Dante’s POVLucas was tense. His fingers curled into fists on his lap, his gaze shifting between me and the gun on the table. I leaned back in my chair, exuding the kind of calm that should terrify a man in his position.“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” I said smoothly, my fingers tapping against the wooden surface. “Your choice.”He swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”I smiled. “Wrong answer.”Reaching for the gun, I let my fingers wrap around the grip, lifting it just enough to make my point. I didn’t have to aim it. Just the weight of it in my hand was enough to drain the color from his face.Lucas had been with me for five years. I had taken him in when he had nothing, after his parents died and the world turned its back on him. I fed him, clothed him, trained him. Without me, he would’ve been another nobody lost in the streets. He owed me everything.And yet, he had the audacity to hesitate.“Lucia,” I said, voice cold and unyielding. “What has
Lucia’s POVI stood outside Dante’s office, my fingers curled into fists at my sides. This was a risk, but I had to take it.I inhaled slowly before knocking. There was no response, but I knew better than to hesitate. I pushed it open, stepping inside.He sat behind his desk, dark eyes lifting to meet mine as if he had been expecting me. He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “To what do I owe the pleasure, cara?”Dante’s voice was smooth, but there was a glint of something else in his eyes—curiosity, perhaps. Or amusement.I kept my posture straight, refusing to let him unnerve me. “I want to see my father.”He exhaled slowly, tapping his fingers against the desk. “And why should I allow that?”“I haven’t asked for much since I got here.” I met his gaze, keeping my voice even. “I just want to check on him.”His expression didn’t change. No immediate refusal, no amused smirk. He just watched me, unreadable as ever.Then, to my utter shock, he nodded. “Alright.”I blin
Lucia’s POV Daniel looked the same yet different. His sharp blue eyes still held that familiar intensity, but there was something else now, something weary. His dark hair was slightly longer, and a light layer of scruff covered his jaw, as if he hadn’t shaved in days. He looked… different. Rough. But none of that mattered.I couldn’t stop myself. Before I knew it, I was moving, closing the distance between us.His familiar scent of pine and musk wrapped around me, grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in so long. His arms tightened around me, strong and sure, as if he was afraid to let go.“Lucia…” His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.I buried my face in his shoulder, gripping his jacket like it was the only thing keeping me standing. “I missed you,” I breathed.He exhaled sharply, pulling back just enough to cup my face between his hands. His blue eyes searched mine, a flicker of something raw and desperate crossing his features. “I got your note,” he said, his thumb brushin
Dante’s POVLucia hesitated in the doorway. I saw the way her fingers curled slightly, the way her shoulders stiffened, like a thief caught in the act.She met my gaze, her expression carefully neutral. “Fine.”“Fine,” I echoed, rolling the word over my tongue like a sip of aged whiskey. It tasted like a lie. “Is that all?”She remained standing, hands at her sides, her nails digging slightly into her palms. Defiant, but nervous. A contradiction that only made her more intriguing.“What do you mean?”I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I was just wondering,” I murmured, tilting my head slightly. “If you had anything to say that I don’t already know.”Her lips parted for a second before she caught herself. Then, she lifted her chin, forcing an air of nonchalance. “There’s nothing to say.”A slow smirk curled my lips. “Nothing at all?”Her silence was more telling than an admission.I knew she had met someone. Spoken to someone. That much was obvious. But how much did she
Dante’s POV The room felt suffocating. The dim light from my desk lamp made shadows stretch across the walls, distorting the faces in the framed photos. My fingers brushed the only picture I had of my father. His cold eyes stared back, frozen in time. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. Everything was falling apart. Failed deliveries. Attacks on my warehouses. Rats scurrying in the dark, feeding my enemies information. And now, Daniel being Lucia’s fiancée. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that she was still a virgin despite being engaged to Daniel. Or had I been mistaken? My grip tightened on the frame as I exhaled sharply. What would you have done? I wanted to ask my father. Would he have slaughtered every traitor, or would he have let the empire burn just to rebuild it stronger? I reached for my phone, scrolling to Gabriel Rucci’s number. He had been a mentor, a guiding force when I took over the family. One call, and he’d tell me exactly what to
Dante’s POV I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders to shake off the tension. I had more important matters to deal with. I crossed the room and poured myself another drink, but just as I brought the glass to my lips, my phone buzzed on the desk. I grabbed it, already expecting bad news, but instead, what I saw made me pause. A news article, no, an entire exposé was spreading like wildfire across the media. ‘Dante Romano: The Enigmatic Philanthropist Behind the Shadows.’ I frowned, opening the link. The article painted me as some kind of misunderstood hero. A businessman with a dark past who had turned his wealth into something noble. Generous donations. Secret charity work. Support for orphanages and struggling communities. I let out a sharp laugh. This was bullshit. I had never, in my entire life, been painted as anything other than a criminal. The media loved to throw my name in the dirt, feeding the world’s hunger for scandal. But this? This was an entirely new narra
Lucia’s POV The call came just after Dante left. I had been sitting in Dante’s office, scrolling through the aftermath of my carefully crafted media spin. It had worked better than expected. The internet was eating up the new narrative, and even the more skeptical outlets were starting to shift their stance. It was amusing, really. A few well-placed articles, some strategic donations, and suddenly, the devil of Palermo was being rebranded as a misunderstood saint. Not that Dante seemed particularly grateful. The way he had confronted me earlier, suspicion sharp in his eyes, had sent a thrill down my spine. He had known it was me. Seen straight through the careful deception. And yet, he hadn’t shut it down. Because some part of him felt good about it. But before I could dwell on it any further, my phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. Daniel. I hesitated for a moment before answering. “What?” “Meet me.” His voice was clipped, urgent. “It’s about Vincenzo.” I sighed, glan
Lucia’s POVThe cool night air hit me as I stepped outside, my pulse racing. I pulled out my phone and dialed Lucas.He picked up on the second ring. “Lucia?”“I need a ride,” I whispered, glancing over my shoulder. The hotel lobby was quiet, but I didn’t want to risk Daniel trailing behind me.He paused. Then, “Where are you?”I gave him the name of the hotel, hurrying toward the street. I had no money, no car, and no plan except getting the hell out of there. Lucas didn’t ask questions.Within fifteen minutes, a sleek white car pulled up, and I slid into the passenger seat, my hands gripping my dress. Lucas didn’t say a word at first, just pulled away from the curb, his sharp gaze flicking to me more than once.Then, finally, he exhaled. “What the hell were you thinking?”I stared out the window, my pulse still unsteady. “I needed to leave.”“No shit,” he muttered, his hands tightening on the wheel. “You realize Dante will have your head on his plate when he finds out you snuck out,
Dante’s POVMy consigliere was right to suspect her. The betrayal in my ranks wasn’t just bad luck or coincidence. Someone had been feeding information to the cops, and my empire was bleeding because of it.But Lucia?No.I didn’t want to believe it. I couldn’t.She was reckless, stubborn, but a traitor? The thought made my jaw clench. If she were guilty, I’d have seen the signs. Yet doubt curled in the back of my mind like a serpent, whispering that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as innocent as I wanted to believe. I had planned to deal with her head-on… but I couldn’t bring myself to. Not without solid proof.My phone buzzed on the desk.“The car is ready,” the voice on the other end informed me.I exhaled, running a hand through my hair before pushing away from the desk. I had bigger problems than my own suspicions. If I wanted answers, I needed to go straight to the source.Antonio Castellano wouldn’t lie to me.I made a quick stop at his house before heading to the meeting.Antoni
Lucia’s POVThe scent of freshly baked bread filled my room as Alina pressed a small tray into my hands.“You keep forgetting to eat,” she said, a teasing lilt in her voice. “And I don’t need you fainting in Dante’s presence. He might actually enjoy that.”I rolled my eyes and tore off a piece of bread. “Oh, sure. He’d probably smirk and say it proves I’m helpless, then lock me away like some fragile doll.”Alina chuckled but didn’t argue. She sat beside me, her presence making this cold house feel a little less lonely.“You did an amazing job with the dress,” I told her, running my fingers over the silk she had altered for me. “You’re the only reason I don’t look like a mess every day.”She grinned, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s nothing, really. Besides, it’s nice to have someone to talk to.”And I knew what she meant.She was my only link to something human. Something normal. Without her, I’d be alone with Dante’s world.The door slammed open and the warmth va
Dante’s POVLucia was lying to me.The second the words left her mouth, I caught it. Smooth delivery, steady eyes, calm voice. But that tiny flicker of tension in her jaw, the white-knuckled grip on her glass? Dead giveaways.And I knew.Because I had already been briefed. She had met with Daniel. Again.The little firefly thought she was clever, slipping out unnoticed, running straight into the arms of another man. But she wasn’t as invisible as she believed. I had eyes on her the moment she left the house, tracking her every step.I let the lie sit between us for a beat before I chuckled, low and slow. “Visiting your father? That’s sweet.” I swirled my glass lazily. “How is he?”She hesitated just for a fraction of a second. “He’s… fine.”Another lie.The temptation to push her, to let her know just how much I knew, was strong. But I had played this game far too long to move carelessly. No, it would be much more interesting to let her think she had fooled me.Because when she finall
Lucia’s POVI shook my head, trying to appear calm. “No… but I don’t like the way he’s watching us.”Daniel cursed under his breath. “You should leave. Now. I’ll cover you.”My heart thudded painfully as I stood and slipped out of the hotel through a side exit. I didn’t stop moving until I was blocks away, breathless and paranoid. Who was that guy? Was he working for Vincenzo? Or worse—Dante?Back on the street, I pulled my jacket tighter around me as the cold air bit into my skin. My mind was spinning, tangled with guilt and confusion. Daniel’s words echoed in my head, the accusation slicing deeper than I wanted to admit. Was he right? Had I let Dante get too far under my skin?I just felt… empty. It was like the warmth between us had faded into something distant and unfamiliar.I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. This wasn’t the time to fall apart. I needed to stay sharp, keep my head in the game. I couldn’t afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment—not when I was in deeper
Lucia’s POVI couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at me after discovering the fake journalist. The question was whether I should tell Dante right away or dig deeper on my own. If I confronted him without solid proof, it might just make him suspicious of me instead. But keeping it to myself felt just as risky. Either way, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.Reluctantly, I grabbed my phone and went to my call log. My thumb hovered over Daniel’s number. After everything, asking him for another favor felt like pushing my luck. But what choice did I have? He was the only one I could trust to dig deeper without tipping off the wrong people.Taking a deep breath, I hit the call button. It rang twice before he picked up.“Lucia,” he greeted flatly, his tone wary. “What’s going on?”I bit my lip, forcing myself to sound calm. “I need to meet with you. It’s important.”A sigh crackled through the line. “Now you want to meet?”“Please, Daniel. It’s urgent. Just give me a few minu
Lucia’s POV There was no way in hell I’d let him kill someone right in front of me.“Stop. Killing him won’t fix this.” He ripped his arm from my grip. “He fucked up. You want me to let that slide? “I forced myself to hold his glare, even though my knees felt like jelly. “Think about it. If he didn’t catch it, then maybe the fakes are good enough to fool anyone. Killing him won’t solve the problem—it’ll just leave you without someone who knows the books. You need him to help figure out how far this goes.” Dante stared at me for a long, tense moment, his jaw clenched so tight I thought it might shatter. Finally, he lowered the gun and let out a sharp breath.“Fine,” he ground out, his voice rough and lethal. He grabbed the accountant by the collar and yanked him close, practically snarling in his face. “Trace every single transaction from the last month. I want to know who’s been feeding us this garbage. You screw up one more time, and I’ll put a bullet between your eyes. Got it?”
Lucia’s POVDante’s introduction echoed in my mind like a sweet, unexpected melody. “She’s my girlfriend.”For some reason, it sounded different this time—better than when he’d introduced me as his girlfriend to Vincenzo.I shouldn’t have been flattered. It wasn’t like it meant anything, just a way to stop the man from asking questions. But even knowing that, a stupid warmth spread through my chest, and my stomach did a little flip.I was pathetic for feeling anything but resentment after everything he’d put me through. I also tried to ignore the fact that the man’s expression hadn’t been exactly pleasant. There had been something off in his reaction, something cold and calculating beneath his polite look.I pushed it aside, telling myself I was overthinking. After all, he was one of Dante’s trusted men. If he had an issue, it wasn’t my place to question it. Right now I had more important things to worry about, like the journalist and how Dante was fuming as he stalked out of his off
Dante’s POVI didn’t move from where I stood, my fists still clenched as Lucas stepped inside, his eyes darting around like he was searching for an exit. I gestured toward the armchair with a single jerk of my head.“Sit,” I ordered.He hesitated for just a fraction of a second before sinking down onto the chair, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. I moved around the desk slowly, dragging out the tension, letting him sweat.“When were you planning on telling me that Lucia knew the journalist?” I asked, my voice deceptively calm.Lucas’s eyes widened, confusion flickering over his face. “I—I didn’t know she knew him, boss.”I slammed my fist down on the desk, making him flinch. “Then why the fuck did she say she’d seen him leaving her father’s house? How long has that bastard been hanging around?”His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. “Boss, I swear I didn’t know. I thought he was just another reporter trying to dig up dirt. I didn’t think—”“That’s the problem, Lu
Lucia’s POVDante’s phone beeped before I could respond. He pulled it from his pocket, glancing at the screen before cursing under his breath.“What is it?” I asked, still breathless from his brutal kiss and the way his hands had branded my skin.He didn’t look at me, his jaw clenched tight. “Press interview,” he muttered. “Those vultures won’t stop digging. I have to handle it.”I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Part of me was glad for the distance, but another part still felt raw from his kiss and the way he’d just claimed me like a possession. Without another word, he stormed past me.I stayed frozen against the wall for a moment, catching my breath, before finally pushing myself to move. I needed to clear my head and shake off the way his touch made me feel both safe and suffocated.As I stepped out into the corridor, I heard faint voices coming from the lounge down the hall—the one Dante usually used for meetings and interviews. Curiosity got the better of me, an