BOUND BY BLOOD 🖤🥀

Part 1

Rain hammered against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Moretti estate, turning the city lights into blurred streaks of gold and crimson.

Silence ruled the mansion.

Every servant walked with careful steps. Every guard kept a hand close to his weapon. When the heir of the Moretti family was home, even the walls seemed to hold their breath.

Luca Moretti stood alone in his father's office, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. A crystal glass of untouched whiskey rested on the desk beside him as he watched the storm consume the skyline.

Three sharp knocks echoed through the room.

"The council has arrived," Enzo Romano said from the doorway.

Luca didn't turn around.

"And my father?"

"In the meeting hall."

Only then did Luca move.

The heavy doors opened to reveal a long table surrounded by the most powerful figures in the Moretti family. At the head sat Vittorio Moretti, the man whose name alone could end wars—or start them.

"The Kuroda Syndicate has agreed to tonight's truce meeting," Vittorio announced.

Murmurs spread through the room.

"They'll betray us," one captain muttered.

"They always do," another replied.

Luca remained silent.

His father looked directly at him.

"What do you think?"

Luca's voice was calm.

"If they wanted us dead, we'd already be dead."

The room fell quiet.

Vittorio gave a small nod.

"Exactly."

Before anyone could speak again, the conference room doors burst open.

A guard stumbled inside, blood running down the side of his face.

"Boss..."

Everyone was on their feet.

"We've been attacked."

The words hit the room like a gunshot.

"Three warehouses are burning."

"And?"

"The attackers left one message."

The guard swallowed hard before placing a black playing card on the table.

A silver wolf was engraved on one side.

The other side held four words.

The truce dies tonight.

For the first time that evening, Luca's expression changed.

Someone wanted a war.

And whoever they were... they weren't from either family.