Crowned In Shadows

Valentina POV:

Today Max and I have a mission. The target is Dion Cartier he is a American rapper and Alex already has enough of him. 

He is been 

The city hums beneath me, neon and sin bleeding into the wet pavement.

From up here, the air tastes like rain, cigarettes, and bad decisions—the kind that makes men like Dion Cartier rich. He thinks he owns this city. Thinks he owns them. The girls, the bodies, the lives he grinds down to nothing.

He doesn't know it yet, but tonight, he's the one who won't make it out.

Maxim stands beside me, all tension and calculation. Always thinking three steps ahead. Always planning. I pop my gum, letting the sound cut through the night like a gunshot.

"Are we doing this quietly or loud?"

"Quiet," he mutters, eyes locked on the club entrance.

I sigh, dramatically. "Boring."

"Efficient."

Inside, the club swallows us whole—heat, bodies, bass shaking the floor beneath my boots. I move like I belong here because, for tonight, I do. Maxim follows, silent as a shadow.

Dion Cartier lounges in the VIP section, draped in gold and arrogance, a king on a stolen throne. The girls beside him are young. Too young. Their smiles don't reach their eyes.

I tilt my head, fingers curling into fists. "How do you wanna do this?"

"You distract. I'll handle him."

I smirk, all sharp edges. "I want a few minutes with him first."

Maxim doesn't look at me. "We're on a schedule."

"I know."

The guards are exactly what I expected—too big, too slow, too stupid to see me coming.

I sway toward them, resting a hand on one of their broad chests with an easy grin. "Hey, boys."

The nearest one barely glances at me. "VIP only, sweetheart."

I pout. "Come on, just for a second—Dion and I go way back."

Lies. But I say it like the truth, tilting my head just so, letting the club lights catch on the sheen of my lip gloss. One of them shifts slightly, less rigid. That's all I need.

I move fast.

A blade between my fingers pressed just beneath the first guard's ribs. Hechokeds on blood as I lean in close, voice soft in his ear. "Shhh. Let's keep it quiet, yeah?"

The second one reaches for his gun—Maxim is already there. A sharp twist, a crack, and the man crumples.

I flick blood from my knife, exhaling. "See? Loud is more fun."

"Shut up and move," Maxim mutters.

Dion Cartier finally notices something's wrong when I slide into the seat beside him, draping an arm over his shoulders as we go way back.

He frowns, pulling his sunglasses down. "The hell? Who—"

"Big fan," I interrupt, grinning. "Love your work."

Confusion flickers in his eyes. Good.

I grab the stupidly expensive knife from the table and twirl it between my fingers. The girls beside him go still. They don't run. Not yet.

"How many, Dion?"

He blinks. "What?"

"How many girls have you broken? How many lives have you ruined?" My grip tightens. "Or do you not even keep count?"

Realization dawns—too late.

I slam the knife through his hand, pinning it to the table.

Dion screams.

The girls flinch, their eyes wide.

I twist the blade and lean in. "Not so fun when you're the one trapped, huh?"

Dion gasps, voice raw. "You—"

Maxim moves before he can finish.

A single bullet. Clean. Right between the eyes.

No begging. No speeches. Just the dull thud of his body hitting the table.

I sigh, exhaling disappointment. "Damn, Max, I was just getting started."

Alarms blare.

Maxim wipes his hands on the dead man's suit. "Next time, we do it my way."

I step over Dion's body without a second glance. "Next time? We make it hurt."

And just like that, we disappear into the night.

****

When we get back home I am so fucking tired I think I can faint right now, right here. I enter through the gate on my motorcycle.

Since my family now knows who I am, I don't need to go through my window for my missions. Although I am pretty about tonight's mission, even though I couldn't give the bitch what he deserves.

I go through the door and immediately my brothers come rushing through the door with worried gazes.

"Where were you."

"Are you okay?"

"We were worried." 

"Never do that again."

"Who's blood is that." 

Questions come flying at me. I wave them off. "I was on a mission." I lock my eyes with each one of them to know that I am okay. "No need to be worried and it's not my blood." 

My dad says "Never do that again, Val. We were worried sick. I was two seconds away from sending a research team after you. At least tell us next time." 

I smile at him "I will. I promise." I reply, determination lacing my voice. He widens his arms and I let my bag fall to the floor going in the hug. 

I don't like physical touch, but I don't mind,n ow or with Enzo...

When his arms come around me. I hear someone shout "Family hug." before I feel crushed in the middle of arms coming around us.

At this point, I am going to get crushed, if they don't stop.