As we race away in the car, a storm of anger and fear swells inside me. How could she be so reckless? How could she risk everything like that?
When the empty road stretches before us, I slam on the brakes, my heart pounding in my chest. I throw the...
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Sitting in the back seat of my Mercedes, I watch the world pass by through the tinted glass. The city is alive, bustling with people who have no idea what's really going on beneath their feet. My driver, Tony, is focused on the road ahead, weaving through traffic with the ease of a professional. He doesn't talk much, which I appreciate. Gives me time to think.
We're heading to Romano SecurTech, my IT company. At least, that's what it is to everyone else. To me, it's something much more. A fortress. A shield. A labyrinth where I can hide all my other activities. On the outside, it looks like a successful tech business. People come to work, sit at their desks, and code away. But if you go deeper, down the hallways that only a few have the keys to, you find the truth. The guns, the money, the secrets. My empire.
The traffic slows, and I watch a couple of joggers crossing the street. They look happy, headphones in their ears, oblivious to everything around them. It's strange to think I was once like them, just another face in the crowd. Before the fire. Before my parents were taken from me. Before I became... this.
I still remember that night, clear as day. The flames, the heat, the smoke so thick I could barely breathe. I tried to run in to save them, but the firemen held me back. They told me it was too late, that there was nothing I could do. They were wrong. There was something I could do. I could find out who did it, and I could make them pay.
Joining the Mafia wasn't my first choice, but it was the only choice that made sense. They had the resources, the connections, the power. I used them, and they used me. At first, it was just about revenge. But as I climbed the ranks, I realized there was no going back. The more power I got, the more I wanted. The more people I hurt, the less I cared. Now, it's just business. It's all just business.
The car pulls up to the curb in front of my building. Tony gets out to open my door, and I step onto the sidewalk. The security guard at the entrance nods to me. He knows who I am. Everyone in this building knows who I am. They also know that if they ask too many questions or start poking around where they shouldn't, they won't be around for long. I can't afford to let anyone jeopardize what I've built.
I walk through the lobby, my shoes clicking against the polished marble. People glance my way and quickly look down. Good. I like it that way. Fear is a useful tool. It keeps people in line. It keeps them from getting too close, from asking too much. It keeps my secrets safe.
As I ride the elevator up to my office, I think about my parents. I wonder what they would think of me now. Would they be proud of what I've accomplished? Would they understand why I did what I did? Would they even recognize me?
It doesn't matter. They're gone, and I'm here, running an empire built on blood and lies. There's no turning back now. There's only the future, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect what's mine. Even if it means becoming the monster everyone thinks I am.
I was in a decent mood as I entered the elevator at Romano SecurTech, the result of a successful lunch meeting with a client. Business was good, and the deals were stacking up nicely. As the doors began to close, my assistant Evangeline called out to me from the hallway."Mr. Romano," she said, stepping up with her usual efficient stride, "you have an interview with Insight City's journalist today. She’s waiting downstairs."
I hadn't been told about any interview. "Today?" I replied, eyebrows arching.Evangeline nodded. "Yes, sir. Would you like me to reschedule?" Before I could respond, a voice called out from the hallway, interrupting our conversation. "Hold the elevator!" Antonio, my bodyguard, moved to block the woman rushing toward the elevator, but I waved him off.
Something about her voice—it had an authority to it, even in a simple request. The elevator doors stopped closing, and the woman slipped in, just as Evangeline and Antonio waited for another elevator.She was the most beautiful woman I'd seen in a long time. Dressed in a sharp navy blazer over a crisp white blouse, a skirt that accentuated her hourglass figure, and heels that made her appear even taller than her 5'8 stature, she carried herself with a confidence I rarely saw.
Her brown eyes locked on mine as she entered, with no trace of hesitation. Light pink lip gloss and waist-length black hair completed the look, along with a designer bag slung over one shoulder and a slim laptop in her hand.The elevator jerked slightly as it began to ascend, causing her heel to get stuck in the gap between the floor and the door.
She let out a small gasp, bending down to free it, but I got there first, bending to carefully extricate it. As I handed it back to her, I noticed the faintest hint of relief in her eyes, along with a touch of surprise. Clearly, she wasn't expecting help from someone like me.Evangeline and Antonio, waiting in the hallway, exchanged shocked glances. I wasn't known for my chivalry. I didn't often bend down for anyone, let alone assist with stuck heels.
But something about Chiara, as I learned her name was from her ID, made me curious. Perhaps it was the way she held herself, or the way her eyes didn't falter even when things didn't go as planned."Thanks," she said, her voice smooth and even, with just a hint of warmth. It was the kind of warmth that could melt through a veneer of coldness, the kind I was accustomed to maintaining.
