Throne 3

I could feel the tension in the air like it had a weight of its own, pushing down on my chest. The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of a few hanging bulbs and the flicker of cigarette smoke swirling lazily above the men sitting around the table. I had walked into this meeting with my usual sense of purpose, prepared to negotiate and handle things with precision. But now, as I looked across the table at Nico Moretti, something in the back of my mind was telling me that this wasn't going to be as straightforward as I had hoped.

Nico's eyes never left mine. I could see the flicker of calculation behind them, a sharp intelligence that matched my own. He wasn’t the type to show his hand, not immediately. Everything about him screamed control, and that, more than anything else, made him dangerous.

The room was filled with low murmurs from the other men, their voices blending with the steady hum of the fluorescent lights overhead. The DeLucas were already here, waiting for us to begin the negotiations. They weren’t pleased to see me, of course. No one in this world ever was. But I had something they wanted, and that always made things a little easier.

I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on the table, letting my fingers interlace together. The gesture was deliberate—controlled, calm. That’s how I operated. I’d learned to keep a cool exterior, no matter the situation. But inside, my mind was racing. This deal, this partnership, it could go either way. One wrong move, and everything I had worked for could crumble. But I wasn’t in the business of losing. Not anymore.

"You’re late," I said, my voice smooth, carrying no hint of annoyance, though I felt it stirring under the surface.

Nico didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. His gaze remained steady, unwavering. "We’re all here now," he said, the words simple, but there was a sharp edge to his tone that made me pause. "Let’s get to business."

I couldn't help but admire his focus. It was one of the things that made him so dangerous—his ability to remain completely in control of any situation. I couldn’t say the same about myself, not when it came to him. Nico Moretti was a force, and I couldn’t ignore the way he made the room feel smaller, more suffocating with his presence. I had to remind myself that I wasn’t here to be distracted, not by his charm or the quiet storm that seemed to swirl around him.

I exhaled, shifting my posture to settle more comfortably into the seat. "Of course," I said, meeting his gaze without flinching. "The arms deal. I’ve made sure everything is in order. You know the price, and the terms are non-negotiable." I had no intention of backing down on that. It was the one thing I had in my favor.

His lips twitched, the slightest of smiles tugging at the corner of his mouth. It was almost imperceptible, but I saw it. And it unnerved me. I had to remind myself that he was still the enemy, no matter how handsome or charming or intimidating he might be.

"I’m sure the terms are," Nico said, the words rolling off his tongue as though he were tasting them, savoring them. "But I can’t help but wonder if you’re hiding something, Sophia."

His voice was low, deliberate. There was no way he had just pulled that out of thin air. He had been studying me—my movements, my words, my every action—just as I had been studying him. It was a game, and we both knew it.

I raised an eyebrow, my own smile playing at the corners of my lips. "I’m hiding nothing, Mr. Moretti."

He leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you sure? Because something tells me there’s more to this than meets the eye. You didn’t just come here for a simple arms deal, did you?"

I didn’t react, keeping my face as neutral as possible. I wouldn’t let him rattle me. He had no idea what game I was playing.

"You’re wasting my time," I said, pushing my chair back slightly and standing up, my heels clicking sharply against the floor. "We agreed on the terms. If you’re ready to proceed, then let’s get to it."

Nico stood as well, his movements slow, deliberate, but there was a certain ease to the way he did it. As though he were so accustomed to holding the room’s attention that he barely had to try.

He moved around the table, taking a few steps toward me. "I don’t think you understand, Sophia," he said, his voice soft but edged with something dangerous. "The DeLucas and I have... business. And I’m not in the habit of doing business with people who don’t play by the rules. I think you’re hiding something—something big. And if you don’t tell me, I’m afraid this deal won’t go through. Not today, not ever."

I didn’t flinch, but something inside me tightened. His words hung in the air between us, like a challenge. There was no doubt in my mind that he knew more than he was letting on. But I wasn’t going to back down. Not now, not ever.

"Then I guess we’re at an impasse," I said, my voice steady. "But I’m not the one who will lose out in the end."

Nico smiled then, a full, knowing smile. It was a smile that sent a ripple of unease through my chest. It was as though he had already won, even though the deal wasn’t sealed yet.

"I like you, Sophia," he said, his voice low, almost conspiratorial. "You remind me of someone. Someone who always thinks they have control. But let me make this very clear: I don’t make deals with people who lie to me."

My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to stay calm. He was trying to get inside my head. I wouldn’t let him.

"Then I guess we’ll have to find out what happens next," I said, my voice calm, though I felt anything but.

Nico didn’t say anything more. Instead, he simply turned away, walking back toward the table and signaling for the men to move forward. The conversation had shifted—changed direction. I wasn’t sure whether it was because of something I’d said or because of the tension between us. But I knew one thing: I hadn’t seen the last of him.

The deal proceeded as expected, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that Nico was playing some kind of long game. The DeLucas were nervous, and I could feel their anxiety in the air. But Nico, he was unshaken. He didn’t care about the DeLucas, not really. It was me he was interested in, I realized. The thought made something inside me tighten.

There was something about Nico Moretti that drew me in, even when I knew I should keep my distance. His intelligence. His cunning. The way he made me feel like I was the one who was being watched, studied, rather than the other way around.

The deal was finalized quickly after that. The money was transferred, the guns loaded. I could tell the DeLucas were eager to get out of the room as quickly as possible, but Nico remained calm, composed. His gaze lingered on me just long enough to remind me that this wasn’t over.

I had no idea what he was planning, but I knew one thing for sure: I wasn’t going to let him win. Not yet. Not without a fight.

As I walked out of the room, the weight of Nico’s gaze still on my back, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of game I had just stepped into. And more importantly, what part I was supposed to play in it.