I stared at Vito, disbelief and anger swirling inside me. His proposal had hit me like a lightning bolt, but somehow, I knew there was no turning back. Not after everything that had happened. Not after Marco’s betrayal.
"I'll do it," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. The words tasted like poison on my tongue, but they were the only ones I could think of.
Vito’s lips curled into a slow, almost predatory smile. “Good. You’re making the right choice.”
Without another word, he stepped forward, closing the distance between us. The air in the room seemed to shift, crackling with an energy I hadn't expected. His hands cupped my face, so gentle yet both familiar and foreign. His thumb ran over my lower lip once, and I felt a sudden shiver down my spine.
And then, in a single, daring stroke, he kissed me.
I froze at first, every fiber of my being rebelling against the kiss. Then something in me snapped. Anger. Hatred. All the emotions I had bottled up for years, all directed at Marco—the man who had used me, betrayed me—I let the kiss happen.
I kissed him back.
For a moment, the world blurred and I let go of everything: my past, my anger, my heartache—everything but the taste of vengeance. But it was momentary. I pulled away, gasping, my heart hammering in my chest. Vito's eyes locked onto mine, his expression unreadable.
“Let’s go,” he said, his voice low and commanding.
The drive was quiet, the night pressing in around us as we sped through the dark streets. The city lights blurred by in a blur, but I could not focus on anything else than the tension in the air. I was leaving behind everything: my marriage, my life with Marco, everything I thought I knew. I was heading into the unknown.
“What’s next, Vito?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
“You’ll see soon enough,” he replied, his eyes focused on the road ahead.
My heart was racing, every nerve in my body alert. I knew Vito was leading me somewhere, but to where? I couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was coming.
And as the minutes ticked by, we finally left the city behind, the familiar skyline disappearing into the rearview mirror.
After what felt like an eternity, Vito's car slowed, and we turned down a narrow road, leading into a secluded area. The trees grew denser, the night darker.
My pulse quickened. What was going on? Where were we going?
Vito didn't respond. He just pulled up to a large, imposing gate. It looked out of place here, standing tall and unforgiving in the middle of nowhere.
I watched in silence as he pressed a button on the dashboard; the gates slowly creaked open. My heart skipped a beat.
We drove through, the road getting narrower, until we reached a huge building hidden in the shadows of the trees. It looked like a fortress, every window dark, every corner sharp.
“Who owns this place?” I asked, my voice shaking despite myself.
Vito’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “You’ll meet them soon enough.”
A shiver ran down my spine. My instincts screamed at me to turn back, but I couldn't. I wouldn't.
We pulled up in front of the huge stone stairs leading into the building, and as Vito shut off the engine, my door swung open.
“Come on, Celia” he said.
I hesitated for just a moment, and then I followed him into the cold, quiet air, the sound of our footsteps echoing.
As we ascended the steps and entered the building, I felt as if I had stepped into another world. The kind of world I had never known—and never expected.
Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Men in dark suits were standing in the main room, their faces unreadable. They looked like they were waiting for something.
And then, as my eyes scanned the room, I saw them.
The Viper Group.
My breath caught in my throat, my legs going weak beneath me.
The Viper Group. Marco's rival. The one he had battled for years. The group that no one crossed without paying a price. And now, here I was, in their midst, with no idea what I had just walked into.
Vito stepped forward, his presence commanding, and I followed, though every part of me screamed to run.
“You must be Celia Moretti,” a voice said from the shadows, cutting through the room.
My heart skipped a beat as the man stepped into the light. His face was cold, calculating, but there was something in his eyes that made my blood run cold.
"Welcome," he said, his smile icy. "We've been expecting you."
And in that moment, my heart raced. What had I just gotten myself into?
