FORBIDDEN LOYALTY

ng an ethereal light over the guests, who wore their wealth like armor. The gala was a spectacle of the Russo crime family, a celebration that masked the darker dealings

s and fallen champagne flutes. She reached him just as the lights flickered ominously, plunging them into momentary darkness. "What's happening?" she shouted over the cacophony, gripping his arm tightly. Before he could answer, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, a gun trained on Marco. Elena's breath caught in her throat as she realized the figure was a hitman, the gun glinting ominously in the dim light. Instinct took over, and she pushed Marco aside, taking the bullet meant for him. The world around her faded to black as pain surged through her body. --- She awoke in a dimly lit room, her heart racing. Panic washed over her as she realized she wasn't in the ballroom anymore. She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness crashed over her. Blinking against the harsh light, she found herself bound to a chair, the harsh ropes digging into her skin. "Welcome back, princess," a voice drawled from the shadows. It was Luca. He stepped into view, concern etched on his handsome face, but there was also an unmistakable edge of danger. "You shouldn't have intervened." "What's going on?" she croaked, her throat dry and raw. He stepped closer, the tension between them thickening. "They w