𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐓|𝐃.𝐄 𝐗 𝐑.𝐁.

prologue

The rain fell heavily against the city streets, New York bathed in a dull gray mist as its usual hustle dulled beneath the weight of an impending storm. Inside a luxurious penthouse apartment, the storm outside was the least of anyone's concerns. Laughter, low and eerie, echoed through the spacious room. Solana Salazar and Matteo Bianchi sat comfortably on their leather couch, their hands entwined, their eyes gleaming with amusement as if they had no care in the world.

They weren't like the rest of the city. Their world wasn't defined by the ordinary boundaries of law, justice, or morality. No, their empire was built on the blood of rivals and the broken promises of those who underestimated their power. Together, they were untouchable—or so they thought.

The door creaked open, and two police officers stepped inside cautiously, their expressions unreadable. They had seen plenty in their line of work, but this couple—this infamous pair known across New York's underground as the "untouched"—were a different story.

"Ms. Salazar and Mr. Bianchi, you are under arrest for the murder of Angelina Connor," one officer stated, his voice firm but betraying a hint of uncertainty.

Solana barely looked up, her fingers absentmindedly picking at her nails, stained with the remnants of what could have been blood. Her laughter filled the room once again as her lips curled into a dangerous smile.

"Aww, I wonder who's gonna come to her funeral—oops, only if they find the body," she giggled, her eyes cold and unfeeling. Matteo merely glanced over at her, amused by the entire situation. This wasn't the first time they had been in a room with police officers. And it certainly wouldn't be the last.

Moments later, Detective Lisa Carmine entered. A veteran of the force, she had been chasing this duo for years. Despite their squeaky-clean records, she knew what they were capable of—behind every flawless alibi was a body, behind every charming smile was a deadly secret.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't New York's most 'untouched' couple," Lisa said, smiling as she approached, her eyes scanning their faces for even a flicker of fear. But there was none.

"You know, for someone who is in handcuffs, you should stop talking," Lisa smirked, stepping closer, challenging them.

But Solana was unfazed, her laugh cutting through the tension like a knife. "For someone who has a dead husband, I would stop talking." Her words were sharp, delivered with cruel amusement, reminding Lisa of the most painful chapter of her life. Solana's gaze sparkled with mischief, as if daring the detective to push further.

Lisa's jaw tightened, but she wouldn't give Solana the satisfaction of seeing her crack. The battle between the law and the criminal underworld was never simple. Sometimes, the line blurred, and in moments like this, Lisa wondered if justice would ever be served—or if it was just a game the powerful always won.

But this time, Lisa wasn't just here to make an arrest. She was here to bring down an empire.

"All you have to do is confess to the judge that you killed your wife, Toni," Detective Lisa said, her voice low and steady, as if trying to coax the truth from him.

"Wow, you proposed on the same day you killed your ex-wife?" Lisa said, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Antonio, disbelief and accusation mixing in her tone.

Antonio sat across from her, his face tight with tension, but he didn't respond. The silence was heavy, as if both of them were waiting for the other to make the next move.

Before Lisa could press further, an officer stepped into the room, interrupting the charged moment. "Detective Lisa, we've got something to show you," he said, urgency in his voice.

Lisa glanced at Antonio one last time before rising from her seat. "Don't go anywhere," she warned, her voice cold, before following the officer out of the room. Whatever they had found, it had better bring clarity to the tangled web she was now navigating.

"We didn't find any fingerprints of Mr. Bianchi on Angelina's body," the officer began, his face serious. "But we did find something else."

Detective Lisa's eyes narrowed as she absorbed the information. "What did you find?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with anticipation.

The officer handed her a clear evidence bag. Inside was a small gold bracelet, its delicate chain twisted and broken. "This was found under her body," he explained. "It's engraved with the initials 'A.B.'—Antonio Bianchi."

Lisa studied the bracelet, her mind racing. "So, no fingerprints, but he left this behind," she muttered. The evidence complicated things. If Antonio had planned this carefully, why would he leave something so personal at the scene?

She knew she needed to confront him again, but this time with even more determination. The case was far from over.

"Your fingerprints were on her body," the officer announced, his tone grim as he looked directly at Lisa.

Lisa froze, her mind spinning as the words hit her. "What?" she stammered, disbelief washing over her. "That's impossible."

The officer held her gaze. "We double-checked. Your fingerprints were found on Angelina's body."

Lisa's pulse quickened. She had never even met Angelina, let alone touched her. This wasn't just an accusation—it was a setup. Someone was framing her, and now she was dangerously close to being implicated in the very murder she was investigating.

She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to stay calm. "There has to be an explanation," she said, her voice firm, though panic was bubbling just beneath the surface. "I need to see that evidence."

Detective Lisa stormed back into the mansion, her footsteps heavy with anger. She burst into the room where Antonio sat, his expression still unreadable, as if he had been expecting her return.

"You set me up!" she shouted, her voice laced with fury. Her fists clenched at her sides as she glared at him.

Antonio slowly raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair with a faint smile. "Set you up?" he asked calmly, his tone almost mocking. "Detective, I think you're letting your emotions get the better of you."

Lisa's heart pounded in her chest. "My fingerprints were found on Angelina's body. I've never even touched her! How did they get there, Antonio?!" She stepped closer, her voice lowering but no less threatening.

Antonio remained eerily calm, his eyes studying her. "Funny how evidence can be... manipulated, isn't it?" he said, his voice smooth and deliberate. "But why would I go through all the trouble of framing you, Detective? What do I have to gain?"

Lisa knew he was toying with her, but the weight of the situation pressed on her. She needed to find out how he'd managed to pull this off—and fast.

"looks like you got a target on your back detective" Solana smiled. the two knew that the detective didn't kill Angelina. everything was a set up just like her husband's death.

"This doesn't make any sense" Lisa screamed out drawing attention from others. 

"Detective you calm down, how you took  your medicine" Antonio smirked. Detective lisa stormed up to Antonio wanting to get more out of him.

"This isn't over with Mr. Bianchi"  Detective walked out of the house.

"Love the games are just getting started" Antonio yelled out.