Elena Russo lost the one person who meant the world to her brother, and ever since then; she was deeply fueled by the strong urge for revenge on the family that murdered him. She dedicated her life to this cause as an understated waitress by day and a renowned genius hacker in the Mafia underworld by night. All her efforts to track down the Moretti family were useless. Everyone knew who they were, yet no one knew them. What happens when Elena decides to loosen up on a certain night and recklessly has a one-night stand with the same man she had been searching for all her life-Luca Moretti? And when she finds herself falling deeply for this same person, and facing a shocking revelation that all she had believed for years was nothing but a lie, what happens next? Why don't you find out?
Lihat lebih banyakELENA
THERE WAS SOMEONE IN OUR APARTMENT. It was a cold night, the type which made sense to party and drink all through—which was exactly what I did—but it was a little past 3am, and I was wasted. My vision was blurry, and the world was spinning. I had managed to come home alone, and now I was at the door, but I couldn't get myself to go in. “Marco!" His name rolled off my tongue. My brother, Marco would NEVER leave the front door wide open. He knew the risks we faced by living out here, isolated from the entire city, and hence, he was always security conscious. Therefore, it was very clear. Either someone had broken into our apartment to rob us, or we had been attacked. Either way, this was very wrong timing; I am drunk for crying out loud. I placed my hand on the wall for support, as I tried to steady myself. I took three deep breaths, hoping to at least have a clear vision. “Come on, Elena. Why did you have to drink so much?" I berated myself, taking a step inside. I normally don't drink, I barely even leave the four walls of our apartment, but I had this huge fight with Marco, and it was getting difficult to breathe comfortably around him, so I just had to take a break from everything to clear my head. Now, I wish I didn't. I barely made it through the doorway when the house shook with a loud sound echoing from one of the rooms. My eyes widened. Was that a gunshot? My stomach turned at that moment, and I doubled over our little plant at the door. Everything I had eaten the previous day came gushing out in a disgusting shade of yellow. I tried to get a grip of myself but it was futile. I couldn't stop until it felt like I was trying to throw up my intentions. As I stood to my full length, for a minute, everywhere seemed to be spinning. When it finally stopped, my eyes fell on a figure in black. He was hurriedly leaving a room I immediately recognized as Marco's, and when he saw me, he froze. I too, couldn't move. “Who… who are you?” I blurted out. Everything happened too fast, way too fast for a drunk and wasted me to comprehend. He pulled a gun at me, and I froze into place. His finger was dangerously close to the trigger, and I definitely was not ready to die. The next minute, however, I felt sick and had another episode of unpleasant retching. When I looked back up, he was gone. I stayed still for what felt like hours, groaning loudly. Then I remembered the sound I had heard earlier, and my mind drifted to Marco. “Marco!" I shot to my feet, ignoring the pain that soared through my entire body. My eyes ran through the living room, and it was only then that I noticed its state. It looked like World War III had happened in here. Almost everything was broken. “Oh God! Marco!" I exclaimed, yet again. Finding my way through the corridor, I reached his room. The door was closed, but the second I leaned on it, it made way with this creaky sound that I never heard before. My brain stopped, and so did my heart. “No…” My feet failed me at this point, and I crumbled to the floor. Lying there, in the middle of the partially destroyed room, was my elder brother and best friend… in a pool of blood. No! “Elena…” I heard his voice, and I immediately crawled to him. “Marco, you're alive. You're…” My eyes fell on his chest, stained with blood and still bleeding profusely. I pressed my hand over it, not minding the fact that my hand would be stained. His face was pale, his eyes held a look that was totally different from the Marco I knew. He reached for my hand, tiredly. "Elena, I…" “No, no, don't say anything. I'll call the ambulance right away. You'll survive, you'll be fine." I tried to rise, but he pulled me right back. "No. There's… there's no need. I won't make it." He drawled. The tears fell from my eyes in torrents. “No! Marco, no. You can't leave me." I saw a tear fall from his eyes, and my heart broke even more. “I'm sorry, Elena." I shook my head rapidly. “No, don't apologize. I'm sorry. I should have listened to you. I shouldn't have gone to that party like you said, it's all my fault." The room felt silent, broken only by my quiet sobs. He squeezed my hand with the last bit of energy he had. “I'm going to join mother and father. We'll be watching over you, so make us proud, little sis.” No! “Marco, who did this to you? I'll take revenge, tell me." My voice was shaky. "You can't leave me. You…” “You have to leave now, Elena. Conner will help you, get a life for yourself. I'm always with you, Elena." The way his voice trailed off told me the hurtful truth I didn't need to know. “Marco, no!" I buried my face on his chest, letting the tears fall. My heart was shattering, each second made it worse. I heard him whispering, and I edged closer to hear him. “Luca… Luca Moretti…” "What? What did he do? Is he responsible for this?” I asked all at once. He didn't respond. The slow rise and fall of his chest came to a stop, and so did my heart for a moment. My brother was dead! I did everything I knew about resuscitation. Clamping my hands together, and pressing down on his chest like I had seen on TV. “Marco please," I pleaded, the tears stinging. I didn't stop pushing, I just needed a pulse—a hopeless hope. “Marco, please…please, you can't just leave me. You promised… you promised. It's me and you against the world, remember? Marco… please…” I trailed off, the rest of the words getting stuck in my throat. I stared at his blood all over my hands, like I was the one who killed him. My heart was broken into more than a million pieces, and the pain was much more than any physical pain I had ever felt. My eyes fell on my brother's now cold palm. In it was a black object. I reached for it, a gasp escaping my lips as my eyes fell on the symbol engraved on the tag. It was a symbol everyone knew. The Morettis. Luca Moretti. They did this! *** LUCA'S POV I stood by the glass windows, my hands buried in my pockets, staring at the night view of the city. My city! My phone rang loudly, breaking the silence of the room. I glanced at it, my eyes darkening as I saw the caller. Heaving, I tapped the “Accept" button. “Speak!" “He has been taken care of, sir." I ended the call, tossing the phone aside. With my chin lifted, I resumed my position, with just one thought racing through my mind. My name is Luca Moretti, and I get whatever I want.SAMANTHADavon stands by the door, his tie loosened just enough to make him look less like the powerful man everyone fears and more like the man I can’t seem to stop thinking about. His green eyes are fixed on me, sharp and unreadable, but burning with something that makes the air between us heavy—alive.I take a step back, my heels clicking softly against the polished floor. My heartbeat is too loud, my breathing uneven. I don’t know if it’s fear, anger, or something I don’t want to name.Davon doesn’t move at first. He just watches me, every small flicker of emotion on my face reflected in his gaze.“You’re nervous,” he says finally, his tone calm but edged with knowing.I give a short, dry laugh that sounds weaker than I’d like. “Nervous isn’t quite the word.”“Then what is?” he asks, stepping closer—slowly, deliberately. There’s purpose in every movement, the kind that reminds you he’s used to getting what he wants.“Trapped,” I say, forcing the word out even as my throat tightens
SAMANTHAI’m not sure what surprises me more—the room I’m standing in or the man I’ve just married.The ballroom sparkles like something out of a dream. The chandeliers are made of real crystal, each drop catching the light like tiny stars. The walls shimmer with gold leaf, and the polished floors are so smooth I can see the reflection of my dress trailing behind me. Everything here glows, from the laughter in the air to the clinking of champagne glasses. People move in graceful circles, whispering, smiling politely, measuring each other in the quiet language of power and wealth.And in the middle of it all stands Davon Rancho, the man everyone watches—the man I now call my husband.He looks impossibly sharp, his black suit tailored perfectly, his presence commanding without even trying. Every time I glance at him, I feel that same strange mixture of awe and unease.Meanwhile, I feel like an ornament—something beautiful to look at but too fragile to touch. Davon never strays far. His
SAMANTHA The fields spread endlessly before me, glowing under the soft afternoon sun. Rows of white roses and small wildflowers sway gently in the breeze, their scent light and sweet. Everything looks too perfect — like one of those dreams you never want to wake up from.But this isn’t a dream. It’s my wedding day.The sunlight is golden, but there’s a faint red hue creeping across the horizon, as though the day itself is bleeding into dusk. Rows of white chairs line the aisle, filled with people I’ve never met. I can tell most of them are from the Rancho family — Davon’s world. Their expensive clothes, polished shoes, and practiced smiles can’t hide the danger in their eyes.Among them, I spot two familiar faces — my mother and my best friend, Sofia. They sit in the front row, both looking anxious but proud. Mom wears a pale blue dress that softens her face, making her look younger, though her eyes are filled with emotion. Sofia gives me a small, nervous smile when our eyes meet. I
SAMANTHAWhen he stops walking, Davon Rancho stands close—so close that I can see the faint stubble darkening his sharp jawline. The air between us feels charged, heavy with tension and something else I can’t quite name. A subtle scent of cedarwood and smoke lingers around him, earthy and steady, just like his presence.“There’s always a choice,” he says quietly, his voice low but firm. There’s a trace of amusement there, like he’s testing me. “You made yours.”The words sound simple, but they hit harder than I expect. My chest tightens as I meet his gaze. He looks at me like he already knows how this story ends, like every move I make was already written in his book.His eyes drop to my lips for a brief moment before returning to mine. “Shall we?” he asks softly.Before I can find my voice, another man steps forward. I recognize him immediately—the same man I saw the night Davon came to my apartment. I had done my research afterward, reading everything I could about the Rancho family
SAMANTHAIt has been a week since a visit from the Mafia King of Nuova Speranza turned my world upside down.The morning sun spills softly through my window, golden and warm. Tiny drops of dew glimmer on the potted plants sitting on the sill, shining like little emeralds. The curtains sway gently with the breeze, carrying the smell of wet soil and sunlight. Everything feels calm — painfully calm — like the world doesn’t know what’s about to happen to me.I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the messy sheets, hoping for an answer that isn’t there. My apartment feels quiet and empty, holding its breath along with me.Today, I become Mrs. Davon Rancho.The thought makes my heart jump and my stomach twist. I press my hands against my thighs to stop them from shaking. I’ve thought through every possible escape, every desperate idea, but there’s no way out.This is the only way to keep my family safe.I whisper the words like a prayer. Protecting my mother — Mrs. Jones — is worth whateve
SAMANTHA “You think I don’t know that?” I snap, my voice rising with frustration. “But what choice do I have? He said if I refuse, he’ll come after my family. My mother.”On the other end of the line, Sofia lets out a shaky breath. I can hear her pacing, the soft thud of her footsteps echoing through the phone. “Sam, listen to me,” she says urgently. “You can’t do this. Men like him—they don’t give, they take. They ruin everything they touch. If you marry him, you’ll never be free. You’ll lose yourself.”“I already feel lost,” I whisper, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.She doesn’t speak right away. I keep walking down the quiet street, trying to focus on anything but my life falling apart. The city is waking up—shop owners unlocking their doors, buses rumbling past, the smell of coffee drifting from a café—but all of it feels distant, like I’m watching someone else’s world through glass.“There has to be another way,” Sofia says finally, her voice softer, almost pleading. “We
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