Chapter 1: Around The Dark Streets

The streets of Little Italy were bustling with activity as the sun set over the city. Bella Veron was on her way to her brother's apartment, carrying a bag of groceries in one hand and her purse in the other.

She was dressed in a simple white blouse and a pair of denim shorts, her chestnut brown hair tied back in a ponytail. She had just finished her shift at the local café and was looking forward to a quiet evening with her brother.

As she turned the corner, she heard the sound of shouting and commotion coming from a nearby alleyway. Curiosity getting the best of her, she decided to take a look. As she approached the alleyway, she saw a group of men dressed in black suits and sunglasses, surrounding a young man who was on the ground, bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound.

Bella's heart began to race as she realized that she was in the middle of a Mafia hit. She quickly turned to leave, but as she did, one of the men caught sight of her.

"Hey, you! What are you doing here?" The man shouted, his voice was cold and menacing.

Bella froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that she needed to leave quickly, but her feet seemed to be rooted to the ground.

"I-I was just passing by," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man sneered at her, his eyes cold and calculating. "You shouldn't have seen this, girl. You're a witness now."

Bella's heart skipped a beat as she realized the gravity of the situation. She knew that she needed to get out of there as quickly as possible, but before she could move, another man stepped forward, this one towering over the others.

He was a tall, muscular man with dark hair and piercing brown eyes. He wore a black suit and a crisp white shirt, open at the collar. He looked diferent from the other men, his face etched with a hint of sadness, and his eyes held a hint of warmth. He seemed to be in charge, and the other men deferred to him.

"Leave her alone," he said, his voice deep and commanding.

The man who had confronted Bella hesitated for a moment before nodding and stepping back. Bella let out a sigh of relief as the tall man turned to her.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice softening.

Bella nodded, her heart still racing. "Yes, I think so. Thank you."

The man smiled at her, his brown eyes crinkling at the corners.

"I'm Lance de Rossi. And you are?"

Bella hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'm Bella. Bella Veron."

Lance's eyes widened in recognition. "Bella Veron? As in Tony Veron's sister?"

Bella nodded, her heart sinking. She knew that her brother had been involved in some shady business, and she feared that this was the end for him.

"Don't worry, Bella," Lance said, sensing her fear. "Your brother will be alright. He's one of mine, and I take care of my own."

Bella's heart skipped a beat as she realized that Lance was the Boss of the Evergreen Mafia, one of the most powerful and feared organizations in Little Italy. She had heard of him, of course, but she had never expected to meet him, let alone have him save her life.

As they walked out of the alleyway together, Bella couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She knew that her brother's involvement with the Mafia was dangerous, and she feared for his safety. But as she looked up at Lance, she couldn't help but feel a sense of attraction towards him. He was a powerful and mysterious man, and she couldn't deny the pull she felt towards him.

As they walked, Lance turned to her. "I know this is all a lot to take in, Bella. But I promise you, your brother will be safe. And as for you, I think it would be best if we kept this meeting between us."

Bella nodded, understanding the danger that their meeting could pose. "I won't tell anyone, I promise."

Lance smiled at her, his eyes softening. "Good. I'll make sure someone takes you home safely."

Bella nodded, her heart racing. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She had just had a chance encounter with one of the most powerful men in Little Italy, and he had saved her life. She knew that she should be scared, but all she could feel was a sense of attraction towards him.

As they reached the end of the street, Lance turned to her. "Take care, Bella. And remember, our meeting never happened."

Bella nodded, her heart heavy. She knew that she would never forget this chance encounter, and she couldn't help but wonder if their paths would cross again.

As she watched Lance walk away, she realized that she had just met her true love, but he was a Mafia Boss, and she was a simple woman, the biggest plot twist of her life.

As Bella walked away from her chance encounter with Lance, her mind was racing. She couldn't believe what had just happened. A powerful Mafia Boss, who was feared by many, had saved her life and showed her a hint of kindness. She couldn't help but feel a sense of attraction towards him.

The next day, Bella went to her brother's apartment, as she promised, to check on him. Tony was sitting on the couch, his arm in a cast, and a bandage on his forehead. He looked up as she entered and smiled. "Hey, sis. How are you?"

Bella smiled back and sat down beside him. "I'm fine, Tony. How are you feeling?"

Tony sighed. "I've been better. But I'm alive, thanks to Lance."

Bella's heart skipped a beat as she heard Lance's name. "What do you mean?"

Tony looked at her, his eyes serious. "Lance is a powerful man, Bella. He saved my life and he's going to make sure that I'm safe.

He's also going to make sure that you're safe."

Bella's heart sank as she realized what her brother was saying. Lance had only shown her kindness to ensure her silence and cooperation. He was using her to protect himself and her brother. She felt a sense of betrayal and disappointment wash over her.

Days passed and Bella couldn't get Lance out of her mind, she kept thinking about him, and the way he had looked at her with a hint of kindness in his eyes. She decided to go to the café where she worked, to clear her mind and forget about him.

As she was taking orders and serving customers, she saw him.

Lance was sitting at a table, his eyes were scanning the room. Bella's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, and he gave her a cold, emotionless stare. Bella felt her heart drop as she realized that the warmth and kindness he had shown her last time was just an act, a way to manipulate her into cooperation.

She finished her shift and went home feeling defeated, she knew that she couldn't go anywhere with him, that he was just using her and her brother, and that their relationship was never going to happen.

Bella avoided Lance as much as possible, refusing to fall for his manipulation again. She focused on her brother's well-being and her own life, trying to put the encounter behind her. But she couldn't shake of the feeling that she had missed out on something, that there was a chance for something more with Lance. She couldn't deny the pull she still felt towards him, even though she knew that he was a cold and dangerous Mafia Boss.

Bella's life went on, but she couldn't help but wonder what could have been if things had gone differently. She realized that love and attraction can be deceiving and that sometimes, it's best to let go of something that can never be hers.