Fransisca's POV

André's eyes narrowed as he sniffed the bottle. "This smells like poison," he growled, his hand shooting out to slap me across the face.

I cried out in pain, falling to the floor as my lip split open, blood gushing from the wound.

"How dare you try to deceive us!" Lucas spat, his eyes blazing with fury. "You think you can just waltz in here and try to kill us?"

I knew I had to think quickly, to come up with a convincing lie. But before I could even open my mouth to explain, Lucas aimed his gun at my head.

"Listen, you bitch, I've got five minutes to blow your brains out if you don't tell me the truth—who sent you!" Lucas hissed, his finger tightening on the trigger.

I knew I had to act fast. Seeing the uncertainty in their eyes, I snatched the bottle from André's hand and downed the liquid in one swift motion.

"See! It's not poisonous! I would never do something like that! I'm not a spy! I'm just a poor orphan!" I exclaimed, tears streaming down my face.

Lucas's eyes gleamed with suspicion. "Everything you do looks suspicious," he hissed. "I hope I catch you, because that day will be bloody! I won't just rip out your intestines; I'll drink your blood!"

I sniffed, trying to seem submissive, but inside, I was boiling with anger. I knew I had to tread carefully, to play the role of the obedient wife and servant.

André's voice cut through the tension. "Pick up your bag and take the elevator to the top floor. Clean the apartment until it shines. Then wait for us in the bedroom. You need to start having babies right away!"

I gasped in horror. "Babies?"

André's eyes gleamed with malice. "Isn't that why you're here? Listen, little slut. We are businessmen, and everything is about business to us. You're expected to have babies for us every nine months because we sell them for child trafficking to make cold cash, is that clear?"

I felt a wave of revulsion wash over me, and I burst into tears, fleeing the room.

As I exited the room, I collided with a man who made my heart race. He was Alessandro Bianchi, known as "The Shadow," the most feared and wealthiest mafia lord around.

Our eyes met for what felt like an eternity, sending a chill down my spine.

"Watch where you're going," he said, his voice deep and gravelly.

I attempted to sidestep him, but Alessandro's hand shot out, gripping my arm.

"I know you—your face seems so familiar, are you—," he remarked, his gaze scrutinizing me.

I knew I had to think fast. "I don’t know you, sir—please, I have to go," I replied, and dashed straight to the elevator.

As I stepped out of the elevator and into the twins' apartment, a wave of disgust washed over me. The place was a disaster, with drink and cigarette stains marring every surface.

In the corner of the room, I spotted a dead woman, her body cold and stiff, blood oozing from her mouth.

I knew I had to clean the apartment, but it was difficult to face. I took a deep breath and got to work, my mind racing with thoughts of escape and revenge.

Once the apartment was finally clean, I headed to the twins' bedroom, my heart racing. I knew what I had to do, but it was difficult to face.

As I stepped into the room, I noticed the safe tucked away in the corner, and my mind kicked into action. I quickly slipped on the gloves I had brought and entered the code I had cracked from their system earlier to unlock the safe.

As I sifted through the papers, my eyes searched for anything related to my family. What I discovered instead sent chills down my spine.

My uncle's name appeared under a different identity, listed as a member of the Gambino mafia.

I snatched the documents and stuffed them into my bag, my mind swirling with questions.

Just as I was about to close the safe, I heard the twins enter the room, and a rush of fear made me feel a warm trickle down my thighs; I had been caught.

"What are you doing with our safe?" André's voice was low and menacing, his eyes blazing with fury.

Fransisca's POV

I quickly locked the safe and tossed it back into the closet, trying to act casual. But the twins saw right through me.

"You thief!" Lucas shouted, charging at me with André right beside him. "We might overlook a million other crimes, but we will never forgive theft!"

I stepped back, raising my hands in defense. "I didn't take anything! I promise!"

But Lucas was beyond reason. He grabbed a nearby flower vase and smashed it on the floor, shards scattering everywhere.

Then, in a move that sent chills down my spine, he picked up a shard and drove it into my skin.

I screamed, the pain flooding me with memories of the trauma I had faced a decade ago. "Mommy!" I cried out, my voice trembling with fear.

The twins were startled by my outburst, but they quickly composed themselves.

"Search her bag," André growled. "She must have stolen something, and if you find anything, Lucas, you kill her immediately. We still need more fresh organs to complete this month's batch."

Just as they were about to dig through my bag, Alessandro appeared in the doorway.

"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice steady and commanding.

When his gaze landed on me and noticed the blood, his expression turned icy, and he frowned. "Why are you assaulting her?"

Lucas scoffed. "Stay out of this, Alessandro. It's none of your concern; she belongs to us, and we can do whatever we want with her!"

"So what if she belongs to you? Does it give you the right to treat like a slave? You're harassing the poor girl just let her go!"

"Listen Alessandro! We know you're a high ranking mafia don, but it doesn't give you the right to come into our territory and give us orders, who do you think you are, just get out of here!"

But Alessandro didn't back down. "I'm making it my concern and I'm not leaving here until we make things right. What's the price?" he asked abruptly.

Lucas and André exchanged puzzled looks. "What are you talking about?" Lucas replied.

Alessandro's eyes were fixed on me. "How much to buy her?"

The twins erupted in laughter. "She's our slave," André mocked. "We're not selling her."

Alessandro's smile was icy and calculating. "I'll offer you a hundred million dollars and a full cart of weapons. That's a fair trade."

The twins' laughter faded, and they shared a greedy look. "She's yours," Lucas finally said, shoving me toward Alessandro. "Do whatever you want with her."

Alessandro's eyes remained locked on mine. "Come with me," he said, his voice deep and husky.

I nodded, still trying to wrap my head around what had just happened. "I— can't go, they'll kill me" I said, tears streaming down my face.

"You're free! Come with me" Alessandro said sternly this time and I complied.

But as I took a step forward, a wave of dizziness hit me. The pain from the shard still embedded in my skin was beginning to catch up with me.

Alessandro's eyes narrowed as he assessed my condition. Without saying a word, he walked over and lifted me into his arms.

We reached the car, and Alessandro carefully laid me down on the back seat.

He climbed in next to me, his gaze fixed on my face. "Hold on," he said, his tone steady. "We're going to the hospital."

I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards him.

At the hospital, Alessandro was assertive and commanding, ensuring I received the best care possible.

The doctors and nurses rushed to my side, and soon I was being treated for my injury.

Finally, the doctor informed us that I was stable. Alessandro nodded, his expression unreadable, paid the bills, and left the hospital.

Once we were inside the car, I turned to him, my voice just above a whisper. "Thank you, sir, for saving my life," I said, locking eyes with him.

But before I could continue, Alessandro's demeanor shifted to icy, and he replied,

"Cut the act. Agent Lopez, what are you doing here? You were meant to be in France on a mission."

His words hit me like a slap in the face, and I felt my heart racing with fear.

How did he know my true identity?

Fransisca's POV

Alessandro's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white with rage.

"Don't play dumb with me, Agent Lopez," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

"I have a very low tolerance for lies. You're Agent Fransisca Lopez, code name Nightshade, working for the Shadow Agency's elite department, Phantom Unit. I ask you again, what are you doing here?"

My heart racing, I struggled to maintain my facade.

"Sir, I told you I'm not who you think I am! You clearly have the wrong information about me!" I exclaimed, hissing as the pain from my injured knee flared up.

Alessandro's smile was icy and calculating as he opened a compartment in his car and pulled out a card.

He tossed it to me, and I caught it, my eyes widening as I read the details.

"Alessandro Bianchi, Owner and Founder, Shadow Agency," I read aloud, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alessandro's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Not just the Shadow Agency, Agent Lopez. I run twenty other undercover agencies across the globe." His words sent a chill down my spine.

"How do you juggle these two worlds, Alessandro?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. "How do you balance being a crime lord and an undercover agent?"

Alessandro's expression shifted to one of seriousness.

"The best way to catch the bad guys is to be among them, Agent Lopez. And I didn't choose this life as a crime lord. I'm merely upholding my father's legacy."

He paused, studying me closely. "You're quite clever, Agent Lopez. I must give you credit. You think things through. I know you took something from the Gambino brothers' safe. Hand it over."

I hesitated, unsure of my next move. But there was something about Alessandro's demeanor that calmed me. I handed over the documents, and Alessandro's eyes quickly scanned them.

"Frank Hughes," he muttered, narrowing his eyes. "What's your interest in him, Agent Lopez?"

I took a deep breath before responding. "He's my uncle." Alessandro's expression shifted to skepticism.

"I find that hard to believe. Frank Hughes has been with the Gambino family for over forty years. He's the one running the child trafficking operation."

My world was turned upside down. Could it be true? Was my uncle involved in something so heinous?

Alessandro's next words sent a chill through me. "Your parents, Agent Lopez... they weren't who you believed them to be. They were involved in the crime, selling babies and pocketing the profits. That's why they were killed. They betrayed the Gambino family."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "You're joking... this can't be true! What are you talking about? My parents were wrongfully killed. Uncle Pedro saved me, and I'm here seeking justice! Uncle Pedro cannot be a child trafficker, I can bet my life on that, I don't even know how his identity is under the Gambino mafia, it has to be a mistake"

Alessandro's expression turned cold. "I can't stand noise, Agent Lopez. Keep quiet."

He paused, his eyes locked on mine. "The Frank Hughes I know wouldn't have let you get this far if you weren't significant. I'll take you to my place, you'll tell me where Frank is, and then he can reveal the truth about your past."

Just as Alessandro was about to start the engine, he glanced in the rearview mirror, his eyes narrowing. "We've got company, Agent Lopez. The Gambino men are right on our tail."

He let out a dark chuckle, a cold glint in his eye. "Their pride is bruised because I took you. They want you back."

Alessandro's gaze locked onto mine. "Lay flat, grab the gun next to you, roll down the window, and fire two shots behind us. Aim for the head of the target."

My heart racing, I followed his orders. I grabbed the gun, rolled down the window, and fired two shots. The car behind us flipped over, and Alessandro accelerated into the night.

"Nice work, Agent Lopez," Alessandro said, his voice low and approving.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing with thoughts of what had just happened.

I quickly pulled out my phone and sent a text to Director Rodriguez, the head of my department at the agency.

"Help! I've been kidnapped by one of the city's most notorious crime lords. I'm in grave danger. Please send backup ASAP!”