HADES FRUIT CLAN* PADRINO SUITE~

Padrino sat deep in his favorite armchair, the shadows of his private study wrapping around him like a cloak. A thick cigar rested between his fingers, glowing faintly at the tip, its smoke twisting upward in slow, crooked spirals. Behind him stood six men in black suits, pistols drawn, faces carved from stone.

The door creaked open. A man stepped inside and bowed.

"Don, they're back."

"Falli entrare." (Let them in.) Padrino's voice was low, measured. He took one last drag on the cigar before crushing it into the silver ashtray.

Moments later, Renzo walked in, Ace right behind, and Glacier last. Renzo and Ace each carried a heavy briefcase.

"Father" Renzo said, placing his on the desk. He snapped it open-rows of gold bars gleamed under the dim light.

Padrino chuckled, then broke into a deep, booming laugh.

Ace knelt, setting down his case and opening it. Inside were neat stacks of crisp euro notes.

"Questo è quello che intendo!" (This is what I'm talking about!)Padrino barked, grabbing a gold bar and weighing it in his palm.

"Sangue del mio sangue!" (Blood of my blood!) His laughter filled the room.

Renzo grinned. Ace smiled too. Glacier didn't-he never did.

"Tomorrow, after school" Padrino said, his tone shifting to ice, "head straight to Apocalisse. I'll be there with the others. We've got someone to put back in his place."

"Got it," Renzo replied.

The Padrino slid six gold bars across the desk-two for Ace, two for Renzo. He was reaching for the last pair when Glacier spoke.

"Non mi servono."(I don't need them.) His eyes rolled slightly, his voice flat with disinterest.

"You want to end up tied to the tree again, whipped until you can't stand?" Ace muttered, but Glacier didn't flinch.

"Usateli bene." (Use them well.) Padrino gave a final nod.

"Thank you, Father," Renzo and Ace said in unison.

The three bowed, turned, and left, their footsteps fading into the heavy silence.~

THE NEXT DAY* ACME UNIVERSITY~

ACME University - the most expensive, most ruthless, most prestigious school in all of Italy.

The name ACME flashes across the massive digital billboard just before the school gates, the glowing letters almost daring anyone unworthy to step closer.

Students call it the "Gates of Olympus," because stepping through them is like entering a world where wealth, beauty, and power rule and money is the minimum entry ticket.

The buildings themselves are works of art, towering glass-and-steel structures with sharp, modern edges that scream architectural perfection.

The lecture halls are fitted with the kind of technology that could rival NASA's control center-massive holographic displays, automated lecture-recording drones. Even the air feels richer here.

The sports facilities? Out of this world. Olympic-size swimming pools glistening under retractable glass roofs, football pitches so perfectly green, basketball courts and baseball fields manicured to perfection.

And then there's the parking lot....if you can even call it that. It looks more like an exotic car showroom.

Rows upon rows of gleaming Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces, and Bugattis. Most students own more than one car. For some, four or five aren't unusual. It's not about necessity; it's about status. And in ACME, status is everything-especially if your family runs a chunk of the Italian underworld.

The still morning hum is broken when two Bugattis roll into the lot. The deep purr of the engines turns heads instantly. Conversations pause. Then the murmurs start, like ripples spreading across water.

Renzo and Ace have arrived.

Before they even step out, students are already fumbling with their iPhones, snapping pictures from a safe distance.

No one dares get too close. Everyone here knows the unspoken rule: approach them without permission, and you're signing your own death warrant-literally.

The two doors open in perfect sync, and the reaction is immediate. Girls squeal softly. Some just stand frozen, clutching their chests like they've been shot by Cupid himself.

Renzo steps out first-tall, broad-shouldered, with an effortlessly arrogant smirk. Ace follows, leaner but equally magnetic, his dark eyes glinting like he's in on a joke the rest of the world will never get.

They're not just the most popular guys in school-they're legends. Worshipped. Feared. Desired. In ACME, they're practically gods.

"Oh my f**k..." someone breathes behind a shaky phone camera.

Renzo slides his hands into his pockets, scanning the crowd like a king surveying his kingdom. Ace barely glances around, already bored of the attention he knows he commands.

Before the buzz can settle, three Ferraris pull up in a flash of red, blue, and white.

The first door opens....Erica steps out. She's the kind of girl who could walk into a room and silence it without saying a word. A black crop top hugs her toned figure, aviators hiding her eyes, her glossy black hair pulled into a sleek ponytail. Her expression? Icy. Dangerous. The type that could cut glass.

Venetta emerges next, the total opposite in energy but no less lethal. A fitted blue off-shoulder mini dress clings to her curves, her confident sway daring anyone to look away.

And then Jazzlyn. She steps out casually, almost unnoticed at first, wearing a brown cropped jacket over a simple top, paired with ripped bum shorts that show off her slim legs. She's holding a tablet, absorbed in whatever's on the screen, completely unfazed by the chaos around her.

The moment they appear, camera flashes explode like paparazzi on a Hollywood red carpet.

Renzo's gaze locks instantly on Erica and he didn't stop staring at her expressionlessly.

"I'm going to pluck your eyes out," she says flatly, adjusting her sunglasses without so much as a glance at him.

Venetta chuckles under her breath.

Renzo smirks. "I'm in the mood to spill blood." His voice is low, husky, a threat wrapped in silk.

"Please don't kill me," Erica replies, pure sarcasm dripping from her tone. She runs her fingers through her hair and turns away.

Venetta flashes Ace a middle finger before walking off.

Renzo glances at his Ace with a teasing grin. "Is she into you?"

"Who wouldn't be?" Ace says, his attention already following Jazzlyn's quiet retreat. "Yo... isn't that Serena's last born?"

"You have eyes and you can see. You saw her get out of the car, didn't you?" Renzo mutters before strolling away.

Ace stays a moment longer, catching the gaze of a girl who looks like she's about to faint. He winks. She clutches her heart like it's the most romantic thing that's ever happened to her.

The crowd starts to disperse....until another engine roars into the lot.

Glacier has arrived.

His car is sleek, understated but impossibly expensive. He parks with the precision of someone who never makes mistakes. The moment he steps out, the air changes.

His hair is the first thing anyone notices-pale blonde, almost white, catching the sunlight like spun gold. His skin is flawless porcelain, glowing in a way that doesn't seem entirely.....human.

He chews his gum slowly, his jaw working with lazy confidence. His stride is unhurried, but every step is calculated elegance long legs eating up the distance with effortless grace.

His outfit looks like it belongs in a museum: a black tailcoat embroidered with silver patterns, a crisp white shirt with billowy sleeves, and perfectly tailored black trousers.

A diamond glints from the earring in his left ear, while a mysterious tattoo curls just behind it, written in a language most here wouldn't dare claim to understand.

Ever heard of the Devil?

That's him. Glacier.

He slings his bag over one shoulder, and as he walks, conversations stall. Eyes follow him without restraint.

~He's exactly my type.

~I'm so sure of it.

~He's hot.

~I'm drooling in my panties.

~Oh my heart.

~I can't believe I just squirted from looking at his face.

Glacier keeps walking, unbothered by the whispers. He slips into the lecture hall, deliberately heading to his usual spot-the very last seat. He pulls out his laptop with the quiet assurance of someone who owns any room he walks into, even if he doesn't ask for it.

His eyes drift forward, landing on Jazzlyn.

She's alone, just like always. Unlike her sisters, she's never surrounded by friends or a buzzing entourage. And there's something about her-a stillness, a shadow-that catches his attention.

Then he sees it.

Her hand, hidden beneath the desk, clutching a small penknife. Slowly, deliberately, she slices the skin of her arm. Her face doesn't flinch....not from pain, not from fear. If anything, her eyes soften, like the sting is a kind of relief.

Glacier's lips curl into a quiet chuckle. Then, without another word, he returns his gaze to his laptop, fingers moving across the keys like nothing happened.

The hum of quiet conversation filled the lecture hall. Students were still adjusting to the idea of being back....checking schedules, gossiping about who hooked up over the summer, and subtly sizing up who had upgraded their lifestyle since last semester.

Jazzlyn didn't notice Glacier watching her at first. She was too busy tracing thin red lines on her skin with the knife's blade, eyes fixed on the desk as though she were somewhere else entirely.

Glacier, however, noticed everything.

He leaned back in his seat, one hand casually resting on his laptop's trackpad while his eyes remained on her.

Most guys, if they caught a girl doing what she was doing, would either panic or look away. Glacier? He smirked.

"You're going to make a mess," he said suddenly, his voice low, just loud enough for her to hear over the quiet chatter.

Jazzlyn froze. Slowly, she tilted her head, not all the way back, just enough to catch him in her peripheral vision.

"And?" she asked, her tone flat.

Glacier's gaze flicked to her arm, then back to her face. "You've got nice skin. Shame to ruin it."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not ruining it. I'm....fixing it."

He raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you tell yourself?"

She turned back to her desk, slipping the knife into the pocket of her jacket. "What do you care? Are we even meant to be seen talking"

Glacier just clicked his tongue. "I find this interesting. You are crazy and you don't even try to hide it"

Jazzlyn didn't reply. But she didn't tell him to shut up either. He was right after all.

Glacier leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. "You know, most people who look at me freak. The smart ones... know I'm worse than trouble. Which one are you?"

She finally looked at him over her shoulder. "Neither. I'm not most people."

He grinned, slow and dangerous. "Good. Most people bore me to death."

Before she could respond, the professor walked in, and the room snapped into an obedient hush. Glacier sat back, but his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer.

10PM*

APOCALISSE•••••

Apocalisse was nothing but a wilderness, an abandoned land fenced in by tall, lifeless trees. A land of silence, built on blood, carrying only the stench of destruction and death.

The first sound to disturb the stillness was the roar of engines. Five cars cut through the broken path and halted in the clearing. One by one, the doors opened. The Nightshade Clan had arrived.

From the lead car, Serena stepped down first, her face unreadable but her presence commanding.

Erica followed, arms folded, her sharp eyes flicking over the surroundings like a hawk.

Venetta came out next, restless, already sniffing cocaine as if she couldn't wait for the blood to spill.

Jazzlyn slipped out quietly after them, hugging one side of a tree, her expression calm, almost detached. Behind them, their men took formation, standing cold-faced, ready with blood in their eyes.

Not even a full minute passed before another convoy of cars pulled in...the Hades Fruit Clan. The air itself seemed to harden as their doors opened.

The atmosphere shifted when Padrino stepped down. The wind blew against his slicked-back hair as he exhaled a long stream of smoke from his tobacco. Renzo and Ace flanked him immediately, sharp and alert, while Glacier walked behind them without interest, as though this gathering meant nothing at all.

The breeze grew colder, the weather darker, as the clans drew nearer to the center. There, bound against a tree, was their prey...his body bloodied, his face covered with cloth.

"Remove the cloth from his face," Padrino commanded.

A guard obeyed, yanking the stained fabric away. The man's swollen, bruised face appeared, his eyes blinking against the dim light. Blood caked his mouth, yet there was still fear and a plea left inside him.

Venetta leaned lazily against a tree, sniffing another line of cocaine. She slapped her head lightly, restless, uncaring of the scene before her. Whoever the man was, she wasn't interested.

And why should she be? Who in their right mind would dare to preach peace between two clans that had warred for generations? The man before them had tried...and now he stood as an example of how such foolishness ended.

"This is the fate that awaits anyone who dares to bridge the gap between our clans," Serena declared coldly.

Padrino chuckled under his breath.

"Please....have mercy!" the man begged, voice trembling, his body straining against the ropes.

Padrino raised his hand slightly. His tone was flat, almost bored.

"Glacier. Shoot him." Padrino said and Renzo eyes darkened with what seemed like pure jealousy.

Jazzlyn shifted where she stood, leaning further into the shadow of the tree. She had no part in this...she never had. She did not know how to shoot, nor did she care to learn anymore since it wasn't her fate. These things never touched her, yet she could not look away.

Glacier frowned as he stepped forward. From his coat, he pulled a gun, sliding a single bullet into place. Everyone knew he never missed his shot. He leveled the weapon....then suddenly, as though changing his mind, he let it fall from his hand.

A nearby soldier quickly handed him a long, sharp sword. Glacier gripped it, eyes flat and cold. In the span of a heartbeat, he swung.

The man's head fell cleanly, blood spraying across Glacier's face. The body slumped against the ropes, twitching once before going still.

Silence pressed against the trees, broken only by Glacier's voice...

"Let this serve as a warning. Anyone who betrays our clan by forming an attachment with someone from the rival clan will meet the same end."

He paused, his eyes narrowing. "Even me."

Serena's voice rang out after his. "Even if you are my daughter."

Padrino's followed. "Even if you are my son."

Venetta rolled her eyes and scoffed. "We don't need to be reminded, do we?"

"They're not even my type," she added, hissing as she glared at Ace and Renzo.

Erica smirked faintly. "Pointless talk. We all know the rules."

Glacier wiped the blood from his face with the back of his sleeve, then turned his gaze toward Jazzlyn. He lifted his hand in a slow, mocking wave.

"Bye."

Jazzlyn only stared back at him, her face calm, her eyes unreadable. Unlike the rest, who exchanged confused glances, she betrayed no reaction. Inside, though, questions thundered through her mind.

Was this some cruel game to place her in danger?

Without another word, Serena turned away, her daughters following. Their guards fell into line behind them.

Padrino and his sons returned to their cars as well.

One by one, the engines started, and the clans left the clearing behind....leaving only the corpse tied to the tree, headless, a warning carved in blood.

The cause of Nightshade enmity was simple.

The Nightshade Clan and the Hades Fruit Clan were rivals right on time based on competition in wanting favor from the capo and the Capo then forced them into a joint mission, demanding that the both clan lead together despite their enmity.

The mission was sabotaged. Shots rang out, the deal collapsed, and blood stained the streets.

Nightshade swore Hades betrayed them, while Hades swore Nightshade had set them up.

In the chaos, Serena's elder brother was killed.

From that moment, hatred was sealed. Serena blamed Padrino. Padrino blamed Serena. And what should have been one mission turned into a vendetta fierce enough to be passed down to their children.

Inside Serena's car.....

Erica leaned against the window, arms crossed, humming under her breath with a smug look.

Venetta was slouched in her corner, tapping her fingers against the door.

Jazzlyn sat at the far end, head turned slightly, staring at the passing trees. Her body was still, but her mind wasn't.

That word wouldn't leave her.

Bye.

One syllable. Spoken casually. Yet it echoed in her head over and over. Why her? Why in front of everyone?

"Jazzlyn."

Her mother's voice cut through her thoughts.

Jazzlyn blinked, slowly turning her head. "Yes, mother?"

Serena's eyes met hers through the rearview mirror.

"What was that?"

Jazzlyn frowned faintly. "What was... what"

"That little gesture," Serena said.

"That shit of a 'bye' Glacier threw at you. Do you know something I don't?" Serena asked further.

Erica perked up at the words, her lips curling into a grin. "Ohhh. Now it makes sense. I was wondering why the bastard looked at her like that."

Venetta laughed suddenly, smacking her thigh. "Don't tell me Glacier's waving at you like some schoolboy crush." She sniffed, shaking her head. "That would be rich."

Jazzlyn felt the weight of all their eyes on her. Her tongue froze in her mouth.

Erica perked up at the words, her lips curling into a grin. "Ohhh. Now it makes sense. I was wondering why the bastard looked at her like that."

Venetta laughed suddenly, smacking her thigh. "Don't tell me Glacier's waving at you like some schoolboy crush." She sniffed, shaking her head. "That would be rich."

Jazzlyn felt the weight of all their eyes on her. Her tongue froze in her mouth.

"I–, don't....I don't know what he meant," she stuttered softly.

Erica tilted her head, smirking wider. "You don't know? Really? Glacier doesn't waste words. Especially not on girls who stand around pretending to be invisible."

"Stop." Serena's voice cut clean through Erica's mockery. Her gaze was still fixed on Jazzlyn, sharp and cold.

"Listen to me, Jazzlyn. There are rules in this family. Rules that have been written in blood. What are they?"

Jazzlyn swallowed, her throat dry. "No ties....with the rival clan."

And?" Serena pressed.

"No mercy" Jazzlyn whispered.

"Louder," Serena snapped.

Jazzlyn flinched, then forced her voice to rise. "No ties with the rival clan. No mercy for betrayal."

The words felt like chains wrapping tighter around her chest.

"Good," Serena said, leaning back in her seat.

"Remember that. Because if I ever see you even smile at a man from Hades Fruit, I'll put the bullet in you myself."

Jazzlyn's stomach knotted, but she kept her face steady.

Venetta rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Jazzlyn doesn't have the guts to look at a man, let alone love one. She's too busy playing saint."

Erica laughed.

Their voices blurred together, mocking and sharp. But Serena's silence was worse than their taunts. The matriarch's eyes never left Jazzlyn, watching every twitch, every stutter, as if searching for a crack.

Jazzlyn forced herself to look calm, though her heart hammered so loud she swore they could hear it.

Inside, her thoughts screamed: Why did he do that? What if they think it means something?. He's really a devil.

The car continued down the endless road, its hum drowning in the weight of suspicion.

Finally, Serena spoke again, her tone quieter but heavier, like a blade pressed against the skin.

"You're my daughter, Jazzlyn. Which means you carry my name, my blood, and my rules. Don't make me question your loyalty. Because once I do... there's no coming back."

Jazzlyn nodded quickly. "Yes, mother"

HADES FRUIT CAR....

The ride back from Apocalisse was tense, the air inside the sedan thick and silent. The night pressed against the windows, broken only by the soft glow of Renzo's cigarette.

Glacier leaned against the glass, staring into the blur of trees. His face was stone, untouched by thought or emotion.

Ace sat beside him, restless, glancing over more than once. He finally broke the silence.

"You know... you haven't said a word to me since I came back from the States." His tone was careful, trying not to sound too bitter.

"It's been years, Glacier. Don't tell me you're still holding a grudge against me your big brother"

Glacier's answer came after a pause, very short, very dry

"I don't hate you."

Ace blinked, caught off guard. He gave a nervous little laugh. "That's cool, I guess. Means there's still room for something between us."

Glacier didn't turn, didn't blink. The glass reflection kept his eyes hidden.

Renzo, in the front seat, exhaled smoke slowly. He hadn't said a word since they left the clearing.

The car rolled through the gates of the Hades Fruit compound, guards standing tall as the vehicles pulled in.

They were summoned immediately to Padrino's chamber.

The room was shadowed and strong, lined with dark wood and the faint glow of cigar smoke. Padrino sat behind his wide desk, his gaze heavy as the three sons entered.

"Sit" he ordered.

They obeyed.

His eyes fixed on Glacier first.

"What was that at Apocalisse" His tone was calm, but his words cut. "I ordered you to shoot. You dropped the gun. You turned my command into a show."

Glacier leaned back in the chair, unbothered. "The man is dead. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Padrino's eyes narrowed. "Do you think I won't punish you again, boy? You remember the whips, don't you?"

Glacier smirked faintly. "That's what I thought you'd say. Tie me up, beat me until the skin splits. Does it change the fact that the job got done?"

The room thickened with silence. Ace shifted uncomfortably, but Padrino held Glacier's stare.

"And what" Padrino continued, his voice dropping lower, "was that little stunt with Jazzlyn?"

Padrino's eyes sharpened. "That bye. You waved at her in front of everyone."

Glacier's face remained neutral. He shrugged once. "It was nothing."

"Nothing?" Padrino's fist struck the desk, the wood groaning under the weight.

"You don't draw attention to yourself like that, and you don't drag her name into our blood. She is Nightshade. The rule is clear."

Renzo leaned forward, his voice low but edged. "If it was nothing, then why did you do it?"

Glacier's eyes flicked toward his brothers, calm and unreadable. "Because I felt like it."

Ace swallowed hard, muttering under his breath, "You're insane."

Padrino rose slowly from his chair, the smoke from his cigar curling around him like a shroud.

"Listen to me, Glacier. The rules stand above all of us. No bonds with Nightshade. No gestures, no signals, no games. Betrayal is death. Do you understand me?"

Glacier's reply was soft but steady. "Yes, father."

"Good." Padrino sat again, his gaze sweeping the three of them. "Then let this be your last warning." He waved a hand. "Go."

Glacier and Ace stood and left but Renzo didn't move. He stayed in his chair, his cigarette burning low.

"You're letting him go" Renzo's voice was sharp. "After all that?"

Padrino raised an eyebrow. "And what would you have me do?"

Renzo's anger spilled. "He defied you. Twice. In front of both clans. And you protect him? Why? Why was he the one chosen to execute the traitor? Why not me?"

Padrino's voice hardened. "Because Glacier never misses a shot."

Renzo slammed his palm against the desk, eyes blazing. "Neither do I!"

For a moment, father and son stared each other down, silence dangerous between them. Finally, Padrino sighed, his shoulders sinking slightly.

"Don't let jealousy cloud your mind, Renzo. You are my son. You are my strength. Do you think I would ever choose him over you? Never."

Renzo's fists tightened, but he searched Padrino's face for truth.

"You will have the next mission" Padrino continued firmly.

"You will command it. Feed it to your brothers, feed it to the clan. Let them hear it from your mouth. Show them your worth."

Renzo's jaw unclenched slowly. He ground out the last of his cigarette and nodded. "Yes, father."

"Good." Padrino leaned back, smoke curling upward once more. "Then it is settled. Go. Prepare. Tomorrow, the clan moves in blood."