Chapter Two

Luca

The Velvet Room was always alive with the thrum of music, the scent of expensive cigars, and the soft, sultry laughter of its patrons. As the son of Carmine Capuzzo, I, Luca Capuzzo, had spent more nights than I could count in the opulent VIP rooms, overseeing our family's operations and making sure everything ran smoothly. Tonight was no different.

I leaned back in the plush leather armchair, my drink in hand, watching the scene unfold below through the tinted glass. The dancers moved fluidly, their bodies casting seductive shadows in the dim light. They were pretty little things, reminding me of snowflakes twirling in the wind. Occasionally they were fun to catch and play with for a little while; that is, until they melted under my heat, which they all inevitably did, being nothing but vapid and lifeless creatures. Tricks of the light, nothing more. Tonight, however, my mind, was elsewhere. Being groomed to take over the family business was no small feat, and my father had high expectations. I needed to ensure that nothing went wrong under my watch.

Suddenly, the sensation of cold steel against my throat jolted me from my thoughts. A knife, pressed firmly against my skin. Before I could react, a voice, low and filled with rage, hissed in my ear.

"This is for Guiseppe Gorga."

In an instant, my instincts kicked in. Being the underboss to the organization, I’d been trained since boyhood for moments like this. Before the hand could move, I grabbed the wrist, surprised to discover the fine bones of a woman. Twisting it roughly, I pulled her over my shoulder and into my lap. The knife clattered to the floor. I had her disarmed and pinned, her back pressed tightly against my front. She struggled against my grip, but I was many times stronger than the stupid brat, as she should have expected before trying to pull such a stunt.

"Do you have a death wish?" I whispered in her ear, my voice calm but dangerous.

She wriggled, trying to break free, but her efforts were of course futile. I tightened my grip on her, enjoying when she finally yelped in pain.

"It was a mistake," she stammered, panic creeping into her voice. "I thought you were Carmine Capuzzo."

Her words piqued my interest, and I felt my eyebrows shoot up reflexively in response. "What do you have to do with my father? Why do you want him dead?"

She glanced over her shoulder at me, her dark eyes wide and filled with fear. "L-Luca," she stuttered, realizing who I was. It amused me that she knew my name and was afraid of me, yet she had planned to kill my father.

"Cute," I murmured. "You appear to know who I am, as you should, since by the outfit you’re wearing I know you work here. Yet you still thought you could get away with killing my father in his own place of business. "

The family oath required me to end her life for her betrayal. An attempt on a family member's life, was an unforgivable offense. And yet, the girl’s audacity intrigued me. I was contemplating my next move when the door to the VIP room burst open.

Ignacio, the club’s manager, stood in the doorway, his face pale and his eyes wide with panic. "Mr. Capuzzo, sir, please forgive the interruption, but is everything all right? I heard sounds of a scuffle.” His eyes flicked to the woman struggling in my lap.

“I’m so sorry for whatever she’s done," he blurted, "I’ll fire her immediately."

I didn't like that. Firing her would be too easy, and it wouldn't give me the chance to find out more about her motives. "No," I said firmly. "You will not fire her. I will handle her myself."

Ignacio looked confused but nodded quickly. "Of course, Mr. Capuzzo. Whatever you say."

As soon as he left, I leaned in closer to her ear. "Looks like you're stuck with me now. We're going to have some fun."

She tried to hide her fear, but I could feel her trembling. "What do you want from me?" she whispered.

"Answers," I replied smoothly. "And until I get them, you're not going anywhere."

She was silent, her body tense against mine. I could tell she was trying to think of a way out, but there was none. She was mine now, whether she liked it or not.

"What's your name?" I asked, my grip still firm on her wrists.

"Adriana," she replied reluctantly.

"Adriana," I repeated, letting the name roll off my tongue as I spun her around to look her in the eye. She was more beautiful than I expected. No wonder Ignacio had hired her, even if he had failed to properly look into her background. "You made a big mistake tonight. But maybe, if you tell me everything I want to know, I might let you live."

She swallowed hard, the fear evident in her eyes. "I don't have a choice, do I?"

I smiled. "No, you don't. Now, tell me why you want my father dead."

She hesitated, and for a moment, I thought she wouldn't answer. But then she took a deep breath and began to speak. "My father, Giuseppe Gorga, was murdered by Carmine Capuzzo four years ago. I've been planning my revenge ever since."

Her words stirred something within me. She was young and probably a teenager when her father was killed. My father had enemies, that much was true, but this woman was different. She had come dangerously close to achieving her goal, something even his biggest rivals had failed to do.

"Interesting," I said softly. "But you must understand, my loyalty lies with my family. Attempting to kill my father is a death sentence."

She tensed in my arms, bracing herself for what she thought was inevitable. But I had other plans. I needed to understand her, to know how and why she had gotten this far. And maybe, just maybe, there was more to this story than she was letting on.

"Relax," I whispered. "For now, you're safe. But remember, your life depends on your honesty and cooperation. Try anything else, and you won't get a second chance."

Adriana's body relaxed slightly, though I could tell she was still wary. Smart girl. She knew better than to trust me completely.

"Let's get one thing straight," I said, my voice firm. "You belong to me now. You'll do as I say, when I say it. Understood?"

She nodded, her fear mingling with a flicker of defiance. I admired her spirit, even if it was misguided.

"Good," I said, releasing her wrists but keeping her close. "Now, tell me everything you know about my father's operations. Leave nothing out."

As she began to speak, I listened carefully, piecing together the puzzle of her life and her vendetta against my family. She was smart and resourceful, as well as ambitious. I fingered one of my gold cufflinks, thinking. Her determination could be a valuable asset to the organization, and I intended to use her to my advantage. But more than that, I was curious. Curious about her, about what drove her, and about how this little game between us would play out.

As Adriana continued to talk, I realized just how much she had learned about our operations. I deduced that her father had probably been a small-time player, but his death had clearly left a mark on her. She knew that our club was just a front to launder the money from our real business in illegal arms and drug trafficking. She detailed our safe houses, the routes we used for our shipments, even the names of some of our more prominent associates. It was impressive and concerning.

"You're very thorough," I commented, once she paused to catch her breath. "How did you manage to gather all this information?"

She looked at me, a mix of defiance and resignation in her eyes. "I've been watching. Listening. I know people who know people. It wasn't easy, but I had a lot of time and motivation."

Motivation indeed. I was well aware that revenge could be a powerful driver. But I couldn't let her see how impressed I was. "And what was your plan after you killed my father? Did you think you'd just walk away?"

Her silence told me everything. She either hadn't thought that far ahead or had been willing to martyr herself for the sole purpose of vengeance. Her life had become consumed by her need for revenge. It was sad, in a way. But it also made her dangerous.

"Well, Adriana," I said, leaning back a little, though still keeping her within my grasp. "It looks like you're going to need a new plan. Because you're not killing my father, and I can’t let you leave."

She didn't reply, but the look in her eyes was enough. She knew she was trapped.

As the night went on, I kept Adriana close. I couldn't afford to let her out of my sight, not until I was sure of what to do with her. She was a wild card, and in our line of work, wild cards could either be useful or deadly.

"Why didn't you just come after me?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Why my father?"

She hesitated, then sighed. "Because your father killed mine. I wanted him to feel the same pain I felt. I thought...I thought it would be justice."

"Justice?" I echoed, a bitter laugh escaping me. "There's no justice in our world, Adriana. Only power and survival."

She turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting mine. "Then why keep me alive? Why not just kill me and be done with it?"

"Because you could be useful," I told her. "And I admit, because I'm curious. I find you interesting…I’ve never met a woman like you before."

She didn't respond, but I could see the gears turning in her mind. She was planning, plotting. And I needed to stay one step ahead.

The hours passed, and I kept Adriana close. We moved to a more secluded room in the club, away from prying eyes. I couldn't risk anyone seeing her with me and getting the wrong idea. Or possibly the right one.

"Do you have any other allies?" I asked, once we were settled. "Anyone else who knows about your vendetta?"

She shook her head. "No. This was all me."

"Good," I replied. "That makes things easier."

Easier for me, at least. But I had to be careful. She was still a threat, and I couldn't afford to underestimate her. But the night was wearing on, and I was getting tired. I’d have to decide my next move, and soon. Because something told me I may have just met my match.