All Chapters of Falling For the Kingpin: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Elena Vasquez had spent years preparing for this moment. Years of training, studying, and pushing herself past every limit to stand here, in the heart of the enemy’s empire.She adjusted the neckline of her sleek black dress, the silky fabric hugging her body like a second skin. The bass from the music thrummed through her veins as she stepped into The Black Orchid, the infamous nightclub owned by Lorenzo DeLuca.The air was thick with cigarette smoke, expensive perfume, and the low hum of conversations whispered over glasses of bourbon. Power moved through the room like an invisible current, and at the center of it all sat the man she had sworn to destroy.Lorenzo DeLuca.He lounged in a private booth, his presence commanding without effort. Dark hair, sharp features, and a gaze that could strip someone down to their soul. He wasn’t just a mafia leader—he was the mafia leader. Ruthless. Untouchable. And, according to her intel, the man responsible for her father’s murder.A flicker o

Elena didn’t hesitate. She knew Matteo was watching her closely, and any hesitation could raise suspicion. With a casual shrug, she declined Captain Reynolds' call, slid her phone back into her pocket, and met his gaze.“Not someone important,” she said smoothly. “Just an officer who helped me at immigration when I had issues proving my identity. Now he won’t stop calling, keeps asking me out.”Matteo studied her for a moment before letting out a deep laugh and shaking his head. “Of course he is. Men will always want you, Elena.” His smirk widened as he leaned in slightly. “It’s just who you are.”Elena forced a small, amused smile, Matteo was starting to piss her off. Matteo chuckled, rolling his shoulders. “You want me to deal with him? Get him off your back permanently?”Elena’s stomach twisted, but she quickly shook her head, keeping her tone light. “No need for that. He’s harmless, just persistent.”Matteo shrugged as if it didn’t matter to him either way. “Suit yourself.” He t

“Come with me,” Lorenzo said, turning to leave.Elena exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She was in. No turning back now.The real game had just begun.Elena followed Lorenzo through the dimly lit corridor, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors. The air felt heavy with anticipation as they approached a set of double doors. She could hear faint murmurs from the other side, voices low and expectant.Lorenzo pushed the doors open, revealing a vast, open courtyard illuminated by torches mounted on the stone walls. The space was filled with members of the DeLuca family, men and women dressed in tailored suits and elegant dresses, their expressions ranging from curiosity to quiet approval as they turned to face her.Matteo stood near the center, a smirk playing on his lips, while Isabella beamed excitedly from beside him. Marco and a few other high-ranking members formed a semi-circle, their postures rigid with authority.Lorenzo placed a firm hand on Elena’

Elena blinked, snapping out of the strange trance just as Lorenzo rolled off her and pulled her to her feet in one swift motion. The chaos around them resumed in full force—bullets whizzing, people screaming, the unmistakable scent of gunpowder and blood thick in the air.“Stay close to Isabella!” Lorenzo barked, his hand briefly brushing Elena’s back before he dashed off, disappearing into the smoke like a shadow.Elena staggered slightly but regained her footing. Her eyes scanned the club—bodies strewn across the marbled floor, flashes of gunfire illuminating the night in bursts. The once-exclusive grounds of The Black Orchid now looked like a war zone.“Elena! Damn it, you can’t zone out like that” Isabella hissed, grabbing Elena’s arm and pulling her behind a toppled table. “You want to die on your first day in the family?”“I’m fine,” Elena breathed, though her heart was hammering like a drum in her chest. “What now?”Before Isabella could respond, a flare lit up the sky. A sign

“You need to stop Matteo,” Isabella said as she burst into Lorenzo’s office. “He’s dragging Elena on a deadly mission. That girl is new here—it’s her first night, for heaven’s sake!”Lorenzo turned slowly in his chair, the smoke from his cigar curling lazily in the air as he studied his sister with amused detachment. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.“What’s the problem, Bella?” he asked coolly.Isabella’s eyes widened. “Did you not hear what I just said?”“I heard you,” Lorenzo said, exhaling smoke. “But I don’t see the problem. Elena needs to prove herself.”“You don’t see the problem?” Isabella snapped. “She just got here! She still needs training, and time to blend in. Matteo’s dragging her into something she’s not ready for.”“And how exactly do you propose she learns, if she’s not tested?” Lorenzo asked, arching a brow. “Or do you expect her to sit in the lounge and sip cocktails while the rest of us do the dirty work?”“Did you know about this?” Isabella demanded, arms