ELENA "Wake up, detective boss," Sarah whispers into my ear, holding a steaming cup of coffee close to my nose.The rich aroma hits me instantly. Divine. It’s nice to know she still remembers how I like my coffee—black, no sugar. Speaking of sugar…"Did you put sugar?" I ask, taking the cup from her."Of course not," she says with a smirk."Gist me about last night!" Sarah blurts, suddenly changing the topic."Is that what the early morning coffee is all about?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at her."Well, if you’re good to me, there’s more where that came from," she says, smiling sweetly."Geez! When did you become like this?" I laugh."Ever heard the saying, ‘You’ve got to use what you have to get what you want’?" Sarah replies, looking pleased with herself.I sigh, raising my hands in surrender. "Fine, fine… I’ll tell you."My smile fades as last night’s events resurface. "It didn’t go as I expected."Sarah’s smile falters. "Why?"I hesitate, the bitter taste of disappointment settling
ELENA I doubt I’ve been given the luxury of properly mourning my husband. But I suppose this is the life I signed up for the day I said, “I do.”Dante handed in his resignation this morning. And now, the Mafia elders have summoned me. I've heard countless things about them—whispers of power, control, and consequences.It’s time to face the life that’s chosen me, head-on.I step into the grand, dimly lit hall. Gilded chandeliers hang from the ceiling, casting a muted glow over the dark wood and the faint scent of cigar smoke lingering in the air. At the center of the room stretches a long table beneath the soft lights. Seven men sit at it—old, hardened figures with silver hair and sharp eyes that have seen too much.I stand at the far end of the table, my gaze sweeping over their faces—stone-carved expressions, eyes glinting with quiet judgment.“Sit,” one of them says. His voice is low and gravelly, the weight of authority pressed into a single word.I sit, crossing my legs and resti
ELENA I walked into the orphanage, my heart immediately softening at the sight of the children playing outside. Their laughter tugged at something deep within me.I had stopped coming here after marrying Lorenzo. If it were up to me, I would have never stayed away from these sweet angels. But life had pulled me in a different direction. Now, as I made my way toward Francesco’s office, I felt a familiar warmth creeping in.Reaching the door with his name engraved on it, I knocked gently.“Come in,” came the familiar voice from the other side.I opened the door and stepped inside.“Well, look who we have here!” Francesco exclaimed, rising from his chair with a wide smile. He pulled me into a tight hug, and for a moment, it felt like no time had passed.Francesco was my ex. We had dated for eight months in college before life pulled us apart. He had gone abroad to further his studies while I pursued a career in modeling.After his parents left him a large inheritance—one that would last
DELUCA I kept playing with the children, but my mind was fixed on the woman sitting across from me at the playground.I had been surprised to see her there when I walked in, gently guiding the little girl as they drew together.A pang of jealousy tightened in my chest when I realized I wasn’t the only one captivated by her. Francesco Adolfo couldn’t take his eyes off her either.I watched him from the corner of my eye as he made his way back to where she sat with the kid and I wondered what there was between them. When I glanced back, I saw her rise and head toward the restroom. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly excused myself from the children.“I’ll be right back, kiddos,” I said. They barely glanced up, nodding as they remained focused on the toys I had brought for them.Then I hasten my steps after her.“Elena,” I called just before she could enter the ladies' room.She turned her head slightly, her expression unreadable.“It’s Mrs. Russon,” she corrected, pausing mid-step.My
ELENATHEN.The silk of my gown clung to my skin as I adjusted the strap on my shoulder, ignoring the chaos buzzing around me. Makeup artists darted back and forth, stylists barking last-minute instructions, but I was used to the pre-show madness. The air backstage always felt charged before a big show."Five minutes, Elena!" someone called out.I gave a small nod, catching my reflection in the mirror. A flawless face stared back—smooth, sun-kissed skin with a natural glow, framed by long, dark hair that cascaded down my back. My hazel eyes—sharp and expressive, capable of both warmth and fire—held steady even as tension curled in my chest. At twenty-six, I’d learned how to command attention without trying. Tall and poised at 5’8, I wore sophistication like armor. The call for models to line up echoed down the hall. My heart thrummed with familiar adrenaline as I made my way toward the side of the stage. The bright white glow of the runway lights cut through the dimness of backstage,
DELUCA I sat in the driver’s seat, fingers tightening around the steering wheel. The engine hummed beneath my hand, a steady vibration that did nothing to ease the knot in my chest. The house stood ahead, dark and lifeless beneath the gray sky. It hadn’t changed — not the tall iron gates, not the ivy curling up the stone walls, not the heavy silence that seemed to seep from its bones.I didn’t want to be here. I never did. Every time I crossed that threshold, it ended the same way — harsh words, cold stares, and the bitter reminder that no matter what I built, I’d always be a disappointment to him.My hand hovered over the ignition. I could drive away. Pretend I never came. Lucas would probably tell me that showing up was the right thing to do — that answering the old man’s call, even when I didn’t want to, was some twisted show of strength. But Lucas didn’t know what it felt like to stand in this house. To face him.And yet, despite every instinct screaming at me to stay away, I sho
ELENA THEN. I hadn’t expected him to be so gentle — not after everything I’d heard about him, not after the warnings I gave myself.Every sense within me screamed that this was wrong — the most reckless decision I had ever made. And yet, here I was, sitting in the back seat of his sleek car while his driver silently navigated the dark streets.It had started with a simple drink — just one — and somehow it led to him driving me home.When we pulled up to the small, weathered house where I lived with my father, I felt the shift in the air. His eyes swept over the cracked pavement, the peeling paint on the front door, the sagging roof. His expression hardened, a flicker of disapproval tightening his jaw. He tried to mask it, but I saw it.“Do you live here?” he asked, his voice low and steady.I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. “I live here with my dad,” I said softly.He didn’t say anything, but his gaze lingered on me, expectant. Urging me to go on. And somehow, despite th
DELUCA Relief washed over me as I stepped into my house. I had just come back from my father’s place, and despite the tension that always lingered there, being back in my own space gave me a strange sense of comfort.We never had a good relationship. He never missed a chance to remind me that I was nothing like him — and not in a way that suggested he wished I was. Just cold disappointment masked as indifference.But here, in the quiet of the living room, I could almost push that aside. Until Jaxon’s report crept back into my mind, tightening my chest and making it impossible to relax.Elena was no longer safe. Not after her last confrontation with the Mafia elders. I knew how they operated — no one challenged them without consequences. And Elena… She was a novice in this game.“I wished she would just accept my offer”. From where I sat in the living room, I watched Lucas stride in. His sharp gaze scanned the room before settling on me.“Seems I have to book an appointment to see yo
ELENA "You own the original?" Lucas was surprised and clearly intrigued and I gave a slow nod while sipping on my champagne like it was a walk in the park."Do you sell it?" He quickly asked and I almost spitted out my drink as my voice turned cold---sell what? A painting Lorenzo had gifted me years ago on my birthday just because I gave it a mere awe-filled glance at an event he took me to.THEN"I got you something Ellie" came from the bedroom and I raised my eyebrows, surprised at that as I cleaned up my washed face."What is it?" I yelled out, folding up the towel and hanging it before moisturizing my face."Come see" he said with an air of mystery that had a smile coming on my face as I wore my robe and left the bathroom behind, fixing up my hair and checking for spots left undried when my eyes caught on something by the bed.It stood on a pole of sorts, it took my breath away."Happy birthday" he grinned at my reaction and I slapped his chest with a goofy smile on my face."Why
DELUCA Flashes of cameras led me into the building the event was being hosted at. It was an important event that intrigued me and made me excited to cause a bit of trouble within these rich and pompous men that liked flaunting their money around just to make themselves known.As soon as I walked into the circular place, the whole attendees gave me a wide berth as an attendant led me to my seat on the guest of Honor part.It only housed four seats, I occupied one with Lucas seated beside me, not knowing how I'd regret that move when she came.It wasn't long after I had taken my seat when a sort of hush went through the still standing crowd, everyone stood transfixed to a spot, staring at someone or something with such awe in their gazes.I was intrigued, standing up just to see a smiling Camilla who soaked up in the attention like she owned it-- I signed and began to take my seat once again when my eyes found that of none other than Elena.She stared at me with an intense look, one th
ELENA Sarah was already bouncing around the room, holding up two completely opposite dresses and asking which looked more “Saturday-slay” appropriate. I gave her a small smile as she spun toward the mirror, already lost in her fashion world. I admire that about her—how she could simply live in the moment, find something beautiful in the middle of chaos.“Text me when you get to the store,” I said softly.“I will,” she replied, pausing in her whirlwind of activity to glance at me. “You sure you don’t want to come?”“I need to check on Dad,” I murmured, glancing at my phone. “And figure out what I’m wearing to this… ridiculous event.”She gave me a quick hug and a knowing smile before grabbing her purse and slipping out the door. The silence she left behind hit me harder than expected.I sank onto the edge of the bed and called Dad. The line clicked once, then twice, before his voice came through—sleep-rough, but steady.“Elena?”“Hey,” I said, trying to sound upbeat. “Just checking on
DELUCA We had gotten down to the location, the insistent beeping of the GPS tracker as we drove down the secluded highway indicated that Colton was still on the move but was getting considerably slower than before, his gas must have been giving up on him.It soon came to a stop and I felt my heartbeat increase as fear racked through my whole body, I couldn't fail in protecting him, not this time at least.I urged the car to go more faster by stepping on the accelerator and was soon flying down the streets, cutting down corners as I followed the map and soon the sound of shooting began to fill my ears and fear clenched it's fist around my heart as I felt a rapid headache begin to form behind my eyelids.Arriving at the destination and finding shots being fired at Colton's blue truck had my blood boiling as I immediately pulled out my gun, rolled down the side of my glass window and just as they turned to check up on what was happening, I shot one straight to the skull and heard curses
ELENA I growled loudly as I flung the box against the wall, rage pulsing through my veins. This had been my one chance to get something—anything—to move forward, and it turned out to be a lousy prank?Dante was really testing me, pushing my limits just to see how far my patience would stretch.I had never felt such a mix of fury and resolve to make him pay. A dark thought kept circling in my mind—what if he had something to do with my late husband’s death? But too many pieces of the puzzle didn’t fit, and the frustration was eating me alive.I’d been here before—frustrated, running in circles, grasping at straws, hoping for a clue, anything to advance my investigation.And now, this? This was all I had to show for my effort? It made me feel like I was failing—like I was disappointing my late husband—and the thought tore painfully at my chest."Hey, you good?" came a voice from the door.I spun around to see Sarah standing there. I had forgotten to close the door when I came in. She l
DELUCA My fingers drummed a random beat on the table in my office as I sat lost in thought. I wondered just how far I’d have to go to repay the debt Elena was collecting from me.She was still in the dark about the vile dealings of her late bastard of a husband, and while I didn’t want to hurt her, she deserved the truth.Why it had to be me who told her—I was beginning to resent that part. I’d tried to delay sending the package I promised, but it was inevitable. I had to follow through soon or it would count as reneging on a debt owed."You good?" filtered into my ears, and I sighed deeply, palming my face as a headache started to creep in.Lucas whistled lowly with a smirk. It never took him long to figure out what was going on with me. I wasn’t surprised."I don't see the problem here," he began."But I do," I cut him off quickly."What do you see as the prob—""Me!" I exclaimed, pausing before continuing. "Why does it have to be me who sends the package?""Because you should...?"
ELENA Once again, I was playing with fire. Tracing my fingers along the shelves, I hoped to find something—anything—that could give me a clue or some knowledge about what led to my late husband's death.I was getting frustrated as I neared the end. With a sigh, I slammed my palms against the shelf in anger, sending dust particles flying into the air, which made me cough softly.I was angry at hitting another dead end. Deluca was taking his sweet time sending the package he promised, and since that last time at the casino, I hadn't seen him again.It felt like he was starting to avoid me, and I couldn’t understand what I had done to warrant such behavior.A click echoed through the silent office, and I ducked quickly, praying I was fast enough not to be shot.For a moment, nothing happened. But when I raised my head to check, I saw a small square hole in the shelf where I had slammed my hands—inside it was a small box.Glancing around cautiously, I pulled it out and dusted it off. Aft
DELUCA The past few days had been indescribable—chaotic activities, quiet betrayals, eyes watching from every shadow. But tonight, the air tasted different. Clean. Cold. Like the city was offering me a moment to breathe. I took it.I never liked others handling my business. Not even my own men. If it wasn’t me or Lucas, it always felt like a risk—like giving someone else the blade and hoping they didn’t slip it between your ribs.That thought was still lingering when I saw the telltale glow of blue and red flashing in my mirrors. A cop’s flashlight cut through the darkness ahead like a spotlight on a stage. I slowed the SUV, jaw tight, knuckles resting calm on the wheel.The flashing lights didn’t rattle me.I’d seen enough of them in my lifetime to know what they meant—this wasn’t a warning, and it sure as hell wasn’t a war. No, this was theater. A flex. A performance meant to shake cages and remind people like me that the law was still watching.Problem was—I didn’t shake.I steppe
ELENA The day I married Lorenzo and the four years I spent with him, I truly believed my nightmares were finally over.My dad had slowly begun to come out of the shell he had built around himself—a shell formed from the pain of losing my mother. I never thought I’d see him smile again, yet somehow, Lorenzo made that possible. He became the son my father never had. I thought buying us a house was the sweetest thing Lorenzo could’ve done… but no, he stole my heart over and over again—especially with how he carved out time from his busy schedule just to visit my dad and keep him company.I looked down at the ten-year-old boy in front of me, playing quietly with his toys.“He’s adorable, isn’t he?” came a soft voice beside me. I quickly wiped the corner of my eyes and turned to see one of the caregivers.“Yes… he is,” I replied, lowering myself to his level, watching him with gentle affection.“We’re really going to miss him,” she said, her voice tinged with emotion.“What do you mean?”