Elira’s POV

"Ms. Elira! Over here! Turn a little to your right! Goddess, who designed that dress? Give us a smile, Ms. Elira!"

"One photo, boss lady! Just one!"

I turned my head slightly, giving them the cold, calculated smirk I knew they lived for. The flashlights lit up like wildfire. I didn't slow my pace. Nico was already at the top of the steps, waiting, followed by two guards. The gala was well underway, and the orphans were being paraded to entertain the rich for the sake of charity. I hated these events, but we hosted them to clean the blood off our money, or so the press liked to say; they never knew about our true organisation, but everyone liked to think a thing or two.

The sapphire silk of my gown clung to every step. Backless, slit thigh, with hidden holsters sewn along the seams. Just because I dressed like a queen didn’t mean I came unarmed.

Aiden was behind me. I could feel him in the shadows. Nico didn't want him to be my date or even appear publicly with me he said it was better if he remained hidden.

Inside the ballroom, the pianist played the piano softly, crystal chandeliers glittering above a sea of people with masks, hiding their true nature and diamond smiles.

"Elira," Nico greeted. His hand brushed my shoulder.

"Nico," I replied, voice clipped.

"Looking powerful, as always," he replied with a smile and leaned down to kiss my forehead.

I didn’t bother responding. Instead, I moved to the edge of the dance floor, scanning the room. Luca had yet to show. Good.

Aiden lingered by the wall, blending into the shadows. One of the waiters passed with champagne. I took a glass, drained it in one swallow, and waited.

Of course, Luca eventually arrived, late, like always.

He sauntered in with that crooked smirk, a white rose pinned to his lapel and a predator's glint in his eyes.

"Beautiful," he drawled, stepping beside me. "You look like a goddess with that gown accentuating all your beautiful curves." his eyes traced my body with a weird glint in his eyes that I knew all too well.

"You do look like a don with that angry look too. Almost like the role fits," he said, leaning in to me and making me more uncomfortable.

I ignored him.

"Not much of a hostess, are you?"

I turned slightly. "This is a charity event. Not your personal runway."

He leaned closer, voice low. "You're not fit to rule this empire. You know that, right? No one's going to follow a woman."

I smiled tightly. "And yet, here you are. Still following."

His jaw clenched. Before he could say more, I excused myself. "Touching up my makeup. Don’t follow."

I turned to where Aiden was to catch a glimpse of him but he wasn't there. He sure does know how to blend in.

---

The powder room was empty. I stood before the mirror, fixing the curve of my lipstick when I heard the click of the door.

"I said don’t follow," I warned.

"Couldn’t help myself," Luca replied, stepping in.

I didn’t turn. "Get out."

"You think you're untouchable?"

He was behind me now. I saw him in the mirror. His hand reached forward.

"Luca—"

He gripped my arm and spun me, lips crashing down hard on mine.

I struggled immediately, kneeing him, but he anticipated it. Pinned me to the wall. My holster was under the slit of my dress, too far to reach.

"You need someone strong beside you," he hissed. "Not some trained dog you keep on a leash."

I clawed at his face. "Let. Me. Go."

His hands closed around my throat.

My vision blurred for a second.

Then a sudden, violent crack.

Luca dropped to the ground, unmoving. Aiden stood behind him, holding the butt of his pistol, breathing hard. For a second, all I heard was the ringing in my ears and the pounding of my heart.

"Is he dead?" I croaked.

Aiden looked down. "Unconscious. For now."

His eyes scanned my face, and for the first time, something flickered. Was that Rage and worry?

"Do you want him dead?" he asked quietly.

I swallowed. My throat burned. "No. Just... get him out of here. Quietly."

He nodded, already pulling a phone from his pocket.

Soon, two men walked in with Nico behind them. They began to help Luca up and out of the room while Nico looked at me apologetically.

"I'll do something about him."

I just nodded as I didn't know what to say to him.

Once everyone exited, Aiden and I remained, staring at each other till he stretched out his hand.

"Let's go"

---

Five minutes later, we were out of the building and in his black Audi. The car gave off the same vibe as its owner. Dull and brooding.

He drove. I didn’t ask where. Just stared out the window, arms folded tightly across my stomach. The silence was comfortable. Unexpectedly so.

The car pulled to a stop near an abandoned dock by the lake. Moonlight danced on the surface of the water. It was quiet. Still.

He got out first. I followed slowly, my heels clicking on the boards.

"This is where you dump all the bodies?" I asked dryly.

"No. Just come here when I need to remember what peace feels like."

He sat on the edge of the dock. I hesitated, then lowered myself beside him, the cold wood seeping through my dress.

"My mother used to bring me here," he said. "After my father died. Before she got sick."

I looked at him, surprised by the softness in his tone.

"What happened to her?"

"Leukaemia. Fast. She didn’t even make it six months."

I didn’t respond.

"You don’t have to say anything," he added. "I just figured... tonight, you might need air."

The breeze stirred my hair. I turned my head slightly.

"Thanks," I murmured.

The silence stretched, none of us saying a word when his shoulder brushed mine.

His face dipped closer and my breath hitched as our lips hovered.

So close. So fucking close.

And then, I pulled back. "No," I said. "Don’t."

He nodded but I saw the flicker in his eyes.

Something broke through that unreadable mask. Surprise. Frustration. Maybe... regret?

I stood abruptly. "We need to go back ."

What was I thinking? I'm the don, of the Italian mafia. Maybe Luca was right, saying I wasn't right to rule, I mean, look at me being swayed by a man about to kiss me?!

He stood up, dusted his clothes, and waited for me to walk ahead before he followed.

---

We drove in silence once again but if the last time was uncomfortable, this was worse.

I watched the houses fly by when I noticed something.

"Where the hell are you taking me?" I didn't waste my breath as I brought out my gun, pointing it at his head.

He chuckled. "You need to learn not to be paranoid all the damn time."

He pulled over and got out, not fazed that my gun was pointed at his head a second ago or I could have fired when he moved.

He opened my door and put his hand out for me to take. I cautiously took it and stared at him in confusion.

"Welcome to McDonald's. I heard your stomach grumble a mile back. Couldn't take you back home, hungry. "

What? Is he alright in the head?

A small smirk appeared on his face. "Yes, I am"

"Did I say that out loud?" My body felt hot from embarrassment.

"Yes, you did."

We walked into the restaurant and took our seats and I had the best time of my life since I took over from my father.

We laughed and talked all through. From the playful banter about what kind of fry was the best and how people realised popato tasted better in straw like shapes to arguing about what kind of gun had the best feel when aimed.

Maybe I was actually a bit too stiff, right?

Chapter 1 to chapter 20

Elira's POV

A scream tore through my throat as they whipped my back. I was clothed this time but barely.

I only had a singlet and shorts on, and my whole body was filled with scars and burn marks.

“Argh,” I yelled again as the whip came down on my back again.

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from yelling, and I could already taste blood on my tongue. But the whipping only worsened as though they enjoyed me yelling my lungs out.

”Why don't you scream louder?” the man in the mask said, and with how his eyes were crinkled at the edges, he was smiling and enjoying my torture.

I looked up at him and smirked.

“Why don't you take off the chains and I'll show you how to scream?” I taunted him, and he frowned, his face turning red as he whipped me again, but harder this time.

I flinched backwards, my back hurting so badly.

“Enough,” came a voice from the small speaker in the room, and they paused immediately, stepping back from me and walking out of the room.

I couldn't feel my arms anymore, I couldn't tell how many days had passed, hell, I couldn't even tell whether it was day or night.

I had been hanging by the chains, and my wrists bled every time I moved. My body was terribly weak, so that even if I were released right now, I wouldn't be able to do anything.

The camera's light was still blinking, and every day, I would look at it just once and smile.

If they think this bit of torture would break me the they don't know what's coming to them.

The glass doors open and some men walk in carrying a big box.

They move to one of the walls and slowly wipe the box, placing a TV.

“Spoiling me now, aren't you all?” I asked in a sarcastic tone, but they didn't say anything.

They just go about working. One of them looked scared to be in my presence. His hand kept shaking as he worked.

Bingo.

“I can't believe I've been put here. What did I do to deserve this?” I began to cry, tears streaking down my face.

The soft guy, flinched and turned a bit to face me. He had a mask on his face like his partner.

“Focus Marco. She's baiting you,” the other one said, and he flinched, facing his front again.

“I really didn't do anything. Please let me go.” I yelled, wailing louder.

But Softy didn't turn to face me. His hands still trembled though.

The other one who seemed more mentally strong, came over to me and looked at me cautiously before placing a device on my neck.

Just as he moved closer to inspect if it was placed properly, I bent my head down and chomped down on his neck, biting so hard that I began to feel his blood in my mouth.

He began to yell, flailing around for me to release him, but I didn't.

Softy began to panic, and he came to me, trying to pull his friend off me, but he wasn't as strong as I thought.

The camera beeped as I stared at it for the second time that day and men rushed into the room.

One came over and hit me across the face, making my vision blurry, so I had no choice but to let go of the guy's neck.

He fell to the floor with a thud, shaking in a traumatised state. His eyes were wide open, and blood sputtered from his neck.

His eyes found mine and I looked at him with my eyes narrowed in slots.

“You should probably get a rabies shot after this.”

He shivered, looking like he was wishing for my death. The other men helped him out but softly kept glancing at me.

I laughed hysterically, even though my body ached, and I knew what was coming for attacking the man.

Once they were out, leaving the guards, they surrounded me.

I bowed my head, getting ready for another round of beating till I passed out and was forced to wake up and pass out again. When I stood, I felt my chains taken off me.

The TV turned on and was black at first till several small screens came on with people in each screen.

I fell to the ground when the second chain came off and stared at the faces.

My vision wasn't one hundred person but I could make out who they were.

The mafia that hated my father and me. They looked haughtily at me.

The camera must be broadcasting my suffering to them and they must be having so much fun, seeing it. So why was this TV brought here? So I could see my suffering too? Watch them mock me?

How hilarious.

I was sprawled on the floor as the men surrounded me.

“What were our orders?” one of them said through his mask.

Why were they wearing masks? Is there something in the air to weaken me?

A computerised voice came through the speakers. “Fight with her. Fair and square.”

I didn't want to look at the camera again. I had already done that enough times today, so I just let my head lie on the floor, limp.

“Is she strong enough to fight? We just might kill her in the process.” I e of them said, kicking me in the stomach as he laughed.

I heard footsteps coming closer to my head and then, my head was pulled back and a liquid was forced into my mouth.

Poison?

But I refused to swallow.

He looked me dead in the eyes and spoke in a soft and quiet voice “Swallow if you want to live.”

His words confused me. Isn't everyone here supposed to hate me, except Softie?

A voice came from the screen. “Get on with the match already. I didn't pay too money to see her drink some stupid shit,” he yelled.

I looked at the screen and marked his face.

I swallowed the drink and slumped back to the floor.

The men were silent for a while till a bell rang from the speakers. “One man each, two minutes.”

“I want to go first.” one said, sounding too excited as he cracked his knuckles.

“I'd like to put this bitch in her place,” he said with so much disgust.

I pulled my hair and I got a look at his face. I remembered him. He was one of the guards who worked for me, but I fired him for indecent actions with a maid.

“You really think you're all high and mighty? You didn't even let me get some with that maid,” he gritted through his teeth and then whispered, If we were allowed to have our way with you, you would have died from the pleasure I'd have given.” he smiled, but his breath stank, and I scrunched up my nose.

“Come closer,” I said with a hoarse voice.

He looked confused at first and then his eyes glinted as he moved closer to my face.

I pulled my head back and then pushed it forward hard, nodding him on the head.

He fell back on his back, holding his forehead as he yelled out in the room.

None of the other men came to help him. They just stood, watching him. I guess they're really following the rules, huh? One man, two minutes.

I slowly got up and felt strength in my body. Was it from that man? I looked around, trying to find his face, but for some reason, they all looked the same now.

“You stupid, dumb, bitch.” he got up and walked over to me, still holding his head that had a little cut with blood dripping from it.

“I staggered as I walked, still trying to get my footing after not using my body actively for a while.

“You have 40 seconds more. You're sure you don't want to use it to bring me to my knees?” I teased.

There was a timer on the screen, and my audience looked so invested in me being brought down by a perverted fool.

“I don't need up to forty seconds, you slut.”

He swung at me and I dodged it with the little power I had in my body. I threw a punch, but it had no strength, and it ended up being like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

Laughter filled my ears from the screen as they laughed at me, the man also bent down, slapping his knee and laughing his heart out.

I felt my strength coming back. Bit by bit.

“Let's try that again shall we?” I said, turning to the side and coughing up blood and then turning to face him.

He smirked and walked so close to me with his hands out. “Try me. Let me see how much those baby hands can—-”

I threw a punch and a sickening crunch was heard as he fell to the floor with his head twisted in an odd direction.