Chapter 1

The rain hammered against the window i’m just here sitting, each drop tapping out a steady rhythm that mirrored the frantic beat of my heart. I stood there, staring at the darkened skyline of Chicago, the city lights barely piercing through the storm. My mind wasn't on the view though. It hadn't been for a long time.

Luca. My brother. The one person who always had my back, always protected me from the mess our father had left behind. Now, he was gone, and I had no idea where he was.

Two weeks. Two weeks since I'd last heard from him, since he'd disappeared without a trace. The police hadn't been much help. Just a few vague leads that went nowhere, a lot of questions left unanswered. They said it was just another missing persons case, but I knew better. Luca hadn't just gone off somewhere. He'd been taken.

The photo on the table caught my eye. It was of Luca and me, taken during a summer we'd spent together when things had still felt normal. I reached out and traced the edges of the frame with my fingers, remembering the warmth of his hand on my shoulder, the way he'd teased me that day.

Where are you, Luca?

The thought hit me like a punch to the chest.

Are you alive?

I couldn't imagine the alternative. Losing him... I couldn't even process the idea. He was my only family left. After our father's death, his mysterious death, shrouded in rumors about the mafia, I had no one else. It’s just me. And now Luca was gone too.

I turned away from the window, my heart heavy. There had to be something I could do. But what? Every connection I had was exhausted, every avenue I'd pursued had come up dry.

What was I missing?

Then, a knock at the door sliced through the silence. My pulse jumped.

Who could that be?

I wasn't expecting anyone. Not now.

I hesitated, staring at the door for a moment, before I forced myself to move. My heart was already racing, my stomach tight with unease. I opened it a crack, just enough to see who was on the other side.

A tall man stood there with two other men in black beside him—I guess, bodyguards. His posture immaculate, his presence commanding. He wore a tailored black suit that seemed to swallow the light around him. He didn't speak immediately, just studied me with cold, calculating eyes. I couldn't read him, but I could feel the weight of his gaze like a physical force. His silence made the air between us feel thick, suffocating.

"Miss Leone," he finally spoke, his voice smooth, almost too smooth, like he was used to getting exactly what he wanted. "I'm Dante Moretti. I assume you've heard of me."

Moretti. The name sent a chill down my spine. Dante Moretti was no stranger to me. In fact, he was one of the most feared men in the city—head of the Moretti mafia, a ruthless, calculating leader. The kind of man who controlled everything from the shadows, his reach extending into every part of the city.

I swallowed hard.

This can't be good.

"I'm not interested in whatever you're doing," I said, trying to sound firm, though my voice betrayed me. It came out shaky, as though my body knew this encounter was about to change everything. I tried to close the door off but he puts his palm against it.

Dante's lips curled into a smile, though there was no warmth in it. "This isn't about doing anything," he said, his voice still calm, still unsettlingly smooth. "This is about what you need. I can help you find your brother."

The words hit me like a slap. 

He knows about Luca? 

How could he know? I barely knew anything about Luca's disappearance, let alone someone like him.

I took a step back, instinctively pulling away from the door as he entered my apartment. "What do you want in return?" I asked shakingly, already dreading the answer. I could feel the danger in the air, heavy and suffocating.

His eyes flickered briefly, before that cold smile stretched wider, sending a shiver down my spine. "Nothing too complicated," he said. "I need you to work for me. Help me with a few tasks. In return, I'll help you find your brother."

My chest tightened. "Help me find Luca... in exchange for what?"

"You'll work for me," he repeated with a now deep look in his eyes. "Do what I ask. And in return, I'll give you the information you need. The real answers about what happened to your brother."

The words hung in the air between us, like a promise laced with poison. I could feel the temptation creeping in. But I also felt the danger, felt the weight of his words press down on me.

I wanted to refuse. I wanted to scream at him, slam the door, and go back to searching for Luca on my own. But I couldn't. Not when the possibility of finding him was within my reach.

"What kind of tasks?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

His smile never wavered. "That's for me to decide. But I assure you, it will be well worth it, Miss Leone."

I hesitated. "I'm not doing anything illegal."

Dante's eyes darkened for a moment, but then his smile returned, as if he enjoyed the challenge. "You're asking the wrong questions, Miss Leone. You're not here to judge my methods. You're here to find your brother."

My mind raced, but I didn't have time to think. I had to weigh the offer against the possibility of never seeing Luca again.

"And if I don't work for you?" I asked, the words tasting bitter as they left my mouth.

Dante's smile tightened, and his eyes became cold. "Then you'll never know what happened to him."

"Fine," I said, voice low. "But if you lie to me, if you use me, I'll burn everything you have."

His expression didn't change. If anything, he looked amused. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, the weight of the promise he'd made settling over me like a shroud. I was now tied to Dante Moretti, whether I liked it or not. And I couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, he already knew more about Luca's disappearance than he was letting on.

That was the moment it all shifted.

I had just made a deal with The Dante Moretti.

God, help me.

Did he do something to Luca?