Chapter 3 Whispers in the Dark

Adriana stood at the balcony of the De Luca estate, staring out at the city that now belonged to her. The lights of New York stretched infinitely, flickering like fireflies against the darkness. But beneath the surface, this city was a battlefield-one her father had once ruled without question.

Now, it was her war to fight.

The meeting with the capos had gone as expected. A few had pledged loyalty without hesitation, others had only done so because they feared the alternative. And some... some were just waiting for her to fail.

She wouldn't give them that satisfaction.

The sound of approaching footsteps drew her from her thoughts. Luca stepped onto the balcony, a cigarette dangling from his fingers. He took a slow drag, exhaling smoke into the cold night air.

"You should get some rest," he said.

Adriana smirked. "And let my enemies have the advantage? No thanks."

Luca leaned against the railing. "You impressed them tonight."

"Not enough." She sighed. "They still doubt me."

"They feared your father," Luca said. "They need to fear you too."

She turned to face him fully. "Then let's give them a reason to."

Luca studied her for a moment, then nodded. "I have a lead."

Adriana's breath caught. "On who pulled the trigger?"

"Not exactly," he admitted. "But it's close. I had one of my guys dig into your father's last movements. The night before he was killed, he met with a man named Marco Esposito."

She frowned. "Esposito? That name doesn't ring a bell."

"Because he wasn't part of our inner circle," Luca explained. "He was a middleman. Worked with different families, always played neutral. But the thing is-after that meeting, he disappeared."

Adriana's fingers curled into a fist. "Then we find him."

Luca smirked. "Already ahead of you. We tracked him to an underground club on the west side. The kind of place where people go to disappear."

Adriana nodded, her mind already working through the possibilities. If Marco knew something, he was either running for his life-or he was hiding something worse. Either way, she intended to get answers.

"We leave in an hour," she said. "I want to see his face when he realizes there's nowhere left to run."

The club was a pulsating den of sin, buried beneath the city like a secret only the wicked could find. Heavy bass rattled the floors, the scent of alcohol and sweat thick in the air. Neon lights flickered against dark walls, casting long, distorted shadows.

Adriana walked through the crowd like a storm waiting to break. She was dressed for war-black leather pants, a matching jacket, and a silk top that hugged her frame. She didn't need to announce her presence; people sensed the danger and instinctively moved out of her way.

Luca was beside her, flanked by two of their men, Nico and Bruno. Both were armed, their sharp eyes scanning the club for threats.

"We should be subtle," Luca murmured.

Adriana smirked. "Subtle is overrated."

They reached the back of the club, where a VIP section was roped off. A bouncer, built like a tank, stepped in front of them.

"Private section," he grunted.

Adriana tilted her head, feigning curiosity. "Oh? That's funny, because I don't see your name on it."

The bouncer didn't flinch. "No name needed. You're not getting in."

Luca sighed. "See, now you've gone and pissed her off."

Before the bouncer could react, Adriana stepped forward and drove her knee into his stomach. He grunted, staggering back, and before he could recover, she yanked the gun from his holster and pressed it under his chin.

"I don't like being told no," she whispered.

The bouncer swallowed hard, raising his hands.

"That's better," she said sweetly before nodding to Luca. "Let's go."

They pushed past the velvet rope, entering the private lounge. The moment they stepped inside, all eyes turned to them.

Marco Esposito sat at the far end of the room, a glass of whiskey in hand. His face drained of color the second he saw Adriana.

She smiled. "Marco, darling. We need to talk."

Marco bolted.

Adriana sighed. "Really?"

Luca was already moving. He tackled Marco before he could reach the exit, slamming him against the wall. The man groaned, struggling, but Luca had a hand around his throat in seconds.

"Bad idea," Luca growled.

Adriana took her time walking over, letting Marco feel the full weight of his mistake. She stopped inches away, watching him squirm.

"You know who I am?" she asked.

Marco nodded frantically.

"Good," she said. "Then you know why I'm here."

"I-I don't know anything," Marco stammered.

Adriana clicked her tongue. "Wrong answer."

She pulled a knife from her belt, the sharp edge catching the light. "You were the last person to meet with my father before he died. And then you vanished." She pressed the blade against his cheek. "Now, that makes me very suspicious."

Marco swallowed hard. "I-I didn't kill him!"

"But you know who did," she said.

Silence.

Adriana sighed. "Luca?"

Without hesitation, Luca tightened his grip on Marco's throat. The man choked, gasping for air, his face turning red.

"Okay!" he croaked. "Okay, I'll talk!"

Luca eased up slightly.

Marco coughed, sucking in a breath. "Your father... he was meeting with someone that night. Someone dangerous."

"Who?"

Marco hesitated.

Adriana smiled coldly. "You really want me to ask twice?"

Marco licked his lips. "Vito Salerno."

Her blood ran cold.

Vito. The man who had stood at her father's funeral, pretending to mourn. The man who had placed a hand on her shoulder and offered empty condolences.

"You're lying," she said, though deep down, she knew he wasn't.

Marco shook his head frantically. "I swear, I'm not! Your father-he found out something about Salerno. Something big. They argued. It got heated. I left before it got worse, but..." He trailed off, fear clouding his eyes.

"But?" she pressed.

Marco hesitated. "Your father wasn't supposed to die that night. It was supposed to be... you."

The room tilted slightly.

For the first time since this nightmare began, Adriana felt real shock.

She had assumed her father's death had been about power, about eliminating him to weaken the De Luca family. But this... this was something else entirely.

Vito hadn't just wanted her father dead. He had wanted her gone too.

Luca's grip on Marco tightened again. "You better pray you're telling the truth."

"I am!" Marco gasped. "Please... I told you everything I know!"

Adriana inhaled deeply, pushing aside the emotions swirling inside her.

"Let him go," she said.

Luca frowned but obeyed, releasing Marco. The man collapsed to the floor, coughing violently.

Adriana crouched down, meeting his gaze. "Run, Marco. Leave town, disappear. Because if I ever see you again..." She smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "I won't be feeling generous."

Marco nodded frantically before scrambling to his feet and fleeing the club.

Luca turned to her. "Vito."

Adriana nodded. "Vito."

Everything inside her burned with the need for vengeance.

She had been mourning the wrong victim.

This war had never been about her father.

It had always been about her.

And now?

Now, it was her turn to strike first.