Chapter One

Luciana's mind was stuck in a rut. She wanted nothing more than to be in the comfort of her room, secured under her fluffy blanket, with her eyes shut peacefully, awaiting plenty of needed sleep.

But life wasn't kind and lenient to her, instead, it was a pain in the ass.

Luci groaned remembering where she was. She rubbed the tiredness from her eyes and stared up at the boring clouds, shifting in the sky.

It was 3:30 pm and she was heading to her first job at a cafe. As she waited for her bus, she heard someone yell her name. She lifted her head and swore under her breath at noticing a familiar hooded figure walking across the road, holding traffic back as if he was the king.

She glared ahead, ignoring everyone else around her. The street was always bustling with noises. People chatted loudly, especially students from her school. Dogs barked up a storm, mother's rocked their crying babies and office workers laughed their asses off.

"Hey Luci," Nikolai Valentino, her cousin, greeted as he sat beside her on the wooden bench.

"What do you want? If you're here for a humble chat, stay. If not, you can piss right off. I'm heading to work right now. You know…at the job you got me that I can't afford to lose."

Nikolai, or Nick for short smiled, showing off his pearly whites. "I just need one favor. One last favor."

"No."

"Aw, please. I'm asking my most favorite cousin in the whole-wide-world for just one last favor."

"You, and your favors…" Luci bared her teeth. "...can fuck off."

"You're so mean!" Nick pouted. "How can you treat a human being like this? How can you be so cold to your dearest cousin? I only—"

This cunning son of a bitch. "What do you want?" She snapped, cutting him off.

Nick's frown turned into a dimpled grin. He threw his arms around her and hugged the living shit out of her. "I knew I could count on my favorite cousin."

"I'm the only cousin that tolerates you. Matteo and Marco hate you. Angelo and Enzo are afraid of you."

He chuckled, pulled her back, and eyed her up and down, nodding enthusiastically.

"Yes. We're about the same height, have the same eye color. I'm a bit muscular on the top but if you throw my hoodie on…perfetto." Nick clapped his hand, his smile growing wider. He pulled his black hoodie over his head and threw it at Luci. "I have to be somewhere else but I can't be at two places at once.

"And where is that?" Luci asked, staring at his high fade haircut that he always hid under a hoodie.

"No comment."

Luci narrowed her eyes. "Look Nikolai, I don't want to be tangled in any of your bullshit, delinquent-union crap. I have enough on my plate. Sai quanto voglio scappare da questa pazza città e dalla nostra pazza famiglia." (Translation: You know how much I want to escape this crazy city and our crazy family.)

Both Nick and Luci were half Italian. Their families were rich and well off. Her father was very protective of Luci so it was quite surprising when he agreed to let her stay in her mother's hometown until she graduated high school. Luci and Nick were currently living with Luci's mother's parents.

Nick was the son of her father's younger brother, and Nick was always up to no good. Wherever she went, he was there. That was the only option she had if she didn't want to be followed all the time. The first thing Nick did when he arrived in Korea was make friends with the most insane people in Yeongdeungpo. That was four years ago.

"I know Luci. I'll give the cafe manager a call for you." He looked at his watch. "When's your next job?"

"8:00 pm."

"Sweet, you have nothing to worry about, the meetings are always short. And as payment I'll give you $500 in cash right now."

"Cazzo. Ok lo faro," Luci sighed in defeat. She never relied on her parents' money, but accepting her cousin's money was different since she always did something in return for him. Like her grades, money was essential, but not in the way it was easily thrown at her. Luci wanted to earn her own money and studying her ass off was the only way to get out of Yeongdeungpo. As long as her father didn't know of her plan, maybe she could escape her family's dilemma.

Luci threw the hoodie on, hiding her long dark hair, and her curvy bits.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Luci asked, skeptically. She and Nick did have some similarities like their cerulean eyes, jet black hair, and height but that was it. Their body structure and skin color were different. Nick was stocky and his complexion was rather tanner than her fair skin. But with the hoodie on perhaps no one would notice the difference.

"Yeah hundred percent."

"You better be right about this. Where's the location?"

"My school."

Luci's eyes widened as she was taken aback by those shocking words.

"Wait, what? Ha! Fuck. No." She emphasized the last two words icily. "Hell no, Nick. I told you, I will never step foot into Yeo-ll high school. Your school is filled with current and future serial killers. I decline your favor."

Nick chuckled loudly and swatted her across the left shoulder. "Nothing you can't handle. We're Italians, what's there to be afraid of?"

"Alot…everything," Luci whispered harshly.

"Alright, alright. I just need you to show up at Yeo-ll high school for the union meet up. That's all. Nothing too hard."

"If I get caught they'll beat me black and blue."

"You won't get caught. Just be present, chillax and listen. Plus, we don't hit females. We've got female pacts who do that for us."

"Geez, Nick. I don't want anything to do with your gang bulshit, or that leader of yours who probably should be locked up at a mental facility."

Nick broke into another fit of laughter. "Come on, Donald's not that bad."

"Does he like to be deceived?"

He didn't answer her right away, it took him a few moments of contemplating before he replied. "The meeting today isn't even important. It's just a brief rundown for everyone. He won't even look your way."

"I don't think he's stupid, Nick. He doesn't even have a conscience or know what mercy is. Being near that psycho or your stupida union will put me in danger!" Luci clenched her fists.

"We've been bought up with danger so this is nothing, Luci?"

Luci let out an exasperated chuckle. "You know how much I want to escape every-fucking-thing that has to do with gang-related bulshit. Basta con le domande stupide!" (Translation: Enough with the stupid questions!)

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. Calm down, you know I would never put you through something you can't handle."

"Vaffanculo!"

"Please just trust me. Please, cousin."

"Nick, I can't—"

"I'll throw in another $500, that makes $1000," Nick desperately offered. "Please, Luci, I need your help. See, you look just like me with the hood up. No one would know and you know how to hold your ground if anyone messes with you."

"I don't want trouble. I don't want to hurt anyone."

Nick frowned but then he looked at his watch and gasped. "Fuck! I need to go. Luci, I trust you with my life."

"Fuck you, Nikolai, this isn't fair," she growled.

"I love you too cousin, you're my lifesaver!" He kissed her on the forehead and placed an envelope in her hand. "There's $500 in there. I'll give you the rest when I get back. Thank you cousin."

She glared at Nick's back as he quickly retreated down the street.

"Fuck! I didn't agree, you son of a bitch!" She muttered under her breath but as her eyes landed on the envelope she let out a deep sigh and squeezed the paper. Dammit! I guess I have no fucking choice, she thought, pulling the hood further down her head to cover her face entirely.

She hated the thought of walking into that school, but a thousand dollars was big money for her. Nick always asked her for small favors and he paid her well, but not a thousand dollars. The most he'd given her was two hundred. Wherever Nick had to be; must be important for him to beg her for such a favor.

Nick had always been there for her since they were young. He was like an older brother she looked up to.Loyal and very protective. She knew she could trust him with her life.No matter what.

Luci stood outside Yeo-ll high school. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I won't get caught. I'll be fine. Easy money. In and out. She tried to convince herself that nothing would happen but deep down she knew it was just wishful thinking. That particular thought of getting caught made her want to flee this horrid place, but she didn't want to get him in trouble. She swallowed back the agitation settling in her bones and entered the gates of hell.

As she walked down the empty corridors and came into another section there were a flock of guys hanging around. They nodded at her, thinking she was Nick. Probably. A familiar orange haired guy who was with two other boys stood at the stairs. She sighed and bent her head to quickly walk past them. But the orange haired bastard didn't let her go. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a side hug.

"Don't worry Luci, I got your back," Jake Ji whispered in her ear, causing her to flinch.

Of course Jake would be in on this. Jake and Nick had been inseparable since Nick arrived and introduced him to his favourite Manhwa collection he had back in Italy.

"Okay, back up, buddy," she quickly said, pushing Jake back. She hated when people invaded her personal space, and Jake did it all the time. He was a big, cuddly, teddy bear when it came to the people he cared about.

"Always so cold," Jake laughed.

"Hey, Luci," Dean Kwon and Timothy Park both greeted her at the same time. They were close friends with Jake.

Luci swiftly looked around and nodded at them.

"We know you're capable of looking after yourself, but still your cousin would never send you into the lion's den unprotected."

When she didn't say anything Jake chuckled. "Nick may be an idiot but he cares about you a lot."

"I know that." It's not like he has a choice.

"You'll be fine if you don't talk or show your face," Dean said as he squeezed her shoulder comfortingly.

Luci drew back, but gave him a smile that she hoped looked friendly.

"Hopefully, no one talks to me," she replied.

"No one talks to Nick, apart from us. When the guys greet him he just nods at them so just do that," Jake said.

Jake Ji was the leader of Daehyeon High School and was considered to be the second strongest in the union. Luci and Nick went to the same school as Jake and for a few years she didn't understand why everyone avoided her until last year when she found the source. She was mad, but she came to terms with the circumstances. Her cousin made sure of it.

"Alright." Luci nodded. "Lead the way, buddy."

Buddy was the nickname Luci gave Jake when she started to tolerate his annoying ass.

"Okay, Ice Princess," Jake smiled.

Luci shook her head at the name and followed Jake into a room filled with brutal silence. She took a seat next to Dean and kept her eyes on her hand.

"Stop slouching, just relax," Dean whispered.

She pressed her lips together and gave Dean a side glance. "Who's in the room?"

"Just a few of the boys," Dean replied.

"Your leader?"

"Jake's here."

"I'm not talking about Jake."

"Donald?"

"Do you have another leader I don't know about?" Luci grumbled.

"Bitchy," Dean muttered.

Luci grimaced.

"Donald isn't our leader, Jake is," Timothy said. "And no not yet."

With a drained sigh she continued to glare at her hands, fiddling with her thumbs. She just wanted to get this over and done with. Patience was one of her best traits, but not when it came to danger.

Another type of silence injected the room which caused her skin to prickle with goosebumps. She didn't have to look up to see the source of the change.

As the blonde king of maniacs strode past her, he sat at his throne in the front of the room and spoke in a cold, gravelly voice.

"We have a traitor among us."

...

Hello! Hope you liked the first chapter. If you want more please leave a review and let me know.

THANK YOU!