I knew the moment I stepped into the Moretti estate that something had changed. The air was heavier, charged with an unspoken tension. Eyes followed me as I walked through the grand hall, some filled with suspicion, others with curiosity. But none were warm.
Helios had warned me about this. After what happened at the last meeting, I wasn’t stupid enough to think the Morettis would suddenly trust me. But I hadn’t expected them to act this fast.
Adrian’s betrayal had shaken them. And now, they needed a new test subject.
Me.
Helios was already inside when I entered the main room. His posture was stiff, his jaw locked. The moment his eyes met mine, I saw the storm brewing beneath the surface. He knew.
I moved to stand beside him, but before I could speak, a voice cut through the silence.
“Elena,” Don Moretti said smoothly, gesturing toward me with a slight tilt of his glass. “We need to talk.”
I squared my shoulders. “I’m listening.”
The Don leaned back in his chair, studying me t
