A SLAVE FOR THE MAFIA HEIR

Chapter 4

Vivian’s POV

The Blackthorne Estate looked most beautiful at night.

Power always did.

Golden lights illuminated the massive palace-like mansions stretching across the hills overlooking Ravencroft City ewhile fountains shimmered beneath the moonlight like liquid silver. Armed guards patrolled silently through the estate grounds dressed in black suits with concealed weapons beneath their jackets.

Elegant, deadly and untouchable. Just exactly how I designed it.

I sank deeper into the warm bubbling water of the indoor marble jacuzzi while soft instrumental music drifted through the private relaxation lounge connected to my chambers.

Italian marble floors reflected the dim amber lighting overhead. Gold-trimmed pillars lined the enormous room. Expensive paintings stolen from private collectors hung along the walls beside rare sculptures worth millions.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the glowing city beneath the cliffs while sheer black curtains swayed gently from the cool night breeze entering through the open balcony doors.

Luxury, silence and control. The only things that truly mattered in this world to me.

I lifted the crystal wine glass slowly to my lips and took another smooth sip of red wine just as my private phone buzzed softly against the marble counter nearby.

Right on time and without hurry, I reached for it. “Speak.”

“Boss,” one of my men said immediately from the other end. “We’ve eliminated her.”

“Good.” The warmth of the jacuzzi swirled softly around my body while I crossed one leg over the other beneath the water.

“Any traces?” I asked calmly.

“None at all, Boss.”

A small smile touched my lips. That was why I kept loyal men around me.

“Mr. Jake arrived at the scene immediately after impact,” he continued. “Police already secured the area. The media’s calling it a tragic accident.”

Of course they were.

Senior Officer Jake owed his entire career to the Blackthorne Empire. The man practically breathed when I allowed it. Money controlled governments more effectively than laws ever could.

“Excellent,” I murmured softly. Another successful cleanup. Another problem erased.

The line disconnected shortly afterward, leaving silence behind once again. I leaned my head back slowly against the jacuzzi edge and closed my eyes briefly.

Lila Voss was dead and somehow...I felt nothing. Perhaps once, years ago, her death might have bothered me before power hardened me completely, before I understood what weakness truly cost.

Lila had been intelligent, loyal and useful but kindness always ruined intelligent women eventually and that was her flaw. She still believed emotions belonged inside powerful circles and still believed love could exist beside empires built on violence.

Pathetic!!. I took another sip of wine thoughtfully because replacing her wouldn’t be difficult.

There were hundreds of ambitious financial experts desperate for access to the Blackthorne Empire. Men and women who would kill for her position without hesitation.

The world always replaced the dead eventually especially inside my world because grief was a luxury powerful people rarely had time for.

My gaze shifted toward the city lights again. Somewhere out there, Elara Voss was probably crying herself apart by now. Poor girl. But grief was survivable. Eventually she would understand survival required obedience.

And if she didn’t…well, that problem could be solved too. The thought barely disturbed me.

I stepped gracefully out of the jacuzzi moments later, water sliding down my skin while one of the maids immediately approached with a silk robe.

“Leave,” I instructed calmly.

“Yes, Madam Blackthorne.” The servants disappeared instantly. Fear kept efficiency alive inside this estate.

I walked slowly across the massive lounge toward the balcony overlooking Blackthorne Estate. Cold night air brushed softly against my damp skin.

Beautiful Estate, but rotten underneath exactly like the people ruling it.

From this height, the estate looked peaceful but beneath the glittering skyline existed another kingdom entirely.

Drug traffickers controlling ports beneath government protection. Serial killers hired quietly to eliminate political threats. Human traffickers laundering money through luxury casinos. Arms dealers financing private wars across borders.

We ruled this city from the shadows while politicians smiled for cameras pretending laws still mattered. Most civilians never realized how deeply corruption infected their lives.

The judges, the police, the hospitals, the media. All owned, all controlled and I built most of it myself after my husband became too weak to lead properly.

My expression hardened faintly at the thought of Victor Blackthorne, my late husband.

The great Blackthorne king feared by the city, worshipped by criminals and ultimately destroyed by softness.

Victor’s weakness was women like Lila. Gentle compassionate women. Women capable of making powerful men emotional.

He started hesitating too much near the end. Questioning violent decisions, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed and protecting innocent people.

Weakness. All weakness. And weakness infects empires like disease. That was why I arranged his death three years ago.

A little food poisoning. That was all. Clean, simple and necessary.

The kingdom mourned him beautifully, meanwhile, I inherited complete control exactly as planned. I never regretted it. Not once because survival demanded sacrifice.

And Damon, my son would never become another Victor. Never!!.

That boy inherited his father’s dangerous softness beneath all that coldness.

Externally, Damon looked perfect. Controlled and violent when necessary. Feared throughout Ravencroft despite his age.

Men twice his age lowered their voices when he entered rooms. Women obsessed over him endlessly. He carried power naturally but underneath all that darkness, he still possessed compassion and compassion made men vulnerable especially to beautiful girls. Girls exactly like Elara Voss.

I gripped the wine glass tighter.

That girl was dangerous in ways she didn’t even understand yet. Too beautiful and too kind. Too capable of reaching parts of Damon I spent years hardening.

I spent Damon’s entire life shaping him carefully. Strict discipline, controlled violence, emotional isolation and cruel lessons necessary for survival. While other mothers raised sons…I raised a king.

And kings did not belong to ordinary girls. Kings married strategically. Kings expanded power. Kings ruled. They did not fall in love.

The balcony doors slid open softly behind me and one of my security men approached carefully.

“Madam Blackthorne.” I turned slowly. “Yes?”

“What about the Voss girl??”. “Should we monitor her?”

“Yes, always do so, especially now.”

I could still remember the little girl from years ago. Sharp-tongued, curious, fearless and too much like her mother, and now that grief would shape her completely, she could either become useful or become dangerous.

Either way, I intended to control the outcome.