The knife felt heavier than it should.
Valeria holds the knife firmly, its cool steel pressing into her palm. The weight of it wasn't just physical—it was a choice, a turning point, a descent into something she wasn't sure she was ready for.
Yet, as she stared at the man kneeling before her—Luca's man, the one who had helped destroy her life—a quiet voice inside her whispered:
This is justice.
Or maybe it was revenge.
The man's face twisted with terror. His arms were bound behind his back, his knees scraping against the concrete floor. Blood dripped from his legs.
"P—please," he stammered, looking past her to Matteo. "You don't have to do this."
Matteo was silent, watching from the shadows. His stance was relaxed, but his dark eyes were full with expectation.
He wasn't going to save this man.
This was her choice.
The man turned his wide, desperate eyes to her. "I—I was just following orders," he pleaded. "Luca gave the command. I—I had no choice."
Valeria's hold on the knife tightened.
Just following orders.
It was always the same excuse.
Where was this desperation when she was on the ground, humiliated and broken? Where was this fear when he had pinned her down, laughed at her suffering?
A sickening fury curled in her chest, suffocating.
This man had helped take everything from her.
And yet…
She hesitated.
Matteo took a slow step forward, his voice cutting through the silence. "You think Luca would have spared you if the situation were reversed?"
The man was scared . He knew the truth.
Matteo's eye flickered toward Valeria, unreadable. "If you want to survive in this world, you have to decide what kind of woman you want to be. A pawn? Or a player?"
A pawn. That's what she had been.
Luca had played her like a fool. Used her. Betrayed her.
She looked down at the knife again, her stomach twisting.
Killing him would be easy. A single movement, a clean cut, and he would never hurt anyone again.
But then what?
Would she be different from Luca?
Would she become him?
The thought sent a cold down her spine.
Her heart hammered as she raised the blade—not toward the man's throat, but toward his knee.
Matteo's words echoed in her mind.
"You don't go for the kill. Not at first. You shoot for pain. For power."
A pawn obeyed.
A player controlled the game.
Without another thought, she drove the knife forward—straight into the man's leg.
He screamed.
The sound echoed through the warehouse, sharp and raw. He collapsed onto his side, crying in pain, blood pooling beneath him.
Valeria's chest heaved.
She let go of the knife and took a slow step back, her pulse thundering in her ears.
The man folded his leg, sobbing. "P—please…"
Matteo chuckled, low and approving. "Looks like you made your choice."
Valeria forced herself to meet his eyes.
"I'm not a killer." Her voice was steady, despite the storm raging inside her.
Matteo moved his head, watching her like she was a puzzle he was trying to solve. "No," he said slowly. "Not yet."
She swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing into her.
Matteo gave a small nod to his men. They dragged the wounded man away, his cries fading into the distance.
The warehouse was silent again.
The scent of blood clung to the air.
Matteo stepped closer, his presence consuming. "Tell me, princess… how did it feel?"
She forced her chin up. "It felt like survival."
Something dark changed in his looks. He liked that answer.
She turned on her heel and walked toward the stairs, but before she could take another step, Matteo spoke again.
"You just sent a message to Luca," he said casually. "You think he won't retaliate?"
Valeria froze.
She hadn't thought about that.
Matteo smiled at her silence. "I'll give you a choice. You can walk away from all of this and pray that Luca doesn't come for you."
He took a step closer, his voice dropping to something almost intimate.
"Or… you can stay. Train. Learn how to win."
She is still scared.
A week ago, she would have run.
But that woman no longer existed.
She turned back to him, her pulse steady.
"I'm staying."
Matteo's smile deepened.
And for the first time since her world shattered—Valeria felt powerful.