Never Meant to Share

‎I was hired to fix his books.

‎ I left with his name on my skin.

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‎ The Moretti was all glass and ice. I pressed the button on the elevator. Floor 60.

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‎ No one has ever got this high without an invitation. Unless for a death wish.

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‎ "Mr Voss?" The secretary didn't look up from her screen. "Mr. Moretti will see you now."

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‎ I wasn't Mr. Voss. My name was Elias Hart.

‎ But being a "fired accountant" didn't get you past security, so I borrowed the name on the contract.

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‎ One mistake. That's all it took and the firm decided I was no longer needed.

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‎ My mum's hospital bills are pilling up, with the debt dad left us to pay. Walking away was not an option.

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‎ So I came here, to fix the books of the Alessio Moretti, the man —who didn't hesitate to bury companies that displeased him.

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I was led to Mr Moretti's office. The doors opened.

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‎ Alessio Moretti didn't stand when I entered. He looked more intimidating in real life than in pictures. Power like his didn't need to move.

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‎ Black suit. Dark hair. A scar cutting through his left eyebrow. And black eyes that looked through you and decided if you were worth keeping.

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‎He looked up from the file on his table. Leaning backwards on his seat to assess me.

‎ "Elias Hart," he said. Voice deep and low. Like gravel and expensive whiskey. "You're late."

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‎ "My bus—"

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‎ "I don't care." He slammed a folder across the marble desk. "These are the books. Fix them. One week."

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‎ I picked it and opened the folder. Numbers. Rows of them. Normal at first glance.

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‎ Not if you knew what to look for.

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‎ Offshore accounts. Shell companies. Blood money scrubbed clean.

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‎ My stomach dropped. "I can't —"

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‎ "You can." He said before he stood slowly. Each movement calculated. He looked like a predator deciding where to bite.

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‎ "Or you can walk out that door and explain to the police why you were snooping into the Moretti family finances without authorization.

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‎ My gut clenched.

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‎ "I applied to fix books, not to go to prison," I said

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‎ Alessio came around the desk. Stopping right in front of me. Close enough that I could smell his cologne, Cider with a hint of sandalwood which was overwhelming.

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‎ "You made a mistake," he said. "And that cost your firm two million. You should be grateful I'm the only one who knows."

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‎ My blood ran cold, dread filling my body. He knows. About the mistake. About me.

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‎ "How—"

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‎ "I know everything," he said slowly. His voice dropping lower. "Especially things that concern me."

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‎ He turned to walk towards his desk, pulling out a document from his drawer.

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‎ He tossed it on the table. Landing right in front me.

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‎Confused, I peered down at it.

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‎ Employment Agreement. Moretti Holdings.

‎ Indefinite terms. Terms negotiable by employer.

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‎ No salary listed. No end date. My eyes dropped lower.

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‎ Residence required..

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‎ Termination prohibited without employer approval

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‎ My stomach twisted. This wasn't employment. It was ownership.

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‎ "This is illegal," I said. Disbelief etched on my face.

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‎ "You expect me to sign a contract without a salary, end date or exit clause?“

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‎ "This is survival," he corrected. "You don't need freedom, Elias.“ His dark eyes met mine. "You need protection.“

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‎ "And if I don't sign?"

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‎ Alessio had a cold smile on his face. "Then Roman finds out you've been snopping in family business. My brother isn't as..... patient as I am."

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‎ Roman De Luca. The rumoured brother. The one people whispered about even more than Alessio.

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‎ My hand picked up the pen beside it gripping it tight. Just then—

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‎ "Don't," a deep baritone voice sounded behind me. I spun startled.

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‎ Standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame like he owned the place— was the supposed Roman De Luca. His eyes staring at me with a hint of scrutiny, which made me feel uncomfortable, like he knew exactly who I was. Then it vanished behind a smile.

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‎He looked younger than Alessio. Sharper smile. Same dark eyes, but his were amused instead of dead.

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‎ He was staring at me like I was a prey, his stripping me like he knew every secret I had.

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‎ "Brother," Alessio said. No surprise in his voice.

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‎ "Still stealing things that don't belong to you?“

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‎ Alessio's expression hardened.

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‎ "Still living off a surname that isn't yours.“

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‎ "So this is the new accountant," Roman said. His eyes never left me.

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‎ Alessio stepped between us. Face terrifyingly dark. Subtle but I saw it.

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‎ "He's not a toy," Alessio said. Flat with a deadpan expression.

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‎ "You were always bad at sharing." Roman said.

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‎ "I don't share what's mine.“ That made Roman laugh amused.

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‎ Then his eyes turned to me. "You don't have to sign that, little accountant. Sign this instead."

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‎ He pulled out a contract. Same format. Different name at the top: De Luca Enterprises.

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‎ "I pay better," Roman said. "And I don't keep my pets in cages."

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‎ Alessio's jaw ticked. "You don't badge into my territory and try to take my things."

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‎ Roman laughed, cocking his head with an eyebrow raised. "Are you sure he's yours?“

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‎ The silence between deafening.

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‎ Both of them turned to me. Two monsters. One contract each. One me in the middle.

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‎ The pen felt heavy like it weighed 100 pounds.

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‎ What do I do. I panicked internally.

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‎If I signed Alessio's I was his.

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‎ And if I signed Roman's I was his also.

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‎ Don't sign either of them, then I was sure I wasn't going to walk out of here alive.

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‎ My hands hovered over the two before it settled on Alessio's contract.

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‎ "Smart boy," Alessio muttered low enough for me to hear.

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‎ Roman half smiled. "Don't do it. He lies."

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‎ Alessio didn't look at his brother. He looked at me.

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‎ "Rule one, Elias. I don't lose what I take."

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‎ Roman smile vanished. "Good thing I'm not asking for permission."

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‎ The office went silent. Just the sound of my breathing. Fast. Too fast.

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‎I pressed the pen down. Ink spread across the contract. For a second, everything seemed blurred.

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‎Then the doors exploded open. Metals slamming into marble. Three masked men rushed in, guns raised, their movements proved too precise to be random.

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‎Silence cracked.

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‎I froze, the pen still touching the paper.

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‎“Drop it,” one of them ordered. Cold. Controlled. Like they already knew the outcome.

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‎Roman didn’t move. Neither did Alessio. That alone felt awfully wrong.

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‎“…These aren’t security,” Elias whispered.

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‎A faint laugh came from Roman. “You’re quick. I like that.”

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‎Alessio tilted his head.

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‎One masked man stepped forward. “Last warning. Step away from the contract.”

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‎Elias’s hand trembled.

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‎Alessio’s voice cut in. “Sign it.”

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‎Roman spoke at the same time. “Don’t.”

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‎Elias froze.

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‎Two commands. Two predators. One choice.

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‎Then—

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‎A gun clicked behind his head.

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‎“Wrong choice will get you killed, accountant.”

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‎I didn’t move. My heart raced in fear.

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‎And in that instant, I understood.

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‎This was never a job. Never a contract application.

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‎The pen slipped from my fingers, hitting the floor.

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‎Clink.

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‎And I realized there was no way I was going to walk out from here free.

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‎ ----

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‎ Alessio's (POV)

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‎ He was going to sign it.

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‎ I could see it in his eyes. Fear. Calculation. The look of a cornered animal choosing the less dangerous predator.

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‎ Good. Let him choose me.

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‎ Roman thought he could take what was mine. He was wrong.

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‎ I watched as he pressed the pen down—

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‎ The office doors barged open.

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‎ Three masked men. Guns raised. Roman didn't seem surprised at their appearance. Which I knew were probably his.

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‎ "Drop the pen down," Roman said, voice terrifyingly cold. "Or my brother loses his new pet."

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‎ I didn't move. Unbothered by Roman's antics

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‎ But Elias froze. His hands gripping the pen touching the paper. ink spilling.

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‎ In that second, I understood two things:

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‎ One, Roman didn't come because of curiosity. He wanted Elias.

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‎ Two, I was about to murder my own brother.

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‎ "Elias,"I said with a cold smile. My eyes maintained contact with Roman's. "Sign it."

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‎ I gave Roman a faint smile.

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‎ "Then I'll kill anyone who tries to take you.“

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