SHADOWS NEXT DOOR

ChapterFour

Ellie Harper’s POV

The sight of the docks was so freaking frightening, smoke embracing the blue sky, the air became thick with black smoke and the sound of metals. I ran through the commotion, My father's ledger held tightly to my heavy chest as if it was my only hope of survival. My lungs burning, my boots skid on oil-slick pavement, and my brain’s a mess. Nico’s my twin, not my brother, our dad’s alive, and the Viper’s goons are hunting me for a fortune I didn’t know existed.

Oh, and let’s not forget the arranged marriage bullshit: the Viper thinks I’m his bride-to-be, some twisted deal to settle Dad’s debts. I’m Ellie Harper, freelance artist turned Mafia target, and my life’s gone from messy to straight-up cursed.

Behind me, the safehouse is a fireball, Nico’s gunfire fading as he holds off the Viper’s crew. My dad, Tommy Harper, the ghost who raised me, then ditched me, is bleeding out, maybe dead. Nico’s mom, was screaming his name, her shotgun blasts echoing. I’m running blind, the ledger’s pages flapping, each one a map to millions Dad hid before faking his death. If I can find the stash, I can end this, bargain with the Viper, save Nico, maybe save myself. But the docks are a maze, and every shadow’s a threat.

I duck behind a shipping crate, my breath ragged. Frankie “Knuckles” Russo should’ve caught up by now, his gold chain and bad attitude hard to miss. He got me out of the safehouse, but where’s he at? My gut twists, something’s off.

I peek around the crate, and there he is, but he’s not alone. Gina, the Viper’s hitwoman, is with him, her cuffs gone, her smirk back. Worse, Frankie’s not fighting her. He’s talking to her, low and urgent, his gun holstered. My heart drops. No. Not Frankie. Nico’s brother-in-arms, his ride-or-die since they were kids. But the way Gina’s nodding, like they’re old pals, screams betrayal.

I’m about to bolt when Frankie’s eyes lock on mine, and his face shifts, guilt, then steel.

“Ellie, come out,” he calls, voice too calm. “We gotta talk.”

“Talk?” I hiss, stepping into the open, ledger tight against me. “With her? You’re Nico’s guy, Frankie. Or did the Viper buy you off?” My sass is a shield, but I’m shaking, the knife in my boot feeling useless against this.

Gina laughs, her leather jacket glinting in the firelight. “Oh, sweetheart, Frankie’s been ours for months. Playing both sides keeps him alive.” She saunters closer, and I notice Frankie’s not stopping her. My stomach lurches, he’s sold us out.

“Bullshit,” I snap, glaring at Frankie. “Nico trusts you. You’re family.” My voice cracks on that word, because family’s a lie now, Nico, me, Tommy, all of it.

Frankie’s jaw tightens, but his eyes are cold. “Family don’t pay the bills, Ellie. Nico’s slipping too soft on you, too blind to the Viper. I made a deal.” He steps toward me, his hand out. “Gimme the ledger. Viper’s offering you a way out, marry him, hand over the cash, and you walk.”

I laugh, sharp and bitter. “Marry that snake? I’d rather eat glass.” The marriage trap’s tightening, a noose I can’t slip. The Viper’s not just after Dad’s money, he wants me as a trophy, a symbol to crush Nico and claim Brooklyn. And Frankie’s delivering me on a platter.

Before I can move, Gina lunges, her nails clawing for the ledger. I dodge, swinging the book like a club, catching her jaw. She stumbles, cursing, but Frankie’s on me, his meaty hand grabbing my wrist.

“Don’t make this hard,” he growls.

But I’m done playing nice. I kick his shin, hard, and twist free, sprinting toward the water. The ledger’s my only leverage, and I’m not losing it.

Shouts echo, more goons, closing in. I’m cornered, the pier’s edge looming, black waves churning below. My pulse is a war drum, but I’m not giving up. Then, a roar cuts through the chaos: Nico, bloodied and battered, charging through the smoke, his crew, three guys I don’t know at his back. His gray eyes find me, wild with relief, and for a second, I forget he’s my twin, forget the ledger, forget everything but him.

“Ellie, hold on!” he yells, gun blazing, dropping two goons. But Frankie’s moving, and here’s the twist that rips my world apart: he’s not just betraying Nico, he’s leading the Viper’s crew. Frankie pulls a radio, barking orders, and a dozen armed thugs swarm from the shadows, outnumbering Nico’s men. He’s been playing double agent, not just for cash, but to take Nico’s throne. The Ghost’s empire, built on blood and loyalty, is crumbling, and Frankie’s the wrecking ball.

Nico’s face twists, rage, betrayal, pain as he clocks Frankie’s treachery. “Knuckles!” he roars, voice breaking. “You were my brother!” He charges, tackling Frankie, fists flying, but the Viper’s goons are closing in, and I’m out of time.

Gina’s back, grabbing my hair, yanking me toward a speedboat docked nearby. “You’re the Viper’s now,” she hisses, and I scream, thrashing, the ledger slipping.

Then, a new voice, cold, familiar, impossible. “Enough.” Tommy Harper, my dad, staggers from the smoke, alive, a gun in his shaking hand. His face is gray, blood soaking his shirt, but he’s standing, Nico’s mom supporting him. Her shotgun’s trained on Gina, and her eyes, our eyes, burn with fury. “Let my daughter go,” Tommy says, and I choke on a sob. Daughter. Twin. Family.

But the twist deepens, and it’s a knife to the gut. Tommy’s gun isn’t on Gina, it’s on Nico. “Viper is your Uncle,” he says, voice hollow. “He took you away from me, and Valenti’s family adopted you, raised to destroy me.”

My jaw drops, the world tilting. The Viper is our uncle? He’s the Viper’s secret plan, planted in Valenti’s family to fight us and to steal the ledger, to ruin us? Nico freezes, his fists bloody from Frankie, his eyes on Tommy, searching for a lie. There’s none.

Gina laughs, shoving me toward the boat. “Oh, this is delicious. Nico, you’re one of us. Join the Viper, or watch Ellie bleed.”

The marriage trap snaps shut. If I don’t agree, they’ll kill me. If Nico’s the Viper’s son, his loyalty’s a coin toss, and Frankie’s betrayal has us outnumbered.

Nico’s gaze locks on mine, raw, desperate. “Ellie,” he rasps, “trust me.” But Tommy’s gun is steady, and Frankie’s goons are circling.

An explosion rocks the pier, another boat, Viper’s backup, cannons firing. Nico lunges for me, but Gina’s dragging me aboard, the ledger torn from my hands. Tommy fires, the bullet grazing Nico’s shoulder, and he falls, blood pooling.

I scream, kicking Gina, but the boat’s engine roars, pulling away. Nico’s on the pier, crawling, his crew pinned, Frankie’s betrayal sealing our doom. Tommy’s collapsing, Mom’s sobbing, and I’m speeding toward the Viper, the ledger gone, my heart with Nico. Is he my twin, the Viper’s son, or something else? The boat vanishes into the fog, and I’m alone, the marriage noose tightening, with only one truth left: I’ll burn Brooklyn down to get back to him.