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Shadows of the underworld

Shadows of the underworld

estherkure000

5.0
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35
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Shadows of the Underworld A Dark Mafia Thriller | Psychological | Crime | Romance When Ariana Steele discovers the truth behind her father's mysterious death, her carefully built world begins to crumble. Drawn into the shadows of a powerful crime syndicate, she must navigate a treacherous web of lies, betrayal, and deadly secrets. Trust is a luxury she can't afford-and yet, she finds herself inexplicably tied to the most dangerous man of all. Dante Rossi is heir to the criminal empire Ariana swore to destroy. Cold, calculating, and haunted by a violent past, Dante is both her enemy and her only chance at survival. As they're forced to work together, a dark, magnetic pull grows between them-one that threatens to unravel everything. But not everyone wants the truth to come to light. As alliances shift and buried secrets resurface, Ariana realizes the war she's fighting is bigger than revenge. It's a fight for her soul. And the deeper she falls into Dante's world, the harder it becomes to know who she's truly fighting for-or against. In a world ruled by shadows, love might be the deadliest weapon of all.

Chapter 1 The First Move

Ariana Steele sat at her desk, the soft hum of her computer the only sound in the otherwise quiet office. The city's skyline gleamed through the windows, the bright lights of New York stretching beyond her reach. She had worked hard to carve out this life-one of structure, control, and safety. After her father's violent death years ago, she had vowed to never get tangled in the dangerous world that had consumed him.

But no matter how hard she tried to outrun it, the past always found a way to reach her.

The phone on her desk buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. A glance at the screen showed a number she didn't recognize. Hesitating only for a moment, she answered.

"Ariana Steele," she said, her voice even but guarded.

"Ariana Steele, the financial analyst?" a smooth, calm voice asked on the other end. "I'm glad I've reached you."

Her instincts tightened. Something about the voice felt too smooth, too controlled, like it belonged to someone who knew exactly how to manipulate a conversation.

"Yes, this is Ariana," she replied cautiously. "Who's asking?"

The man on the other end paused. "I'd prefer to discuss this in person. Can you meet me tonight?"

Ariana frowned. She'd had enough experience in her career to recognize the tone of someone who wasn't offering a choice. "I don't meet strangers," she replied firmly, her eyes narrowing. "And I don't appreciate being called in the middle of my workday."

"Don't worry, Ms. Steele," the man continued, unfazed. "You'll want to meet. If you don't, well... let's just say the consequences for your brother could be... unpleasant."

Her heart skipped a beat. The mention of her brother, Lucas, was enough to pull her to the edge of panic. Lucas was all she had left of her family. After her father's death, he became her world. And yet, no matter how carefully she'd shielded him from their past, it seemed that the shadows of her family's connections had finally caught up with them both.

A chill ran down her spine. "What do you want?"

"I want you to help with a little financial transaction, something you're well-versed in. I'll explain the details when we meet. I'm at the Blackstone Hotel. Room 1215. Don't keep me waiting, Ms. Steele."

The call ended abruptly. Ariana stared at the phone in her hand, her thoughts spinning. She had no idea who this man was or what he wanted from her. But she knew one thing: she couldn't risk Lucas's safety. She had to go.

Later that night, the Blackstone Hotel stood tall and imposing in the heart of Manhattan, a symbol of wealth and power. The lobby was busy, filled with businesspeople and well-dressed elites, but Ariana couldn't shake the feeling that something darker lurked just beneath the surface. The glass doors seemed to close behind her with an almost ominous finality as she walked inside.

She made her way to the elevator, her palms damp with anxiety, and pressed the button for the top floor. The elevator ascended slowly, as if taking its time to allow her thoughts to race. Who was this man? What could he want from her? And what did he mean by 'unpleasant consequences'?

When the elevator doors opened on the twelfth floor, Ariana stepped out into a hallway that felt too quiet. There were no other guests in sight, no sounds of life or laughter. Just the faint hum of the building's air conditioning.

Room 1215.

Her breath caught as she reached for the door, her hand hovering above the handle for a moment. Then, with a steadying breath, she knocked.

The door opened almost immediately. Standing in the doorway was a man in a tailored suit, dark hair perfectly styled, his features sharp and striking. There was something about his presence-something dangerous-that immediately put her on edge.

"You must be Ariana Steele," he said, his voice low and smooth. His eyes, dark and unreadable, scanned her briefly before meeting her gaze. "I'm Dante Rossi."

Her heart stuttered. The name hit her like a punch to the gut. Rossi. The Rossi family. The mafia family her father had been tied to before his death.

"I... I didn't expect..." Her words faltered as she tried to steady herself.

"No one ever does," Dante said, his lips curling into the slightest of smiles. "But you're here, and that's what matters."

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Chapters
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Shadows of the underworld
1

Chapter 1 The First Move

07/04/2025

2

Chapter 2 The Game Begins

07/04/2025

3

Chapter 3 Unraveling Threads

07/04/2025

4

Chapter 4 The Price of Silence

07/04/2025

5

Chapter 5 The Choice

07/04/2025

6

Chapter 6 Blood in the Shadows

07/04/2025

7

Chapter 7 The Quiet Aftermath

07/04/2025

8

Chapter 8 The Mask Behind The Smile

07/04/2025

9

Chapter 9 A Whisper in the Dark

07/04/2025

10

Chapter 10 Ghosts don't Stay Buried

07/04/2025

11

Chapter 11 Trigger Lines

07/04/2025

12

Chapter 12 The Knife you don't See

07/04/2025

13

Chapter 13 Smoke and Mirrors

07/04/2025

14

Chapter 14 The Monster Inside the M

07/04/2025

15

Chapter 15 The Devil's Smile

07/04/2025

16

Chapter 16 The Echo Before the Fall

07/04/2025

17

Chapter 17 Cages Without Bars

07/04/2025

18

Chapter 18 When the Cage Cracks

07/05/2025

19

Chapter 19 Scars We Don't See

07/05/2025

20

Chapter 20 The Quiet before Ruin

07/05/2025

21

Chapter 21 Ghosts in the Smoke

07/05/2025

22

Chapter 22 The Woman in the Mirror

07/05/2025

23

Chapter 23 A Deal with the Devil

07/05/2025

24

Chapter 24 The Files of Darkness

07/05/2025

25

Chapter 25 Unraveling the Thread

07/05/2025

26

Chapter 26 The Web Tightens

07/05/2025

27

Chapter 27 Unseen Enemies

07/05/2025

28

Chapter 28 The Search for Luca

07/05/2025

29

Chapter 29 The Confrontation with Luca

07/05/2025

30

Chapter 30 The Price of Truth

07/05/2025

31

Chapter 31 The Deal with the Devil

07/05/2025

32

Chapter 32 Into the Abyss

07/05/2025

33

Chapter 33 A Game of Shadows

07/05/2025

34

Chapter 34 Bloodlines and Betrayal

07/05/2025

35

Chapter 35 The Ghosts we Carry

07/05/2025