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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

The air in the room was thick with the scent of gunpowder and blood. Dante was on his knees, his hands bound behind his back, his face smeared with sweat and fury.

Valentina circled him like a predator, the gleaming edge of a knife spinning between her fingers.

Lorenzo leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her with something dark and unreadable in his eyes.

"Well?" he murmured. "What are you waiting for?"

Dante grinned, teeth red with blood. "Do it, Valentina. Let's see if you have the stomach for it."

Killing Dante now would be a mistake. He was valuable—too valuable to waste.

She crouched in front of him, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look at her. "You think I'm going to put a bullet in your skull and let you die easy?" she whispered. "You don't deserve that kind of mercy."

Dante's smirk wavered. Just a little.

Valentina wasn't playing the game Dante expected.

She ran the blade of her knife along his throat, just enough to make his breath hitch. "You know what I think?" she murmured. "I think you're more useful alive."

Dante's smirk returned, but there was something nervous behind it. "And here I thought you had a soft spot for me."

Valentina smiled. "Oh, I do. Right between your ribs."

She stabbed the knife—just deep enough to make him scream.

Lorenzo chuckled. "Now that's just mean."

Dante gasped, his body jerking in pain.

"Don't worry," Valentina whispered in his ear. "You're not dying. Not yet."

She pulled the blade free, wiping the blood off on his shirt.

"Take him," she told Lorenzo's men. "Make sure he stays alive. For now."

Lorenzo tilted his head. "I'm impressed, princess."

Valentina turned to face him, heart still hammering. "You shouldn't be."

His smirk deepened. "Oh, but I am."

The tension between them was suffocating.

Lorenzo followed Valentina as she left the room, his footsteps lazy, deliberate.

"You enjoy making men suffer," he said. "I respect that."

Valentina didn't look at him. "I do what needs to be done."

He stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

"That's what I like about you, Rossi." His voice was low, almost amused. "You pretend you're different. But you and I? We're the same."

Instead, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"Tell me, Valentina," he murmured. "When you stabbed him, did it make your blood rush?"

Lorenzo leaned in, his lips ghosting the shell of her ear.

"Just like you like this," he continued, his fingers trailing down her arm, slow and dangerous.

Valentina exhaled sharply, shoving his hand away. "You're playing a dangerous game, De Luca."

His smirk was pure sin. "Sweetheart, I am the game."

Chapter 12