Marina Vasiliev had always known that her family's wealth and influence were built on secrets. But she never imagined she'd be the one to uncover one so dangerous it could bring the entire empire crashing down.
It started innocently enough. A late-night meeting between her father and a few of his political allies in the private study of their grand estate. She wasn't meant to overhear, but her curiosity got the better of her. Silently, she had slipped into the shadows of the hallway, listening intently as her father, Anton Vasiliev, spoke in hushed tones with men whose names she recognized from news reports and social circles.
But it wasn't their names that made her blood run cold. It was the words they spoke.
"I want it done quickly," her father's voice was steady, but there was an edge to it she hadn't heard before. "The deal with Castellano is slipping. We can't afford to let this information leak. If it does, we'll lose everything."
Marina's heart thudded in her chest. Castellano. The name sent a shiver through her spine. Viktor Castellano, the feared Mafia boss. What could her father possibly be involved with him in? Marina had heard rumors, of course—everyone had. But to think her family was entangled in something so dark, so sinister...
Her gaze darted around the hallway, the shadows enveloping her like a cloak. She took a cautious step closer to the study door, straining to hear.
"You know what happens if this gets out," another voice, gruff and familiar, said. "The press will have a field day. Your entire political career... ruined."
"And that's exactly why it can't get out," her father replied, voice tinged with panic. "I have everything under control. Just get rid of her."
Marina's breath caught in her throat. Get rid of her. The words hung in the air like a death sentence. She knew they weren't talking about just any 'her.' They were talking about her.
Her legs felt weak beneath her, but she forced herself to step back, to retreat into the shadows where she could hide. Hide from the truth, hide from the danger that was now so very real. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.
She stumbled backward, her back hitting the wall with a soft thud. She quickly covered her mouth to suppress the cry that threatened to escape, her heart racing. Panic set in as the reality of what she had just overheard began to sink in. Her own family was planning to have her killed. The reason? A secret so damning it could unravel everything.
Her mind raced. What had she stumbled upon? What information could be so dangerous that her own father would call for her death? Her father, the man who had always promised to protect her, the man who had used her as a pawn in his political game. And now, it seemed, he was willing to sacrifice her for the sake of his career and his deals.
She couldn't stay here. She had to leave. She had to get out before they came for her.
Hours Later
Marina's hands were trembling as she packed her belongings. She tried to think clearly, but her mind was a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and betrayal. How had it come to this? How had the man she once trusted—her father—become someone so ruthless, so willing to throw away his own daughter to protect his legacy?
She had to get away from here. The estate, the city, everything. She couldn't trust anyone—not her father, not her mother, not even her closest friends. If they had all been complicit in this plot, then she was alone.
Her eyes scanned the room, landing on the old, worn suitcase by the bed. She shoved clothes into it quickly, ignoring the trembling of her hands, the cold sweat that coated her skin. What she needed was protection. And there was only one man who could give her that.
Viktor Castellano.
The name sent a chill down her spine, but she knew that if she had any hope of surviving this, if she wanted to escape the fate her family had planned for her, he was her only option.
Viktor Castellano was a monster. A ruthless Mafia boss who controlled more than just the streets—he controlled the hearts and minds of everyone who crossed his path. He was feared by all, respected by some, and loved by none. His world was a world of shadows, of power, of danger. But Marina had no choice. If she wanted to live, if she wanted to escape the death her father had ordered, she had to go to him.
With trembling fingers, she dialed the number she had been given months ago—a secret line, a number she could call if ever she needed him. A number that would mean her surrender.
"Viktor Castellano," came a smooth, gravelly voice on the other end of the line.
Marina swallowed, her throat dry, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never been so afraid in her life.
"I... I need your help," she said, the words barely escaping her lips.
There was a long pause before he replied. "Why should I help you?"
"I have information. Information that could ruin everything. I... I need protection. My family is going to kill me."
Another pause. Longer this time. "I don't deal in charity," he finally said, his voice colder than the night. "What's in it for me?"
"I'll give you the information. Everything. In exchange for your protection. I'll... I'll do whatever you want."
A silence fell between them, thick with tension, heavy with the weight of her words.
Then, Viktor spoke again, his voice low and dark. "You'll regret it, you know. I don't offer protection without a price."
"I don't care," she whispered, desperation seeping into her voice. "Please. I'll do anything."
"Very well," Viktor said, his tone like ice. "You'll come to me. And when you do, remember—you're mine."