As one of the deadliest assassins in the world, Alima Smith has always lived by one rule-never get attached. Cold, calculating, and precise, she eliminates targets without hesitation. But when her latest mission leads her to Christopher Wallace, the infamous Mafia king, everything changes. Christopher is powerful, ruthless, and untouchable. A man whispered about in fear, a shadow ruling from the dark. The moment Alima steps into his world, she expects to kill him. Instead, she finds herself trapped in a game of seduction, where the lines between hunter and hunted blur with every stolen glance, every heated touch. He should be her target. She should be his enemy. But when an unknown force sets them both up to die, Alima and Christopher are forced into an uneasy alliance-one built on dangerous trust and forbidden desire. The more she fights him, the deeper she falls, and the more she realizes: She was never sent to kill him. She was sent to love him. And now, the most dangerous woman in the world is willing to risk everything-even her own soul-to stand by his side. But in a world where betrayal is currency and love is a weakness, will their passion make them unstoppable... or will it be the weapon that finally destroys them?
Chapter 1 1
Christopher's POV
The bastardo knows why I'm here and what I want. He has information I need to get for my boss. Luciano is "the leader of the Italian mafia." I just work alongside him as his top assassin.
While I'm not a blood member of the family, he treats me as such because we've been best friends since we were kids.
We respect each other, and although I don't tell him this, he is the only family I truly have and trust.
"Now are you going to tell me what I want to hear, Rick, or are you just going to keep losing fingers?" I don't usually do torture; I just kill the target and collect payment. But when it comes to Luciano, I step in and assist when asked to.
"I-I- don't know anything. I swear, p-p-please have mercy. I have a family." The man begged-oh, I just love when they beg. As if I'm going to listen. I enjoy what I do.
I take pleasure in punishing and ending the lives of others. I turn to my left and look at Luciano, and he begins to speak, "Now, Ricky, you know I don't like liars. I know you stole information about my shipments and sold it to the Russians. I'm not stupid."
Luciano was livid and you could hear it in his voice. I, on the other hand, could care less about his shipments. I'm just here for the kill.
"Come on, Rick, the faster we get through this, the faster I can put an end to your miserable life," I said it with an all too wide smile just to freak him out more. His eyes told me everything. I could read him like a book. I knew who he gave the information to too, but I wanted to see if he would tell Luciano.
Of course he wouldn't, and I was beginning to get bored, so I took that as my cue to kill him. I brought out my gun and shot him between the eyes.
Luciano turned to me angrier than ever, "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR? I NEEDED THE INFORMATION HE HAD YOU FUCKN IDIOT!" My face remained neutral, and I didn't say a word; I just took a folded piece of paper from my back pocket and handed it to him. He eyed it suspiciously. "What the hell is that?" I rolled my eyes.
"Just fuckn take it." He opened it and looked at the messy writing on it. "The Bekinstos?" I shook my head and began to walk away. "How the hell did you get this?" I continued walking and didn't respond. I got to my car and headed to my place. As soon as I walked in, I grabbed my other phone, which I keep in a safe behind the painting in the living room.
As a side job, I do freelance, as I like to put it. Throughout my whole life, I've been building a reputation that started when I was born. I was known as the devil's son; my father was just as bad as me. He raised me to be a cold son of a bitch. I never liked him and don't have fond memories from the beatings to the verbal manipulation. I loathed that man with my whole essence.
I killed him when I was 17, so from then on people talk and said I was the "Il mietitore" (The Reaper) I don't like the name much but hey, as long as they fear me and show
respect. I don't care what the hell they call me.
Looking down at my phone, I see 3 new messages from different people stating that they have a "job" for me. The jobs range from kidnapping and bringing said target to a location and collecting money, all the way to just taking out a target. I don't ask questions; I just get half now, half after, and then I give them a Polaroid picture for proof, just to remind them of what they did.
On my phone are 3 different numbers. 2 are asking for kidnappings, and 1 is asking to take out a hit. I usually don't meet people in person just for precaution; even if they had something planned, they wouldn't get far.
So I chose to text back the person that wants a hit taken out; those are the quickest, and I don't feel like doing much work tonight. The message says they want to take out a 5'6 blue-eyed brunette living in the east side apartment 1104.
I ask for the money to be wired to an encrypted account I always use. Sure enough, minutes later I receive payment, but I notice it's in full. So I ask, "You trust me enough to not run with the money, ragazzo?" (Boy)
"Not so much trust, let's just say I've heard enough to know you won't disappoint." "consider it done."
And with that, I put my phone down and began digging for information on my next target. And from what I can tell by looking up the tenants of said building on the east side, I have a name and a little more information that I don't care for because in a few hours this person will be no more. Alima Smith will be just another name on a gravestone.
***
Alima's POV
"Alima baby, I need you to finish frosting that cake for me; please, they pick it up tomorrow." Sunny is the owner of the bakery I have had the pleasure of working in for the past few months. She's a sweetheart, and after I lost my family, she took it upon herself to help me in any way she could. "Sure, I'm almost finished; don't worry."
While I enjoy frosting cakes and seeing our costumes every day, I can't help but let my mind always drift off to its dark abyss.
While frosting the cake, I think about life. How far I've come because I'm all alone. No family, no support system except Sunny, of course.
But she can only go so far. While putting the final touches on the blue and pink flower petal cake.
I begin to think about my plans for the night. I get out of work at 6:30. Closing up shop with Sunny is always the saddest part of my day because I have to leave her and go to my small, lonely apartment a block from here.
Speaking of, I just about finished this cake and am sealing it in the refrigerator for tomorrow morning.
While emptying the cash register, Sunny said, "Oh Alima, what on earth would I do without you?"
"Ugh, close up shop and finally retire and stay home with Matt all day? "
"Don't be silly; I wouldn't trade my independence for the world, not even Matt." I smiled the most genuine smile I could muster, even though my ability to be happy died the same day my parents and brother did.
"Awe, sunny, don't let him hear you; he'll throw a fit." Still smiling she paid me for the night and sent me on my way home.
On my daily walks to my apartment, I tend to get lost in thought the moment my earbuds are put in and I begin my walk home.
Never thinking anything important other than what kind of cake I'll be assisting Sunny in baking tomorrow.
When I finally reach my baby blue door with grey numbers reading 1104 I grab my keys and let myself in.
Walking into my minimal 1-bedroom apartment with depressing grey walls and dingy old furniture, I am grateful. I go straight to my room and begin undressing to start my routine of taking a shower and relaxing to classical music.
While undressing in the bathroom, I can't help but stare at the girl in the mirror. She was happy once, even though she looked normal on the outside; her mind was slowly killing her on the inside. Rapid thoughts enter and exit while I stare, "Why wasn't it me?"
"Why wasn't I in that car with them?" "Why did they leave me?" "I'm going to be alone forever." "I miss you, mommy, daddy, and of course you too, Jamie." Tears start to brim in my eyes, slowly running down my pale cheeks, which were once tan like my mother's.
I hate myself for not being in that car with them. I was supposed to go, but I didn't go because I thought missing one of my father's business meetings wasn't important. I threw a fit and said I had really bad cramps. My mother, being loving and understanding, let me stay home. In shaky legs, I slowly got into the shower.
As soon as the hot water hit my skin, I managed to fall to my knees, sobbing, recalling that fateful day.
Chapter 1 1
23/02/2025
Chapter 2 2
23/02/2025
Chapter 3 3
23/02/2025
Chapter 4 4
23/02/2025
Chapter 5 5
23/02/2025
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