CHAPTER ONE: THE VIPER’S DEN

~LEXI~

“One wrong move, and I was dead.”

The thought flashed through my mind as I stepped inside the Esposito mansion. The mansion glowed under the night sky, too perfect, too calm for the danger hidden inside. It felt like a trap, the kind of place where power and secrets mixed, and one mistake could cost me everything.

I took a slow breath as a waiter passed by, offering me a champagne glass. I accepted it without thinking, my fingers tightening around the stem as I scanned the crowd. The long black dress I wore clung to my frame, elegant but simple, and the thin straps kept me from feeling too exposed. The soft silk brushed against my skin, giving me an oddly comforting sense of normalcy in the midst of the tension. Still, the dress was nothing compared to the diamonds and tailored suits surrounding me. I might’ve looked like I belonged, but I felt every inch like an outsider.

The air was thick with tension. This wasn’t just any event—it was a gathering of the city’s most dangerous people, and I was playing my part in a world I barely understood.

My mission played over and over in my mind, Agent Jack Harris’s words sharp and clear: “Blend in, gather intel, and get out.”

It sounded simple, but standing in the heart of the Esposito family’s world, surrounded by people who thrived on lies and power, it felt like walking on a tightrope. Every part of me screamed to be careful. If I made even the smallest mistake, it wouldn’t just be me at risk. Everything I’d worked for could come crashing down.

This was my chance to take down the Esposito crime family, the shadow that had controlled Santiago’s underworld for far too long. I couldn’t afford to fail.

“Focus,” I whispered to myself, forcing a casual smile as I turned to the man beside me. He was heavyset, dripping in gold rings, looking like he’d walked straight out of a crime movie.

“So,” I said, raising my glass, “who’s the toast for tonight?”

He chuckled, clearly pleased with himself. “To the Espositos, of course. May they continue to reign.” His brown eyes gleamed with something darker. “You new around here, sweetheart? Haven’t seen you before.”

“Just visiting,” I replied, keeping my tone light, masking the tension beneath. “Had to see what all the fuss was about.”

He seemed satisfied, turning away, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief. But I knew I couldn’t relax just yet. I took another sip of my drink, the glass cool in my hand, and quickly set it down on a nearby table. I wiped my hand on the side of my dress and casually slipped away from the main crowd. The marble floors were smooth beneath my heels, each step soft and deliberate as I moved through a dim side corridor. The air was thick with the scent of old wood and faint traces of cigar smoke.

The hallway was barely lit, the light from wall sconces flickering in the dark, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch toward me. I felt my senses sharpen, every noise too loud, every step too bold. My heart began to beat faster. The air grew heavier, a mix of leather, tobacco, and something sweet that clung to the fabric of the mansion itself.

Then I heard it—low and rough. The voice I dreaded. I froze, pressing my back against the cold stone of the wall.

“The shipment needs to be flawless,” the voice said. It was deep and commanding, a voice that made you listen, a voice that struck fear into anyone who heard it. Don Vincenzo Esposito. The head of the Esposito mafia clan. One of the most dangerous mob bosses in the city. His name was enough to make even the bravest men tremble.

“Of course, Don Vincenzo,” another voice replied, the words hurried, nervous. “We have men watching every checkpoint.”

I held my breath, adrenaline flooding my veins. This was it—confirmation of a major operation. My pulse quickened, and I could feel the weight of the moment pressing on me. I raised my phone, my thumb hovering over the record button. I had to capture this. I had to get proof for Jack.

I steadied my hand, barely daring to breathe, when—

The room fell silent.

My instincts flared. I felt it before I heard it. A shift in the air. The feeling of eyes on me. I’m not alone.

Before I could move, a heavy hand clamped down on my shoulder, freezing me in place. My heart skipped a beat, and I stiffened, every muscle in my body tensing.

“Well, well,” a voice sneered close to my ear. “What do we have here?”

I spun around, but his grip tightened, like iron. One of Vincenzo’s henchmen. His eyes were cold, unblinking, as he held me firmly. A slight smirk tugged at his lips. I pasted on a smile, trying to play it cool, though my pulse pounded in my ears.

“Oh, hi! I think I got lost trying to find the restroom,” I said, tugging lightly against his hold, trying to sound casual.

“Sure you did.” His voice dripped with disbelief. He smirked, pulling me back down the hall, his fingers digging into my arm with each step. “Let’s take you somewhere for a… chat.”

A knot of dread formed In my stomach, but I forced myself to think. I couldn’t panic now. I had to keep it together. He led me around a corner and into a dimly lit room, where the scent of leather and cigar smoke hung thick in the air. The room was lined with plush armchairs, but it was the men sitting in them that caught my attention. Several pairs of eyes snapped at me, their gazes cold and suspicious. A few of them were already standing, sizing me up.

“Who’s she?” one of them demanded, his voice sharp and distrustful, his eyes narrowing as he assessed me.

“Found her snooping near the boss’s office,” my captor announced, shoving me forward roughly.

“I just got lost!” I protested, trying to sound light and innocent, though the tension in my voice was barely masked. “These hallways are like a maze.”

The men exchanged glances, and I could feel the weight of their stares. They weren’t buying it. I knew what would come next—questions, threats, or worse. But I couldn’t let them see my fear. Not yet.

Then the door opened with a creak.

The room seemed to freeze. All eyes turned, and I felt the air grow thick, almost suffocating.

“Enough.”

A cold voice sliced through the silence, and the men parted instinctively, as though they’d all been frozen by the sheer weight of the command. My breath caught in my throat as the figure stepped into the room, his presence cutting through the tension like a blade.

The man who entered wasn’t Don Vincenzo, but his son—Alessandro ‘Alex’ Esposito.