I arrived at the old café at exactly midnight. The streets outside were dark, the occasional car passing by, but there was no one else around. It felt almost too quiet, like the city was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
I stood in front of the door for a moment, unsure whether I was ready. Ready to do what? Leave everything behind? Escape? Was I really going to go through with it?
I walked inside.
The café smelled like old coffee and stale pastries, the kind of place you’d expect to find people who were hiding, or people who had already disappeared. A small bell jingled as I entered, and I immediately saw him. Dante Romano.
He was sitting in the back corner, the dim light from the overhead lamp casting shadows across his sharp features. His face looked older than I remembered, but there was still something about him. Something familiar. Something that made my heart skip in my chest.
Dante stood as I approached. His eyes were cold, calculating, but not unfriendly. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Laura,” he said, his voice smooth, low. “You came.”
“I said I would,” I replied, sitting down across from him. My hands were shaking, but I clenched them into fists under the table. I wasn’t going to let him see how terrified I was.
He raised an eyebrow, watching me closely. “You know this isn’t going to be easy, right?”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “I know.”
Dante leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. He stared at me for a long moment, as if deciding if I was serious. Then, he spoke again.
“Escaping Lorenzo DeLuca isn’t just about running away,” he said. “It’s about disappearing. He has resources. People watching you. And he won’t let you go without a fight.”
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. “I’m ready for that. I don’t care what it takes. I just need to get out.”
Dante didn’t answer right away. He was studying me, his eyes narrowed. He wasn’t just looking at me; he was trying to read me. Trying to figure out if I was really committed to this, if I was desperate enough to go through with it.
“Do you have money?” he asked finally.
I nodded. “A little.” I didn’t have much, but I had some cash hidden away. It wasn’t enough to disappear completely, but it was a start.
“Good,” he said, tapping his fingers on the table. “You’ll need more. A lot more. This isn’t a free ride.”
“I understand,” I said, my voice steady.
“You’ll need new identities. I can get you one, but it’ll cost you. You’ll need connections too—people who won’t ask questions. People who can help you get out of this mess.”
I looked down at my hands, my mind racing. I didn’t have connections. I didn’t have anyone except Dante now.
But I wasn’t going to back out. Not now.
“What do I need to do?” I asked, my voice quiet but firm.
Dante’s lips curled into a slight smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “First, you’ll need to get your hands on more money. I can’t help you if you don’t have enough to get away. Then we’ll get you a new identity. Something clean. Something nobody can trace back to you.”
I nodded again, taking in his words. Every part of me wanted to ask about the process, to know how exactly he was going to make it happen, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to know. I just needed it done.
“You’ll have to trust me,” Dante added, his tone serious. “I’m not going to sugarcoat this for you. You’ll be in danger. And so will I, to some extent. You won’t be able to go back after this.”
I wasn’t sure if I was ready for the kind of danger he was talking about. But there was no turning back. I had already made my decision.
“I’m ready,” I said, my voice steady now.
Dante studied me again. It felt like he was reading me, like he knew everything I was thinking.
“There’s something familiar about you,” he said after a long pause.
My breath caught in my throat. I wasn’t sure if I liked the way he was looking at me, like he was trying to figure something out. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, and it made my skin prickle.
“I don’t know why,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Dante’s expression didn’t change. He didn’t say anything for a long time, just stared at me as if weighing something in his mind.
“I think I’ve seen you before,” he said finally, his tone thoughtful. “But I can’t place where.”
I felt a shiver run down my spine. I wasn’t sure if it was from his words or the way he was looking at me. I didn’t know what to make of it.
“I don’t think so,” I said quickly, my voice suddenly tight. “I’ve never met you before.”
Dante didn’t respond, but his eyes didn’t leave mine. The silence stretched out between us, thick and heavy.
I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable. What was this feeling? Why did it feel like Dante knew more than he was letting on? Was I imagining things?
But I couldn’t afford to dwell on that now. I needed to focus. I had a plan.
“I’ll do what it takes,” I said, breaking the silence. “I just need to get out of here.”
Dante nodded. “Alright. We’ll get you out. But remember, this won’t be easy. You’ll need to stay focused, stay sharp.”
“I will,” I replied, my voice steady.
He stood up then, signaling the end of our conversation. “Get some sleep. You’ll need it. I’ll contact you soon. We’ll begin working on the plan.”
I stood as well, my heart beating faster now. A mix of fear and anticipation swirled inside me.
“Thank you,” I said softly, my voice catching in my throat.
Dante gave me a small nod. “Don’t thank me yet.”
I walked out of the café, my mind racing. I was one step closer to freedom. One step closer to escaping Lorenzo. But there was a lot left to do, and I didn’t know if I was strong enough to handle what was coming.
But I had no choice.
I couldn’t go back.
I wouldn’t.
