The rain poured hard, soaking Eva’s jacket as she stood in front of the iron gates. The serpent symbol on the gate seemed to watch her, daring her to turn back. But she couldn’t. She had come too far for that. She needed to make her way into the LUCA CLAN.

She adjusted her bag, trying to steady her breathing. Her knuckles were bruised from the fight she’d staged minutes ago, the perfect cover to explain why she was here. This was her only chance to get close to them.

The guard at the gate stepped forward, his hand resting on his gun. "Name?"

"Eva Montes," she said, her voice steady. It wasn’t her real name, but she’d practiced this lie enough to make it sound true. "I’m here from the Moretti family. They sent me for protection."

After conducting thorough research, she discovered that the Moretti family was protected by the Luca clan in exchange for gold, cash, and hard drugs. She had approached the family disguised as a pitiful orphan seeking work, and her plan had worked. This was how she had ended up here. The staged fight had been necessary to prove she could defend herself and wouldn't be a liability if allowed to join the clan.

The guard’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t believe her yet. Calmly she reached into her bag, pulling out a small flash drive. "This has proof. I took out three Valentini men last night. You’ll see I’m useful."

The guard grabbed the drive and studied her for a moment before nodding. The Valentini men belonged to another mafia group, enemies of the Luca clan. The gates opened slowly, revealing the estate hidden behind tall trees and mist.

Eva didn't bother to bow in acknowledgment as she stepped inside, her heart pounding. Every step she took felt heavier. She was walking into the home of the people who destroyed her life.

*******

Inside, the room was dimly lit, with shadows stretching across the walls. Men in all black stood around, talking and laughing like they had nothing to fear. At the center of it all sat a man in a leather chair, watching her.

Lorenzo De Luca.

Then man himself. The one that murdered her parents and yet enjoyed the show. This man in his late 50s was the one she needed to kill.

Eva’s hands clenched at her sides, but she kept her face calm.

She was aware that he had a son, but she had never seen him before. Discreetly, she scanned the room, trying not to attract attention, completely unaware that Lorenzo was watching her every move from his chair, his eyes never leaving her.

In order to take down this man, her first task was to win over his so-called son. To get close to the devil himself, she would have to gain the trust of his son first.

"You must be the new recruit," Lorenzo’s voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present.

He stood up abruptly, and Eva felt the weight of his gaze as he looked her up and down.

"Yes Sir" she said, forcing her voice to stay steady.

"Eva Montes. I work alone, but the Moretti family thought I could be useful here." She explained, keeping her gaze down.

Lorenzo tilted his head, studying her like she was some kind of puzzle or a map. His lips curved into a small smile, but his eyes stayed cold.

"Interesting," he said after a long pause. “You don’t seem afraid."

"I'm not," Eva lied. To hell, she was damn afraid. If only she knew he was the one she would be facing, not his son. It would have been easier to lock eyes with him, especially since she knew exactly how to seduce men.

Lorenzo’s smile grew. "Good. Fear doesn’t last long here."

He stepped closer, and Eva fought the urge to move back. He was so close now, she could feel the heat from him. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face which made her swallowed hard.

"If you’re loyal, you’ll prove it," he said quietly almost as if he was whispering to her hearings only.

"If you’re lying…" He let the words hang in the air before stepping back.

"Welcome to the De Luca family, Eva. Don’t disappoint me." He said instead and she released the breath she didn't know she was holding.

"You can leave now. Someone will be waiting for you at the entrance," a voice said. Eva gave a small nod, then turned to leave. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her steps steady, knowing she had made it inside.

But as she walked away, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. It had been too easy to get accepted.

Behind her, Lorenzo leaned back in his chair, his gaze following her as she left. His smile remained unchanged.

"She’s hiding something," he muttered under his breath.

"I should be wise in here," she muttered under her breath, her gaze falling on the worn leather diary on the small desk across from her. Inside, it contained nothing but the carefully detailed movements of the Valentino clan—their patterns, their weaknesses, their strengths. Everything she needed to know to earn the trust of this clan and execute her plan without making a single mistake now that she was a step closer to her goal.

She sighed, rubbing her temple, the weight of the plan pressing down on her chest. She couldn’t afford distractions. Not now. She had to stay focused and leave no room for errors.

The sound of a knock at her door pulled her from her reverie. Eva stood, already dressed in her all black clothes. As she opened the door, she found one of the guards standing there, a blank expression on his face.

He examined her from head to toe, his gaze lingering just a moment too long. Eva raised an eyebrow, irritation flickering in her eyes, but her voice remained calm.

"What?"

"Nothing," the guard quickly responded, his eyes shifting back to hers. "Just curious how you knew it was exactly the right time for practice—and that you were already dressed."

Eva gave a small, almost nonchalant shrug, her lips curving into a tight smile.

"My instincts don’t lie."

The guard didn’t seem entirely convinced; it was clear she knew more than she let on. But he didn’t press the matter further. "I’ve been asked to guide you to the training ground."

Eva nodded, locking her door behind her. They both left the room, the quiet hum of the building surrounding them. The halls felt colder today, like the tension was slowly creeping into every corner. When they reached the training ground, Eva's eyes scanned the area. Various eyes turned toward her as she stepped in, some cold, others neutral, but all of them watching.

Her eyes immediately locked onto Vanessa, who stood among the group, her cold expression cutting through the air like a blade. Vanessa was a versatile fighter—skilled in archery, swordsmanship, and sniper tactics. She was a force to be reckoned with. And more than that, she preferred to stay out of the spotlight unless it was strictly complicated missions. Eva knew better than to underestimate her.

She scanned the rest of the group...both males and females, standing stiffly, waiting. But waiting for what? Certainly not for her. Eva kept her face impassive, her expression neutral, but a chuckle came from behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know it was someone trying to get a rise out of her.

"She seems weak." a voice mocked. "I don’t like her."

Eva ignored the comment, focusing on the sound of boots hitting the ground. Her eyes snapped toward the source of the noise.

The group straightened as the figure approached. Marco De Luca, the only son of Lorenzo De Luca. Despite the cruelty of his bloodline, he looked dangerous...and undeniably alluring. His presence alone seemed to command the attention of the room. His icy blue eyes scanned around as he walked toward the front, his gaze briefly flicking to Eva before turning back to the group.

"Morning, boss," the group greeted in unison, their voices low and obedient.

Eva’s heart rate quickened. The moment she'd been preparing for was finally here.

"Ah," Marco said, his voice calm but with an undeniable edge, "you’re the new recruit."

Eva kept her face calm, her pulse steady despite the turmoil inside. She went down on one knee before him.

"Yes, boss," she said, her head bowed just enough to show respect but not submission. "I’m willing to follow your orders."

Marco’s eyes narrowed for a moment as he studied her. "Stand" he said with a sharp, almost bored command.

Eva stood slowly, keeping her posture straight and unwavering. Marco glanced at the person next to him, and before Eva could react, he threw a sword in her direction. Instinctively, she caught it with one hand, her grip firm as she raised an eyebrow. She didn’t need to be told that the test had begun.

"Olivia," Marco called out.

Olivia smirked, unable to pinpoint exactly why, but she felt an instant hatred for Eva. All she wanted was for Eva to be kicked out.

Eva barely had time to register what was happening before Olivia lunged at her, her sharp steel piercing through Eva’s arm. Pain exploded through her, the shock of the injury making her stumble back.

Blood rushed from the wound, but Eva’s mind sharpened immediately. Was this a test? Why didn’t he warn her? She cursed under her breath but quickly steadied herself, raising the sword with one hand as she prepared for what was sure to be a brutal fight.

Her heart pounded in her chest, but she wouldn’t show weakness. Not in front of Marco, not in front of anyone. Not when everything was on the line.

"I suppose you were taught well, not to alert your enemy before you strike," Eva said with a smirk, and her words were enough to make Vanessa glance in her direction.

Vanessa scoffed, rolling her eyes before moving to a seat at the far edge, eager to see if this newcomer could actually stand up to Olivia.

Olivia’s movement was swift the moment Eva uttered those words. Eva hadn’t anticipated such speed as Olivia’s sword slashed through her arm once again, striking the same spot. The cut was deeper this time, more excruciating.

Staggering back, Eva clutched her arm, which was bleeding profusely, the crimson flow relentless, like an open faucet. Her vision blurred from the intense pain, and she realized she was losing too much blood. The real fight hadn’t even begun, and yet, she was already at a disadvantage? No, she wouldn’t let it end like this.

Olivia circled her like a predator, her eyes cold, calculating. The sun glinted off the sharp edge of her sword, casting a deadly reflection that danced across the ground. Eva’s breath came in shallow bursts, her heart pounding against her chest. The crowd of onlookers had fallen silent, watching the exchange with rapt attention.

Marco stood at the edge of the circle, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable. He didn’t flinch, didn’t move, as if this was all part of the plan.

"You’re slower than I expected," Olivia sneered, her voice icy. Without warning, she lunged forward, her blade aimed at Eva’s side with deadly precision.

Eva barely managed to twist her body in time, the tip of Olivia’s sword grazing her ribs. Pain exploded through her, but she suppressed the scream that threatened to escape.

Blood soaked her, streaming from her arms and ribs, but she couldn’t afford to dwell on the pain now. The sword Marco had given her for a reason felt like a foreign weight in her hand, too heavy, too awkward.

She gritted her teeth, refusing to let the discomfort show. Every instinct in her screamed to surrender, but she couldn’t. She needed to prove her worth, she needed to stay here if she truly wanted to destroy the Luca clan.

"You won’t last a minute," Olivia smirked, her voice low and venomous.

Her next attack came fast...too fast for Eva to fully react. Olivia’s blade sliced through the air, aimed directly for Eva’s shoulder.

This time, Eva had no choice but to raise her sword, bracing for the collision. The clatch of steel on steel rang through the training ground, the sound deafening. Her arms trembled under the force of the blow, but she held firm, refusing to let Olivia overpower her.

She could feel the blood still trickling from her arm, but she forced herself to ignore it. The fight wasn’t over yet.

With a quick twist of her body, Eva shoved Olivia back, gaining just enough space to steady herself. She staggered, her breath heavy, the pain in her arm a constant reminder of how close she was to breaking. But she wouldn’t. Not in front of Marco.

Olivia’s lips curled into a smirk. "You’ve got spirit, I’ll give you that," she laughed, stepping forward again.

"Too bad that won’t save you."

The words barely left Olivia’s mouth before she was moving again, faster than Eva could track. She spun, her blade coming in a deadly force. Eva barely managed to dodge, the cold rush of air as the sword whistled past her ear making her pulse race. Adrenaline surged through her veins as instinct took over.

She lunged, her sword aimed directly for Olivia’s side. The blade would have struck her, but Olivia was quicker. She twisted with terrifying speed, bringing the hilt of her sword crashing into Eva’s ribs instead. The impact sent Eva staggering backward, her breath stolen from her as a sharp pain exploded through her chest. She gasped, clutching at her side, trying to force air back into her lungs.

Olivia stepped forward, her eyes glittering with malicious pleasure. "You should have stayed down."

Eva’s vision blurred even more, but she didn’t allow herself to fall. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand, the sword still gripped tightly in her hand.

"You talk too much," she spat, her voice cold, her words a mask for the pain that burned through her.

But Olivia wasn’t done. Without warning, she thrust her sword forward, aiming for Eva’s stomach. The blade came so fast that Eva barely had time to dodge.

Eva twisted, but Olivia’s sword found its mark, the cold steel plunging into her stomach with brutal force. Eva choked, blood rising in her throat, but she didn’t let herself fall.

"She'll die at this rate." She heard murmurs ripple among the crowd. Vanessa sighed, shaking her head in quiet disapproval.

Before Olivia could pull the blade out, she drove it in again, the steel sinking into Eva’s flesh with a sickening force. This time, Eva couldn’t hold back the scream, the pain overwhelming her as the second strike left her breathless, the world around her rotating dangerously.

Olivia pulled it out of her, ready to strike again but suddenly, the sharp sound of a sword slicing through the air rang out, followed by the loud thud of metal meeting metal. Eva’s eyes snapped open, her heart racing. A flash of steel appeared in front of her...Vanessa. The the one who had stayed quiet, now stood before her. Her sword was pressed against Olivia’s, blocking her from landing a third blow.

"What the hell are you doing?" Olivia hissed, glaring hard at Vanessa, but Vanessa didn’t flinch. Her eyes were cold as always, her expression unreadable.

"I was getting bored," Vanessa said simply, her voice low and controlled, as if she hadn’t just interrupted a deadly duel. She stepped forward, pushing Olivia’s sword away from Eva’s body.