I exhaled heavily, feeling the sweat trickling down the sides of my face and dampening the underarms of my sleeveless T-shirt. My muscles ached, protesting from the back-and-forth run around Luciano's house, and I came to an abrupt stop in front of a neatly trimmed hedge. From a distance, I observed a father holding his little daughter's hand, their destination unknown. The ends of the girl's pink ballerina dress twirled around her tiny legs. Suddenly, she paused, tilting her right foot to the side. The father crouched down to address the issue, fixing her loosened shoelace. The scene stirred memories of my own childhood when my father used to drop me off and pick me up from school.He would linger a while longer after I got out of the car, watching as I bounced down to the school gate before driving away. Just as I disappeared into the thin line of the crowd, he would wave, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I wrestled with my emotions, finally tearing my gaze away from the little gi

AthenaAs I stepped out of the car, the first thing I thought was why on earth people wasted so much on parties like this. It wasn't like they needed to do charity. If it was a charity ball then it was too damn extravagant. Why the fuck was there a car filled with roses by the entrance, that just defeated the whole purpose of a fucking charity ball. My gaze shifted to Luciano as he stepped out of the car and walked towards me. He looked good. Very good. His hair was swiped back, classic Italian style with gel. I guess as an afterthought and probably due to my yammering, he left a free strand that brushed over his dark eyes rather sexily. It made my hand itch to brush it over. The dress I wore was a floor-length, midnight blue dress that clung to my curves before falling freely from my hips downward. A silver lace lined the dress in a crystal kind of pattern and there was my favorite part of the dress. A slit on the thigh that revealed my legs with every step I took. I looked sexy.

AthenaMy alarm clock shrilled through the air. With a groan, I slammed my hand on it and stumbled out of bed, wanting nothing more than to sleep just a bit more. Staggering my way into the bathroom, I stood before the sink and splashed some water on my face. Memories of last night plagued me and I shuddered. Last night had been close, too close. I had to be careful. As I splashed more cold water on my face, whatever sleep that was left slowly faded away. It was a work day and while I hoped I would get a day off, I didn't think Luciano would be keen about it. Whatever kindness he had yesterday had obviously expired. I couldn't count on that. I dragged myself into the shower, did my hair, and grabbed myself a sweet black dress. It hugged my waist rather firmly and draped in layers against my backside. The neckline was my favorite- and Luciano's favorite if we were being frank- a sweetheart neckline. Propped up my breasts like a gift to humanity. I dashed out of my room through the

Athena The next day, Luciano dropped me off at the office, his words lingering in the air as he mentioned meeting someone. Reluctantly, I stepped into the elevator, feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension. As the doors closed, I contemplated the events of the previous day and the consequences of my actions. So many people to worry about. Giorgia, Luca, Marcus …Ah shit Marcus. My mind wandered to Marcus, who had suffered at Luciano's hands. A pang of guilt flickered within me, but it quickly faded as I reminded myself of the bigger picture. Marcus was merely collateral in this dangerous game, and my focus had to remain on fulfilling my mission and protecting myself. Hell, he was part of the mafia too so if anything, he may have deserved what was coming. Right? Okay, perhaps he did not. Ah shit, I was being such a weakling. I'd drop by on the fifth floor, check him out, see if he was fine like Luciano claimed, and get the hell out of there. When the elevator doors open

Athena I reached for my phone and dialed Frederick's number, my fingers trembling with a mix of excitement and anxiety. The images of the men I had seen with Luciano at the gala a few days ago were fresh in my mind, and I knew Frederick was the key to unlocking their identities. As the call connected, I quickly sent him the pictures, my voice filled with urgency. "Frederick, I need you to look into these men. Find out who they are and if they have any connections to the mafia. It could be crucial in unraveling the truth about Luciano." There was a brief pause on the other end before Frederick responded, concern lacing his words. "Athena, how are you holding up? This investigation is dangerous, and I worry about your safety." I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before replying. "I'm fine, Frederick. I've been cautious and discreet. Luciano has no reason to suspect me. I've managed to keep up the façade and gain his trust. For now, he's completely fooled." There was a hint