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S I N S  A N D  S C A R S
prologue
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We all took the oath. It was more than just a pledge; it was an initiation, a binding of our souls to something darker and greater than ourselves. The oath was whispered in candlelight, sealed with blood and secrecy. To join the brotherhood is to forfeit the right to an ordinary life and step into a shadowed existence where loyalty, ruthlessness, and obedience matter.

Kindness, mercy, and sympathy—these were the words we spoke as a cruel irony, a mockery of the virtues the world holds dear. We don't embody them; we consume them, twist them to our purposes. For us, these ideals are tools, softened veneers that disguise what truly lies beneath.

The Silence has no place for softness, and I am no different. I am a part of them, forged in their image. Our power is woven into every corner of the city. We do not scream, we do not shout; we merely breathe, and worlds collapse. People vanish, fortunes are erased, lives twisted to our will. Men like me have shed blood with ease, traded savagery for elegance. We wear tailored suits now, not brutality. But we are still nightmares, hiding in plain sight, biding our time.

We are the reason people look over their shoulders, the shadow creeping up behind them when they think they're safe. Death, fear, and ruin—it's all we bring. And yet, we walk among them as civilised monsters. We are the demons under their beds, the ghosts haunting their dreams.

They say the world is a disastrous place, but we are much worse.

And she—Valentina Castello—is next. Her family thinks they are untouchable, that their history with us somehow protects them. They think they understand the rules. But rules were made for the weak. The Silence answers to no one. And now, her life is in my hands. Her fate, her will—her very existence—belongs to me.

Do I feel remorse? Regret? Not in the slightest. She has this coming, as they all did. The Castellos thought they could cross us, push back against The Silence. But now, she will see the truth. She will learn what it means to be a captive of our world. She will learn what it means to be powerless.

I am her shadow, her captor, her executioner. She is my task, my reward, my offering to the Silence. And when I am finished, she won't just be broken. She will be unrecognisable to herself, a mere tool, and her sacrifice will strengthen our legacy.

Valentina Castello—she belongs to me now.

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AUTHORS NOTE

She's baaaaaack!!!!
Slow updates but stay tuned for this wild rollercoaster. I hope you all like it. Be nice in the comments and do not ask for updates immediately. I have an extremely busy life and unfortunately I do not get paid. Follow me on IG for more updates and information. Exciting things are coming!
Love you all! Be safe.