UNHOLY DESIRE

MATTEO

It was the La Festa dell’Ombra, also known as the festival of shadows. This annual gathering was a secret known only to the most influential and mysterious figures of the underworld. It featured masked revelers, enigmatic performances, and secret ceremonies held in the heart of the cruise ship’s hidden chambers.

Maybe I shouldn’t have brought Deirdre here. I heard the warning in Jackson’s voice earlier. Perhaps he had known that Javier, the troublemaker, would be here.

Javier was from a rival gang, and he should have known better than to approach Deirdre when she was with me. But he didn’t even look apologetic. It was as if he was deliberately taunting me.

And why was the ship filled with enemies on all sides?!

My eyes narrowed when I spotted three more, each flanking the side where Deirdre was seated.

To Deirdre’s right, three seats away from her, Enzo Romano sat. He looked at me with intrigue in his granite grey eyes. He was also known as “Silencer” due to his few words but impactful actions.

His ability to carry out tasks with deadly precision and leave no trace had earned him the nickname. He was the shadowy enforcer for the Romano Shadows, a gang known for their covert operations and intelligence-gathering skills.

To her left, closer to the chamber’s door, sat Luca Bianchi. He was lean and agile, moving with a cat-like grace. His obsidian eyes seemed to miss nothing, and his dark hair fell in artful disarray.

Luca was known as the “Whisper.” He was a master of stealth and subterfuge, able to move in and out of the shadows without a trace. His quiet demeanor and deadly precision had earned him the nickname. He was the clandestine operative for the Bianchi Shadows, a secretive and mysterious gang known for their covert operations and manipulation of information.

And then there was Gabriel Russo, whose eyes were fixed on mine. He sat very close to Deirdre. He was the leader of the Russo Ironclads, a gang known for their unrelenting pursuit of power and their ability to weather any storm. His reputation for being unbreakable in the face of adversity had earned him the nickname “Steelheart.”

I knew there were more adversaries present, but I didn’t want to spend the night counting them. I needed to focus on the information being exchanged.

Facing threats wasn’t new to me. I’d dealt with more opponents in the past, but this situation felt different, especially with Deirdre here. It was as if they had intentionally paired me with the strongest adversary today.

Tapping the holster belt around my waist, I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the gun. Even armed, I knew I wouldn’t be able to take aim. Not with Deirdre’s safety and the safety of other women and children in mind.

Who in their right mind would bring children to an event like this?! A grunt of frustration escaped me as I scanned the room.

Shaking my head, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder and turned to find Vittorio Russo. He was the underboss of the Serpenti Segreti Cartel, one of the people I was supposed to meet to finalize the agreement for the Carmine Shoreline territory, which was 1440 miles from here. The second person, Adriano Romano, was yet to arrive.

“You okay?” he asked, brows furrowing as he surveyed the room. It was clear he understood the situation.

“I’ll be fine,” I grunted, glancing at Deirdre, who was nervously fiddling with the necklace around her neck. She had every right to be anxious with so many imposing faces around.

“If you need any help, I can,” Vittorio offered. “After all, we’ll be allies soon.”

“Thanks,” I replied, neither accepting nor refusing his offer. He was right about the alliance, but this was my fight. These people were my enemies, and I didn’t want to drag anyone else into my situation.

“That lady over there…” Vittorio began, trailing off.

“What, lady?” I interrupted, eyeing him closely.

“Siren-like. Is she your girl?” He asked. “You’ve been staring at her for too long. If I were in her shoes, I’d feel uncomfortable. Although I don’t know why she chose to be here.”

Javier had mentioned it. So did Jackson, and now Vittorio. Was I the only one being foolish, not thinking things through? Maybe.

Still, I didn’t fully trust Deirdre. It was my lack of trust that led me to do this. I didn’t believe she’d be waiting for me at home when I returned. I didn’t want to think about where she might run off. I could see it in her eyes. She was going to get further away from me, and I might not see Kendall again.

“It’s best you take her out of here. I sense a shift in the atmosphere,” Vittorio advised, even though I hadn’t disclosed my feelings about her.

I narrowed my eyes, surveying the large room once again. Vittorio was right. Tension hung in the air. Everyone was on edge, and it wouldn’t be long before guns were drawn.

I couldn’t say exactly what had been discussed, as I hadn’t been paying attention, but I could hazard a guess. Although different gangs were present at this event, they were here for mutual business interests.

This annual gathering required pooling resources and expertise from multiple factions to ensure a successful joint operation that was often agreed to by different gang leaders. There was a risk, but no one here was a stranger to the principle of ‘no pain, no gain.’

I could see the distrust in everyone’s eyes and a sense of foreboding washed over me.

“Can we talk after the meeting?” I asked Vittorio, who nodded.

“Of course. With the way the ship is moving, we should arrive by morning. We have the rest of the night to discuss.”

“Good,” I muttered, rising to my feet. Enzo, Gabriel, and Luca followed suit as if they’d been waiting for an eternity.

As I moved towards Deirdre, they advanced towards me.

“I can help,” Vittorio offered again.

I wondered if I could trust him with Deirdre’s safety.

“I swear, I won’t do anything to hurt her,” Vittorio promised.

“Swear with your life,” I grunted. “Promise that if any harm befalls her, I’ll hold you responsible.”

“I swear with my life,” Vittorio affirmed, extending his hand. I took it in a firm shake, sealing the agreement.

Vittorio headed towards Deirdre. Her eyes flicked to me, and she frowned. She seemed on the verge of protesting, but I shook my head, hoping she’d understand and leave the room.

Thankfully, she was perceptive enough to catch my meaning. She smiled warmly at me before linking arms with Vittorio.

I felt a sense of relief as Deirdre exited the room, though a lingering sense of dread remained. I turned my attention to the three men before me, who looked as though they wouldn’t mind seeing me meet a violent end.