Chapter 1: Betrayed by the Mafia Lord
"The midnight air …..
Elena carried the faint scent of salt from the nearby harbor, mingling with the acrid tang of cigarette smoke. Elena Russo crouched low behind a stack of wooden crates, her breathing shallow. Her hands trembled as she clutched the duffle bag, its contents worth more than her life. The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance, deliberate and measured. She had spent enough time in this world to recognize the rhythm of men on a hunt.
It wasn't supposed to end like this.
Elena had trusted Luca Moretti. The mafia lord had taken her under his wing three years ago, rescuing her from the streets when she was at her lowest. He had seen something in her—potential, he'd called it. Under his guidance, she had risen through the ranks, proving herself time and again. Luca had promised her a place in his inner circle, a life of security and power.
But promises were cheap in their world, and loyalty even cheaper.
"Elena," a voice called, smooth and commanding. Luca's voice. It echoed through the cavernous warehouse, amplified by the stillness of the night. "You know there's no way out. Let's talk. You owe me that much."
She bit her lip to keep from crying out. His tone was calm, almost soothing, but she knew better. That voice had once been her anchor, her compass in the chaos. Now it was the voice of her executioner.
It had started a week ago when Luca handed her an envelope, its contents a job that would change everything. The target: a shipment of diamonds worth millions, smuggled in from South Africa. Elena's role was simple—retrieve the diamonds, deliver them to Luca, and disappear into the night.
But simplicity was an illusion.
The job had gone off the rails almost immediately. Elena had followed Luca's instructions to the letter, infiltrating the dockyard with precision. But when she reached the container holding the diamonds, she found more than she bargained for: an ambush. Gunmen swarmed the area, their bullets tearing through the night like deadly fireworks.
She had barely escaped with her life and the diamonds. But as she sifted through the chaos in her mind, one thing became clear: the ambush wasn't a coincidence. Luca had set her up.
"Elena," Luca called again, closer this time. "I know you're scared. But you should've known better than to cross me."
The words twisted in her gut. She hadn't crossed him—he had crossed her.
She thought back to the meeting with Luca earlier that day. He had looked her in the eye, his dark gaze unwavering as he explained the job. "This is your chance to prove yourself," he had said, his voice low and dangerous. "You do this, and you'll be untouchable."
She had believed him.
Now, crouched in the shadows of the warehouse, she realized the truth. The job had never been about proving her loyalty. It had been a test—a test she was never meant to pass. Luca had orchestrated the entire thing, using her as a pawn in a larger game.
The sound of a gun cocking snapped her back to the present. She shifted her weight, her muscles coiled like a spring. If she stayed hidden, they would find her eventually. If she ran, they would hunt her down.
Her options were dwindling.
"Elena, don't make this harder than it has to be," Luca's voice rang out again. "Hand over the diamonds, and maybe I'll let you walk away."
Lies.
She had seen what happened to people who "walked away" from Luca Moretti. Their bodies were found floating in the river, weighted down with chains.
Elena took a deep breath, her mind racing. She wasn't going to die here. Not tonight.
She reached into the duffle bag and pulled out a Glock 19, its cold metal a comfort in her hand. She checked the magazine—full. Her training with Luca's men hadn't been for nothing. She might not be as ruthless as they were, but she knew how to fight.
The footsteps grew louder, closer. Shadows danced on the walls as flashlights swept the area.
She waited, her pulse steadying as adrenaline took over. The first man rounded the corner, his flashlight cutting through the darkness. He didn't see her until it was too late.
The gunshot echoed through the warehouse, sharp and final. The man crumpled to the ground, his flashlight rolling away.
"Elena!" Luca's voice roared, no longer calm. "You really want to do this?"
She didn't respond. Words were meaningless now.
Another man appeared, his weapon raised. She fired again, the recoil jolting her arm. He fell, his gun clattering to the floor.
The warehouse erupted into chaos. Shouts echoed through the space as more of Luca's men closed in. Elena ducked and weaved, her mind a blur of calculations.
She needed to get to the exit. The diamonds wouldn't save her if she didn't make it out alive.
"Elena, stop!" Luca's voice was closer now, almost desperate.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second, and it cost her. A bullet grazed her shoulder, the pain searing and immediate. She stumbled but kept moving, her grip on the duffle bag unrelenting.
She reached the loading dock, the cool night air a welcome relief. But her escape was far from over.
Luca stood in her path, a gun in his hand and a look of betrayal on his face. "Why?" he demanded, his voice raw.
"Why?" she repeated, her own voice trembling. "You set me up, Luca. You wanted me dead."
He shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "You don't understand. This was bigger than you, Elena. It's always been bigger than you."
Her grip on the Glock tightened. "So, what now? You kill me and take the diamonds?"
His eyes softened, just for a moment. "I didn't want it to end like this."
"Neither did I."
For a moment, the world stood still. Then, as if in slow motion, Luca raised his gun.
Elena didn't hesitate. She fired first.
The shot rang out, and Luca staggered, clutching his chest. His eyes widened in disbelief as he fell to his knees.
Elena stared at him, her chest heaving. The man who had saved her, trained her, betrayed her—lay dying at her feet.
"I trusted you," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
He tried to speak, but the words never came.
The sound of approaching sirens broke the silence. Someone had called the cops.
Elena turned and ran, disappearing into the night.
The diamonds weighed heavy in her bag, but not as heavy as the betrayal in her heart.
There was no going back now.
To be continued…