Chapter One: Endone

The streets of Rome were bathed in the soft glow of the evening sun, the cobblestones shimmering under the amber light. But deep within the heart of the city, in a mansion overlooking the hills, the atmosphere was anything but serene. The cold, sterile silence that lingered in the darkened corners of the room was only broken by the rhythmic ticking of an old grandfather clock. It was here that Antonio de Luca, one of Italy's most feared mafia bosses, stood, his broad shoulders hunched as he stared out the window, lost in thought.

Antonio was a man of few words. A man who understood power, violence, and the art of control, but not love. His world had never known it. He had once been married, once thought that perhaps, just maybe, he could escape the darkness and find a sliver of light in a woman’s arms. But he was wrong. His ex-wife, like all others, had eventually proved to be just a fleeting distraction in his relentless pursuit of dominance. Divorce had been the only escape from that suffocating illusion.

But as he stood there, watching the city below, he couldn't help but feel the weight of an impending storm. A storm that had nothing to do with the weather, but rather the latest twist in his empire's tangled web. He had been summoned by someone—someone with enough leverage to drag him into an unwanted alliance.

That someone was Isabella Carlos.

Isabella Carlos was known throughout Italy, but not for the reasons Antonio would have preferred. She was the daughter of Mauro Carlos, the second most powerful mafia boss in the country, rivaling Antonio’s own empire. And yet, despite being born into the world of organized crime, Isabella had always been different. While other women in her world had learned the art of manipulation and the coldness required to survive, Isabella still believed in love. The kind of love that fairy tales were made of, the kind that made her heart flutter with every thought of it.

She had been raised in a world of blood, betrayal, and power struggles, but her heart had always held on to one naïve hope: that one day, she would meet someone who could love her, someone who would cherish her as she was. She dreamt of a man who would sweep her off her feet, take her on romantic dates, whisper sweet nothings in her ear, and, most of all, never hurt her. But she had long since learned that dreams were just that—dreams. The reality was much darker, and she had to face it sooner or later.

Isabella had never met Antonio, but she had heard whispers. Whispers of a man so cold that even the most hardened criminals trembled in his presence. Whispers of his ruthless tactics and his ability to eliminate anyone who stood in his way. The rumors were endless, and yet, she couldn't help but feel drawn to the mystery that surrounded him. There was something about him, something that intrigued her. She knew he was a force to be reckoned with, but she was determined to understand him. Or perhaps, if fate allowed, to soften him.

Their worlds collided when a series of unfortunate events forced both families into a corner. The mafia was at war, alliances were shifting, and neither Antonio nor Isabella had a choice but to unite their fates—whether they wanted to or not. The agreement was simple: a marriage. A political union to strengthen their positions. It was the perfect solution to an otherwise disastrous situation. But for Antonio, it was just another transaction, another way to cement his power. For Isabella, it was the beginning of something she had always dreamed of… or at least, she hoped it would be.

Antonio's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. He turned, his face expressionless, before he walked to the entrance of his study. There, standing in front of him, was one of his most trusted men, Marco. The man’s face was grim, his eyes betraying the urgency of the situation.

"Boss, it's time," Marco said quietly, his voice low and respectful.

Antonio nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Bring her in."

The door creaked open, and Isabella Carlos entered, her presence undeniable. She was everything Antonio had expected—beautiful, graceful, and yet, there was a hint of something fragile in her demeanor. She was not the hardened woman he was used to. No, Isabella was different, and Antonio couldn’t quite decide if that intrigued him or irritated him.

She stood still, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it. The moment she had always feared and hoped for. She had heard of Antonio de Luca—everyone had. The rumors that surrounded him were enough to make anyone quiver in fear. But Isabella was not like the others. She had a mission. She had a purpose.

She lifted her chin, her voice steady. "Antonio de Luca, I presume?"

Antonio’s eyes flicked over her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "You’re right on that account," he said, his voice smooth and cold. "I assume you know why you’re here, Signorina Carlos."

Her breath hitched, but she refused to let it show. This was her moment. This was her chance to prove that she could survive in this dark world, to show that she wasn’t just another pawn in a game of power.

"I know why I’m here, but I don’t think you do," Isabella replied, her voice calm but with an undercurrent of defiance.

Antonio raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what exactly do you think I don’t know?"

Isabella stepped forward, her eyes meeting his with a boldness that surprised even her. "You think this marriage is just a transaction. But for me, it’s not. I have dreams, Antonio. Dreams of a life built on love, on trust, on something real."

For a moment, Antonio said nothing. He studied her with cold, calculating eyes, as though trying to decide if she was worth the effort to break.

"You can dream all you want, Isabella," he said finally, his tone hardening. "But in this world, love is nothing more than a weakness. A distraction. You will learn that soon enough."

The words stung, but Isabella refused to let them show. She could feel the weight of his words, but she wasn’t about to back down. Not now, not when everything she had dreamed of was so close.

"Then I’ll be the one to prove you wrong," she whispered, her voice soft yet firm.

Antonio chuckled darkly. "We’ll see about that, Signorina Carlos."

---

The room fell into an uneasy silence, the tension palpable between them. Isabella could feel it, could feel the walls closing in, but she refused to let fear take over. This was her life now. This was the path she had chosen, and no matter how cold or ruthless Antonio de Luca was, she would make him see that love wasn’t a weakness. It was the only thing that could save them both.

But as Antonio turned away, his back to her, Isabella couldn’t help but wonder: Could she really change him? Could she make him believe in something he had long since abandoned?

Only time would tell.