CHAPTER 18

Every empire collapses from within.

Matteo had spent years perfecting control. Every decision, every risk, every calculated step—nothing happened without his approval.

But even kings made mistakes.

And Sasha?

She was his biggest one.

From the moment she entered his empire, she had been shifting the weight beneath his feet.

Not in ways that would catch his attention immediately.

No.

This was a slow, meticulous collapse.

A steady unraveling of everything he thought was unshakable.

And tonight?

Another piece was about to fall.

The target was Leonardo Ricci.

One of Matteo's most trusted men. Sharp, disciplined, and blindly loyal.

That was his greatest weakness. Loyalty.

Loyalty could be weaponized.

And Sasha?

She was a master at it.

Leonardo had one fatal flaw—his hunger to prove himself.

He had been in Matteo's shadow for years, waiting for an opportunity to prove he could be more than just another enforcer.

Sasha gave him that opportunity.

A perfectly baited investment deal.

Too good to pass up.

Too solid to question.

And Leonardo took the bait, unaware that he was walking into a beautifully laid trap.

It had taken weeks to lay the groundwork.

Sasha had leaked whispers of a highly exclusive offshore investment—a chance to triple their money within months.

A partner Matteo had rejected years ago had resurfaced, claiming to have new connections, new power.

In reality?

The entire thing was a lie.

A carefully woven illusion designed to lure in someone too eager to impress.

Leonardo fit the profile perfectly.

She had planted doubts in his head through casual conversations, subtle comments:

"Matteo's got so much on his plate, you know? You're the only one sharp enough to handle an opportunity like this."

"A guy like you deserves more credit. I mean, look at what you've done for this empire."

"I just think Matteo underestimates you. But hey, maybe that's just me."

She fed his ego, piece by piece, until Leonardo convinced himself that he had to take action.

And when he did?

He fell right into her hands.

The fallout was immediate.

Within twenty-four hours, the deal had completely collapsed.

Millions vanished. Gone.

Matteo's name was attached to a deal that made him look reckless.

And in their world?

That was dangerous.

A man like Matteo couldn't afford to look weak.

The moment the news broke, his inner circle erupted.

Sasha watched from the sidelines, calm, composed, untouchable.

She sipped her espresso as Matteo's empire suffered another wound.

From her private office, she could see the security feeds—Matteo's lieutenants pacing, whispering, throwing uneasy glances.

Leonardo stood in the center of the storm, desperately trying to explain himself.

"Boss, I had it vetted—"

"I don't want your f*ing excuses."

Matteo's voice was low, dangerous.

He wasn't yelling.

He didn't need to.

Leonardo was already falling apart.

Matteo was no fool.

Mistakes happened. Deals failed. But this?

This felt different.

Too precise.

Too perfectly timed.

Someone was playing a game.

He could feel it.

And for the first time in years, Matteo De Luca began to doubt his own men.

He sat at the head of the table, fingers steepled, unreadable.

Finally, after a long, tense silence, he spoke.

"We have a rat."

The room went deathly quiet.

A rat.

A word that carried more weight than any insult, any accusation.

Because in their world?

A rat didn't walk away alive.

This should have felt satisfying.

She should be relishing his frustration, his anger, the way his empire was slowly turning on itself.

But instead…

There was a strange, bitter taste in her mouth.

A whisper of something unwelcome.

Regret?

No.

Never.

Matteo had made his choice years ago.

And now, she was making hers.

Yet, as she watched him through the security feed, eyes cold, expression unreadable…

She couldn't ignore the way her heart clenched.

Because no matter how much she tried to bury it—

A part of her still recognized him.

A part of her still saw the man she once loved.

A part of her still wanted to scream at him—Why didn't you fight for me?

But that girl was gone.

Now, she was Sasha.

And Matteo De Luca was nothing more than another target.

Rico strolled into her office, dropping into the seat across from her.

Rico Valenti

Rico had been a problem solver long before he met Matteo. A man who could make evidence disappear, forge untraceable documents, and manipulate digital trails like an artist.

Matteo didn't trust many people, but Rico was different.

They met years ago when Matteo needed a crucial business contract 'adjusted' without leaving a trace. Rico did it so flawlessly that Matteo kept him close ever since.

Rico wasn't just a fixer—he was a ghost in the system.

Officially, he was one of Matteo's top intelligence analysts. Unofficially? He was the one who cleaned up messes before they became disasters.

But loyalty?

That was a different story.

Rico never belonged to anyone—until Sasha came along.

And now?

He still worked for Matteo.

Still played the role of the loyal right-hand intelligence expert.

But behind the scenes?

He was Sasha's invisible weapon.

"You look deep in thought. That's dangerous."

Sasha exhaled slowly, swirling the remnants of her coffee. "Just watching a kingdom collapse in real time. You know, the usual."

Rico smirked. "You're enjoying this."

She let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

"If I say yes, does that make me a monster?"

Rico tilted his head. "Depends. Are you asking because you feel guilty, or because you don't?"

Sasha didn't answer.

Instead, she took another sip of her coffee, eyes locked on the screen as Matteo dismissed the meeting, frustration etched into every movement.

He was getting closer to the truth.

Closer to her.

And yet, still so far away.

Good.

Let him chase ghosts.

She had an empire to burn.