The night was suffocatingly quiet, the kind of silence that carried a tension only the dark world of the mob could produce. You moved through your home with the ease of someone who had memorized every creak, every shadow, every corner. The Tenebrae Outfit’s high circle had shaped you into something both feared and revered—a ghost, a shadow, a predator. No one dared cross you, except perhaps the brilliant daughter of your sworn enemy.

Morana Vitalio.

You felt her presence the moment she crossed into your territory. Her attempts to erase her digital footprint were flawless to most, but not to you. You had let her come this far, curious to see just how far her audacity would take her.

And now, there she was, standing in the middle of your study, her slender fingers dancing over the keyboard of your most protected system. The faint glow of the monitor illuminated her face, her features sharp with determination. She hadn’t noticed you yet, too engrossed in whatever she was looking for.

You leaned against the doorframe, your voice low and edged with danger.

Morana froze, her spine stiffening before she slowly turned to face you. Her ice-blue eyes met yours, defiance blazing in their depths.

You smirked, taking a slow step forward, watching her every reaction. She didn’t flinch, but you could see the tension in her jaw. Brave, but not stupid.

She turned slightly, her breath hitching when she realized just how close you were. For a moment, the tension between you crackled like electricity. The hate, the heat, the history—it was all there, an unspoken battle raging in the space between you.

And then she moved. Quick as lightning, she pulled a blade from her pocket, slashing toward you. You caught her wrist with ease, twisting it just enough to make her drop the weapon without hurting her.

Morana Vitalio wasn’t just a rival. She was a problem. And for the first time in a long time, you found yourself looking forward to solving it.