Alessia
I stepped back into Inferno, pushing past the weight pressing against my chest. My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I forced my breath to steady.
Elena was already waiting by the bar, watching me with sharp eyes. "You good?" she asked, voice laced with concern.
I nodded quickly, brushing past her and grabbing an empty glass from the counter. "Yeah."
A lie. My heart was pounding, but not from fear. No, fear would've been easier to handle. This was something worse—suspicion. Did Dante know ? The way he kept staring at me made me so uncomfortable. And then that disgusting proposal, as if I'd ever let that bastard touch me. A night with him? Over my dead body.
I wanted him gone. Gone from my goddamn life. He disgusted me. The very idea of being in his bed made me sick, but what made me sicker was the way he looked at me like he knew. I clenched my jaw and went about my work, arranging drinks, setting up the bar, pouring myself into the routine until my pulse slowed. I needed to focus. Needed to push Dante out of my head.
Then the door swung open. I knew who it was before I even turned around. The scent hit me first, woody cologne, laced with the faintest hint of tobacco. A scent I'd once known far too well. Marco. I kept my face neutral, my movements steady as I wiped down the counter, pretending not to notice him as he stepped inside.
But he noticed me. His steps were measured, his presence impossible to ignore as he walked toward me.
"Leona."
I looked up then, meeting his unreadable gaze. "Sir?"
His expression didn't shift, his voice calm and neutral.
"Meet me in my office."
I nodded. "Yes, sir."
He didn't linger. He turned on his heel and walked off, disappearing down the hallway. The second he was gone, Elena leaned in, whispering against my ear.
"What did you do?"
I kept my face blank. "I don't know." I grabbed another glass, turning it over in my hands. "Guess I have to find out."
Elena's eyes was filled with amusement, but she didn't push. Instead, she just smirked, giving me a small nudge toward the back. I didn't hesitate. I walked toward Marco's office, my footsteps steady even as my mind whirled.
.
Inside, the air was still. Marco sat behind his desk, one hand resting lazily on a file, the other drumming his fingers against the polished wood.
I closed the door behind me, standing straight. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
His demeanor shifted the second we were alone. The coldness dropped slightly, replaced with something else, something more personal.
"Leona," he said, tilting his head. " Isabella's been asking about you."
I raised a brow, keeping my voice steady. "Is she?"
Marco nodded. "She wanted your number."
Bullshit. Isabella likes me. If she wanted my number, she could've asked me herself. This wasn't about her. This was about him. Marco wanted my number.
I studied him for a moment before shrugging. "Okay." I reached for a napkin from his desk, writing down the digits and sliding it toward him.
His fingers grazed the paper, but his eyes stayed on me. "You've been working here a while now," he said casually.
I nodded. "Yes, sir."
Marco leaned back in his chair, watching me like I was a puzzle he was trying to figure out. "You're a good worker. No problems. No mistakes."
I stayed quiet.
"That's rare in this business," he continued. "Most people fuck up eventually. But you… you keep your head down. Do your job."
I forced a small smile. "Isn't that what you want?"
Marco's lips twitched, amusement showing in his eyes. "Smart girl."
I didn't say anything. The tension sat heavy between us, filled with unspoken words. If only he knew….
Finally, Marco leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "I might have some extra work for you," he said slowly. "Something outside of the bar."
My pulse skipped. This was it.
I tilted my head, feigning curiosity. "Extra work?"
Marco smirked, but there was something calculating behind it.
"You're good at listening, right?"
I nodded. He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
"I don't trust people, Leona."
And you shouldn't trust me either.
"But I do need someone who can keep their mouth shut," he continued. "Someone who can handle responsibility."
I kept my expression unreadable. "What kind of responsibility?"
Marco studied me for a long moment before speaking.
"Let's just say… I might need an extra set of ears."
My stomach tightened, but I didn't let it show. Instead, I gave him a slow nod. "Understood."
Marco held my gaze for another second before leaning back, his smirk widening.
"Good. We'll talk more soon."
I gave a small nod, turning toward the door. But just before I could leave, his voice stopped me.
"Oh, and Leona?"
I turned my head slightly.
His smirk deepened. "Don't disappoint me."
I forced a polite smile. "I won't."
Then I walked out, shutting the door behind me.
.
My heart was racing as I made my way back to the bar. Step one—complete. Marco was letting me in. Slowly, but surely, he was trusting me. And that trust? That was exactly what I needed. Because once he let his guard down completely? I was going to use him to destroy Dante.