Seduced by Shadows
...The cold wind howled through the dark alleyways of the city, carrying the scent of rain and something far more dangerous—blood. The streets of Manhattan were alive at this hour, but not with the laughter of civilians or the hum of traffic. No, in the hidden corners of this world, two rival empires waged a silent war, and tonight, the battlefield was being painted in crimson....
...Lily didn’t belong here....
...Yet, here she was—standing in the middle of a city she had never truly called home, with shadows closing in around her....
...She clutched the hand of a small child—her daughter, Aria—who, at four years old, barely understood the danger they were in....
...“Mama,” Aria whispered, tugging at Lily’s coat, her large, innocent eyes scanning the darkness. “Are we lost?”...
...Lily knelt down, forcing a soft smile onto her lips. “No, sweetheart,” she murmured, brushing Aria’s dark curls from her face. “We’re just… taking a different way home.”...
...Lies....
...They were very, very lost....
...And worse? They had stumbled into the crossfire of two of the most dangerous mafia factions in the city....
...The Shadow Vortex Syndicate ruled from the north, a cold, calculated organization led by five blood-related brothers. They were legends in the underground world—Anderson, Leon, Venom, Adam, and Antonio—each one deadlier than the last. Their presence alone could send grown men to their knees....
...On the other side, the Iron Fang Cartel held dominance in the south, a force equally feared, if not more brutal. Their five leaders—Ethan, Jack, Gray, Olivier, and Frederick—were ruthless, merciless, and unpredictable....
...For years, their war had raged unseen, hidden behind the polished walls of luxury and power....
...And somehow, Lily had walked right into the heart of it....
...---...
...Six Hours Ago...
...The day had started like any other....
...Lily had been desperate for a job—any job that could provide for her daughter. Being a single mother wasn’t easy, and no matter how hard she tried, society never let her forget that she was alone. Employers hesitated when they learned she had a child. Men looked at her with either pity or disdain, as if her past mistakes defined her entire existence....
...But Lily had stopped caring about opinions long ago....
...All that mattered was Aria....
...So, when a prestigious company offered her an interview for a high-paying assistant position, she didn’t ask too many questions. She dressed in her best clothes, dropped Aria off at daycare, and walked into that glass building with hope in her heart....
...Hope that shattered the moment she stepped inside....
...The air was thick with tension, the kind that sent shivers down her spine. The men who sat at the grand table weren’t businessmen—they were predators, their sharp gazes assessing her like she was prey....
...And then she saw him....
...A man with silver eyes and a cruel smirk, leaning back in his chair like he owned the world....
...Anderson....
...The eldest brother of the Shadow Vortex Syndicate....
...Lily’s breath caught in her throat. She had heard rumors about him—about all of them. But those stories seemed far away, belonging to a different world....
...Yet here she was, standing right in front of them....
...Anderson’s voice was smooth, dangerous. “You’re not what I expected.”...
...Lily swallowed. “I—”...
...Before she could respond, the doors burst open....
...Men stormed in, guns drawn, and before Lily could even process what was happening, bullets tore through the room....
...The Iron Fang Cartel had arrived....
...And just like that, Lily’s life was no longer her own....
...---...
...Present...
...She should have run....
...She should have grabbed Aria and disappeared into the night....
...But instead, she hesitated....
...And in that hesitation, the monsters found her....
...A shadow loomed behind her, a deep, smooth voice breaking through the darkness....
...“Lost, sweetheart?”...
...Lily spun around—only to be met with gray, piercing eyes....
...Ethan....
...The leader of the Iron Fang Cartel....
...Her blood ran cold....
...She had heard of him before, whispered stories in hushed voices. He was calm, collected, and terrifyingly intelligent—the kind of man who didn’t just kill his enemies....
...He played with them first....
...Lily swallowed hard, shielding Aria with her body. “I—I was just leaving.”...
...Ethan chuckled, a slow, amused sound. “Were you now?” He took a step closer, his gaze flickering to Aria. “With a child? At this hour?”...
...Lily’s hands clenched into fists. “We don’t want trouble.”...
...Ethan tilted his head. “Then you shouldn’t have walked into the middle of a war.”...
...Before she could respond, another voice cut through the night....
...“Ethan.”...
...Lily’s breath caught as another figure emerged from the shadows....
...Anderson....
...The rival leader....
...His silver eyes met Ethan’s with a calm, unyielding stare. “You’re in my territory.”...
...Ethan smirked. “And?”...
...Anderson’s lips curled into something close to a smile. “And she’s mine.”...
...Lily’s heart stopped....
...“What?” she whispered....
...Anderson didn’t look at her, his gaze locked onto Ethan’s. “She belongs to us.”...
...Ethan raised an eyebrow. “That so?”...
...Leon, another one of the Shadow Vortex brothers, stepped forward. “That’s right.” His voice was dangerously smooth, his eyes burning with something undecipherable. “And if you lay a hand on her, this war won’t just be about territory anymore.”...
...Ethan laughed, shaking his head. “You always were possessive bastards.”...
...Lily’s mind raced....
...They were fighting over her?...
...This was insane....
...She didn’t belong to anyone—especially not two warring mafia factions....
...But before she could protest, Venom—one of Anderson’s younger brothers—spoke up, his voice amused....
...“Don’t worry, darling,” he murmured. “We’ll take good care of you.”...
...Lily’s skin prickled....
...She had to get out of here....
...But deep down, a terrifying truth settled into her bones....
...They weren’t going to let her go....
...Not now....
...Not ever....
...And the most terrifying part?...
...A small part of her didn’t want to leave....
...---...
...End of Prologue...
...---...
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