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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 kept her chin high, refusing to show weakness. She had woken up tangled in Lorenzo's sheets, the heat of last night still burning between them, but now? Now, she was staring down the barrel of a gun, and the man she had just let into her body was looking at her like he was deciding whether or not to pull the trigger.

His voice was smooth, but there was something darker beneath it.

Valentina's pulse pounded, but her expression stayed cold, calculating. She slowly straightened, keeping her hands loose at her sides. "Depends. Am I a prisoner now?"

Lorenzo cocked his head, studying her. "That depends on you."

He lowered the gun just slightly, but she wasn't stupid enough to think it meant he trusted her. No, this was a test. One she had no intention of failing.

She took a step closer. "And what exactly are you testing, caro mio? My loyalty? My patience? Or are you just looking for another excuse to put your hands on me?"

His jaw flexed. "If I wanted to put my hands on you, I wouldn't need an excuse."

A spark of something dangerous passed between them.

But Valentina wasn't going to let him control this moment.

She glanced at the door. "I heard your conversation. You told them if you wanted me dead, you'd be the one to pull the trigger." Her gaze flickered back to him, challenging. "Is that what this is, Lorenzo? Are you deciding if I live or die?"

His fingers tightened on the grip of his gun.

For a long moment, the only sound was the crackling of the fireplace. Then, in a movement too quick to track, Lorenzo lunged.

Valentina twisted, but he was faster.

Her back hit the wall, his body pinning her there, the gun now pressed against her ribs.

"Careful, bella," he murmured, his lips inches from hers. "You're playing a dangerous game."

Her heart thundered, but she refused to let him see it.

She smirked instead, trailing a single nail down his chest. "And you love it."

This wasn't about trust or power. It was something else. Something neither of them wanted to name.

Lorenzo's breath was uneven, his body heat searing against her skin.

A man stormed in, breathless. "Boss, we have a problem."

Valentina took the distraction and moved, slipping out of his grip, grabbing the knife from the dresser, and flipping it between her fingers.

"Not bad," she murmured. "But next time? Try harder."

But whatever words he had for her were cut off as the man spoke again.

Minutes later, Valentina and Lorenzo were standing in the main hall of the estate, weapons in hand.

Three bodies already lay bleeding outside, but the real problem was the message he had sent.

A single crate sat in the center of the room. Blood smeared the lid.

Valentina's stomach twisted. She recognized the ring.

It belonged to one of her father's top men.

Lorenzo exhaled through his nose. "He's making his move."

Valentina met his gaze. "Then we make ours."

He studied her for a beat, something unreadable in his expression.

Chapter 16