LUNA SANCHEZ

Not all wounds heal. Some become part of who we are. Some bleed forever.

And mine began that afternoon.

Two years earlier

The Sanchez mansion was no longer ours.

The floor trembled with the weight of invading footsteps. The air filled with the metallic scent of death even before the first shot was fired. The Martinez family was everywhere, relentless, hungry for the blood of our betrayal.

My father already knew. He was expecting it. But knowing death is coming doesn't prepare you for the moment it finally touches your skin.

I was on my knees. My brother beside me. My stepmother, Gabriella, my sister, and my father, Esteban. All awaiting judgment.

Cristian Martinez stood before us, the devil incarnate. His dark eyes were like an abyss, filled with hatred, fury, and something even worse: decision.

He wasn't there to threaten.

He was there to exterminate.

The first shot came without warning. My brother's body fell beside me, lifeless.

My lips parted to scream, but no sound came out.

My heart begged to beat, but everything inside me froze.

The second shot.

My stepmother fell, blood spreading like a crimson pool.

I trembled, the air scratching my throat. My hands were stained with blood, my family's blood.

I couldn't breathe.

Cristian moved towards me, and in that instant, I knew: it was the end.

“Martinez… not Luna, please… for God’s sake, she’s just a girl… she never hurt anyone!” my father pleaded.

“Funny… Kiara never hurt anyone.” Cristian Martinez’s voice was laced with venom. “She’s one of the only pure people I know… but you hurt her. You broke her.”

He pressed the gun a little harder against my head. I was sure he would pull the trigger, but there was a spark of hesitation in his eyes, an internal struggle.

And then, Martinez stepped back, as if deciding whether to shoot or not.

“There are only two ways to obtain forgiveness in our organization.” His voice cut the air like a sharp blade. “What are the rules, Esteban?”

My father trembled.

“D-death… and… marriage…” he whispered, his voice choked.

“Exactly.”

Cristian Martinez turned to me; I looked at him, not understanding.

“Ramon.” His voice was deep, calling his brother.

“Yes?”

“From now on, Luna will be your fiancee. When she turns eighteen, you will marry.”

The ground disappeared beneath my feet.

No. No. No!

My mind screamed, but my body didn't react.

I was trapped in my own hell.

“Now get the girl out of here before I change my mind,” Cristian ordered.

Ramon’s hand gripped my arm, firm and merciless, and pulled me away. His fingers were like cold steel against my hot, trembling skin. He said nothing. He just took me.

Meanwhile, inside the house, my sister and my father were still on their knees before death.

I knew I would never see them alive again.

The mansion's garden seemed like a separate universe, calm and beautiful, a cruel contrast to the horror happening inside. The scent of flowers mingled with the smell of blood.

My knees gave way.

I collapsed to the ground, hugging my own body, as if I could stop myself from falling apart completely.

Ramon didn't even hesitate before giving an order.

“Get the girl some water.”

A dry, bitter laugh escaped my throat. Water. As if that would wash away the blood. As if that would bring anyone back.

Ramon knelt before me.

“You were the only one spared. Remember that when you think about doing something stupid. We are not merciful twice.”

My head rose, my eyes met his.

And in that moment, I hated him.

With everything that was left inside me.

I hated the coldness in his gaze.

The control in his gestures.

The fact that, for him, this was just an ordinary day.

I hated them. All of them.

But above all…

I hated myself for still being alive.

RAMON MARTINEZ

Hatred.

That's what I saw in that strange girl's eyes.

But that didn't change anything.

Everyone knew the organization's rules. The Sanchez family knew the price of betrayal.

Cristian wasn't just punishing. He was sending a warning.

Gabriella and the damn old man tried to kill Kiara. They tried to kill my brother's wife. They killed our men. And when they saw they had failed, they even tried to take away Cristian's future by ordering a doctor to remove his wife's uterus.

But they didn't succeed.

Now, they were paying for their audacity with blood.

However, Cristian, for reasons only he understood, spared this girl.

This small, fragile thing, trembling and silent, covered in her own family's blood.

And worse.

He gave her to me.

Marriage.

Hell.

I didn't want a wife. Much less a broken wife. Strange.

She was on the floor, hugging her legs, cowering like a frightened animal.

And me?

I watched her.

And I knew this was the kind of problem that came back to bite you if you didn't kill it properly.

If you leave a wolf alive, it returns to sacrifice the sheep.

She looked up at me.

And in that instant, I knew.

She wasn't a sheep.

...*****...

"I hated them that afternoon. With every fiber of my being. I wanted to see them on the ground, bleeding as my family bled. I swore that if I ever had the chance, I would destroy them, all the Martinez family." Luna

"She didn't understand that day. But she would later. The life she knew died with those bodies. And now, all that remained was what I would decide to allow." Ramon

"He thinks I'm just a piece in this dirty game. But I'm not a pawn. I am the mistake they made by leaving me alive. And mistakes… always have consequences." Luna

"She thinks she can get revenge? That she can defy the Martinez family? That she can defy me? She has no idea what she's trying to face. But let her try. I am not a patient man… and much less merciful." Ramon

"Let him underestimate me. Let them all underestimate me. One day, I will have my revenge. I swore I would never be his." Luna

"She can hate all she wants. But in the end… she's still mine." Ramon

UNDERWORLD LORDS TRILOGY

BOOK I: Lords of the Underworld: The King

BOOK II: Lords of the Underworld: The Prince of Sin

BOOK III: Lords of the Underworld: The Executioner

*WARNING* ⚠️

This book is about the mafia; it is the continuation of the first book, "Lords of the Underworld: The King."

It contains explicit scenes of violence, sex, inappropriate language, and sensitive themes. It is an intense, raw, and uncensored story, where danger and passion walk side by side.

If you like an intense romance, full of tension, desire, and chaos… then, welcome.

Read at your own risk.

Enjoy the read!

The San Sebastian heat was infernal that afternoon as I drove my Porsche like a demon down the road. The engine roared, fierce, as I headed towards Riviera Auto Group, formerly the Sanchez's, now the Martinez's.

I was the new owner of that shit. But of course, only on paper.

The company was just a well-kept façade for something much bigger. The real money came from what ran through the dark alleys of the city, what came out of hidden ports, from private jets that crossed borders without raising suspicion. Drugs. Power. Control.

Gabriel, my middle brother, and I had been in charge of this part of the business since we finished off those traitors. But at the top of the chain, there he was. Cristian Martinez. The Don. The boss. The man to whom we owed unquestionable loyalty. Our older brother.

I parked in front of the company and tossed the keys to the valet without even looking at him. My cell phone vibrated in my suit jacket pocket, and by the ringtone, I already knew it was my brother.

Damn.

I grabbed the phone and answered, huffing before I even spoke.

“Hermano, how are the preparations going?” Cristian’s voice sounded firm on the other end of the line.

“The preparations?” I let out a dry laugh. “This damn wedding, is that it?”

“Obviously, carajo (fuck). The wedding doesn’t organize itself.”

“I left nuestro padre (our father) taking care of that, cabron (bastard). I don’t have patience for this shit. I’m a criminal, not a wedding planner.”

Cristian let out a long sigh, one of those that meant he was pondering whether to tell me to go to hell or to keep his patience.

“And your fiancee? Have you gone to see her yet?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Cristian, we’ve already talked about this. I’m not going after that girl. I only want to see her on the wedding day. Don’t pressure me, carajo.”

“Mierda, Ramon!” he growled. “It’s been two years since you’ve seen that girl. How are you going to recognize her, joder (damn it)?”

“I don’t need to recognize her. She’ll be the only one wearing a white dress at the altar, won’t she?” I said ironically.

Silence on the other end of the line.

“Escucha (listen), Ramon... You promised me you’d do this right. That you wouldn’t screw everything up.”

I took a deep breath, holding back the urge to tell him to go fuck himself. Cristian was my brother, I revered him, but this damn wedding? That was another story.

“Cristian, don’t fuck with me. You got me into this mess, now let me deal with it my way.”

He let out another sigh and changed the subject.

“And the shipment to France?”

“Gabriel is taking care of it. The operation is running perfectly.”

“Good. I don’t want any problems with the French.”

“Neither do I.”

We ended the call, and I threw myself into the leather chair in my office, letting out a heavy sigh.

In ten days, I would be a married man.

Me. Married.

The biggest absurdity I’ve ever heard in my life.

I liked freedom, fucking as many women as I wanted, living without ties. And now? Now I would be tied to a weird, traumatized girl who didn’t want this wedding any more than I did.

The last time I saw Luna Sanchez, she was sixteen. Small, fragile, irrelevant. Devoid of beauty.

Cristian, that son of a bitch, didn’t feel an ounce of pity for me.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

Camila, my personal assistant, came in.

My gaze slid over her body. Tight skirt, clingy blouse, eyes that screamed desire. I’d fucked her before, and she wanted it again.

“Ramon,” she murmured, approaching, biting her lip.

Ah, I knew where this was going.

I was just about to pull her on top of me when the damn door opened again.

Simon, my good friend, stopped at the entrance. His gaze went straight to Camila’s ass as she hurried out of the office, frustrated.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Bad time to come in, cabron.”

He laughed, closing the door behind him.

“My timing has always been shit. But I came for a good reason.”

I crossed my arms, waiting.

“Masquerade ball. Tomorrow night. My family is organizing it. I want you to go.”

“A party, huh?” I tilted my head, considering. “I have a busy life now, responsibilities, a fucked-up company to manage. I don’t have as much time as before.”

But the idea of a night of fun before they hanged me with this forced marriage…

“Don’t give me that, Ramon. You need a bachelor party.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Bachelor party?” I let out a bitter laugh. “This wedding will just be an agreement, joder. I’ll continue to be a free man… you understand me.”

Simon arched an eyebrow.

“You can think that. But what about her?”

I let out a sarcastic laugh.

“Are you talking about my fiancee? To hell with her, she’s irrelevant.”

He just smiled.

“Then come to the ball. It’ll be a great opportunity for your last night of fun.”

I leaned forward.

“If you guarantee some hot women, then you can be sure I’ll be there.”

Simon guffawed.

“Consider it done.”

He left the office, and I let out a sigh, running my hands over my face.

Whatever was to come…

Let it come.

The sun beat down on San Sebastian, and the hot wind made my long black hair dance as I walked through the cemetery, holding a bouquet of white lilies.

My mourning uniform was already a second skin. Black had become my color since that day. Since my life was stained with blood.

I knelt before the three aligned graves and ran my fingers over the cold marble surface, wiping away any trace of dust.

My family. My past.

I left the bouquet on my father's tombstone, inhaling deeply, trying to find strength.

"I came, papa..." my voice came out low, choked. "As always, as every week. Like every damn time I wake up and realize you're not here anymore."

I closed my eyes and, for a moment, allowed myself to remember.

My father always said the Sanchez name carried power.

"We are warriors, Luna. Never forget that."

He was ruthless, dangerous, a man who made many enemies. But to me? He was the father who taught me to ride a bike, who hugged me when I cried, who made me feel safe in a world of monsters.

I had just turned sixteen when he took me to the Caribbean, just the two of us. It was one of the last happy memories I had.

And then everything fell apart.

The metallic smell of blood.

The suffocated screams.

The dead look in my brother's eyes.

And my father... falling to his knees, defeated.

A part of me died that afternoon.

And the other... well, the other was left alive only to suffer.

I clenched my fists and closed my eyes, feeling the fury pulse in my veins.

"They will pay, papa. I swear." My voice was a whisper laden with dark promises. "I will make them bleed. Every single one of them."

The wind blew strongly, as if responding to my silent vow.

I heard footsteps approaching and turned around. Edgar was there, watching me.

He was the only one left. The only one who didn't abandon me. With his firm gaze, his rigid posture, he was more than a bodyguard. He was the only family I had left.

"Time to go, pequeña."

I took a deep breath and stood up. I cast one last look at the tombstones before turning my back.

"Let's go."

At the mansion

As soon as I entered, the weight of the house hit me like an avalanche.

The hallways echoed with memories, the furniture held stories. But not the good ones. The good ones had died with them.

"Luna, I was waiting for you."

The voice of Ursula, my friend, brought me back to reality.

She was leaning against the doorframe of the living room, arms crossed, her expression worried.

"Teresa said you'd be back soon," she continued.

I nodded, sighing.

"I went to visit my father. Let's go to my room. I want to take a shower and then we can talk."

She just nodded, accompanying me up the stairs.

In the room

I let out a heavy sigh as I threw myself into the armchair. Ursula sat on the bed, watching me.

"How are you, friend? Have you been taking your medicine?"

I clenched my jaw before lying.

"Yes... I'm taking it."

The truth? I hadn't taken it in weeks. Those pills kept me functional, numbed the pain. But I didn't want to be numbed. I wanted to feel.

To feel the hatred. The anger. The desire for revenge burning in my gut.

"And the wedding?" Her voice came hesitantly. "Have you chosen the dress yet?"

My stomach churned.

The wedding.

My sentence.

Being forced to marry the brother of that bastard.

The first and last time I saw Ramon Martinez, I was sixteen. He was there. He watched everything coldly.

"Luna?" Ursula's voice brought me back.

I blinked, taking a deep breath.

"Oh... I... I left Teresa to take care of it."

She studied me for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"You need to be strong, friend. Don't let them break you."

I let out a bitter laugh.

"They already broke me, Ursula. They destroyed the old Luna. They killed my innocence, my life... everything I was."

She looked down, biting her lip.

The silence stretched until she changed the subject.

"Tomorrow is your birthday. What are you planning to do?"

I shrugged.

"I don't know yet... Maybe go out, have some fun... if that's still possible."

"And...?" she arched an eyebrow.

I bit my lip before blurting out, bluntly:

"I want to sleep with someone."

Ursula choked.

"What?!"

"I'm not giving my purity to that bastard," I spat. "I'd rather die. So, before this damn ceremony happens, I'm going to sort this out with anyone. The first one who shows up. I won't give my fiance that satisfaction."

Ursula's eyes widened before she let out an incredulous laugh.

"Finally, friend! It took you long enough to make that decision."

My expression hardened.

"Cherish the memories of the old Luna, because after tomorrow... I won't even be a shadow of what I was."

She watched me for a moment before fiddling with her phone.

"I think I have something that might interest you."

I narrowed my eyes when she turned the screen towards me.

A digital invitation glowed on the screen:

"Masquerade Ball. Tomorrow. Exclusive location. Invite only."

I frowned.

"A masquerade ball? How outdated."

"I was invited, but I can't go because my mother is dragging me on a last-minute trip," she explained. "But you can go."

I crossed my arms, considering.

One night to lose myself before being trapped in a marriage I hated.

"On second thought... I think I'll accept."

She smiled, sending me the invitation.

And in that moment, I knew.

That night, I would begin to bury the Luna of the past.

And before I married my enemy... I would lose my virginity.