**(Elena’s POV)**The next morning came far too quickly. I hadn’t slept. Not really. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face—the man I killed. His lifeless eyes followed me into my dreams, into the darkness that seemed to fill every corner of this house. I kept thinking that at some point I’d wake up, back in my old life, where the most dangerous thing I had to face was Brady Thompson's taunts. But I wasn’t waking up. This was real. And now, every breath I took felt heavier, like the weight of Dante’s world was pressing down on me, threatening to crush me if I didn’t learn how to survive. I pulled the thick curtains open, letting the cold morning light spill into the room. The grounds outside stretched out like a maze, perfectly manicured but deceiving. They hid the dark secrets of this place. My reflection in the glass looked like a stranger—eyes wide, hollow, and rimmed with sleeplessness. I didn’t know this girl anymore. The one who had killed a man and still had to keep movi
The weight of Dante’s words lingered in the air, pressing down on me like a vice. “Then you’re of no use to me.” He’d said it so casually, as if my life could be discarded as easily as one of his unfinished plans. It wasn’t a threat; it was a fact. He didn’t need to say any more. I was either going to survive in his world or die trying.I glanced at the men gathered around the table. They were all watching me, their expressions cold, some even amused. I could see it in their eyes—they didn’t believe I could do it. They were waiting for me to fail.“What now?” I finally asked, my voice quiet but steady. I wasn’t about to give them the satisfaction of seeing me crumble, not after everything I’d been through.Dante’s gaze flickered over me, but his face remained unreadable. “You’ll be working with Viktor,” he said, gesturing toward the man with the scar that had taunted me moments earlier. “He’ll give you your first assignment.”Viktor’s lips curled into a smirk, his eyes glinting with s
Moretti looked up sharply at the mention of Dante’s name. His eyes narrowed, and he leaned back in his chair, sizing me up. I could see the flicker of recognition, followed by something else—fear, maybe. But he masked it quickly, replacing it with a scowl.“You?” Moretti snorted, clearly unimpressed. “Dante sent a girl to do his dirty work now? What’s this about, huh?”I swallowed hard, trying to maintain the same steady tone. “You owe Dante. He’s done waiting for what you promised.”Moretti’s scowl deepened, but I could see the tension in his jaw. He was trying to play it cool, but I knew the name Dante Ricci carried weight, even with someone like him. That alone kept me standing there, even though my legs felt like they might give out at any second.“He can’t be serious,” Moretti muttered, taking a swig of his whiskey. “Sending some kid to threaten me. You’ve got no idea what you’re getting into, girl. Get lost before you get hurt.”“I’m not here for small talk,” I said, forcing my
The next few days passed in a blur of exhaustion, tension, and uncertainty. Dante’s mansion became a maze I had to navigate, filled with men who looked at me like I didn’t belong. Maybe I didn’t. Every room felt colder than the last, the walls closing in on me as if reminding me there was no escape. Each morning, I woke up waiting for the next test, the next task that would push me closer to the edge.And each day, I survived. Barely.The assignment with Moretti had left me shaken, but it wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was realizing how easily I’d been pulled into Dante’s world. How quickly I was becoming a part of something I swore I could never accept. The fear that once controlled me now felt different—less panicked and more calculated. It wasn’t just fear of death anymore; it was fear of what I was becoming.I sat in the small room they had given me, staring at the blank walls. The only sound came from the ticking of the old clock on the desk, and every tick felt like it wa
The room felt too small, the air too thick, and the weight of the gun in my hand felt like it might crush me. My finger hovered over the trigger, my heart racing so fast I could hear it in my ears. Alexei stood a few feet away, his eyes flicking between me and the gun, disbelief etched into his features.“You don’t have it in you,” he sneered, his voice low and mocking, like he was daring me to prove him wrong.I tightened my grip, my knuckles turning white. Sweat dripped down the back of my neck, my breath coming in shallow gasps. His words echoed in my mind. Maybe he was right. I wasn’t a killer. Not really. I’d killed a man before, but that had been different. That had been self-defense, survival in the heat of the moment.This? This was cold, deliberate. Planned.Alexei took a step closer, his posture relaxed, almost mocking. “You don’t even know why you’re here, do you? You’re just Dante’s pawn, doing his dirty work. He’s testing you, you know that? He wants to see if you’ll brea
I got out of the car, my legs still shaky as I made my way to the front entrance. The mansion loomed before me, cold and imposing, just like the man who ruled it. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked inside, every step feeling heavier than the last.When I reached Dante’s office, I paused outside the door, my hand hovering over the handle. I didn’t know what was waiting for me on the other side, but I knew I couldn’t hesitate any longer. I had to face him, face the consequences of my failure.I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.Dante was sitting behind his desk, his eyes already on me as I stepped inside. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel the weight of his disappointment, even from across the room.I stood there, unsure of what to say, unsure of what he wanted from me. My heart raced as I waited for him to speak, the silence stretching between us like a chasm.Finally, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine. “So,” he said, his voice calm
Morning came too quickly, the thin light filtering through the curtains making everything feel sharper, more real. I hadn’t slept much, if at all. My mind had been racing all night, haunted by the images of Alexei, by Viktor’s words, by the cold emptiness in Dante’s eyes when I failed him.I pushed myself out of bed, the weight of what was to come settling in my chest like a stone. Viktor’s warning echoed in my head—*tomorrow will be harder than today.* I didn’t know how much more I could take, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to keep moving. Had to keep proving myself, even if I wasn’t sure what I was proving anymore.I dressed quickly, the clothes Dante had provided me feeling stiff and foreign on my skin. Everything in this world felt wrong, like I was wearing a mask, pretending to be someone I wasn’t. Someone who could survive here.There was a knock at the door, and I tensed, knowing what it meant. It was time.I opened the door to find Viktor waiting, his expression as unreadab
I stared down at the man, my mind spinning, my heart racing. The world seemed to close in on me, suffocating me with the weight of the decision I was about to make. I could feel the pressure of Viktor’s gaze, of Dante’s expectations, crushing me.There was no way out.The man whimpered again, his body shaking with fear. My finger hovered over the trigger, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. I was shaking all over, my mind screaming at me to stop, but my body wouldn’t listen.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out everything around me.Then I pulled the trigger.The sound was deafening, echoing off the walls of the warehouse. I didn’t open my eyes right away, didn’t want to see what I had done. My hands were trembling so badly I could barely hold the gun anymore.When I finally opened my eyes, the man was lying still, blood pooling around him. The sight of it made my stomach lurch, and I stumbled back, dropping the gun to the floor.Viktor didn’t say anything at first. He ju
The forest was eerily quiet, save for the sound of our footsteps crunching through the underbrush. The cold air stung my skin, but I barely felt it. All I could focus on was the way my legs burned from exhaustion, the sharp sting of branches that had scratched across my arms and face, and the constant, gnawing fear that Marco’s men were still close behind us.We had been running for what felt like hours, weaving through the trees, staying off any trails, trying to keep ourselves hidden. Every now and then, I’d glance back at Haines. He looked like he was on the verge of collapse, his face pale and streaked with sweat. But he didn’t complain. He kept moving, pushing himself beyond his limits.I admired his resilience, but I knew it wouldn’t last. Neither of us could keep this pace for much longer.“Let’s… let’s stop for a minute,” I said breathlessly, slowing my pace until I came to a stop near a large tree. I leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. My lungs felt like they were o
The sound of our footsteps pounding against the gravel mixed with the roar of engines still echoing behind us. My legs felt like they were made of lead, each step heavier than the last. But I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not with Marco and his men just behind us.“Keep going!” I yelled, my voice strained as I glanced back at Haines. He was struggling to keep up, his breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps. His suit jacket was torn, and sweat plastered his hair to his forehead. He wasn’t built for this, and I could see it in every strained movement he made.I bit my lip, trying to fight the panic clawing its way up my throat. We were exposed out here, no cover, no way to hide. The train yard was too open, and the fence had barely slowed Marco’s men down. I could hear the screech of the SUVs grinding to a halt behind us as they made their way through the gap in the fence we had used to escape.We were running out of time.“There!” I pointed toward a line of old train cars, their rusted shel
The morning air was frigid as we raced through the narrow alleyways, our breath visible in the early light. Every nerve in my body was on high alert, and each sound, every shadow, felt like it was Dante’s men closing in on us. My heart pounded in my chest, the weight of what I’d done pressing down on me like a lead weight. I had made my choice, but now, every step I took felt like it brought me closer to my end.Robert Haines followed closely behind me, his footsteps uneven. He wasn’t used to running, especially not for his life. We didn’t speak. There wasn’t any time for words, and frankly, what could either of us say? We were fugitives now. I had spared his life, but it had cost me mine. Dante wouldn’t let me walk away from this.I led us through the alleys and side streets, keeping as far from the main roads as possible. The city was waking up around us, the sounds of early morning traffic echoing faintly in the distance, but it felt like we were trapped in a world apart, where eve
“Yes, you do,” Haines said quickly, his eyes pleading. “Everyone has a choice. Whatever they’ve told you… you don’t have to do this.”I could feel the panic rising in my chest, my hand shaking as I hovered over the gun. He was right. I didn’t have to do this. But if I didn’t, Dante would know. And then I’d be the one lying on the floor, just like Alexei.My vision blurred with tears as I took a shaky breath. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking.I reached for the gun, my hand trembling as I pulled it out. Haines’ eyes widened in terror, and he took a step back, his hands raised in surrender.“Please,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Don’t.”Time seemed to slow, the air thick with tension, every second stretching into eternity.But I couldn’t do it.I couldn’t pull the trigger.I dropped the gun to the floor, the sound echoing in the quiet house. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground, my body shaking with sobs I couldn’t hold back anymore.Haines stood there, stunne
I couldn’t sleep that night. Not after Dante’s words, not with the weight of the new assignment sitting on my shoulders like an anchor. The unopened file sat on the small table beside me, mocking me. The man inside that folder—whoever he was—had no idea his fate was already sealed. And somehow, I had been chosen to carry it out.I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to gather my thoughts. My mind refused to settle, bouncing from one fear to the next. What if I failed again? What if this time there wasn’t anyone to step in and clean up my mess? And what if, deep down, I wasn’t the person Dante thought I could become?The night dragged on in silence, and eventually, the darkness outside gave way to the gray light of dawn. I sat up, rubbing my eyes. There was no use delaying it any longer. I had to know what was inside that file, what Dante expected of me.With trembling hands, I reached for the folder, the cold manila paper feeling heavier than it should. I took a deep breath
I could still feel Dante’s presence long after he left the room, his cold words echoing in my mind. *“You belong to this world.”* Those words gripped me, dug their claws deep into my chest, pulling at me, twisting me into something I didn’t recognize anymore.The envelope sat on the table, its presence looming like a shadow over everything else in the room. I couldn’t stop staring at it, as though if I looked hard enough, I might somehow find a way to unravel this entire mess. But I couldn’t. I was in too deep.There was no escape.I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands gripping the sides of the mattress, my heart pounding in my chest. The silence was suffocating. My mind raced, replaying the events of the day— blood pooling on the floor, the way Viktor had looked at me after, the moment I pulled the trigger.I had done it. I had crossed that line. And now there was no turning back.The room felt too small, the walls closing in on me with every breath. I stood up, pacing back and fort
I stared down at the man, my mind spinning, my heart racing. The world seemed to close in on me, suffocating me with the weight of the decision I was about to make. I could feel the pressure of Viktor’s gaze, of Dante’s expectations, crushing me.There was no way out.The man whimpered again, his body shaking with fear. My finger hovered over the trigger, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. I was shaking all over, my mind screaming at me to stop, but my body wouldn’t listen.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out everything around me.Then I pulled the trigger.The sound was deafening, echoing off the walls of the warehouse. I didn’t open my eyes right away, didn’t want to see what I had done. My hands were trembling so badly I could barely hold the gun anymore.When I finally opened my eyes, the man was lying still, blood pooling around him. The sight of it made my stomach lurch, and I stumbled back, dropping the gun to the floor.Viktor didn’t say anything at first. He ju
Morning came too quickly, the thin light filtering through the curtains making everything feel sharper, more real. I hadn’t slept much, if at all. My mind had been racing all night, haunted by the images of Alexei, by Viktor’s words, by the cold emptiness in Dante’s eyes when I failed him.I pushed myself out of bed, the weight of what was to come settling in my chest like a stone. Viktor’s warning echoed in my head—*tomorrow will be harder than today.* I didn’t know how much more I could take, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to keep moving. Had to keep proving myself, even if I wasn’t sure what I was proving anymore.I dressed quickly, the clothes Dante had provided me feeling stiff and foreign on my skin. Everything in this world felt wrong, like I was wearing a mask, pretending to be someone I wasn’t. Someone who could survive here.There was a knock at the door, and I tensed, knowing what it meant. It was time.I opened the door to find Viktor waiting, his expression as unreadab
I got out of the car, my legs still shaky as I made my way to the front entrance. The mansion loomed before me, cold and imposing, just like the man who ruled it. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked inside, every step feeling heavier than the last.When I reached Dante’s office, I paused outside the door, my hand hovering over the handle. I didn’t know what was waiting for me on the other side, but I knew I couldn’t hesitate any longer. I had to face him, face the consequences of my failure.I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.Dante was sitting behind his desk, his eyes already on me as I stepped inside. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel the weight of his disappointment, even from across the room.I stood there, unsure of what to say, unsure of what he wanted from me. My heart raced as I waited for him to speak, the silence stretching between us like a chasm.Finally, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine. “So,” he said, his voice calm