PROLOGUE
578 Words
The Man Behind the Golden Mask
Rain poured over the city.
It was almost midnight.
The streets beneath Valentino Tower were nearly empty, but inside the tallest building in the financial district, a private meeting was taking place.
Seven men sat around a black marble table.
None of them showed their faces.
Each wore a different mask.
Silver.
Black.
White.
Red.
Blue.
And at the head of the table sat a man wearing a golden half mask.
Siege Arden Valentino.
He sat calmly, one hand resting against the arm of his chair.
"You're asking me to surrender half my territory."
The man across from him leaned forward.
"You're losing control, Valentino."
Siege smiled.
"No."
His voice was quiet.
"You're confusing patience with weakness."
The man laughed.
"You're one man."
Siege tilted his head.
"Then why did you bring six?"
Silence.
One of the masked men reached beneath his jacket.
Siege didn't move.
"Don't."
The man stopped.
Siege looked at him.
"You know the rules."
The room became colder.
"No weapons during negotiations."
The man slowly removed his hand.
Siege leaned forward.
"You broke the first rule."
He stood.
"Now I'll break yours."
The lights suddenly went out.
Three gunshots echoed.
When the lights returned, two men were unconscious on the floor.
The others had disappeared.
Siege remained standing.
His security chief entered.
"Sir."
Siege looked toward the broken window.
"Find out who arranged this."
"Yes, sir."
"And Marcus?"
"Yes?"
"Someone is leaking information."
Marcus nodded.
"We suspected that."
Siege's eyes hardened.
"No."
He touched the golden mask.
"Someone is helping them."
🎭
Across the city, inside Saint Aurelia Medical Center, a young doctor was fighting a different kind of battle.
"Doctor Arias!"
Brielle Averie Arias turned toward the emergency room.
"What?"
"Trauma incoming!"
"How many?"
"Three!"
Brielle immediately moved.
"Prepare operating room two."
She grabbed her gloves.
A nurse rushed toward her.
"Doctor, you haven't eaten."
"I'll eat after surgery."
"You said that six hours ago."
"And I meant it six hours ago."
The nurse sighed.
"You're impossible."
Brielle smiled.
"I'm a doctor. It's in the job description."
The ambulance doors opened.
A man was carried inside.
Blood covered his shirt.
Brielle approached.
"Vitals?"
"Blood pressure dropping."
"Get him into trauma room one."
The man suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Don't…"
Brielle leaned closer.
"Don't what?"
His eyes widened.
"Valentino…"
Brielle frowned.
"Who?"
The man's grip loosened.
He collapsed.
Brielle looked at the nurse.
"What did he mean?"
Before the nurse could answer, another ambulance arrived.
Inside was a single patient.
A tall man dressed in black.
His shirt was soaked with blood.
The paramedics were panicking.
"Gunshot wound!"
Brielle rushed forward.
"Where?"
"Left abdomen."
"Move."
She pulled the curtain aside.
Then froze.
The injured man opened his eyes.
Dark.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
Their eyes met.
He looked at her.
"You're not supposed to be here."
Brielle frowned.
"Excuse me?"
He coughed.
"Go home, Doctor."
She stared at him.
"You've been shot."
"I noticed."
"You're losing blood."
"I noticed that too."
"Then stop talking."
His mouth curved slightly.
"Bossy."
"And you're annoying."
The paramedic whispered:
"Doctor…"
Brielle looked at him.
"Who is he?"
The paramedic swallowed.
"Siege Valentino."
Brielle's eyes widened.
The billionaire.
The tyrant.
The man rumored to have connections to the city's most dangerous criminals.
She looked back at him.
Siege stared at her.
Neither knew it yet.
But that night would change both their lives.
Because the moment Brielle touched Siege's blood covered hand
the war began.
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