Under The Crimson Veil

Under The Crimson Veil

Ronald Spence

5.0
Comment(s)
4
View
18
Chapters

Sofia DeLuca has spent her life running from her family's dark legacy, determined to carve out a life of her own. But when her estranged father, a notorious mafia don, is murdered, Sofia is pulled back into the criminal underworld she tried to escape. Standing in her way is Luca Romano, her father's ruthless right-hand man and heir to the empire. As Sofia and Luca work together to uncover the truth behind her father's death, a forbidden romance ignites between them.

Under The Crimson Veil Chapter 1 1

Sofia DeLuca gripped the leather steering wheel of her car, her knuckles pale from the pressure. The streets of New York were as chaotic as she remembered, a whirlwind of horns, flashing lights, and the hum of a city that never paused to grieve. Her heart felt heavy as she turned onto the familiar cobblestone street leading to the DeLuca family estate. The towering iron gates loomed ahead, a stark reminder of the world she had tried so hard to escape.

She hadn't set foot in this house for nearly a decade, and she had vowed never to return. But her father's death had changed everything. Michael DeLuca, feared mafia don and the man who had both raised and suffocated her, was gone. The news had hit her like a bullet-sharp, sudden, and devastating.

The gates creaked open, revealing the sprawling mansion. Sofia's eyes scanned the property, noting the armed guards stationed at every corner. Their presence wasn't surprising; her father had always surrounded himself with layers of protection, but the heightened security hinted at unrest.

Parking the car, she stepped out, her heels clicking against the stone driveway. The chill of the January evening seeped through her coat, but it was the oppressive weight of the place that truly sent shivers down her spine. She hesitated before climbing the stone steps, her hand brushing the brass knocker on the heavy oak door.

The door swung open before she could use it. A tall man with dark, piercing eyes and a sharp jawline stood in the doorway. Luca Romano. Even after all these years, he was unmistakable. His presence was commanding, his tailored suit emphasizing the power he carried effortlessly.

"Sofia," he said, his voice low and even. "You're late."

Her brow arched, irritation flaring despite her grief. "I didn't realize I was on your schedule."

His lips twitched, almost forming a smirk, but his expression remained cold. "Your father's will is being read in twenty minutes. Don't keep everyone waiting."

Without another word, he stepped aside, allowing her to enter. The warmth of the interior hit her immediately, but it did little to ease the unease coiling in her chest. The grand foyer was just as she remembered-marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and an overwhelming sense of grandeur that felt more oppressive than welcoming.

Members of the DeLuca family were scattered throughout the house, their murmurs filling the air. She recognized many of them: uncles, cousins, and longtime associates of her father. Their eyes followed her as she walked past, whispers trailing in her wake.

"Michael's daughter," one voice said.

"Thought she'd never come back," another muttered.

Sofia ignored them, keeping her head high. She wasn't here for them.

The study door was open, and inside, the family lawyer sat behind a massive mahogany desk. Luca stood by the fireplace, his gaze fixed on her as she entered. Several other high-ranking members of the DeLuca organization were seated in leather chairs, their expressions a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

"Sofia," the lawyer greeted, gesturing for her to sit. "Thank you for coming. I know this is difficult."

She sank into the chair, her back rigid. "Let's get this over with."

The lawyer adjusted his glasses and opened a thick folder. "Michael DeLuca was a complex man, but he was meticulous about his affairs. His assets, properties, and businesses will be distributed according to his instructions. However, there is one matter of particular importance."

The room fell silent. Sofia's pulse quickened, though she kept her expression neutral.

"The leadership of the DeLuca family," the lawyer continued, "will pass to Sofia DeLuca."

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

A chorus of protests erupted around her.

"Ridiculous!" one man barked.

"She's been gone for years!" another sneered.

Luca's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. "Enough."

Silence returned, but the tension was palpable. Luca's gaze never left Sofia, his dark eyes unreadable.

"This must be a mistake," Sofia said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I have no intention of leading this family."

The lawyer adjusted his glasses again. "Your father anticipated your reluctance, but his decision is final. If you refuse, the family's assets and operations will be divided among the senior members, which could lead to... complications."

"Complications," Luca echoed, his tone sharp. "A power vacuum. Chaos. Bloodshed."

Sofia clenched her fists. She wanted nothing to do with her father's empire, but the weight of responsibility pressed down on her. Refusing could destroy what little stability remained, and she couldn't let innocent people get caught in the crossfire.

"I need time to think," she said finally.

"You don't have much," Luca replied, his voice low but firm.

The meeting ended shortly after, the room emptying as the others filtered out. Only Luca remained, leaning against the fireplace with his arms crossed.

"You're in over your head," he said bluntly.

Sofia shot him a glare. "I didn't ask for your opinion."

He stepped closer, his presence as overwhelming as ever. "You might not want this life, but it's yours now. If you don't step up, someone else will, and they won't hesitate to kill you to secure their position."

Her breath hitched, though she refused to let him see her fear. "And what do you suggest, Luca? That I play mafia queen and pretend I belong here?"

His lips curved into a humorless smile. "Pretend all you want. Just make sure you survive."

She met his gaze, the air between them crackling with tension. "Why do you care if I survive?"

For a moment, his expression softened, but it vanished just as quickly. "Your father trusted me to protect this family. That includes you."

Before she could respond, he turned and left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Sofia stared into the crackling flames of the fireplace, her mind racing. The shadows of her father's world had finally caught up with her, and there was no escaping them now.

Continue Reading

Other books by Ronald Spence

More

You'll also like

Secret Triplets: The Billionaire's Second Chance

Secret Triplets: The Billionaire's Second Chance

Roderic Penn

I stood at my mother's open grave in the freezing rain, my heels sinking into the mud. The space beside me was empty. My husband, Hilliard Holloway, had promised to cherish me in bad times, but apparently, burying my mother didn't fit into his busy schedule. While the priest's voice droned on, a news alert lit up my phone. It was a livestream of the Metropolitan Charity Gala. There was Hilliard, looking impeccable in a custom tuxedo, with his ex-girlfriend Charla English draped over his arm. The headline read: "Holloway & English: A Power Couple Reunited?" When he finally returned to our penthouse at 2 AM, he didn't come alone-he brought Charla with him. He claimed she'd had a "medical emergency" at the gala and couldn't be left alone. I found a Tiffany diamond necklace on our coffee table meant for her birthday, and a smudge of her signature red lipstick on his collar. When I confronted him, he simply told me to stop being "hysterical" and "acting like a child." He had no idea I was seven months pregnant with his child. He thought so little of my grief that he didn't even bother to craft a convincing lie, laughing with his mistress in our home while I sat in the dark with a shattered heart and a secret life growing inside me. "He doesn't deserve us," I whispered to the darkness. I didn't scream or beg. I simply left a folder on his desk containing signed divorce papers and a forged medical report for a terminated pregnancy. I disappeared into the night, letting him believe he had successfully killed his own legacy through his neglect. Five years later, Hilliard walked into "The Vault," the city's most exclusive underground auction, looking for a broker to manage his estate. He didn't recognize me behind my Venetian mask, but he couldn't ignore the neon pink graffiti on his armored Maybach that read "DEADBEAT." He had no clue that the three brilliant triplets currently hacking his security system were the very children he thought had been erased years ago. This time, I wasn't just a wife in the way; I was the one holding all the cards.

While I Was Bleeding Out, He Lit Lanterns For Her

While I Was Bleeding Out, He Lit Lanterns For Her

Katie Oettgen

As I lay on the floor of our manor, bleeding out from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, I used my last ounce of strength to call my husband, Cole. I begged him for help, my vision blurring. But the only thing I heard was the clinking of champagne glasses and his mistress's giggle in the background. "Stop the drama, June," Cole snapped, his voice cold. "We're about to go on stage. Don't call again." He hung up, leaving me to die alone on the Persian rug while he accepted an award with another woman on his arm. I woke up in the hospital days later. My baby was gone. They had removed my fallopian tube. Cole finally arrived, smelling of expensive scotch and his mistress's perfume. He didn't hug me. He didn't cry. Instead, he leaned over my hospital bed, pressing his knee into the mattress until my fresh stitches tore open and bled. "You embarrassed me by calling an ambulance," he hissed. "My mistress, Alycia, says you're faking it. Clean yourself up." He left me bleeding again to go announce a $10 million donation to Alycia's "groundbreaking" medical research. I stared at the TV screen, numb. The research Alycia was taking credit for? It was mine. I wrote that patent years ago under a pseudonym. They thought I was just a poor, orphan housewife who needed Cole's money to survive. They had no idea I was actually a billionaire scientist hiding my identity. I pulled the IV needle out of my arm. A drop of blood fell onto the divorce papers I had been hiding. I didn't wipe it off. I signed my name right over it. Then I walked into the bank, reactivated my dormant account with $128 million, and bought the penthouse directly overlooking Cole's house. The mourning widow is dead. The avenger is born.

Inferno Heiress: Freed From Hell To Reclaim My Empire

Inferno Heiress: Freed From Hell To Reclaim My Empire

Clara Voss

Hayley was betrayed by those who should have loved her most. To save their precious adopted daughter from a punishment she deserved, her own parents sent Hayley straight into a living hell—an infamous prison where survival demanded cruelty, and weakness meant death. Four years later, the girl who had entered those iron gates no longer existed. She emerged with a single, unbreakable rule carved into her soul: Every betrayal would be repaid tenfold. The day she walked free, the world trembled. A convoy of luxury cars lined the road. A legion of loyal followers awaited her triumphant return. Her father tried to buy her silence with money. But money had long lost its power over her. Her adopted sister hid behind sweet words and false kindness. But empty smiles no longer fooled her. Everything that had once been stolen would be reclaimed—piece by piece. When her parents attempted to tie themselves to the city's most feared man by offering their adopted daughter, Hayley's lips curved into a cold smirk. "Not on my watch." Backed by a legendary hacker, shadowy allies, and an entire prison willing to burn the world for her, Hayley dismantled her enemies with terrifying precision. Then the tyrant noticed her. "You're interesting," he said. "Be my woman, and the city is yours." Hayley raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You want to own me? Survive me first." High society became their battlefield. Power collided with desire. Ambition clashed with obsession. In this ruthless game of dominance and temptation, only one would kneel first. The girl once abandoned in hell rose from its ashes, crowned by fire and vengeance—And in the end, even the most feared ruler in the city would bow, offering his empire to the woman who had conquered both hell… and him.

Chapters
Read Now
Download Book
Under The Crimson Veil Under The Crimson Veil Ronald Spence Mafia
“Sofia DeLuca has spent her life running from her family's dark legacy, determined to carve out a life of her own. But when her estranged father, a notorious mafia don, is murdered, Sofia is pulled back into the criminal underworld she tried to escape. Standing in her way is Luca Romano, her father's ruthless right-hand man and heir to the empire. As Sofia and Luca work together to uncover the truth behind her father's death, a forbidden romance ignites between them.”
1

Chapter 1 1

09/01/2025

2

Chapter 2 2

09/01/2025

3

Chapter 3 3

09/01/2025

4

Chapter 4 4

09/01/2025

5

Chapter 5 5

09/01/2025

6

Chapter 6 6

09/01/2025

7

Chapter 7 7

09/01/2025

8

Chapter 8 8

09/01/2025

9

Chapter 9 9

09/01/2025

10

Chapter 10 10

09/01/2025

11

Chapter 11 11

09/01/2025

12

Chapter 12 12

09/01/2025

13

Chapter 13 13

09/01/2025

14

Chapter 14 14

09/01/2025

15

Chapter 15 15

09/01/2025

16

Chapter 16 16

09/01/2025

17

Chapter 17 17

09/01/2025

18

Chapter 18 18

09/01/2025