LOGINI stood in the doorway holding the black box long after the guard left. The silk ribbon felt soft under my fingers, almost too nice for whatever waited inside. My foot throbbed with every small shift of weight. The purple swelling had already started to darken around my toes.
I carried the box to the narrow bed and set it down. The lid lifted with a quiet creak. Inside lay a short black dress. Thin straps. Soft fabric that clung when I touched it. It covered more than the strings fro~ Lorenzo ~The drive to the station was excruciatingly slow and quiet. I sat in the back of the cruiser, staring out the tinted window as my heart hammered against my ribs. I could not stop thinking about the worse. About Kate, She had completely passed out in my arms, her skin ghost-white, her body entirely limp.When we finally arrived, two officers escorted me down a dimly lit hallway into a cold interrogation room. A detective sat waiting at the far end of a metal table.After brief introductions, he leaned forward, opening a yellow folder. "Let us skip the pleasantries, Mr. Moretti. Who is Kate?""A guest," I said flatly, keeping my expression like stone."Why was she in your home?" the detective asked, tapping his pen. "Was she there willingly?""She was staying there," I replied adding slowly as my head continued to throb. "Willingly.""Then who shot her?" he pressed, his eyes narrowing. "Who walke
~ Lorenzo ~I stared in horror through the vision panel as Kate and Marcus stood frozen, wide-eyed in front of my father.Dread filled my chest instantly. I pushed myself forwar, thrashing against the interior elevator doors, slamming my shoulder into the metal, but they did not budge, the elevator continued to move upward I reached frantically into my pockets, my fingers trembling as I pulled out my silver lighter. I ripped off my suit jacket, pulled my small pocket flask from my waist, and poured the remaining liquor over the fabric.With a fast flick of my thumb, I lit the coat. The fire caught with a swift swoosh, spreading across the wool in seconds. I dropped the burning fabric onto the floorboards.Smoke filled the small cabin, stinging my eyes as the ceiling sensors caught the haze. The fire alarm started blaring at a deafening pitch. As programmed for emergencies, the elevator ground to a sudden halt, its doors sliding open on the middle landing.I burst out into the hallwa
~ Kate ~Marcus and I froze near the heavy steel door, staring at Lorenzo’s father like the world had stopped spinning completely. Horror filled my chest, locking the air in my lungs as I realized the trap we had just walked into.Mr. Moretti tilted his head slightly to the right, his cold eyes scanning me from top to bottom. A slow sigh escaped his lips. "It seems the Lord must truly be with me today," he murmured, his voice horrifyingly calm.Behind us, muffled thuds and harsh grunts echoed from inside the elevator shaft as the elevator sped up toward the top floors as if someone was struggling violently inside.Marcus took a subtle half step back, shifting his weight toward the staircase entrance.Without a trace of rush or hesitation, Mr. Moretti reached inside his dark coat and pulled out a slick black handgun. He held it with practiced ease."I cannot believe my son turned into such an utter idiot for you," Mr. Moretti said, staring directly into my eyes. "A cheap, pathetic gold
~ Lorenzo ~The elevator shuddered as it descended, the silence inside the steel box heavier than a tombstone."What do you think you are doing, Lorenzo?" my father asked, his voice low, flat, and chillingly calm."You cannot go up there," I said, my heart hammering against my ribs as I kept my back pressed against the control panel. "You cannot hurt her"My father tilted his head, his cold eyes searching my face with deep disappointment. "Look at you. You are acting like a fool over a girl who discarded you years ago.""I need her for a plan," I lied quickly, my mind racing to find any story he might buy. "I am holding her as collateral against someone. I cannot afford to let you kill her yet.""Collateral?" He let out a harsh, dry laugh that lacked any humor. "The video online shows you with your hands all over her. Is that how you treat collateral?"The elevator chimed, the doors sliding open to reveal the dimly lit concrete expanse of the basement."Step out into the hall, sir," I
~ Lorenzo ~ I watched in pure horror through the tablet screen as the sleek black sedan settled into the garage. The driver door opened, and my father's personal guard stepped out, straightening his suit jacket before opening the rear passenger door. My father stepped down from the car slowly. He smoothed his coat, adjusting his dark tie with a heavy, deliberate calm, and began to make his way toward the villa entrance. A sharp, violent throbbing pounded against my temples, doubling in pain until my vision blurred for a split second. I turned away from the screen, looking over at Arthur and Camila. They had both sat back down at the long dining table, casually picking up their silver forks as if nothing had happened. I turned to my left. "Marcus. Take Kate back to the lounge right now. Lock the door and stay with her. You do not come down or leave her side for any reason. Do you understand me?" "Got it, Don Moretti," Marcus whispered, taking Kate by the elbow and ushering her to
~ Lorenzo ~Pure terror locked my throat as Arthur pointed the silver barrel straight at Kate. I knew Arthur. I knew he was crazy enough to pull the trigger right here in my dining room, and he would do it simply because he felt like it.I hated myself. I regretted bringing Kate down those stairs. I had genuinely believed this whole circus would be over soon. Dread filled every inch of my body as Arthur let out a wet, raspy laugh, casually throwing my threats back in my face and claiming the final decision belonged to my father.Arthur pulled the trigger.I heard Kate gasps as she stepped backI froze, my entire world tilting on its axis, a very painful headache, filling my scalpThe whole room fell into a cold dead silence.Nothing happened.No blood, no screaming, no heavy thuds of Kate's body dropping on the marble floors. Nothing A sharp metallic click echoed off the walls. Relief washed over me so fast I felt lightheaded. The gun was empty."Shit" I heard Arthur cursed under his







