As a rising star in criminal law, Sophia Peterson built her career on keeping dangerous men behind bars. Cold, calculating, and brilliant in the courtroom, she was known as the woman who never lost a case. Until she met Damian De Luca-the ruthless, untouchable Mafia king who turned her world upside down. It started as a job-defending a man everyone feared. But the deeper Sophia dug into his empire, the more she realized she was playing a game she couldn't win. Damian wasn't just a client. He was a force of nature-dark, possessive, and unrelenting. He seduced her with his power, ensnared her with his words, and made her question everything she stood for. She tried to run. But no one runs from Damian De Luca. Now, standing in her temporary apartment in Germany, staring into the obsidian eyes of the man she thought she left behind, Sophia knows she's trapped. His presence is suffocating, his touch electric. The knife she reached for was pointless-he had already won this battle before she even picked a side. "You really thought I wouldn't find you, angel?" His whisper is both a threat and a promise. "Never underestimate my love for you." The kiss that follows is bruising, possessive, and filled with every dark promise he ever made. He isn't just here to reclaim her. He's here to remind her of a terrifying truth- She was never meant to escape. And maybe, deep down, she never wanted to.
Chapter 1 1
Sophia Peterson's POV
I sat in my desk chair looking over some files for a potential client, I was finally able to get focused when my phone rang,
The caller ID flashed *Do not answer* (Jayda)
I reluctantly answered, maybe she set my condo on fire, again...
"Hey, what's up? Everything okay?" I didn't hear anything but rough breathing on the other end.
"Jayda, I'm not in the mood for games, I've got a file to look over and you're kind of interrupting..."
"I'm hanging up now-"
"Okay- okay, well I was calling because I want to go clubbing tonight with a few other girls, you in?" I sigh and tap my pen on my desk thinking about it.
"Hmmm, maybe if you don't call me till I get off, and don't you have a client to get to today?" She squealed and I took the phone away from my ear quickly,
"I'm here now, ain't I? Actually, we're having a 15-minute recess, so why not call you? I thought," That got a small, tiny smile out of me. I love this girl with my entire heart.
"Right, right now, you got my answer and I'll see you after work"
"Right! See you after work, Sophia!"
I hung up and put my phone on silent, I got back to my work, hoping for no more interruptions, this guy was facing big charges over the distribution of firearms and a heavy quantity of money that was found on him, which is presumed to be the cash payment for said firearms.
I need to get this guy out and I don't plan on losing my first case yet.
Then, of course, my office door flew open, I looked up, meeting my father's grey eyes,
"Hey, princess" I grimace at him just wanting to get my fucking work done,
"Did you have to bust in? I mean you could have called, I have a very important case to work on-" Then he interrupted me, completely shutting down my statement.
"I tried but your phone was off and you don't need to worry about that case, you'll be taking this one,"
He threw a case file on my desk and sat on a chair in front of said desk.
I opened the file and the first thing I looked at was the picture in the left-hand corner, the man had jet black hair that was slick back to perfection, his reflective-like blue eyes seemingly peering into my soul even through a photo. His cheekbones were very defined and so was his jawline, he had a very thick clean beard cut to perfection as well. On his file, it stated he was 31, 6'6 and he was Italian and... Russian. Hmm, would not have guessed that-
My eyes then glanced at the name... hell no.
"Damian... De Luca?" My father shook his head animatedly, "You'll be taking over my job and working under the DeLuca family, defending them when they get on the law's bad side..."
I shook my head in disbelief, he's serious? He wants me to defend the De Lucas- like hell, his debt with them is not about to be put on me!
"Yeah... hell no." My father looked at me with irritation present in his eyes.
"Don't look at me like that Dad! The debt that you have with them over some lame mistake 10 years ago, is not about to be brought on me!"
I shook my head, closed the case file, and pushed it away from me.
"Du wrist nicht so mit mir sprechen, junge Dame, Sie übernehmen für mich oder ich werde dafür sorgen, dass Sie Ihre Mutter nie wieder sehen!" (you will not speak to me in that manner young lady, you will be taking over for me or i will make sure you never see your mother again!)
I looked at him, mirroring his dead, almost lifeless eyes because of the lack of emotion he showed, except anger of course.
"You have not let me see my màmà in years. You sent me to Paris and you said I would see her when I got back... I have not seen her in 4 years. Where the hell is my mother, you can't use her against me." I said with my dead tone I had come to perfect.
He has manipulated me with the "privilege" of seeing my mom, she's my mother, even though they're not on good terms, that should not be enough reason to keep me from her. I didn't want to study law, I wanted to be an author, but my father's controlling and narcissistic ways forced me to study law against my wishes, I agreed to study abroad for 4 years, I had no choice. Since I returned, he's not allowed me to see my mother.
I've spoken to her over the phone, but that simply is not enough! I need my mother.
"You take the case, and I'll let you meet your mother tomorrow for lunch." I can't believe my mother married this fucking joke of a man.
"Fine." I slammed my hand on my desk and got up, I looked over the file, seeing everything from speeding tickets to drug trafficking, my father has gotten him and his father out of multiple run-ins with the law.
Scott free might I add, money talks and his reputation speaks even greater volumes. I am no different than him, he taught me everything I know about the law, every damn shortcut and way to persuade the judge to overlook something...
Since I started practicing law, I have not lost a case, in Paris, I did it on my own, by my clean means of getting people off without a hitch.
Here, in America, it's different. My father has hands in the courts and so do his clients, now not only do I have the brains to get people out clean and fair, but I have the corruption on my side as well.
I don't enjoy the corruption, but I have to work on my father's terms until he dies or I run, of course.
Anyway, I gather my things while my father explains to me that I'll be meeting them in 2 days, I agree knowing that saying no won't do shit.
"I have to go now, I'll see you in 2 days then." I walk to my door and hold it open for him to walk out. He nods and then, without as much as a thank you, walks out of my office and goes his own way.
"Fucking bastard"
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