CHAPTER 16
There was something intoxicating about power—true power.
Not the kind that came from wielding guns or leading men, but the kind that came from whispers, misdirection, and carefully placed traps.
Sasha had learned long ago that the sharpest blade wasn't a knife—it was doubt.
And tonight, she was about to plant it deep into the heart of Matteo De Luca's empire.
She watched from her office—far, unseen, untouchable—as Enrico, one of Matteo's most trusted lieutenants, prepared to finalize a business deal that would have strengthened their connections overseas.
He had no idea he was about to make the biggest mistake of his career.
It had taken days.
Small, deliberate moves.
A slightly altered report. A missing piece of crucial information. A strategic conversation that made Enrico believe the wrong people were trustworthy.
And now?
He was signing a deal that would crash and burn.
Sasha leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs as she watched the scene unfold through the hidden security feed.
Matteo wasn't present—he never was for smaller deals like this. That's what his trusted men were for.
And Enrico?
He trusted the wrong person.
The ink dried on the contract. Hands were shaken. And just like that—it was done.
Sasha smirked.
"Poor Enrico. If only you knew that you just buried yourself alive."
The cracks appeared instantly.
Within twenty-four hours, it was clear—the deal was a trap.
Matteo's men had unknowingly linked themselves to an organization under government surveillance. Their usual smooth operations? Now under quiet scrutiny.
The moment the news hit, tension spread like poison.
Whispers.
Doubt.
Distrust.
Matteo's inner circle started murmuring about how a mistake like this could happen.
How could Enrico, one of Matteo's most seasoned men, fall for something so basic?
Sasha watched it all unfold with the kind of satisfaction only a woman scorned could understand.
A mistake like this in their world wasn't just a mistake.
It was a sign of weakness.
And weakness?
It was dangerous.
Some of Matteo's associates tried to downplay the failure.
Others weren't convinced.
The whispers began to spread:
"If Enrico slipped up, what's next?"
"Was this a setup?"
"Is Matteo slipping?"
Sasha felt it.
The first real shift.
Matteo wasn't even aware of it yet, but his men were beginning to question things.
And in their world? Questions led to consequences.
She should have been overjoyed.
She had waited years to watch his empire crumble piece by piece.
But as she sat in her chair, staring at the quiet destruction she had caused, something twisted inside her.
Because for the first time—it didn't feel as good as it should.
Memories she had buried deep clawed their way to the surface.
The Matteo she once knew.
The Matteo who used to pull her into his arms at 2 AM, pressing a kiss to her temple, whispering promises he never kept.
The Matteo who had once loved her.
The Matteo who had ruined her.
And now, the Matteo she was ruining.
She clenched her jaw, forcing the memories back down where they belonged.
This wasn't about feelings.
This was about justice.
This was about revenge.
This was about him suffering the way she had suffered.
"Then why does it feel like I'm the one bleeding?"
The room was silent except for the faint hum of the security feed.
Enrico was in the midst of trying to fix his mistake. Matteo's other men were starting to eye each other with suspicion.
And Sasha?
She let out a small, bitter laugh.
"Well, congratulations to me. I just became the first woman in history to gaslight an entire criminal empire without them realizing it."
She exhaled, shaking her head.
"Maybe I should start charging for this level of psychological warfare."
The fire inside her flickered, caught between triumph and something far more dangerous.
Regret.
This was only the first step.
The real game?
Had only just begun.