Tainted Loyalties

Chapter 4: Bound by Secrets

I practically ran out of Matteo's, the cool evening air hitting my face like a slap. I hadn't realized how stifling the restaurant had been until I was out of it, away from his intense gaze. My heart was still pounding, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Dante's eyes were still on me, watching me even though I had left him behind.

He's dangerous. I know that. He's dangerous, and I should stay as far away from him as possible. And yet, I had gone. I had chosen to go.

Why?

I didn't have an answer for myself. Maybe it was the way he looked at me, like he already knew parts of me that I had never shared with anyone. Maybe it was the thrill of the danger, something that I should have been smart enough to avoid. Or maybe it was the simple fact that, for the first time in a long time, someone saw me not as the innocent girl from a powerful family but as someone hiding something. And the truth was, Dante wasn't wrong.

I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets, hurrying down the street, desperate to put as much distance between myself and that restaurant as possible. I had no plan, no idea what I was supposed to do next. All I knew was that I couldn't go home. Not yet.

The city buzzed around me, people going about their night without a care in the world. I felt like a ghost moving through them, invisible and unnoticed, despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Dante Moretti had seen me, really seen me, and it scared the hell out of me.

I turned a corner, finding myself in front of a small, quiet café that I used to frequent during my college days. The kind of place where I could think without interruption. Without hesitation, I slipped inside, grateful for the warmth and the anonymity.

I ordered a coffee, even though my hands were already shaking enough. Settling into a corner booth, I stared at the steaming cup in front of me, my mind racing. Dante's words echoed in my head.

"You're not as innocent as you'd like people to think."

How much did he really know? Had he figured out who my family was? Or was he just playing some twisted game, trying to get under my skin? Either way, he was too close to the truth.

I'd spent years trying to distance myself from my father's business, from the legacy of power and crime that followed the De Luca name. I was the good daughter, the one who stayed out of trouble. But being good didn't mean I was innocent. I'd seen things. Heard things. I knew more about the underworld than I cared to admit, even to myself.

I took a sip of my coffee, my thoughts spinning in circles. If Dante really knew who I was, why was he so interested in me? There were plenty of girls who would fall all over themselves to be with someone like him—rich, powerful, and devastatingly handsome. The kind of man who could command a room without saying a word.

And yet, he had chosen me.

I hated that a small part of me wondered why.

My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. My heart leapt into my throat, but it wasn't another message from Dante. It was Sofia.

"Where are you? You disappeared after the party! Everything okay?"

I stared at her message for a moment, unsure how to answer. Everything was not okay, but I couldn't exactly tell her what had happened. Sofia knew about my family, but she didn't know the details. She didn't know how close I had come to being dragged into their world. And I wanted to keep it that way.

"I'm fine. Just needed some air," I replied, knowing it was a weak excuse.

Her response came almost immediately. "Wanna meet up? I could use some girl time. I swear, I'm never going to recover from that party."

Normally, I'd jump at the chance to hang out with Sofia, to lose myself in her carefree attitude and forget my worries for a while. But right now, I needed space. I needed to think.

"Rain check? I'm exhausted," I texted back, hoping she wouldn't press the issue.

A few seconds passed before her reply: "Sure! Let me know if you need anything, okay? Love you, babe."

I sighed, setting my phone down on the table. I hated lying to her, but I couldn't drag her into this mess. Dante was dangerous, and I didn't know what his intentions were. I had to keep her safe, even if it meant keeping my distance for now.

I took another sip of coffee, trying to calm the storm inside me. I should have felt relieved after leaving Dante behind, but I didn't. If anything, I felt more unsettled than ever. He had gotten under my skin, and no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

I pulled my phone closer, my fingers hovering over the screen. I had to do something. I couldn't just sit here, waiting for Dante to make his next move. But I couldn't exactly go to the police, either. People like Dante didn't get touched by the law. They were untouchable. Just like my family.

The thought made my stomach twist. Was this how it started? The slow pull into a world I had tried so hard to avoid? First Dante, then what? Would I end up like my father, living a life of power and secrets, constantly looking over my shoulder?

No. I couldn't let that happen. I had to stay away from Dante. I had to stay away from all of it.

But deep down, I knew it was already too late.

The next morning, I woke with a pounding headache and a pit of dread in my stomach. I had barely slept, my mind racing with all the possibilities, all the things I should have said or done. But nothing would change the fact that I had already crossed a line by meeting Dante.

I dragged myself out of bed, forcing myself through the motions of getting ready for the day. I had class later, but for the first time, I didn't feel like going. What was the point of pretending everything was normal when my life felt like it was spiraling out of control?

I was in the middle of brushing my hair when my phone buzzed again. My heart sank when I saw the name on the screen.

Dante.

I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the notification. Part of me wanted to delete it without even reading it. The other part—the part that was stupidly curious—couldn't resist.

I opened the message.

"We're not done, Izzy. Meet me tonight. Same place."

My stomach twisted. I should have known he wouldn't let it go. Dante wasn't the type to walk away.

I stared at the screen, torn between the part of me that wanted to run far away from him and the part of me that was dangerously intrigued. I didn't know what I was getting into, but I knew one thing for sure.

Whatever this was between us—it wasn't over.