Blood and Vows

A Shadow in the Dark

Elena barely had time to process Adrian’s glare before he descended the stairs, his footsteps slow and deliberate.

“I gave you one rule,” he said, his voice dangerously calm. “Stay out of this.”

Elena lifted her chin, refusing to shrink under his gaze. “If I had, we wouldn’t know that Luca is betraying you.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might explode. But before he could say another word, a voice interrupted them.

“She’s right.”

Both of them turned.

Standing in the doorway was a man Elena had never seen before. He was tall, dressed in a crisp black suit, with sharp cheekbones and piercing green eyes that gleamed like a predator’s in the dim light. A thin scar ran down his left eyebrow, giving him an air of dangerous elegance.

“And who the hell are you?” Adrian asked, his tone icy.

The man smiled. “Gabriel Moretti. And I just saved your little empire.”

A New Player in the Game

Elena’s stomach clenched. The Moretti family was infamous—a powerful mafia syndicate from the East Coast, known for their ruthless efficiency. If one of them was standing in Adrian’s house, it meant only one thing.

Trouble.

Adrian crossed his arms. “I don’t like uninvited guests.”

Gabriel chuckled. “And I don’t like watching good business partners walk into an ambush.” He turned his gaze to Elena. “If your woman hadn’t been at the docks tonight, Luca’s deal would have gone through unnoticed. And you’d be sitting in this grand estate without realizing your empire was crumbling beneath you.”

Adrian’s eyes flickered to Elena, something unreadable in his expression. Then he looked back at Gabriel. “Why do you care?”

Gabriel shrugged. “Because if Luca’s working with outsiders, that means someone’s trying to change the balance of power in this city. And that affects all of us.”

Elena swallowed hard. The way Gabriel spoke made it clear—he wasn’t here to help out of kindness. He had his own interests at play.

Adrian studied him for a long moment before speaking. “What do you want?”

Gabriel’s smile widened. “A seat at the table.”

Silence hung in the air.

Elena’s heart pounded. A new alliance? This wasn’t just about Luca anymore. This was about the entire mafia structure shifting.

Before Adrian could answer, a gunshot shattered the night.

Betrayal in the Blood

Elena barely had time to react before Adrian shoved her behind him, drawing his gun. Gabriel did the same, moving with a speed that made it clear he was no ordinary businessman.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. One of Adrian’s men stumbled into the room, blood staining his white shirt.

“Boss,” he gasped. “It’s Luca. He—”

A second gunshot rang out, cutting him off.

Elena’s breath caught as the man collapsed to the floor.

Adrian swore under his breath. “He’s making his move.”

Gabriel sighed, shaking his head. “You really should have taken care of him earlier.”

Elena felt a chill run down her spine. This wasn’t just a betrayal. This was a coup.

Adrian turned to Gabriel. “If you want a seat at the table, prove yourself. Help me take him down.”

Gabriel smirked, checking the magazine in his gun. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

The Hunt Begins

Elena grabbed a spare pistol from the desk. She wasn’t going to be left behind this time.

Adrian noticed and frowned. “You’re staying here.”

“No, I’m not.”

He clenched his jaw, but there was no time to argue.

Gabriel grinned. “I like her.”

Adrian muttered a curse under his breath and signaled for them to move.

The estate was eerily silent as they made their way toward the front entrance. Outside, the sound of approaching cars filled the air.

Luca wasn’t alone.

Elena took a deep breath. This was war.

And she was ready.