THE ASSASSIN WHO SWORE TO KILL THE MAFIA QUEEN… NOW WALKS HER PALACE AS A PRISONER WHO CAN'T ESCAPE THE WOMAN WATCHING HER
The east wing of the DeLuca mansion was not what Raven expected.
Prisons had a certain feeling to them—cold stone, narrow corridors, guards watching every breath you took. Even luxurious prisons usually carried the subtle weight of control. Locked doors. Cameras following every movement. A constant reminder that freedom existed somewhere far away.
But the east wing felt almost… peaceful.
Sunlight spilled across polished marble floors as Raven stepped through the long corridor, her footsteps echoing softly in the quiet hall. Tall windows lined the wall to her right, revealing gardens stretching across the hillside below the mansion. The morning breeze stirred the trees gently, sending shadows drifting across the white stone paths.
And yet Raven knew better.
This place was still a cage.
Just a beautiful one.
She moved slowly, every muscle alert despite the calm surroundings. Her eyes scanned everything automatically—the placement of security sensors hidden near the ceiling corners, the subtle seams in the walls where reinforced doors could slide shut, the faint distortion in the glass windows that revealed bulletproof layering.
Isabella DeLuca had built a palace.
But she had built it like a fortress.
Raven paused at the end of the hallway and pushed open a glass door leading onto a terrace. Fresh air rushed toward her as she stepped outside. The garden below was breathtaking—stone fountains, curved walking paths, flowering trees arranged in deliberate patterns that looked almost artistic from above.
She leaned against the terrace railing, scanning the grounds.
Two guards patrolled near the outer gate.
Another pair stood beside a security vehicle parked near the entrance road.
Snipers.
Raven spotted at least two on the rooftops of nearby structures.
And probably several more she couldn't see.
Her lips twitched slightly.
"Overkill," she muttered.
"Is it?"
The voice behind her was calm.
Smooth.
And entirely too familiar.
Raven turned slowly.
Isabella DeLuca stood in the doorway.
The queen had removed her suit jacket now, leaving the crisp white shirt beneath slightly open at the collar. Her sleeves were rolled neatly to her elbows, revealing toned forearms that hinted she wasn't as fragile as her elegant reputation suggested.
But it wasn't her appearance that caught Raven's attention.
It was the way she stood.
Relaxed.
Completely unbothered by the fact that the woman she had captured had tried to assassinate her less than twenty-four hours ago.
Raven crossed her arms.
"You follow all your prisoners around personally?"
Isabella walked onto the terrace, the sunlight catching in her dark hair as she approached.
"I follow interesting people."
Raven snorted softly.
"You must live a very boring life if I'm the highlight."
Isabella leaned against the railing beside her.
"You'd be surprised."
For a moment they stood side by side in silence, both looking out over the estate.
Raven spoke first.
"You're not worried."
Isabella raised an eyebrow.
"About?"
"Standing this close to me."
The queen turned her head slightly.
Her eyes met Raven's.
"Should I be?"
Raven's lips curved faintly.
"You're the one who said I still want to kill you."
"And you do."
Isabella's tone remained calm.
"But you won't."
Raven scoffed.
"That confidence is going to get you killed one day."
Isabella's smile returned.
"Perhaps."
She turned her gaze back toward the gardens.
"But not by you."
The certainty in her voice made Raven's jaw tighten.
"Don't be so sure."
"Oh, I'm very sure."
Isabella glanced at her again.
"Because if you truly wanted me dead right now…"
Her eyes flicked briefly toward the railing.
"You would have pushed me already."
Raven froze.
Because she had considered it.
For a split second when Isabella stepped beside her.
But the thought had vanished just as quickly.
Not because she couldn't do it.
But because something inside her wanted answers first.
Isabella noticed the hesitation.
And smiled.
"Exactly."
Raven turned away from the railing.
"You're enjoying this way too much."
"Of course."
Isabella straightened.
"You've been hunting me for months."
Her voice softened slightly.
"I'm curious about the woman who thought she could win."
Raven tilted her head.
"And what have you learned so far?"
Isabella studied her carefully.
"You're disciplined."
"Predictable."
"And very angry."
Raven's eyes narrowed.
"That last one sounds like a personal opinion."
"It's an observation."
Isabella walked slowly across the terrace, circling Raven the way a predator might circle another predator.
"You carry anger like armor."
"Good."
"It makes you reckless."
Raven smirked.
"Coming from a mafia queen, that's ironic."
Isabella stopped in front of her again.
"You're wrong about one thing."
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"What's that?"
"You're not my prisoner."
Raven laughed.
"Oh?"
Isabella gestured toward the open doorway behind them.
"You're free to walk through the east wing."
"Because you locked every other exit."
"Yes."
"That's a prison."
Isabella tilted her head slightly.
"No."
Her voice dropped.
"That's supervision."
Raven stared at her.
"You're unbelievable."
Isabella smiled faintly.
"And yet you're still here."
That line lingered.
Raven hated how true it was.
Because if she really wanted to escape, she could have started a fight already.
Taken one guard hostage.
Forced her way through the mansion.
But she hadn't.
And Isabella clearly understood why.
The queen suddenly gestured toward the gardens below.
"Walk with me."
Raven blinked.
"Excuse me?"
Isabella stepped toward the terrace stairs.
"You wanted to see my empire."
She glanced over her shoulder.
"Let's start small."
Raven didn't move.
"You expect me to just follow you?"
"Yes."
"Why would I do that?"
Isabella's lips curved slightly.
"Because curiosity is stronger than hate."
Raven hesitated.
The queen watched her calmly.
Waiting.
Finally Raven sighed and pushed away from the railing.
"Fine."
Isabella nodded once.
Then she started down the stone steps toward the garden.
Raven followed a few paces behind.
The guards watching from the courtyard stiffened slightly as the two women approached, but none of them interfered. That alone told Raven something important.
No one in this mansion questioned Isabella's decisions.
Not even when she walked through the estate with an assassin at her side.
They reached the garden path.
Flowers lined the walkway—white lilies, crimson roses, clusters of pale violet blossoms Raven couldn't name. The scent of them filled the warm afternoon air.
"You garden," Raven said flatly.
Isabella glanced at the plants.
"My mother did."
That answer surprised Raven.
"I didn't picture mafia queens watering flowers."
Isabella smiled faintly.
"She liked beautiful things."
They walked in silence for a few seconds.
Then Raven spoke again.
"Your staff don't look afraid of you."
"No."
"Why?"
Isabella looked genuinely amused.
"You're asking a mafia leader why her employees aren't terrified?"
"Yes."
Isabella shrugged slightly.
"Fear creates poor loyalty."
Raven frowned.
"That's not how crime organizations work."
"That's how bad crime organizations work."
The response was immediate.
Confident.
Raven studied her.
"You run a cartel."
"I run a system."
"There's a difference?"
"Yes."
Isabella stopped walking.
She turned to face Raven directly.
"My people are paid well."
"They're protected."
"They're trained."
"And they understand exactly what role they play."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"Most of them were working in poverty before joining my network."
Raven crossed her arms.
"You're saying crime improved their lives."
"I'm saying reality is complicated."
That phrase again.
Raven hated how calmly Isabella dismantled her expectations.
"You're still responsible for violence," Raven said.
"Yes."
The admission came instantly.
"Power requires it."
Raven studied her face carefully.
There was no hesitation in the queen's voice.
No guilt.
Just quiet acceptance.
That honesty made Raven uneasy.
"You don't deny it," Raven said slowly.
"Why would I?"
Isabella began walking again.
"I'm not pretending to be a saint."
They reached a small stone fountain in the center of the garden. Water flowed gently over carved marble figures.
Raven leaned against the fountain edge.
"So you admit you're a monster."
Isabella paused.
Then she looked at Raven.
Her expression softened slightly.
"No."
Her voice dropped.
"I admit I'm necessary."
The word lingered in the air.
Raven felt irritation flare immediately.
"That's the kind of justification tyrants use."
Isabella laughed softly.
"And assassins don't?"
Raven's jaw tightened.
"I eliminate criminals."
"According to who?"
"The Covenant."
The name slipped out before Raven could stop it.
Silence followed.
Isabella's eyes sharpened instantly.
"The Covenant."
Raven cursed internally.
She hadn't meant to reveal that.
But Isabella didn't look surprised.
Instead the queen's smile returned slowly.
"So that's what they call themselves."
Raven stared at her.
"You've heard of them?"
"Oh yes."
Isabella's voice turned thoughtful.
"They've tried to kill me three times before."
Raven blinked.
"Three?"
"Yes."
The queen began walking again.
"And now they sent you."
Raven followed automatically.
"You make it sound like a compliment."
"It is."
Isabella glanced at her.
"You're the most effective assassin they've produced."
The statement was casual.
But it hit Raven harder than expected.
Because she realized something disturbing.
Isabella had been studying the Covenant.
Just like she had been studying Raven.
The queen stopped near the edge of the garden where the forest began.
The trees stretched down the hillside like a dark green ocean.
Isabella looked out at them quietly.
Then she said something softly.
"They didn't tell you everything."
Raven sighed.
"Not this again."
Isabella turned toward her.
"You think the Covenant exists purely to protect innocent people."
"Yes."
"But what if they're just another organization chasing power?"
Raven laughed.
"You're reaching."
"Am I?"
Isabella stepped closer.
"So tell me something, Raven."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"How much do you actually know about the people who raised you?"
The question struck deeper than Raven expected.
Because the honest answer was simple.
Not much.
She knew their mission.
Their ideology.
Their enemies.
But beyond that…
The Covenant had always been shrouded in secrecy.
Isabella noticed the hesitation.
And her smile deepened slightly.
"Exactly."
Raven forced herself to glare.
"You're trying to plant doubt."
"Yes."
The honesty returned.
"And it's working."
Raven hated that she might be right.
The queen stepped back.
Then she gestured toward the mansion.
"Come."
Raven frowned.
"Where?"
"My office."
"Again?"
Isabella's eyes glimmered slightly.
"You still want to kill me."
Raven didn't deny it.
"Good."
The queen began walking back toward the house.
"Because if you're going to stay in my palace…"
Her voice carried a faint hint of amusement.
"You might as well learn how the kingdom works."
Raven followed slowly.
And for the first time since entering Isabella DeLuca's world…
She wasn't entirely sure which one of them was the hunter anymore.
[TO BE CONTINUED]