The Devil I Thought I Knew

The rain poured hard, soaking Eva’s jacket as she stood in front of the iron gates. The serpent symbol on the gate seemed to watch her, daring her to turn back. But she couldn’t. She had come too far for that. She needed to make her way into the LUCA CLAN.

She adjusted her bag, trying to steady her breathing. Her knuckles were bruised from the fight she’d staged minutes ago, the perfect cover to explain why she was here. This was her only chance to get close to them.

The guard at the gate stepped forward, his hand resting on his gun. "Name?"

"Eva Montes," she said, her voice steady. It wasn’t her real name, but she’d practiced this lie enough to make it sound true. "I’m here from the Moretti family. They sent me for protection."

After conducting thorough research, she discovered that the Moretti family was protected by the Luca clan in exchange for gold, cash, and hard drugs. She had approached the family disguised as a pitiful orphan seeking work, and her plan had worked. This was how she had ended up here. The staged fight had been necessary to prove she could defend herself and wouldn't be a liability if allowed to join the clan.

The guard’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t believe her yet. Calmly she reached into her bag, pulling out a small flash drive. "This has proof. I took out three Valentini men last night. You’ll see I’m useful."

The guard grabbed the drive and studied her for a moment before nodding. The Valentini men belonged to another mafia group, enemies of the Luca clan. The gates opened slowly, revealing the estate hidden behind tall trees and mist.

Eva didn't bother to bow in acknowledgment as she stepped inside, her heart pounding. Every step she took felt heavier. She was walking into the home of the people who destroyed her life.

*******

Inside, the room was dimly lit, with shadows stretching across the walls. Men in all black stood around, talking and laughing like they had nothing to fear. At the center of it all sat a man in a leather chair, watching her.

Lorenzo De Luca.

Then man himself. The one that murdered her parents and yet enjoyed the show. This man in his late 50s was the one she needed to kill.

Eva’s hands clenched at her sides, but she kept her face calm.

She was aware that he had a son, but she had never seen him before. Discreetly, she scanned the room, trying not to attract attention, completely unaware that Lorenzo was watching her every move from his chair, his eyes never leaving her.

In order to take down this man, her first task was to win over his so-called son. To get close to the devil himself, she would have to gain the trust of his son first.

"You must be the new recruit," Lorenzo’s voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present.

He stood up abruptly, and Eva felt the weight of his gaze as he looked her up and down.

"Yes Sir" she said, forcing her voice to stay steady.

"Eva Montes. I work alone, but the Moretti family thought I could be useful here." She explained, keeping her gaze down.

Lorenzo tilted his head, studying her like she was some kind of puzzle or a map. His lips curved into a small smile, but his eyes stayed cold.

"Interesting," he said after a long pause. “You don’t seem afraid."

"I'm not," Eva lied. To hell, she was damn afraid. If only she knew he was the one she would be facing, not his son. It would have been easier to lock eyes with him, especially since she knew exactly how to seduce men.

Lorenzo’s smile grew. "Good. Fear doesn’t last long here."

He stepped closer, and Eva fought the urge to move back. He was so close now, she could feel the heat from him. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face which made her swallowed hard.

"If you’re loyal, you’ll prove it," he said quietly almost as if he was whispering to her hearings only.

"If you’re lying…" He let the words hang in the air before stepping back.

"Welcome to the De Luca family, Eva. Don’t disappoint me." He said instead and she released the breath she didn't know she was holding.

"You can leave now. Someone will be waiting for you at the entrance," a voice said. Eva gave a small nod, then turned to leave. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her steps steady, knowing she had made it inside.

But as she walked away, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. It had been too easy to get accepted.

Behind her, Lorenzo leaned back in his chair, his gaze following her as she left. His smile remained unchanged.

"She’s hiding something," he muttered under his breath.