Miami A glittering jewel on the map. This was the place where the sun kissed the ocean waves goodnight, and the breeze carried a strange, intoxicating sweetness. The sand was golden, the nights neon lit. People from all over the country and the world came here to wash away their fatigue, find peace, or just live life to the fullest for a few fleeting moments.
Miami's identity was its carefree culture, the never-ending nightclubs, the Art Deco architecture, and a shoreline that seduced everyone who set foot on it.
But that picture blurred ten years ago.
Decades of peace were suddenly choked by the smell of gunpowder. The shift began when a dark storm from Sicily, Italy, made landfall on the Miami coast. That storm was named "Black Rose."
Black Rose was no ordinary street gang. It was an empire of organized crime with roots deep in the old Italian Mafia families. The moment they arrived, poison dissolved into the city's air. Where the laughter of tourists once echoed, the rattle of machine-gun fire took over. With the arrival of Black Rose, the gates of hell swung open. Seeing them, various other gangs big and small turned Miami into their playground. Drugs, human trafficking, illegal arms dealing Miami was fast becoming the Crime Capital of America. Turf wars erupted on the streets daily, and the blood that flowed in these battles was often that of the innocent.
The administration was helpless, or rather, bought and paid for. But in this era of darkness, seven friends lit a flame of hope. They swore to restore Miami to its former glory. They called themselves Team Angelus.
These are the seven women who rebelled against fear. They hate the mafia, and each has her own reason for that hatred.
Team Angelus
Kiara Ross The Leader: The soul of the team. Kiara is serious, dedicated, and incredibly self-respecting. Despite being a corporate worker, her eyes hold a void and depth that can make anyone shudder. She speaks little, but when she does, her voice carries the weight of command. She hates sycophancy.
Aurora Banks: A Lieutenant in the Miami Police Department (MPD). She is smart, intelligent, and fearless. In uniform, she looks like a lioness. Her mind runs two steps ahead of criminals, but the system's helplessness often fuels her rage.
Myra Kane: A struggling actress. She is beautiful and bubbly, but that's just one side of her. She uses her acting skills to deceive enemies and conduct espionage.
Shayna Sterling: A doctor by profession. She is calm and simple, but when it comes to the team's safety, she will go to any length. She heals the team's wounds.
Riley Miller: A sharp-witted journalist. She has such a network of informants that if a leaf moves in Miami, she knows about it. She writes the truth fearlessly.
Natasha "Tasha" Graves: A young attorney. She lacks experience, but her resolve is ironclad. She becomes the team's shield in the courtroom.
Ria: A college student and hacking expert. She tracks the dark money of Black Rose in the digital world.
The Black Rose
On the other side is Black Rose. These are the men who treat Miami as their personal fiefdom. These Italian mobsters are not only wealthy but extremely dangerous.
Leonardo Alberto: The 'Godfather' of Black Rose and father of the Alberto brothers. A ruthless lion whose single roar makes the city tremble.
Neil Alberto: Leonardo's eldest son. Extremely hot, handsome, and mysterious. The second-in-command of the 'Black Rose' club. His blue eyes are hypnotic, but a devil hides behind them. He is business-minded and prefers mind games over bloodshed.
Nick Alberto: A famous Hollywood director and producer. Charming, stylish, and rude. He launders black money through his films. Women are crazy about him, but he belongs to no one.
Philip Alberto: The youngest son. A college student. He is a spoiled brat who abuses his brothers' power.
Jack Alfonso: A muscular, rough, and dangerous businessman. He loves violence. His attitude is so bold that going to prison is like a picnic for him.
Aidan Steele: Nick's best friend and the city's sharpest defense attorney. He looks like a model, but his mind is filled with venom. He exploits loopholes in the law to always save his friends.
Victor Chase: A corrupt politician who acts as the political shield for Black Rose.
Aaron Cross: Neil and Nick's friend and business partner.
The Present
A deep silence hung over the Miami coastline. Only the sound of crashing waves pierced the quiet. On the balcony of a luxurious high-rise apartment, Kiara Ross sat on the railing. A lit cigarette was in her hand, the smoke forming a twisted line in the air.
Kiara's face was completely calm, like the scene after a storm has passed. But her eyes held a strange emptiness, a pain buried in her chest for ten years. She was looking at the waves, but her mind was flipping through pages of the past she couldn't burn, no matter how hard she tried.
Kiara was only ten years old back then. An innocent, cheerful doll. That day was supposed to be the happiest of her life, but fate had written something else.
Kiara was skipping toward her house, clutching her school bag, bursting with joy. A smile of victory was plastered on her face.
"Dad promised," she muttered to herself, "if I got good grades, he'd get me that new pink bicycle. And I topped the class!"
Lost in her dream world, she turned into her driveway. But as she reached the front gate, her feet froze. There was a strange commotion. The neighborhood had gathered outside their house. Some women were crying.
Kiara's heart began to pound. She ran, pushing through the crowd. The sight in the front yard made the report card slip from her hand and flutter to the ground.
A white sheet.
Someone was lying on a gurney, covered from head to toe in a white cloth.
"Mom?" Kiara's voice trembled.
Her mother, Katherine, was sitting on the ground, wailing uncontrollably. Her world had been destroyed. The neighbors were trying to console her, but who could console a wife whose husband left the house laughing in the morning and returned as a corpse in the evening?
In a corner of the porch sat her grandfather. There were no tears in his eyes, just a desolate emptiness. The death of his young son had broken the old man's back. Grandma had passed away from cancer two years ago, and if she were alive today, this sight would have surely killed her.
Kiara moved toward the gurney with trembling steps. Her uncle, David, stepped forward to stop her, but Kiara didn't stop. With shaking hands, she pulled back the white sheet.
Scream!
A scream tried to escape Kiara's throat, but the sound was choked off.
The face in front of her was unrecognizable. It was completely burned, charred black. The skin had seared off the flesh. It didn't look like her father, Vincent Ross. Kiara's gaze fell on the burnt hand, where a ring sat. The same ring Vincent had worn on his wedding anniversary.
Kiara's mind went numb. Darkness began to cloud her vision. Her tiny body couldn't handle the shock. She stumbled. Before she could hit the ground, Uncle David caught her in his arms.
"Kiara! Kiara!" he shouted, but she had already fainted.
Kiara woke up about two hours later. She was in the guest bedroom of her uncle and aunt's house. Her head felt heavy, but she could hear voices coming from the living room.
Aunt Katherine was sobbing, "David, why don't you understand? Kiara is a child! How can she handle the burial? She loved Vincent so much; she'll break. You handle the eulogy and the rites."
Uncle David's voice was heavy and grave. "I understand, Katherine. It's cruel. But Vincent has no son. Kiara is his only child. She has the right to be there, to say goodbye. It's her responsibility. She has to do this."
Ten-year-old Kiara lay on the bed and heard it all. The tears had stopped flowing from her eyes. A strange maturity, far beyond her years, settled on her face. She got up, smoothed her messy hair, and walked out of the room.
Silence fell over the living room. Everyone stared at her.
Kiara stood tall, and without a hint of hesitation, she said, "Auntie, I will bury Dad. I am his daughter, and I will do my duty."
David and Katherine were stunned. They didn't expect such courage from a little girl who had just seen her father's charred body. David stepped forward and hugged her tight.
When they returned to Kiara's house, the police were there. David approached the detective.
"Detective, you're here? What did you find? Who did this to my brother?" David asked in anger and pain.
The detective took off his hat and looked down. "Mr. Ross, we are sorry. This death is the result of a gang war. A shootout happened between 'Black Rose' and the 'Red Knights' on the strip. Bombs went off. Your brother and about a hundred other innocent people were caught in the crossfire. His car was hit by the blast."
David exploded. "Black Rose? Ever since these Italian mobsters came here, Miami is ruined! What do you people do? Why do you wear that badge?"
The detective helplessly held up his hands. "What can we do, sir? Our hands are tied. The government itself is in their pocket. When the order comes from above to do nothing, we just watch the show. Anyone who tries to go against them either gets transferred or disappears. We are just puppets of the system."
Kiara was standing nearby. She heard every single word.
'Black Rose.' The name was imprinted on her mind.
'Italian Mafia.'
'Puppets of the system.'
In that moment, the little girl's trust in the police and the justice system shattered. She understood that her father wasn't killed by an illness or an accident, but by criminals, and the law would not punish them.
At the cemetery, the air was thick with grief. The casket was suspended over the open grave. The priest was reading the final prayers.
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..."
It was time for the committal. Usually, the family would throw a handful of earth or a flower onto the casket.
Uncle David tried to step in, holding a single white rose, wanting to spare Kiara the finality of the moment. "Kiara, honey, you don't have to..."
Kiara gently pushed his hand away. She walked to the pile of soil next to the grave. She didn't pick up a flower. She picked up a handful of cold, dark earth. She squeezed it tight, her knuckles turning white.
Everyone was crying, but there were no tears in Kiara's eyes anymore. There were only embers. She looked at the casket and threw the dirt onto the wood. The hollow thud echoed in the silence.
Staring into the dark grave, she made a silent vow.
Dad, I won't cry. I won't be weak. The people who took you from me, who burned you... I will burn their whole world down. I will tear Black Rose out by the roots. After today, no daughter will lose her father because of this scum.
That day, a ten-year-old innocent girl died, and a fighter was born.
Kiara was so lost in these bitter memories that she didn't realize the cigarette had burned down to her fingers. It stung her skin.
Suddenly, someone placed a hand on her shoulder. Kiara started and turned around.
It was Aurora Banks. She was wearing casual clothes, but her posture still held the stiffness of a police officer.
Aurora sat on the railing next to her.
"Hmm. What are you thinking? The old days again?" Aurora asked gently.
Kiara stubbed out the cigarette and took a deep breath. "Nothing, girl. just the old reel playing in my head."
Aurora looked at her closely. "I heard you got fired again today?"
Kiara nodded bitterly. "Yeah."
Aurora chuckled, but it was filled with sarcasm. "You're amazing, Kiara! That's the fifteenth company in the last month. Are you trying to set a World Record?"
Kiara's face hardened. She sat up straight, that same pride shining in her eyes.
"Aurora, those people aren't looking for employees; they're looking for lapdogs! They want me to wag my tail at every wrong thing they do. They want slavery; they want 'Yes, Sir.' I can't kiss the shoes of those corporate donkeys, and I certainly won't bend my spine for them."
Aurora sighed. "I know, Kiara. But if this keeps up, how will you run the house? With this attitude, no one is going to give you a job."
"Then don't!" Kiara said sharply. "I'll starve, but I won't be anyone's pet."
To lighten the mood, Kiara changed the subject. "Forget about me, tell me about your day. Your favorite criminal, Jack Alfonso. What happened to him? Is he rotting in jail or is he out?"
Hearing Jack's name, anger and frustration clouded Aurora's beautiful face. She clenched her fist.
"Don't ask! My blood boils at that man's name. That bastard is out again. He made bail last night."
"How?" Kiara asked, though she knew the answer.
"His friend, Aidan Steele," Aurora said through gritted teeth. "That Aidan... he calls himself an attorney, but he's actually the devil's broker. He's so sharp and cunning; he finds pages in the law books that judges can't even argue with. He gets Jack out every single time."
Aurora slammed her hand on the railing.
"You know what, Kiara? When I arrest Jack and throw him in the lockup, he isn't scared. He looks at me and smiles! He's so bold and shameless, he says, 'Lieutenant, the coffee in your precinct is better than at my house.' It's like he prefers jail to being outside. I swear, when he gives that handsome smirk, I just want to take a hammer and knock all his teeth out!"
Kiara lit a new cigarette and passed it to Aurora. "Relax, Lieutenant. You stress all day; at least find some peace at night. You'll get your chance to break Jack's teeth. Have patience."
"What's your plan now?" Aurora asked, taking the cigarette.
"Nothing special. Sent my resume to a couple of places. I have an interview tomorrow. If I get it, great. If not, there's always Grandpa and Dad's pension. We won't starve," Kiara said carelessly.
While they were talking, the balcony door burst open and a glamorous storm swept in. It was Myra Kane. She was wearing a short dress, her face still heavy with shooting makeup.
"What's up, my loves?" Myra said dramatically as she entered. "Partying without me? How rude!"
Aurora glared at her. "From what angle does it look like we're partying? We're mourning our lives here."
Myra laughed and sat between them. "Hey, why are you always so angry, Madam Cop? Doesn't look like a party, but what's the harm in asking?"
Aurora made a face. "Sorry, I was just a little frustrated."
"Why? Did Jack Alfonso get off again?" Myra asked mischievously.
"Yes," Aurora snapped.
Myra laughed out loud. "Aurora, sometimes I think you joined the police force just to catch that hot and dangerous Jack. Your world revolves around him!"
"Shut up, Myra!" Aurora was annoyed. "Don't ruin my mood by saying that nuisance's name. He might be handsome to the world, but to me, he's just a criminal. One day I'll catch him with evidence so solid that even his buddy Aidan won't be able to save him."
Just then, the clock struck twelve.
Kiara stood up. "Drop it. Save your energy for tomorrow. I have an interview in the morning; I'm going to sleep."
Myra stretched her arms. "Yeah, me too. I have a huge audition tomorrow. If I get that role, I'm made. Life is set. I'm heading out too."
Aurora picked up her cap. "And I have the night shift. Jack is out, so patrol needs to be doubled in the city. Alright, goodnight ladies."
The three looked at each other. In their eyes was an unspoken promise. A promise to destroy Black Rose.
One by one, they left, heading to their respective battlefields. This was just the beginning. A massive game was about to begin on Miami soil, where a bloody saga of hate, love, betrayal, and revenge was yet to be written.
The Everglades: The Death Strip
A few miles away from Miami's glittering tourist hub, amidst the dense wetlands, lay an area people called the "Death Strip." Here, there was no beauty of nature, only a terrifying silence.
A road cut through the middle of this dense, dark swamp, bisecting the wilderness as if someone had slashed the earth's chest with an axe. This road looked straight, but its secrets were twisted.
In recent years, the scenes this desolate road had witnessed were enough to make the souls of old Miami residents shiver. The accidents here never stopped. People passed through, but they never returned.
Sometimes, the severed body of a traveler would be found hanging from the high cypress trees like a macabre toy.
Sometimes, at midnight, cars passing by would be found with charred corpses inside, faces burned beyond recognition.
And some unfortunates simply vanished into thin air; neither their bodies nor a single clue was ever found.
In the beginning, when these incidents started, the law tried to show its strength. Some brave police officers entered that dense darkness with their teams to investigate. But the swamp didn't let anyone return. What happened the next day turned the pride of the badge into dust.
The bodies of those officers were found not in the swamp, but dumped right in the police station parking lot. Their bodies bore marks not of wild animals, but of human cruelty so severe that even the coroner trembled. It was a direct message: This territory is beyond the reach of the law.
After that horrific morning, no cop ever dared to step on that road again. The force knelt, and the area was declared a "No Man's Land."
Fear had taken such deep roots in people's hearts that even birds were afraid to fly there in broad daylight. At night, looking toward that road was considered suicide.
Strange stories became famous among the people regarding that path:
The Gates of Hell: Some elders believed this road led straight to hell, from where there is no return.
The Devil's Shadow: Some said it was the home of an ancient evil spirit thirsty for human blood.
The Mafia's Slaughterhouse: Those who were a little wiser whispered that this was Black Rose's "Butcher Shop," where every voice raised against them was silenced.
What was the truth? Was there really a supernatural force, or just monsters hiding in human skin? It remained a mystery to this day. No one had the courage to go to that dark road and search for the truth, because the price of knowing the truth there was only one thing Death.