Queen of Shadows

mind. She had asked for power, and Luca had granted it-but there was a catch, of course.

r uncle's shadow loomed over every corner, his influence slowly suffocating her as he positioned himself as the true head of the family. But what he didn't know w

s respectfully, but there was an unmistakable tension in the air. Rumours of her upcoming marriage had already started circulating among the househol

during their meeting. Inside were documents outlining the terms of their alliance-terms that gave

edge of the envelope. She had made the first move by demanding control

the door opened, and Marco stepped inside. His express

is voice low. "There's so

r him to close the

king moves. Quiet ones, but I've heard whispers. He's reaching out

but she kept her expression n

rifted toward your uncle's camp. He's offering them

eepened her resolve. Enzo was preparing for a power grab, and she was standing dire

sa said quietly, her mind already racin

the door. "Miss Alessa... be careful. Your unc

leaving Alessa alone

arious

erers, and designers, making every decision with precision and purpose. But behind the scenes, she was doing much more. She had begun reaching out to her own allies-those few within the Russo fami

r after her father's death. Alessa had always respected Salvatore for his loyalty and his keen understandin

ing down across from her. He was older now, his hair gray and his face

ted, his voice low. "

calm but laced with urgency. "Thank y

s gaze penetrating. "I've been hearing

ng power. He's trying to secure control of the family, and he's

slightly. "And what is it

"I want control of this family. But I can't do it

icking across her face as he considered her words.

id quietly. "But you're also dif

ion of her father, but she didn't le

u have my support. But know this-if you're going to take on your uncl

t flinching. "I'm prepared

ng the

y building her own network within the family. Men and women who had been cast aside by her uncle beg

n, watching, waiting for her to make a mistake. He knew she was making moves, but he didn't

list for the wedding, a letter arrived. It bore Luca's fa

ssa

ls within your family, offering them promises he may not be able to keep. I suggest we m

L

more desperate. He was losing control, and he knew it. But moving too quickly

out, and if she didn't act soon, her unc

erous M

o the background. Luca was already there, waiting for her near the edge of the pier. He stood with his hands in his pockets, his dark coat billo

voice smooth as he turned to

licking against the wooden planks of

our uncle is becoming more erratic. He's made several move

ut she kept her voice ste

ad kept at bay for years. He's trying to form alliances with them, but they

ad known her uncle was ambitious, but she had

said, her voice cold. "Before he

o hers. "And how far are you willing to g

once she crossed this line, there would be no going back. But she had made her choice

ecting the moonlit water behind them. Then, without a word, he turned and gestured for her to follow him further down the pie

ilence, his voice smooth but laced with something darker. "Be

ted undermining her that this would end in bloodshed. There was no other way to reclaim the Russo family'

d. He opened the back door and motioned for her to get in. "We

nce inside, he shut the door and took the seat next to her. The driver immedia

r tone even. She didn't like being kept in the

an who has... leverage over your uncle. Someone who

ened. "Leverage? Wh

ould force your uncle to back down-or

ways known this world was brutal, but now she was being drawn into the heart of it. Luca was pr

ndow, confusion flickering in her eyes. The location was remote, far from the opulent places where her family normally

waiting near the warehouse entrance. They nodded silently t

a table cluttered with old papers and glasses of whiskey, was a man Alessa didn't recognize. He was older, maybe in his late fifti

ne formal. "He's one of the few men in this

He looked dangerous, but not in the way Luca or her uncle were. There

is voice gravelly as he leaned back in

rutiny. "And I've heard nothing a

tting the glass down. "You don't have to trust me, girl. Bu

ng her take the lead. She turned her attention bac

cle that would ruin him. Deals he's made, people he's crossed. I've been

This was the leverage Luca had mentioned-Vito's knowledge of Enzo's secrets. But there

ce?" Alessa aske

territory. What I want is influence. You and Luca contro

e weight of his decision pressing down on her. Giving Vito a seat at the table meant in

closely, waiting to see

ce. I can understand that. But you should know, Vito, that

"Then it's a good thi

on. You give me everything you have on my uncle-every deal, every alliance, every

ot guts, girl. I respect that. I'll give you what you need to tak

nd," Alessa

aling the end of their meeting. "I'll be

hat she had just agreed to settle in. Vito's information would be invaluable, but it also came

, his gaze distant as he stared out the window

dled tha

I? Or did I just sign up for

rld, there's always more than you bargain for. Th

n't hesita