Chapter 1

ISABELLA'S POV

“Name and ID, Ma'am” The burly man at the velvet draped entrance said, his hand outstretched while he gave me a slow, lazy look but I could swear I felt his eyes pause at my exposed cleavage firmly jutted up by the push-up bra I had worn as the jewels angel mask over my eyes glinted under the light.

At least I could confirm that the bra was doing its job.

“Juliette Sergio” I lied smoothly, a smile on my lips as I handed the man the fake ID that had been made specially for me tonight.

The man took it, his tongue swiping against his lower lips as our fingers brushed lightly. He looked down at the ID for a second before looking at me again, a glint in his eyes. “Sergio?” He asked, his gaze dropping to my cleavage again as I knowingly folded my arms, pushing my boobs even further, an innocent look in my eyes.

I needed to get in at all costs.

“Yes, that's my father, do you know him?” I asked, my smile ever present as I collected the ID from him, placing it into the red bag hanging from my shoulder.

He blinked. Twice. Then he cleared his throat. “No, Ma'am”

I gave a laugh that was high pitched. “Well, I guess you do now” I stepped forward and tapped his shoulder while he stared at me all love-eyed through the eagle mask over his face, or more like lust, then I leaned in to whisper into his ears. “You're doing a great job. Have a lovely night”

He evidently shivered as my breath brushed against his skin and he immediately stepped aside, letting me in. “Thank you! Thank you, mㅡ” He kept saying but I was already walking past him into the grand hall where the main event was taking place.

I did it.

Suddenly, the look in my eyes wiped off as I surveyed around in one glance, a serious expression on my face now as I subtly adjusted the wireless earpiece in my ear. “I'm in” I whispered, leaning down a bit to make it look like I was doing nothing than just adjusting my earrings.

There was a moment of silence thenㅡ “Good. Do you see him?”

I looked around the sea of people that were talking and laughing while making animated gestures, the upper part of their faces obscured by different types of masks. The city's elites or should I say the underground city elites.

This was a party hosted by the biggest mafia syndicate in the city. The Romanos. Sneaking my way into their masked party was nothing short of a death wish because I would be killed instantly if found out but this was something I couldn't afford to mess up. I need information.

This family was the reason for my family's death as a child. I had been planning this for years since Carla took me in and trained me. They would pay for everything.

“Not yet, I don't think he's out yet” I whispered to Carla who was on the other side of the earpiece, making sure that I had backup.

I could hear her take a deep sigh. “Okay, what do you see?” she asked.

I looked around again, grabbing a champagne flute from a waiter passing by with a tray so that I wouldn't look out of place. “Lots of them. Can't tell who exactly but they seem big. Haven't spotted any weapons yet so I'm guessing they're here for the alliance with the heir”

As though on cue, there was a commotion and I turned in time to see—Matteo.

My stomach churned as the man himself walked in, flanked closely by guards who looked like they could effortlessly wring the necks of anyone who got too close.

He walked in like he owned the place—because, well, he did. The crowd naturally parted for him. Everyone knew who he was even with the mask over the upper part of his face. The heir to the biggest mafia syndicate. 

A black tailored tuxedo hugged his frame like it had been stitched directly onto his body, and the silver wolf mask on his face only added to the menacing aura he carried so easily. He didn’t need to smile. He didn’t need to speak. Just one look and everyone around him straightened up and bowed.

The heir to the Romano family.

The heir to the monsters who destroyed mine.

My fingers clenched around the delicate flute of champagne, my pulse racing as anger filled me. I wanted to walk right up to him, tear that mask off and plunge a blade through his throat. But I couldn’t. Not today.

Not yet.

I spotted it, the small mark just below the line of his jaw, peeking out from the collar of his shirt. The serpent and rose intertwined. The Romano crest. I’d memorized it as a child, hated it through my teenage years as I was trained, and burned it into my brain as an adult.

Focus, Isabella.

Today wasn’t for revenge.

Today was for intel.

I tilted the glass to my lips, the cold rim of the champagne grounding me slightly as I moved closer to a nearby pillar, acting like I was people-watching when really, I was watching him. 

He was speaking with three other men, all dressed like the kind of people who were clearly monsters like he was. I couldn’t hear clearly, so I subtly adjusted the earpiece again.

“Carla,” I whispered low, angling my head to the side like I was trying to tuck my hair behind my ear. “He’s here and he’s meeting someone. Can you enhance the feed? I want to hear what they're saying”

“I’m trying, just give me a second,” she responded, static briefly cutting in. “Get closer if you can but don’t be obvious.”

I shifted slightly, pretending to admire a piece of hanging artwork behind them, my gaze flicking from Matteo to the men beside him but then something pulled my attention.

To the far left, standing slightly apart, was another group of men—three of them. Black suits, taller and clearly muscular frames, masks just like everyone else, but it was the tattoo visible on one of their hands that made the breath catch in my throat.

The Black Vultures.

No. No. That couldn’t be right.

According to every file Carla had dug up, the Vultures hated the Romanos. They would never work together. Never. Which meant they weren’t here for the alliance.

They were here for something else.

“Carla,” I said quickly, pretending to take another sip even though the liquid burned through my throat now. “We have a problem.”

“What kind of problem?” She asked.

“The Vultures are here. I just spotted one clearly, not sure of the rest because I can't see their hands from here but one is enough to say he's not the only one and you know they’re not here to shake hands.”

Before Carla could reply, everything erupted, one of the men had moved and pulled something out of his pocket, his eyes steely.

Gunshots split the air, someone dropped and screams erupted while others began pulling out weapons from gods know where as they shot back.

Fuck. Fuck. Where did they all get weapons from?!

I ducked, the champagne flute slipping from my fingers and shattering beside me. People scattered instantly, running and pushing each other as more gunshots rang out through the hall. 

Guards shot back at the group of black vultures who were at least 7 as they tried to lead their bosses out but I knew that the black vultures weren't going to give up. 

I quickly ducked behind a marble pillar, keeping my head low as bullets wheezed past me. “Shit! Carla! I’m unarmed!” I hissed. “They’re everywhere!”

“Get out! Get out now!” She hissed.

I peeked out quickly enough to see some of the Vultures firing into the crowd and members of the Romano security retaliating. Bodies hit the floor, blood staining the pristine marble tiles and I cursed. Shit.

I was crawling toward the side exit when I caught a glimpse of Matteo. His guards were moving fast, shielding him as they made for the back corridor, shooting back at the black vultures. 

That was a safe area. The main exit would be swamped. Fuck this. I turned instinctively, following the same path, my heels clicking low against the marble as I tried not to get hit, using the rushing crowd as a shield. I was almost at the hallway when something hit me.

The sharp pain on my upper arm sent a wave of nausea through me. I gasped, grabbing at the graze from the stray bullet as I ducked into the corner and slammed my back against the wall, breathing hard.

“You good? ISABELLA?” Carla’s voice was frantic in my ear and I could only imagine how scared she was.

“I’m fine, it just grazed me.” I hissed and pressed my fingers to the warm blood. “I saw Matteo going down the left wing. I’m going after him. That's my way out”

“Are you crazy? Get out through the main door! He's clearly a target!”

But I wasn’t listening anymore. I had risked my life to cross to the other side of the hall where Matteo had disappeared, I couldn't cross back to follow the other exit now. Fuck it.

I moved, slipping down the corridor carefully as I continued to press down on the wound. Where was the exit? I reached the corner and paused, breath hitching.

Matteo’s guards were dead.

All of them.

And there he was on the floor, clutching his side, blood soaking through his shirt and standing over him was another Vulture. Gun raised. Smiling.

My breath caught. I could walk away quietly. Let it happen. Hell, I should let it happen.

But I didn’t. I moved forward instead, my feet silent. My fingers found the hilt of the blade strapped under the slit of my dress. I crept closer as the man spoke, taunting Matteo, his voice arrogant.

“Looks like the supposed demi god bleeds just like the rest of us, huh?” the man sneered.

I got closer with each word then I was right behind him. Matteo had seen me. His eyes had widened for a second but he quickly masked his expression. The person cocked his gun, about to shoot him when I shoved the blade into his neck from behind, burying it deep.

His body jerked, choking on his own blood as it gurgled and splashed across my mask and arm before he dropped motionless as blood gushed out of his neck.

I stood there, chest rising and falling, blade in hand, blood dripping and Matteo was staring at me through his mask. “Who…who the hell are you?” he managed, voice rough from pain.

I hesitated then smiled—just barely.

“Juliette,” I lied, again.

And I ran.