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Elena Morelli was never meant to be part of the underworld. Living a quiet life as an aspiring artist, she had no idea that her bloodline held a secret—one that made her a target.

One night was all it took to destroy the illusion of safety.

Dragged to a nightclub by her best friend, Elena made a reckless decision—to let go, to indulge, to forget the dull routine of her life for just a few hours. That was when she met Alessio DeLuca.

He was devastatingly handsome, dangerously intense, and completely unlike anyone she had ever encountered. With his tailored suit, cold silver eyes, and commanding presence, he exuded power.

She didn’t know who he was.

She didn’t know that stepping into his world would cost her everything.

What was supposed to be a fleeting one-night stand turned into something far more sinister when she woke up to a nightmare—Alessio wasn’t just a man. He was the ruthless leader of the DeLuca crime family, and he wasn’t done with her yet.

Captured: The Cold Embrace of a Monster

Alessio DeLuca had built his empire on control. He didn’t make mistakes. He didn’t allow weaknesses. But the moment he saw Elena, something in him cracked.

He thought she was just another distraction.

Until he found out who she really was.

Elena Morelli wasn’t just some girl. She was connected to the mafia in a way she never knew—the hidden daughter of a disgraced Morelli boss. A bloodline that should have been erased.

To Alessio, she was a problem. A loose end. Someone who should have never existed.

And yet, he couldn’t kill her.

Instead, he took her. Caged her in his world.

She fought him at every turn, refusing to bow to his will. But Alessio was a man who got what he wanted—through pain, through fear, through desire.

Elena would learn obedience.

Or so he thought.

The War Within: Hate, Lust, and Something More

Elena refused to break.

She wasn’t a mafia princess. She wasn’t some pawn to be used. And she would never belong to a monster like Alessio.

But the more she fought, the more obsessed he became.

He punished her defiance. Tested her limits. Took pleasure in bending her to his will.

But what Alessio never expected was that she would start to unravel him, too.

The cruel control he prided himself on began to slip.

Her fire, her innocence—it was supposed to be nothing. And yet, it became everything.

But Alessio wasn’t a man who could love. Love was weakness.

And Elena? She was a distraction he should have destroyed.

Unraveling the Truth: A Legacy of Blood

Just when Elena thought she understood her captor, the truth about her past began to surface.

She wasn’t just any Morelli.

She was the heir to something far more dangerous than either of them realized—a bloodline tied to secrets that could shift the balance of power in the underworld.

Assassins came for her. Enemies rose from the shadows. And Alessio realized that letting her go was never an option.

Not because of duty.

Not because of power.

But because she had become his.

And now, he would kill for her.

The Final Choice: Love or Ruin

With war looming between the mafia families, Elena had a choice—stay with the man who had stolen her life, or risk everything to escape.

But running meant death.

Staying meant surrender.

And falling for Alessio DeLuca?

That meant ruin.

Yet, as the walls closed in and the truth of her past threatened to consume her, Elena realized one thing:

She wasn’t just his captive anymore.

She was his queen.

And Alessio?

He would burn the world to keep her.

Ruthless Mafia Captive

Elena's breath was ragged, her pulse hammering against her ribs as Alessio's words wrapped around her like chains.

You can take your place as their queen… or as mine.

For too long, she had been caught in his storm—a captive, a pawn, a possession.

But now, for the first time, she saw the truth.

She was Domenico De Luca's daughter.

She was the rightful heir to a mafia empire.

And Alessio—ruthless, dangerous Alessio—had known it all along.

She tore her wrist from his grip. "I'm not yours."

She fought the shiver threatening to betray her. No. Not this time.

"I choose my own fate," she said, her voice sharper than it had ever been. "And if what you're saying is true, then I want my throne."

Alessio's jaw tensed, a muscle ticking. "You don't know what you're asking for."

"No," she admitted. "But I'm going to find out."

She took a step back, her heart slamming against her ribs. "I'll rebuild the De Lucas. I'll take back what was stolen from me. And I'll do it without you."

In an instant, she was caged against his chest, his arms locked around her like a steel vice.

His breath was hot against her ear. "You think you can walk away from me, bambolina?"

Elena swallowed hard, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. "You don't own me, Alessio."

Her skin burned where he touched her, every nerve screaming at her to surrender—but she refused.

Alessio studied her, something unreadable flickering behind those cold, calculating eyes.

She stumbled back, breathless, waiting for him to stop her again.

Instead, he smirked. "Go on, then."

She hesitated. "You're letting me leave?"

His smirk deepened. "You misunderstand, dolcezza." His voice was silk laced with steel. "I'm letting you try."

Because she knew—no matter how far she ran, how high she climbed—

Chapter 43: The Queen’s Gambit