Valentina’s breath came in short, sharp gasps as she stood at the edge of the dimly lit ballroom, her fingers trembling around the stem of a crystal glass. The tension in the air was thick, pressing against her like an invisible weight. Adrian Costa, the man who had dragged her into this dark underworld, stood across the room, engaged in a conversation with a foreign associate. His expression was unreadable, but his presence dominated the space, exuding power and control.
Her mind replayed the events of the previous night, the whispered threats, the blood-stained floors, and the chilling realization that there was no way out of this world. She had taken a life. The weight of that moment hadn’t settled yet, but she knew there was no turning back. If Adrian expected her to crumble, he was m
