Elegbede_Habeeb

The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

The air was thick with tension as Luca, Elena, and Dante sat around the table, the photos of Adrian spread before them like pieces of a nightmare resurrected. The past wasn't just haunting them—it was hunting them.

Elena broke the silence first. "If Adrian survived, then that means someone helped him." She traced her finger over one of the images. "And we need to find out who."

Dante leaned back, exhaling sharply. "I made some calls. The name that kept coming up?" He tapped the edge of a particular surveillance photo. "Dominic Vasquez."

Luca's hands curled into fists. "Vasquez was one of Adrian's top enforcers before the fire. He disappeared after Adrian died."

Elena frowned. "If he's back, then that means Adrian isn't just alive—he's rebuilding."

Dante nodded grimly. "And we're already late to the party."

Luca stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Then we take the fight to them. We're not waiting for Adrian to make the first move."

Elena met his gaze, fire burning in her own. "Where do we start?"

Dante smirked. "I might have an idea."

Later That Night – Vasquez's Club

The music was deafening, the bass vibrating through the floors as Luca and Elena stepped inside. The club was packed—dancers, high rollers, men with too much power and too little restraint.

Dante had already scouted the place. Vasquez was in the VIP lounge upstairs, surrounded by his usual muscle.

Luca leaned into Elena, whispering against her ear, "We go in, get him alone, and make him talk."

Elena smirked. "Subtle as always."

They moved through the crowd, Luca's presence parting people like a silent warning. Elena followed closely, her movements fluid, eyes scanning every threat.

At the VIP entrance, a guard stepped in front of them. "Private lounge. Move along."

Luca smiled coldly. "We're expected."

The guard scoffed, but before he could react, Elena struck—her knee slammed into his ribs as Luca twisted his arm, forcing him down. The man crumpled soundlessly, and they slipped past.

Upstairs, Vasquez was laughing, a cigar in one hand and a whiskey in the other—until he saw them.

His smile vanished. "Well, well. I thought you were dead, Romano."

Luca stepped closer, his voice low and lethal. "Disappointed?"

Vasquez smirked, but there was tension in his eyes. "You should've stayed buried."

Elena crossed her arms. "Funny. We were just about to say the same to Adrian."

Luca's smile was sharp. "Where is he?"

Vasquez chuckled. "You have no idea what you're walking into."

Luca pulled his gun, pressing it against Vasquez's forehead. "Then enlighten me."

Vasquez grinned, fearless. "You're already too late."

Luca grabbed it from Vasquez's pocket, putting it on speaker.

A voice crackled through the line, smooth, familiar, and ice-cold.

A dark chuckle. "I've been waiting for you."

Next Chapter: The Devil's Return – Adrian reveals his hand, and Luca and Elena are forced into a deadly game.

Fire and Blood