Veil 3

The air inside the private club is thick with expensive cigars, hushed conversations, and the weight of dangerous men sitting too close together. I blend into the dimly lit corner, my back against the cool brick wall, watching the scene unfold.

The Morettis and Volkovs rarely meet face-to-face, but tonight is an exception. Something big is happening. Deals are being made, alliances tested. And I’m here to make sure I get the information I need.

I adjust the lace glove covering my right hand, a small detail that helps conceal the faint scars on my wrist—the only remnants of my past life that refused to fade.

Tonight isn’t about revenge. Not yet.

It’s about answers.

A waiter passes by, and I pluck a champagne flute from his tray, using the movement to scan the room. The Volkovs are on one side, their leader, Viktor Volkov, sitting with a sharp gaze that sees everything. Across from him, Enzo Moretti, head of the Moretti family, leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

And then there’s Helios.

I spot him standing near Enzo, his stance rigid, his eyes constantly moving. He’s guarding the meeting like the trained enforcer he is. I can almost feel his tension from across the room. He knows I’m here.

He just hasn’t found me yet.

I take a slow sip of champagne, my gaze flicking back to the table. The discussion is heated but controlled. Money is on the table—literally. Bundles of cash stacked neatly, untouched for now.

“Rumors,” Viktor says in a deep, accented voice, “suggest that someone in your family has been feeding information to the wrong people.”

Enzo doesn’t flinch. “And you believe those rumors?”

Viktor smirks, leaning forward slightly. “I believe in results. And lately, someone’s been getting to my shipments before they reach their destination. That’s not coincidence, Enzo.”

The tension sharpens, but neither man moves.

I expected as much. There’s a traitor in the Moretti family, someone playing both sides. And I need to find out who before they destroy everything.

But I’m not the only one hunting.

I feel a shift in the air before I see him.

Helios.

His presence is like a storm creeping in—silent but impossible to ignore. My muscles tense, but I don’t move as he steps beside me, close enough that I catch the scent of his cologne—dark, woodsy, familiar.

I don’t look at him.

“You’re not as invisible as you think,” he murmurs, his voice low enough that only I can hear.

I smirk against the rim of my glass. “You’re slipping, Valenti. Took you longer than I expected.”

His jaw tightens. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Neither should a traitor.” I turn slightly, finally meeting his gaze. His dark eyes hold something unreadable, something between frustration and… something else.

He clenches his jaw, his fingers curling slightly. “This isn’t a game, Elena.”

“Who says I’m playing?” I tilt my head. “Unless you’d rather keep pretending the Morettis don’t have a snake in their garden.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw. He knows I’m right.

Before he can respond, movement at the table draws our attention.

Viktor stands, placing both hands on the table. “Find the rat, Enzo. And do it quickly. Because if I have to, I won’t be merciful.”

With that, the meeting is over. The Volkovs rise, bodyguards moving into place as they make their exit. Enzo watches them go before turning to his own men, his gaze briefly landing on Helios.

Helios straightens, his voice level. “I’ll handle it.”

He’s lying. He has no idea where to start.

Which is why I’m here.

As the men begin to leave, I set my empty glass on a passing waiter’s tray and start toward the exit. I don’t make it two steps before a hand grips my wrist.

Helios.

His hold isn’t painful, but it’s firm. A silent warning.

“Let go,” I murmur.

“Not here.” His voice is low, controlled. “We need to talk.”

I glance around. The room is clearing out, but eyes are everywhere. “Fine. But not here.”

He hesitates for half a second before releasing me. “Follow me.”

I do. Not because he told me to, but because I want answers as much as he does.

We end up in a private lounge upstairs. The lighting is softer here, casting shadows along the leather furniture and dark wood.

Helios closes the door behind us, turning to face me with arms crossed. “Start talking.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You first.”

He exhales sharply, pacing for a moment before running a hand through his dark hair. “You want revenge. Fine. I get it. But this?” He gestures toward the meeting downstairs. “This is bigger than you.”

“I know,” I say simply. “That’s why I need to know who’s betraying your family.”

He studies me. “Why?”

I meet his gaze, unflinching. “Because it’s connected to what happened to me.”

Something in his expression shifts, but he doesn’t interrupt.

“I’ve been following the money, the movements. Whoever’s selling out the Morettis is connected to the people who tried to kill me.” I take a step closer. “This isn’t just about the families anymore, Helios. This is about me. About unfinished business.”

His jaw tightens, his shoulders stiff. “And you think working with me is the answer?”

I smirk. “I think you don’t have a choice.”

He exhales slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re a damn headache.”

I shrug. “I try.”

A tense silence lingers between us before he finally speaks again.

“If we do this, we do it my way.”

I raise an eyebrow. “And why would I agree to that?”

“Because,” he steps closer, lowering his voice, “if Enzo finds out you’re digging into this, you won’t get a second chance.”

I hold his gaze. He’s not wrong.

I sigh, tilting my head. “Fine. But if I find the traitor first, I get to decide what happens to them.”

He hesitates, then nods. “Deal.”

We shake on it. A dangerous alliance forged in shadows.

But as I look into Helios’s dark eyes, I know one thing for sure—this is only the beginning.