••Roman••

Power never looks the same from the front row as it does from the shadows.

I have always preferred the shadows.

They give a man room to breathe, to think, to calculate. Andrian handles the spotlight, the speeches, and the diplomacy. I handle the problems no one wants mentioned in boardrooms lined with marble.

Yet tonight, I sat in his stead. Not by my choice.

The heir's chair never fits me right, but Father doesn't care; to him, duty is duty, and I serve where I'm placed.

Still... I would have rather remained behind the scenes, exactly where I belong. Maneuvering numbers. Erasing threats. Moving pieces the world never sees.

That is my kingdom.

Not this long conference I just engaged in, filled with Sicilian perfume.

My gaze drifts from the balcony down to Father and Don Moretti. They are engaged in a hushed conversation beside the car. I couldn't quite catch what they were saying, but it was likely about the alliance.

Don Moretti is the boss of the Sicilian Mafia and the father of that formidable princess, Luciana.

The Valerio family still clings to the Las Vegas port like a dying wolf with one functioning fang.

Something I was far from convinced about is if we could take the time to strategize effectively, perhaps we could seize control of the Las Vegas port ourselves.

Just as I turned to head inside, my eyes fell upon her, the formidable Sicilian princess. I could only imagine how she perceives herself.

She stands near the marble fountain, coat draped across her shoulders like aristocracy itself bowed to her. The wind brushes her hair to one side.

Beautiful, yes.

She possesses an enchanting beauty, yet her utterances are quite the opposite.

Most people don't dare speak to me that way. Not under my father's roof. Not with that tone. But Luciana Moretti had looked me square in the eye-chin lifted, pulse steady, spirit blazing, and hurled those words at me like a dagger.

I don't know what irritated me more, the fact that she challenged me...

Or the fact that I found it interesting.

"Rian will arrive tomorrow, Roman. He just called me," Mildred's voice broke my reverie.

My thoughts flick instantly toward my sister. The softness in her voice stands out in a house built of iron.

"Oh, I see he prefers to call you first," I reply, not turning. My eyes narrow at the guards changing shifts below. "Unlike someone whose calls he should be returning."

Mildred's hand slips onto my shoulder, warm and annoyingly amused.

"Jealousy doesn't suit you, brother."

Her tone dances between teasing and warning.

Typical.

Mildred Orlov, just 18 years old. Our family's cherished princess... and our greatest headache.

People think Andrian and I are cold kings of different thrones. They aren't wrong. But Mildred?

She's the only one who makes our hearts race for reasons beyond mere calculations.

I finally turned my attention to her. Her grin is self-satisfied, and her eyes sparkle with mischief. If she weren't an Orlov, she'd have found herself in serious danger a dozen times by now, given the chaos she stirs up.

"You really should be in your room, considering you're still grounded," I tell her.

She merely tilts her head, unconvinced.

"She says that each time," I think to myself. "Just before she slips away unnoticed."

My jaw tightens as memories slice through the still air.

There was that one time she snuck out to a club with friends while we all believed she was sound asleep. She got wrapped up with some mysterious man; I can still picture that jerk's hand gripping her wrist. If it weren't for the maid who checked on her and discovered her absence, I'd not have arrived just in time to save her from becoming someone's trophy.

I shake off the disturbing thought.

"I don't need babysitters," she responds lightly.

"You and Andrian suffocate me."

"You call it suffocation."

I step past her. "I call it keeping you alive."

Her sigh follows me, dramatic enough to echo.

I ignore it, walking away.

--

The ride back from the Orlov estate is silent, except for the rhythmic hum of the tires and Father's slow, measured breaths beside me.

By the time we arrive home, my mind won't let go of the meeting...or of him.

Roman Orlov.

His voice, his stare, and every sharp-edged word he threw at me keep circling like an irritation I can't scratch away.

If arrogance had an embodiment, it would surely take his form.

As soon as I step into my room, I kick off my heels, trying to shake off the tension, and almost fall into the nearest chair. I've barely begun to free my hair from its constraints when the door bursts open.

"Back so soon from the wolves?" Antonio leans casually against the doorframe, a grin plastered on his face that's just annoying enough. My little brother is four years my junior, yet he already seems to take pride in being my own personal nuisance.

"Let's not call them wolves," I mutter. "Wolves have charm."

He pushes off the frame and strolls in as if summoned. Matteo trails behind him, quieter, sharper-his eyes always observing before his mouth follows.

"You assholes never ask for permission before storming into my room," I shoot back.

"It's my father's house, sister," Antonio replies with a smirk that needs to be punched on a spiritual level.

This piece of junk.

"So." He tosses the apple he just stole from my desk into the air. "How did it go? Did Father finally come to terms with the Russians, or did you have to brave the cold just to keep the peace?" Antonio asked.

"It was... productive," I reply, which is code for unbearable.

"Ah. So that's a no." He takes a dramatic bite of the apple, the crunch echoing like mock applause.

"Did you at least get to meet him?" Matteo asks. His voice is low and deliberate.

"Who?"

"The heir. Adrian Orlov. Everyone refers to him as the Gentleman Devil. I've heard he actually has the courtesy to say "please" and "thank you" before sending people to ruin."

I snort. "No. He didn't show up."

"A pity," Matteo says. "Because if he did, you would've remembered. He leaves an impression... and a trail."

Before I can reply, Antonio perks up like a squirrel spotting chaos. "Hold up. If it wasn't him, then who kept you looking like you swallowed a lemon?"

A slow heat crawls up my neck. Matteo catches it instantly.

"You met someone," he says.

Of course he notices.

"Not met," I corrected sharply. "More like collided with, verbally."

Antonio's grin widens. "Oh, this is getting good."

I ignore the asshole and turn to Matteo. "Roman Orlov."

Both brothers blink. Antonio drops the apple.

Matteo whistles under his breath. "The weapons strategist. The one they call the Silent Prince.

Antonio snaps his fingers. "Right, right. The emotionless one who looks like he was carved from an iceberg nobody asked for."

"That's the one," I mutter.

"What happened?" Matteo presses.

"He challenged me." The memory prickles again. His eyes. His voice. The way he dissected my words like he had every right. "I said something, he said something, and then it became... competitive."

Antonio gasps in fake shock. "You? Competitive? No. Couldn't be."

I throw a pillow at his head.

Matteo leans forward, elbows resting on his knees. "Luci... Roman Orlov doesn't argue for sport. If he engaged you, he was measuring you."

"I'm not a piece of artillery," I snapped.

"No," Matteo replies. "You're far more dangerous. Which is exactly why he noticed you."

Silence presses in for a heartbeat.

Antonio wiggles his brows. "So you pissed off a man who can end a small country. Proud of you, sister. Truly."

"I didn't piss him off," I say, "though I'm not entirely sure. Maybe he just doesn't like me."

Matteo chuckles quietly. "Roman Orlov doesn't like anything. So that already puts you at the top of his list."

"What list?" I ask suspiciously.

"The list of people who'll either become his enemy," Matteo says, "or his problem."

Terrific. My life needed more categories.

Antonio claps his hands dramatically. "Well! This is shaping up to be far more entertaining than I thought."

"Get out," I deadpan.

He salutes. "With pleasure."

They exit together, Antonio munching loudly while Matteo throws one last knowing look over his shoulder, a look that says I should brace myself.

Once the door clicks shut, I collapse backward into the chair, realizing the truth I've been trying to ignore.

Roman Orlov wasn't supposed to matter.

Yet he does.

-----

The Next Morning

Before I've even stepped into the dining room, the rich aroma of espresso and toasted bread envelops me. My father is already at the table, his newspaper neatly folded beside his coffee cup. His mood is unreadable-which is usually the worst sign of all.

Antonio is there too, devouring his breakfast like someone preparing for a marathon.

"Good morning," I say with caution.

"Luciana," my father acknowledges without raising his gaze. "Take a seat."

That tone-the one that signals impending change, and not in a good way-immediately puts me on edge. I sit down as Antonio glances between us, clearly suppressing a grin.

"The meeting with the Orlovs went smoothly," my father starts. "They are... agreeable. We've outlined the terms of the alliance."

"I figured as much," I replied. "Considering we're not currently engaged in war."

His gaze sharpens, piercing as glass. "Don't be flippant."

I lower my head slightly. "I apologize."

He places his cup down, interlocking his fingers.

"To strengthen this alliance, the Orlovs and I have arranged an engagement."

My heart sinks. "An engagement?"

"Yes, between you and Adrian Orlov, their heir."

The news feels heavy, like stones tumbling down my throat.

"You can't be serious." The words hung in the air as my stomach twisted. The meal that had smelled so inviting a moment ago suddenly turned heavy and unappealing.

"Absolutely. This union will fortify both families against the Las Vegas syndicate. You realize how crucial this is."

I fixate on him, speechless. "You're offering me up like I'm a diploma."

"You are the diploma," he responds calmly. "You've always known this day would come."

I lean back, my heart racing. I did know, certainly. But knowing and hearing it are worlds apart.

Antonio, bless his unbothered soul, finally clears his throat.

"Sis, it might not be so bad," he says. "Adrian's supposed to be... decent. For a mafia heir."

I shoot him a critical look. "What does 'decent' even mean in our world?"

He shrugs. "He doesn't kill unnecessarily. He's polite. He helps his men. I don't know; maybe he rescues stray dogs too."

"Wonderful. I'll be sure to thank him for his humanity on our wedding night."

Father lets out a sharp breath, clearly over my sarcastic remarks.

"You'll meet him at the Winter Gala next week. Be prepared."

I give a stiff nod, my throat feeling tight.

Once Father leaves, Antonio leans in with a playful smile.

"At least you're marrying someone famous."

"So is the devil," I replied under my breath.

••Luciana••

The ballroom gleamed like a jewel box, all gold light and polished marble, but there was an undercurrent of intimidation. I wasn't really nervous; I had been raised among wolves and knew how to keep my head high while they prowled around me. Still, my heartbeat betrayed me, pulsing with a steady stream of what-ifs.

Matteo stood on my right, hands casually tucked into his pockets, while Antonio lingered on my left with that smug little grin that always made me want to shove him down a staircase.

Matteo nudged me lightly.

"There," he murmured. "Far side of the room, near the chandeliers."

I followed his gaze.

Adrian Orlov.

He looked carved out of winter-composed, and entirely unbothered by the world buzzing around him. His posture alone held more authority than half the men in the room.

Antonio let out a low whistle.

"Well," he said, "the Gentleman Devil cleans up nicely."

Then Antonio's expression shifted.

"Oh, fantastic. He's walking this way."

My heart kicked once-just once, but I masked it with a raised chin.

"Good luck, sis." Antonio teased, already backing away. Matteo gave me a reassuring squeeze on the arm. "You'll be fine. Try not to stab him in the first five minutes."

"Depends on his attitude," I muttered.

Matteo snorted and stepped aside.

Just like that, they left me to face the Russian heir alone as he approached with smooth, measured steps.

"Princess Luciana," he greeted, my name wrapped in the richness of his accent, somehow less formal and more intimate than it should have been. "I've heard quite a lot about you."

"I can imagine," I said. "Rumors travel faster than bullets in our world."

"Sometimes they hit harder," he replied.

For a moment, silence stretched between us. The music swelled, glasses clinked, and the world continued its charade.

Then, out of nowhere, one of the servers hurried past, and his tray slipped from his grip. The crystal shattered, and champagne sprayed like liquid gold across Adrian's cuff. The crash was sharp enough to slice through the music.

The room stilled. Heads turned. Eyes pricked with judgment. A few murmurs, then... silence.

No one intervened. No one dared.

The server went pale. I could almost feel the fear pouring off him. In our world, mistakes were dangerous currency.

Adrian, however, did the unthinkable. He crouched-not to berate, not to strike, but to help gather the shards.

"It's okay," he said softly. "Mistakes happen."

My breath hitched. It was such a simple phrase, yet astonishingly uncommon. Mafia men don't offer reassurances like that. They certainly don't stoop to help someone they perceive as inferior.

The young man stammered his gratitude and hurried away. Adrian stood tall, brushing off his hands with an air of composed elegance. Then he turned his gaze back to me.

Conversations around us resumed as if nothing had happened. I was still trying to catch up with the fact that the Gentleman Devil had just knelt to pick up broken glass.

Adrian stood and dusted off his hands, eyes drifting back to mine.

"What?" he asked, soft amusement tugging at his mouth. "Did I disappoint your expectations?"

"You apologized," I said slowly. "I've never seen a mafia do that, especially not an heir."

His smile was warm, subtle but devastating.

"Would it be better if I shot him instead?"

The unexpected humor slipped past my defenses. A laugh escaped me, light and unwilling. He looked at me like he'd just found something unexpected.

At that moment, I wondered if the rumors were wrong. Maybe there were men who ruled the underworld and still had a conscience.

For a heartbeat, my mask slipped. Then I remembered who I was-a Moretti-and composed myself, spine straightening as if the moment hadn't rattled me at all.

"Do all Sicilian princesses look this breathtaking when they're surprised?" he asked. Heat crawled up my neck.

"We ought to focus on the important matter."

"No reason to feel anxious, Princess." His confident grin held a compelling assurance. "We'll be spending a significant amount of time together."

That certainty was unnerving, especially when he added, "You look quite striking in person."

His tone softened. "I returned from New York because our engagement has already been arranged."

I took a sip of my margarita to steady myself. "This alliance benefits both families."

"It does." His gaze sharpened. "But there are specific expectations for my future wife."

"And what might those entail?" I inquired.

You'll live with me in Russia, with my family. We'll make an heir when the time is right. You'll follow the instructions I give. That's all."

My breath hitched at the bluntness.

"I-"

He lifted a hand. "This is the most generous proposal you'll receive."

His seriousness locked the moment into something iron-shaped. Something I couldn't escape.

"Deal," I finally agreed, though I really had no choice, my father wouldn't let me off the hook if the alliance fell apart.

He nodded once, looking pleased, and took a step back.

"Until next time, Princess."

With a wink, he turned away before I could decide if I liked him or despised him.

Just then, a hand grasped the back of my neck.

Only one fool would be bold enough to do that.

"You were smiling the whole time, sister." Antonio teased, laughter bubbling out of him. "Looks like you found your spark."

"Asshole." I pushed him away and made my way to the bar, trying to ignore the way my heart was still racing.

---

Sometimes, even now, I hear Antonio's mocking voice echoing through my head.

"I saw you smiling at him the entire time."

He said it like it meant nothing. It meant everything.

It was the first crack in my armor.

The first time someone made me feel seen.

The first string tied me to a man who would never survive the world we lived in.

Three months earlier, Adrian Orlov stood under the glow of winter lights, looking at me with a smile that made me feel like I wasn't just a political pawn. He listened. He noticed.

Maybe that tenderness was why he died.

Now all that's left of him is the ghost of his laugh and the ache in my ribs-a physical reminder of the explosion that tore us both apart. The scar sits just under my left side, a thin white line that burns whenever I breathe too deep, like my body refuses to forget what my mind is trying to survive.

The scent of burning tires still clings to my nightmares.

Adrian is dead, and the world has never felt colder.

A sudden knock cuts through the quiet of my room.

"Come in," I whisper.

Antonio steps through the door, closing it gently behind him. The moment I see him, my breath hitches. My brother, typically so expressive, appears emotionless tonight, as if he's been chiseled from stone.

The playful banter is absent. The familiar cheeky smile is nowhere to be found. In his place stands a Moretti heir-my brother, my flesh and blood-carrying a heavy sorrow he struggles to mask.

"Luci." His voice wavers briefly before he regains his composure. "They discovered something."

I grip the sheets tightly. "What is it?"

He inches closer, cautiously, as though any sudden movement might fracture me.

"It wasn't an accident," he murmurs. "The brakes were tampered with."

Everything around me fades.

For a fleeting moment-an eternity, really-time stands still.

"What?" I barely manage to whisper.

Antonio gives a single, terse nod. It's sharp, almost painful, like the weight of the truth is too much to bear.

"The Valerios. Rumor has it they wanted to dismantle the alliance before it could grow stronger."

A bitter, hollow laugh escapes me. "But how could they even know?"

Father kept everything a secret until the ceremony. No one outside the family was supposed to know."

Antonio's expression darkens.

"There are eyes everywhere, sorella. Even in the shadows we think we own."

Those words slice deeper than the news itself.

I push up to my feet so fast the chair scrapes loudly.

My pulse is a frenzy. My chest tightens like a fist is forming inside it.

"You're saying they killed him?" My voice shakes. "They planned this? They murdered him as a warning?"

Antonio says nothing.

His silence is confirmation.

I approach him slowly, my breath unsteady.

"Why now? Why..." My voice falters. "Why take him like that?"

"They didn't want to wait," Antonio says softly. "They wanted a message."

A message.

Delivered through the man I could have loved.

My throat feels like it's on fire. "And what? Are we just supposed to sit here? Pretend everything's fine? Sweep this under the guise of an alliance and wait for answers?"

Antonio's jaw tightens.

He's holding himself together with sheer will.

"Father says we hold off," he replies. "Not until we know exactly who gave the order." Antonio closes his eyes.

I feel the rage bubbling under my ribs, searing, expanding, clawing for release.

"They killed him," I whisper. "They killed my fiancé.

Antonio's voice trembles. "Don't think for a second that I don't crave revenge for what they did to you, Luci."

Tears threaten to spill, but I refuse to let them fall.

"Then why aren't we doing something?"

He steps forward, gently gripping my arms, grounding me.

"We will," he says. "Just... not yet. Father wants to hear from the Orlovs first."

He moves toward the door, hesitant.

"Luci... I'm sorry." His voice softens. "I didn't want you to hear it alone."

When the door clicks shut behind him, the rage spills over like a dam breaking.

They've taken Adrian Orlov from us.

And now they believe they can evade the storm I'm capable of unleashing.

I pivot toward the window. The morning brightens outside, yet it feels as though the world has dimmed.

Night settled over the Moretti estate like a heavy curtain drawn too quickly, muffling sound, hope, and every breath we tried to take. The house felt colder than usual, tense with unspoken things. By the time Don Orlov arrived, grief had already seeped into the walls.

Father and I waited in his study. The room usually smelled of leather and expensive ink; tonight the air carried sorrow sharp enough to taste.

Don Orlov stepped inside, looking carved from grief itself. His eyes were rimmed in exhaustion, but beneath that-steel.

Father stood. "Lorenzo... I'm sorry for your loss."

Don Orlov offered a single stiff nod. "Condolences don't resurrect the dead. I didn't come for sympathy."

Father gestured for him to sit. He didn't.

"We know who cut the brakes," Don Orlov said, voice low and controlled. "The Valerios wanted blood, and they took my son."

Father's jaw tightened. "We suspect them, yes, but nothing is confirmed. We must think before we move."

A bitter sound escaped Don Orlov; part laugh, part wound. "Thinking didn't save Adrian. They struck first and murdered my son. They think we are weak."

My heart twisted.

Father pressed gently, "Rushing into war will not bring him back."

"It will make them regret touching my family," Don Orlov replied. His voice didn't rise; it didn't have to. It was the kind of calm that came right before an earthquake.

He turned his gaze to me then. Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.

"The alliance stands," he said quietly. "Stronger than before."

Father stiffened. "Adrian was the bond between our families."

"Then another bond will take his place."

Father hesitated. The silence was thin and fragile.

"Lorenzo..."

He took a breath. "Luciana needs time..."

"There is no time," Don Orlov said, but his tone softened-not command, but fact. "My son is dead. The Valerios think this alliance will crumble. We cannot allow that."

That felt like a slap.

My voice escaped before I could stop it. "What exactly are you saying?"

Don Orlov looked at me, grief flickering through his expression like a glitch in armor. "Roman will step into his brother's place."

My stomach plummeted.

Roman.

Cold eyes. Sharper words. The smirk that made me wish violence on sight.

I shook my head. "No. I can't..."

Father's eyes held mine, firm but pained. "Luciana."

My breath stuttered.

"You expect me to marry Roman? Just like that?"

Father didn't answer. That was my answer.

Rage rose like fire up my throat. "I won't be used as a replacement."

Don Orlov's expression didn't shift. "You won't be a replacement. You'll be the reason the Valerios realize their plan failed."

The room closed in. My pulse thundered.

I didn't wait for permission. I turned, yanked the door open, and slammed it behind me with every ounce of fury boiling under my skin.

The hallway blurred. My heels echoed like gunshots. By the time I reached my room, my hands were trembling.

I locked the door and pressed my back to it.

Stared into my reflection-pale, furious, barely holding together.

A Moretti doesn't cry in public.

A Moretti doesn't crack in private either.

Yet my throat burned.

I was meant for Adrian, not his ghost. Not his brother.

I stood there for what seemed like minutes. Then a knock came, soft but persistent.

"Luci. Let me in."

Matteo.

I opened the door a fraction. He took one look at my face and pushed the rest of the way in, shutting the world out behind him.

"You look like you're about to stab the next person who speaks," he murmured.

"I might."

He moved closer. "Then let's get you out of here before you commit a diplomatic incident."

A humorless laugh slipped out. "I don't want company."

"You have me."

He tapped my chin lightly. "And sadly for you, I am extremely good company."

Despite the storm brewing in my chest, I cracked a smile.

He hooked an arm around my shoulders. "Come on, Luci. Let's go somewhere with bad decisions and stronger drinks."

I sighed. "Matteo.."

He stepped forward and tugged gently on a strand of my hair. "Luci, you need air. You need a night that isn't soaked in grief and politics."

My walls cracked. "You're not wrong."

"I'm never wrong," he said smugly. "Now get dressed. Something black. Something that says, "Touch me and die."

"You're ridiculous."

"At your service." He smirked.

And somehow, somehow, I followed him out.

----

Noise hit like a slap the moment we stepped in. Lights darted across the ceiling. Heat rolled through the air. Bodies moved in unsteady rhythm. It was chaotic enough to distract me, and tonight, distraction was mercy.

Matteo and I found a booth tucked into the corner. He ordered whiskey; I took shots until my throat warmed and my mind loosened.

"So," Matteo said, watching me over the rim of his glass. "Roman Orlov, huh?"

I groaned. "Don't."

"Just saying. If anyone needs a therapist after tonight, it's you."

"That obvious?"

"That loud."

I sagged into the booth. "I don't want this marriage."

"I know." His voice was gentle. "But you're not facing it alone. Luciana... we'll figure this out. You're not a pawn."

"I feel like one."

"You're a queen. Queens get moved last."

His expression, for a moment, carried the weight of an oath.

He finished his drink and slid out of the booth. "I'm going to take a leak. Don't start a war while I'm gone."

"No promises." I shouted; he probably wouldn't hear because of the loud music.

It took less than two minutes for trouble to find me.

Three men approached with polished suits and predator smiles. Their eyes swept over me like I was something they could buy.

"Sicilian royalty in a place like this," one murmured. "Didn't believe the rumors."

I didn't bother hiding my glare. "Walk away."

He let out a light laugh. "Oh! Princess, I'm merely being friendly."

His hand edged closer to my waist.

My fingers grazed the blade sheathed at my thigh. "Touch me and you lose the hand."

He halted, a look of surprise crossing his face. "You're quite the firecracker."

"That's not what your surgeon will call it."

His friends chuckled, mistaking our exchange for playful banter rather than a serious threat.

I adjusted my stance. Alert. Ready. A heartbeat away from drawing blood.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over the table-cold, tall, and immovable. A hand descended onto the man's shoulder.

He jumped as if struck by lightning, his complexion fading as the figure leaned closer, whispering something that got lost in the music's din.

The stranger retreated, hands raised in a gesture of surrender, apologizing as he dragged his friends away.

I remained still. Not because I was unaware of who had intervened.

I recognized him all too well.

My breath hitched in my throat. him.

He didn't cast a glance in my direction-not once.

He simply turned and melted into the throng, consumed by smoke and flashing lights, leaving my heart thundering against my ribs.

I blinked hard, my pulse trembling.

He shouldn't have been here watching me.

My lips parted in disbelief as the truth sank in-

I knew exactly whose hand that was.

But I refused to say his name.

Not even in my mind.