A Mafia Grudge: Revenge or Desire

(Adrianna's POV) And then it happened… Gunshots erupted from inside the building. Glass exploded above us. Within seconds, the ballroom froze like time stood still. Then the screaming started. Bullets tore through marble pillars and silk gowns. Guests dove for cover. Others ran blindly toward the exits, trampling anyone in their path. This was meant to be an annual charity gala hosted by the Patrick's Empire at the Biltmore Los Angeles, a prominent hotel, not a m******e. At first, I noticed how this place reeked of fake smiles and quiet corruption. From the outside, it looked like a night of generosity and elegance, crystal chandeliers glowing gold above polished marble floors, the orchestra playing soft classical music while champagne flowed like water. But I knew better. Events like this weren’t about charity; they were about power. Political elites whispered in corners. Hollywood executives smiled too widely, I bet their cheeks hurt. Men from crime families pretended to be respectable business people for a few hours beneath the chandeliers. And me? I stood beside my father like a decorative accessory, Harrison Patrick’s daughter, the princess of a very dangerous empire. My heels ached. My smile felt fake. My designer gown felt like armor. I hated these events. Clearly, I was only here as a bargaining chip wrapped in couture. But it didn't matter. To Mr. Harrison, his Empire came first. Feeling devastated, I took a quick peek at my surroundings, trying to amuse myself with some guests' lame attempts to blend in. But then, something didn't feel right about tonight. I just couldn't shake off this feeling. At first, they were small things. Little movements that didn’t belong. A waiter passed by carrying a tray of champagne, but his eyes weren’t on the guests; they were scanning the exits. Another man in a staff uniform stood too stiffly near the wall, his gaze flicking multiple times toward the VIP section as if he was expecting a signal or something. My stomach tightened. They didn’t move like staff; they moved like predators. Guests laughed, glasses clinked, cameras flashed. No one else noticed the tension swelling in the room. But I did.. As the chaos erupts, my father's security team scrambles to maintain decorum, shouting orders into their earpieces. Too late. Way too late. I stood frozen in the middle of the chaos. And that’s when I saw it, a red dot, perfectly pointed right on my chest. The sniper’s laser sight. My brain screamed at my body to move, but my legs stood still. The shot rang out. And suddenly, a body slammed into mine. The impact knocked the air from my lungs as we hit the hard floor. Another gunshot cracked overhead. The man covering me moved with terrifying precision. He rolled, shielding me, drawing a gun in the same motion and firing back toward the balcony. Two shots. Two bodies dropped somewhere in the chaos. Blood splattered across the floor. “I really don't want to die this way,” I stuttered, trying to catch my breath, holding whoever this man was like my life depended on it. People screamed louder. Security barked coded commands. Someone knocked over a table, sending crystal glasses shattering everywhere. But the man holding me didn't let go. Didn’t panic. Didn’t even look surprised. Inwardly, I panicked not because of the attack, but because I just couldn't tell who the hell this man was; I'm certain he's not one of my father’s usual guards. I'm sure Dad has a lot of enemies; I hope he isn't one of Dad's rivals. My head wouldn’t stop asking different questions as his arm wrapped tightly around my waist and dragged me behind an overturned banquet table. His voice was low, controlled, dangerously calm. “Stay down.” I looked up at him, my heart hammering against my ribs. His eyes were dark, jawline screamed perfection. I would have sworn his face was carved from stone. Another attacker rushed toward us, gun raised. The stranger rose halfway from behind the table and fired two quick shots. The man collapsed instantly. His moves were so smooth and efficient, no hesitation. The ballroom had turned into a war zone. The air was filled with thick smoke. Fire alarms screamed loudly somewhere. Guests pushed and shoved each other toward the exits while security tried to regain control. Before I could say anything, the stranger grabbed my hand fiercely and pulled me to my feet. “Move.” He said He dragged me through a side corridor behind the ballroom as another explosion thundered behind us. My heels slipped against the floor as we ran. But his grip on my wrist never loosened. We reached a narrow service hallway lined with metal doors and cleaning carts. Without slowing, he shoved open a maintenance room and pushed me inside, shut the door behind him and locked it. The atmosphere became calm. No gunfire, no shouting, no screaming. Inside the tiny room, everything was suddenly quiet. My breathing came out in shaky bursts, my hands trembled, and my feet almost gave way. But he didn’t change at all. He stood there like the storm outside didn’t exist. “Are you hurt?” he asked. I shook my head, still trying to process what had just happened. Up close, he looked even more dangerous, not a trace of fear in his voice, just anger, like he’d expected the attack. I tried looking away from his gaze, but unfortunately there was something about his eyes that made me want to keep staring…. I stood there, totally lost in his dreamy eyes, but then my thoughts wandered elsewhere. “Who is this man, and why does he have so much effect on me?” And for a moment, the world outside disappeared… I felt something odd pulling me towards him like a magnet.. A strange feeling… Desires. And in a few seconds, I could feel his breath on my face as he closed the gap between us in one slide… He smelled like cedarwood and something I just couldn't fathom. Every muscle in my body was instantly craving his touch, his lips parted, and I could have sworn they wanted a taste of mine too. Slowly he arched his neck down to claim my lips when he pulled back in a flash like something had but him.. “f**k,” he cursed as his hand slammed into the wall behind me. Heavy footsteps pounded past the hallway outside. I could hear voices screaming orders while a radio crackled outside. Finally, a familiar voice called through the corridor. My father’s head of security. “All clear, Sir!” The stranger stepped away from me immediately, creating a huge distance between us. Like whatever had just happened between us earlier meant nothing. A few seconds later, the maintenance door burst open. My father stormed inside looking pissed. Whoever ruined Harrison Patrick's Day was in for bigger trouble. His expression burned with hot rage. He looked at the man behind, eyeing him from head to toe. “And are you?” he asked coldly. The stranger walked confidently and stood in front of my father. “I am Adam, Biltmore Los Angeles security personnel”... he replied boldly. I was stunned at his aura. All my life, people tremble at the sight of Mr. Harrison Patrick, but I guess this young man is a different breed. My father said nothing but waved his hand in dismissal. “So you saved my daughter, I suppose,” my father said coldly, “Ehmmm, what did you….. say your name was, again??” He paused. Adam didn't blink or say a word. He simply moved to stand slightly behind me, like he had always belonged there, like protecting me was now his permanent position. “He saved my life,,,,, Da…d”.. I finally found my voice. He glanced back at Adam, I didn’t see relief in his eyes. I saw something far darker… My father was up to no good. But his glare didn't frighten Adam, and I began to question this stranger's identity. Outside the hotel, police sirens wailed loudly as bodies in the ballroom were covered with white sheets. I watched as Adam’s hand moved subtly near his pocket. For a brief moment, something silver flashed in his palm. A pendant, and from its size, I could tell I'd seen it before, but my father's voice instantly brought me back to reality. “Adrianna,” he beckoned to me… I hastily walked towards the limo, sat next to him, and immediately we drove out of the scene… During the drive home, my head wandered elsewhere… I just couldn't stop thinking about chaos, Adam's perfect timing, like a knight in shining armor, the silver pendant… Everything.. . And then it all came crashing down…. The m******e wasn’t meant to be the only thing planned tonight, this was the beginning of something far more dangerous. This was a warning….. To the Patrick's Empire…..