Page 5 of Sweet Revenge

My heart skipped a beat. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for. "Mr. Capuzzo" could only mean one person: Carmine Capuzzo, the man who had murdered my father. This was my chance to get close to him, to finally exact my revenge.

"Of course," I said, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice. "I'll make sure he has everything he needs."

Ignacio nodded. "Follow me."

I followed him through the crowd to a closed door to the left of the main stage. He nodded to the bodyguard there, a giant of a man wearing a heavy gold chain, who stepped dutifully aside, opening the door for us. Ignacio led me up a set of stairs to the VIP section. The atmosphere changed as we ascended, the noise of the main floor fading into a more subdued, exclusive ambiance. The lighting was dimmer, the furniture more luxurious. This was where the real power players came to play.

The private area was definitely designed to impress. Plush velvet couches lined the walls, and the tables were adorned with fine crystal and silver. The lighting was low, creating an intimate and private atmosphere. It would be the perfect place for the city's elite to conduct their business away from prying eyes.

Ignacio stopped in front of a heavy, velvet curtain. "Remember," he said, looking me in the eye. "Do not disappoint Mr. Capuzzo."

"I won't," I promised.

He pulled back the curtain and ushered me inside. The room was spacious, with plush seating and a large, polished table in the center. A single man sat at the table, facing away from me. The room was dark, the only light coming from a few scattered candles.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to do. My hand slipped into the pocket of my dress, fingers curling around the hilt of the knife I carried with me for this purpose. I moved quietly, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it.

I approached the man from behind, my steps silent on the thick carpet. When I was close enough, I pulled out the knife.

"This is for Giuseppe Gorga," I hissed, holding it to his throat and pressing the blade firmly against his skin.

Chapter Two

Luca

The Velvet Room was always alive with the thrum of music, the scent of expensive cigars, and the soft, sultry laughter of its patrons. As the son of Carmine Capuzzo, I, Luca Capuzzo, had spent more nights than I could count in the opulent VIP rooms, overseeing our family's operations and making sure everything ran smoothly. Tonight was no different.

I leaned back in the plush leather armchair, my drink in hand, watching the scene unfold below through the tinted glass. The dancers moved fluidly, their bodies casting seductive shadows in the dim light. They were pretty little things, reminding me of snowflakes twirling in the wind. Occasionally they were fun to catch and play with for a little while; that is, until they melted under my heat, which they all inevitably did, being nothing but vapid and lifeless creatures. Tricks of the light, nothing more. Tonight, however, my mind, was elsewhere. Being groomed to take over the family business was no small feat, and my father had high expectations. I needed to ensure that nothing went wrong under my watch.

Suddenly, the sensation of cold steel against my throat jolted me from my thoughts. A knife, pressed firmly against my skin. Before I could react, a voice, low and filled with rage, hissed in my ear.

"This is for Guiseppe Gorga."

In an instant, my instincts kicked in. Being the underboss to the organization, I’d been trained since boyhood for moments like this. Before the hand could move, I grabbed the wrist, surprised to discover the fine bones of a woman. Twisting it roughly, I pulled her over my shoulder and into my lap. The knife clattered to the floor. I had her disarmed and pinned, her back pressed tightly against my front. She struggled against my grip, but I was many times stronger than the stupid brat, as she should have expected before trying to pull such a stunt.

"Do you have a death wish?" I whispered in her ear, my voice calm but dangerous.

She wriggled, trying to break free, but her efforts were of course futile. I tightened my grip on her, enjoying when she finally yelped in pain.

"It was a mistake," she stammered, panic creeping into her voice. "I thought you were Carmine Capuzzo."

Her words piqued my interest, and I felt my eyebrows shoot up reflexively in response. "What do you have to do with my father? Why do you want him dead?"

She glanced over her shoulder at me, her dark eyes wide and filled with fear. "L-Luca," she stuttered, realizing who I was. It amused me that she knew my name and was afraid of me, yet she had planned to kill my father.

"Cute," I murmured. "You appear to know who I am, as you should, since by the outfit you’re wearing I know you work here. Yet you still thought you could get away with killing my father in his own place of business. "

The family oath required me to end her life for her betrayal. An attempt on a family member's life, was an unforgivable offense. And yet, the girl’s audacity intrigued me. I was contemplating my next move when the door to the VIP room burst open.

Ignacio, the club’s manager, stood in the doorway, his face pale and his eyes wide with panic. "Mr. Capuzzo, sir, please forgive the interruption, but is everything all right? I heard sounds of a scuffle.” His eyes flicked to the woman struggling in my lap.

“I’m so sorry for whatever she’s done," he blurted, "I’ll fire her immediately."

I didn't like that. Firing her would be too easy, and it wouldn't give me the chance to find out more about her motives. "No," I said firmly. "You will not fire her. I will handle her myself."

Ignacio looked confused but nodded quickly. "Of course, Mr. Capuzzo. Whatever you say."

As soon as he left, I leaned in closer to her ear. "Looks like you're stuck with me now. We're going to have some fun."

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