I hesitated at the threshold, my heart pounding in my chest.The members of the Viper Group dominated the room, their sharp suits and colder gazes slicing through the air. My throat tightened as I tried to speak, but the words stuck.
Vito leaned in close, his breath brushing against my ear. “Be nice to them. First impressions matter,” he whispered.
I glanced at him, startled by his calm. How was he so composed? Every instinct screamed at me to turn and run, but Vito’s presence beside me steadied me, his words carrying a weight I couldn’t ignore.
Swallowing hard, I stepped forward. “It’s an honor to meet you all,” I finally managed, my voice shaking.
The man who’d spoken earlier—standing at the center—chuckled softly. “An honor? Interesting choice of words, Mrs. Moretti.” His gaze swept over me, calculating.
“Celia,” Vito corrected, his voice steady but firm.
The man raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He stepped closer, his polished shoes clicking sharply against the marble floor. “Vito’s spoken highly of you. Says you’re… resourceful.”
I stole a quick glance at Vito, unsure of what to say. He gave me a small nod, his face unreadable.
“I hope I can live up to his words,” I said, cautiously.
The man’s lips twisted into a smirk, cold and unfriendly. “We’ll see.”
The tension in the room thickened. Another man, standing with his arms crossed, fixed me with a sharp, piercing look. “Do you even know what you’ve gotten yourself into, Celia?”
Before I could answer, Vito spoke, his tone unwavering. “She knows enough. And she’s ready.”
I wasn’t so sure, but I nodded anyway, letting his confidence carry me.
The first man gave a curt nod. “Let’s not waste time,” he said, his voice cold and final. “Follow me.”
He turned sharply, leading us deeper into the fortress-like building. The dimly lit corridors stretched ahead, and with every step, my pulse raced faster.
Vito stayed close, his hand brushing my lower back in a subtle gesture of reassurance—or, perhaps to keep me from faltering.
We entered a sleek conference room, the long table bathed in stark, unflinching light. The other members of the Viper Group entered quietly, their movements deliberate, almost predatory.
The man who’d spoken earlier took a seat at the head of the table and gestured for me to sit across from him. Vito stood behind me, his presence solid and grounding.
“So,” the man began, leaning forward. “Do you have what it takes to bring Marco Moretti to his knees?”
My breath hitched, but before I could speak, Vito’s hand landed lightly on my shoulder. “She does,” he said, his voice firm.
The man’s gaze held mine, calculating, searching for something—weakness, resolve, I wasn’t sure. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
The sound of a phone buzzing cut through the tension. Vito straightened and pulled his phone from his pocket. He glanced at the screen before excusing himself and stepping out of the room.
My eyes followed him, my stomach twisting with unease.
The room’s attention shifted back to me, but my thoughts stayed on Vito. I needed him here with me, his steadiness anchoring me.
In the hallway, Vito answered the call. His voice is low but steady. “Yes?”
A woman’s voice crackled through the receiver. “The plan’s working. He took the bait.”
Vito’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “Good. Stay on him. We’ll move to the next phase soon.”
There was a pause before she spoke again. “And Celia?”
“She’s in,” Vito replied, his voice unwavering. “She’ll do what needs to be done.”
The call ended, and Vito returned to the room, that same predatory smile tugging at his lips.
Something about the conversation gnawed at me. I made my way over to him, heels clicking sharply on the marble.
“Who were you talking to?” I asked, my voice was more confident than I expected.
Vito looked at me with a smirk, amusement dancing in his eyes as he slipped his phone into his pocket. “What’s this? Jealous already?” he teased, his tone light, almost mocking.
I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. “I’m serious. I heard you talking about me. And something about a plan.”
He chuckled, low and rich, but the sound only made my nerves tighten. “Relax, Celia. It was just my sister. She worries too much, that’s all.”
I frowned, unconvinced. “Your sister? Then why did I hear you mention my name? And what plan were you talking about?”
His expression shifted, amusement turning into something sharper, though his smirk never wavered. “You’ve got good ears,” he said, stepping closer.
I didn’t back down. “Stop deflecting, Vito. If I’m going to be part of this, I need to know what’s really going on, Vito.”
“You know I trust you so please don’t make me doubt,” I added.
