The penthouse was quiet again.
Too quiet.
The chaos from earlier had disappeared, but the tension in the air still remained. Broken glass lay scattered across the living room floor. A bullet hole marked the wall near the entrance.
Lily stood near the couch, hugging her arms tightly around herself.
Everything had happened so fast.
One moment she was alone in the apartment…
The next moment armed men were breaking down the door.
If Darius had arrived even a few minutes later…
She pushed the thought away.
Across the room, Darius stood near the window speaking quietly with one of his men. His voice was calm, but Lily could see the anger in his eyes.
"Make sure none of them are still alive," he said coldly.
"Yes, boss."
"And search them properly."
"For what?"
Darius's expression hardened.
"I want to know who sent them."
The man nodded quickly and left the room.
Lily watched Darius carefully.
There was blood on his knuckles and a small cut near his eyebrow, but he didn't seem to care.
He looked completely calm.
Almost too calm.
Finally, he turned and noticed her staring.
"Why are you still standing there?" he asked.
"You should sit down."
Lily hesitated before walking toward the couch.
Darius grabbed a clean cloth from the table and wiped the blood from his hands.
"Are you hurt?" Lily asked softly.
"No."
"You're bleeding."
"It's not mine."
That answer sent a chill through her.
Lily sat quietly for a moment before speaking again.
"You were right."
Darius raised an eyebrow.
"About what?"
"This life being dangerous."
Darius gave a short laugh.
"You're only realizing that now?"
Lily frowned slightly.
"Darius… someone tried to kidnap me."
"Yes."
"And you're acting like it's normal."
For a moment, he didn't respond.
Then he walked closer and sat across from her.
"In my world," he said calmly, "this is normal."
Lily shook her head.
"That's insane."
"Maybe."
"But that's reality."
Silence filled the room.
Lily studied his face carefully.
"You said someone betrayed you."
Darius's jaw tightened slightly.
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"Because very few people knew you were here."
"And someone told your enemies."
"Exactly."
Lily looked uneasy.
"So what happens now?"
Darius leaned back slightly.
"Now we find the traitor."
His voice was calm, but there was something dangerous underneath it.
"And when you find them?" Lily asked quietly.
Darius looked directly into her eyes.
"They won't betray anyone again."
Lily felt her stomach twist.
She didn't ask what that meant.
She already knew.
Just then, the elevator door opened.
Two men walked into the penthouse.
One of them was tall, muscular, and had a serious expression.
The other looked younger but equally alert.
"Boss," the taller one said.
Darius stood up.
"Marco."
Lily recognized the name.
He was one of Darius's most trusted men.
"Did you find anything?" Darius asked.
Marco nodded.
"Yes."
He tossed a small object onto the table.
It was a phone.
"One of the attackers had this," Marco explained.
Darius picked it up.
"Is it locked?"
"No."
"And?"
Marco crossed his arms.
"There was a message."
Darius looked up.
"From who?"
Marco hesitated.
"That's the interesting part."
He turned the screen on and showed it to Darius.
Lily watched Darius's face carefully.
For the first time that night…
His expression changed.
His eyes darkened.
"What does it say?" Lily asked nervously.
Darius handed the phone to Marco instead of answering.
"Read it."
Marco cleared his throat.
"It says… The girl is inside Romano's penthouse. Get her tonight before he moves her somewhere else."
Lily felt her heart drop.
"So someone really told them," she whispered.
"Yes," Darius said quietly.
"But there's more."
Marco continued reading.
"The message was sent from an unknown number… but the sender used a code name."
"What code name?" Lily asked.
Marco looked at Darius again.
"The Ghost."
The room went silent.
Darius suddenly laughed.
But there was no humor in it.
"Of course."
Marco frowned.
"You know who it is?"
"Yes."
Lily looked between them.
"Who?"
Darius's eyes became cold.
"My cousin."
Lily blinked.
"Your cousin?"
"Victor Romano."
Marco nodded.
"He's been trying to take control of the family business for years."
Lily felt shocked.
"You mean your own family betrayed you?"
Darius smirked slightly.
"In the mafia, family is often the first enemy."
Lily couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"So what are you going to do?"
Darius walked slowly toward the window again.
Outside, the city lights glittered like nothing had happened.
"I'm going to pay Victor a visit."
Marco raised an eyebrow.
"Tonight?"
"Yes."
"That's risky."
Darius turned slightly.
"Letting him think he succeeded would be worse."
Lily suddenly stood up.
"You're going after him now?"
"Yes."
"That's crazy!"
Darius looked amused.
"You're forgetting who you're talking to."
"But he just sent men to attack you!"
"Exactly."
Lily walked closer to him.
"Then he's expecting you to come after him."
"Good."
"That could be a trap."
Darius's smile was cold.
"Then I'll walk into it."
Lily stared at him.
"You're unbelievable."
Marco chuckled quietly.
"Welcome to our world."
Lily looked back at Darius.
"Take me with you."
Both men stared at her.
Marco burst out laughing.
"That's a joke, right?"
Lily crossed her arms.
"I'm serious."
Darius shook his head.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it's dangerous."
"And staying here isn't?"
Darius stepped closer.
"This isn't a debate."
Lily glared at him.
"You don't get to control everything."
"Watch me."
Their eyes locked.
The tension between them was intense.
Finally, Darius sighed.
"You're stubborn."
"And you're reckless."
Marco looked between them, clearly amused.
"Should I leave you two alone?"
Both of them ignored him.
After a moment, Darius spoke again.
"Fine."
Lily blinked.
"Fine?"
"You're coming with me."
Marco looked shocked.
"Boss—"
"Relax," Darius said calmly.
"No one would expect me to bring her."
He looked back at Lily.
"But you stay in the car."
Lily nodded quickly.
"Deal."
Marco shook his head.
"This is a terrible idea."
Darius grabbed his coat.
"Most of my ideas are."
He walked toward the door.
Lily followed him.
Her heart pounded with nervous excitement.
She was about to step deeper into Darius Romano's dangerous world.
And there was no turning back now.
As the elevator doors closed behind them, Lily realized something important.
Tonight wasn't just about revenge.
Tonight was the beginning of a war.
And she was standing right beside the most dangerous man in the city.