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In a world where blood ties and betrayal go hand in hand, Valentina Rossi and Lorenzo De Luca were born to be enemies. He is the ruthless king of the north, ruling through fear and violence. She is the heir to the Rossi empire, raised to be cunning and untouchable. Their families have been at war for generations, but when a deadly conspiracy threatens them both, they are forced into an uneasy alliance.

Torn between hatred and a dangerous attraction, Valentina and Lorenzo play a game of power, seduction, and survival. Every glance is a challenge, every touch a threat, and every kiss a war. But as they navigate ambushes, betrayals, and an unseen enemy pulling the strings, the lines between enemy and lover begin to blur.

In a world where loyalty is a lie and desire is deadly, can they survive long enough to uncover the truth—or will their sinful alliance be the weapon that destroys them both?

sinful alliances

Valentina sat in the passenger seat, her fingers still tingling from the lingering adrenaline. The scent of blood clung to her, mixing with Lorenzo's cologne—a dark, intoxicating blend of danger and control.

She should have been focused on Dante. On what this meant for the war.

But all she could feel was the heat radiating from the man beside her.

She turned to him, her voice cutting through the tension. "You should've let me kill him."

Lorenzo didn't look at her, his gaze locked on the road. "He wasn't important enough."

Her jaw clenched. "He put his hands on me."

Lorenzo's grip on the wheel tightened—just barely. But she caught it. The way his knuckles tensed, the flicker of barely restrained violence beneath his calm.

"You think I don't know that?" His voice was smooth, controlled. Too controlled. "If I killed every man who so much as looked at you wrong, there wouldn't be anyone left to run this city."

A slow, taunting smile curled her lips. "Sounds like a dream, actually."

He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Reckless."

She leaned back, watching him. "You came for me."

Lorenzo didn't flinch, but she saw it—the slightest pause.

"You're useful alive," he muttered.

She hated that he always did this. That he acted like she was nothing more than a piece on his chessboard, a weapon to be wielded.

But then why did he come for her himself?

Why did his hands still tremble—just slightly—on the wheel?

Her body still ached, the bruises forming beneath her skin like ghostly fingerprints. But her pride burned worse.

And Lorenzo De Luca wasn't her fucking savior.

When they reached the Rossi estate, Valentina barely waited for the car to stop before she swung the door open and stepped out.

She spun on her heel, her blood roaring. "Don't."

"Don't act like this was nothing." She stepped closer, pushing against the space between them. "You're pissed. I can feel it."

Lorenzo tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "You want me to say I was worried about you?"

He smirked. "Good. Because I wasn't."

She hated how effortlessly he got under her skin. Hated how her pulse spiked when he looked at her like that—like he was two seconds from either kissing her or destroying her.

Her breath came out ragged. "This war is getting worse."

Lorenzo nodded. "And it's only the beginning."

They stood there, the air between them thick with something neither wanted to name.

Valentina exhaled, forcing herself to take a step back. "We need to plan."

Lorenzo's gaze lingered on her for a second too long before he nodded. "Tomorrow."

She turned away, heading toward the house. But just before she stepped inside—

Lorenzo's voice was lower now. Rougher. "Get some rest."

Because if she did, she wasn't sure she'd walk away.

Instead, she whispered, "You too."

Then she disappeared inside, leaving the Devil alone in the dark.

Chapter 9