Chapter 2

The next day, I found myself standing in the sleek, towering building that was Moretti Enterprises. Dante's empire. The building loomed over me, its cold glass walls reflecting the gray sky. It was a monument to power, wealth, and everything I was about to be dragged into.

Inside, polished marble stretched beneath my boots, the soft click of each step swallowed by the cavernous lobby. Security guards flanked the room, still and sharp like statues carved from stone. No one smiled. No one spoke. The silence was oppressive, the kind that made your pulse echo louder than it should.

A man in a black suit appeared beside me that I think he’s also the one with Dante yesterday.

"Miss Leone, follow me," he said, not quite a request.

I moved without question, my voice caught somewhere between reluctance and resignation. I didn't ask what I was doing here. I already knew.

Work for him.

The words had felt vague when Dante said them. Now, they clung to my ribs like shackles. The elevator doors sealed us in, and the ride up was a silent punishment. No music. No words. Only the slow ascent and the weight of the unknown growing heavier with every floor.

When the doors opened, the atmosphere shifted. The top floor wasn't just an office, it was a statement. Power dripped from every corner. Abstract art lined the hallways, too bold, too expensive. Even the air felt filtered through some untouchable hierarchy.

At the end of the corridor stood a set of doors. Heavy. Unapologetic. My escort didn't knock. He simply opened them.

Dante sat behind a desk the size of a small country. Mahogany. Dark as blood. His head was down with his arms supporting his head. He didn't look up right away, but I felt him watching. The kind of attention that curled around your spine and squeezed.

The leather chair across from him creaked as I lowered myself in. My fingers itched to fidget, to anchor myself, but I forced them still.

This wasn't how I'd imagined searching for Luca. I thought I'd be chasing rumors in back alleys, trading favors in hushed voices. Not this. Not suits and skyscrapers and men who owned cities.

Dante leaned back, eyes locked onto mine like he was reading secrets off my skin.

What the hell am I doing here?

"Miss Leone," he finally said, his voice cool and collected, "I trust your trip up here wasn't unpleasant?"

I stayed silent and still standing in front of his desk, unsure of how to respond. The truth was, nothing about this felt right. Nothing about this man felt right. Yet here I was, walking deeper into his world, one step at a time.

He gestured to a chair across from him. "Please, sit. We have much to discuss."

I took a seat reluctantly, trying not to let the unease show on my face. My hands were clammy, my thoughts scrambled. This wasn't how I imagined finding Luca. I had always pictured a straightforward search, a few phone calls, maybe some favors from the right people. But this? This was something entirely different.

Dante leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes never leaving mine that made me swallow my own saliva. His gaze felt like it was stripping me down, digging beneath the surface. I couldn't tell if he was sizing me up, or if it was something else altogether.

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions," he began, his voice smooth, almost comforting. "And I intend to answer them. But first, let's talk about the deal."

I folded my hands tightly in my lap, trying to keep my composure. "What do you want from me?" I said in a serious tone.

His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Nothing too complicated. I have a... business arrangement that requires your attention. A few people who need to be 'persuaded' to cooperate." He said it so casually, as if he were talking about a mundane task, not something as dangerous as threatening people.

I swallowed hard. "You want me to help you with that?"

"Exactly," Dante replied. "There are things that need to be handled in my world, and someone with your skills could be... useful."

I frowned, trying to hide my confusion. "Skills? What skills?"

He studied me for a moment, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "Don't play coy with me, Sera. You're resourceful. You know how to find things. People, information. That's what I need."

I felt the weight of his words press down on me.

 I'm not a criminal. 

I wanted to shout.

I'm not one of your people. 

But I kept it in, knowing better than to speak out of turn.

"Of course, there will be compensation for your services," Dante continued, as if reading my mind. "And once your tasks are completed, I'll give you everything you need and want."

I stared at him, trying to gauge whether I could trust him. But every time I tried to read him, I came up short. Dante was an enigma, too layered, too well-guarded.

"And if I don't agree?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The question hovered in the air, lingering like a threat.

Dante's gaze hardened for just a second. "You will," he replied, his voice low and final. "Because you don't have a choice." He said as he smirked.

I froze. The reality of it hit me all at once. I was no longer in control of my own life. I had signed away my freedom the moment I agreed to this twisted deal.

But I couldn't back out now, not when Luca's life hung in the balance.

"I'll do what you ask," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside me. "But I want your word that you will find him. That you'll bring him back to me. I don’t need anything. I don’t want anything. Just Luca." I said word by word with furrowed eyebrows.

Dante studied me for a moment, as if weighing my words. Then he leaned forward slightly, his voice dangerously calm. "You have my word, Sera. You'll get what you want, once you prove your worth."

I didn't know if I could trust him. I didn't know if I even wanted to. But what choice did I have?

The weight of the deal I had just made pressed down on me, suffocating any sense of freedom I had left. I had no doubt he'd use me for whatever he saw fit, and yet, I couldn't afford to refuse him. Not when Luca's life was on the line.

I wasn't sure what I expected when I walked into Moretti Enterprises, but it certainly wasn't this, a quiet, isolated corner of the building where I was now standing, awaiting my first task. The hum of the city outside was muted, as if even the world beyond was holding its breath. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was standing on the precipice of something dangerous.

I remained silent, my eyes fixed on him, trying to prepare myself for whatever task he had in store.

The air between us crackled with tension, a sense of something about to unfold. Something that would make the stakes even higher.

"Your first task is simple," Dante continued, leaning forward slightly. "There's a man in the city, a businessman, who's become a thorn in my side. I want you to make him see reason. Persuade him to back down from his dealings with my rivals."

I raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you want me to persuade him?"

His lips curled into a faint smile, as though my question amused him. "That's for you to figure out. I'm sure you'll come up with something creative."

I didn't like the way he said that, the underlying menace in his voice. But what could I do? I wasn't here to ask questions. I was here to follow orders.

"And if I fail?" I asked, testing the waters.

Dante's gaze darkened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Failure isn't an option," he said quietly, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Remember, Sera, you owe me. And I always collect."

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. This was real. This wasn't a game anymore. I was no longer just a woman seeking her brother, I was now a part of Dante's dangerous world, with no way out.

"Don't worry," he added, his tone softening just a little. "If you succeed, I'll keep my end of the bargain. I'll help you find Luca. But the price of failure..." He let the threat hang in the air.

I nodded, trying to hide the storm of emotions swirling inside me. This was only the beginning, and already, I was beginning to wonder if I had made a terrible mistake.

"You'll find your brother, Sera. But remember, the longer you stay in my world, the harder it will be to leave." He left me with those words. He turned and walked toward the door, leaving me alone in the room with the weight of my first task pressing heavily on my shoulders. I took a deep breath and turned to the door as I left his office.

I felt the weight of the task he'd given me settle around my shoulders like a dark cloak. Luca's life hung in the balance, and here I was, being sent to face a man who had crossed Dante, someone I didn't even know, someone who could easily turn me into a pawn in this dangerous game I was now trapped in.

Luca had always been the one to protect me. He had shielded me from this world, kept me away from the mafia's poisonous grasp. But now, I was walking straight into its heart, sent by the very man who controlled it. And with each step I took, I knew there was no turning back.

As I made my way to the car waiting outside, I glanced around at the towering skyscrapers that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky. Moretti Enterprises was a world of power, of wealth, of ruthless ambition, and I was about to dive headfirst into it. 

I went inside the car at the backseat and all I can hear was nothing but Dante’s words that I couldn’t forget.

The drive to that businessman's office was short, but each second felt like an eternity. I wasn't sure what kind of man Dante wanted me to confront, but I could already feel the cold, hard edge of my role in his world settling in.

When I arrived, a woman in a sharp black suit greeted me at the door. "Miss Leone, Mr. Caruso is expecting you," she said, her tone polite but distant. Her eyes lingered for a fraction of a second longer than necessary before she turned and led me inside.

The office was sleek, minimalist, just like Dante's. Everything in this world was designed to intimidate, to assert power. Even the way the air smelled felt like it was part of the game. Cold. Sterile. Calculated.

I followed the woman into a large, glass-walled conference room, where a man sat at the far end of the table. He had salt-and-pepper hair, dark eyes that assessed me the moment I walked in, and a calm demeanor that screamed authority.

"Miss Leone," he said smoothly, standing up and extending his hand. "It's a pleasure,” with a smile on his face.

I hesitated for a second before shaking his hand. "Mr. Caruso," I replied coolly, trying to maintain the composure Dante expected from me.

"You must be wondering why I called for you." His voice was smooth, too smooth. "Let's just say I've heard things about your... connection to Dante Moretti."

My only question is—why did he call for me? It’s like my first day.

I held back a frown, not wanting to show him how much that comment unnerved me.

Everyone knows Dante,

I reminded myself.

Everyone fears him.

"I'm here on behalf of Dante," I said, choosing my words carefully. "He sent me to discuss business."

Mr. Caruso smiled, but there was something cold behind his eyes. "Business? Or something more personal?"

I fought the urge to react, to show the growing unease bubbling inside me. "What do you mean?" I asked confusedly.

"Let's not play games," he said, sitting back down and steepling his fingers. "I know how these things work. You come from a family with ties to Moretti, and you've been brought here to clean up the mess."

I knew he was trying to provoke me, but I couldn't afford to let him see the cracks in my facade. "I'm here to offer you a deal," I said, voice firm. "I want you to stop undermining Dante's operations. He doesn't appreciate his authority being questioned."

The room grew colder, the tension rising as his smile faded. "Is that what you think this is about?" he asked, leaning forward. "A simple business deal?" He asked. "My point, Miss Leone, is that you're in over your head." He continued as his gaze was sharp now, piercing. "You think you can walk into this world and make threats? You think you can play the game without consequences?"

I felt my pulse quicken. "I'm not playing games. I'm doing what needs to be done." I said confidently as I avoid my voice to shake to not sound weak.

He chuckled darkly. "We'll see how long that lasts. People like you don't survive in this world for long."

A chill ran down my spine. It wasn't just about Luca anymore. This man was threatening more than just my brother, he was threatening my life. And with every passing second, I could feel the web around me tightening.

Before I could respond, Caruso's secretary entered the room, interrupting the moment. "Mr. Caruso, there's someone on the phone for you," she said, her voice tight.

He shot her a glance, clearly irritated. "Tell them to wait."

The woman hesitated for a moment before nodding and retreating. The tension in the room hung thick, and I could feel Caruso's eyes on me as if waiting for me to crack.

I had to stay focused. Dante's deal was my only way to get to Luca. I couldn't afford to be rattled now, no matter how much I wanted to walk out of here and never look back.

"I'll leave now," I said, standing up. "But I suggest you think long and hard about what happens next." I stared at him sharply.

Caruso watched me with a cold, calculating expression. "You're playing with fire, Miss Leone. And fire always burns." He said as he laughs and echoed around the room like a villain.

I left without saying another word, feeling the weight of his warning settle on my chest. I had no idea what I was walking into, but it was clear that Dante wasn't the only one I needed to worry about.