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STARBOY

♧

THE WEEKEND

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THE COURTYARD brimmed with cars ranging from sleek luxury vehicles to rugged military models, packed tightly into every available space. In their midst, a black metal door between a Lamborghini and a G-Wagon stood sealed, locked tighter than a safe.

I banged my fist against it, the cold metal jarring my knuckles.

A pair of hazel eyes appeared behind the peephole.

"Name?" The voice cracked like a teenager struggling through puberty.

"Genovese," I answered curtly.

Another faint voice murmured in the background, too low to catch. The peephole shut, leaving me staring at the featureless door. After a moment, the sound of locks clicking echoed from the other side. The hinges groaned softly as the door creaked open.

The hazel eyes belonged to a teenage boy—no older than 17, maybe 15. A reddish-brown scar marked his cheek, not fresh but not old enough to tell if it would fade. Despite his youth, he wasn't scrawny. His frame carried lean muscle, and his stance radiated cautious confidence.

We exchanged a nod, no words necessary.

Once inside, I was struck by how much larger the building was than it appeared from the outside. The space buzzed with activity—men and women training in every corner. To my left, a shooting range divided into four sections: one for women, one for men, one for snipers, and another for classic combat drills. To my right, a ring hosted sparring matches while nearby mats accommodated grapplers. In the distance, knives thudded against targets, and various doors dotted the walls, likely leading to dorms or bathrooms.

Descending the staircase to the main floor, I surveyed the organized chaos. My father's instructions echoed in my mind: "Ensure everything proceeds as agreed. This alliance with the Luciano family is critical."

We rarely recruited for operations like this, preferring to rely on trusted insiders. But this time, circumstances demanded specialists—people with particular skills.

"Antonio."

I turned to see a tall, dark-skinned man with a commanding presence, his afro framing a sharp grin.

"Mr. Luciano," I greeted, shaking his hand. His forearms, densely inked with tattoos, flexed slightly.

"I'm glad you could make it on behalf of your father," Luciano said.

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "He wanted me to confirm everything is proceeding as outlined in our agreements."

Luciano nodded. "Of course. Though I assumed he'd want to be present when you met my daughter."

I raised an eyebrow. "My father mentioned nothing about your offspring."

Luciano's expression flickered with faint surprise. "I see."

Of course, I thought bitterly. My father had sent me as his errand boy but, as usual, withheld crucial details.

"Would you care to see the progress for yourself?" Luciano offered, his tone polite but his eyes assessing.

"That's why I'm here," I replied.

He led me toward the wrestling ring. Two men sprawled inside, clawing and flailing at each other like amateurs.

Luciano let out a sharp whistle, silencing the room. All eyes turned toward him—and by extension, me.

The two fighters stopped immediately, blood streaking their faces. Cuts and bruises marred their skin, evidence of a fight neither had truly won.

"Where is Celine?" Luciano's voice was quiet but carried a dangerous edge.

The room tensed.

"Where is my daughter?" he repeated, his tone unwavering.

A trainee hesitated before croaking, "C-Charlotte was with us this morning, sir—"

"Why?" Luciano interrupted, his voice like a blade.

"We—we don't know, sir—"

"You don't know?" His voice never rose, but the weight behind it silenced the stammering man. "Did I not make it explicitly clear that Celine would join this session? Did I not?"

The man's mouth opened and shut like a fish out of water. Finally, he managed a trembling, "Y-yes, you did, sir."

"And let me guess," Luciano said coldly, "Charlotte decided to cover for her little sister?"

The man nodded miserably. Luciano sighed, rubbing his jaw with a hand adorned in silver rings. The silence that followed was suffocating.

A slow, deliberate clap broke the tension.

Heads turned toward the sound.

I followed their gaze and froze.

She moved with an easy confidence that commanded attention. Her green cargo pants hung loose, paired with a white, fitted tank top that emphasized her toned frame. Her long, knee-length braids shimmered with subtle waves, a few escaping to frame her sharp features. Gold necklaces glinted against her skin, and her nails—long and sharp—alternated between black and pink.

Luciano shook his head, chuckling under his breath.

"Really, Giovanni?" she drawled, her voice dripping with mockery. "What kind of bodyguard reveals their employer's information so freely?" She stepped closer, her gaze locking onto the trembling man. "What if he wasn't my father? What if he was someone just as powerful? Just as dangerous? What then?"

"I—I would never—"

"Never?" she interrupted, a sly grin spreading across her face. "But you just did."

She placed a hand on Luciano's shoulder. "My father is a sociopath," she said lightly, ignoring his faint smirk. "Do you really think my siblings and I aren't being watched constantly? Disappointing, Giovanni. I had such high hopes for you."

The man's face flushed red, his eyes fixed firmly on the floor.

"Dismissed," she ordered. The trainees quickly returned to their stations.

Luciano cleared his throat, his pride evident in the way he looked at her. "Antonio," he said, gesturing toward her, "this is my youngest daughter, Celine. Celine, this is Antonio Genovese, our newest ally."

Her handshake was firm despite her smaller hand.

"Nice grip," I said.

"I know," she replied, her gaze sharp and unflinching.

Her eyes—dark brown with an unsettling intensity—felt like they could peel back layers, exposing secrets best left buried.

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ahh y'all know I always be coming with my references pics so here y'all gooo 😋

how was this chapter guys? what y'all thinking about Antonio? and pls don't start about there age gap it literally says AGE GAP in the description pls don't evennn. just so y'all know this is a real enemies to lovers book and when I say real I MEAN Harley and joker crazy type shittt im so excited

anywho don't forget to comment and vote it means so much to meee and please drink water today !!

-zio 🍸