LOGINL A N AI stay where I am for a second longer than necessary after Dante speaks, watching the way Daniella answers him so easily, like this is routine for them, like moments like this happen all the time and they already know their roles without needing to think about it, and I realise I am the only one here who still feels out of place, the only one trying to catch up while everyone else moves forward without hesitation.“Not at all, we were just keeping Lana company,” Daniella says, her tone casual, but her eyes flash to me for a brief second, like she is checking that I am alright without actually asking.“Mm,” Dante answers, and that sound alone tells me he has already moved on in his head to whatever comes next.“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for too long,” he adds, glancing at me now, and I don’t miss the way his expression softens just slightly, like he is making a quiet effort to shift gears when it comes to me.“No, you didn’t...” I answer, and I hear how small my voice so
L A N A“Bonnie.” I then hear a familiar voice call out through the low hum of conversation, making me turn to find Daniella walking toward us with purpose, her eyes moving between the two of us before settling briefly on me. I can already tell she is questioning why I am standing here in a room that clearly isn’t meant for me, surrounded by people who know exactly what they’re doing while I’m just trying not to look out of place.“What’s the update?” Daniella asks, shifting her attention fully to Bonnie, her posture straight as she folds her arms loosely, and Bonnie doesn’t hesitate to answer, slipping right back into whatever role she holds here, her tone more focused than it was when we were walking through the halls.“Everything’s running smoothly, the guys are already on the move with the shipment transfer,” Bonnie begins, but then she pauses mid-sentence, her eyes moving toward me again as if she has just remembered I’m standing right here, and Daniella follows that glance immed
L A N A“So how did you find yourself here?” Bonnie asks, and her tone casual as she glances back at me once before turning back and facing forward, just as I follow after her, trying to keep up with her pace until I'm walking right beside her. I hesitate for a second while we walk, my hands loosely clasped in front of me as I try to figure out how to even explain everything without sounding completely insane, because even to me it still feels unreal, like I skipped steps in my own life and ended up somewhere I don’t belong, surrounded by people who speak about violence and power like it is just part of their routine.“Long story… but uhm… to keep it short…” I start, and I trail off a little as I go over it in my head, trying to organise it in some sort of way that makes sense, even though nothing about it really does. I let out a small breath before continuing, glancing at Bonnie just to make sure she is still listening, which she is, completely, her expression calm and her attention
L A N AI take my time walking through the halls, my eyes moving across everything around me, the high ceilings, the clean floors, the way everything is arranged. I still find it hard to believe that I managed to find myself in a place like this. It still feels far from the life I was living just days ago, and I find myself wondering how I ended up here, how I went from planning a future with Tyler to walking through a mansion owned by a man who leads a life I barely understand.My thoughts drift back to the engagement party without warning, the memory coming in pieces as I walk, the faces, the laughter, the way everything felt normal until it did not, and I can still picture the moment everything shifted, the whispers, the looks, the way people I had known for years turned on me without hesitation, choosing his version of the story without even asking for mine, and I wonder now if any of them have even thought about me since then, if anyone questioned what really happened or if they
L A N A“Oh… uhm… o-okay…” I answer, my voice coming out softer than I intend as I feel my cheeks warm almost instantly, forcing me to lower my gaze to the plate in front of me as if the food has suddenly become the most interesting thing in the room, even though I am fully aware that he is still watching me and that only makes it harder to act normal, my fingers adjusting slightly around the fork in my hand as I try to settle myself.He doesn't say anything after that, making the silence even more unbearable as my thoughts run wild. It's like he's giving me space to gather myself without pushing, and then he finally speaks again, his voice calm as ever, asking,“Are you enjoying your food?” and I glance up briefly, meeting his eyes for a second before nodding.“Yes, I am, thank you,” I reply, and this time I manage a small smile without thinking too much about it, which surprises me more than anything since it feels natural, not forced. I quickly look back down again, taking another
L A N AWe make our way into the dining room, and the first thing I notice is how much food has been laid out across the table, more than enough for a full gathering even though it is just the two of us, plates arranged neatly with pastries, fruit, warm dishes, and drinks already prepared as if this had all been planned long before I even agreed to sit down, and I pause near the chair for a second, unsure of where to start or even how to act in a setting that feels far too refined for someone who, just hours ago, was on the floor of her apartment crying over her life falling apart.Dante steps ahead of me without saying anything at first, his movements smooth as he reaches for the chair near the head of the table and pulls it back for me, waiting until I actually sit before he gently pushes it in, the gesture catching me off guard immediately. I quietly thank him while lowering myself into the seat, my hands resting awkwardly in my lap for a moment as I glance up at him, unable to ign
L A N A He is smiling back at me, a short glass of golden liquor in his hand as he carefully makes his way over to me."Look at you..." He says to me, and that's when I feel Fernanda nudge me towards Ezio, just as I gasp and begin making my way towards him. The music suddenly quiets down, and the
L A N AWe step outside together, the late morning air feeling cool against my skin as the front doors close quietly behind us, and I immediately notice the black car parked near the entrance, its engine already running as if it has been waiting for this exact moment, which I suppose it has. The st
L A N ABefore I can reach her, Tyler grabs me from behind, his hands wrapping around my arms as he pulls me back against his chest.“Enough, Lana!” he says as I struggle against him, tears streaming down my face while I try to break free.“Get your hands off me,” I scream, twisting my body and sho
L A N AI am painfully aware of how small I feel standing here.Not just physically, though that is impossible to ignore, the way Dante stands taller than everyone else in the room, the way his presence seems to take up space without effort, but emotionally too, like I am a child who wandered into







