I lie, I kill and I love. No regrets. Because life happens only once. ~Hope Valentine.

Maddox Steele is a striking figure, radiating confidence and control with every step. Standing at an impressive 6 feet tall, he has a commanding presence that demands attention. His well-built, athletic frame hints at both physical and mental strength. His face, with a strong jawline and piercing eyes, portrays determination. His deep-set hazel eyes can be captivating and intimidating when he focuses on someone. Dark, wavy hair, often slicked back for a professional appearance, adds to his enigmatic charm. Maddox knows how to play the part of a successful attorney while keeping his darker affiliations concealed.

Now, those intense hazel eyes are fixed on Hadrian and me, silently demanding an explanation for our presence. He moves to stand behind Sawyer's chair, having discarded his blazer with his tie hanging loosely around his neck.

"We found Santo Ferrari," I tell him, nursing my coffee mug.

His gaze shifts to Sawyer, and those sharp eyes soften slightly when they meet hers. His muscles relax, and a grin appears on his chiseled face. He wraps an arm around her shoulder, bending low to place a kiss on her forehead. A pang courses through me, reminding me of what I am missing.

"Are you okay?" Hadrian asks me, concern furrowing his brows. He lifts a hand as if to touch me before lowering it.

"I'm fine, Hadrian," I assure him.

"Santo Ferrari is here?" Maddox asks.

I nod in confirmation. The gentleness in his eyes vanishes as he looks away from his wife. Instead, a wicked glint sparkles in his eyes, and a small, terrifying smile curls at the corner of his mouth. It promises vengeance for taking away his friend's happiness.

"Keep him alive," I order.

Maddox's eyes narrow, but he knows it is an order he has to follow. His jaw clenches as he nods, then he leans down once more to place a kiss on Sawyer's forehead before storming out of the kitchen.

"It's going to be a long day," Sawyer exhales. She finishes her tea, rinses the cup, and then faces us.

"I have no intention of watching Maddox torture the answers out of Ferrari. I have a project to work on. Have Nova alert me when you are leaving," she tells me. "Hadrian, it's nice to meet you."

Hadrian glances at me once Sawyer is out of sight.

"We have eight hours before we have to be home," he warns me, his rigid stance relaxing now that there are no strangers present.

"You can have a nap or look around. It takes four hours to reach the mansion," I offer hesitantly.

A familiar feeling of guilt gnaws at my chest, making it hard to breathe. I close my eyes for a minute, concentrating on suppressing the feeling. Once I am sure I have it all under control, I look at Hadrian, waiting for his answer.

"I will come with you," Hadrian replies. "Tell me, why on earth is Maddox Steele, Italy's best criminal lawyer, in this place, whatever the hell it is?"

"I'm aware of who he is, Hadrian," I reply nonchalantly, offering a vague answer that seems to frustrate him. His fists clench, and his jaw tightens.

"Now, come along," I motion for him to follow me. Together, we walk to the interrogation chamber.

Maddox is already there, leaning against the wall opposite Santo's chair. His tie is gone, and his hair is messier than it has been when he exited the room.

Santo Ferrari is wide awake when we enter the room. His eyes scan the room for possible escapes before they land on Hadrian, and he relaxes.

Maddox notices this and intervenes before Ferrari can come to absurd conclusions.

"He isn't going to help you," Maddox states. His velvety smooth voice only adds to the tension he creates. "In fact, you are completely at my mercy. Unfortunately, I am all out of mercy."

Once again, Santo starts looking around for an escape. He tries to pull his arms out of the automatic restraints, but it only makes them tighter. Sweat beads on his forehead as the gravity of his predicament sinks in.

"What do you want?" he groans.

"Tell me, Ferrari, what did you think you were doing, kidnapping someone under the DeSantis family?" Maddox's question comes off sounding innocent when it is anything but.

"I have no idea what you are speaking about," Santo mutters, still trying to get out of his restraints.

"It is no use," I tell him after a few minutes. "Do that again and they will cut off your blood supply."

"Lie to me one more time, Ferrari, I dare you," Maddox warns softly.

Maddox may be the best lawyer Italy has to offer, but his detached nature and ruthlessness is what earned him the title of being the right hand of the DeSantis Empire.

"What do you want me to say?" Santo snarls, the rage evident on his face.

"I don't know, Ferrari," Maddox drawls out lazily, his anger well hidden. "How about the truth?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Santo snaps.

I observe his body for tells, anything that points out a lie. I find none. Either Santo Ferrari is a master liar or the asshole tied to the chair, truly does not know anything. Therefore, when he repeats the same sentence again despite the threatening aura surrounding Maddox, I know it is the latter.

"Maddox, it's pointless," I say, my voice resigned. "He isn't lying."

Maddox's jaw and fists clench at my voice, his eyes narrow and his body stiffens. He throws a venomous glance in my direction, as if that makes what I said any less true.

"So, you really don't know who Scarlett DeLuca is?" Maddox questions, changing his direction of questioning.

"Of course, I know who she is," Santo scoffs. "Who doesn't know the female who brought Zaiden DeLuca to his knees?"

"So, you are aware of the DeLuca's." Maddox repeats pointedly. Santo nods eagerly.

"Then how come you didn't know that she was under the protection of the DeSantis's?"

Ferrari pales at Maddox's words. He struggles with is restraints once again, which only puts more pressure on his wrists. Tears well up in his eyes as the realization that he really did kidnap someone protected by the DeSantis family.

"I'm sorry." He sobs, "I didn't know she was protected."

"So, you agreed to kidnap an innocent woman?" Maddox asks blandly.

That is a crime punishable by death in our world. Harming innocents, especially women is a crime even in the Underworld. When Maddox punches Ferrari's face, I do not stop him.

"We do not harm women." Maddox grits out before landing another punch, breaking Santo's nose and rendering him unconscious.

"That is enough, Maddox." I snap when he goes to punch Santo again.

"Hope." Hadrian's voice reminds that he is still here, witnessing a part of me, one I wanted to hide.

I whirl around to face him. He stares at me with a glint in his eyes. One that takes me a few moments to recognize. It is understanding mixed with disbelief and anger.

"Do not look at me like that." I warn him.

His gaze, the look in his eyes is unsettling. It feels as if in this moment, my actions register completely. The longer he stares at me, the more apparent the realization becomes.

"What do you expect, Hadrian?" I scoff in disbelief.

Did he truly anticipate that I would stand on the sidelines while Maddox does all the work? Did he think I'd remain the same naive seven-year-old who was sent away in the name of protection? If that's what he wants to see, then he is more naive than I expected.

"You," he breathes. "You're supposed to be protected, away from it all."

He chokes out the words as if this whole situation pains him. I watch as all the events catch up to him, and I realize that he never comprehended that I am a part of the Underworld, of crime, violence, and death.

He tugs at his hair, his breathing turning shallow. He looks at me, and the utter disbelief in his gaze breaks my walls, just for a second before a cold indifference masks my face.

"Get yourself together," I snap at him. "I don't have time to console you. Get your act together if you want in."

"Hope," Maddox's voice is a warning, not to cross the line. I don't care at this point.

The only lead to Scarlett DeLuca is slipping through my hands. I have no clue how to face Zaiden, find Silver, or get Soraya. I have too much on my plate to think about Hadrian.

"How?" Hadrian asks.

His voice is blank, and so is his gaze. There is none of the earlier disbelief in him now. His body is taut, and anger oozes out of him.

"I am a Valentine, Hadrian," I answer. "Violence is our nature."

The atmosphere turns quiet, and tension hangs heavy. None of us speak, too lost in our own thoughts.

"What's next?" Maddox breaks the silence.

I glance at him. His jaw is clenched, and he keeps staring between Hadrian and Santo as if he is going to murder one of them. I sigh. This is a mess. Honestly, our family has been a mess for years now.

"Why does it concern you?" Hadrian snips.

"Shut it, Valentine," Maddox snaps back. "I might just deck you."

"I'd like to see you try," Hadrian replies.

He looks like he is about to snap any second now, if the anger radiating off of him is any indication. He is itching for a fight, antagonizing Maddox to release some of the anger. What he doesn't know is that Maddox Steele is not someone whose composure ever breaks, except in front of his wife, Sawyer Steele.

I watch as Hadrian tries to get a rise out of the lawyer. Composure, Maddox holds onto his like it is his lifeline.

"Enough," I snarl. My voice leaves no room for argument. "Test your masculinity somewhere else or get out."

Both of them stop. Hadrian is still glaring at Maddox, but the latter regards him with cool composure. Maddox doesn't take his eyes off Hadrian even as he speaks to me.

"What's next?" He repeats his earlier question.

"Send a thumb to the Valentine mansion. I will deal with Ferrari," I reply.

Hadrian's head snaps to me. He stares at me as if I lost my mind.

"You want to send a thumb to Devon," he says. "Are you out of your mind?"

"What I do is none of your concern," I say.

"That is our home you're talking about, Hope," his voice rises. Frustration is evident on him. Clenched fists and glaring eyes show it.

Something snaps inside me at that. That mansion had been my home ten years ago, not anymore. And it is high time he realizes that.

"It is not my home," I tell him. "It was, once. Not anymore."

"You do realize that you're threatening Devon in his home. That message will start a war," Hadrian points out the obvious.

"I am not afraid of war," I reply harshly. "This is a message for Devon, to keep his dogs under control."

"Why are you helping the DeSantis'? " Hadrian grumbles.

"Family. " is my reply. I don't elaborate and he doesn't ask any further questions.

Letting Hadrian in on what goes on is turning out to be more of a nuisance than expected. The door opens, and Azil steps in, freshly showered.

"I'll take care of Ferrari. Just have a light dinner," Maddox cautions.

He steps towards me, his arms outstretched for a hug. I comply because as much as a mess this is, we still have each other. He wraps his arms around me and I fold into his body. The familiar cinnamon spice surrounds me, a mix of his and Sawyer's scents. It brings a semblance of comfort. 

He pulls back, placing a kiss on my cheek. Hazel eyes land on my face and a small smile curls up on his face.

"Now go and piss Valentine off for me." He says, letting me go.

I nod. Maddox disliked Devon Valentine for as long as I could remember. The dislike turned into hate when Devon kidnapped Sawyer as collateral. But that is a story for another time.

"We need to go." Azil's voice rings out. 

We make our way out, towards the entrance. Sawyer meets us there. She gives me a hug and the Steele's see us off.

It is late by the time we reach the Valentine mansion. Reuben greets us at the door. urging us to make it on time for dinner because Devon is already angry. I smile at that. Good. That means he knows Ferrari is gone.

By the time I make it to the dining hall, everyone is already present except Devon. The long, polished table is set impeccably, adorned with crystal glasses and fine china. Candles flicker, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. The atmosphere is tense, as if the air itself crackles with anticipation.

I take a seat between Hadrian and Reuben, opposite to Azil. Rosa places our plates before us but we don't start. Minutes feel like hours as we wait on our eldest brother. 

Finally, he arrives. Still dressed in the black suit he adorned for work, Devon is barking into his phone. He acknowledges us with a nod, taking his place at the head of the table, still talking.

"What do you mean he is gone?" He snarls. Anger surrounds him but his composure remains intact. Whatever the person on the other side says is not the answer he wants to hear. That is painstakingly evident when he speaks again, rather calmly, a stark contrast to his anger.

"Lavori per me. Trova quell'idiota e portamelo vivo" he snaps before ending the call. (You work for me. Find that idiot and bring him to me alive)

We start eating once the call ends. No one dares to break the tense atmosphere. Reuben keeps glancing at Devon but hesitates to make conversation. It is surprising, considering he is the lively one out of us.

A guard slips into the dining hall, his face pale and his body shaking. My eyes snap to the gift wrapped box and I place my cutlery down. He rushes towards Devon, his words a blubbering mess. All eyes turn towards him, including Devon's. He freezes for a moment, his eyes narrowing in irritation at the interruption, but then he notices the panic in the guard's face.

"Capo,." The guard stutters "There has been a delivery." 

He hands the box to Devon. My brother takes the box, glaring at the guard. Deliveries like this are not uncommon but they are not welcome either. Devon nods in dismissal and the guard scurries away.

I watch as he unwraps the box and pulls out the thumb inside it. Reuben grimaces at the sight. Hadrian looks at me. I smile at the accusation in his gaze. He did not think that I would actually allow Maddox to do it. 

Riven is the first to speak. His voice comes out gruff, an undertone of anger lines it.

"What is that?" he asks.

Devon dumps the rest of the contents onto the table in response. A ring and a letter lay on the table. Devon picks up the letter, reading it out for everyone.

"Keep your dogs under control Valentine. He harmed someone protected, now he pays for it."  Devon ends. "It is signed from DeSantis."

"Atleast, now we know where Ferrari is. " Reuben offers tentatively.

"What did he do?" Riven snips. 

Devon glares at him, a silent gesture to stay composed. Composure is everything in our world. Lose it and you may as well have handed your life on a silver platter. Riven snorts but doesn't speak.

"The question is, whom did he touch?" Devon whispers to himself. I do not think he expects an answer because, his eyes widen slightly in surprise when I answer him.

"Scarlett DeLuca." My answer is simple.