The rain began just before dawn.
Alessia stood beside the tall window in her room, watching thin streaks of water slide down the glass. The mansion grounds looked different in the gray light of morning. The guards were still there, still moving in their practiced routes, but the quiet atmosphere carried a heavier feeling now.
Everything had changed after last night.
Three families.
Three possible traitors.
And now a name.
Leon Veratti.
She repeated the name in her mind slowly, remembering the man's face from Marcus's file. Silver hair, sharp eyes, and the kind of smile that never reached them.
He had visited her father many times.
Dinner meetings. Celebrations. Business negotiations.
She remembered him laughing at the long table in their dining room while her father poured him wine.
Back then, she had thought nothing of it.
Now every memory felt like a lie.
A knock sounded on her door.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened and Adrian stepped inside.
He looked exactly as calm as always, his dark coat draped neatly over one arm.
"Dante wants you downstairs," he said.
"Already?"
"Yes."
Alessia turned away from the window.
"What's happening?"
Adrian studied her for a moment.
"Leon Veratti is hosting an event tonight."
Her heart skipped once.
"That was fast."
"We accelerated the plan."
She nodded slowly.
"Let me guess," she said. "I'm going."
Adrian gave a faint smile.
"You're catching on quickly."
The meeting room downstairs was already occupied when she entered.
Marcus stood near the table, studying a digital map projected across a screen. Luca sat on the edge of a chair, tossing a small coin into the air and catching it again and again.
Dante stood near the window, speaking quietly with someone on the phone.
The room fell silent when Alessia walked in.
Luca's grin appeared immediately.
"Look who survived her first night outside the cage."
Alessia ignored him and walked toward the table.
Marcus tapped the screen.
"Veratti's hosting a private gala tonight," he said.
"Investors, politicians, and a few familiar criminal associates."
"Meaning?" she asked.
"Meaning if there's a traitor in that family," Luca said, "they'll be there."
Dante ended his call and turned toward them.
"We're attending."
Alessia leaned slightly against the table.
"And what exactly am I supposed to do?"
"Be seen," Dante replied.
Marcus glanced at her.
"Not too much. Just enough."
Alessia frowned slightly.
"So rumors start."
"Exactly."
Adrian folded his arms.
"If Veratti is involved in your father's death, seeing you alive will force a reaction."
"Fear?" she asked.
"Or panic," Marcus said.
"And panic makes people careless."
Luca flipped the coin again.
"And careless people make mistakes."
Dante's gaze moved to Alessia.
"You'll be with me the entire time."
She raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds like you don't trust your own security."
"I trust my security," he said calmly.
"I don't trust our enemies."
The Veratti estate was larger than Alessia expected.
Their car approached the towering iron gates just after sunset. Light poured from the enormous mansion beyond, music drifting faintly through the evening air.
Luxury cars lined the long driveway.
Powerful people had already arrived.
Alessia stepped out of the car beside Dante.
Her dress was dark silver, simple but elegant. Adrian had insisted on it earlier.
"You need to look unforgettable," he had said.
Apparently he succeeded.
Several guests near the entrance turned to look at her as they approached.
Dante offered his arm.
She hesitated only a second before taking it.
They entered together.
Inside, the mansion glowed with warm golden light. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and soft music played across the ballroom floor.
Men in tailored suits and women in glittering dresses moved through the crowd holding glasses of wine.
Everything looked elegant.
But Alessia could feel the tension underneath it.
Powerful people rarely gathered without reason.
Luca and Marcus entered a few minutes after them, blending easily into the crowd.
Adrian stayed near the entrance.
Watching everything.
Dante leaned slightly closer to her.
"Do you see him?" he asked quietly.
Alessia scanned the room.
Then she spotted him.
Leon Veratti stood near the far side of the ballroom speaking with a group of guests. His silver hair caught the light as he laughed softly at something someone said.
He looked exactly the same as she remembered.
Calm.
Charming.
Untouchable.
But the moment his eyes moved across the room and landed on her, everything changed.
His smile vanished.
Just for a second.
But Alessia saw it.
So did Dante.
"There it is," Dante murmured.
Leon recovered quickly.
His expression returned to polite interest as he excused himself from his conversation and began walking toward them.
"Alessia," Dante said quietly.
"Yes?"
"Watch his eyes."
Leon stopped a few feet away.
"Well," he said smoothly, "this is a surprise."
His gaze rested on Dante first.
Then slowly moved to Alessia.
His smile returned, but this time it looked forced.
"I must say," he continued, "the resemblance is remarkable."
Alessia met his gaze calmly.
"Good evening, Mr. Veratti."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"You know who I am?"
"My father spoke about you often."
"That's… comforting to hear."
The words sounded polite.
But tension filled the space between them.
Leon looked at Dante again.
"You didn't tell me you'd be bringing a guest tonight."
Dante's voice stayed calm.
"Last minute decision."
Leon studied Alessia carefully.
"Interesting."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Something wrong?"
"No," he said quickly.
"Just surprised."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Because you remind me of someone."
Alessia smiled faintly.
"I get that a lot."
Leon's gaze lingered on her face a moment longer.
Then he leaned slightly closer to Dante.
"You should be careful with ghosts," he said quietly.
"They tend to attract attention."
Dante's expression didn't change.
"That's the idea."
Leon straightened again.
"Well," he said, raising his glass slightly, "enjoy the evening."
He turned and walked away.
The moment he disappeared into the crowd, Luca appeared beside them.
"Oh, that was fun," he said.
Marcus joined them seconds later.
"He recognized her," Marcus said quietly.
"Yes," Dante replied.
"And he didn't like it."
Alessia exhaled slowly.
"He knows I'm alive."
"Now he does," Adrian's voice came through the small earpiece hidden beneath Dante's collar.
"And so does someone else."
Dante frowned slightly.
"Who?"
Adrian's voice lowered.
"There's someone in the crowd carrying a concealed weapon."
The air around them shifted instantly.
"Where?" Dante asked.
"Balcony level," Adrian said.
"Dark suit. Moving toward your position."
Luca's grin vanished.
"Well," he muttered.
"That escalated quickly."
Alessia felt the tension in Dante's arm.
The music continued.
Guests kept talking.
But somewhere above them
someone was preparing to kill.
Dante's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Stay close."
Alessia didn't argue.
Because suddenly the glamorous ballroom didn't feel elegant anymore.
It felt like a battlefield.
And somewhere in the shadows above them
the first assassin was already aiming.