Blood. Everywhere. The metallic scent filled the room, mixing with the acrid smell of gunpowder and burning expensive wood.
Elena Ruby stood frozen in the corner, her eyes locked on her father's lifeless body sprawled across the floor, his chest riddled with bullet holes. Sir Alexander Ruby—her father, the man she had always believed was invincible—now lay motionless in a pool of his own blood.
Her hands trembled violently, her heart pounding so loudly she could hear it in her own ears.
"Papa…" The word barely escaped her throat.
A scream erupted behind her—her fifteen-year-old brother, Leo, stood in the doorway, his wide eyes filled with horror. His face was pale, his body shaking in fear.
"Run!"
Elena snapped out of her daze, turned, and grabbed Leo before he could take in more of the scene. But before they could reach the back door, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed against the wooden floor behind them.
"You think you can run, Miss Ruby?"
The voice was cold, sharp.
Elena froze. She knew that voice—Vincent Morelli, the right-hand man of the mafia family that had been her father's business rival for years.
Slowly, she turned around. Vincent stood there, his pistol still smoking, his expression eerily calm—like killing someone was just another part of his day. Behind him, a few other men stood watching, their faces twisted with amusement.
"Papa..." Leo choked, struggling against Elena's grip, his eyes brimming with tears.
Damn it.
Elena's mind raced. If they were caught here, they were dead.
Vincent took a step closer, casually spinning the gun in his hand. "You know, your father owed a lot of money to the wrong people. This was just… a settlement that should've happened a long time ago."
Elena bit her lip, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. She wouldn't cry. Not in front of her father's murderer.
"Let us go," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "We don't know anything about his business."
Vincent chuckled, the deep sound echoing through the room. "Oh, sweetheart. That's not how the world works. If you carry the Ruby name, you're already part of the business."
Elena stiffened. This was bad. Really bad.
Leo took a sharp breath, panic setting in, and before she could stop him, he shouted, "You're murderers! Someone will make you pay for this!"
Vincent raised an eyebrow, then laughed. "Hear that? The kid believes in miracles."
Elena's heart stopped as he lifted his gun, aiming it directly at Leo's head.
"NO!"
Without thinking, she threw herself in front of her brother, shielding him with her body. "You already killed our father! Are you going to slaughter us too?"
Vincent studied her for a moment, then smirked. "Not today. But I'll enjoy watching how you two survive without protection. This world is cruel, Elena. You'll learn that soon enough."
He lowered his gun, turned away, and gestured to his men.
"Burn it down."
Elena's eyes widened. "What?!"
Vincent glanced back at her one last time before stepping out. "Welcome to hell, Miss Ruby."
Flames erupted, smoke quickly filling the air, consuming everything left of their lives.
There was no time to think. No time to grieve.
Elena had only one choice—run, or die.
Gripping Leo's hand tightly, she pulled him through the thickening smoke, sprinting out of the inferno that had been created just for them.
She didn't know where to go.
She didn't know who to trust.
All she knew was one thing—this wasn't over.
***
The night air bit into their skin as Elena and Leo ran from the burning house. Heat scorched Elena's back, thick black smoke rising into the sky, carrying the remnants of everything Vincent Morelli had destroyed.
She pulled Leo into a narrow alley behind the house, pressing herself against the cold brick wall. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. Leo was still sobbing, his small shoulders trembling violently.
"What about Papa? He's still in there."
"Leo, there's nothing we can do for Papa. He can't protect us anymore."
"They killed him… They killed Papa…" His voice was shaky, and the light in his eyes—the one that always made him seem so full of life—was now completely gone.
Elena squeezed his shoulder gently, even though she herself was barely holding it together. "We don't have time to cry right now, Leo. We have to leave before they come back."
Leo lifted his tear-streaked face, looking at her with pure fear. "Go where? We don't have anyone left!"
He was right. Their father had been their only shield, the only thing standing between them and the ruthless world that had just swallowed them whole.
Elena clenched her jaw. "We'll find help."
"From who?"
She glanced toward the empty street ahead. In the distance, faint police sirens began to wail—but she knew better than to trust them. Men like Morelli had ways of making the law work in their favor.
She had to think fast. There weren't many people she could trust. No one she could go to without dragging them into this mess.
Then, a name surfaced in her mind. A name even more dangerous than Morelli himself.
Darren Asher.
The most feared mafia boss in the city.
A billionaire with a grip on both legal and illegal empires. If there was anyone powerful enough to protect them from Morelli, it was Darren.
But how could she even get to him? And more importantly—what would it cost? Because asking a man like Darren Asher for help wouldn't come without a price.
Leo frowned as Elena took his hand, leading him toward the main road. "Where are we going?"
Elena kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, pushing down the doubt creeping into her mind. Right now, all that mattered was getting away from Morelli—keeping Leo safe, no matter what it took.
"To the only person who can save us."
Even though her hands were shaking, for the sake of her sister, Elena would do anything, even if it meant selling her soul.