ALESSANDRO'S POV

It was a normal day. In my office, I watched the sun slowly disappear into the sky while I signed off some papers. Another day of wondering when all of this mess will end.

Suddenly I heard a knock on the door, Marcus walked in and stated "Lei è qui"
[translate: she is here]

Three words that sent electricity all over my body, three words I wasn't sure I was hearing correctly. Three words I couldn't believe. I stood up shortly after hearing those words and made my way towards the basement with Marcus behind me. My mind was full of thoughts, questions all over the place. Months of searching, now what. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel sort of helpless. I have planned on catching her, yes. But not what comes after that, because I haven't thought catching her would happen in the first place. Not that i'm scared, not that i'm fearing for my life. I'm simply out of ideas, out of plans without a sort of destination.

We walked down the hallway, each step I felt my heart race faster until we reached the basement. One of my men opened the door, and that's when I saw her.

She was tied up on the wall, no bruises, no blood, untouched. It felt like I was dreaming, waiting for something to snap me out of it. It was something between a dream and a nightmare, something between the dark and light, something particular between good and bad. Emilion and Dante were standing close to her, taking note of every inch of her, waiting for the smallest movement but there was nothing. It was hard to even notice her breathing.

Unspeakable feelings rushing down my blood. Maybe this is just another overly realistic looking dream. Emilion's voice filled the silence of the room "maybe she's dead" we all stayed quiet at his sentence, unable to confirm that she might be. However, her slight head movement that followed Emilion's words was enough for an answer. As if those words awakened her. She lifted her head up looking straight at Emilion who was smirking, amused by the anger he caused in her eyes. And that's when she looked at me. My world stopped, I wasn't able to utter a word. Her eyes are emotionless, so raw. Just like a fucker described her years back. My mind and soul couldn't believe that after all this time, she was finally here.

Her light Hazel eyes darken at my sight but it wasn't fear nor pain, it was something I couldn't figure out. She was many things yet I still couldn't figure out an emotion, something I have been trained for my whole life. Then she whispered, in a tone we could all hear "Let me go or guardalo bruciare"[translate: watch it burn]. My mind was all over the place, the seriousness in her tone spoke a thousand words in one sentence. This woman lived under the shadows, but visible enough to send shivers down anyone's spine by the mention of her name.

Marcus from the back of the room started laughing while Dante was looking at me with a straight face, waiting for my decision. And that's when it all made sense "Lasciala andare"[translate: let her go]. They all turned their attention to me in shocked as confusion filled their faces. I can't blame them but I had to take care of each step unless I wanted everything to get torn down. Two men walked forwards, in hope to untie her. Two steps towards her and she was already on her feet. They looked at each other in shock then back at me, surprised about whatever just happened and how the living hell it happened.

During their shock session, she walked out of the place, without a single glance or word. She walked past Emilion and Dante then me, lastly Marcus and the men outside. We watched her walk out of the house as If she owned it, as if she's itsqueen.

I left the room shortly after she did, heading back to my office. I walked into my office followed by Dante and Emilion, they wanted answers. Why did I let her go. When we reached my office, Emilion took a seat while Dante stood close to my desk. The room was filled with silence. The two of them kept looking back at each other as I noticed the question in their eyes and the hesitation whether they should ask or not. I decided to ignore it and get back to work. Not because I enjoy ignoring people I surround myself with, I simply don't have an answer to my own questions, let alone other questions. I'm sure there's a good reason my mind thought of letting her go, I'm sure there's a reason behind it.

Looking at all the paperworks in front of me, waiting to get signed, a knock on the door interrupted. Jon came in "One of our safe houses got blown up Mr Santoro" The news he gave us sure left pure shock. Questions, and a heavy amount of anger rushing through my veins. I saw Emilion's head shot up from the ground, and we all had the same question. I gathered all the strength in my body, allowing it to calm the amount of rage left in my body. "Who was in the house" He answered with a low tone "Aldo, Dom, Felice, Gigi, Fredo, Luca- . I cut him off by raising one hand, he nodded and left the room. Dante kept his eyes on me. It felt like I knew the answer, it felt like I had my mind wrapped around it but it's blurry. I thought hard, we sure have enemies but none of them can get close enough to do that. Thinking of who is capable of overpowering anyone. We locked eyes for a minute before it shot up in my head.

"Venom"

Emilion looked at us confused, lost and unable to figure it out. Dante noticed his hesitation before explaining "Dom, Fredo and Luca were the men who got her here" First the heart stops, then it races. First comes the shock of not understanding what's happening, then comes the shock of realizing precisely what's going on. The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.

As I pulled my shit together, I followed his words, "she blew up the house they were in." I said looking back at the papers. It was getting to my head yet it didn't bother me as much as it should. Something was telling me to get back to work and let it go. I've always trusted my gut feeling, although I'm having slight doubts, I will not let it down this time. Risky, I know. With the woman we're dealing with, these decisions are risky yet it's worth the risk to take. It's a risk I would take over and over, until it's finally tapped down and solved.

Emilion's face tensed, anger filling his body making him stand up "You're just going to let her kill your men'' His voice's starting to raise. Dante got closer to him as he placed a hand on his shoulder to take notice what's he's doing and who he was walking to. Signaling him to calm the fuck down and lower his tone before he's shoved in a grave.

Emilion lowered his head, apologizing while sitting down. I didn't care if my men were dead, I just needed to figure her out, know where she came from and all secrets she could possibly be hiding. It's been four years and no one was able to get close to her, figure out the smallest information nor detail. The closer you get, the closer death follows you. I'm always one to find a solution no matter what circumstances but this, this one is something I couldn't wrap my mind around.

Never seen with anyone, actually never seen at all. Only heard of 'No one saw her' touched her. People don't know what she looks like even the best assassins along with spies in the world. If my men can't get something out of her, I will. She held power, something everyone craved for. That wasn't my issue, I held the power many wished for. Being the youngest and most powerful mafia leader isn't a piece of cake. People want to ruin you, make you go through living hell. They just don't know what quite of leader they're trying to fuck with.

There was a knock on my door, getting me out of my thoughts. My father walked in, I already knew that he was here for "come hai potuto lasciare che questo accadesse" [translate: how could you let this happen]. I lifted my head up slowly, giving him a 'I don't give a singular fuck look' then went back to my papers.

He kept walking closer, making Dante raise a hand in front of him to keep his distance. He let out a laugh, filling the tension travelling through the four walls "you're protecting him from his own father" he said with a chuckle while pointing his index finger at me. I placed both of my hands on the desk, standing up from my seat as I got closer to him "He's not protecting me from you, he is protecting you from me"

He looked at me intensely, I can see it in his eyes telling me what he's been repeating for the past two years "uccidi questa ragazza o avrò l'onore di ucciderla io stesso" [translate: kill this girl or I will have the honor of killing her myself]. He took a step backwards, giving me a last look and left. Emilion focused his gaze on me "So what now?"I turned my head back to him, letting a smirk form on my face then I looked over at Dante "We go in" Dante followed right after my words "You know you can't"—"Dante is right Alessandro, anyone who stepped at least ten feet away from her would be already dead"

I looked at both my right and left hand, my best friends. Dante has always been a serious kind of guy, the one that help you with anything. A call and he's standing by your side. I knew Dante from the very first start, his father was in the mafia. He passed away five years ago, leaving behind nothing but a deep scar, a heartbreak for us all. His father has been his number one supporter after his mother ran away when he was at a young age. He gave in all he could to make his son happy and fill his mother's place, yet there was never a reason for her abandonment. He always remembered to mention how much love the two of them held for each other, and for their loving children. Mrs Leone was the happiest to finally have a son of her own, she can rely on and grow to be a man of his words, a savior.

Emilion on the other hand, it all was left hidden as it has been unknown since his birth. No records, no birth certificate. I remember a few years ago, I met him on the streets. He was selling drugs to some men I was receiving a shipment from. A man simply pointed a gun at his head, making his teammate laugh at the pathetic little boy. With that, in a rattling moment he took the gun out of the guy's hand and grabbed the other one and threw him down the street. More men came, shooting along with throwing punches at the young man yet he still managed to stand still. My gaze some how found itself locked with Dante's after what had just went down. He was impressed himself that night which pushed my thoughts further, he's a good use. I gave him different jobs to test his skills. I would send him to kill people, get some paper sometimes he even helped with hacking some of our enemies's security systems. The guy was full of talent. Three years later, he was one of my best men, my left hand.

Dante always came first since I knew him longer but I knew Emilion was something and someone I can rely on. He's like our young idiot brother. He might be the youngest however he got better fighting skills then Dante and he is definitely the man whore out of the three of us.

Emilion started wiggling his eyebrows at me, knowing damn well I will say no "Oh come on, just give it a try. Don't kill the fun sandri" he looked at me with puppy eyes "First of all don't call me sandri or I will chase you down the street with both your butt cheeks hanging out. Second thing, seducing her isn't really a professional way to get to someone"—"You want her dead anyway so does it matter" And that's what caused me great silence. Everyone wanted her dead, either they killed her or somebody else. I didn't have my reason, I didn't know anything about this woman. All we knew many people feared her, that name held such power to shake you as you're standing.

I wasn't the one who feared anyone or anything. People wanted her dead to stop the nightmares, feeling unsafe, unprotected. Why did I want her dead? Dante noticed my silence while Emilion kept looking back and forth "He won't" I looked at him, searching for a judgment. He made it easier by saying it out loud "I don't blame you, you have no idea who she is. Other people got a reason to kill her, make her feel pain and fear they lived in for years, but you"

He didn't have to finish, the three of us knew I don't kill people without a purpose "But she killed our men and blew up one of the houses" Dante reached back at me "That's not enough for him"

The two of them left my office. It was around six o'clock when I got up and left the room and went to my bedroom. It wasn't far away from my office, I like my stuff near and close. I reached the long dark wooden door, I grabbed the knob and twisted it open. It was dark, the sound of the door closing behind me filled the silence. It didn't bother me, most people had the need to have a noise or light where they stood but it didn't matter to me. I took my suit jacket off, throwing it on the bed and placed my shoes where they were. Everything was starting to get blurry, expect for the bathroom. I took the rest of my clothes off and got in the shower.

Thoughts travelled through the four walls where I stood, one of the main thoughts was Venom. Took me four years to get a glance at her face, able to know what she looked like, to look into her eyes yet still not able to figure an inch about her. She was smart, really smart. She hides her identity and past pretty damn well that it amazes me yet makes my blood boil off how well she's playing her game that I can't figure it out. I needed to find something, somehow to get to her.

The decision of letting her go wasn't caused by fear nor surrender, it's the realization of what's right and what's wrong. What's the proper way to ask for someone. I saw it in her eyes, she wasn't scared as if she knew all of this was going to happen and prepared every step for what's coming next.

It felt different, having a prisoner that wasn't scared of me, not shaking to death begging for forgiveness, guess she wasn't a prisoner.

I sighed and stepped out of the shower. My head was filled with thoughts, stressing on how I could possibly reach her. I have been trying to take a step forward but end up stuck where I was. Never have I ever felt like this, the amount of pressure and confusion on how to catch someone. This woman got at least seven whole mafias after her, yet she still managed to kill each one who got close to her. She's the only one who stands still after a fight against thousands of men. Not forgetting to mention, she works alone.

I wrapped a towel around my lower waist and walked out of the bathroom. I went to my closet and picked out a gray suit. I heard my mother earlier mention something about having company over dinner. My parents don't live here, they're spending a couple days here mostly because my father wanted to discuss some business about the mafia as he's waiting any news about Venom.

I left my room, walking down the stairs to where my family was. There was a long large table, filled with food and every kind of animal. I sat down at my usual seat, on my left was my mother's seat and on my right was my father's. That's when I heard the last voice I needed to hear this evening. It was my cousin Angela, her mother always dreamed of us getting married and for her daughter to become the queen of the Italian mafia. They will be carrying my casket before I marry this psychopath.

She ran towards me, opening her arms wildly as if I would stand from my comfortable position and hug her. I didn't even look at her, like hell I need my eyes for the rest of the day. She would always wear these crazy neon colors that make you go blind. Not forgetting the amount of makeup she puts, I got no issue with makeup as long as it helps any person feel happy with the way they look but when she put it she looks like as Emilion would say 'a wicked witch'. And he's not wrong, I even felt bad for witches.

Then her father walked in. I watched him from the corner of my eyes staring at me intensely, making his way to where I sat. I stood up, taking his hand in for a shake. Dante and Emilion walked in, arguing about something which probably is who got better hair.

Seconds later Kira walked in. Kira De Rose, one of my favorite women in the house. She is such a strong woman. She's been through a lot of shit from a very young age. I always warm up when I remember the first time she came in, begging for help to save her friend's younger sister and how thankful she was for our help. At first I thought she was a spy, one of my enemies set up trying to get any information but when I found her and Emilion getting closer, I knew she was family. She took a seat beside Emilion, We all knew there was something between these two yet they couldn't see it.

Love was never my intention, I didn't care nor bother to have someone by my side. I wasn't raised to rely on anyone and grew up completely fine with it. I've had sex before but it wasn't as satisfying as most people would say. It didn't matter, I got important things to do then fucking some women. Unlike Emilion, it was important to him. He would always love to remind us "My health comes first" while me and Dante laugh at his dumbass.

I got out of dinner alive. Thank the lord, Angela kept trying to reach her way to me. She even tried to take my mother's seat while she would get up and grab a plate or something from the kitchen.

After dinner, I walked down the hallway, resting both of my hands in my pockets, heading straight to my office when I noticed Dante following me. I opened the door, holding it for Dante to walk in after me. He gently closed the door behind him. I sat down and looked up at him, he was standing still. "Sit down Dante'' He took a seat in front of my desk. I knew why he was here, he wanted to know more, he wanted to know all of it. "Ask your questions quickly and leave. I got better things to do" He nodded with a soft smile, he always loved how I got straight to the point and knew what's on his mind.

"When was the first time you saw her"

Dante's words took me back four years ago, remembering each detail of the first night I saw her. We were at one of my clubs. I owned many clubs around the city, I would have small meetings there and sometimes receive shipments. I was sitting around a table full of men and strippers. Feeling the smell of alcohol travel through my lung then down my throat. My headshot to the side at the sound of a poor woman screaming and crying for help. I stood up and rushed to the door, with the intention of helping her. She's most definitely in danger or getting harassed by creepy men. I'd enjoy cutting their dicks off.

I kept following the loud screams, and that's when I saw her. There was a guy touching her, aggressively holding her to stop from moving and screaming.

I was about to go in and beat the shit out of him, but she pulled a knife out of nowhere and stabbed him in the neck.

Blood ran down the floor, leaving me in shock, trying to process what just happened. The woman stood above him, staring down. I turned my head up to get a look at the woman and she was already gone. A shadow flew past and it was only me and him.

Confusion took over my mind, blocking all the pores and staying there. Was that another woman, did the actual woman that was asking for help get taken away. But there's no sign of anyone. My mind was about to explode, she was screaming, begging for help then she got herself out of it as if it wasn't her first time. I went back to the club, sitting down as if I did not just experience pure confusion.

A year later, I had a meet up, receiving a shipment near the beach. Everything was going great until I got back to one of my cars. My men informed me of finding a bomb in the trunk. They all jumped out, everyone was safe. I stormed out of my car, loading my gun, ready to catch these motherfuckers who tired to fuck with my men.

I walked towards their cars slowly, taking care of each step. When I reached their cars, I reached my head into through the driver's window, recognizing all the faces I've met a couple of minutes ago, but this time, they were dead.

It didn't split right through my mind, how could they possibly be dead. Seconds later, I saw someone jumping off buildings.

It was for less then a second, almost hard to notice but I saw it. I kept my gaze on the last building before snapping out of it by a call from one of my men. I reached my way back to the car, letting my mind wander. Whoever that was, they meant to show me they did it. I always had this gut feeling that it was her. She was the only person who disappeared into the dark without any notice.

Two years later, I was in my great grandparents' home town in Mexico. Both of my parents were born and raised in Italy, my grandparents were both Italians as well, leaving my great grandmother Mexican which explains why both Italian and Mexican mafia on good terms. They would always have these big gatherings which they liked to call a huge party. Family and friends visit, they eat, play games, they even fight about sports. I enjoyed going there from time to time, my great grandparents are the best. They both found their own special way to cheer me up no matter what, even when my father would yell at me.

My great grandmother wasn't as old as it seem, she always has been the sweetest to me and would give me candy when I wasn't allowed to have any.

They would advice my father numerous times to go easy on me but he never listened. I appreciate and respect the two of them for that.

I found myself on the second floor of the house. I was walking around the place alone while everyone was downstairs talking and eating. I liked silence where the only voice that would bother me is my own.

It was a starry and peaceful night. Just me and my thoughts. Just me and every side of myself; bad, good and many others I cannot put to words. I've learnt how to love each part of it, how to accept each part of it. Nothing really is normal, nothing really is considered normal. Normal things do not exist, it's only the standards that people set. Everyone in their own perception is normal, in their own worlds. Just like the word perfect. It doesn't exist, no it doesn't. Everyone is perfect in their own world. As long as shit doesn't bother you to the point where you change it, then it didn't really bother you, it was just you going against yourself, not the problem against you. I taught myself to accept it no matter what, cause at the end of the day, it's just me and myself. Nobody swim across the ocean for you, nobody let their own boat sink just so yours can rise. That's bullshit, anyone who says that is simply lying.

I was strolling through the hallway when I heard footsteps. I could feel someone following me. I kept walking trying to figure if they would change directions but they didn't. Which surely gave me a sign I was being followed. I lifted my hand, tightened the gun in my left holster, ready to grab it, turn around and shoot. As I was turning, I saw blood.

When I was fully turned, facing the opposite side. My eyes followed where the blood came from, and there he was. A guy on the floor bleeding from his neck. Someone stabbed him. I looked around, searching for the person who did this, trying to find any sources of human beings to set an answer for what went down. No one was there.

I had many questions running through my mind. Someone saved me. Was it a warning. Who was it. There were no answers. I took a few steps closer to the body laying on the floor. He was alive.

I took him back to Italy, I called Dante to meet me down in the basement. We got him tied up, waiting for sleeping beauty to wake up.

About two to three days later he finally woke up. Marcus informed me about it and I went straight to meet this guy. The second I walked in, his body tensed, fear flying through his eyes, making their color almost invisible.

I got closer to him, trying to figure out where he came from. "I don't know anything, she tried to kill me. I don't know what happened after I swear" he said with a shaky voice. I let my eyes off the blond haired guy, looking up at Dante. We were both confused. "Who is she". The guy looked at us as if we were joking, not sure if we were asking a serious question. "Venom"

The name didn't ring a bell, neither did sound familiar to Dante. "Who is Venom"

The man was drowning slowly into confusion, searching for another answer, wondering how we didn't know. "Look man I don't know if that's your way of killing me, but all I know is that her name is Venom Antonio. She's the most heartless, fearless person you could meet. A woman nobody can get close to without facing death. She's ruthless, has zero empathy and doesn't fear anything or anyone." The man shivered at his own mention of her.

"I didn't see her coming, all I remember was her last words before she disappeared, she told me to tell you". The man kept trying to remember, putting words together. He said with a horrible accent "Uccidilo Alessandro"[translate: kill him Alessandro] My gaze shot up at Dante, he's lost just as much as I was, questions running through our minds yet still left unanswered. I grabbed my gun and shot the guy as I was told from that person, that woman. A part of me was thinking it was just a made-up-story to cover up whatever mission he was onto. Yet another part of me believed every single word and encouraged me to look forward into the subject. I left the basement, going back straight to my office. I needed to know who the fuck is Venom Antonio.

My men spent weeks trying to find a picture, a video, finger print, anything but nothing was found as if she was non-existent. Months passed and I gave up, maybe the guy was having illusions. But surely, someone was there.

Almost a year ago, there was a meeting. All seven most powerful mafias have a meeting which only leaders attend. They usually talk about the ball. It's like any classic ball. Happens every year, you go on a date, no fighting, no killing. You act friendly to your enemies for a couple hours then it's over. This year, the italian mafia was hosting it. I didn't give much thought into it. I usually leave these things to Dante and Emilion. The meeting was over. I heard a middle aged woman's voice call my name "Mr Santoro ''. I turned around, meeting the one and only Amelia Gashi, Albanian mafia leader. She was standing in front of me, Confident, holding her hand up for me to shake it. I took it, shaking it gently. She was a kind hearted woman. "Zonja Gashi" [translate: Mrs Gashi]. "Oh dear, call me Amelia" she said with a soft smile on her face. I knew some Albanian. My mother alway made sure I knew a bit of each language which helped me as you can see.

"How's everything, I haven't seen you in a long time" We talked for a good ten minutes. Everyone had left the room, leaving us two for the little chit chatting until her driver arrived and she had to leave. I watched her turn her body, heading to the car when it hit me, a thought passed right through my head. The urge to ask one particular question.

"Mrs Gashi" she turned around, looking at me, waiting for my next words. "Have you ever come across the name Venom Antonio". She raised her eyebrows in shock for a second before switching them back to normal.

She simply nodded her head, but didn't let the surprise that shined across her eyes go unnoticed. She walked away after greeting me for the second time.

I was in my office, my thoughts not leaving me alone for a second. Amelia's words pushed me further to keep trying more. It was impossible, it was frustrating, the way I would think i'm near getting to her and then all the ties cutting down were mind-blowing. It's like you have something in front of you and it fades into the darkness, it's like one of those nightmares where you're in danger and suddenly everything stops, all the hopes you had cutting down. It's a funny feeling, the way when your plan lets you down.

Some people lose motivation while some people take that motivation to push harder and think harder. It's only a matter whether you're pessimistic or optimistic. I personally don't label myself as any of those, I have signs of both. I know when it's best to be pessimistic and when it's best to be optimistic. I know myself too damn well to mess these up.

I was overwhelmed, confused and angry. If she was real, how could no one be able to reach her. My men never failed to catch someone or get any information I needed. She managed to hide from the best hackers, spies in the world. I got pulled out of my thoughts by a knock on the door, Dante walked in "I got something". I felt my gaze get relaxed, relieved, finally we found something. I gave him a quick sign to take a seat in front of my desk. "She owns a couple of houses around Italy, we were able to locate some of them however no one was able to get out alive". I kept my eyes on him, studying his face for a few seconds, searching for something to tell me he was joking. We held tense eye contact until I gave up, he wasn't. "She has this weird complicated system that no one could figure out, anyone who gets in, steps a toe inside one of her houses gets killed. All that remains are some dead bodies covered in blood and bullets, sometimes nothing".

I felt irritated, pissed, feeling anger travelling through my mind as it tensed out of rage. I need to figure this woman out, she has been playing her little game, killing my men and others. I had it with her, it was enough to sit down and watch her take out these lives, it's enough. It was time to introduce myself.

It looked like there was a long ass journey waiting for us to walk across. I've always been a man of journeys, enjoyed new things, found peace in everything I did. Even killing people, watching the light of life slowly fade from their eyes was astonishing. How can I hate myself for it, I never will, it's who I am. It's who I was meant to be, despite how wrong you might think it is, in my eyes, nothing I do makes me want to bring myself down or beat myself up for it. That's what happens when you find self love, that's what happens when you stop letting things get to you, stop letting bullshit slip into  your head and make you change. I find it ridiculous how some people let words get to them, they're not even meaningful. You think i'm a 'monster', that's not what you think, that's what you choose to use against me.

I ordered Dante to lead me to one of her recent houses she was spotted at. No one saw her in any of them. No camera spotted her getting in or out of any house she owned. My men managed to find the papers for selling the houses. Each paper had a different signature, different name, different owner. None of the houses was owned by the name Venom Antonio. Which made it more complicated.

I was in my office with Dante and Emilion. My mind was going to explode, I had it with all of this. A whole team is trying to catch her, figure the smallest detail, it's been months yet we're left with nothing. My grip tightened around the pen I was holding. The thought of someone being that good at hiding, fighting, killing till the point I can't reach them made my blood boil.

Until one day, one of my men catched something suspicious. There was a woman, in her twenties, she was getting out of a gun shop, dressed all black along with a black mask, her hair was covered with her hoodie. I gave an order to send men out where this woman was located. I watched through the security cameras, cars getting out of the garage filled with men. Took them about seven minutes to be there, the shop wasn't far from the house. I saw my men getting closer to her, walking slowly, taking care of each step.

THEY CAUGHT HER

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