LOGINDanteWhen my phone rang that afternoon and I saw Nico’s name on the screen, I answered at once. I was still in Switzerland, sitting in my hotel room after a long physiotherapy session. I had barely closed my eyes when his voice came through the phone sounding strained.“Boss, there is something you should know,” he said.I sat up. “What is it?”“It is Valeria,” he said. “She agreed to take a deal from Salvatore.”I held the phone tighter. “What deal?”“A shipment by the docks. Salvatore reached out to her. She accepted.”My jaw tightened. “And you allowed her? Without telling me first?”Nico went quiet for a moment. I could hear him breathing. “Boss… she made the call fast. She handled it well. I thought—”“You thought?” I cut in. “You do not think when it concerns her. You tell me.”“I know,” he said quickly. “I am sorry. I hesitated and the moment passed. But she handled herself. She asked the right questions. She arranged everything cleanly. I thought stopping her would make her
ValeriaThe noise from the helicopter was so loud that it shook the air around us. The bright light from above made it hard to see clearly, but I could still make out the shapes of the federal agents spreading around the docks. Their expressions were sharp and ready. Some looked tense, some looked afraid, and some looked as if they were waiting for us to make the wrong move. My men stood close to me, with their weapons raised, all of them breathing hard. The cold air mixed with the smell from the open container, and everything felt tight and heavy around us.The voice from the helicopter speaker shouted again. “Drop your weapons! Now!”Another officer on the ground yelled, “Hands where we can see them!”I kept my breathing steady even though my thoughts were moving too fast. This was too organized, too sudden, and too perfect. There were only two things that made sense. Either this was a trap someone set for me, or someone leaked information about the shipment. Either way, this was no
ValeriaThe water was calm when our ship pulled into the docks. I stood at the rail, looking at the containers lined across the pier. We had arrived earlier than planned, which gave me more time to check everything before the transfer started. I wanted no mistakes. I wanted this deal for Salvatore to go smoothly, because my name was on the line.When the ship stopped, I stepped down from the ramp with Nico and the guards. I looked around and scanned the area. Everything looked normal. Workers were moving around, forklifts lifted crates, and the trucks waited at the end of the dock. I walked forward with my clipboard in hand and checked the list again.“Make sure the north side is clear,” I told one of my men. He nodded and ran off.“Check the seals on the containers,” I told another. “Every number must match what we have here.”He responded with a firm yes.Nico walked beside me. “Everything looks fine so far,” he said.“I want to be sure,” I replied. “Salvatore will not take excuses
ValeriaI sat alone in my room, going through some papers that I needed to sign before morning. My mind kept drifting back to Antonio. Something about seeing him again had opened up a part of my past that I did not want to visit. I tried to focus, but the thoughts kept coming. I was still thinking about it when I heard a knock on my door.“It’s Nico,” he said from outside.“Come in,” I replied and sat up straight.He pushed the door open and stepped inside. He did not look tense, but he looked like he had something important to say. He walked toward me and stopped in front of my desk.“How are you?” he asked. His tone was softer than usual.“I’m fine,” I said, keeping my voice even.He studied me for a second. “Are you sure?”“Yes.”He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small file. “I brought what you asked for.”I nodded, trying to hide the fact that my heart picked up speed. He opened the file and placed a few printed photos on my desk. I leaned forward and looked at them. It
ValeriaI had just stepped out of the room when I felt the weight of the evening settle into my bones. The meeting with Salvatore Romano had been quick but intense. He was powerful—unmistakably so—but I wasn’t about to let that shake me.Nico was by my side as we entered the elevator. I pressed the button, and we both stood in silence for a few moments. The elevator started its descent, the soft hum of the machinery filling the quiet. Nico glanced at me but didn’t say anything at first.“Are you okay?” Nico finally asked. His voice was low, concerned.I glanced at him. “I’m fine.”“Don’t sound so sure,” he replied, his gaze steady. “You’ve been through a lot today. What exactly did Salvatore want?”I turned to face him fully, leaning against the back wall of the elevator. “He wanted my help. Some goods need shipping, but he’s testing me. Wants to see if I can handle it.”Nico nodded, his eyes thoughtful. “The South’s kingpin wants to make sure you’re as capable as they say. Big move.”
ValeriaI was sitting at my desk when I found it. A photo of Dante, one from his childhood. I couldn’t help it. I laughed. The great Dante Moretti, the man who controlled half of the underworld, looked so innocent, so… harmless. It was a picture of him as a boy, smiling shyly, with his eyes full of something I hadn’t expected—vulnerability. It made me chuckle, and I muttered under my breath, “Who would have thought the feared mafia lord was once this cute?”I shook my head, still laughing quietly to myself as I studied the photo. The contrast between the little boy in the picture and the man I knew now was almost too much to process. The laugh died in my throat when a soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I quickly shoved the photo into the drawer and called out, “Come in.”Nico entered, with his face as serious as ever. He handed me a piece of paper, and I noticed the name written on it, my brow furrowing slightly. Nico looked at me, clearly ready to discuss something impor







