THE MAFIA'S PRISONER

A piercing light strucked Chateau as she opened her blue eyes. She winced and lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling of the room where she rested. The faint sound of footsteps on wooden floors broke the silence, though the noise was barely noticeable. Then, she saw him; a tall man turned his head slightly to glance at her, and Chateau’s heart raced in panic. She shot upright, clutching her blanket tightly, as if it could shield her from the looming threat. Memories of the blood-stained ground and the deafening sound still haunted her, leaving her shaken as she faced the man. Leonard Hugues stood silently, his expression unchanging. He seemed disinterested as he examined the contents of Chateau’s room, his actions perplexing her. Her panicked reaction as she awoke only added to his confusion. “Are you afraid?” Leonard asked, his voice calm, though his question left Chateau dumbfounded. Afraid? Of course, she was afraid! She had just witnessed a brutal murder, and no

The glass shattered, its piercing sound slicing through the silence and shaking the resolve of three men bowing in fear. None dared to lift their heads or even glance at their enraged boss. Matteo Corsini, the Corsican leader of the fledgling Meute Sangria gang in Paris, was livid. The death of Pascal Duboid, one of his most loyal men, struck a deep blow. "Pascal..." Matteo's voice trembled with anger and sorrow. His eyes burned with grief. "He didn't deserve to die!" In a surge of rage, Matteo hurled another object-a wine bottle-against the wall, shattering it to pieces. "Forgive me, Boss," muttered one of his men. "I didn't know he’d kill Pascal." The image of Pascal's murder still haunted him- an unarmed man ruthlessly executed by a rival mafia's enforcer. The name of the perpetrator hung heavy in the air: Leonard Hugues. "We can't avenge Pascal now," Matteo admitted bitterly, "but I swear Meute Sangria will rise until we're strong enough to crush Leonard Hugues and his

Chateau woke with a start, her head pounding and her body heavy, as though weighted by invisible chains. The room around her was dimly lit, but the sheer opulence couldn’t be ignored. Golden accents glinted on the edges of antique furniture, the velvet curtains drawn tight against the world outside. Her throat burned, her limbs ached, and her mind was foggy with remnants of whatever drug had invaded her system. Flashes of the night before—neon lights, laughter that chilled her to the core, and the suffocating sensation of hands that weren’t hers—rushed back. She clutched the satin sheets tightly, trying to suppress a shudder. Could they have gone further? She bit her lip hard to stop the thought, but the memory of Leonard’s face flickered through her mind. His furious, unyielding presence, his voice commanding her safety. Forcing herself out of bed, Chateau wobbled unsteadily. The room was palatial, a stark contrast to the chaos she’d escaped. The air smelled faintly of roses and c

Day turned night, Chateau still walking along the Marseille's long street; didn't know where to go now since fear had driven her this far from Noiree—Lafleur mafia headquarter.Chateau still felt a massive fear and threats when she recalled what Leonard had talked with a man she didn't know, earlier in his room.She really wanted to go far away, escaping herself from Leonard—the devil with cold demeanor, made Chateau hard to realize he was a savior or no angel.But when Chateau thought about stopping a bus to bring her back to her mother's embrace, she remember that Leonard was the one who could kill her or her mother easily if he wanted; what if Leonard harmed her mother because she ran away? Chateau stopped in the middle of her escape.Her fear of seeing Amelia getting hurt because of her making Chateau fought against her eager to escape, and in the end, she decided to walked back towards the Noiree—with her bare feet and bruised.After a long steps, she back to the door; where

Chateau and Tethia continued their stroll on a bright and sunny day."Chateau, you have to see this!" Tethia exclaimed, dragging her friend along before she could fully take in her current surroundings. Despite being a newcomer to Marseille, Chateau seemed calmer and more reserved compared to Tethia, who was brimming with excitement as they explored the city's entertainment hub. Born and raised in the bustling port city, Tethia seemed as though she was rediscovering Marseille through new eyes.Their destination was a lively street lined with shops selling a myriad of items, a hotspot popular among both domestic and international tourists. The area resembled a vibrant street market, filled with an assortment of goods. Chateau observed the lively scene, taking in the bustling atmosphere. Unlike her hometown, where she had to venture into the city center for such experiences, here it was just a short distance from the mansion where she stayed.More than half an hour had passed since they