Flashback

17 yrs ago

The world knew his name, though few dared to say it out loud. Alexandro De Leon, the Mafia King, a man whose very shadow could silence a room. To him, power was not just an asset but his birthright, and fear was the currency that kept his empire thriving. Yet, even he had moments when he let his guard down, though he would never admit it. One such moment led him to a woman-a fleeting escape on a cold night when shadows seemed to press too heavily against him. She never saw his face, and he left before the dawn, as was his custom.

Months later, far removed from Alessandro's world of violence and wealth, Bianca Romano, the woman from that night, also an assassin and the Spanish mafia Donna, gave birth to triplets, Two boys who bore her dark features, with jet-black hair and piercing hazel eyes, and a girl, different from her siblings. The little girl had dark blonde hair and stormy gray eyes-a mirror of a man Bianca barely remembered. From the moment Bianca laid eyes on her daughter, resentment brewed. The child was a stranger, a piece of a night she'd rather forget.

Alexandro, in his cold and calculated way, eventually learned of the children. His sources whispered the truth to him: one of the triplets, the girl, carried his unmistakable traits. Intrigued and with his curiosity piqued, he sent spies to confirm the rumors. They brought back reports of the woman's resentment toward the girl, and Alexandro made his decision swiftly.

One week later, Alexandro stood outside Bianca's mansion, flanked by two men. His presence was undeniable, his voice a sharp contrast to the silent night. "Bring me the girl," he said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Bianca didn't hesitate. She barely spared her daughter a glance as she placed her in the arms of a stranger. "Take her," she said flatly. "She's yours anyway."

Alexandro took her and left to his car, which was in the middle of his bodyguard's cars.

Little did Bianca know the little girl would grow up in a world of shadows and power, destined to take her place at her father's side-but not without a fight.

Inside the car, as Alexandro cradled the tiny girl in his arms, something stirred deep within him-a feeling he hadn't experienced before. Her gray eyes, a perfect reflection of his own, stared back at him with a curious innocence. In those eyes, he saw no fear, no malice, only untainted curiosity. The weight of her small body in his arms was foreign yet grounding, as if she anchored him to something he didn't know he needed.

For years, Alexandro De Leon had mastered the art of detachment. Love, tenderness, and warmth were weaknesses in his world. But holding his daughter, he felt a strange tug at his heart-a protective instinct that caught him completely off guard. It wasn't just the striking resemblance that captivated him. It was the fragility of her existence, a life so new and untouched by the darkness he wielded.

"She's so small," Alexandro murmured, almost to himself. His right-hand man, Gabriel, who stood by silently, blinked in surprise. He'd never heard softness in Alexandro 's voice before.

"She'll grow strong," Gabriel said, not knowing what else to say.

Alexandro's jaw tightened, but not in anger. He traced a finger lightly over the baby's cheek, feeling her warmth. "She already is. She survived being unloved by her own mother."

The words tasted bitter in his mouth. He thought of the woman who had so carelessly handed over this precious child, the one who had rejected her merely for resembling him. Alexandro's eyes darkened, but when he looked back at the baby, the storm within him calmed.

From that moment, he made a silent vow. This girl-his daughter-would never know rejection again. She would have everything she needed, and no harm would come to her. In a world where loyalty was often bought and betrayed, she would be his one constant.

He held her closer and whispered, "Ora sei mia, piccola. E non ti lascerò mai andare. Ti renderò la persona più forte di sempre, così nessuno ti mancherà mai di rispetto come ha fatto quella stronza"

T: You're mine now, baby. And I'll never let you go. I'll make you the strongest person ever, so no one will ever disrespect you like how that bitch did.

END OF FLASHBACK

3RD POV

"The meeting over. From now on you will see more of my daughter she is your boss. You're all dismissed, " dad said.

The people didn't wait to be told twice they went out of the meeting room immediately.

Alexandro stood at the head of the table, casually lighting a cigar, his sharp gray eyes gleaming with amusement as he turned to his daughter.

Alissa leaned against the table, calm and composed, her MacBook tucked under one arm. At the center of the room, Carla’s body lay sprawled on the cold concrete floor, a pool of blood slowly spreading beneath her, with her ripped heart on the floor. Her lifeless eyes stared at the ceiling, a chilling reminder of what had unfolded.

“You certainly know how to make an impression, Iris,” Alexandro said, exhaling a plume of smoke. “I’ve had bodies dropped before, but not before the meeting even started.”

Alissa brushed a speck of dust off her blazer, her tone even. "She was disrespecting me, I simply corrected her."

Alexandro chuckled, shaking his head. “Corrected her? Iris, you ripped her heart.” He gestured to Carla’s corpse with his cigar. “And then you left her there, bleeding out in front of everyone for the next two hours.”

“They needed to see what happens when someone crosses me,” she replied, her voice cool but firm. “Fear is good, but fear backed by action? That’s unforgettable.”

Alexandro’s smirk widened. He leaned against the table beside her, his towering frame casting a long shadow over the room. “Oh, they won’t forget, that’s for sure."

Alexandro studied her for a moment, his amusement softening into something deeper. “ They fear you, my little diavola, they have alwaysfeared uou enen when you were young. But remember, fear is only the beginning. Respect comes when they realize you’re not just capable of killing—you’re capable of control.”

She met his gaze, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. “Then I’ll make sure they respect me too.”

He laughed, the sound rich and echoing off the warehouse walls. “You’re a De Leon, all right. More like me than I care to admit.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of what had transpired settling over them. Finally, Alexandro pushed himself off the table and gestured toward the exit. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. We’ll let the cleanup crew deal with Carla. You’ve earned yourself a drink.” "We're leaving back to Italy today in the evening,"

"Okay. By the way, I have to meet up with Asher right now,"

Alexandro sighed and looked at her. "You were really serious about him, weren't you, but anyways, okay," he said and turned to walk towards the door.

"Yes, dad, I'm really serious," Alissa said, following him toward the door. Alexandro went to his office, which was on the 6th floor of the building, whereas for Alissa, she went outside the building to her car.

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