COLLIDE

THE CITY IS A GRAVEYARD

SHREYA ZACCARIA MONTEZ POV….

I ran as far as my legs could take me, heaving and grunting in pain at my charred skin.

The fire had licked my skin, my body was extremely weary, and I had yet to recover from the accident earlier today, my father murdered in cold blood.

Everything that happened was Carmine's fault, now he would become Don. The fact that he would become Don pained me, he didn't deserve it.

I didn't notice a log in front of me till I stumbled on it and rolled down the forest floor with my head hitting a rock.

I felt disoriented as I struggled to open my eyes, I could hear someone talking to me but it sounded muffled, my vision blurry as the ringing in my ear pierced and overpowered my senses.

I woke up to the soft beep of the heart monitor next to me, the smell of bleach wafting through my nose.

I groaned trying to adjust to my new environment.

"You're awake "

I started deep into the stranger's bluish-grey eyes, his aroma-coloured eyes shining with untapped innocence.

"Who are you?" I questioned warily, I would not let his innocent eyes trick me, for all I knew, he could be one of Carmine's men

He dropped whatever he was holding on the table and turned to me with a friendly smile playing softly on his luscious lips

" I am Paradiso"

Paradiso, his name was as beautiful as he, I stared at him, gauging him with my eyes

"I take it, you brought me here," I said and he nodded softly. He wasn't a threat to me, whether, by instinct or attraction, I knew the man in front of me wouldn't hurt me, but enough people had gotten hurt because of my existence

"What is your name?" He questioned and looked into his eyes that were shiny with unanswered questions, the less he knew, the better it was. I could not risk another dying again in my stead, because of me

Rio was killed and

Lorenzo had died

My father too, my whole existence and one mistake I had made, served as a catalyst reaction setting off a mafia war that cost the lives of my loved ones. I looked into Paradiso's alluring aroma eyes and I knew then that I could not drag him into my mess

I yanked the IV from my skin, and I hopped off the hospital bed, ignoring his warnings

"you need to heal'

I looked at my body covered in bandages and regret took my being, everything that had happened was Carmine's fault, I had created Carmine's lust for power now I had to be the one to undo it.

"Thank you "

That was all I said to him before dashing out of the hospital, I wanted Carmine's body served to me on a platter and I was going to start now in taking away his power.

The safe house was empty when I walked in, I passed my dead bodies as I continued making my way down the underground fortress, and my heart broke, I was so used to feeling protected and surrounded but now I felt bare and exposed.

These men lying on the floor had fought valiantly as warriors protecting their dead leader and the cowardly ones among them turned to Carmine's side.

These men deserved to be avenged, their deaths deserved justified and I was going to be the judge and grim reaper that Carmine was going to answer to.

I loaded the truck in the garage with rifles, cash, jewellery and as much firepower as I could get, from now on I was a one-woman army.

I parked the truck a few blocks away from the dock that Carmine owned, taking one last look at my reflection in the rearview mirror. The fire of my vengeance burned hot within me, fueling every step I took.

Under the cover of night, I made my way back to the dock, silent and stealthy. The familiar scent of saltwater and oil filled the air as I crept closer, my heart pounding with anticipation. I knew this was a risky move, but I had to strike back at Carmine, to take away everything he held dear, just as he had taken away everything from me.

As I neared the main warehouse, I noticed the flicker of light through a crack in the door. My instincts kicked in, telling me something wasn't right. Peering through the crack, my eyes widened in disbelief.

The interior of the warehouse was ablaze, flames dancing and consuming everything in their path. Panic surged through me as I realized what was happening. Someone had beaten me to it, someone was burning Carmine's shipments, stealing his power right from under his nose. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

But who could it be? Who would dare to cross Carmine and carry out such a risky operation? As I watched, a figure disguised in black darted between the burning crates, their movements swift and precise. They were like a phantom, graceful and deadly.

I had come here to seek revenge, to strip Carmine of his power, but it seemed that someone had beaten me to it. Part of me felt a tinge of disappointment, for I had wanted to be the one to bring him down. But another part of me felt a surge of respect and curiosity for the mysterious figure who was now wreaking havoc on Carmine's empire.

With a heavy heart and a mind filled with unanswered questions, I turned away from the scene and retreated into the night. The flames from the warehouse lit up the sky behind me, a symbol of the chaos that was unfolding.

As I walked away, a single question echoed in my mind: Who was this shadowy figure, and what role would they play in reshaping the destiny of our intertwined lives? Only time would reveal the answers, and for now, I had to regroup, strategize, and find a new path forward in my quest for justice.