The rest of the afternoon passed in a strange kind of quiet.
After Dante gave me the phone, he left to deal with "work," which I had learned was his way of saying something dangerous that I probably shouldn't ask about. I stayed mostly in the library, flipping through random books without really reading them.
My mind kept drifting.
Back to the attack.
Back to the strange file with my name on it.
Back to Dante handing me a phone like it meant something more than just communication.
Trust works both ways.
His words kept echoing in my head.
I didn't know why they bothered me so much.
Maybe because I wasn't sure I was ready to trust him.
Or maybe because a part of me already did.
The quiet was broken when someone knocked lightly on the library door.
"Come in," I called.
Luca stepped inside.
"Enjoying the peace and quiet?" he asked.
"As much as someone can enjoy living in a mafia fortress."
He smirked.
"You're adjusting faster than I expected."
"That's because I like being alive."
Luca leaned against one of the bookshelves.
"Well, try to keep that attitude tonight."
Something in his tone made me narrow my eyes.
"What's happening tonight?"
He hesitated.
Then shrugged.
"Visitor."
"What kind of visitor?"
"The annoying kind."
That was not reassuring.
"Does Dante know about this visitor?"
"Of course he does."
"Then why do you look like you'd rather be anywhere else?"
"Because I know who the visitor is."
"And?"
Luca sighed.
"You'll see."
Before I could ask another question, a guard's voice echoed faintly from the hallway.
"Mr. Romano, they've arrived."
Luca pushed away from the shelf.
"Perfect timing."
I stood quickly.
"Wait."
He paused at the door.
"You're not bringing me along?"
He studied me for a second, clearly debating.
"You really want to see this?"
"Yes."
"You might regret it."
"I doubt it."
Luca considered that… then shrugged.
"Fine. But stay behind me."
"Why?"
"Because if things go badly, I prefer being the one who gets shot first."
"That's comforting."
He laughed as we walked out into the hallway.
—
The visitor was waiting in the main sitting hall.
Two men stood near the entrance when Luca and I arrived.
One of them I recognized immediately.
Dante.
The other man stood across from him.
Tall.
Well-dressed.
Sharp features and dark slicked-back hair.
He looked wealthy.
Powerful.
Dangerous.
But unlike Dante's controlled intensity, this man's smile was… unsettling.
Like a snake pretending to be polite.
Three guards stood nearby.
Watching.
Ready.
Dante's voice was calm when we approached.
"Luca."
"Boss."
The stranger turned slightly, his gaze sliding toward us.
Then it stopped.
On me.
For a second… his expression changed.
Recognition.
My stomach dropped.
Why would he recognize me?
"Well," the man said slowly, his voice smooth and amused. "That's interesting."
Dante's eyes darkened.
"You didn't come here to study my guests."
"Oh, I disagree," the man replied casually. "This one is very interesting."
I stepped closer to Luca instinctively.
"Who is he?" I whispered.
"Problem," Luca murmured back.
The man chuckled softly.
"I can hear you."
Of course he could.
Dante stepped slightly forward.
"State your business."
The visitor raised his hands in mock surrender.
"So hostile, Dante. I come with information, and this is the welcome I receive?"
"You come into my house uninvited."
"I sent a message."
"You demanded a meeting."
"Details."
Dante's patience looked very thin.
"Talk."
The man's smile faded slightly.
"All right."
He slipped his hands into his pockets.
"The men who attacked your mansion last night."
Dante's expression remained unreadable.
"What about them?"
"They weren't working alone."
"I know."
"Yes… but you don't know who paid them."
Silence stretched across the room.
The air felt heavy.
Even the guards seemed more alert now.
Dante's voice lowered.
"Then enlighten me."
The man leaned slightly closer.
"You have a new enemy."
Dante didn't react.
"I have many enemies."
"This one is different."
"How?"
"Because they're patient."
"And?"
"And they've been watching you for a very long time."
Something about the way he said that made a chill run through me.
Dante folded his arms.
"If you came here to tell me something obvious, you've wasted your time."
The man chuckled again.
"Oh no. I came to warn you."
"Why?"
"Because when your empire falls…" he said lightly, "…it will be very inconvenient for my business."
Typical mafia logic.
Luca muttered under his breath.
"Generous."
The man ignored him.
Instead, his eyes shifted back to me again.
Lingering.
Studying.
And that strange look of recognition returned.
Dante noticed.
His voice dropped a few degrees colder.
"You're staring again."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"Yes."
"Stop."
"But she's fascinating."
Luca shifted slightly beside me, clearly ready to step in if needed.
The visitor stepped forward.
Slowly.
Not threatening.
But definitely pushing boundaries.
"You don't recognize me?" he asked suddenly.
My stomach tightened.
"Should I?"
His smile widened.
"That's disappointing."
Dante moved between us instantly.
A silent wall of muscle and power.
"You've said enough."
The man's gaze moved back to Dante.
"Oh relax. I'm not here to cause trouble."
"You're failing."
Another amused chuckle.
"Fine."
He straightened his jacket.
"One final piece of advice before I leave."
Dante said nothing.
The visitor's eyes flicked briefly toward me again.
"Protect her carefully."
The room went still.
Dante's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Explain."
But the man only smiled.
"If your enemies realize what she is…"
My heart started beating faster.
"…things will get very interesting."
"What does that mean?" Dante demanded.
But the man had already turned toward the door.
"Goodnight, Dante."
The guards opened the doors reluctantly.
As he stepped outside, he looked back once more.
Right at me.
Still smiling that strange, knowing smile.
"Until next time," he said softly.
Then he was gone.
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
I turned slowly toward Dante.
His expression had completely changed.
The calm control was still there.
But beneath it…
Something darker had awakened.
"What did he mean?" I asked quietly.
Dante didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his gaze shifted to Luca.
"Find out who told him about her."
Luca nodded.
"Already on it."
My stomach twisted.
"About me?"
Dante looked back at me.
His eyes were unreadable again.
But this time… there was something new in them.
Concern.
"Looks like," Luca muttered quietly, "things just got more complicated."
And somehow I knew he was right.