Throne 2

I didn’t allow myself to watch Nico Moretti leave, but I felt his presence lingering in the air long after he was gone. It was unsettling—how someone could step into a room and change everything without lifting a finger. I had spent years mastering the art of control, of knowing every move before it was made. Yet, in the span of a few minutes, he had disrupted the balance I had so carefully built.

I hated that.

Lorenzo DeLuca wasn’t hiding his irritation either. His jaw was clenched, his fingers tightening around his whiskey glass. Antonio, on the other hand, seemed amused, swirling the amber liquid in his own glass as if Nico’s presence had been nothing more than an entertaining inconvenience.

“The Morettis have always been full of arrogance,” Lorenzo muttered, finally breaking the silence. “But Nico? He’s more than that. He’s calculating.”

I tilted my head, studying him. “He came here for a reason.”

Antonio smirked. “Yeah. To remind us he’s watching.”

That much was obvious. The Morettis and DeLucas had never truly trusted each other. Their uneasy alliance had been held together by necessity, not loyalty. And now, with Nico openly delivering warnings, it was clear that whatever was left of that alliance was cracking.

Lorenzo’s gaze shifted to me. “Do you know Moretti?”

“No,” I answered smoothly. “But I’ve heard of him.”

Lorenzo nodded, clearly debating something before taking a slow sip of his drink. “Be careful around him, Sophia. He’s dangerous.”

I let out a soft chuckle, leaning back in my chair. “So am I.”

Antonio grinned at that, but Lorenzo wasn’t amused. He was still watching me closely, as if trying to determine where my loyalties truly lay.

Smart man.

The truth was, I had no intention of being a pawn in their war. I was here for my own reasons—to take down the DeLucas for what they did to my family. Their conflict with the Morettis was secondary to me. But now, with Nico Moretti stepping into the picture, things were shifting. I didn’t like dealing with unknown variables, and right now, he was the biggest one of them all.

“I’ll review the logistics of our deal and get back to you,” I said, standing up. “But if this war between your families is about to explode, I suggest you clean up your mess before it gets in my way.”

Lorenzo smirked, but there was no humor in his eyes. “Don’t worry, Miss Ivanova. We always clean up after ourselves.”

I wasn’t so sure about that.

As I stepped away from the table, I felt the weight of their gazes on my back, but I didn’t let it affect me. I had played my part tonight—confident, in control, untouchable. But inside, my mind was already racing.

Nico Moretti was a problem. And if he kept inserting himself into my business, I would have to deal with him.

––

I left the club without looking back. The night air was cool against my skin as I stepped onto the sidewalk, my driver already waiting by the curb. I had just reached for the car door when a voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Ivanova.”

I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

Nico Moretti.

I took a steady breath before facing him. He was leaning casually against a black car, hands in his pockets, his dark eyes watching me with the kind of intensity that made people nervous.

I wasn’t most people.

“You have a habit of showing up uninvited,” I said, keeping my voice neutral.

He smirked, pushing off the car and closing the distance between us. “And you have a habit of making dangerous deals.”

I folded my arms. “You came all this way just to lecture me?”

“I came to offer you something better.”

That caught my attention, though I kept my expression unreadable. “I’m listening.”

Nico stepped closer, close enough that I could catch the faint scent of expensive cologne and something darker beneath it—gunpowder, steel, danger.

“You’re making a mistake aligning with the DeLucas,” he said smoothly. “They’ll use you until you’re no longer useful, then they’ll dispose of you.”

I tilted my head. “And you think the Morettis wouldn’t do the same?”

His smirk deepened, but his eyes held something sharp. “I think you’re smarter than that.”

I hated that he was right.

I had no loyalty to the DeLucas. I was using them just as much as they were using me. But Nico Moretti wasn’t an idiot. He had seen through it almost immediately, which meant he wasn’t just here to warn me—he wanted something.

“What’s your offer?” I asked, watching him carefully.

Nico studied me for a long moment before speaking. “Work with me instead.”

I let out a short laugh. “And why would I do that?”

“Because I know what you really want.”

My amusement faded. “Oh? And what’s that?”

Nico leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. “Revenge.”

I froze.

His words hit harder than I expected, slicing through the careful mask I had worn for years. It wasn’t just a guess—he knew. He knew I wasn’t here for business. He knew I wasn’t some loyal Bratva operative making deals for the sake of power.

He knew the truth.

I forced myself to stay calm. “You think you know me, Moretti?”

He didn’t blink. “I know you want the DeLucas dead. And I can help you do it.”

There it was. The real reason he was here.

I should have walked away. I should have told him I didn’t need his help, that I was perfectly capable of handling my own war. But instead, I found myself hesitating.

Because he wasn’t wrong.

I had spent years planning my revenge, carefully constructing a path that would lead me to the DeLucas’ downfall. But it had always been a lonely road. No allies. No backup. Just me, my rage, and my determination.

Now, Nico Moretti was standing in front of me, offering me something I had never considered before—partnership.

I didn’t trust him. Not even a little.

But I was intrigued.

I met his gaze. “If I say yes, what’s in it for you?”

His smirk returned, slow and confident. “The DeLucas have been a thorn in my family’s side for too long. Taking them out benefits both of us.”

I studied him carefully, trying to find the hidden angle. But all I saw was a man who was just as ruthless as I was, just as determined, just as willing to burn down the world if it meant getting what he wanted.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt something dangerous coil in my chest.

Not fear.

Excitement.

I took a slow step forward, closing the space between us. “Fine. I’ll listen. But if you betray me, Moretti…”

Nico chuckled, his eyes gleaming with something almost amused. “I’d expect nothing less.”

I held his gaze for a moment longer, then finally nodded.

I didn’t trust him.

But I was willing to see where this led.

And if Nico Moretti thought he could outmaneuver me…

Well, he was in for one hell of a surprise.