Midnight settled over the city like a suffocating blanket, swallowing the streets in silence. The faint glow of flickering streetlights barely reached the shadowed alley where a figure moved — precise, calculated, unseen.
He was waiting. A man notorious for slipping through cracks — Marco Bellini — a thief who knew how to disappear before anyone could catch him. His work with the Russos had earned him respect, but also enemies. Tonight, he'd made the mistake of crossing paths with the wrong one.
From the rooftops, Vesper watched. The flick of a cigarette between Marco's fingers made him an easy target — a bright ember in the dark. Vesper's fingers toyed with the cool steel of his signature blade, the sharp 'V' engraving catching faint moonlight.
Another midnight, another hit.
Marco chuckled into his phone, seemingly carefree. "Relax," his voice carried faintly through the night. "I know what I'm doing… no one's stupid enough to—"
The blade struck before Marco could finish.
A swift flick of Vesper's wrist sent the knife soaring, embedding deep in Marco's chest — right where his heart should have been. The thief staggered back, clutching at the handle, eyes wide in disbelief as crimson stained his shirt.
"You…" Marco's voice strained before his knees buckled, his body slumping against the alley wall.
Vesper stepped forward, face shrouded beneath his hood, and stared down at the lifeless man. With calm precision, he twisted the blade free, wiping it clean with a dark cloth. Blood smeared across the engraved 'V', his signature — his warning.
One mistake… that's all it takes.
Without a sound, Vesper melted back into the shadows, leaving behind nothing but a body… and a reputation that grew deadlier with every heartbeat that stopped.
The morning air was crisp when news of Marco Bellini's death broke. The television in the bar flickered with details — another victim, same signature — a knife with the letter 'V' engraved into the steel.
Valerio, seated at the counter, clenched his jaw. His grip on his whiskey glass tightened, the ice clinking faintly.
"That's the third one this month," Dante muttered beside him, watching the screen with narrowed eyes.
"Yeah," Valerio grunted. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't random — that Vesper's hits weren't just business anymore.
From across the room, Leona emerged, adjusting her hair into a loose bun. She paused when she noticed the news, her fingers lingering in her hair before she forced a smile and walked over.
"Another one?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.
Valerio glanced at her. "Yeah… Bellini."
Leona's smile faltered slightly. "He was… connected to the Russos, right?"
"Too connected," Dante muttered darkly.
Leona's hand twitched at her side before she forced herself to shake it off. "Guess you're drinking whiskey in the morning again, huh?" she teased, trying to lift the mood.
"Coffee wasn't strong enough," Valerio shot back, a half-smile playing on his lips.
"You should switch to tea," she quipped. "Might soften you up a bit."
Dante snorted, but Valerio barely reacted. His gaze lingered on the TV screen. The symbol of the engraved 'V' burned in his mind — a reminder that someone out there wasn't finished yet.
And somewhere in the crowd, beneath the warm glow of the bar lights, Leona forced her smile wider — hiding the weight she carried alone.
The morning sunlight streamed through the large windows of the Moretti estate when Alessia, wrapped in a soft cardigan, slowly stepped out of her room. Her steps were hesitant, as though she'd forgotten how to exist outside those four walls.
Leona, seated nearby with a book in hand, looked up — and her face instantly lit up.
"Alessia!" she called out, her voice bright with excitement. Setting her book aside, Leona rushed over, barely resisting the urge to hug her. "You're out!"
Alessia offered a small, shy smile. "Yeah… thought I'd give walking a try."
"Well," Leona grinned, "lucky for you, I happen to be an excellent walking partner."
"Is that so?" Alessia chuckled softly.
Leona held out her arm dramatically. "Come on, let's get you some breakfast."
As the two strolled toward the dining room, Valerio and Dante watched from across the room.
"You'd think Leona just won the lottery," Dante murmured, watching how brightly Leona's eyes sparkled.
"She's good for her," Valerio said quietly, his gaze lingering on Leona a little too long.
"She's good for you too," Dante teased, earning himself a glare.
At the breakfast table, the entire Moretti and Russo families gathered. The air was lighter than usual, with Alessia seated among them for the first time in ages. Conversations flowed, but Leona's attention was fixed on the plates being set before them.
The cook placed a bowl of vibrant greens in front of her. Leona stared at it, then looked up, incredulous.
"Salad… again?" she blurted out, her voice carrying enough disbelief to turn heads.
Valerio smirked behind his coffee cup. "What? It's healthy."
Leona stabbed a fork into a cherry tomato like it had personally wronged her. "You people act like seasoning is a crime," she muttered under her breath.
Dante choked on his drink, barely stifling a laugh, while Valerio's mother gave Leona an amused smile.
"I— I can't take this anymore!" she sniffled like a child, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. "Why are you like this, Valerio?" Her voice cracked. "I feel like a prisoner here! I can't go back to my apartment, I can't go back to work, and now all I get to eat is… this!" She gestured to her plate miserably.
Valerio leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin. His face was unreadable, but before he could speak, Leona continued, voice shaky yet stubborn.
"I'm not some doll you can lock up and control. I feel like I'm suffocating here!"
Valerio's parents exchanged glances, while Dante awkwardly poked at his own salad to avoid the tension.
"I'll… I'll talk to the cook," Valerio muttered finally, his tone softer than usual. "No more salad."
For some reason, that made Leona's eyes well up even more. She sniffled again, muttering, "Good," before shoving a forkful of greens into her mouth, chewing angrily like it was her greatest enemy.
The tense silence was broken by a sudden burst of laughter — loud, genuine, and unmistakably Alessia's.
Everyone's heads turned toward her, eyes wide with surprise. Alessia clutched her stomach, laughing so hard her shoulders shook.
"Oh my God…" she gasped between giggles, "I-I can't… Leona, you— you're crying over salad!"
Her laughter rang out, bright and full of life — the way she used to be before the attack.
For a moment, no one knew how to react. Then, slowly, smiles began to spread across the table. Valerio's gaze softened, relief washing over him. His sister — his Alessia — was laughing again.
Even Leona, still sniffling, cracked a watery smile. "It's not funny," she muttered, wiping her face.
"Oh, it's hilarious," Alessia grinned, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
And just like that, the air felt lighter — warmer. It wasn't perfect, but it felt like family again.
Leona sniffled again, her voice shaky yet determined. "It's not funny," she insisted, her lower lip quivering. "You have no idea how hard this is for me!"
She pushed her plate slightly away, frowning at the neatly arranged salad. "I've tried, I really have. But this?" She gestured dramatically at the leafy greens. "This is torture! I'd rather face an eight-hour shift at the bar than eat this again!"
Alessia burst into another round of giggles, her hand slapping the table. "I can't— I can't breathe!" she wheezed, tears threatening to spill again.
Valerio shook his head, barely holding back his own smile. "Leona, it's just salad."
"You say that like it's nothing!" Leona shot back, pointing a finger at him. "You're practically forcing me to live off leaves and air!"
Dante, unable to resist, added smugly, "Don't worry, Leona. If you starve to death, we'll name a salad after you in your honor."
"Oh, shut up, Russo!" Leona snapped, though her voice lacked its usual bite.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the Moretti estate felt warm — filled with laughter and teasing rather than tension and fear. And despite her grumbling, Leona couldn't help but smile.
Leona, still sniffling from her salad rant, suddenly brightened. "You know," she started, her voice casual but her eyes glinting with mischief, "apart from you, I really like your family."
Valerio arched a brow. "Gee, thanks."
"No, seriously," Leona insisted, ignoring his sarcasm. "The Morettis… the Russos… you're not as cold and ruthless as everyone makes you out to be." She paused, a thoughtful smile tugging at her lips. "In fact…"
Valerio narrowed his eyes. "In fact what?"
"In fact…" Leona beamed sweetly. "Do you think if I ask nicely, your parents would adopt me?"
Silence.
Valerio's face drained of color as Alessia choked on her water, coughing as laughter bubbled out uncontrollably. Dante, meanwhile, was practically doubled over, gasping for breath between wheezes.
"You — you want to be his step-sister?" Dante managed between fits of laughter, wiping his eyes. "Oh, Val… imagine explaining that to your men!"
Valerio shot him a dark glare. "Shut up, Dante."
Leona, completely oblivious to the chaos she'd just caused, tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I mean, it's not a bad idea. Your mom already loves me, and honestly… I wouldn't mind having Alessia as my sister either."
"That's enough," Valerio growled, his ears tinged red.
But Alessia grinned, her laughter still bubbling. "Oh no, Leona. I think you should ask."
"Yeah," Dante chimed in, still smirking. "I'd love to hear that conversation."
"I swear…" Valerio muttered under his breath, rubbing his temples.
Leona giggled to herself, secretly enjoying how easily she could unravel the infamous Valerio Moretti.
Valerio's misery only deepened when his parents, who had been quietly observing the chaos, finally burst out laughing. His father chuckled, shaking his head.
"Adopt you, huh?" Mr. Moretti said, amusement clear in his voice. "Well, you are a sweet girl. Might be nice to have someone balanced in this house."
Valerio shot his father a betrayed look. "You're supposed to be on my side."
"Oh, lighten up," Mrs. Moretti added with a grin. "If Leona wants to join the family, I say we start the paperwork."
"That's not funny," Valerio muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Oh, but it is," Dante grinned wickedly. "You know what they say — family first, Val."
"You're all impossible," Valerio muttered, but his glare softened when his gaze flicked toward Alessia — still giggling, her face finally full of life again.
Despite his frustration, Valerio couldn't deny it… if Leona being here brought back Alessia's smile, maybe he could tolerate her antics.
For now.
Leona, still grinning, leaned closer to Valerio, her eyes dancing with mischief.
"Oh, come on, Val," she teased sweetly. "Why wouldn't you want to be my brother? I'd be the best sister ever."
Valerio's jaw tensed. "Because I'd end up losing my mind within a week," he muttered, his tone clipped.
Leona gasped dramatically. "Of course! That's non-negotiable."
"Not happening," Valerio shot back, his frustration bubbling over. "The last thing I want is you as my sister!"
"Oh?" Leona arched a brow. "And why's that?"
"Because I—" Valerio snapped, then faltered. The words slipped out before he could stop himself. "Because I like you, alright?"
The room went silent.