ELENAThe city lights blurred past the windows as I leaned back in the leather seat, my fingers grazing the thick fabric of DeLuca’s jacket draped over me. I hadn’t realized how cold I was until now—or maybe it wasn’t the cold. Maybe it was the weight of everything I’d just done. Everything I was about to do.Mr. Leo drove in silence, a comforting presence. Always professional. Always reliable. But even his steady hands on the wheel couldn’t quiet the storm inside me.I stared out into the darkness, trying to steady my breath, but the pain in my shoulder had begun to throb again—dull and deep, like a warning whispering beneath my skin. The doctor had done his best, and I’d endured it without flinching. But now, in the quiet, it demanded my attention.Still, it wasn’t the physical pain that unsettled me. It was the one gnawing at my chest.Aligning with DeLuca… What the hell was I doing?I wasn’t naïve. I knew the kind of man he was. Ruthless. Calculated. Deadly. The kind of man my hus
DELUCA "Mrs Russo, what a surprise" and I felt surprised by her presence, this was most unusual and by her gaze, you could understand something big had happened.She didn't even spare Lucas a glance or greeting as shd always does, simply taking the empty seat before me and going straight to business."I will listen to your offer" she begins with an exhale, her face giving nothing away and for a minute, I stared straight into her eyes. Not understanding what she had just uttered and then when I did, I gave Lucas a look and he nodded in response.But just then, my door was pushed open and one of my men rushed in."What is it?" I asked, my voice conveying my annoyance."There was a shooting at the orphanage" he quickly said and I searched the eyes of Elena only to find nothing. She was not allowing herself to feel, I could relate."I see. You can leave" I responded and he left the office, closing the door behind him as Lucas came to sit by the couch close to us."You had been there when
ELENAPain radiates through my shoulders as they laughed and drove off quickly. I stood up and gently lowered the kid to the ground—just as a frantic Francesca rushed out and pulled me into his arms."Oh my God, are you okay? I heard shots, and the kids kept praising how badass you were, and I couldn't help—""I'm fine," I cut off his rambling, rolling my shoulders and wincing at the pain."Just a mild scratch," I added, and he sighed, pulling me into an embrace. For once, I let myself feel the warmth that embrace brought.It had been a while since I last felt this loved, and I craved it—even as guilt tore at my heart for feeling this way about someone other than my husband.What happened today made me realize just how deep I was in, and how foolish I’d been to think I could handle this alone.This wasn’t good at all.A flash of memories filled my head. One of someone I had no intention of thinking about. But then I began to wonder.For so long, I had held a grudge against DeLuca, but
ELENA“You know how good it feels to watch these kids?” Francesca mumbled under his breath as we sat on the bench beside the playground, and I smiled.“I do. It makes me feel warm every single time—and it never gets old,” I said softly, our eyes fixed on the children laughing as though there wasn’t a care in the world.Unlike how I felt at the moment, these kids gave me temporary—but much-needed—relief. Still, it never lasted. I was a deep thinker, and it never took long before I was back in my own head, weighed down by thoughts that brought more trouble than clarity.“Yeah, it does. You’ve been busy, I hear.”I spared a quick glance at him, but he was still staring ahead, only offering a small smile to show he’d noticed.“That depends on what you mean by busy,” I countered with a small smirk. He finally turned to face me, and in his eyes, I saw the worry—the concern he carried for me.I let my guard down a little. It was always Francesca and Sarah who held such genuine emotion for me
DELUCAIt was driving me nuts—absolutely up the wall—every single moment spent without credible information on the location or whereabouts of Mr. Dain Saints.I couldn’t care less about anything else but finding out where he was and what he was doing. Every minute that passed had me mentally flipping through different ways to torment and torture the bastard once I got my hands on him—and it would be soon. It had to be. Otherwise, I might just go hunt him down myself, consequences be damned.“You done?”Lucas spun in his seat to face me. I gave him a look of annoyance, which, as always, he ignored and carried on.“Instead of being an asshole who thinks only of torture—which, by the way, I do appreciate—either pick up Colton’s calls or silence the damn phone. It's driving me nuts,” he admonished.My mouth fell open in surprise. It took a lot to annoy Lucas, and I knew he had a history with the same man. He had probably exhausted all his tech resources trying to find the bastard, just li
ELENA The ride back was a blur of neon lights and the howling wind. My thoughts were louder than the engine beneath me.I had done it. I had helped those girls. I had stepped into the fire and walked out unburned—or so I hoped. But Deluca’s words echoed in my ears, taunting me.You're a smart woman, Mrs. Russo. Don’t mess it up.Was that a warning or a compliment? I hated that I couldn’t tell.The moment I stepped into my room, reality settled back in. The shattered glass from the broken window still littered the floor like frozen raindrops, glinting beneath the dim hallway light. I didn’t bother cleaning it. Not tonight. Not with the heaviness pressing on my shoulders.My hands trembled slightly as I pulled off my gloves. I had rescued those girls—but the victory felt hollow. There was no sense of triumph, just a silence that stretched long and deep.I poured myself a drink I didn’t want and stood by the open window, letting the wind sting my skin. Somewhere out there, new enemies w
DELUCA "How are the girls doing?" I asked the next morning in my office, my head buried in my palms. Lucas gave no response, and when I looked up, I found him lost in thought."Lucas!" I barked, and he jumped, his hand going to his pocket before he relaxed."Deluca , when did you get here?" he asked, blinking in confusion."Five minutes ago. Now answer my question. How are the girls doing?" I asked again, feeling a headache beginning to form behind my eyes."Oh, they’ve been taken care of. Right now, we're working on locating their families," he reported, and I nodded with immediate relief."What about the culprits—or are you too in over your head to tell me that?" I asked, eyeing him closely.He made a face. "Dante was behind it. He wanted to set a trap for Elena, but she ruined his plans. Same with Mr. Dain Saints."I nodded, then regretted it when a sharp pain zapped through my head, like a jolt of electricity during torture after water had been poured on you."Go on," I mumbled,
ELENA It was a long and boring day. Oliver had called earlier to inform me that I had a show coming up in two days and that I should prepare for it—it would be epic.Then I had decided to take a short nap after my shower, and during this nap, I heard a glass shatter into pieces. Startled, I discovered that my new million-dollar, floor-to-ceiling glass window had been broken by a rock.Wrapped around the rock was a piece of paper. It was cliché, but I cautiously opened it to find a short letter:"Down at the Coal River Depot, an illegal transaction is taking place today by 8 p.m. Human young girls trafficking."It sounded like a well-laid trap—one I shouldn't walk into. Still, this person sure knew how to capture my attention. I had always dreamed of helping women someday. I had voiced it once to Lorenzo, and he had promised to support me.I think Dante was there too when I said those words. He must have set this trap for me.It was clear I shouldn't go, but if there was even a chance
DELUCA "Did you find out what I asked you to do?" I questioned as soon as I arrived at the casino that evening. Lucas gave me a disbelieving look."Well, good evening to you too, brother," he said, the word laced with mockery. I laughed as I took off my suit jacket and sat down."You've got to let it go, stupid," I mumbled, picking up the glass of wine on the small bar stand beside where I sat."Anyway, I found out about it, but it's not as simple as that. Unfortunately, it's not Dante Morreti." He muttered a curse, and I merely shrugged."I presume the guy would be a bit smart if he was aiming for Lorenzo's seat. But if it's not him, then who was it? I want details." I gave him a pointed stare, and he nodded."Mr. Dain Saints. Owns a criminal gang well known for—""Don't tell me assassinations," I sighed. Those amateurs were not assassins and should not even be classified as such."Assassinations," he said with a lazy grin at the pause, and I beckoned him to go on."But after some d