Alessia
I sat at my desk, staring at the open file in front of me.
About Dante Moretti.
Everything I had on him, every shady deal, every blood-stained transaction of him from 5 years ago, of corruption, it was all here. But it wasn't enough. I couldn't find anything leading to my father's death and it was beginning to frustrate me.
Dragging a hand through my hair, I leaned back and exhaled. The weight of this case was pressing on me like a cinder block to the chest. My plan had been simple when I started this. Infiltrate. Gather evidence. Bring Dante down. Simple.
But now, I wasn't so sure.
Not because Dante wasn't guilty, he absolutely was. But because he wasn't the reckless, impulsive criminal I'd once assumed. He was something far worse. Sleek and clean. Always a step ahead. And that made him dangerous.
I tapped my fingers against the desk, my gaze scanning the notes I had scribbled across different sheets of paper. Connections. Timelines. Patterns. I was close, but something was still missing.
I needed the final piece, like finding someone who knew what happened to my father without sharing much info about myself.
A deep sigh escaped my lips as I shut the file, locking it away in my drawer before grabbing my bag. My day off was almost over, and I had to get back to Inferno before Marco decided to send out a search party.
….
Inferno – That Evening
By the time I stepped into the club, exhaustion clung to my bones like an unwanted guest. The moment I walked in, I felt his eyes on me. I turned my head slightly, already expecting it. Marco stood near the bar, his arms crossed, his gaze sharp as a blade as he sat down at vip table. And just like that, I knew I was in trouble. Here we go.
I put on my best putting on a "I-didn't-just-spend-the-day-plotting-against-a-mafia-boss" expression and made my way over.
"Ah, there she is," Marco drawled, swirling the drink in his glass. "The woman of the hour. Where have you been, cuore mio?"
Cuore mio. My heart.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. The man had a knack for switching between psychotic and romantic with whiplash-inducing speed.
I plastered on an innocent smile. "Oh, you know. Just out committing a few crimes, laundering some money, burying a few bodies. The usual."
Marco arched a brow, unimpressed. "Try again."
I sighed dramatically. "Ugh. Fine. I went out to get a pedicure. Happy?"
Marco's eyes darkened slightly as he leaned in. "I don't like being lied to, Leona."
Yeah? Well, I don't like being interrogated the second I walk through the damn door.
I forced a small, sweet smile. "And I don't like that I'm out of wine, yet here we are. Life's tough."
Marco exhaled, setting his drink down. "Where did you really go?"
I sighed, shaking my head. "God, you sound like an overprotective boyfriend."
"Would that be so bad?" His voice was smooth, but there was something heavier beneath the words. Something possessive.
I snorted. "Yes, actually. It would be tragic for my independence."
Marco's lips curved into a smirk, but his eyes never lost their sharpness. "Leona," he murmured, his voice dropping a notch. "If I ever find out you're hiding something from me, we'll have a problem."
I tilted my head, pretending to think. "Define 'problem.' Are we talking a strongly worded email, or…?"
His jaw ticked. Oh, he was getting annoyed now.
I knew I should stop pushing, but honestly? I was tired, stressed, and maybe just a little bit stupid. Marco stepped closer, and just like that, the mood shifted. From playful to being serious, dangerous even.
His fingers brushed against my jaw, tilting my chin up just slightly. "You like testing me, don't you?"
I swallowed but refused to look away. "Well, you are the most easily testable person I know."
Marco chuckled, low and deep, before leaning in just enough for his breath to brush my ear. "One day, cuore mio, you're going to push too far."
A shiver ran down my spine. I didn't let him see it. Instead, I stepped back and shot him a lazy grin.
"And on that day, I'll make sure to have a very fast getaway car."
Marco studied me for a long moment before shaking his head with a smirk. "Crazy girl."
"And yet, you keep coming back for more."
His gaze darkened. "Yes, I do."
I was suddenly very aware of how close he was. It was too much. Marco was too much. Too intense, too possessive, too damn good at making me forget that he wasn't the real devil here.
I cleared my throat, stepping back. "Alright, great talk. I'm gonna go now before you decide to chain me to a chair for more questioning."
Marco smirked. "Don't tempt me."
I gave him a lazy salute and turned on my heel, heart pounding in my chest as I walked away.
...
Back in the changing room. I shut the door behind me, pressing my back against it as I exhaled. That had been way too close. Marco was getting wary of my movements. I could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice.
And worse? I knew he wasn't the type to let things go. Not until he got his answers. I needed to be careful. Very, very careful for now. Because if Marco ever found out what I was really up to? I wouldn't just be playing a dangerous game, I'd be living in a death sentence.