Deceptive Hearts

1

Alora Hayes sat in the corner of a dimly lit cafe, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. The bitter aroma of the espresso filled the air, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were miles away, tangled in the web of her past - a past she had tried so hard to outrun.

She hadn't heard from her family in years, not since they had left her behind without a second thought. They were thieves, all of them, skilled at slipping through the cracks of society, stealing from those who wouldn't even notice something was missing until it was too late. Alora had inherited their skills, but unlike them, she had always wanted something more, something that didn't involve looking over her shoulder every minute of the day.

Now, here she was, pulled back into the life she has tried to escape. When she received the call from Mina Kim, she had been tempted to hang up, to ignore whatever offer was coming her way. But curiosity and desperation had gotten the best of her.

The door of the cafe swung open letting in a blast of cold air. Alora looked up to see mina stepping inside, her sharp eyes scanning the room until they locked onto Alora's. Mina moved with purpose, her heels clicking against the tile floor, and slid into the seat across from Alora without waiting for an invitation.

"Alora," Mina said, her voice cool and commanding. "I'll get straight to the point. I have a job for you."

Alora studied Mina for a moment, taking in the woman's cold, calculating demeanor. There was something about her that made Alora uneasy, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. "What kind of job?"

Mina's lips curled into a small knowing smile. "One that requires your particular set of skills. You see, I need you to get close to someone - Dante Santoro."

Alora's breath hitched. She knew that name. Dante Santoro, the eldest son of the Santoro family, one of the wealthiest and most influential families around. The kind of people who could buy and sell entire cities if they wanted to.

"And what exactly am I supposed to do once I'm close to him?" Alora asked, her voice steady despite the unease creeping into her gut.

"You'll marry him" Mina stated as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "And once you have access to his accounts, you'll steal what you can get your hands on."

Alora blinked, trying to process what Mina was asking of her. Marry Dante Santoro? Infiltrate his life, his family,and rob him blind? The audacity of it almost made her laugh, but the seriousness in Mina's eyes kept the laughter at bay.

"And why would I do this?" Alora challenged, her voice laced with skepticism. "What's in it for me?"

Mina's smile faded, replaced by a look of cold calculation "Your sister, Eyra"

Alora's blood ran cold. "What about her?"

"If you don't do this, she'll pay the price," Mina said, her voice devoid of any warmth. "I have people watching her, Alora. One wrong move from you, and she's gone."

Alora felt a surge of anger mixed with fear. She had spent her entire life trying to protect Eyra, to keep her out of the dark world they had been born into. And now, because of her, Eyra was in danger. "You're threatening my sister?"

Mina didn't flinch. "I'm offering you a way out. Do the job, and both of you get to disappear, start over somewhere far away. I'll even arrange for divorce papers to be sent to Dante once you've completed your task. You'll have everything you need to vanish."

Alora's mina raced. She hated being manipulated, hated that her sister's life was being used as leverage. But she knew Mina wasn't bluffing. If she refused Eyra would be the one to suffer.

"And what if I say no?" Alora asked, even though she already knew the answer.

Mina leaned forward, her eyes boring into Alora's "Then your sister dies. Slowly. Painfully."

Alora clenched her fists under the table, her nails digging into her palms. She had no choice. She couldn't let anything happen to Eyra, not after everything they had been through.

"What do I need to do?" Alora finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mina's smile returned, as cold and sharp as a blade. "First, you'll need to catch Dante's eye. He's not the type to fall for just anyone, but I have a feeling you'll manage. Once you're in make him trust you, fall for you if necessary. Then, when the time is right, you take what you need and disappear."

Alora nodded, through her stomach churned at the thought. She had never wanted to be a part of this world again, but now she had no choice. She had to protect Eyra, no matter what.

"And remember, Alora." Mina added, her voice lowering to a dangerous tone, "this is strictly business. Dante is just a means to an end. Don't let your emotions get in the way."

Alora met Mina's gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. " I won't" she promised, though she wasn't sure If she was trying to convince Mina or herself.

Mina stood, smoothing out her coat. "Good, I'll be in touch with more details soon. Don't disappoint me, Alora."

With that, mina turned and walked out the cafe, leaving Alora alone with her thoughts. She sat there for a long time, staring at her untouched coffee, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

She couldn't afford to get attached to Dante, she reminded herself. He was just a target, a means to an end. But as much as she tried to push the thought aside, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered that this job was going to be far more complicated than she had ever imagined.

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Do you trust this Mina lady? You think there's something off about her? Well we'll see.

Thank you!
Love y'all 💗

-1014 words-