Valentina Cruz, a poor but defiant college student, is thrown into a deadly world of mafia politics after her estranged father gambles with her life to pay his debt. In a cruel twist of fate, she is forced to marry Rafael D’Amico, the cold-blooded heir of a brutal mafia dynasty known as The Beast.

At first, their hatred is mutual. But as danger closes in, secrets unravel — including Rafael’s tragic past love, Valentina’s buried rage, and a passion betweValentina Cruz, a poor but defiant college student, is thrown into a deadly world of mafia politics after her estranged father gambles with her life to pay his debt. In a cruel twist of fate, she is forced to marry Rafael D’Amico, the cold-blooded heir of a brutal mafia dynasty known as The Beast.

At first, their hatred is mutual. But as danger closes in, secrets unravel — including Rafael’s tragic past love, Valentina’s buried rage, and a passion between them that refuses to die.

In a world ruled by violence, can love survive betrayal?
Or will it be buried beneath blood and bulen them that refuses to die.

In a world ruled by violence, can love survive betrayal?
Or will it be buried beneath blood and bul

But they never tell you what love does to power.


The villa was still smoldering when we left it behind.


Just ash, silence, and the scent of blood and freedom.


Rafael didn't speak much for the first few days.


I saw the weight of it all written in the lines around his eyes — the years of killing, of surviving, of holding a kingdom together with nothing but brutality and fear.


And he didn't know who the hell he was without the chains.


"I don't know if I want the crown anymore," he said one night, as we sat on the roof of our safehouse, eating peaches from a can like broke teenagers.


He looked at me, surprised. "Just like that?"


"Rafael, you burned your brother alive. You don't owe anyone a throne."


He chuckled — low and dry. "You always know what to say."


"Mostly because I've spent a lifetime around men with power and no purpose."


I leaned in and whispered against his lips.


"I think you're just starting to figure out what your real one is."


He kissed me like I was the only truth he had left.


A week later, he held a meeting with the Five Families.


Cruz stood by the door. I sat at Rafael's right hand, in black silk and scarred knuckles.


"My reign is over," Rafael said simply.


One of the D'Angelo sons — a smug little prick with too much cologne — sneered. "And who'll lead? Your college girl wife?"


I smiled sweetly. "Only if you want to end up with your balls in a violin case, sweetheart."


The vote was unanimous: Rafael steps down. Cruz takes over enforcement. And the D'Amico name? Retired — no longer a badge of fear, but a memory of blood paid and debts closed.


Later, Rafael asked me, "Was it the right move?"


I nodded. "You didn't lose your crown. You gave it away."


I smacked him with a pillow. "That's the cheesiest thing you've ever said."


"You think I married you just for the debt?" he teased. "Nah, Beauty. This time, I want a real wedding. Flowers. Cake. No bloodshed."


And for the first time in forever… the future didn't feel like a prison.


Chapter 25 - chapter 25