Underworld Desires (COMPLETE)

Chapter 1: A witness to Darkness

Isabella Romano adjusted her glasses and leaned closer to her computer screen, trying to make sense of the dense legal jargon in front of her. It was another late night at the office, and the city outside was already cloaked in darkness. Bella, as her friends called her, was used to these hours. As a paralegal in one of New York's most prestigious law firms, burning the midnight oil was part of the job.

The office was quiet, save for the occasional hum of the cleaning crew and the distant sounds of the city that never slept. Bella glanced at the clock and sighed. Midnight. She needed a break. She saved her work and decided to step out for a breath of fresh air.

The crisp night air was a welcome change from the stuffy office. Bella walked down the street to a small café that stayed open late, hoping a cup of coffee would revive her spirits. She was lost in her thoughts, pondering the complexities of the case she was working on, when she heard a commotion in the alleyway across the street.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she took a few steps closer. The alley was dimly lit, but Bella could make out the figures of two men engaged in a heated argument. One of them was tall and imposing, his presence radiating danger. The other seemed desperate, pleading for his life.

Bella's heart pounded in her chest as she realized what was happening. She ducked behind a parked car, peeking out just enough to see. The taller man, who she would later come to know as Lorenzo "Enzo" DeLuca, pulled out a gun. Without hesitation, he fired, the sound of the gunshot echoing through the night.

Bella gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She wanted to run, to scream, but her legs felt like lead. She watched in horror as the man crumpled to the ground, lifeless. Enzo turned, his eyes scanning the area. Bella ducked further behind the car, praying he hadn’t seen her.

Moments felt like hours before she dared to peek out again. Enzo was gone, and the alley was eerily quiet. She stumbled back to the café, her mind racing. She had to call the police. But as she fumbled for her phone, she noticed a black SUV pull up across the street. Two men got out, their eyes locking onto hers.

Panic surged through her veins as she realized she had been seen. She turned and ran, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She had to get back to her office, to the safety of her colleagues. But the streets were empty, and the men were gaining on her.

Bella burst through the doors of her building, frantically pressing the elevator button. It seemed to take an eternity, but finally, the doors slid open, and she jumped inside. As the elevator ascended, she leaned against the wall, trying to calm her racing heart.

When she reached her floor, she bolted for her office, locking the door behind her. She slumped against it, trying to gather her thoughts. She had just witnessed a murder. She was a witness. And those men… they knew she had seen everything.

Bella knew she couldn’t stay here. She had to get out of the city, find somewhere safe. But as she reached for her phone to call for help, it buzzed in her hand. A text message from an unknown number flashed on the screen.

“We know who you are. Do not go to the police, or you’re next.”

Fear gripped her. She was trapped. And somewhere in the city, Enzo DeLuca, the man who had just committed murder, was looking for her.