Luca Vincenzo woke up from sleep and looked around him, he sighed disappointedly went he saw the two ladies that laid naked beside him. He was already growing annoyed at the sight of their porcelain bodies lying peacefully beside him. Yes, the sex was good but he needed them out of his penthouse immediately, so he rudely shook them awake. They grumbled as they woke up and started touching his shoulders, thighs and any other parts of him their sluggish hands could reach, thinking he was waking them up for another bout of sex. “Get out of here immediately”, he growled and stood up from the bed and went to the bedstand, he pulled out a gun from the drawer and showed the ladies. “I am going to go and take a shower; I don’t want to come and meet either of you here or else…” he paused and waved the weapon in from of the scared ladies who were suddenly widely awake and bundled together. The sight made him chuckle slightly. “The good news though is, I don’t take so long in the bathroom. Ten minutes at most and I am out, that should give you ample time to get dressed and get the fuck out”. He said and walked away into the adjoining bathroom, waving the gun as he went to make sure the women understood that he really meant what he said. He heard them grumble, then curse him silently before the scurried around to get dressed. Few minutes under the shower and he heard the door slam shut to indicate that the sluts he brought had left and he suddenly felt a lot much better. He came out of the shower and dressed in a black dress-shirt and black pant trouser which complimented his dark aura. His long dark brown hair was packed into a short ponytail and that gave him a serious but sexy look. He heard his phone ring and picked it from where he had charged it overnight and read the caller ID; Padre (father). “Father…”, he answered the call with respect as he walked out of the penthouse and made his war to his sport car. He checked the time on his watch, it was 7:43. He was glad that he would be punctual as usual to the gang meeting, he hated lateness. “Where are you son?” his father asked from the other side of the phone. “I am on my way home. I should arrive before ten minutes elapses if all goes as planned”, he said as he got into the car, turned on his ignition and connected the call to the car’s Bluetooth. “Magnifico. Call your brother and remind him that tardiness would be highly frown upon”, his father said and ended the call immediately. Luca frowned and the thought of his immediate younger brother, Rafael. At age 26, he was still acting like a teenager and misbehaving around. What was more annoying was the fact that he had to always clean up after his brother and that was starting to get tiring, but his father would always drum into his ear “la famiglia é tutto ealla fine della giornata, hai solo la famiglia al tuo angolo” (family is everything and at the end of the day, you only have family at your corner). At this point, he was very sure he was down for punching this particular family into that corner and make sure he never steps a foot out again but he sighed and resigned to calling his brother. The caller ID showed Fratellino (little brother) and a couple of rings later, the call was answered. “Let me guess, you forgot today’s meeting Rafael, didn’t you?” Luca growled at a half-sleepy Rafael who suddenly jolted fully awake. “Shit! Shit! Shit!”, Rafael said in frustration and Luca could hear him scramble around, he pulled the gear to drive and tilted into the road and immediately cut the call on a confused Rafael. Few minutes later and he pulled up to the front of the Vincenzo house and home to the La Mano Nera mafia group. He packed the car and handed the key to one of the valets as he walked into the meeting room, completely ignoring the greetings made by the scared maids. He saw his father and his uncle who also doubled as the consigliere of the group, they were the only ones there. “Welcome my boy”, his father said with a smile while his uncle acknowledged him with a nodded, but he felt uncomfortable immediately at the warmness he was receiving from them. They must be a reason for this and he was sure that they were conniving something in regards to him, he just did not know if it was something he had to be worried about. “Father, uncle”, he replied the greetings with a bow. “Sit down”, his father gestured to a seat beside him and he sat down but gave them a calculative look. “There is something of utmost importance I have to discuss with you before the others arrive” “I’m listening father”. “I am getting too old for this, I want to resign and I am passing on the clan to you. You will be their new leader, their Capo.” “Father, what do you mean you are too old? You are still as active as ever” “I know my body and bones and I know it is time for me to take a step back. I know the gang in your hands is safe and would probably be better than it is now. But you would need help, that takes me to the next topic of discussion” His father and uncle shared a look he was not so sure he was comfortable with, especially with the new news that he had just received. “What is it father?” “Your uncle and I have had an extensive discussion and we have deemed it fit for Adriana, his daughter, to be your betrothed.” “What?” he asked, getting up to his feet in utter confusion. “That is completely absurd” “Except you can find a woman and get married to her in four months’ time, Adriana is to marry you four months after your coronation as Capofamaliglia and that is final. Before Luca could protest, people had started filing in for the meeting and that was the end of that conversation until probably after this meeting, Luca sat in silence and annoyance throughout the whole meeting session. He could not wait to leave the room and take his car out for a spin to clear his head.
“I heard you are the best assassin in the whole of Boston and with this results you have shown, I no longer have a doubt” “As long as the pay is good, the job is going to be worth it. It is my policy”, Bianca replied as she pushed a stray hair away from her face to the back of her ears. The man that hired her had a grin on her face that she didn’t like but for the amount of money he had paid for the past two jobs, she stomached the disgust she felt. It was not that the man was ugly, on the contrary, he was actually outer worldly handsome with his very enrapturing green eyes. What she was not comfortable with was his aura, it was deadly…a bit too deadly for her taste. “Perfect!”, he exclaimed as he leaned back on his seat. “I have a new job for you.” “I am sorry to decline. That was my last job for you.” She turned around and started walking away. “I will pay you $400,000,000 to do this particular job”, his voice dripped of pure hate that made Bianca’s blood curl*. Why would anyone pay so much to have someone killed? “Make it $800,000,000 and I will do the job”, she replied, turning back to face him and mentally telling herself it was going to be her last job with him. Cynical or not, she was not going to pass up that amount of money because of some weird feeling. “Deal. But the job has to be completed first before you get the pay.” “What exactly is this job?” she asked and a cruel smirk creeped its way onto the man’s face. “You are to kill a man named Luca Vincenzo.” Bianca woke up from sleep very early the next day and quickly rushed to the bathroom to get dressed and start the day, she had a new job and she had to prep herself on everything relating to this new target named Luca Vincenzo. The name sound oddly familiar but she waved it aside because the names are also popular names. Few minutes later and she was out of the bathroom and fully dressed with her hair packed up in a messy bun. She picked up her phone and made a phone call, the person on the other end picked up on the second ring. “Any information on the person I sent to you yesterday?” she asked as she sat down at her in-built work station and propped open her laptop. She went ahead and type in the name ‘Luca Vincenzo’ on goggle while listening attentively to what the other person was saying. “I have not seen half of that information you just said on the internet, this man is doing a really good job of staying hidden. Send all the information you have on him to my work email.” She ended the call and went through the watered-down information of Luca that was available on the internet. All she could gather was that this man was really wealthy, highly influential and a narcissistic whore who leaves a trail of heart-broken women in his wake. “Disgusting pig”, she sighed before opening the new message that popped up on her screen, her informant had dropped something for her and she wasted no time to go to her mailbox. She opened the attachment and was surprised yet completely appreciative of how detailed the information there was. Apparently, Luca Vincenzo was multi-billionaire who owned enterprises and conglomerates all over New York and the world at large. He was a very important man and what caught the attention of Bianca was that he was a mafia…actually, he was the mafia leader as of yesterday when his father openly declared his resignation from the leadership position and announced him as the new leader. This had caused an uproar in the world of the underground because Luca was known for his ruthlessness. No wonder her hirer was willing to pay such huge amount of money to kill him, he really was worth all the fuse. She stared at her screen, carefully studying the picture of Luca shown there, his tone, honey brownish skin spoke loudly about his Italian roots. His hair was packed into a ponytail, giving his symmetrical face a sturdy look that scream ‘serious but sexy’. She felt a pang of sadness that she would have to remove such a handsome person from the face of the world very soon. “Hopefully he has a kid or two somewhere that he had passed along these beautiful genes”, she grumbled to herself as she scrolled down on her laptop and to find to her dismay that he was single and childless but console herself in the thought that she wasn’t making a fellow woman a widow at an early age. She studied the places he visits regularly but there was no particular routine which she could trail him with, so she decided to go to his most frequented bar, a place called Opal bar. But first, she would have to pack some of her stuff and lodge in one of his biggest and most frequented hostels with the hope that luck would shine on her side and she would bump into him at one of these places. With a working plan in place, she quickly stood up, packed a small traveling bag with her clothes, some painkillers and emergency stitching kits, some money, her laptop and chargers. And of course, her instruments of work. She threw in two guns, two ten inches knives, some syringe, knuckle bracelets and a couple of other things she believed would be of importance to her and left her small cottage house, making sure to off all the light and lock all the windows and doors before heading to her car. She had over half a billion dollars waiting for her and she could not afford to waste any more time. The plan was simple, kill Luca Vincenzo in three days’ time.
“Father, forcing a marriage on me really isn’t the best option, especially to Adriana. You know I only have affection towards her as the cousin she is to me. This marriage would break her”, Luca tried to reason with his father who was just sitting quietly and letting him rant, Luca never liked when his father goes quiet, it never is a good sign and so he was almost certain that all this logical reasoning wasn’t going to change his stubborn father’s mind. “Adriana is beautiful, kind, compassionate and she is family. Non si fa del male alla famiglia (we don’t hurt family) and you know this”, Antonio responded calmly. Luca took a deep breath to calm himself down, he now understood why his father had picked Adriana. She was supposed to be some beacon of hope that appeals to his humanity for some reason and his father was right, he would never hurt Adriana…at least not physically but he could not vouch for that in regards to emotionally and mentally. “Find a woman that would marry you in four months’ time and you won’t have to marry Adriana. It is that simple figlio mio (son of mine)”, Antonio said and walked away, leaving behind a confused Luca was sat down in deep contemplation on how he would be able to settle down with a woman in less than four months. No way, he refused to condemn Adriana to this fate just because he did not have a heart to give anybody. His father was right; family don’t get hurt no matter what. He needed to leave the house immediately, surely if he was to find a woman, it would outside there and not in the place he was sitting which was slowly turning into a nightmare. He would go to the Opal later on that night but for now, he would lodge at one of his numerous hotels. He picked himself up and drove himself to La Rosa Della Notte, it was one of the family’s many hotels and it was named and dedicated to his mother who was known as the Rose of the night. It was in times like these that he missed his mother, but the Grim Reaper was such a cruel entity. Few minutes later and he was at the reception of the hotel and he walked up to the counter with a haughty aura and asked for the key to his usual room. “My room key” “Yes sir”, the receptionist said and scurried around to get his key card from where it was kept before passing it to him with a soft bow. He snatched the key card and he went to the elevator with the intent to use his family’s private elevator but somehow found himself in the regular elevator by mistake. He groaned inwardly as he realized this and before he could step out, the door had already been shut. He was stuck with going to his suite with the stranger who had lifted her head slightly to stare at him just as soon as he had turned his back to face the door and he was grateful because he was sure he did not want to be notice in a regular elevator. The whiff of her perfume lingered softly in the air and tickled his nose seductively, it had a hint of vanilla and fresh rose petals. He unconsciously agreed within himself that he loved the perfume already but he dared not to turn around and look at the mysterious lady. Shortly after, the door had pinged open and the lady stepped out on that floor, as she passed him, brushing him ever so slightly, her perfume scent danced its way into his nostrils heavily and by the time she had gone and the door was shut close again, he was surprised to find out that just the lady’s perfume had turned him on. The perfume and the wide, shapely set of hips he happened to notice just before she walked out. He groaned again in frustration and his unexpected hard-on solidified his initial plan to go to his regular bar, The Opal. As soon as the elevator’s door pinged open, he rushed out and into his room to quickly undress and hit the showers in hopes that the cold spray on his body will calm down his erection. Before he knew what was happening, he felt his hand on his shaft and it felt so good so he proceeded to rub himself. Slowly at first, then he added speed and pressure as the scent and image of a mysterious lady in red who happened to have thighs that were perfectly wide to hold him tight while he pumped into was laid hidden between those thighs evaded his thoughts. A few pumps later and he could feel himself come apart in his palms as the cold spray from the shower helped him come and to his senses and clear his foggy sight. He could not believe that he could actually be that mesmerized over somebody he had not even clearly seen but he decided to push that thought aside as he came out of the bathroom and laid on his bed. He thought of doing some work with his phone first and also confirm when their drug shipment was to arrive in the state. It was in the process of all these work that sleep enveloped him but not before his thoughts flickered one last time to the lady on red with the vanilla and rose scent. He woke up later in the evening around 7pm or thereabout and took his time getting to the bathroom to freshen up, he was giving himself today to relax and bounce back from the shocking news his father had given him, and even though it had been more than 24 hours since he first had the conversation of his marriage to Adriana, it still marveled him at how his father and uncle had come up with such conclusion. He got dressed and went out, dropping his key card with the reception before he entered his car and zoomed up to The Opal which was a few blocks away from the hotel. Once he reached there and alighted the car, he gave his keys to the valet and went inside. He walked straight to the bartender and ordered his usual rum to be served in his personal VVIP room before walking through the crowd to the stairs that leads to the VIPs and VVIPs sections. He opened the door to the VIPs section and made his way to the VVIPs section and was almost there went a familiar scent hit him. It was the vanilla and fresh rose petal scent and he swiftly, instinctively turned around to follow the scent and sure enough, there was a woman seated at the edge of the VIP section. He stared at her, she wore a black dress that had a low cut neck but she was seated so he couldn’t notice any other thing about the dress other than the fact that it was long-sleeved. He noticed she had a beautiful face and her black hair was packed up in a neat chignon. He took the seat in front of her and observed her dark brown eyes were so beautiful and enchanting, she was beautiful in a moderate but ethereal way. “Hello”, he said with his usual confidence and she cocked a questioning brow yet he refused to let that deter him. He believed it must be his lucky day that he was fated to meet her twice that same day and he would not let the opportunity of having her in his arms slide. “I am Luca Vincenzo and you are?”
Bianca could not believe her luck, she schooled her face into a non-chalant mask as she mused over how lucky she was to have to meet her target twice already. She was suddenly more annoyed at how unprepared she had been at both instances; first, at the elevator and now, here. Immediately she had recognized who he was back when they were in the elevator alone, she was frustrated that she could not make any move to hurt him because this was his family’s hotel and the elevators had camera. They would have seen her face and haunted her down until they were sure she was dead, so she let that opportunity slide and decided to come and check out how The Opal is appealing to people of his caliber. She couldn’t deny that she was impressed but she was more frustrated that the only weapons she had on her was a gun she had hidden under her dress and a poison lipstick she always carried in her purse. She had no idea how she would manage to kill him and walk away since the only reasonable way to do that for now was to shoot him. Unless she could get him to kill her by some means but she doubted she was that lucky. She stretched forth her right hand to him for a handshake and with a coy smile, she replied, “Diana Braulio” He took her hand in his and took it to his lips before placing a soft kiss on the back of her hand, “It is a pleasure you meet a beauty like you Diana”, he said. Bianca observed that his voice was low and it had a mild effect on her, sending sensual shivers down her spines which she covered up by keeping a pacifying smile on her face. She had never had to talk with her target before so this experience was unnerving for her, she preferred to have no close encounter with her targets what-so-ever. “I believe this is not our first meeting though”, he continued and Bianca quietly prayed to God that he was not the chatty type, she would not be able to bear it if he were and might actually dam the consequences and blow his brains out where he sat, but she was a tad-bit curious on where else they had met. She was very sure she had concealed her face in the elevator and while she was going out and Me. Luca probably took her silence for curiosity and continued. ‘It was not formal but the elevator meeting was enough to leave a lasting impression”, he said with a smile as he leaned back in his chair. “Spend the night with me” Bianca was taken aback by how bold and crass he was, she felt slightly insulted at how cheap he thought she was and suddenly felt the urge to kill him indeed. She opened her purse and pulled out a red lipstick and reapplied it slowly on her lips with the intent of getting his attention drawn to her lips, and she succeeded. She then stood up and walked towards him and bent down, stared deeply into his dark eyes then gave him a deep kiss which he quickly reciprocated by sucking on her lips softly but she pulled out before it got intense before whispering into his ears, “No, Signore”, before walking away and leaving a mesmerized Luca. Few steps after, she mumbled to herself, “that was easy” and inwardly congratulating herself for the completion of that job. Now all she had to do is wait a couple of minutes so the poison from the lipstick kiss would kick in. by the next morning when the news of his death would be everywhere, she would go and get her money and probably leave Boston for a while. She made her way past the crowd of people at the bar and out of the door of the bar, she got her car keys and drove off but not too quickly to avoid any suspicion when the surveillance tapes are being searched. She drove back to the hotel and quickly packed her bags and prepared to check out of the hotel the next day before she went into the bathroom and prepared for her beauty sleep. She woke up the next morning early as usual, did her morning exercise routines that consisted of push-ups, planks and other indoor exercises. She had a strong urge to check the news tabs to see the accomplishment of her last mission but decided to exercise self-control and restrain herself until later in the day, so after her morning exercise, she took her bathe and prepared for the day. She dressed in a simple sweat pant and long tank top and packed her hair up in a ponytail before heading out of her room to the breakfast area with her phone in her hand. She had finally given herself reprieve and allowed her to check what was going on in the social world but still no news of Mr. Luca’s death and that confused her but she decided that maybe his family wanted to keep the news of the media. She quickly called her informant and he picked up on the second call. “New news?” she asked briefly to avoid any one who might be eavesdropping to be unaware of the conversation they were having. “Only that he was seen last night entering and leaving The Opal”. “How did he leave The Opal last night?” she asked confused but waited to hear her informant tell her it was in a body bag. “With the car he came in”. “Ok, thank you”, she replied briskly and ended the call. Surely, the poison must have taken effect on him after he got home so there was no need for her to worry, she thought to herself when she suddenly felt a presence behind her. She put her phone in her pocket and folded her fists, ready for a fight, before turning around to have a proper look at who the unfortunate stalker was. She turned around and almost lost her balance when she saw a familiar face staring at her with a smile. “Luca Vincenzo?” she whispered, her voice laced in surprise. She could not believe that this man was alive and standing before her regardless of how successful last night’s murder mission had been. It couldn’t be!
Shortly after Diana Braulio had kissed him and left, Luca stood up and went to his VVIP suite where he was to meet with a gang lord that flew in from Los Angeles. “You are late Mr. Luca. I do not appreciate lateness”, the gang lord said without standing up to show respect “I had business to attend to but let us get down to our own business immediately”, Luca replied before pouring himself a drink. “When should I expect my shipment from LA?” “It will arrive in a week’s time”, the visitor said. “I’m here to conclude the business transaction” Luca sat down at his chair behind his table, he suddenly felt very dizzy but he knew he had to control himself to avoid looking weak in front of his business partner. “You really did not have to fly all the way down here to conclude a transaction. I will wire the money as soon as I get my goods.” Luca head started swimming and he knew he had to leave immediately and get back to his suite, he knew he had been poisoned but he could not think about how it happened. “I am leaving, our business would be concluded by next week then. Have a lovely flight home”, Luca said as he walked out of the suite and immediately drove out with his car back to the hotel. “Key card! Now!” he yelled at the reception even before he reached the counter and the scared young brunette scurried to get the key card and had it on the counter before he finally reached it. He picked it from the counter and cursed the fact that he had forgotten his antidote bottle for poison at the suite. Once he opened the door and got in, he jammed it shut before he scrambled to his weaponry suitcase and upturned everything in search for the small jar of antidote. “Where is that fucking bottle?”, he cursed at no one in particular as he used his hands to pat around in search of it because he had already started losing 80 to 90% of his sight. He finally found the jar and popped it open then turn the entire content into his mouth before he slumped on the bed and became unconscious. The next morning, he woke up really early and although the after effect of the poison still lingered, he found himself ready for work before 8am as usual. He thought carefully on who and how he got poisoned and although he was not completely sure, he had a strong gut feeling that the mysterious woman named Diana Braulio had something up her sleeve and may have poisoned him somehow. He made a call and it got answered within seconds. “Send me the footage of yesterday’s floor. Send it to my email and send me the room number and what you know of one of the guests by name Diana Braulio” He ended the call and within seconds, he had a pop-up notification of a new mail which he quickly opened. He went through the footage of the previous night and saw Diana (Bianca) stroll back to her room calmly, it did not look like she had something to hide. He quicky sent the video to another contact of his and the very scanty detail that was provided by the hotel with hope something could come out of that. “I have sent an attachment to you, get back to me on what you have”, he said to the receiver of the call then ended the call immediately. He decided to go downstairs for breakfast, he knew he had to go back to the Vincenzo house soon but he wanted to relax a bit before he gets stuck with the reality of getting married. As if the family business was not enough, his father had deemed it fit to add a loveless marriage to the lists of his problems. He dressed in comfy slacks and shirt and stepped out of his room and into the elevator, a couple of minutes later he was down at the entrance of the breakfast hall when his attention was caught by the woman in sweat pants and high ponytail in front of him. ‘Damn!’, he thought, ‘this woman was hot even in ordinary outfits like tank tops and sweat pants.’ He could not get his eyes off the back of her exposed neck that was begging to be marked and given hickeys. He was about to call her name when she turned around and face him but he noticed that her guard had been up, her fist folded and her stance had widened just enough for her to comfortably throw a swinging punch. She was an avid fighter in disguise and that made his suspicion even greater. “Luca Vincenzo”, she said and Luca saw he struggle to hide her surprise, “you startled me”. “I am absolutely sorry about that Miss Diana”, Luca replied, “but are you trying to kill me by any chance?”, he asked subtly in a form of a tease but she had already regained composure of her emotion and if she was shocked at his question, she hide it perfectly behind a pleasing smile before turning around to head into the breakfast section. “What do you mean Sir Luca? I would never try such”, she replied in a cheery voice as she made her way to the buffet stand and filled her plate with bacon and steaming devilled eggs and grabbed a glass of freshly squeezed apple juice then headed towards a sit. Luca followed with a plate of toast, avocado and bacons and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice before taking a seat by her side. “Looking so beautiful this early morning even in sweat pants…you put models to shame”, he said and before she could reply, his phone pinged with a message that change his countenance. His suspicion had been proven right but at that moment, Luca was thinking of how he could get her to follow him back to his suite for questioning. He needed to know why she wanted him dead but now he knew she was dangerous; he was sure not to let his guard down again. “How about we take this breakfast up to my suite?”, Luca said with a coy smile as he put down his phone but she forked a piece of egg and chewed slowly on it before she looked up at him again. “What exactly do you keep in your room that you are always inviting me to it?” she replied with a soft, sly smile. “Why don’t you come and find out Miss Diana, or should I say Bianca Salvatore?”
Bianca’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of her real name. Her fork froze mid-air, a piece of the egg she was eating was left dangling. She forced herself to chew slowly, as she kept thinking fast. How did he find out? She had thought that she was so careful. Her alias, Diana Braulio, was the best she has ever used or so she thought. She swallowed the bite and set her fork down, her expression calm but she could hear her pulse sounding in her ears. “Bianca Salvatore?” she repeated, bending her head slightly as if she was amused. “I’m sorry you’ve mistaken me for someone else, signore Vincenzo.” Luca leaned back into his chair, his dark eyes shone with amusement and something sharper, something scary maybe, danger! “Oh, I don’t think so,” he said, his voice low and smooth, like a soft bed linen. “You see, I have a very good memory for faces. And names. Especially when they belong to someone who tried to kill me.” Bianca’s stomach rumbled as she was uneasy at this point, but she kept her face neutral. She couldn’t afford to panic now. “That’s a heavy accusation,” she said lightly, picking up her glass of apple juice. “Do you often accuse women of trying to kill you, or am I just special?” Luca chuckled, a deep sound that sent a shiver down her spine, and made her want to puke. “You’re definitely special, mia bella assassina (my beautiful assassin). But let’s not play games. I know who you are. And I know why you’re here.” Bianca took a sip of her juice, trying so hard to keep her cool. She had two options: deny everything and hope he didn’t have enough evidence to act, or admit the truth and try to negotiate her way out of this mess. Neither option was ideal, but she had to choose quick enough. “Fine,” she said, setting her glass down and facing him directly while maintaining eye contact. “You’re right. I’m Bianca Salvatore. But if you think I’m going to apologize for trying to kill you, you’re sorely mistaken.” She said without realizing she actually sounded scared. Luca’s lips curved into a smirk. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from someone with your reputation. But here’s the thing, Bianca, you failed. And now you’re in my world. My rules and only my rules apply here. Le mie regole e solo le mie regole valgono qui.” Bianca leaned forward, her elbows on the table, her voice dropping to a whisper. “And what exactly are your rules, Ragazzo?” He replicated her posture, his face inches from hers. “Rule number one: you don’t get to walk away. Rule number two: you work for me now.” She laughed, a sharp, but bitter sound. “Work for you? You think I would ever work for the man I was hired to kill?” She was now gradually settling back into the conversation. “I don’t think you are in any position to refuse but I like your spirit and boldness, I appreciate such boldness only when it is on my side”. He stood up and poured himself a glass of the juice she was drinking before sitting down again and took his time to sip the drink while looking at her with a curios smile on his face. “I do want you on my side though Miss Bianca so I will make additions to that offer” “What exactly is this addition?” Bianca asked, more skeptical about the whole bargaining. “It is simple and should favor you. I will delete your records you put in so much stress to hide, it will be as though Bianca Salvatore, the hired assassin with a good record never existed” “Now why would I be happy that you want to delete my hard-earned reputation?” “Well, it seemed to be that you went extra miles to have that record deleted…at the very least, I will make sure the history of your childhood and movements through various foster home are gone. You and I know you did some pretty bad things growing up”, Luca said with a sinister smile “I am still waiting to hear what exactly you want from me”, Bianca said, cutting straight to the chase. “Okay then… this is the bargain, for the sum of $1,000,000,000 and a clean record and well…your life, you have to kill who sent you and you would also have to marry me” “What?” Bianca had never been that surprised in her entire life. At this point she was on her feet. “Marry you…what do you want from me exactly Signore Luca?, I can’t marry you”. She said with utmost disgust as she sat back down. “You don’t have a choice,” he said, his tone hardening. “You see, I could have you killed right now. Or worse, handed you over to my men, who would make sure you regretted ever crossing me. But I’m offering you a way out. A deal.” She stared at him, her mind racing. It was a dangerous proposition, but it also seemed as her only way out. If she refused, she was dead. If she accepted, she’d be trading one target for another and putting herself in even greater danger. But at least she’d have a chance to survive. “And if I say no?” she asked, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. Luca’s smile faded, his expression turning cold. “Then it would be obvious that you have not been listening to me all along or that you’re just intentionally ignorant” he responded in the deepest voice he has used all morning. “How many times do I have to tell you that you don’t get too choose here?” Bianca held his gaze for a long moment, weighing her options. “On one condition” Luca raised an eyebrow. “You’re not exactly in a position to make demands.” “Humor me,” she said, her tone firm. “I want my complete payment before I complete the job” Luca studied her for a moment, then waved his head slowly. “No at least half payment should suffice. But if you double-cross me, I’ll kill you and everybody you’ve ever known on this earth” Bianca smirked. “Noted. Now, if I may ask, why do you want to marry me?” “It’s perfect,” Luca said, clearly enjoying her reaction. “My father’s been on my neck about finding a wife. If I show up with you, it will buy me sometime… and keep you close where I can keep an eye on you.” Bianca stared at him, her mind reeling. “You can’t be serious.” “Deadly,” Luca said, his smirk widening. “Besides, it’s not like you have a choice.” She opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off. “You wanted a condition? This is mine. You play the part of my loving fiancée, and I’ll make sure your records disappear and pay you heavily, while also keeping you alive, what more do you want?” Bianca clenched her fists under the table, her nails digging into her palms. She hated this. Hated him. But she had no other options, it was this or death, although this could also get her killed. Luca’s smile was triumphant. “Good. Now, finish your breakfast. We have a lot to discuss.” Bianca reluctantly picked up her fork, her mind racing with thoughts of escape and maybe completing the mission of killing Luca after all. But for now, she was trapped in Luca’s game. And she had to play along. As she took a bite of her egg, Luca’s phone rang, breaking the heavy compulsory silence. He glanced at the screen, his expression unreadable. “Not now,” he muttered, sending the call to voicemail. Luca stood, his chair scraping against the floor. “Enough chit-chat,” he said, his voice crisp. “We have work to do.” Bianca’s heart sank. What did he have planned for her? And how could she possibly get out of this alive? As Luca gestured for her to follow him, Bianca pushed back her chair, her mind racing with possibilities. She had to think fast, had to come up with a plan to outsmart Luca and escape or maybe even kill him.
In the days that followed, Bianca struggled with her decision. The more time she spent with Luca, the more complex her feelings became. He was charming and ruthless, but there was a vulnerability to him that she hadn’t anticipated. Their dinners became a routine, filled with laughter, shared stories, and an undeniable chemistry. But every moment of intimacy felt like a betrayal of her mission. She was supposed to be plotting his death, yet here she was, becoming entwined in his life. One evening, as they strolled through a quiet park, Luca turned to her, his expression serious. “I can sense something is off. You’re holding back. What are you hiding?” Bianca’s heart raced. She had to tread carefully. “I’m just adjusting to this world, Luca. It’s not easy for someone like me.” He stopped walking and faced her, his gaze intense. “I’m not just a mafia leader; I’m a man who values honesty. If you want to be part of this, you need to trust me.” She swallowed hard, knowing that trust was a fragile thing. “I want to, but my past is complicated.” “Then let me in,” he urged, his voice low and earnest. “I can help you.” The offer hung in the air, a lifeline she desperately wanted to grasp. But as she looked into his eyes, she knew that revealing her true identity would shatter the connection they had built. “I need time,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. Luca nodded, his expression softening. “Take all the time you need. Just know that I’m here.” As the days turned into weeks, Bianca found herself caught in a web of emotions. She was falling for Luca, and the longer she stayed, the harder it became to fulfill her mission. One evening, as they sat in his penthouse, Bianca felt a surge of desperation. She had to make a choice. “Luca,” she began, biting her lip, “I need to tell you something important.” He looked up, concern etched on his face. “What is it?” She hesitated, her heart pounding. “I’ve been hired to kill you.” The silence that followed felt suffocating. Luca’s expression hardened, and for a moment, she feared she had lost him completely. “Why should I believe you?” he asked, his voice cold. “Because I’m standing here, telling you the truth,” she replied, tears welling in her eyes. “I could have just done it and walked away, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to.” His gaze softened slightly, but suspicion lingered. “Why?” “Because I’m starting to care about you,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.” Luca’s eyes narrowed, a mix of anger and confusion crossing his features. “So you think you can just walk away from this? From me?” “I don’t know!” she exclaimed, frustration spilling over. “I didn’t plan for any of this. I didn’t plan to fall for you.” He stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. “And what do you want now?” The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken possibilities. “I want to stay,” she whispered, “but I need to know if you can trust me.” Luca took a step back, his expression conflicted. “Trust is hard to come by in my world. You’ve put me in a difficult position.” “I know,” she replied, her heart racing. “But I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to prove myself.” He studied her, the tension between them palpable. “Then let’s make it a game. If you can prove your loyalty, maybe I’ll reconsider.” Bianca felt a mix of relief and dread. She was in deeper than she had ever intended, yet part of her was exhilarated by the challenge. Luca was offering her a path, albeit a dangerous one. “How do I prove my loyalty?” she asked, her voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling inside her. Luca leaned back, a calculating look in his eyes. “You’ll need to help me uncover the traitors in my organization. I have my suspicions, but I need someone I can trust to dig deeper.” Bianca hesitated, knowing that this could lead her further into his world. “And if I refuse?” “Then you walk away,” he replied, his tone unyielding. “But know that walking away means turning your back on what we have.” The weight of his words pressed down on her. She was torn between her mission and the undeniable connection they shared. “Alright,” she agreed, steeling herself. “I’ll help.” Luca’s expression shifted, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face. “Good. We’ll start with the men closest to me. I need you to gather information discreetly.” As the days passed, Bianca found herself deep in the underbelly of the mafia world. She shadowed Luca, observing his interactions with his men, noting their behaviors, and piecing together a web of deceit. Each encounter felt like a dance on a razor’s edge. She was both hunter and hunted, and the thrill of the chase awakened something within her. Yet, the deeper she got, the harder it became to separate her feelings for Luca from her mission. One night, as they reviewed the information she had gathered, Luca leaned closer, his breath warm against her skin. “You’re doing well, Diana. I knew I could count on you.” The compliment sent sparks through her, and for a moment, she forgot the danger looming over them. “Thank you,” she replied, her voice barely a whisper. He studied her, his expression serious. “But I need to know if you’re truly committed to this. Loyalty can’t be half-hearted.” Bianca took a deep breath, her heart racing. “I’m all in, Luca. I want to help you.” A flicker of something—trust, perhaps—passed between them. “Then let’s make this official,” he said, pulling a small pendant from his pocket. “Wear this. It signifies our bond and your commitment to our cause.” She took the pendant, a silver chain with a small insignia that represented the La Mano Nera. It was a symbol of loyalty, and as she slipped it around her neck, she felt the weight of her decision settle over her. “I won’t let you down,” Bianca promised, determination flooding her veins. Luca smiled, a genuine warmth in his eyes. “I believe you. Together, we’ll uncover the truth and protect what’s ours.”
The Pasquale estate was a huge luxurious mansion in the heart of Philadelphia, its beauty an evidence of the family’s power and wealth. The mansion had beautifully carved stone walls, large windows, and a stunning garden that was always well maintained. The gardens were always maintained, the halls adorned with priceless art, and the air was always filled with a weak scent of expensive cigars and old money. Adriana Pasquale stood by the long windows of her bedroom, her pale blue eyes were fixated on the garden directly below her bedroom. The soft glow of the moon shone on the carefully cut hedges and blooming roses, creating a peaceful atmosphere. She looked very quiet and peaceful but Adriana’s mind was far from peaceful. Her heart skipped every time she glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost midnight, and she knew he would come. Marco DeLuca. A highly rated member of La Mano Nera, and Luca Vincenzo’s most trusted lieutenant. He was tall, lean and muscular young man with an athletic build. His contoured features and strong jawline made him look even more handsome. His appearance was striking, perfectly combining charm with a dangerous edge. He was quite an ambitious man who felt he could achieve a lot for himself, yet remained loyal, and fiercely protective of the Vincenzo family. The thought of him alone always sent shivers down her spine. He was everything she ever wanted. Warm, attentive, and passionate. Marco’s eyes burned with a fire that made her feel alive. Every time he looked at her, she felt like she was the only person in the world. Their affair had started innocently and unexpectedly enough, an unplanned encounter in the gardens one evening when she had been crying over the death of her mother. Marco had comforted her, and one thing had led to another which brought them to where they were currently. A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts and back to reality. Adriana’s heart skipped multiple beats and she stood up hastily and hurried to the door, her silk nightgown kept swishing around her ankles. She opened it just enough to peep from, and there he was…Marco, his dark hair slightly trimmed, his green eyes filled with longing of her. “You came,” she whispered, struggling to get her voice which had a trembling mix of relief and excitement. “I told you I would,” Marco replied, his voice lower than Adriana’s. He stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him. The moment the lock clicked, Adriana threw herself into his arms, her lips meeting his in a desperate kiss. Marco’s arms wrapped tightly around her, holding her close as they kissed. Marco’s hands caressed her body gently. He kept pulling her closer as if he was trying to push her into his own body. “I’ve missed you,” Adriana murmured against his lips, her fingers gently pulling his hair. “It’s been too long.” “I know,” Marco replied, his breath warm against her skin. “But we have to be very careful. If anyone finds out we could be in real trouble and you know it” “I don’t care,” Adriana interrupted, her voice fierce. “I can’t keep pretending, Marco. I can’t keep living this lie. Luca doesn’t love me. He never will. He has never thought of me in that sense I’m very sure. But you… you make me feel like I’m something.” “You know I love you so much, and I can never love Luca” Marco covered the sides of her face in his hands, his expression softening. “You are worth everything, Adriana. More than you may even know.” Their lips met again, the kiss was deeper than the previous ones, as the world outside faded away in their mind. For a moment, it was just the two of them, lost in each other. But reality was never far away… “Knock knock” A soft knock on the door made them both freeze, their hearts pounding together. Adriana’s eyes widened in panic as she stood there, her mind kept racing and she was very confused. “Who is it?” she called out, trying to keep her voice steady. “It’s me, Adriana,” came the voice of her father, Matteo Pasquale. “I need to speak with you.” Adriana’s stopped at that instant. She glanced at Marco, who was already on moving back slowly, his expression grim. He increased his pace, grabbing his jacket that he had dropped on the couch before slipping into the closet. Adriana smoothed her hair and took a deep breath before opening the door. “Father,” she said, forcing a smile. “What are you doing here so late?” Matteo’s sharp eyes scanned the room, his gaze lingering as if he was looking for something or… someone before settling his gaze on his daughter. “You’ve been acting strange lately, Adriana. Tutti bene? (Is everything alright?)” Adriana’s heart raced, but she kept her expression calm. “I’m fine, Father. Just… tired. It’s been a long day.” Matteo studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded, though his eyes still held a hint of suspicion. “Very well. Remember, you’re to marry Luca in a few months. It’s important that you focus on your duties to the family, ricorda, la famiglia viene prima.” Adriana’s stomach rumbled at the reminder, but she nodded. “I know, Father. I won’t let you down.” Matteo gave her a nod before turning to leave. “Buona notte, Adriana.” (Goodnight Adriana) “Buona notte, Padre.,” she replied, closing the door behind him. She leaned against it, her legs shaking as she tried to steady her breathing. Marco came out from the closet, his expression tense. “That was too close.” Adriana nodded, her eyes filling with tears. “I can’t do this anymore, Marco. I can’t keep living like this.” Marco crossed over to the part of the room where she stood, and pulled her into his arms. “We’ll figure something out,” he promised, though his voice sounded unsure . “We have to.” As Marco slipped out of Adriana’s room, he didn’t notice the shadowy figure watching from the end of the hall. The figure lingered for a moment before disappearing into the darkness…
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