The Devil's Daughter

The first time I saw Ethan Romano, my father ordered me to stay away from him. The second time I saw him, he saved me. And the third time? He ruined my life. The irony wasn't lost on me. "Smile, Isabella." I forced the corners of my lips upward as camera flashes exploded around me. The annual DeLuca Foundation Gala was the biggest event of the year. Politicians, celebrities, business tycoons, and socialites filled the grand ballroom of the DeLuca Grand Hotel. To everyone else, it looked like a fairy tale. To me, it felt like a prison. My diamond-encrusted heels pinched my feet. The silver designer gown I wore cost more than most people made in a year. Yet none of it belonged to me. Not really. Because everything in my life belonged to Vincent DeLuca. My father. The king of New York. And kings didn't raise daughters. They raised assets. "Stand up straight." His voice was low enough that only I could hear it. I immediately adjusted my posture. Even at twenty-two years old, I hated how quickly I obeyed him. My father's dark eyes scanned the crowd. Power radiated from him effortlessly. People feared him. Respected him. Worshipped him. I knew better. I knew the man behind the expensive suits and charming smiles. The man who controlled every aspect of my life. The man who decided which university I attended, who my friends were, and who I would eventually marry. A muscle tightened in my jaw. One day, I would be free. One day. Just not tonight. My father suddenly stiffened. The smile vanished from his face. The change was so subtle that nobody else noticed. But I did. I followed his gaze across the ballroom. And saw him. The Romanos. The room seemed to shift. Conversations lowered. Eyes turned. Whispers spread. The Romano family had arrived. At their center stood a tall man dressed in an immaculate black tuxedo. His dark hair was perfectly styled. His broad shoulders commanded attention. And his face... God. He looked like every dangerous fantasy wrapped into one devastatingly handsome package. He wasn't smiling. He wasn't trying to impress anyone. Yet every woman in the room noticed him. Including me. My stomach did something strange. Something I didn't appreciate. "Who is that?" I asked before I could stop myself. My father's expression turned ice cold. "Ethan Romano." The name landed heavily. Of course. The infamous Romano heir. I had heard stories about him for years. The ruthless businessman. The billionaire playboy. The future head of the Romano empire. And according to my father, the last man on earth I should ever trust. As if sensing my stare, Ethan looked directly at me. The entire room disappeared. For one impossible second, it felt like we were the only two people there. His gaze moved over me. Slowly. Intentionally. Heat rushed through me. Then his lips curved slightly. Not quite a smile. Something more dangerous. My pulse stumbled. "Do not look at him." My father's voice snapped me back to reality. I tore my gaze away. "What exactly happened between our families?" The question escaped before I could stop it. My father's jaw tightened. "Nothing that concerns you." The same answer he'd given me my entire life. I was tired of hearing it. Before I could push further, someone approached. "Vincent." A deep voice interrupted. I turned. A silver-haired man stood before us. Leonardo Romano. Ethan's father. The atmosphere instantly became suffocating. The two men shook hands. But there was nothing friendly about it. The hatred between them was obvious. Years of resentment hidden behind expensive smiles. "Leonardo," my father replied coolly. Then another voice joined the conversation. One that sent an unexpected shiver through me. "Miss DeLuca." I looked up. Ethan Romano was standing directly in front of me. Closer than before. Much closer. His eyes were impossibly dark. The kind of eyes that looked like they held secrets. Dangerous ones. For a moment, neither of us spoke. His gaze lingered on my face. Almost as if he recognized me. Which was ridiculous. We'd never met. Had we? "Nice party," he finally said. His voice was smooth and confident. I hated how much I liked it. "Thank you." A corner of his mouth lifted. "You don't sound grateful." I blinked. "What?" "You thanked me like you'd rather be anywhere else." My cheeks warmed. Because he wasn't wrong. A flicker of amusement crossed his features. Then my father's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Isabella." A warning. One word. That's all it took. I stepped back. Ethan noticed. Of course he noticed. Nothing escaped those eyes. For the first time, his expression darkened. Interesting. Almost as if he understood exactly what had happened. "I should go," I said quickly. Without waiting for a response, I walked away. Fast. Too fast. My heart was racing. And I couldn't explain why. Hours later, I escaped to the hotel balcony for fresh air. The city lights sparkled below. For the first time all evening, I could breathe. Until I heard footsteps behind me. I froze. I already knew who it was. "Running away from your own party?" My heart betrayed me instantly. I turned. Ethan stood there. Alone. The cool night wind ruffled his dark hair. For a second, neither of us spoke. The silence felt strangely intimate. "You followed me?" I asked. His eyes gleamed. "Maybe." I should have walked away. Instead, I stayed. Something about him pulled me closer despite every warning screaming inside my head. "You know," he said quietly, "your father looked ready to declare war because I spoke to you." I laughed before I could stop myself. The sound surprised both of us. His gaze softened. And somehow that was even more dangerous. "Trust me," I said. "You don't want to get involved with my family." A shadow crossed his face. "That's where you're wrong." The way he said it made my stomach tighten. Before I could respond, the balcony doors burst open. A security guard rushed outside. Panic covered his face. "Miss DeLuca!" My blood ran cold. The guard looked directly at me. "There's been an accident." Fear slammed into my chest. "What happened?" The man's face went pale. "It's your father." Everything inside me stopped. And the next words shattered my world. "Someone just tried to kill him."