Into the Lions Den

Sasha’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood frozen in front of Luca, his eyes locked on hers with a predatory gleam. She could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating, as the seconds stretched into what felt like hours. Every instinct told her to run, to escape the dark web that was closing in around her, but she forced herself to stay calm.

This was a dangerous game, one she had been thrust into without a choice. Now, more than ever, she had to be smart. She had to survive.

Luca took a step closer, his smile widening into something more sinister. “You seem a little on edge, Sasha. Should I be worried?”

Her breath caught in her throat, but she quickly masked her fear. She knew Luca was testing her, watching for any sign of weakness. If he sensed even a hint of hesitation, he’d pounce. She couldn’t let him see her sweat.

“I was just surprised to see you here,” Sasha said, her voice steady as she met his gaze. “You seemed to disappear from the ballroom so quickly.”

Luca chuckled, the sound low and full of menace. “Business, as always. You know how it is.”

He took another step forward, and Sasha resisted the urge to back away. Instead, she straightened her spine and forced a casual smile, pretending that his proximity didn’t make her skin crawl. She had to keep up the façade.

“I’m sure Dominic has plenty to keep him occupied tonight,” Luca continued, his tone dripping with innuendo. “But don’t worry. I’m happy to keep an eye on you.”

Sasha’s pulse quickened, but she managed to laugh lightly, hoping it didn’t sound as forced as it felt. “I think I can manage,” she said, her words laced with just enough confidence to hold her ground.

Luca’s eyes flickered with something dark and dangerous, and for a moment, Sasha wondered if she had pushed too far. But then he smiled again, the tension in his posture loosening slightly.

“Feisty. I like that,” he murmured, his voice low and intimate. “No wonder Dominic is so taken with you.”

Sasha swallowed hard, her mind racing as she tried to gauge Luca’s intentions. She had to get out of here, but she couldn’t risk making him suspicious. She needed an excuse, something that would let her slip away without raising any red flags.

“I should probably find Dominic,” she said, forcing a polite smile as she took a small step backward. “He’s expecting me.”

Luca’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing her words. But after a moment, he nodded, stepping aside to let her pass. “Of course,” he said smoothly, though there was an undercurrent of something darker in his tone. “Don’t keep him waiting.”

Sasha moved quickly, her pulse hammering in her ears as she walked down the hallway, her mind racing with everything she had just overheard. Luca was planning something—something big—and whatever it was, Dominic didn’t know about it. If she didn’t warn him in time, everything could unravel.

She needed to find him. Now.

Sasha quickened her pace, weaving through the maze of hallways that made up the sprawling mansion. Her heels clicked against the marble floors, echoing in the silence as she made her way toward Dominic’s private office. Her heart pounded in her chest, fear and adrenaline coursing through her veins. She could feel the weight of the danger pressing down on her, the knowledge that she was walking a fine line between survival and destruction.

When she finally reached the door to Dominic’s office, she didn’t hesitate. She pushed it open and stepped inside, only to find the room empty.

“Damn it,” she muttered under her breath, scanning the room for any sign of where he might have gone. But there was nothing—no clues, no indication of his whereabouts.

Panic gripped her chest. What if Luca had already moved forward with his plan? What if Dominic was in danger right now?

Sasha’s mind raced as she tried to think of where else he could be. She knew that Dominic often held private meetings in the lower levels of the mansion, in the more secure areas where the true business of his empire was conducted. If Luca was planning something, that’s where it would happen.

Without wasting another moment, Sasha turned and headed for the stairs that led to the basement levels. The farther she went, the darker the mansion became, the opulence of the upper floors fading into cold, concrete hallways. It was a stark contrast, a reminder of the duality of Dominic’s world—on the surface, all glittering wealth and charm, but beneath it, something far more dangerous and deadly lurked.

She reached the heavy steel door that led to the lower levels, her heart racing as she pressed her hand against the scanner. The door clicked open, and Sasha slipped inside, her nerves on edge as she descended deeper into the underbelly of the mansion.

The hallways here were dimly lit, and the air was thick with the smell of machinery and cold steel. It was a stark contrast to the elegant world above, and it only heightened Sasha’s sense of unease. She moved quickly, her heels muted on the concrete floors as she followed the faint sounds of voices echoing from further down the corridor.

She rounded a corner and stopped dead in her tracks.

Ahead of her, at the end of the hallway, was a small room. The door was slightly ajar, and through the crack, Sasha could see Dominic standing inside, his back to her. He was talking to someone—someone whose face she couldn’t see—but the tone of the conversation was tense. Dominic’s shoulders were rigid, his stance defensive.

She crept closer, careful to stay out of sight as she strained to hear the conversation.

“… can’t let this happen,” Dominic was saying, his voice low and sharp. “If this gets out, we’re all finished.”

“I’m not asking,” a voice replied, cold and authoritative. Sasha’s blood froze. Luca. “You don’t have a choice in this, Dominic. Either you fall in line, or you’re out.”

Dominic’s fists clenched at his sides, his entire body radiating barely contained fury. “You think you can make decisions like that without consulting me? You forget who built this empire.”

There was a pause, and then Luca’s voice came again, softer but no less dangerous. “It’s not about you anymore. You’re losing your grip, and everyone knows it. You’ve gone soft, Dominic. And that makes you a liability.”

Sasha’s breath hitched as the words sunk in. Luca was orchestrating a coup—right under Dominic’s nose. And Dominic, despite all his power and control, was on the verge of losing everything.

She had to do something. She couldn’t just stand there and watch as the man she had once loved, the man who still stirred something deep within her, was betrayed. But before she could act, something in the room shifted.

Dominic turned suddenly, his eyes landing on the door. For a split second, their gazes met, and Sasha’s heart stopped. His expression was a mix of shock and fury, his eyes blazing with the realization that she had overheard everything.

Before Sasha could react, a hand clamped down on her shoulder, yanking her backward.

She spun around, coming face-to-face with one of Luca’s men. His grip tightened on her arm, and Sasha’s heart lurched as she realized she had been caught. She struggled, but the man’s hold was ironclad, dragging her away from the door as Dominic’s shout echoed down the hallway.

“Sasha!” Dominic’s voice boomed, filled with rage and desperation. But it was too late.

The man pulled her down the corridor, his grip unrelenting as he dragged her toward the stairwell. Sasha’s mind raced, her body trembling with fear as she fought against him, but her efforts were futile. She was trapped, and there was no one coming to save her.

As they reached the stairwell, Sasha’s captor glanced down at her with a cruel smile. “Luca sends his regards,” he sneered before shoving her into the dark.

She fell, her scream echoing through the cold, concrete stairwell as she tumbled into the abyss.

And then, everything went black.