Maria Delgado's life was shattered the night her family was brutally murdered by the notorious mafia kingpin, Salvatore "The Wolf" Moretti. A once quiet life in a small Italian village turned into a nightmare as she witnessed her parents and younger brother being gunned down in cold blood. The authorities, too afraid to confront Moretti, dismissed the case as a tragic accident, leaving Maria alone and burning with vengeance. For years, Maria trained in secret, honing her skills in combat, weapons, and strategy. She learned from the best, traveling across Europe and immersing herself in the criminal underworld to understand her enemy. Her once gentle demeanor hardened into that of a ruthless and calculating woman with a singular purpose: to make Moretti pay for every drop of blood he spilled. Under the alias "La Lupa" (The She-Wolf), Maria infiltrates Moretti's organization. She climbs the ranks, using her charm and cunning to get closer to the man who destroyed her life. But the deeper she goes, the more she uncovers about her family's past and their ties to Moretti's empire. It was not just a random act of violence-her family had a history with the mafia that Maria never knew about. As Maria's plans unfold, she must navigate a web of betrayal, deception, and loyalty. Her journey is filled with explosive confrontations, near escapes, and a growing internal struggle as she grapples with the darkness she's embraced. When she finally faces Moretti, the lines between justice and vengeance blur, and Maria is forced to confront the person she's become. In a final showdown that echoes the tragedy of her past, Maria confronts Moretti not just for revenge, but for redemption. The man who once controlled everything is now at her mercy, but the cost of her vengeance may be more than Maria is willing to pay.
Chapter 1 The Night of the Wolf
Maria Delgado had always loved the quiet serenity of her small Italian village. The village was her sanctuary, a place where time seemed to stand still amidst the cobblestone streets and the rolling hills that surrounded it. But on the night of her 25th birthday, everything she cherished was ripped away from her in a storm of violence and blood.
The Delgado family home was filled with warmth and laughter that evening. Close friends and relatives had gathered to celebrate Maria's birthday, the house filled with the smell of freshly baked bread, wine, and the joy of those who loved her. Maria, dressed in a simple blue dress that accentuated her dark hair and olive skin, couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of contentment as she watched her younger brother, Marco, playfully chase after a neighborhood dog.
As the night wore on, the guests began to depart, leaving only Maria, her parents, and Marco. They sat together in the living room, savoring the last remnants of the evening. Her father, Antonio, was just about to suggest a final toast when the sound of shattering glass interrupted the peace.
The front door burst open, and a group of masked men stormed into the house, their guns blazing. In an instant, the warmth of the evening was replaced with terror and chaos. Maria's father leaped to his feet, but he was shot down before he could reach for the old rifle he kept hidden under the floorboards. Her mother, Isabella, screamed and ran toward Marco, but she too was gunned down before she could reach her son.
Maria stood frozen in shock as she watched her family fall before her eyes. The man who appeared to be the leader of the group, a tall figure with a cold, cruel sneer, stepped forward. He aimed his gun at Maria, but before he could pull the trigger, Isabella, in her last breath, pushed Maria out of the way.
"Run, Maria!" her mother gasped, blood bubbling at the corner of her mouth.
Maria, driven by sheer instinct, ran. She bolted out the back door and into the dark woods behind the house, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind struggling to process the horror she had just witnessed. She didn't stop running until she could no longer hear the gunshots echoing in the night.
When she finally collapsed, gasping for breath, Maria looked back at the distant glow of her burning home. Tears streamed down her face, but even as grief and fear overwhelmed her, a single thought began to take root in her mind-she would have her revenge.