Her heart, His Rules

Elena Moretti stood in the shadows of the grand ballroom, her heart pounding in rhythm with the bass of the music. The crystal chandelier above reflected a million fragmented lights onto the polished marble floor, the perfect illusion of elegance masking the darkness in the room. Men in tailored suits and women in silk dresses mingled, their laughter loud and fake, their secrets darker than the night. She clutched the edge of her gown, her knuckles white. The USB drive hidden in her palm was her ticket out of this life, but it felt heavier than any chain her father had ever wrapped around her. "Elena." Her spine stiffened at the familiar voice. Turning slowly, she faced her father, Cesare Moretti, the king of their mafia empire. His gray eyes bore into her, sharp and calculating. "You’ve been quiet tonight," he remarked, his voice smooth but laced with suspicion. Elena forced a smile, the kind she’d perfected over years of lying to herself. "Just taking it all in, Papa." He studied her for a moment longer, then placed a possessive hand on her shoulder. "Remember, tesoro, our family’s strength comes from loyalty. Betrayal—" He leaned in, his grip tightening. "—is a sin we cannot forgive." She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Of course, Papa." As he walked away to greet a group of allies, Elena exhaled shakily. She slipped through the crowd, weaving past men discussing black-market deals and women gossiping about bloody vendettas. Her heels clicked against the floor, each step taking her closer to the study where her escape awaited. The door creaked open, and she slipped inside, locking it behind her. The room smelled of leather and cigars, a fitting reflection of her father’s world. She approached the massive oak desk and plugged the USB into the laptop. Her hands trembled as she navigated the encrypted files. Years of secrets—names, locations, transactions—all evidence of her father’s empire, evidence she’d agreed to deliver to the De Santis family in exchange for freedom. Her finger hovered over the final command. She hesitated. Am I really doing this? But then she thought of the suffocating life her father had planned for her—a marriage to a man twice her age, a puppet to be used in his games. She thought of her mother, silenced and obedient until the day she disappeared. Elena pressed the key. The files transferred in seconds, but the relief was fleeting. A noise outside the door made her freeze. Footsteps—heavy and deliberate. Her heart raced as the handle jiggled. She yanked the USB out of the laptop, hiding it in her bodice just as the door burst open. "Luca De Santis," the man drawled, stepping into the room. Elena’s breath hitched. She knew him by reputation—the heir to her family’s rival empire, ruthless and unrelenting. His sharp suit hugged his broad frame, and his dark eyes sparkled with dangerous amusement. "You’re not supposed to be here," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "And yet, here I am." He glanced at the laptop, then back at her. "Funny, I thought I’d find your father here. Instead, I find his daughter. Alone." Elena stepped back instinctively, her mind racing for an excuse. "I was just—" "Don’t bother lying," he interrupted, his tone ice-cold now. "I know what you took." Panic surged through her veins. How could he know? Was this a setup? "Give it to me," Luca demanded, closing the distance between them. "I don’t know what you’re talking about," she said, retreating until her back hit the wall. He was in front of her in seconds, his hand braced against the wall beside her head. His presence was suffocating, his scent intoxicating—a mix of leather and danger. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done, Elena?" he whispered, his voice low and lethal. "I did what I had to do," she snapped, her fear giving way to defiance. "I won’t let him control me anymore." Luca’s lips curled into a smirk, though his eyes remained hard. "Brave words for someone who just started a war." Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening. "They know," he muttered, more to himself than to her. "Who knows?" Elena asked, her pulse quickening. He didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed her wrist. "We need to leave. Now." "What?" She tried to pull away, but his grip was unyielding. "I’m not going anywhere with you!" "You think you have a choice?" His tone was harsh, but there was a flicker of urgency in his eyes. "Your father will kill you the moment he finds out what you’ve done. And trust me, he will find out." The door behind them slammed open, and two of Cesare’s men stormed in. "There she is!" one of them barked. Luca cursed under his breath, pulling Elena behind him. "Stay close," he ordered, pulling a gun from his holster. Elena’s breath caught as the first shot rang out, and chaos erupted. Luca moved with deadly precision, taking down the men before they could fire a second time. "Move!" he barked, dragging her through a side door and into the cold night air. They ran through the maze of alleyways behind the mansion, the sound of shouting and gunfire echoing in the distance. Elena’s lungs burned, and her heels caught on the uneven pavement, but Luca didn’t slow down. When they finally stopped in a secluded alley, he turned to her, his face shadowed but no less intense. "Why are you helping me?" she demanded, her voice shaky. "I’m not," he said bluntly. "You’re leverage now, Elena. Nothing more." Her stomach twisted, but before she could respond, the roar of engines filled the air. A black SUV skidded to a stop at the alley’s entrance, its headlights blinding them. Luca pulled her behind him again, his gun raised. "Stay back!" he shouted. The driver’s door opened, and a tall man stepped out. His silhouette was imposing, his voice chilling. "Hand her over, De Santis," the man said. "Or you’ll both die here." Elena’s blood turned to ice as she recognized the man—one of her father’s most loyal enforcers. Luca glanced at her, then back at the man. "Over my dead body." The enforcer smirked. "That can be arranged." As the man raised his weapon, Luca fired. The alley erupted in chaos once more, and Elena’s scream was lost in the deafening noise. When the smoke cleared, she found herself pressed against the wall, Luca’s body shielding her. His breathing was ragged, his face inches from hers. "You’re mine now," he said, his voice a mix of anger and something else she couldn’t quite place. Before she could respond, another set of headlights flooded the alley, and a chilling realization dawned on her. They weren’t alone. To be continued...