Love Between Chaos (Parisan Mafia #1)

1

Chapter 1: A Night to Remember

The ballroom was glittering with elegance, filled with men and women in designer suits and gowns, their smiles practiced, their movements graceful. But beneath the shimmer of chandeliers and the hum of polite conversation lay an unspoken tension-a tension that Sabrina Emerald Stuart was all too familiar with.

She stood near the grand windows, gazing out at the Paris skyline, though her mind was far from the city lights. Her black gown clung to her slender frame, exuding an air of sophistication and strength. At twenty-six, she had mastered the art of appearing calm, even when everything inside her screamed otherwise.

The Monteverdes are here.

Her grip tightened slightly around the stem of her champagne glass as her eyes discreetly scanned the room. The Stuart and Monteverde clans had been enemies for as long as anyone could remember. Both were powerful, influential, and ruthless in the mafia world, always on the brink of war.

And now, here they were, pretending to tolerate each other at this gala, hosted by some neutral party who likely had no idea of the deadly feud simmering beneath the surface.

"Sabrina." A voice broke through her thoughts, and she turned to face her older brother, Lawrence. "Father wants you to make an appearance. Mingle. Don't look too... distant."

She gave him a curt nod, her expression unchanged. "Of course."

Lawrence gave her a lingering look before walking away to greet some politician. Sabrina exhaled, straightening her posture before stepping away from the windows. Her role tonight, as always, was to be the perfect daughter, the Stuart princess who was as untouchable as she was beautiful.

But as she moved through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with other powerful families, she couldn't help but feel like a pawn in a much larger game.

---

Across the room, Justine Zarik Monteverde made his entrance. He was tall, with sharp features and piercing blue eyes that seemed to assess everything and everyone in an instant. Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he moved with the confidence of a man who knew his power and wasn't afraid to use it.

But unlike his father and brothers, Justine didn't relish the theatrics of these events. The false smiles, the whispered threats behind closed doors-it all felt hollow to him. He was here because he had to be, not because he wanted to.

As he stepped into the ballroom, his gaze swept across the crowd, and then-he saw her.

Sabrina Stuart.

Justine's jaw clenched slightly as their eyes locked for the briefest of moments. She was beautiful, no doubt, with her long, raven-black hair and striking features. But more than that, she carried herself with a kind of cold grace that intrigued him.

"She's the enemy", he reminded himself.

But even as he thought it, he couldn't help but be drawn to her. There was something about the way she stood, poised and detached, as if the chaos of their world barely touched her. He wondered if, like him, she was just playing her part.

---

Sabrina felt the weight of Justine's gaze, and for a moment, her heart skipped a beat. She knew who he was-everyone did. Justine Monteverde was the heir to their family's most hated rival. He was dangerous, ruthless, and undeniably attractive.

She shook the thought from her mind. "He's the enemy", she reminded herself, echoing the same sentiment that was likely running through his mind.

But even as she told herself that, her curiosity was piqued. She'd heard stories about him, of course. Stories of violence, of calculated moves that left their enemies broken. Yet, as she observed him from across the room, he didn't seem like the heartless monster she'd imagined.

Before she could dwell on it further, a familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"Sabrina."

It was one of her father's advisors, a man who had been with their family for years. He leaned in close, his voice low. "Your father asked me to remind you to stay alert. The Monteverdes are planning something tonight."

She arched an eyebrow. "Planning what?"

"Not sure. But tensions are high. Stay close, and don't let your guard down."

Sabrina nodded, her mind suddenly sharpening. Of course, there would be something. The Monteverdes never came to these events without an agenda. She glanced back at Justine, who was now engaged in conversation with his father, his expression unreadable.

"Don't let your guard down."

---

Later that evening, Sabrina found herself retreating to the balcony, needing a moment of peace. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere inside. She leaned against the railing, closing her eyes for a brief moment.

The door to the balcony creaked open, and footsteps approached. Her eyes snapped open, and she turned, already on guard.

It was Justine.

She straightened, her expression instantly hardening. "What do you want?"

He raised his hands slightly in a gesture of peace. "Relax. I'm not here to start anything."

Sabrina crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "Then why are you here?"

Justine leaned against the railing beside her, though he kept a respectable distance. "Honestly? I needed some air. That room is suffocating."

She didn't respond, but she didn't leave either.

They stood in silence for a moment, the tension between them palpable. Finally, Justine spoke again, his voice softer this time.

"Do you ever get tired of it? The masks we have to wear. The roles we have to play."

Sabrina shot him a sideways glance. "You're asking me if I get tired of being part of this world? Of pretending everything's fine when it's not?"

He shrugged. "Something like that."

She let out a short, bitter laugh. "Of course, I get tired. But what choice do we have? This is the life we were born into."

Justine nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if things were different."

"If we weren't enemies, you mean?"

He didn't answer, but the look in his eyes told her enough.

For the first time, Sabrina saw something in Justine that she hadn't expected-vulnerability. It was fleeting, hidden behind his usual stoic demeanor, but it was there.

And it terrified her.

Because for the first time in her life, she wasn't sure if she could trust herself around him.

The moment was shattered by the sound of Sabrina's phone buzzing. She pulled it from her clutch, glancing at the message. It was from her father.

"Stay vigilant. The Monteverdes are planning something tonight."

Her eyes flicked back to Justine, who was now checking his own phone. His expression hardened as he read whatever message he had received.

The fragile peace between them was gone in an instant. They were back to being enemies, back to the roles they were meant to play.

Without a word, Sabrina turned and walked back inside, leaving Justine alone on the balcony.

But even as she re-entered the ballroom, her mind lingered on that brief moment when, for just a second, she had seen the man behind the name.