Chapter 5

As they drove through the darkened streets, Eloise's mind raced with thoughts of what was to come. She had no idea what Vincent had planned for her, but she knew one thing for certain: she would not go down without a fight.

The car came to a stop in front of a grand estate, the gates opening silently as they approached. Her heart pounded in her chest as he helped her out of the car with a smile.

"This will be your new home, Princessa," he said, his voice smooth and confident. Her gaze darted around the room, looking for an escape route. She felt trapped.

"You can't keep me here," she said with a trace of fear in her voice. He turned to face her; his expression unreadable. "You're right, I won’t keep you here. I will wait till you make up your mind to stay," he affirmed.

She glared at him, her eyes a mixture of sadness and surprise. “What makes you think I would want to stay here with you?” She quizzed. Vincent allowed a smirk to escape the corner of his mouth.

~~

There was a palpable tension in the air as Gambino stood at the door of Adone's estate. This was more than just a reunion of old friends, it was a showdown between two of the most powerful mafia lords, with years of history and bitter resentment swirling around them.

He was led into Adone's study, where Adone sat with his fingers tapping rhythmically on the wood behind a huge oak desk. Age and cruelty had left a scar on his face that scarcely covered the simmering anger that was always there.

“Gambino,” Adone greeted, his voice low. “What brings you to my doorstep? Surely, it’s not just a social call.” Gambino took a seat across from him and maintained a calm demeanor. "Adone, we have had our disagreements, but I came here today to discuss something that could benefit us both."

Adone's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face. “Go on.” Gambino leaned forward slightly. “It’s about Vincent and my daughter, Eloise. You know she’s with him now. I want her back.”

Adone's expression shifted from curiosity to thinly veiled disgust at the mention of his nephew. “Vincent,” he spat the name like it was poison.

“That ungrateful, murderous bastard. Do you think I give a damn about his little games? He betrayed me, Gambino. He killed my son—my blood.”

Gambino didn’t flinch, knowing full well the depth of Adone's hatred for Vincent. “I understand your anger, Adone. But Eloise is innocent in all this. She shouldn’t be caught in the crossfire between you and Vincent.”

Adone’s gaze darkened as he considered Gambino's words. “Innocent?” he repeated, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “No one’s innocent in this world, Gambino. Especially when they’re involved with that snake.

Vincent was always a problem, even as a child. I took him in, gave him a roof over his head, and tried to teach him the ways of our world. And how did he repay me? By defying me at every turn and murdering my son in cold blood.”

Adone paused, his mind lost in the memories of the past. He recalled the first time Vincent had entered his home—a small, naive boy, completely unaware of the dark path that awaited him.

Adone had tried to mold him, to shape him into a worthy heir, but Vincent had resisted. The boy had always had a spark of defiance, a refusal to bend to Adone's will, and that spark had eventually turned into a wildfire that consumed everything in its path.

“I’ve spent years building this empire,” Adone continued, his voice thick with resentment. “And Vincent thinks he can just walk away, carve out his kingdom? I’d see him burn in hell before I let him succeed.”

Gambino watched his old friend carefully, recognizing the depth of Adone’s vendetta. He knew that appealing to Adone’s emotions wouldn’t be enough. He needed to make this more than just revenge.

“Adone, I’m not here to argue about Vincent’s fate,” Gambino said slowly. “I’m here because we have a chance to do something bigger—something that would cement our legacy.

If Eloise were to marry your son, think of the power we could wield. Together, we could ally so strong that even Vincent couldn’t stand against us.”

He didn’t respond immediately. He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking under his weight, and considered Gambino's proposal. The idea of uniting their families was tempting.

It would secure his power, ensure the continuation of his legacy, and give him a direct line to Gambino’s resources and influence. But there was something in him that hesitated—something that couldn’t let go of his desire to see Vincent destroyed.

“Do you think a marriage will fix everything, Gambino?” He asked, his voice laced with doubt. “Do you think it will erase the blood that’s already been spilled?”

“No, it won’t,” Gambino admitted. “But it will give us control. Control over our future, over Vincent, and over anyone who dares to challenge us. With our families united, we’ll be unstoppable.”

Adone remained silent, his mind churning. He hated Vincent with every fiber of his being, and the thought of using this opportunity to tighten the noose around his nephew’s neck was appealing.

“Tell me, Gambino,” he finally said, his tone calculating. “What makes you so sure that Vincent won’t find a way to ruin this? What if he turns Eloise against us? What if he uses her to undermine everything we’ve built?”

Gambino met his gaze, unflinchingly. “Vincent may be ruthless, but he’s not invincible. Together, we can keep him in check. And as for Eloise… she’s my daughter. She knows her place in this world. She won’t betray us.”

He studied Gambino for a moment, weighing his options. He knew this decision wasn’t just about strategy—it was about choosing whether to focus his energy on destroying Vincent or on securing his future.

“Very well,” he said, his voice cold and resolute. “We’ll make the arrangements. But understand this, Gambino, if Vincent tries to interfere, if he so much as breathes in the wrong direction, I will end him. Nephew or not.”

Gambino nodded, knowing he had won—at least for now. The two men shook hands, sealing a deal that would bind their families together and set the stage for the final reckoning with Vincent.

~

Eloise glared at the walls of the room, her frustration growing with each passing minute. The space felt like a prison.

Just as she was contemplating her next move, the door creaked open. Vincent strolled in, a self-satisfied grin spread across his face. "Hello," he greeted, his smile unwavering.

"Get me out of here," Eloise demanded, her voice sharp with anger. Vincent's smile remained fixed, “When I am sure you have made up your mind to stay, I’ll let you go,” he said casually.

Before she could react, Vincent stepped closer, his hand encircling her waist…"No... eww," Eloise protested, her voice shaky. Vincent chuckled wickedly.

He held her chin in his hand, his thumb moved caressingly around it as his eyes fell on her full lips. Just as he was about to plant a kiss on her lips, a knock echoed through the room.

He hissed in frustration, pulling away from her, though not without flashing his signature smirk. "What do you want?" he snapped, his irritation evident as he turned toward the door. "Miss Jeda is here to see you, Boss," Lipari's voice came from the other side.

Vincent's expression changed instantly.