Chapter 1 The Smell of Payback

Marcella's Pov

The smell hits me first. Smoke and copper and something else I can't name. Something that makes my stomach turn even before I see what's waiting inside.

They're gone. All of them.

I stand in the driveway of what used to be my family's villa outside Palermo, staring at the blackened stone and burnt wood. The police tape flutters in the Mediterranean wind, yellow against the ruins. Three days ago, this was home. Now it's a tomb.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. Elena is calling for the sixth time today. I silence it. What am I supposed to say? That I'm standing here trying to find the courage to walk through those doors? Every time I close my eyes, I see the photos the detective showed me.

I force myself to move. One step. Then another. My legs feel like they belong to someone else.

The front door is gone, burned away. Inside, everything is ash and destruction. The grand staircase where I used to slide down the banister. The dining room was where Mama insisted on fresh flowers every morning. The library where Papa taught me to read.

All of it. Gone.

The bodies are gone too. They showed me photos at the police station. Made me identify them officially. Papa's face, frozen in shock. Mama's hand reaching for something she'd never grasp. I threw up in the detective's trash can and signed the papers with shaking fingers.

I find myself in what's left of the living room. The couch where we watched movies is a skeleton of springs and char. The piano, once filled with Mama's melodies every evening, is now a ruin of twisted metal and broken keys.

"Miss Vale?"

I turn. Detective Rossi stands in the doorway, his face carefully blank. He's been kind, in that distant way police have when they've seen too much death.

"I'm sorry to interrupt. Wanted to make sure you were all right."

"I'm fine." The lie tastes like ash in my mouth.

He doesn't believe me. I can see it in his eyes. But he nods anyway. "We have some updates. Do you have a moment?"

My heart pounds. "Did you find who did this?"

"We have leads." He retrieves a tablet, swiftly navigating through the images. "We recovered a weapon at the scene. Custom piece, very distinctive." He turns the screen toward me.

The gun in the photo is beautiful in a terrible way. Black metal with detailed engraving along the barrel. But it's the symbol on the grip that makes my blood freeze.

A serpent coiled around a cross.

"What is that?" My voice sounds far away.

"It belongs to the De Luca family. One of the most powerful mafia organizations in Sicily." Rossi watches my face. "Have you heard the name Lorenzo De Luca?"

I shake my head. "My family wasn't involved in that world. Papa was a businessman. Legitimate. He had nothing to do with the mafia."

"Are you certain?"

The question feels like a slap. "Yes. I'm certain."

Rossi's expression doesn't change. "Miss Vale, we believe your family was targeted. This wasn't random. Someone wanted them dead and wanted to send a message."

"What kind of message?"

"That's what we're trying to determine." He pockets the tablet. "Lorenzo De Luca is difficult to prosecute. He's careful, protected, and very dangerous. But this weapon ties him directly to the scene. We're building a case."

I stare at the ruins around me. "How long?"

"Months. Maybe longer. Men like De Luca have lawyers, judges, and politicians in their pockets. Even with evidence, it's complicated."

Months. Years, possibly. The man who murdered my family walks free. Lives his life. Probably doesn't think twice about the people he killed.

"Thank you, Detective." I force the words out. "For everything you're doing."

He gives me his card. "Call if you need anything. Or if you remember something that might help."

After he leaves, I stand alone in the ruins. The serpent and cross burn in my mind. Lorenzo De Luca. The name tastes like poison on my tongue.

I pull out my phone and call Elena back.

"Marcella! Oh my God, I've been so worried. Where are you?"

"At the house." My voice is steady. Surprisingly steady. "Elena, I need you to find everything you can on someone. Lorenzo De Luca. Sicilian mafia."

"What? Why?"

"Because he killed my family." The words come out cold. Final. "And I'm going to make sure he pays for it."

"Marcella, no. Whatever you're thinking, don't. Let the police handle this. These people are dangerous."

"I don't care."

"I care! You're talking about going after a mafia boss. Do you understand how insane that sounds?"

I close my eyes. See the photos again. Papa. Mama. My baby cousin Sofia, who was visiting that weekend, was only seven years old. All of them, gone. Because of a man with a serpent on his gun.

"I need you to trust me," I say quietly. "Can you do that?"

Elena is silent for a long moment. Then, "Fine. But I'm only doing research. Information. Nothing that's going to get you killed."

"Understood."

"And Marcella? Promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise."

It's a lie. But Elena doesn't need to know that.

I take one last look around the destroyed villa. At the ashes of my childhood, my family, my entire life before this moment. Then I walk out into the too-bright afternoon sun.

My phone buzzes with a text. Unknown number.

Miss Vale, this is Giovanni Vale. Your uncle. I heard about your family. I'm so sorry. Please call me when you can. We need to talk about arrangements.

Uncle Giovanni. Papa's younger brother. The one who moved to Palermo years ago after a business deal went bad. I barely remember him. A soft man with nervous hands and a weak smile.

I stare at the message. Then I call the number.

"Marcella?" His voice is exactly as I remember. Soft, worried. "Oh, my dear girl. I'm so, so sorry."

"Thank you, Uncle." I'm surprised how calm I sound. "Where are you?"

"In Palermo. I wanted to come for the funeral preparations. Right, there are a few things we need to discuss. About your father's estate. You're the heir now."

The heir to ashes and memories. "I'd like to come to Palermo. To talk in person."

"Of course. Feel free to stay as long as you require. When were you thinking?"

"Tomorrow."

He's surprised. "So soon?"

"There's nothing left for me here, Uncle Giovanni." I look back at the burned villa one last time. "Everything I had is gone."

"Not everything. You have family still. You have me."

Family. The word feels strange now. But I need him. I need his connections in Palermo and his knowledge of that world

"Thank you. I'll take the first train tomorrow."

After we hang up, I get in my rental car. Drive away from the ruins without looking back. I don't go to my apartment in Florence where I was supposed to be finishing my degree. That life is over too. Everything before this moment is dead and buried.

I drive to Catania instead. Check into a hotel overlooking the sea. Pay in cash, use a false name. In my room, I open my laptop and start searching.

Lorenzo De Luca.

The images steal my breath. He's younger than I expected. Late twenties, maybe. Tall, dark hair, sharp features. He wears expensive suits and cold expressions. In every photo, his eyes are the same. Controlled. Remote. Dangerous.

There are articles too. Business deals that are likely to be money laundering. Charities that are probably fronts. A perfect legitimate life built on blood.

I read everything. His mother died when he was young. His father shortly after. He took control at eighteen. Fought off challenges. Rules his territory with absolute power.

There are rumors of violence. Of enemies who disappear. But nothing concrete. Nothing the police can prove.

Until now.

Until he left his weapon at my family's villa.

My phone rings. Elena, video call. I answer.

Her face fills the screen. Worried and fierce. "Okay. I've been digging. Marcella, this man is not someone you can go after. He's protected at every level."

"I'm not waiting for the police."

"Then what are you going to do?"

I'm quiet for a moment. An idea is forming. Terrible and perfect.

"I'm going to get close to him," I say finally. "Close enough to find proof. Close enough to destroy him from the inside."

"How?"

"I don't know yet. But I'll figure it out."

Elena shakes her head. "This is insane."

"Probably."

"You could die."

"I don't care."

"Well, I do!" Her voice rises. "You're all I have left. My best friend. Don't make me lose you too."

My throat tightens. "I have to do this, Elena."

"Why? Why can't you let the police handle it?"

"Because they'll fail." I lean closer to the camera. "Men like Lorenzo De Luca don't go to prison. They buy their way out. Kill witnesses. Make evidence disappear. The only way to stop him is to get close enough that he can't see me coming."

Elena wipes her eyes. "Fine. If you're doing this, I'm helping. Full support. But Marcella?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't lose yourself in this. Revenge is poison."

"I know."

Another lie. Because revenge is all I have left. It's the only thing keeping me standing.

I need to watch Lorenzo De Luca pay for what he did.

And I'll do whatever it takes.

Even if it destroys me.

The next morning, I take the train to Palermo. Uncle Giovanni meets me at the station. He looks older than I remember. More nervous. He hugs me too long.

"I'm so glad you came," he says. "So glad you're safe."

Safe. As if anywhere is safe now.

He drives me to his apartment. A modest place in a middle-class neighborhood. We have coffee. He tells me about funeral arrangements. Estate lawyers. Papa's business partners who've called with condolences.

I listen with half my attention. Nodding in the right places.

"There's something else," Giovanni says finally. He looks uncomfortable. "Something I wasn't sure whether to tell you."

"What?"

"There's been an offer. For your hand in marriage."

I stare at him. "What?"

"I know how it sounds. But it's from the De Luca family." He won't meet my eyes. "From Lorenzo De Luca himself."

The room tilts. "The man who killed my family wants to marry me?"

"We don't know that he killed them." Giovanni's voice is careful. "The police suspect, but there's no proof yet. And this offer is a peace offering. A way to end any bad blood."

"Bad blood." I laugh. It sounds broken. "Is that what we're calling murder now?"

"Marcella, please. Just listen." He leans forward. "The De Luca family is powerful. Marrying into it would protect you. Give you resources. And it would be a way to make something good come from this tragedy."

I look at my uncle. This soft man with his nervous hands. And I see it. The fear in his eyes. The careful way he phrases things.

He's afraid of Lorenzo De Luca.

And he's trying to sell me to the man who murdered his brother.

"Tell me about the offer," I say quietly. "All of it."

Giovanni relaxes slightly. "It's a marriage of convenience. You'd live at the De Luca estate. Take his name. Appear at his side for public events. In exchange, you'd have access to his wealth and protection. The contract is for five years. After that, you could dissolve it if you choose."

"Why would he want this?"

"Appearances. Legitimacy. The De Luca family is trying to move into legitimate business. Having a wife from a good family would help." Giovanni fidgets with his cup. "And perhaps he wants to make amends. If he wasn't involved in your family's death, this could be his way of showing respect."

Lies. All of it. Lorenzo De Luca killed my family and now wants to marry me as some kind of sick trophy.

But looking at Giovanni's pleading expression, I realize something.

This is my chance.

Lorenzo De Luca is inviting me into his home. His life. Giving me access to everything I'd need to destroy him.

"Tell them yes," I say, my voice steady and cold.

Giovanni stares at me. "Yes? You mean you'll do it?"

"I will marry him." I stand up, the decision final. "Tell his people I want the contract signed immediately. And tell them I want the wedding to happen within the week."

I look at my uncle, but I'm really looking at the face of the killer in my mind.

"I don't need to meet him first, Uncle Giovanni. I only need his last name."

He looks relieved, terrified, and slightly awed. "I'll call the lawyer right away."

He leaves the room. I sit alone with my cold coffee and burning hatred.

Soon, I'll be inside the fortress. And he has no idea what's coming for him.