volume 0:-Before the Storm

Years before Sophia and Luca's paths crossed in the fateful ways that would bind them, their families were already locked in a deadly dance of rivalry. The Sicarios and the Salvatores, two powerful mafia families, had ruled different territories for decades. While the Sicarios controlled the lucrative ports and smuggling routes, the Salvatores dominated the city's underground markets and wielded significant political influence. At first, their operations didn't overlap, but as both families sought to expand their power, tensions began to rise.

Don Salvatore, Luca's father, was a cunning and ruthless leader, always one step ahead of his enemies. Known for his strategic mind and his ability to turn enemies into allies through manipulation and blackmail, his influence was vast. But his ambition, his greatest strength, was also his greatest weakness. He wanted to unite the city's underworld under one banner—his own.

On the other side, Don Sicar, Sophia's grandfather, believed in old-school mafia values of loyalty, family, and honor. He was more direct and confrontational in his approach, known for his violent temper and quickness to anger. He viewed the Salvatores as a threat to his family's legacy and was determined to protect his territory at any cost.

The tension between the two families boiled over when a shipment belonging to the Sicarios was hijacked by a crew believed to be associated with the Salvatores. Don Sicar saw this as a direct attack on his family's honor and retaliated by hitting one of the Salvatores' key operations. This set off a chain of events that escalated into a full-blown turf war, with both sides suffering heavy casualties and losses.

Luca, just a boy at the time, was beginning to understand the world he was born into. He idolized his father but was also aware of the danger that surrounded their lives. He learned early on that the world was a place of shadows, secrets, and unspoken rules. His father taught him that power was the only thing that mattered and that trust was a luxury they could not afford.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Sophia was being raised away from the chaos and violence of her family's empire. Her father, the son of Don Sicar, had chosen to distance himself from the life of crime, opting instead for a legitimate business to protect his family from the bloody legacy of the Sicarios. Sophia's mother insisted on a life far removed from the underworld, wanting to shield her daughter from the violence that had marked her own childhood.

But even as they tried to escape it, the shadows of the past loomed large over Sophia's family. She grew up with stories whispered in the dark, tales of blood feuds and betrayals that seemed more like fairy tales than reality. Her parents never spoke of their family's true nature, but she felt the weight of unspoken secrets in every glance and hushed conversation.

Years passed, and the conflict between the Sicarios and the Salvatores simmered, punctuated by occasional flare-ups of violence. Both families were locked in a deadly stalemate, unable to gain a decisive advantage over the other.

Luca, now a teenager, was becoming more involved in his family's operations. He was sharp, resourceful, and ambitious—everything his father wanted in an heir. He became known as the "shadow," always lurking behind the scenes, collecting information and keeping an eye on their enemies.

One day, during a rare moment of peace, Luca found himself at a park on the edge of the city. It was a place where he often went to think, away from the noise and chaos of his family's world. As he sat on a bench, lost in thought, he noticed a girl playing with a dog nearby.

She was laughing, her dark hair catching the sunlight, her smile wide and genuine. Luca was captivated by her carefree spirit, a stark contrast to the heavy burden he carried every day. He watched her for a while, intrigued by her joy and innocence. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced in years.

Unbeknownst to him, the girl was Sophia. She had been brought to the park by her mother, who still hoped for a semblance of normalcy in her daughter's life. For Sophia, it was just another ordinary day, far removed from the undercurrents of her family's history.

Their paths crossed briefly when the dog ran toward Luca, barking excitedly. Sophia hurried over, apologizing as she tried to catch the playful pup. Luca smiled, the first genuine smile he had worn in a long time.

"It's okay," he said, crouching down to pet the dog. "He's friendly."

Sophia looked up at him, her eyes bright with curiosity. "He likes you," she said. "He usually doesn't like strangers."

Luca chuckled, a rare sound that surprised even him. "I guess I'm not a stranger anymore."

They spoke for a few minutes, exchanging pleasantries about the weather and the dog. Luca was struck by how easy it was to talk to her, how natural it felt. It was a fleeting moment, but it left a lasting impression on both of them.

Sophia's mother soon called her back, and she waved goodbye to Luca, her smile lingering in his mind long after she was gone. As she walked away, Luca couldn't help but feel a strange pull toward her, a connection he didn't understand but couldn't ignore.

It was only later, when Luca returned home, that he learned the truth. His father, Don Salvatore, was in a rage, shouting orders at his men about a sighting of the Sicarios' granddaughter in their territory.

Luca's heart sank as he realized who Sophia really was. The innocent girl he had met in the park was a member of the very family his father had been at war with for years. He knew then that their paths were destined to be anything but ordinary.

As the years went by, the tenuous ceasefire between the Sicarios and the Salvatores held, each family wary of provoking the other. Luca continued to rise through the ranks of his father's organization, his name becoming synonymous with efficiency and loyalty. Despite his growing reputation, Luca couldn't forget the girl he had met in the park. He often found himself wondering about her, his thoughts drifting back to her smile and the light in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Sophia grew up unaware of the full extent of her family's history. Her parents had managed to keep her away from the violent world they had left behind, raising her in a protective bubble of love and care. She excelled in school, dreaming of a future where she could make a difference, unaware of the shadows that lingered just beyond her reach.

But fate has a way of bringing people together, especially those destined to collide. As Sophia neared her final year of high school, her parents decided to move closer to the city, wanting to provide her with more opportunities and a better education. It was a decision that would unknowingly bring her closer to the world they had tried so hard to escape.

On the other side of the city, Luca continued his work, unaware that his past was about to catch up with him. He had grown hardened over the years, his heart closed off to anything that might make him vulnerable. But deep down, the memory of Sophia still lingered, a faint echo of a life he would never know.

As they both prepared to step into the next chapter of their lives, neither of them knew that they were about to be thrown into a whirlwind of love, betrayal, and secrets. The paths they had walked separately were about to converge, setting off a chain of events that would change their lives forever.

And as the winds of fate began to stir, the stage was set for a story of star-crossed lovers caught in a web of lies and loyalty, a story that would test the limits of their hearts and the strength of their souls.