Chapter 1 - The Blood Oath
The name echoed against the cold hospital linoleum like a death sentence. Luca Moretti. Even a girl running on fumes and sheer terror like Elena knew that name; it belonged to the syndicate that owned half the docks and whispered into the ears of senators.
Mateo scrambled backward across the polished floor, his blue suit wrinkled, his chest heaving with humiliated fury. ""You have no right, Moretti! She’s my wife! That kid carries my bloodline!""
Luca did not even look at him. He handed the clipboard back to the shaking nurse, capping his gold fountain pen with a distinct, metallic click. The sound sliced through the sterile air, silencing Mateo’s tirade instantly.
""Legally, she was your wife until five minutes ago,"" Luca murmured, his voice velvety and devoid of emotion. ""As of this moment, her debts, her child, and her protection belong entirely to the Moretti estate. You forged loans against your father’s syndicate using her as collateral. Did you think I wouldn't buy the debt?""
Elena shrank against the wall, her arms trembling under the weight of her newborn son. The baby let out a fragile, muffled whimper, nuzzling into the fleece blanket. She stared at Luca's back, tracing the black ink curling up his collar—a coiled serpent wrapping around an iron dagger.
Luca turned toward her. His eyes were startlingly light, like polished slate, stripping away any illusion of mercy. He extended a long, scarred hand toward her, but Elena flinched violently, pulling the infant tighter against her bruised collarbone.
""I won't let anyone take him,"" she gasped, her voice raw from hours of labor and screams. ""I swear to God, I'll die before I hand him over.""
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A flicker of dark amusement touched the corner of Luca's mouth. ""If you stay here, dying is the easy part, Elena. Mateo has four armed men waiting by the emergency exit, and they didn't come to negotiate.""
Before she could process his words, the distant heavy thump of double doors bursting open reverberated down the hallway, followed by the unmistakable, rhythmic clatter of semi-automatic slides being racked back.
