Prologue

BERLIN, July 2013

The new Hennessey Venom GT rushed to the finish line, sending waves of heat through the air. She had wire wheels that glowed with a thousand pinpoints of light, chrome fins that glinted in the heat, and dark blue paint that gleamed in the sunlight.

"Chi è quello?" tanong ni Lucian kay Roberto, a fellow half-Italian. Kaklase niya ito sa Engineering sa Stanford University.

They graduated last month and Don Lucio, his father, attended the ceremony but immediately left using their private plane. Kasama siya dapat nito pauwi sa Italy pero may mga kailangan pa siyang ayusin. Humingi siya ng kaunti pang oras sa ama. Halata ang disgusto nito pero pumayag din.

And now Lucian and his friends are in Berlin— enjoying a street race. It's illegal, of course. It has been an issue in Cologne as well but it's still being held away from crowded urban areas.

"George Dela Garza. I've seen her race a few times."

Kumunot ang noo ni Lucian. "Did you just say her?"

"Yes. George is short for Georgina."

She has dark hair that is pulled back in a ponytail, and she wears diamond ear studs. Though Lucian has been seeing women since he turned 18, she is the first to make his member this hard. Lucian is almost positive they haven't met previously doesn't make the strange sense of déjà vu any better. Her red, fucking stilettos are all it takes to get his heart aflutter.

Dela Garza. Now, why does that seem familiar?

No way. Ruthie? She hasn't seen her since she was six and she's a handful then. How much more now?

"You know her?" Magiging permanente na yata ang kunot sa noo ni Lucian. "You've been staring at her, man. If I don't know you, I'd say you've been whipped," natatawa nitong wika sa kaibigan.

Lucian found himself walking towards the woman who's been messing with his head since she stepped out from that race car. She was busy talking to a few guys and as Lucian gets closer, mas lalo niyang napatunayan na ito nga ang kababata niya. Who would have guessed she'd be such a stunning woman with her dark eyes, long lashes, pointy nose, and sultry lips? Noon ay palaging magulo ang buhok nito at napakaamos dahil palaging naglalaro sa labas.

Lucian had to clear his throat for Georgina to look his way.

"Well, take a look at what the cat has brought in," she said. Umalis na ang kausap nito at naiwan silang dalawa.

"You know who I am?" amused na tanong ni Lucian sa dalaga.

"Of course! You were the pussy eight year old wimp who didn't want to chase the piglet with me because it was muddy." She folded her arms across her chest and clucked her tongue.

Lucian's jaw dropped open. She basically labelled him a wimp and a pussy in the same sentence. Damn the woman and her smart mouth. Too smart. I wonder how it would feel like when that mouth— Lucian had to stop his wicked musings. Georgina is not like those women he dated. She's far from that.

"How are you, Lucian Profaci?" Georgina smiled and Lucian felt like he died and went to heaven. He is pretty sure he's bound to hell so why is he hearing trumpets and angels singing?

"I'm... good." They've hit a dead end. Shit. "Does your father know you're into this?"

She laughed. "I am into a lot of things. Of course my father doesn't know about it. Are you crazy? Don't tell me you're going to rat me out?" Itinaas ni Georgina ang isang kilay at hindi man lang kinabakasan ng takot.

Lucian smirked. Sa halip na sagutin ang dalaga ay nilingon ang mga kaibigan na inaaya na siyang umalis. Tinanguan niya sina Roberto bago ibinalik ang tingin sa dalaga. "Tsk. Do you have time to hang out or—"

"Are you asking me out?"

Nakangisi si Georgina at gustong pagsisihan ni Lucian ang pag-iimbita sa dalaga. Ngayon lang siya nakaramdam ng pagkaasiwa. Women usually invite him out for a date, at kung si Georgina ang hihintayin niyang mag-aya ay baka mamuti ang mga mata niya.

"Hindi naman kita pinipilit kung—"

"It's not my habit to say no to free food." Naputol ang pag-uusap nila nang dumating ang taong nagpakarera at ibinigay ang bungkos ng pera sa babae. "Danke, Gerhard." After a few exchanges of words ay umalis na rin ito. Sa tantiya ni Lucian ay matagal ng kumakarera si Georgina. "Where to?"

"Magpapalibre ka e ang laki ng panalo mo?" Hindi sinagot ni Lucian kung saan. He doesn't know much about Berlin. Sumasama lang siya kina Roberto kapag inaaya siya ng mga ito.

Napatingin si Georgina sa pera. "This? It is not much. I actually need more." Ipinaypay nito ang pera sa mukha. Ngayon niya napansin na wala itong make up. Kahit lipstick ay hindi rin pinagkaabalahan. "You should have seen my winnings last year. Triple nito."

Napailing si Lucian. Bukod sa pambababae ay wala naman siyang ibang pinagkaabalahan. Ang pag-aaral niya ang kaniyang top priority. He wanted to prove to his father that he deserves a normal life. Ayaw niyang sumama sa organisasyon na kinabibilangan ng ama.

Magulo. Walang katapusang gulo ang dulot nito sa buhay nila. Kahit hindi namatay sa tama ng bala o patalim ang kaniyang ina, Lucian believed that his father's crimes contributed to her early demise. Sino ba ang hindi aatakehin sa puso kung oras-oras kang nag-aalala? His sister, Pietra was only six and his youngest brother, Lorenzo was five. Naiwan sila sa kalinga ng kanilang tiyahin dahil palaging wala ang kanilang ama. Nang mawala ang kanilang ina, mas lalong ibinuhos ni Don Lucio sa organisasyon ang oras nito. But he would never miss his children's birthdays, graduations and any special events. He makes time no matter how impossible it is. For that, Lucian has high regard for his father— but not enough to take his place when the time comes.

"Where do you suggest we go?"

"First time mo sa Berlin? Wow. Why didn't that surprise me?" Tumawa si Georgina. "Okay, you know what? Since first time mo sa Berlin, ako na lang ang manlilibre sa 'yo. Let's go to Lemke am Schloss. I'll drive us too, princess," pang-aasar ni Georgina.

Kanina pa siya inaasar ng babae pero hindi niya pinapatulan. Patience, Lucian. Ginusto mo 'yan, panindigan mo. The need to have her and make her his is greater than any desire he has ever had.

Lucian will stop at nothing.