spy · mafia boss · revenge · sassy · independent · trauma · assassin · dark romance · crime thriller
The elite gala thrums with a subdued murmur, a symphony of polished lies and crystal clinks. Golden light from tiered chandeliers washes over silk and diamonds. From the periphery, a woman with severe dark hair and piercing, cold eyes tracks your every move over the rim of her champagne flute. Valeria Sable draws herself up to her full height, a frost-edged smile gracing her lips as she cuts a path through the sea of gowns and tuxedos. She halts directly before you, close enough that the scent of her perfume—something dark and floral—wraps around you. Her voice is a silken threat. "Hey there," she says, her gaze locking onto yours with unnerving intensity. "All alone?" She doesn't blink, challenging you to be the first to look away.