Burn For Me

Chapter 1: Forbidden Desires Valentina De Luca watched the ballroom with a critical eye. The luxurious chandeliers above cast soft glows on the polished marble floors, but her mind was elsewhere. Her brother’s wedding—her family’s biggest event of the year—was supposed to be a celebration. Yet all she felt was cold. The laughter, the chatter, the clinking of glasses. None of it mattered to her. She was the daughter of the De Luca family, feared and respected, a woman who ruled with an iron fist and never let anyone close. Emotions were weaknesses, and love—especially in the mafia—was a luxury no one could afford. But then… she saw her. A girl, standing quietly at the back of the room near the catering tables, adjusting a tray of hors d'oeuvres. She was different. Not like the other girls in the room, all clad in tight dresses, preened and polished to perfection. No, this girl was delicate, yet strong. Her dark hair framed her face softly, and her wide brown eyes seemed to take everything in with a quiet intensity. Valentina’s gaze lingered longer than it should have, but the girl didn’t seem to notice. She was too busy arranging the trays, her hands graceful and precise, as if she were performing some sort of delicate ritual. The room buzzed with conversation, but all Valentina could hear was the thumping of her own heartbeat in her chest. She was used to being in control of everything. Used to being the predator, not the prey. But something about this girl… it was as if she held a key to something Valentina couldn’t even name. And then, their eyes met. A spark. The girl froze for just a moment, her wide eyes locking with Valentina’s, and for the briefest second, the entire room seemed to disappear. No music. No laughter. Just the heat between them—a silent, electric charge that made Valentina’s breath catch. A voice broke through the silence in her head. You shouldn’t want this. But it was already too late. The pull was undeniable. ---