Catalina Morales
The Morales villa stood like a golden scar above the hills of Madrid... an estate of luxury soaked in blood, tradition, and whispered threats. The olive groves around it swayed gently in the early summer breeze, their peace a sharp contrast to the elements of war surrounding it.
And one of those elements was Lina Morales... An heiress who ran away from her duties.
She was a stunning beauty, with sharp sapphire eyes and long legs. She had a slender build, but was still quite fit for a woman.
She stepped from her sleek black car, her heels clicking sharply against the stone driveway. A fitted black suit clung to her like armor, and her long dark hair was tied into a ponytail tight enough to slice glass. She hadn't set foot in her father's estate in nearly a year. Not since the funeral.
Her brother's funeral.
She was led through familiar hallways, lined with old Spanish tapestries and crucifixes—symbols her father liked to hide behind. The house smelled of cigar smoke and saffron, just like always.
Armed men stood like statues along the corridors, posted at strategic points throughout the villa. They weren't guarding against imagined threats. They were protecting against real enemies.
That's right—she wasn't just any Spanish woman. And her family wasn't just any Spanish family.
They were the ruling family of one of the most powerful cartels in all of Spain, controlled by her father, Joaquín Morales. Commonly known as Don.
And like every major syndicate, they were ruthless. But Lina had never wanted a part in any of it.
After her mother died, seven-year-old Lina was thrust into a life she never chose. Her elder brother, Miguel, had done everything in his power to shield her from the darker parts of their world. He wanted to protect her innocence.
But even with all his efforts, Lina still grew into a cold, calculated woman. Thanks to her father.
He always insisted that women shouldn't be left behind. So he trained her... taught her the logistics, the politics, the ruthless efficiency needed to run a criminal empire. Even though she was not meant to be the heir.
When Miguel, the rightful heir, died a year ago, everything changed. Her father tried to force his legacy onto her shoulders, but Lina refused. She wanted no part of the throne soaked in blood.
So she left.
She disappeared in search of her own path, leaving her family behind... which, by then, had been reduced to just her and her father.
Eventually, she joined the military as a mercenary. And within a year, she'd established her own private security firm.
She carved out a life that was hers, free from the weight of the Morales name. Or so she thought.
As a member of the Morales family, she was Bound by fate. Bound by blood. And bound by fire.
There was no true escape.
Even if she had rejected the heirship, her responsibilities still found her. Favors were still owed. And her father was someone she basically owed her life to.
He had summoned her a few weeks ago, asking for a "simple" favor.
But nothing was ever simple with the Don.
He waited in his study, seated behind the same carved walnut desk he'd built his empire from. Silver hair slicked back, a silk shirt open at the collar, rosary beads draped over his knuckles like weapons.
"You look thin," he said in Spanish, gesturing to the seat across from him. "Are you eating properly in the city, or still pretending you're not your father's daughter?"
Lina didn't sit. "Why did you call me here, Papá?"
Joaquín smiled.. slow and cold. "Straight to business, heh, Niña?. Just like your mother."
"Don't invoke her," Lina snapped. "She's dead because of you."
He leaned forward, his smile turning into something darker. "And you'll be next, unless you listen."
That silenced her, but only outwardly. Her eyes remained sharp.
He slid a file across the desk. "You're to marry Dominic Romano. A contract has been signed. The wedding is in two weeks."
Lina laughed... a short, bitter sound. "That's very funny, dad. Try again."
"It's not a joke, hija. It's a necessity. This alliance keeps the Morales cartel from going to war with half of Spain."
She frowned. "Are you kidding me? You said you needed me a simple task... A war is none of my business."
He chuckled. "You're a part of this family, Catalina. And that makes it your business. Besides, it is a simple task. All you have to do is get married, what could be more simpler?"
Lina sighed. "And if I refuse?"
He didn't raise his voice. He didn't have to.
"You'll marry Héctor de la Cruz instead."
A shiver moved through her, but she masked it with disdain. "You're giving me a choice between the devil I don't know and the one who nearly killed me?"
Joaquín's smile faded. "Romano is not a kind man. But he's strategic. Controlled. He won't harm you unless you provoke him."
She scoffed. "How reassuring."
He stood, walking to the window that overlooked the valley. "This marriage is the only way you survive, Lina. I've lived a long and fulfilled life... But you're still so young and there's still so much more to this life for you to explore... and dominate. I'm doing this for you."
Her hands clenched. "You're selling me like property."
"No," Joaquín said, turning back to her. "I'm selling you like insurance. Marrying Dominic ensures your safety and mine. I won't make the same mistake I did with Miguel."
Lina clenched her fist, she was furious. Her father had said it. The truth... cut and served like a final meal.
She turned and stormed off.
"Think carefully, Mi hija." he added softly. "You won't get another offer. And if you don't show up at the Romano estate by Friday, I'll take it as a yes to Héctor."
Lina didn't respond. She walked out with her head high, each step echoing louder than her heartbeat. Heading back to her car.
In the car, she sat in silence. The city skyline shimmered in the distance, glowing with false promises. It looked like freedom.. but her fate lay somewhere darker.
She leaned back into the leather seat, the hum of the engine a soft backdrop to her thoughts.
"Papa's finally lost it. He calls me out of nowhere and tells me I'm getting married.. to Dominic Romano, of all people."*
Her brows furrowed as she stared out the window.
"A man who parades as a respectable businessman, when in reality, he's the head of a cartel. A cartel that's been our family's rival for decades."
Lina had distanced herself from cartel affairs, yes... but that didn't mean she wasn't paying attention. She knew the game, the players, the stakes. The Romano cartel had been locked in a silent war with the Morales family long before she was even born. The hatred ran deep. Generational.
And now her father wanted her to end that blood feud. Not with peace talks. Not with strategy. But with a wedding band.
She didn't have a problem with arranged marriages. In this world... 'her' world, that was always going to be part of the deal. If you were born a woman into a cartel family, you didn't get to choose your partner. Love was a luxury. Control was the currency.
Even though she had broken free from her father's grip, this was still a responsibility she could never fully escape. One she had once walked away from.
Years ago, she'd been betrothed to a man from one of their allied families. They'd had a relationship... But he turned out to be a dangerous, unhinged psychopath. And when she uncovered the truth, she did everything in her power to sever the engagement.
And that almost triggered a war.
But in the end, everything was resolved and she managed to be favoured.
She knew she wouldn't be so lucky this time. Her father wouldn't let her walk away again. Not when the alliance with the Romano cartel was the only thing keeping their empire from crumbling.
So now, with a heavy heart, a fierce spirit, and a calculating mind...
She smirked faintly to herself, whispering into the quiet:
"Fine. Let's see what this Romano devil looks like up close."