shirt. His back remained turned to her as she approached. “Depends. Are you planning on making it easy for me this time?”Lorenzo looked up, his dark ey

The city was still cloaked in the haze of early morning as Elena sat alone in her loft, her gaze fixed on the laptop screen. The faint glow of the screen was the only light in the room, casting shadows that stretched across the walls, curling around her like ghosts. She’d barely slept; every bruise and strain from last night’s fight seemed to flare in the stillness, a dull, persistent ache that pulsed with each heartbeat. She shifted uncomfortably, the bruises on her ribs making even small movements a test of endurance.She leaned forward, fingers steady as she inserted the flash drive into the laptop. The drive’s label—*Romano*—flashed across the screen, a cold reminder of the name she’d spent years chasing, a name that had become the bedrock of her vengeance. A name that was, even now, still a mystery.With a quick series of keystrokes, she bypassed the security encryption, the thrill of the hack familiar, almost comforting. This drive had been relatively easy to

Elena took a steadying breath as she stepped into the lounge, her eyes adjusting to the warm, amber glow that softened each line and deepened every shadow. Chandeliers cast a dim, conspiratorial light over velvet seats and polished tables, the faint but familiar scent of bourbon and leather grounded her as she prepared for this meeting—a meeting she wasn’t sure she could trust.Her gaze settled on Lorenzo in a secluded corner, one arm draped casually over his seat, his posture composed, almost commanding, even as his eyes tracked her movement, eliciting an awareness that felt too keen, too intimate. His suit, a deep, muted blue, set off the striking intensity of his gaze, and as she approached, she couldn’t ignore the way his lips curved ever so slightly, as though he could read her every thought before she’d spoken a word.“Elena,” he greeted, his voice a low murmur that seemed to vibrate through the air between them. He gestured to the seat across from him, his eyes r

The morning sun cast a pale light over the sprawling terrace of Aurelia Hotel, a luxury hidden in the city’s quieter quarters. Elena leaned against a stone railing overlooking the cobblestone street below, her gaze distant. This place held a mix of opulence and old-world charm, a far cry from the shadowed corners she frequented. But today, she was here on a purpose.The terrace was a blend of quiet elegance, low chairs and tables set beneath white awnings flapping gently in the breeze. Waiters moved soundlessly, dressed in crisp black uniforms. Elena had chosen her spot purposefully—a table near the edge, partially shrouded in ivy, where she could observe without being noticed.The fitted black dress hugged her frame, accentuating her curves and complementing her olive skin. Her fingers brushed the edge of a coffee cup, the rich scent mingling with the faint trace of floral perfume lingering in the air. She hadn’t been here long, but the weight of anticipation made each passing second

The drive to the Salvatore Estate was torturous. Elena’s knuckles tightened around the steering wheel, her jaw clenched as she navigated the mountain pass. She was squashed in the center of the convoy, boxed in, as though the guards—so eager to carry out Nico’s every word—had positioned her as an afterthought. Her car dipped into a rut, jostling her shoulder, and she rubbed at the ache that was forming in her temple. Beside her, a guard sat rigid, his hands folded and gaze fixed ahead. He was older, maybe mid-fifties, with graying hair and a scar slicing down his left cheek. His presence was silent and detached, a man carrying out orders with the efficiency of a well-trained shadow. She caught his reflection in the rearview mirror, and something in his gaze suggested he’d been in too many fights, seen too much blood. Her annoyance simmered beneath her scrutiny of him, but he gave no reaction, his focus on the dark road ahead.As the wind streamed through the