The Devil's Vow

Alessia Caruso had never believed in curses.

In her world, where power was currency, curses were for the superstitious, the weak. Her father had been a feared consigliere, one of the most respected men in the mafia, until the fall-the scandal that no one dared to speak about, the event that had marked him with disgrace. It was a stain that ruined his reputation, fractured their family, and cast Alessia into the shadows of a world she was meant to rule.

But power, as she'd learned, wasn't easily stolen or destroyed. It was something you either took or were forced to live without. And for the past few years, Alessia had been holding her own, surviving on the scraps left by her father's downfall. She had played the game of silence, hiding behind her family's name, her father's legacy, and her own determination.

Tonight, however, everything was about to change.

The night air cut through her silk dress as she stood in front of the imposing gates of the De Luca estate, its gothic stone pillars rising like sentinels in the darkness. The grand estate loomed ahead, a monolith of wealth, power, and danger. Alessia's breath caught in the cold, the moon casting an eerie glow over the property.

She didn't belong here. No one from her family did. The Caruso and De Luca families were enemies, caught in a blood-soaked history of betrayal, ambition, and vengeance. And yet, here she was, summoned by a man she'd never met but whose reputation preceded him.

Luca De Luca. The ruthless heir to the De Luca empire, a man who'd earned his place at the top by breaking every rule and crushing every rival in his path. No one spoke of him in anything other than fear, and Alessia had been raised to avoid men like him. Yet, the invitation-if it could even be called that-was a demand. A threat she couldn't ignore. Luca De Luca was a man who didn't take no for an answer.

She raised her chin, steeling herself for what was to come. This was a test. It wasn't about power; it was about survival. Her father's disgrace had left her with few options, but this-this was her chance to prove herself. The bloodline she carried had been tainted by scandal, but Alessia wasn't the broken woman the world thought she was. She had a role to play, and she intended to play it to perfection.

The sound of the heavy gates creaked as they slowly parted, revealing the darkened entrance of the mansion. Alessia took a step forward, her heels clicking sharply against the cobblestone as she moved toward the door. A figure emerged from the shadows, tall and imposing. His silhouette was familiar, the same sharp angles and commanding presence that had been etched into every whispered story she'd heard about him.

Luca.

He didn't move as she approached, his eyes watching her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. His gaze was cold, calculating-like a predator studying its prey. Alessia was no stranger to being scrutinized, but there was something different about Luca. Something that unsettled her.

"Miss Caruso," Luca's voice broke the silence, smooth and dangerous, like a velvet knife.

Alessia met his gaze, fighting the instinct to lower her eyes. "Mr. De Luca," she replied, her tone controlled, despite the rush of tension coiling in her chest.

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. The faint scent of expensive cologne mixed with the ever-present undertone of power that clung to him like a second skin. He was a man who took what he wanted, and Alessia knew from the moment their eyes locked that he wouldn't stop until he had what he came for.

"I've been waiting for you," Luca said, his voice a low murmur, the words carrying an underlying meaning she wasn't sure she wanted to understand.

Alessia's lips tightened, her mind racing. The invitation had been cryptic, but she knew it wasn't just a social call. Luca De Luca didn't invite people to his estate for casual conversation. This was business. But what kind of business? Her father's downfall had left her family in tatters, but had it truly ruined them beyond repair? Was she here to make a deal? To beg for protection? Or was there something darker at play?

"Why am I here?" she asked, her voice steady but edged with suspicion.

Luca's eyes flickered with amusement, as if the question was an amusing one, one he'd expected. "You don't know? How quaint." He took a slow step forward, closing the space between them. "Your father's actions have consequences, Alessia. And you're here to answer for them."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She fought to keep her expression neutral, though inside, a cold dread began to twist in her stomach. What did he know about her father's downfall? No one had spoken of it openly in years. Not the family. Not the men who had once served him. Everyone had kept their silence, each for their own reasons.

But Luca wasn't like everyone else. He was relentless, a man who never let go of what he wanted. And right now, he wanted answers.

"I'm not my father," Alessia said, her voice sharp with the sting of truth. She wasn't. She had her own agenda, her own way of moving through this world. She wasn't a pawn in her father's game anymore.

Luca tilted his head, studying her with cold eyes. "No. You're not. But you're his daughter. And that means you're bound to the same fate."

The words hung in the air like a challenge, and for the first time in a long time, Alessia felt like a small piece in a much larger puzzle-one she didn't understand. But she would. She had no choice.

As he stepped aside, motioning for her to enter, the doors of the mansion opened wider, revealing the dimly lit halls inside. Shadows seemed to cling to the walls, the flickering light of candles casting ghostly shapes across the polished marble floors.

"Come inside," Luca said, his voice low, almost coaxing. "The game begins now."

Alessia hesitated for a moment, staring into the darkness of the mansion. Then, with a deep breath, she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. The air was thick with secrets, but Alessia was no stranger to keeping her own. This was only the beginning. She would not be intimidated by Luca De Luca. But as the door shut with a heavy thud, she couldn't shake the feeling that the walls were closing in around her, and there was no escaping the fate that had already been set in motion.