A deal with the devil

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."

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