LOGINThe weapons room beneath the Valenti estate was unusually busy.Dominic stood at the center of the room with several captains gathered around him.A map of the Rossi estate was spread across the table."Luca wants this operation kept small," Dominic announced. "We're taking only the men we believe are the best fit for this mission."One by one, he began calling names."Captain Viktor.""Captain Marco.""Captain Dario.""Captain Stefan.""Captain Miguel."Marco stepped forward with the others.His face remained perfectly composed.But beneath the calm expression, his heart was racing.This was the opportunity he had been waiting for.He and the other captains who secretly remained loyal to Don Roman had spent days pretending to follow Luca.Now they were being selected to accompany him directly into the heart of the enemy's territory.It couldn't have been more perfect.Marco exchanged a brief glance with two of his trusted friends.Neither spoke.They didn't need to.A subtle smile to
Isabella slept restlessly that night. Her body kept shifting beneath the blankets.Her mind refused to settle.Lorenzo.Even in sleep, she couldn't escape him.Then... gunfire.Isabella was standing in the middle of a burning courtyard.Smoke surrounded her.Men were running in every direction.She could hear shouting.Screaming.More gunshots."Lorenzo!"She turned desperately.There he was.Don Lorenzo stood across the courtyard, surrounded by armed men.Blood covered his shirt.He looked directly at her.But this time, he wasn't calling her name.He was simply staring.As if saying goodbye."No!"Isabella tried to run toward him, but her feet wouldn't move."Lorenzo!"A gun was raised behind him.Isabella screamed."LOOK OUT!"Don Lorenzo turned.The gun fired."NO!"Isabella woke with a violent scream.She bolted upright, gasping for air.Her hands flew to her stomach."Lorenzo!"Her heart hammered against her chest.The door burst open.Her mother rushed inside."Isabella! What h
The Valenti estate had become strangely quiet.The frantic search for Alessandro Valenti had continued for hours, but every effort had ended the same way.Nothing.His trail had gone cold, and they could trace him to his hiding place.Alessandro Valenti had disappeared, and must be somewhere far away from Luca's reach.Or worst, with his father; Don Lorenzo Valenti.Inside Luca's study, the atmosphere was tense.Luca stood beside the window, staring into the sky beyond the estate walls.Dominic sat across from him, studying the maps spread across the desk."We're wasting time," Dominic finally said.Luca turned."What else do you suggest we do?""We stop looking for Alessandro."Luca's jaw tightened."And let him disappear? And worse, join forces with Don Lorenzo Valenti?""Alessandro isn't our biggest problem anymore."Dominic tapped his finger against the map."Don Lorenzo is."Luca remained silent.Dominic continued."And I doubt Don Lorenzo would accept him with open arms."Luca h
Valeria Rossi and Alessandro Valenti stood before Don Lorenzo in the dimly lit room, surrounded by armed men.Neither of them spoke immediately.The atmosphere was thick with suspicion.Don Lorenzo sat behind his desk, his eyes moving slowly between them. There was no warmth in his expression.No relief.No trace of the father Alessandro had once known.Only distrust."Why are you both here?"Before any of them could respond, Don Lorenzo continued."Alessandro, I made it clear when I spared your life that if you ever managed to escape Luca, you should stay far away from me."Alessandro swallowed, as he held Don Lorenzo's cold gaze.Then Don Lorenzo's gaze shifted to Valeria, "And you, I spared your life and that of your father's. And I made it clear to you never to show your face here again."Valeria nodded subtly."So, are you both here to get killed? Or as Luca sent you?"Valeria and Alessandro exchanged glances.“Start talking,” Don Lorenzo said coldly.Valeria swallowed this time.
The Rossi estate no longer belonged to the Rossis.The Valenti flag now hung prominently above the main entrance, fluttering in the evening breeze.Inside, Don Lorenzo's men were busy restoring order.Furniture was being moved.Documents were being sorted.Rooms were being cleared.Everything that had once represented Don Silivio Rossi's power was slowly being absorbed into Don Lorenzo's growing empire.But Don Lorenzo Valenti wasn't thinking about the estate.He sat behind the large desk in what had once been Rossi's private study, his eyes fixed on nothing in particular.His thoughts were somewhere else.With Isabella Lombardi.He imagined her sitting in the safe house, probably staring at her phone and wondering why he hadn't called.He knew she was safe.He had left enough guards behind to protect her and her mother.Still, he knew Isabella.She would worry.She would imagine the worst.Don Lorenzo leaned back in the chair and exhaled slowly."I'll be back soon, sweetheart."He wh
Valeria looked at Alessandro."Who do you think? Valenti guards?""I don't know."The vehicle was getting closer.Alessandro grabbed Valeria's arm."We need to move."As they were about to disappear into the bushes together, a familiar voice came from the approaching vehicle."Alessandro Valenti?!!!"Alessandro squinted his eyes so he could see who was calling.The vehicle slowed as it approached them.Alessandro remained tense, his body instinctively positioned slightly in front of Valeria.The headlights illuminated the roadside, then the driver's window rolled down.A familiar face appeared."Alessandro Valenti?!"Alessandro froze.His eyes narrowed against the headlights.Then recognition hit him."Daniel?"The young man behind the wheel practically jumped out of the vehicle."Bro!"He hurried toward them, staring at Alessandro as though he were looking at a ghost."I can't believe it's you!"Alessandro managed a faint smile.Daniel pulled him into a quick embrace before stepping
Isabella stood in front of her closet for what felt like the hundredth time, her fingers gliding over fabrics she barely recognized as hers.Silk. Satin. Velvet.Dresses that whispered confidence… boldness… attention.None of them felt like her.She pulled one out, a red bodycon dress, and held it
Don Lorenzo Valenti didn’t bother hiding his irritation when the door to his study opened again.His gaze lifted sharply—cold, unreadable.And there stood his son.Again.A scowl immediately formed on his face.“Shouldn’t you be in school?” Lorenzo asked, his voice edged with impatience.Alessandro
Don Lorenzo Valenti, also known as The Butcher, downed his fifth glass of whiskey, the burn doing nothing to calm the storm raging inside him.Anger simmered beneath his composed exterior.This trip was supposed to be a vacation, a brief escape from the chaos of his world.But men like him didn’t e
Isabella Lombardi froze at the school entrance, her breath catching in her throat.Standing there, as if he had stepped straight out of a dream, was Alessandro Valenti—the most popular, most desired boy in school, holding a bouquet of fresh red roses.Waiting for her.Her heart skipped.Today was h







