Chapter 1

SCARLETT

I pushed open the apartment door, the familiar creak slicing through the silence. I wasn’t supposed to be back until tomorrow, but I’d missed him—Lucas. I wanted to surprise him.

Instead, the apartment surprised me.

The lavender candle I loved still burned, but the air felt wrong. Off. Cold. My heels clicked against the hardwood as I stepped into the living room—and stopped dead.

Lucas’s shirt.

Heels that weren’t mine.

A lacy red bra.

My heart pounded as I followed the trail, each step heavier than the last. The door to their bedroom was ajar, muffled voices and laughter seeping through. I pushed it open.

There, tangled in the sheets of their bed, were Lucas and Sophia. Sophia, my best friend, the one I had trusted with my secrets, my dreams. Lucas looked up, eyes widening in shock, but not guilt. Sophia smirked, unbothered.

“Scarlett,” Lucas began, pulling the sheet over himself.

“Save it,” I snapped, my voice cold. “I guess the trip you made me go was a good opportunity for you two to… reconnect in my house.”

Sophia shrugged, “Well, you always said Lucas was a catch. I just decided to see for myself.”

My fists clenched, my nails digging into my palms. “I trusted you, both of you.”

Lucas stood, grabbing his pants. “This house,” he said, his tone turning cold, “I bought it for you. But now, I think it’s better suited for someone who appreciates it.” He glanced at Sophia. “Hand me the keys and the papers. Now.”

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me. “You’re kicking me out? After this?”

He stepped closer, his eyes hard. “You can leave with your dignity, or I can call security. Your choice.”

Tears threatened to spill, but I blinked them away. Without a word, I turned, walked to the drawer, and retrieved the keys and documents. I handed them to him, my gaze unwavering.

“You’re going to regret this,” I whispered.

Lucas smirked, “Doubt it.”

I stepped out and the world just—snapped.

Too loud. Too cold. Too fucking real.

Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Just move.

My heels clattered against the pavement, sharp, frantic, like they were trying to outrun what I’d seen. What I heard. That laugh. Her laugh. Like nails dragging down my spine.

Lucas. With her.

His voice, soft. Her name in his mouth like it belonged there.

I didn’t stop crying.

I just kept going.

Because if I stopped for even one second, I’d fall apart right there on that goddamn sidewalk.

I turned the corner blindly—and the blare of a horn shattered the night.

“Shit!”

A sleek black car screeched to a halt inches from my thighs. My heart slammed into my ribs. The driver’s door flew open.

“What the hell—” A deep voice, low and furious. A man stepped out, tall, dangerous, dressed in black. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

I didn’t stop. “Move.”

He caught my arm. Firm. Not painful—yet. “You just ran into the street.”

“And now I’m running out of this conversation.”

He didn’t let go. “You’re bleeding.”

I looked down. My knee was scraped, probably from tripping over the curb like a damn idiot. I was trembling.

“Let go of me.”

He tilted his head. “You’re shaking.”

“Because I just watched the man I loved fuck someone else in our bed.” I hadn’t meant to say it. Not out loud. But it was already out there, hanging between us like smoke.

His expression shifted—just slightly.

“I’ll call you a car.”

“No.”

“You can’t walk like that.”

“I’ve walked away from worse.” I yanked my arm free. “Thanks for almost hitting me. But I’ll take it from here.”

——

The bell above the cafe door jingled as I slammed it open, the biting cold seeping straight into my bones. I didn’t care. I didn’t care about anything. My mind was a storm—Lucas, Sophia, the betrayal. My chest felt like it was collapsing in on itself.

I stumbled to a booth by the window, collapsing into it like a ragdoll, my hands shaking uncontrollably. A latte? I couldn’t even look at it. I felt nothing. Just numb.

Buzz.

The phone in my pocket vibrated like a warning. Get to the office now.

Great. William. Always right on time to remind me of my crumbling life. I shoved the phone back into my pocket, not sparing the coffee a second glance. 

I bolted out the door, not even thinking. My heels slapped the pavement, my mind barely processing the chaos around me. The noise, the cars, the people—none of it mattered. I just kept moving. I didn’t stop until I reached the office.

“Glad you could join us,” he said without missing a beat, his eyes fixed on the screen. “Sit.”

I took a seat across from him, trying to hold onto whatever shred of composure I had left.

William finally turned his attention to me, and his eyes darkened. “You’ve been avoiding me. We both know why.”

“I’m done with your work, William,” I said, my voice tight. “It’s too dangerous. Too much trouble.”

“Guess you’re richer now, and you don’t need money for anything, then you can leave.” Williams said firmly.

I clenched my fists.

“I’m not going back to writing hit pieces, I can only write simple articles,” I snapped, my voice low and furious. “I’m not putting myself in danger anymore.”

William leaned forward, the flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Well, Scarlett, it seems you don’t have much of a choice.” He slid a thick envelope across the table. I eyed it warily, then glanced back at him.

“This is what I will give you for your new assignment,” he said. “Five million dollars.”

I blinked. “Five… million?” I whispered.

“Five million,” he repeated. “Cash.”

My stomach twisted, both at the amount of money and the implications.

“You know, I wouldn’t mind a little help finding somewhere to sleep either,” I added sarcastically. “Can’t exactly stay in my old place anymore.”

His gaze hardened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he reached for a file on his desk and opened it. Inside were pictures—pictures of men. Dangerous men.

“Here’s what I need you to do.” He slid the first picture in front of me. “Adrian Moretti.” He paused, watching my reaction. “You know him, right?”

I felt my breath catch in my throat. My stomach churned as I looked at the man in the photo. The same man who nearly ran me over a few hours ago. The same cold eyes, the same air of power that sent chills down my spine.

I nodded reluctantly.

“You’ll be writing an article that brings the Moretti empire down. All of it. The Romano empire. Everything. Your job is to dig. Get close to them. Find out what they’re really doing. And you’ll do it by any means necessary.”

“You want me to infiltrate the mafia?” I asked, incredulous. “Are you out of your damn mind?”

His gaze never wavered. “You’re the one who got yourself into this mess, you have done this before and now the FBI wants you and no one else.. I’m just offering you a way out. I’ve been paid by the FBI to ensure this happens, Scarlett. You get close to them, find their weaknesses, and you expose them. All the while, we’ll be raking in the money. This is bigger than anything you’ve worked on before. You’ll be famous.”

I leaned back in my chair, the weight of the situation hitting me harder than I expected. “You can’t seriously expect me to do this. This is the mafia. These are men who—” I stopped myself, thinking about how much danger I’d already put myself in.

“And if you don’t, your career would be over, Scarlett.” William’s voice was ice-cold now, cutting through the tension. “If you don’t, you can say goodbye to your career. Goodbye to your future. This is your ticket to something bigger.”

I rubbed my forehead. “How am I supposed to get close to them?” I asked, exhaustion lining my voice.

William pushed another picture towards me. This time it was Lucas, my ex. The betrayal was still fresh, and seeing his face now made my stomach twist.

“This is Lucas Moretti,” William said, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. “I found out that he is Adrian’s son. Your ex-boyfriend.”