Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
A PEACE OFFERING
“Zayn”
The rain hammered against the windows, a distant thunder rolling in, but it wasn’t the storm outside that held my focus—it was the one simmering inside me. I sat at the long mahogany table, my most trusted advisor seated nearby. My fist met the table as I spoke in a voice laced with cold authority.
“They think they can interfere with our operations?” The words sliced through the room, carrying the weight of my calculated fury. “They’ve crossed a line.”
My anger barely contained; I felt my father’s gaze from across the table. “Control yourself, Zayn,” he said, his tone firm yet intimate, reminding me of the patience he drilled into me since I could walk. “You need strategy if you’re going to carve your place at the top.”
I tried to calm down on the surge of anger building within me, but then I saw my brother Luca’s face, rolling his eyes like the reckless child he’s always been. His sneer was unmistakable.
“They’ve crossed a line? Really?” he taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Maybe if you weren’t so busy polishing your precious reputation, they wouldn’t think we were weak.”
The words came low, deliberate, slicing through the silence. I turned my gaze to him, a sharp warning in my eyes. Luca lives to press my buttons, to test the limits of my patience.
“Enough, Luca, Watch your fucking tone with me.” I said, my voice steady, controlled.
Daniel, my strategist, adjusted his glasses, the chandelier’s dim light glinting off the lenses as he leaned forward. “We need precision—a calculated response.”
“Always with the precision,” Luca muttered under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear.
I shot him an icy glare, my patience wearing thin. “Luca,” I said, my voice cold and clipped, “if you’re not here to offer anything of value, then maybe keep your mouth shut and get the fuck out.”
Luca leaned in, a slow grin creeping across his face. “Oh, I’m offering plenty, brother. Just a reminder that sometimes you don’t need to overthink. You hit fast and hard—no second chances.”
I shot him a look of pure disgust. If he knew anything about control, I opened my mouth to cut Luca down, but then the doors burst open with a deafening slam, all eyes turned as Nicolas Montoya strode in.
That damn snake from *The Serpents Outfit* strode in as if he owned the place.
The second Nicolas walked in, the room went dead silent, every muscle in the room tense. He looked like he’d crawled out of a storm, drenched to the bone, a smug grin stretched across his face.
“Zayn Linton,” he sneered, casting his eyes over us with that venomous grin. He even gave an exaggerated bow, not a shred of respect in his bones. “Your Highness,” he mocked, his voice oozing sarcasm.
And then his gaze landed on Luca, that smug look deepening. “Ah, and hello to the minions,” he added with a chuckle, like we were just pawns in some sick game only he found amusing.
I could feel my patience fraying, a ticking bomb ready to blow. That damn vein pulsed on my forehead, my anger simmering just beneath the surface Just the sight of The Serpents stirred a venomous rage within me—I hated them to the core, especially their leader, that bastard Luciano Python. The man was filth, his entire outfit was rot. Traitors, all of them. And no one despised them more than I did.
“What the fuck you’re doing here?” My voice was icy, a deadly calm that could make even the hardest men rethink their choices. “Did you forget the rules, or do you think you’re above them now? You can’t come here without an invitation,” I snarled.
The room seemed to freeze. I caught the slight flicker in Nicolas’s grin—a momentary falter before his smug facade returned.
Then, with a subtle flick of his hand, his Serpent lackeys dragged in a girl, shoving her forward without a second thought. Petite, barely 5′3", she stumbled, her face hidden by a ragged bag, her frame fragile and helpless.
Nicolas grabbed her wrist, yanking her toward him like she belonged to him, his smile unyielding, dark, and psychotic. “Oh, Zayn,” he sneered, voice thick with mockery, “always hiding behind your precious rules. I came here to remind you of something important that power doesn’t bow to laws.”
My fists clenched, my control slipping inch by inch, but I stayed still. Not yet.
Luca shot up from his chair so fast it scraped against the floor.
“ENOUGH WITH YOUR FUCKING GAMES, NICOLAS!” he shouted. His gaze was fixed on Nicolas, pure hatred simmering in his eyes. “Cut the crap and spit out your damn reason for being here, or I swear, you’ll regret it.”
Nicolas let out a slow, mocking laugh, his grin only widening as he looked at Luca. “Luca, Luca... my *dear* Luca,” he drawled, dragging out the words like he was savouring each syllable.
“I know you’re... “unhappy” with my past behaviour.” He paused, doing a ridiculous air quote as if this was all some kind of joke. “But today... today, I intend to change all that.”
He stepped forward and with a quick shove, he pushed the girl forward. She stumbled, fragile and frail, falling right in front of us. “Luciano Python has sent this,” he said, his smile widening, “As a peace offering.”
“So, let’s forget about the past” he went on, voice dripping with fake sincerity. “Unite our outfits... for the better.”
The anger was a fire in my chest, burning hotter with every word he spoke. I narrowed my eyes at Nicolas, barely holding myself back, my hands itching to wipe that grin off his face. But he just stood there, looking pleased, like he thought himself untouchable, like we’d take this pathetic offering as some kind of truce.
My father, silent until now, finally spoke, his voice slicing through the room like a blade. “There is nothing in this world,” he said, his tone as cold and unyielding as steel, “That you or your pitiful outfit could offer to make us align with you. Go back and tell Lucian that we want nothing from him.” His voice dropped, final and absolute. “Just stay the fuck out of our way.”
My father’s words hung in the room like a sentence carved in stone, unbreakable and final. I exchanged a glance with Luca, and for once, even our anger simmered beneath our father’s command, momentarily leashed by the force of his authority.
But Nicolas... that smug bastard didn’t flinch. For a second, though, I thought I saw his expression slip, his mask falter. But just as quickly, he recovered, the twisted grin curling back onto his face. His eyes shifted to the trembling girl at his side, the one he’d dragged into this hell. Nicolas took a step forward, never breaking eye contact with my father.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet,” he sneered, voice laced with mock respect. “Let’s unwrap the present before we make any decisions.”
With a rough jerk, he yanked the rag off her face, letting it fall to the floor like it was worth less than nothing. The room held its breath as her face was revealed, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
She was a stranger, someone completely out of place in our world. Her chestnut hair fell in wild tangles around her face, and her skin held this faint glow under the harsh lights—a warmth that didn’t belong in the cold brutality of our lives. Big, terrified brown eyes locked onto me, wide with fear, confusion, and something that felt almost like a plea. A strip of tape held her silent, her expression a mirror of innocence and raw vulnerability.
Damn, I’d never seen a girl so fucking innocent in my life. It was like she had stumbled into our world by mistake, an unblemished pawn in a game of ruthless power. Her innocence was so raw, so striking, it was almost a taunt—a reminder of the humanity we’d long since buried.
The entire council, usually so composed, sat in stunned silence, their eyes locked on the girl. It was Vinny, my most trusted right-hand man, who finally broke the stillness. His voice, usually calm, trembled with something between awe and terror.
“How... how did you get her?” he stammered, his eyes wide with horror.
Cortex, the oldest and sharpest member of the council, stood up slowly, his voice laced with a grave warning. “You’ve made a grave mistake, Nicolas. Vortex will wipe your entire bloodline from existence for this”
That name—Vortex. It hit me like a freight train. My confusion deepened as I tried to piece together what the hell was going on. Vortex... our most vicious enemy, run by no other than that bastard Marco.
I could feel Luca’s anger radiating from across the room, like a pulse I could almost reach out and touch. His fists clenched the moment Vortex was mentioned, and I knew exactly why. For Luca, this wasn’t just business. It was personal—a vendetta carved deep into his bones, a wound that never fully healed.
And now this girl, somehow tied to it all.
My patience was hanging by a thread, my frustration building as Vinny hesitated. I shot him a sharp look, voice cutting through the tension in the room. “Who is she?”
Luca’s eyes narrowed, fixed on Vinny with an intensity that demanded answers. Vinny’s usual confidence wavered, his gaze shifting as if he wished he were anywhere but here. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely more than a whisper.
“She’s… Selena Valdano. Daughter of Dante Valdano and younger sister of Marco Valdano, The leader of Vortex.”
Father finally spoke, his commanding voice slicing through the thick tension in the room. “Nicolas, that is against our laws. You know damn well we don’t touch the women of the family.”
Luca’s rage erupted, raw and unfiltered. “To hell with the goddamn rules, Father!” he spat, his voice trembling with fury. “Her brother didn’t give a fuck about rules when he killed my Isabella!”
I stepped in, my voice steady and cold, slicing through his outburst. “Watch your tone with Father. Compose yourself. Now isn’t the time for your childish outbursts.”
He whipped his head toward me, eyes blazing, the fury in them almost tangible.
“YOU STAY THE FUCK OUT OF THIS, ZAYN!” Luca roared, his voice shaking the walls. “YOU AND FATHER HAVE HELD ME BACK LONG ENOUGH. NOW, I’LL HANDLE THIS MY WAY.”
His rage was like a storm, wild and uncontrollable. He locked eyes with the trembling girl in the corner. He stepped toward her; intentions clear.
Nicolas, ever the snake, slid into Luca’s path with that smug grin that made my fists itch. “Easy there, tiger,” he sneered. “Not so fast.”
I saw the snap before it happened. Luca grabbed Nicolas by the collar, ready to destroy him. The air was thick with violence about to erupt.
Then, Father’s voice thundered through the room, commanding and absolute. “STOP THIS INSTANT, LUCA!”
The room froze. Even Luca hesitated, his rage momentarily tempered by the force of Antonio’s authority.
I stood, arms crossed, staring at the girl with icy detachment, while Luca lost himself in yet another outburst. The council was in stunned silence, and yet, I felt nothing. No fear, no worry—just a cold, familiar anger rising beneath my calm exterior. I never liked these interruptions, these pointless dramatics. Luca was always too emotional, too impulsive, like a child throwing tantrums. And Nicolas... his audacity only fuelled my desire to snap his neck. But not yet. There were rules, and unlike Luca, I respected them. My father had taught me better.
As I turned to Luca, watching him seethe, I couldn’t help but feel the familiar disgust. He was all fire, but no control. And control was everything.
“Enough of this disrespect” I snapped, my voice colder.
As Luca and I locked eyes, the air crackled with the intensity of our mutual disdain.
His voice was a growl, “Stay the fuck out of this.” His fists were clenched, his entire body trembling with barely contained fury.
“Or what?” I countered, my voice icy and unyielding.
Before Luca could respond, Nicolas’s voice cut through the tension, loud and taunting. “That’s exactly what I was talking about,” he sneered, a grotesque smile stretching across his face. “I know why there’s hate between you two. Because he didn’t take your revenge, right? Now’s the time to make it right, Zayn. Kill this girl in front of Luca and take your revenge right here, right now.”
His words were designed to provoke, to exploit the rift between Luca and me. It was a transparent ploy, one that I wasn’t foolish enough to fall for.
I turned my gaze towards Nicolas, letting my anger simmer just beneath the surface. “Shut your fucking mouth, Nicolas,” I said, my voice low and lethal, “or I’ll shut it for you.”
Nicolas’s smile faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
My eyes shifted back to the girl, her trembling form barely containing her terror.
There was something about her that gnawed at me, a raw edge that I couldn’t quite pinpoint. Maybe it was the sheer vulnerability in her eyes, the way her fear cut through the hardened facades of everyone here.
My father’s voice cut through the tumult of my thoughts; his tone unwavering. “We do not rush into decisions, Luca. And you know that well enough.” He then turned his steely gaze toward Nicolas, his resolve clear. “We’ll keep custody of this girl. I assure you; we will honour the alliance your outfit seeks from us.”
I caught off guard by my father’s choice, and I could see that Luca was equally stunned. I had anticipated him sending the girl away; keeping her here, against her will, was a blatant violation of our rules. My father was a stickler for protocol, and I shared his disdain for bending the rules. The notion of having enemy blood sullied our territory was repugnant. Our code was sacred, and allowing this girl to remain here felt like a violation we couldn’t afford.
While I might not have been entirely content with the decision, I understood the gravity of defying my father’s authority and chose to remain silent.Luca, however, was a different story. He was consumed with rage, his anger. His eyes, filled with a murderous intensity, were locked onto girl.
Nicolas, revelling in the chaos he’d incited, grinned with malevolent satisfaction. “Well, that’s all I came here for,” he declared, his tone dripping with menace. He grabbed the girl roughly and shoved her to the floor. She collapsed to her knees; her fear palpable as she trembled.
He then turned his gaze to me, his voice laced with veiled threats. “Just remember your end of the bargain when the time comes.” His sinister smile lingered as he glanced at Luca. With a final, mocking wink, Nicolas and his gang exited, leaving behind a room charged with unspoken threats and simmering tension.
As Nicolas and his men departed, Luca, a storm of rage and vengeance, stormed toward the girl. But I moved swiftly, stepping in to block his path. Our father, Antonio, stepped forward, his authority palpable as he addressed Luca with a steely voice.
“Luca, you will not lay a finger on that girl,” Antonio declared. “She holds value far beyond being a mere pawn in your vendetta” His gaze then shifted to me. “Zayn, it falls to you to ensure her safety. I will not tolerate any harm coming to her until the right moment arrives.”
My eyes narrowed, the confusion deepening as I processed my father’s decision. *Her safety is my responsibility. * The absurdity of it gnawed at me. She’s a lamb dropped into a den of lions, and I’m expected to guard her? It’s impossible to guarantee her safety here. Even with all the power I wield, I can’t be her shadow every second of the day.
I don’t have time for this. Babysitting some enemy’s daughter isn’t part of my agenda. It’s a distraction—a dangerous one at that. One that could spiral into a war I don’t want to fight, a battle that could fracture the already fragile balance between me and my brother. But my father gave his word, and in this world, that means everything.
I nodded in respect, keeping my mouth shut. Questioning my father’s decision in front of everyone was a line I wasn’t about to cross. That conversation could wait. For now, I’d follow his orders. With a subtle gesture, I signalled to Lisa, my most trusted ally. She knew what I meant without a word, moving toward the girl. Gently, she pulled her to her feet and ripped the tape from her lips. The girl gasped, her breaths ragged, her eyes wide with terror as she took in her surroundings. She was scared, no doubt about that. Too scared to speak.
I studied her face, really seeing her for the first time. Damn, she was beautiful. More beautiful than anyone I’d ever laid eyes on, and that was saying something. To be honest, I’ve had my fair share of women—enough to last a lifetime—but none like her. There was something unsettling about the way her innocence stood out in this world of ours, like she didn’t belong here, like she was too pure for all of it. A fleeting thought crossed my mind, imagining her under me on my bed, completely in my control. It stirred something deep, something dangerous.
But I forced myself to look away, disgusted by my own weakness.
She’s the enemy. Marco’s sister. I don’t need that kind of complication. I have enough women to occupy my time, enough to satisfy any need I have. But her? She’s off-limits. She has to be. This is business, and I don’t mix business with personal desires. I turned to my father. Antonio’s gaze was unwavering, steady. His silence spoke volumes. He didn’t need to justify himself to me or anyone else. He trusted his decision, and in this world, that was all that mattered.
But that girl? Keeping her alive, keeping her out of Luca’s reach—that was an entirely different problem.
But orders were orders. For now, I’d do as I was told. I wasn’t here to play hero, and I sure as hell wasn’t about to get sentimental over her. I had no patience for emotional attachments, especially not for the enemy. This is a game of power, and I knew how to play it better than anyone.
