The rain poured heavily over the city, turning the streets into shimmering rivers of light. Elena Moretti stood beneath a flickering street lamp, her fingers tightening around the small pendant in her hand-a reminder of the betrayal that had shattered her world. The man she once loved, the one she trusted with her heart, had not only left her but destroyed everything she held dear.

Antonio Ricci, her ex-fiancé, had set her up. The nightclub they built together? Stolen. Her father's business? Bankrupt. And worst of all, he had handed her over to his enemies, leaving her for dead.

But Elena had survived.

And now, she wanted revenge.

She wasn't alone in this. A figure stepped out of the shadows, the scent of expensive cologne mixing with the damp air.

Luca DeLuca. The most dangerous man in the underworld.

"You want revenge?" His voice was deep, edged with quiet power. "Then you're going to need me."

Elena met his gaze. Dark, calculating, but hiding something else beneath the surface-something she wasn't sure she could name yet.

"Why would you help me?" she asked.

Luca smirked. "Because your ex made the mistake of crossing me too. And I never let a debt go unpaid."

A slow, knowing smile curled on Elena's lips. This was the beginning of something deadly. Something unstoppable.

She would ruin Antonio.

And she had a feeling Luca DeLuca would ruin her in a completely different way.

_______

Elena studied Luca DeLuca, the infamous underworld kingpin, as he leaned casually against the hood of his sleek black Maserati. The streetlights cast sharp shadows over his angular face, highlighting the raw power in his stance.

She had heard the rumors. Luca was ruthless, calculated, and utterly untouchable. Aligning herself with him meant stepping into a world where blood paid for betrayal. But if she wanted to destroy Antonio, she needed someone who knew how to play this game better than anyone.

"You want revenge," Luca repeated, his voice smooth as whiskey. "I can give it to you. But it won’t be easy, and it won’t be clean."

Elena lifted her chin. "I don't need easy. I need Antonio to suffer."

A slow, approving smirk curved Luca's lips. "Good answer. Then we have a deal."

He extended his hand, and for a moment, she hesitated. This was it—the point of no return. But Antonio had left her with nothing, and she would be damned if she let him walk away unscathed.

She placed her hand in Luca’s.

His grip was firm, warm, a silent promise of destruction.

"First," Luca said, pulling her closer, his breath ghosting over her cheek, "tell me everything Antonio did to you. Every lie, every betrayal. I want to know exactly how deep we need to cut."

Elena swallowed the lump in her throat, memories flashing like broken glass. "He stole my business. He framed me for a deal gone bad and handed me over to the Rojas cartel. If I hadn’t escaped…" She trailed off, her fingers curling into fists. "He made me look weak. And now, he’s sitting in my office, living my life like I never existed."

Luca’s jaw tightened. "Then we take it all back. His money, his reputation, his power."

She nodded. "I want him ruined before I kill him."

Luca chuckled, low and dark. "Now you're speaking my language, princess."

The next evening, Elena found herself seated in Luca’s private club, a lavish, exclusive den of crime lords and billionaires who all owed him favors. She sipped her whiskey, the burn a reminder that she was still standing, still fighting.

Luca sat beside her, watching the crowd with an air of supreme control.

"Our first move is financial," he said, handing her a sleek tablet. "Antonio has a major shipment coming in tomorrow—illegal diamonds. It’s worth millions."

Elena’s eyes darkened. "And we’re taking it?"

"Not just taking it," Luca corrected, leaning in close. "We’re making sure he thinks one of his own betrayed him."

Her lips parted slightly. "You're good at this."

Luca smirked. "You have no idea."

Their eyes met, and for the first time, Elena felt something shift between them—something dangerous, magnetic.

Revenge had brought them together.

But she was beginning to wonder if Luca DeLuca would be her salvation or her greatest downfall.

Elena watched the security footage on Luca’s tablet, her pulse quickening as the shipment of illegal diamonds was rerouted—right into Luca’s hands.

"Antonio is going to lose his mind," she murmured, satisfaction curling through her.

Luca smirked, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Good. A man like him—arrogant, used to winning—he’ll react emotionally. That’s when we strike again."

But just as she leaned back, the club’s doors burst open. A man, bleeding from a gunshot wound, stumbled in, clutching his side.

"Boss," he gasped at Luca. "It’s Antonio… he figured it out. He’s already making moves."

Elena’s blood turned cold.

Luca’s expression darkened. "Looks like your ex isn't as stupid as we thought."

She clenched her fists. No matter how smart Antonio was, she and Luca would outplay him.

Because this was only the beginning.

__________

Luca’s club was locked down within minutes, his men sweeping the perimeter, weapons drawn. The bleeding informant groaned as he was laid out on a leather couch, his shirt soaked in red.

"Tell me everything," Luca demanded, his tone razor-sharp.

The man winced. "Antonio knew the shipment was intercepted. He didn’t know it was you at first, but someone tipped him off. Now, he’s putting a bounty on anyone who might’ve had a hand in it. He’s not waiting for answers—he’s out for blood."

Elena’s heart pounded. "Who tipped him off?"

Luca’s expression was unreadable, but his fingers curled slightly over his glass. "That’s what we’re about to find out."

Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. One glance at the screen, and his smirk returned—dangerous, knowing.

"Speak of the devil," Luca murmured, answering the call.

Antonio’s voice came through, smug and ice-cold. "I know what you did, DeLuca."

Luca leaned back in his chair, his confidence unwavering. "You’ll have to be more specific, Antonio. I do a lot of things."

"You stole from me," Antonio hissed. "Big mistake."

Elena stepped closer, listening intently.

Luca chuckled. "Oh, you haven’t even seen my biggest mistake yet."

A tense silence stretched between them before Antonio spoke again, voice dripping with venom. "You think you’re untouchable? You and that pathetic woman you’re playing bodyguard for? I’ll bury you both."

Elena’s fingers dug into her palm. "Tell him he can try."

Luca smiled darkly, his gaze locking onto hers. "You heard the lady, Antonio. You can try."

Antonio hung up.

Elena exhaled sharply. "He knows I’m working with you."

"Good," Luca said, pouring himself another drink. "Now, the real game begins."

Two nights later, Elena found herself in an underground casino—one of Antonio’s many money-laundering fronts. It was packed with high rollers, the air thick with cigar smoke and desperation. Luca had warned her that this mission was dangerous, but she insisted on being here.

"Stay close," Luca murmured in her ear, his palm resting lightly on the small of her back as they moved through the crowd.

She was here for one reason: to steal Antonio’s money right from under his nose.

Luca’s hacker had already breached the casino’s security system, rerouting millions into offshore accounts that Antonio wouldn’t be able to trace—at least, not until it was too late.

But something felt off.

A shiver ran down her spine, and her instincts screamed a warning.

Luca must have felt it too. His grip on her tightened just as the casino doors slammed shut.

Gunmen flooded the room.

Antonio stepped forward, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, a cruel smile on his lips.

"Did you really think I wouldn’t see this coming, Elena?" he taunted. "You always were predictable."

Her blood turned to ice.

Someone had betrayed them.

And judging by the smirk on Antonio’s face, it was someone close.

Luca exhaled, annoyed but calm. "You have terrible timing, Ricci."

Antonio chuckled. "You walked into my trap. What do you think happens next?"

Luca smirked. "I think your men should check their bank accounts."

Antonio’s confident expression flickered. He pulled out his phone, and within seconds, his face twisted in fury.

"You son of a—"

The lights cut out.

Gunfire erupted.

Luca pulled Elena down behind a blackjack table just as bullets tore through the room. "Stay with me," he ordered.

Elena's heart pounded. This wasn’t just about revenge anymore.

This was war.

_______

Chaos erupted as gunfire shattered glasses, overturned table, and sent high-rolling gamblers screaming for cover.

Luca moved fast-too fast.one moment,he was pulling Elena down;the next,he had his gun in his hand,returting fire with the deadly precision.

"Stay low".he ordered, shielding her with his body as he shot two of antonio's men trying to flank them.

Elena's heart pounded.she wasn't just a pawn in this game-she had been antonio's partner once.she knew how he played,and right now,they were in chechmate.

Unless they changed the board.

"We cat stay here",she said, scanning the room.A side exit,hidden behind the VIP booth,led to a back alley.but they'd have to cross open ground to get there.

Luca followed her gaze,then grabbed a dealer's cart and shoved it hard,sending it crashing into two of antonio's gunmen."Go!"

Elena sprinted,heart hammered as bullets recocheted past her.luca was right behind her,covering their escape.

Just as she reached the door,an arm grabbed her.

"Going somewhere, sweetheart"

Antonio.

His grip was iron-strong,his Cologne sickeningly familiar.

"Let me go",she hissed,twisting in his grasp,but he yanked her back against his chest.

"You thought you could steal from me and walk away?" Antonio murmured,voice dripped with venom."Poor Elena,you never learn who you were dealing with."

Before she could retort,a gunshot rang out.

Antonio's grip slackened.