One Hundred Three

Moonlight filtered through the large window in Antonio's room, illuminating Cassandra's body as she lay on the red satin sheets. The wine she had drunk earlier had made her mind feel lighter, her body more sensitive and all her senses now focused on one thing - Antonio. She gasped for breath, her fingers gripping Antonio's arm as he lay on top of her, her body pressing passionately against Cassandra's.

"Ah... Antonio..."

Cassandra moaned, her eyes half closed as the man returned to nuzzling her neck, leaving red marks on her soft skin. Antonio looked up at her with lustful eyes, a seductive smile on his face.

"You really drove me crazy tonight Cassandra..." Cassandra looked up at him with misty eyes.

"I want more, Antonio... deeper..."

Antonio didn't answer, but his hands moved along Cassandra's body, tracing every curve with slow, pleasurable movements. Cassandra bit her lip, her body beginning to lose control under the man's touch.

"You're so wet, Cass," Antonio whispered in her ear before biting her gently.

"I love seeing your body always ready for me."

Cassandra moaned softly, her body arching as Antonio began to increase his rhythm.

"Faster, Antonio... oh, this is so good..." her voice sounded broken between her sighs. Antonio chuckled softly, his eyes growing wild.

"Patience, darling... I want to enjoy every inch of your body tonight."

Cassandra gripped his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin as she sank deeper into pleasure.

"I'm going to come... oh, oh, Antonio..."

Cassandra moaned louder, her body shaking beneath the man. Antonio looked at her with satisfaction, but he wasn't finished yet. His hands kept a firm grip on Cassandra's waist, preventing her from moving too far away from him.

"I'm not done with you yet, baby," he whispered in a low voice that sent shivers down Cassandra's spine.

All Cassandra could do was close her eyes and surrender completely to the man who now controlled her. 

The night seemed endless. Antonio didn't let Cassandra rest. Each time the woman reached her climax, Antonio would tease her and bring her back into deeper waves of passion.

"You're amazing, Cassandra," Antonio murmured as he finally pulled her body closer into the man's arms.

Cassandra could only gasp for air, her body feeling like it was beyond its limits.

"You're driving me crazy, Antonio..." Antonio smiled in satisfaction, his hand gently rubbing Cassandra's back.

"And I'm not done making you fall deeper for me."

Cassandra closed her eyes and let herself sink into Antonio's arms, which felt so comfortable, so safe - but also full of danger she couldn't escape. And before she knew it, she was asleep in Antonio's arms, her body still warm from the residual passion that hadn't quite died out.

The morning sunlight slipped through the crack in Antonio's curtains and fell on Cassandra's face, still asleep in the man's arms. Her body felt heavy, her muscles still tired from last night's hot play. Cassandra wriggled gently, but as soon as she moved her legs, she moaned softly.

Damn...

my body still feels broken. She blinked her eyes, trying to regain consciousness. But as soon as her eyes fell on the clock on the bedside table, she gasped.

"Oh my God!"

Cassandra frantically got up from the bed and pulled the covers over her still naked body. It was already 8 am. I'm late! But before she could get out of bed, a strong arm pulled her gently back into a hot embrace.

"Antonio, I'm late!"

Cassandra struggled against him, but Antonio only tightened his embrace, his bare body pressing perfectly against hers. The man chuckled lowly.

"Does your job really matter that much when you could just stay here with me?" Cassandra felt her cheeks flush.

"I can't just skip work, Antonio! I have responsibilities!" Antonio smirked, pulling her even closer until their faces were mere inches apart.

"You could take a day off, sweetheart," he whispered in her ear, his voice deep and laced with seduction. Cassandra swallowed hard, feeling her body start to betray her again.No, I can’t let myself get distracted! She pushed against him, but Antonio only laughed, his grip unwavering.

"After the night we just had, you really want to leave me this morning?"

Cassandra groaned in frustration, avoiding his intoxicating gaze.

"Antonio, I'm serious! I have to go!"

But before she could move any further, Antonio swiftly flipped her onto her back, trapping her beneath him once again.

"Don't be in such a rush, sweetheart…"

His voice was softer now, his fingers trailing along her skin, revisiting every mark he had left on her the night before. Cassandra sucked in a sharp breath as Antonio pressed his lips to her neck, leaving slow, teasing kisses that made it impossible to think clearly.

"Antonio…" her voice was barely more than a whisper, almost a plea.

Antonio grinned in satisfaction, his hand sliding lower, teasing over the sensitive skin that still tingled from his touch.

"I just want to see you writhe under me one more time, Cass."

Cassandra gasped, gripping the sheets.

"I… have… to work…"

Antonio lifted his head, his smirk filled with mischief.

"Alright," he said at last.

"You can go."

Cassandra exhaled in relief, thinking he had finally given in. But just as she started to sit up, Antonio cupped her face in his hands, his dark eyes burning into hers before he crashed his lips against hers in a deep, possessive kiss. Cassandra let out a soft moan as Antonio deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping against hers in a way that made her nearly lose her mind.

“Mmm…”

she whimpered between their kisses, her hands instinctively moving up to his chest, gripping him tightly. Antonio smirked against her lips.

“You were about to give in, weren’t you?”

With great effort, Cassandra pulled back from the kiss, her breath coming in short gasps.

“You… don’t… play fair, Antonio.”

Antonio chuckled, his voice dark and teasing.

“I know.”

Cassandra stared at him, her gaze still hazy with desire. But with every ounce of willpower she had left, she finally forced herself to sit up, reaching for her dress that was still lying on the floor.

“I really have to go,”

she said as she hurriedly slipped into her clothes, even though her body still felt weak. Antonio let out a slow exhale, leaning back against the headboard, his gaze lazily following her every move.

"Fine, go. But I want you back early tonight."

Cassandra turned, narrowing her eyes.

"Are you giving me orders now?"

Antonio’s lips curved into that signature smirk.

"I don’t have to order you, Cass. I know you’ll come back to me."

Cassandra bit her lip, her heart pounding. Damn it, why does he have to be right? She quickly grabbed her bag and walked out of the bedroom, leaving Antonio behind with that infuriatingly satisfied smirk on his face. But even as she stepped out of the mansion, her mind was still clouded with memories of his intoxicating kiss.

The doors of the police station swung open as Cassandra stepped inside in a hurry. She could still feel the lingering effects of last night—her body was sore, her thoughts scattered—but she forced herself to push it all aside the moment her eyes landed on the one person she had been most worried about. Across the room, Alexander stood tall, his uniform neat and pressed. His arm was still bandaged, but he looked so much better than the last time she had seen him lying weak in a hospital bed. Without thinking, Cassandra rushed toward him.

“Alex!”

Alexander barely had time to react before she threw herself into his arms, holding onto him tightly. Her embrace was firm, filled with overwhelming relief, as if she had just regained something she had almost lost. A small smile played on Alexander’s lips, realizing just how much she cared for him. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her, letting her lean against him longer than she probably intended.

“You’re okay… thank God…”

Cassandra whispered against his chest, not realizing that her fingers were still clutching the fabric of his shirt as if she were afraid to let go. Alexander let out a quiet laugh, his voice soft.

“I’m fine, Cass. You don’t have to worry so much.”

Cassandra exhaled deeply but didn’t let go immediately. Her heart was still racing, and beneath the relief, there was something else gnawing at her—guilt. I spent the night in Antonio’s bed… and now I’m standing here, holding another man as if nothing happened. Slowly, she pulled away, but Alexander’s gaze remained locked onto hers—his eyes holding something unspoken, something deeper.

“I’m really glad you’re back, Alex. I don’t know what I would’ve done if anything happened to you…”

Cassandra said, trying to ignore the storm inside her. Alexander smiled, but there was something behind it—something more than just friendship.

“I’m glad to be back too… mostly because I get to see you again.”

Cassandra blinked, feeling a shift in his tone, something different in the way he was looking at her. But before she could fully process it, Alexander took her hand in his, holding it gently.

“Cass… there’s something I need you to know.”

Cassandra swallowed, her heart pounding.

“What is it?”

Alexander took a deep breath, as if gathering all the courage inside him.

“While I was in the hospital… the only thing I kept thinking about was you. And I realized, I never want to lose you.” Cassandra froze.

“Alex…”

“I don’t want to just be your friend, Cass. I can’t keep holding this in. I love you.”

His words struck straight into Cassandra’s chest like a blade. Why was everything getting more complicated? Her eyes widened, not knowing how to respond. If this had happened before, maybe she would have realized that she loved Alexander too. But now… after everything that had happened with Antonio, her heart was too confused to give him an answer. Alexander smiled softly, seeing the hesitation in Cassandra’s eyes.

“I’m not asking for an answer right now… I just wanted you to know.”

Cassandra swallowed hard, trying to smile despite the storm raging inside her.

“Alex… I… I don’t know what to say.”

Alexander nodded.

“I understand. I just want you to stop pretending. I know you feel something for me too, don’t you?”

Cassandra’s breath caught. He could see right through her. She wanted to answer, wanted to say something—but the only thing that came out of her mouth was,

“I… I need time.”

Alexander gave her a small, knowing smile, though there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

“I can wait, Cass. I’ll always wait for you.”

Cassandra forced a weak smile, but her heart felt heavier than ever. Alexander doesn’t know… that I already belong to someone else. And that was what hurt the most. Cassandra sat at her desk at the police station, her eyes fixed on the laptop screen, brows furrowed in concentration. Next to her, Alexander was flipping through the latest investigation reports, his expression serious.

“There’s a pattern here,”

Cassandra murmured, tapping her finger against the screen as she analyzed the suspicious transactions. Alexander leaned in closer, scanning the screen.

“What did you find?”

Cassandra moved the cursor over several large transactions from the past few weeks.

“Look at this—huge amounts of money flowing into offshore shell companies. But if we trace them back, almost all of them lead to one central location—a warehouse near the city docks.”

Alexander’s eyes narrowed.

“That warehouse? Are you sure?”

Cassandra nodded.

“And it’s not just any warehouse. Its ownership has changed multiple times in the last year, which means someone is trying to cover up who really owns it.”

Alexander sighed, setting down the report in his hand.

“Nuovo Ordine…”

Cassandra looked at him.

“You think they’re hiding there?” Alexander nodded slowly.

“It’s very likely. If this is real, then they’re not just some street gang. They’re smart enough to cover their tracks, and what’s worse…”

He grabbed another file from the desk, his expression turning even graver.

“They have people inside the government.” Cassandra tensed.

“What do you mean?”

Alexander tossed the file in front of her.

“Some of these transactions were approved without proper auditing. That means someone inside the system is making sure their money stays clean and untraceable.”

A sinking feeling crawled into Cassandra’s gut.

“If they already have government support, then we’re not just dealing with a mafia. This is something bigger.”

Alexander nodded.

“And the worst part? If we make a move without thinking it through, we won’t just be fighting Nuovo Ordine. We’ll be going up against an entire system that even law enforcement can’t touch.”

Cassandra took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

“If this group is really that powerful… then a war with Antonio will be inevitable.”

Alexander stayed quiet, his gaze locked onto her. He knew she was right. If Antonio found out about Nuovo Ordine and just how deep their influence ran, he wouldn’t sit back and let it happen.

“We don’t have a choice,” Alexander finally said.

“We need to investigate this ourselves before everything blows up.”

Cassandra stared at the laptop screen again, exhaling slowly.

“We’ll dig into this, but we have to be careful. If they have people on the inside, then we can’t trust anyone except ourselves.”

“I agree. We have to keep this a secret, even from our superiors.”

But deep inside, a question kept haunting Cassandra. Did Antonio already know about all this before they even found out? The man was too smart, too cunning not to have noticed an enemy trying to challenge him. If Antonio had known all along, then there was no doubt—he had already planned his counterattack. And Cassandra wasn’t sure if she was ready for what was coming next.

Heart of the City –

Antonio’s Mafia Headquarters The atmosphere at Antonio’s headquarters was more intense than usual. Marcus stood with a tense expression, his eyes fixed on the massive map of New York spread across the large wooden table. Several of Antonio’s men had already gathered, receiving orders to destroy the growing network of Nuovo Ordine. In the corner of the room, Antonio sat in his chair, his face unreadable. His piercing gaze scanned through the report Marcus had just handed him—every word only added to his fury.

“How many have we captured?”

Antonio’s voice was low, but it carried a dangerous weight. Marcus pressed his lips together.

“Six men from three different districts. But none of them are talking.”

Antonio glanced at two of his men who had just entered the room. Their faces were bruised and bloodied, a sign that capturing those men hadn’t been easy.

“They refuse to talk?” Antonio’s tone was cold. One of the men nodded.

“Not just that, Boss. They’d rather die than open their mouths.”

Antonio set down his glass of bourbon on the table, his eyes narrowing.

“How did they die?”

Marcus answered, “They bit down on cyanide pills. The moment they realized they couldn’t escape, they ended their own lives.”

Antonio clenched his fist. “They were prepared for this.”

“This isn’t just some ordinary criminal gang,” Marcus muttered, his eyes dark.

“This is an organization with iron discipline.”

Antonio was silent for a moment before he finally stood up.

“If they refuse to talk, then we’ll make sure they have nowhere left to hide.”

His eyes glinted with deadly intent.

“Prepare the team. We’re going to start hunting them down—district by district.”

Battle in the Eastern District That night, Antonio’s mafia made their move. In one of the districts controlled by Nuovo Ordine, several of Antonio’s men were waiting in sleek, black vehicles. Marcus sat in the driver’s seat, listening to the voices coming through the radio.

“Target is inside the building. At least five armed men.”

Antonio lit a cigarette, exhaling a slow stream of smoke.

“Let’s make this quick.”

Without waiting any longer, he stepped out of the car, followed by his men. Moving swiftly, they approached the abandoned warehouse—one of Nuovo Ordine’s many hideouts.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The moment they kicked open the warehouse door, bullets rained down on them. Antonio’s men took cover behind crates, firing back without hesitation.

“Watch out! They’re heavily armed!”

one of Antonio’s men shouted. Antonio exchanged a quick glance with Marcus and gave him a subtle signal.

“We’re going in.”

Moving with practiced precision, Antonio and his team stormed into the warehouse. Gunfire echoed through the air, bullets slicing past wooden shelves and old metal containers. One of Nuovo Ordine’s men tried to escape through the back, but Antonio was faster.

BANG!

A single shot from his pistol pierced the man’s knee, sending him collapsing to the ground with a scream of agony. Marcus stepped forward, kicking the fallen man’s weapon away while Antonio’s men restrained the others still alive.

“Don’t let them kill themselves!” Antonio ordered sharply.

But before they could stop him, one of the captured men bit down on something in his mouth.

“NO!”

Marcus yelled, but it was already too late. The man convulsed violently on the ground, white foam spilling from his lips. Antonio grabbed his jaw roughly, watching as life drained from his eyes.

“Bastard…”

One of Antonio’s men forced another captive to his knees, pressing a gun against his forehead.

“Who is your leader?!”

Marcus barked. The man only let out a bloody chuckle, grinning through crimson-stained teeth.

“You’re too late… He already knows you’re coming.”

“Who?! Tell me his name!”

But instead of answering, the man sneered and bit down on his own cyanide pill. Within seconds, his body convulsed before going completely still.

“FUCK!”

Marcus kicked the lifeless corpse in frustration. Antonio took a deep breath, staring down at the dead man with an expression of ice-cold indifference.

“They’d rather die than betray him…”

“This means our enemy is more powerful than we thought,” Marcus murmured.

Antonio closed his eyes for a brief moment, then turned to his men.

“Burn this place to the ground. Let them know—I’m not going to let them get away with this.”

On Top of a High-Rise –

Antonio Overlooking the City Hours later, Antonio stood on the rooftop of a skyscraper, gazing at the city below. The flickering lights of New York stretched endlessly, a mesmerizing contrast between beauty and corruption. From this height, everything looked calm—untouched by the war raging in the shadows. But Antonio knew better. This city was a battlefield. His world was built on blood, betrayal, and power. And now, Nuovo Ordine wanted to challenge him. A smirk ghosted over his lips, but his eyes were dark with deadly intent.

“Let them try,” he muttered under his breath.

Because no matter what they did… Antonio Franches never lost a war. Nuovo Ordine was no ordinary enemy. They were organized. Disciplined. And worst of all, they would rather die than betray their leader. Marcus stood beside him, silently awaiting orders.

“You know what this means, Boss?”

Marcus asked in a calm, measured tone. Antonio didn’t respond immediately. He took a slow drag from his cigarette, exhaling a thin stream of smoke into the night air. His eyes remained fixed on the city below—glimmering, alive, and utterly unaware of the war brewing in its underbelly. Then, in a voice so low and chilling that it sent a shiver through the men standing nearby, Antonio finally spoke:

"If they want war… then I’ll give it to them."