LOGINL A N A"You're jealous that Dante didn't have to kidnap me and force me to like him... and it disturbs you so much that I willingly chose to remain with him..." I say, and the moment the words leave my mouth, I feel my stomach tighten, but I refuse to take them back, especially when Ezio has spent the entire afternoon provoking both of us and acting as though I have no right to speak for myself."I'm sick of your mind games; they won't work on me." I try to say as boldly as I can, keeping my eyes on him even though a nervous feeling remains in my chest, and for once, I don't immediately look toward Dante for reassurance, since I want Ezio to understand that whatever power he thinks he has over me isn't the same as it was when he kept me locked away.Ezio studies me from across the table, and his expression slowly changes into an amused smile, almost as though my attempt to challenge him has given him another reason to keep talking, which is exactly what I don't want. Yet, I also know
L A N AI glance around the restaurant nervously, seeing that both Dante and Ezio's people are keeping a watchful eye on us, as if to make sure that neither one of their bosses does anything rash. From what I understand, the Domenicali rules are supposed to keep everyone safe while we're here, and I keep reminding myself of that. Yet the more I watch Dante and Ezio sit across from each other, the more I wonder how much those rules can actually restrain them when neither man seems willing to back down.Daniella, Amos, Bonnie and Nico remain nearby with the other guards, and I notice Amos watching the table carefully, his attention moving between Dante and Ezio. Bonnie looks equally alert, while Nico keeps his arms folded as he watches the two men. None of them says anything, and I think that silence tells me enough.Ezio takes another sip of his wine, looking far too comfortable considering the reaction he's getting, while Dante remains beside me without taking his eyes off him. I shif
L A N AThere's a pause before he continues, and I notice him glance toward the door where Ezio disappeared a few minutes earlier."Just because I've chosen to stand down doesn't mean I won't be searching for the evidence I need to prove that the Benedetti family is responsible for the death of my father." He continues, and as he explains, I can't help but watch him carefully.There's a different side of Dante whenever he talks about his father, and although I haven't known him long enough to understand all the details, I've heard enough to know how deeply this goes for him. His father wasn't simply a person he lost years ago. His death shaped the way Dante sees the Benedetti family, the way he runs his own organisation and probably many of the decisions he makes every day."Are you okay?" I then ask softly, and it seems my question has caught him off course. I watch as his expression falters just for a second, right before he exhales slowly, his jaw tightening momentarily."I'm fine,
L A N AEzio and Dante share a look with each other, a silence passing through them, one that still finds a way to communicate a thousand words. These two have spent the last hour arguing in front of everyone without giving either of us much of a chance to breathe, yet now Donna Mariana has managed to silence them with a single warning. They look almost like two brothers who've been caught doing something wrong by their mother and suddenly can't think of a single excuse that might save them, except I know better than to think either of these men is actually intimidated by anyone, especially when they're both powerful enough to have an entire room of people waiting for their next move. Still, seeing them like this makes me want to smile.Donna Mariana lets out a small, harmless smile before turning her attention back toward me, and I notice the amusement in her eyes as she looks between me and the two men."Don't drive them mad, Lana... Men do dangerous things for the women they fancy,
L A N A“Then we are finished here.” Don Alessandro lets out a breath of relief, his voice noticeable as he and the other leaders begin to stand. Everyone around the room follows their lead, chairs shifting across the floor as people start gathering their belongings and speaking quietly among themselves. I remain where I am for another second, watching the room change now that the meeting is finally coming to an end, and even though nobody has actually said that the danger is over, I can feel the tension easing slightly as the families prepare to leave. I glance toward Dante, expecting him to move immediately, but he stays where he is, his attention still moving around the room as if he's making sure nothing unexpected happens before we leave, as he glances over at me every few seconds.“So soon? I expected a little more action than that...” Don Morleno lets out, sounding almost disappointed as he rises from his chair.“I suggest you find something else to occupy your time,” Dante ans
L A N AMy face begins to heat up as I realise that every person in the room now has their eyes on me. I have no idea where to look, as my nerves worsen by the second. And so I lower my eyes toward the floor, wishing I could somehow make myself disappear from the conversation. But I can already hear them murmuring amongst themselves as their attention bounces back between Ezio and Dante and I.“Her?” Don Alessandro is the first to speak, his brows drawing together. “What does she have to do with any of this?”I swallow as I glance away for a second, feeling too nervous to look at anyone, but I quickly realise that now is not the time for me to seem weak. I mean, they're mafiosos; they probably already do see me as a weak outsider, but there's no reason for me to feed into that narrative. I then watch as Dante slowly turns his head toward Ezio.“Would you like to tell them,” he asks, his voice calm, “or shall I?”Ezio doesn't answer, and for the first time since I walked into this roo
L A N AI am shaking so badly I can barely stand.This is war.A pure, living, breathing nightmare unfolding around me. The man holding onto my arm only tightens his grip as we make our way forward. I twist in his hold, panic clawing its way up my throat as I try to pull free, but he is stronger th
L A N A"You made it with forty seconds to spare..." I hear Fernanda's voice, making me turn in her direction, watching as she stands with a woman close to her, holding onto a tablet. "Good, we have a tight schedule." He says before she makes her way over to me. "Begin." She orders, and before I c
L A N AHe stops a few feet away from me, crouching slowly until we are almost at eye level, his gaze searching my face with an intensity that makes my breath hitch. I expect cruelty, a demand or another command that strips away what little control I have left.But instead, his voice comes out calm
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







