Deceptive Hearts

8

Alora sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly at the city lights flickering outside her window. The night after the dinner with Dante felt like a blur—one moment she was reminding herself of her mission, and the next, she was captivated by the intensity in Dante's eyes. She clenched her fists, trying to shake off the memory of his touch, the way his hand lingered on hers a little too long, the warmth of his voice when he spoke to her.

“This isn’t supposed to be happening,” she whispered to herself, pushing back against the rising tide of emotion. She was here for a reason, and it wasn’t to fall for the mark.

The faint sound of her phone vibrating broke her trance. It was Franklin, his name lighting up the screen like a lifeline. She picked up, grateful for the distraction.

“Morning, sunshine!” Franklin’s cheerful voice boomed through the speaker.

Even over the phone, his presence was larger than life.

“How’s my favorite con artist doing this fine day?”Alora couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m not your only con artist, Frank.”

“True, but you’re the only one who makes me worry about getting too attached to the target,” he replied with a chuckle, though there was an edge to his tone.

“So, how’d it go last night? You two seemed to hit it off.”

“It was fine,” Alora said, her voice clipped.

“We had dinner, talked a bit. Nothing special.”

“Nothing special, huh? Because from what I hear, Dante Santoro doesn’t just have dinner and talk a bit with anyone. You made an impression, darling. Now you’ve got to keep it up.”Alora sighed, rubbing her temples.

“Franklin, he’s not—he’s not what I expected. It’s getting complicated.”

“Complicated how?” Franklin’s voice softened, losing its usual playful edge.

“Are you catching feelings, Alora?”

“No,” she said quickly, too quickly.

“It’s just...he’s different. He’s not just some rich playboy. There’s more to him, I can feel it. But I can’t let that get in the way. I have to stay focused.”

“Good girl,” Franklin replied.

“Remember what’s at stake here. We get in, get the money, and get out. No distractions. No detours.”Alora nodded, though Franklin couldn’t see her.

“I know. I won’t let you down.”

“Glad to hear it. Now, let’s talk about the next steps. You’ve got his attention, but you need to cement that connection. Make him see you as someone he can’t live without. And when the time is right, we’ll make our move.”

Before Alora could respond, there was a knock at her door. She frowned, glancing at the clock. It was early, too early for visitors.

“I’ve got to go, Frank. I’ll talk to you later,” she said, ending the call before he could protest.

She approached the door cautiously, peeking through the peephole. Her breath caught in her throat—standing on the other side was Dante, looking as impeccable as ever, his dark hair slightly tousled, his expression one of calm confidence.

What is he doing here?

She opened the door slowly, trying to mask her surprise.

“Dante? What are you doing here?”Dante offered a small, almost sheepish smile. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I know it’s early, but I wanted to see you again. Is that okay?”

Alora hesitated, her mind racing. She hadn’t expected to see him so soon, and definitely not like this. But something in his eyes, in the quiet vulnerability behind his confident demeanor, made her heart skip a beat.

“Of course,” she said, stepping aside to let him in. “Come in.”Dante entered, his presence filling the small apartment. He looked around, taking in the modest furnishings, the simple decor.

“This is nice,” he said, his voice genuine. “It feels...real.”Alora bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She had crafted this life, this persona, to be as unassuming as possible, but hearing him say it was real felt like a knife twisting in her gut. How much longer could she keep up this charade?

Dante turned to her, his gaze intense. “Alora, I meant what I said last night. I’m not like other men. I don’t play games. When I see something I want, I go after it. And right now, what I want is to get to know you.”

Alora’s breath hitched. This was moving too fast, too close. She needed to maintain distance, but every fiber of her being was drawn to him, like a moth to a flame.

“Dante, I...” She struggled to find the right words. “I’m not sure what you’re expecting, but I’m not looking for anything serious.”

Dante’s expression didn’t falter. If anything, it deepened, becoming more resolute. “Neither was I, until I met you.”

Alora’s heart pounded in her chest, her resolve wavering. She needed to stay focused, to remember why she was here. But when Dante took a step closer, closing the distance between them, all she could think about was the way his presence made her feel—safe, yet dangerously exposed.

Before she could react, Dante reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was intimate, tender, and it sent a shiver down her spine.“You’re different, Alora,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with an emotion she couldn’t quite place. “And I’m not letting you go without a fight.”

Alora opened her mouth to protest, to say something, anything to break the spell he was weaving around her, but the words caught in her throat. She was drowning in his gaze, in the warmth of his touch.

And then, just as she felt herself slipping, her phone buzzed loudly in her pocket, shattering the moment. She blinked, stepping back, the spell broken.

“I—I should get that,” she stammered, pulling out her phone. The screen flashed with a message from Mina: Remember what’s at stake. Lily’s counting on you.

Alora’s heart sank, the weight of her mission crashing down on her with brutal force. She looked up at Dante, who was watching her with a mix of concern and something deeper, something that scared her to her core.

“I have to go,” she said abruptly, turning away before he could see the turmoil in her eyes.

Dante reached out, catching her hand. “Alora, wait—”

But she was already pulling away, forcing herself to ignore the pain in his voice. She had a job to do, a mission to complete, and she couldn’t afford to let her emotions get in the way.Not now. Not ever.As she closed the door behind her, Alora felt the walls closing in, the weight of her deception threatening to crush her. But she couldn’t think about that—not now, when Lily’s life was on the line.Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and walked out into the morning light, the path ahead of her dark and uncertain.

But one thing was clear: she was in far deeper than she had ever anticipated, and there was no turning back now.

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I hope you love their chemistry, huh?
This was a pretty long chapter, but that's a good thing, isn't it?

Thank you!
Love y'all 💗

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