The scent of smoke and blood stuck to Valeria's wedding dress as the car sped through the empty streets of Rome. The city lights blurred past, but all she could see was Luca's smile as he turned his back on her.
The betrayal still burned.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of her ruined gown, the bloodstains stuck against the white silk. Whether the blood belonged to Luca's men or the guests caught in the crossfire, she didn't know.
Didn't care.
Luca had set her up. He had humiliated her in front of everyone, ripped away the illusion of love, and used her as nothing more than a pawn in his rise to power.
And now she was here.
In a car with Matteo DeLuca.
The man her father had always warned her about. A cold-blooded enemy. A man who had just saved her life.
The air inside the car was thick with tension. Matteo sat in the driver's seat, gripping the wheel with a casual arrogance that made her skin crawl. His sharp features were carved in stone, his dark eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Valeria swallowed, forcing herself to break the silence.
"Why?"
Matteo didn't look at her. "Why what?"
"Why did you help me?" Her voice was steady, but inside, she was scared. "You could have let Luca have me. Let him finish whatever twisted game he started."
A smile ghosted over Matteo's lips. "Let's get one thing straight, princess. I didn't save you because I'm some hero." He finally turned his head, his eyes burning into hers. "I saved you because I own you now."
A chill ran down her spine.
She clenched her fists. "I don't belong to anyone."
Matteo let out a low chuckle, the sound dark and mocking. "That's cute."
She wanted to slap him. Wanted to scream that she wasn't some prize to be claimed.
But she kept her expression blank, unwilling to give him the satisfaction.
Minutes later, the car pulled into an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The metal doors groaned as they slid shut behind them, trapping her in Matteo's world.
She hesitated.
Matteo opened his door but didn't move to help her. Instead, he leaned back against the car, arms crossed.
"Well?" slowly speaking. "Are you planning to sit in that dress all night? Or are you ready to start acting like someone who actually wants to survive?"
Valeria tightens her teeth and steps out. The cold air bit at her skin, but she didn't flinch.
She was done playing the role of the fragile mafia princess.
Matteo pushed off the car and moved toward her, his presence overwhelming. "You're smart enough to know that Luca won't let you walk away from this."
She knew.
Luca was too arrogant, too power-hungry to leave loose ends. And she was now the biggest loose end of all.
Matteo's voice dropped lower, provoked. "You want revenge, don't you?"
Something inside her snapped.
Her eyes locked onto his, her nails digging into her palms. "I want him to suffer."
Matteo's smile widened. "Good."
She hated that look. Hated that he was enjoying this, as if he could see the moment she stopped being the girl Luca discarded and became something else entirely.
A woman who had nothing left to lose.
Matteo took a step closer. "Then you're going to need me."
Her jaw tightened. "And if I say no?"
"Then you die."
The words were delivered without hesitation, without emotion.
And he was right.
If she walked out of here now, Luca would find her. He would finish what he started.
Valeria breathes out. "What do you want from me?"
Matteo's eyes darkened. "Luca betrayed more than just you. He went behind my back, made deals that should have been mine."
Of course. It was always about power.
"So this isn't about helping me," she said coldly. "It's about your war."
Matteo smiled. "Let's just say our interests align."
She crossed her arms, ignoring the shivers threatening to creep up her spine. "And what's the price of your… protection?"
Matteo stepped closer, his breath warm against her ear.
"You stay with me. Learn how to survive in my world. And when the time comes…" He pulled back, meeting her eyes. "We take Luca down together."
Her pulse hammered.
For the first time since her world collapsed, she had a choice.
She could walk away—face certain death.
Or she could take Matteo's deal. Stay. Learn. Become something Luca could never control.
Matteo watched her carefully. "Make a decision, princess."
Valeria lifted her chin. No more weakness.
"I'll stay," she said, voice steady. "But don't think for a second that I belong to you."
Matteo's smirk deepened, something dark flickering in his eyes.
"We'll see."
He turned, reaching into his jacket. When his hand emerged, he tossed something toward her.
She caught it on instinct.
A gun.
Valeria's breath jerked.
Matteo bend against a stack of crates, watching her with lazy amusement. "Lesson one: Never let a man think he has the upper hand."
Before she could react, he moved.
In a blink, he pulled out a knife and attacked.
Valeria barely had time to raise the gun before the blade was at her throat.
Her heart slammed against her ribs, but she didn't flinch.
Matteo's smirk widened. "Not bad." He pulled back, flipping the knife in his hand effortlessly. "You'll need to do better if you want to survive."
She hold the gun tighter, chest heaving.
She thought her war started when Luca betrayed her.
She was wrong.
This was only the beginning.
And Valeria Moretti would not be weak ever again.