Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Charlotte remained silent, her gaze unwavering. She had seen enough to understand the dangerous game she was now a part of, the price of silence, and the potential consequences of speaking out.

Her earlier comfort was now replaced by fear. She tried to keep her face as passive as possible. She couldn’t a pawn in her grandfather’s cruel, sick and deadly game for power. 

She would play on her own terms and beat the old coot at his own game.

Alessandro watched her, he leaned back in his chair, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his lips. "Good." he said, his voice a low growl. 

"Tell me why you’re here Charlotte Costa?” He watched her every move. 

“I need your help...” she kept her voice even. 

He smiled. “And why the hell would I help a Costa?” he asks. “Loyalty is valued here, Charlotte." He paused, his eyes boring into hers. "And remember, you’re an enemy in an enemy camp so tell me Charlotte why should I help you?" he added, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper, "And what is in it for me?" the question hung through the air. 

It sent a shiver down Charlotte’s spine.

The air in Alessandro's office felt thick with unspoken threats, a suffocating blanket woven from power and intimidation. Charlotte, however, felt a strange sense of calm settle over her. 

“Marry me and I’ll help you bring down the Costa family...” she promises.

“So you want me to give up my freedom to help some insignificant family?” he asks. 

She swallows thinking her words through. “My grandfather is planning to kill Roman Moretti and take over the Moretti family with Salvatore Moretti...” she explains. 

“So dear old Costa is planning to sell his dearest granddaughter for a quick buck?” Alessandro scoffs. His eyes go back to Charlotte. “Though I’ve got to ask. Going to Moretti would have been easier than tying yourself to me. Why not Go to Roman?” he asks.

Charlotte paused. “Because going to Roman meant only having his uncle killed. I want to take down the entire Costa family to pay for what they planned to do to me.” Charlotte’s eyes turned cold and for the first time Alessandro wanted to know what was going on in someone else’s head.

“And you’re going to use me to take out your enemies?” He asks.

A sweet smile formed on Charlotte’s face. “Oh no. I’m only marrying you so I don’t have to marry a man three times my age. I plan on taking down that despicable family all by my lonesome...” she tells him.

It sparked Alessandro’s interest. “And how are you going to do that by yourself? Only two years ago your family was taken out by the military and you nearly died.” 

Because Charlotte had spent most of her life hidden from the outside world. No one knew what she could do. She liked it that way.

Deep within the compound she owned she had her own secrets, many of them were found deep underground. Even below the basement of their mansion. 

Not even her grandfather knew exactly who she was or what she did.

That was Charlotte’s sanctuary, her secret world, a stark contrast to the world her parents surrounded her with. The only time Charlotte could ever be the true her.

“Tell me how you’ll take care of the Costa empire?” He asks. 

“I’ll take something from my grandfather he wants more than anything and then I’ll kill him when he’s at his lowest...” she says fort he first time since they started speaking, Alessandro could hear the promise in Charlotte’s voice.

“What is it that he wants more than anything?” Alessandro asks. 

“Power. He wants power. It’s the reason he sacrificed my parents for his power and influence. Once that’s gone, he’s nothing more than a shell of a man...” she promised. 

She was going to bring the man to his knees. Salvatore Moretti. She wasn’t going after him yet. The man would have to wait his turn. She was going to get him back once she was done with her grandfather. 

Selling her for his own benefit. Now that was just wrong. She didn’t do good with emotions but it didn’t mean she didn’t feel have her limit to just how much she could take.

Tonight she was giving up the little freedom she had left. She was going to marry this man. She was going to bring down her grandfather and Moretti. Once that’s done. she’ll finally join her brother and parents in hell where she was meant to be. 

The only thing she had to live for was her revenge. Once that was done she was going to finally be at peace.

“All men want power. Doesn’t mean you can just take it from him. Or do you think you have what it takes Charlotte?” he asks her.

She looks toward the man standing behind her. She smiles. “Andrew Mancini, twenty-seven, your left hand man. He does whatever you tell him to do. Also there’s a secret he’s been keeping from you. Isn’t that right Mancini?” she asks.

The man freezes and looks toward Alessandro in shock.

Alessandro smiles and looks at Charlotte in interest. “Tell me what my trusted man has been hiding from me...” 

“Mancini has been sleeping with your mistress for years. They plan to get her pregnant and claim the child is yours. Honestly it would work too since they plan on bribing all of Italy to lie to you about the child’s DNA. To be honest it was quite interesting. I took it in like a damn book...” Charlotte shrugs her shoulders. 

Andrew Mancini pulls out his gun and aims it at Charlotte’s head before she could even blink Alessandro was up and shot a hole in Andrew’s head. 

He stood silently, observing her. For a long moment, they remained in silence, each acknowledging the other’s unspoken presence. His gaze lingered on Charlotte’s red dress. Admiration flickered across his dark eyes. He knew, or at least suspected, her true capabilities. She was either a hacker or was well informed. He was interested. He wasn’t going to lie. 

Marrying Charlotte might benefit him in ways he never could have imagined.

“Let’s say this all works out and I marry you. What do I get from this? I give up my freedom, I don’t get anything from this...” he asks. 

“I know you’re looking for someone I’ll help you get them back...” she promises.

Alessandro eyes her but doesn’t say anything.

Charlotte’s energy had drained out. She was on her last. The adrenaline that fuelled her on her journey to Alessandro had run dry. The next thing she knew she’d lost consciousness.