In the sprawling metropolis of New Verona, two powerful mafia families, the Vincenzis and the Morettis, have long been embroiled in a bitter feud fueled by greed, betrayal, and bloodshed. Aurelia Moretti, the daughter of the late Don Moretti, finds herself at the center of this deadly rivalry when her father's untimely death leaves her vulnerable to the machinations of the Vincenzi clan.
Desperate to secure her family's legacy and protect her younger siblings, Aurelia devises a daring plan to broker a truce with the enigmatic leader of the Vincenzi empire, Luca Vincenzi. But as she delves deeper into the treacherous world of organized crime, she discovers that Luca is not the ruthless monster she had been led to believe.
Despite their initial animosity, Aurelia and Luca find themselves drawn to each other in ways they cannot explain. Bound by duty and desire, they embark on a dangerous liaison that threatens to upend the fragile balance of power between their families.
As tensions escalate and loyalties are tested, Aurelia and Luca must navigate a deadly game of betrayal and deception if they are to survive. But when dark secrets from their pasts come to light, they are forced to confront the truth about their forbidden love-and the devastating consequences it could unleash.
Amidst the shadows of a city steeped in sin, Aurelia and Luca must choose between loyalty to their families and the undeniable pull of their hearts. Will they find redemption in each other's arms, or will their love be their downfall in a world where nothing is as it seems?
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]