The Deal In The Shadows

I woke up with a start, my head pounding and my wrists aching from the tight ropes biting into my skin. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the cold stone walls. I had no idea where I was, but the last thing I remembered was my father's cold eyes as he handed me over to strangers. The betrayal stung more than the rough treatment from my captors.

“Where am I?” I whispered to the dark, but of course, it didn’t answer back. I tugged at the ropes, feeling anger burn through me like a hot flame. This couldn’t be real. My own father had sold me. My father, the head of the De Luca family—one of the most powerful men in the city. Why would he betray me like this?

The door creaked open, and I stiffened. Heavy footsteps approached, and then I saw him—Luca Romano. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a sharp gaze that seemed to pierce through me. He was my family’s enemy, the heir of the Romano family, and now, apparently, my captor.

“Well, well, the princess is awake,” Luca said, his voice low and mocking. He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway, watching me struggle against the ropes.

“Don’t call me that,” I spat, meeting his eyes with all the defiance I could muster. “Let me go. This won’t end well for you.”

He laughed, but there was no humor in it. “You think you’re still in a position to make threats? Newsflash, Amara, you’re a prisoner now. Your father made sure of that.”

I wanted to shout, to scream, but I knew showing weakness would give him the satisfaction he wanted. Instead, I held my head high. “Why? Why would he do this?”

Luca’s expression changed, but only for a second—a flicker of something I couldn’t read. He pushed himself off the doorway and walked closer, his boots thudding against the stone floor. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

“Your father didn’t sell you for power. He did it to save you.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I shook my head. “You’re lying. My father would never—”

“Believe what you want,” Luca interrupted, crouching down so we were at eye level. “But there’s more at play here than you realize. And if you’re smart, you’ll start listening instead of fighting.”

He reached out and cut the ropes around my wrists with a small knife. I rubbed my sore skin, watching him warily. “Why should I trust anything you say?”

“You shouldn’t,” he replied easily, standing up again. “But if you want to live, you don’t have much of a choice.”

The door opened again, and a woman stepped in. She was tall, with long dark hair and eyes that matched Luca’s—his sister, Isabella. She gave me a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Amara, welcome to the heart of enemy territory. We have a lot to discuss.”

I stood, my legs unsteady but my will unbroken. “I have nothing to say to you.”

Isabella’s smile widened slightly. “Oh, you will. Once you know what’s coming.”

“What’s coming?” I demanded, my voice trembling despite my efforts to stay calm.

She stepped closer, her face serious now. “A war. One that makes our families’ feud look like child’s play. And you, Amara, are right at the center of it.”

My heart pounded in my chest. “What does that mean?”

Luca and Isabella exchanged a glance. Then Luca spoke, his tone grave. “It means someone wants you dead, and if we don’t work together, they’ll succeed.”

I wanted to deny it, to laugh in their faces and call them liars, but deep down, I knew they weren’t lying. The weight of their words settled over me like a heavy blanket. My father hadn’t just betrayed me—he’d made a desperate move to save me. But from what?

“Why me?” I whispered, more to myself than to them.

Isabella tilted her head. “Because you have something they want. Something they’ll kill for.”

“What is it?”

“That’s what we need to find out,” Luca said, his eyes never leaving mine. “But first, we have to make sure you survive long enough to learn the truth.”

I clenched my fists, anger and fear swirling inside me. “I don’t trust either of you.”

Luca’s gaze hardened. “Good. Trust will get you killed.”

Before I could reply, a loud explosion rocked the building, sending dust and debris crashing down. Luca grabbed my arm, his grip firm but not painful. “Looks like they’ve found you already.”

“Who?” I shouted over the noise, my heart racing.

“The people your father tried to protect you from,” he said grimly. “Time to move.”

With no time to argue, I followed as he pulled me through dark corridors. The walls trembled, and distant shouts echoed around us. I didn’t know who the enemy was, but one thing was clear—I was in more danger than I’d ever imagined. And the only people who could help me were the ones I’d been taught to hate.

As we rounded a corner, we were met by armed guards, their weapons raised. Luca stepped in front of me, shielding me with his body. “Stay close,” he whispered.

I had no choice but to trust him—at least for now. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Whatever was coming, it was bigger and deadlier than anything I’d faced before. And I wasn’t ready.

The door at the end of the hallway burst open, revealing a figure I recognized immediately. “You?” I gasped, my voice trembling. It was someone I thought I’d never see again—someone who should have been dead.