Crimson Heart: FORBIDDEN DESIRES OF MAFIA.

Chapter 2: Unwanted Alliances

The night after their first meeting, Alessio couldn't shake the image of Elena from his mind. Her fierce, calm demeanor and the intensity behind her eyes made her unforgettable. Women didn't usually get under his skin—not in this way—but Elena was different. She was a challenge, a puzzle he couldn't resist solving. And in his world, challenges were as alluring as they were dangerous.

Alessio stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in his private office, the city lights of Naples stretching out below him. His mind, however, was far from the familiar view. Luca had sent over a preliminary report on Elena, but it was frustratingly sparse. She was a ghost, a woman with a military background and a spotless record—on paper, at least. But Alessio knew better. No one who worked for Salvatore Serafini was as clean as they seemed.

"Why you Firefly?" Alessio muttered to himself. "Why would someone with your skills get involved in this world?"

He took a sip of whiskey, feeling the familiar burn as it slid down his throat. The unanswered questions gnawed at him, fueling his obsession with uncovering the truth about Elena. And yet, even as his instincts warned him that she was hiding something, a part of him was drawn to her in a way that he couldn't explain.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Luca stepped into the room, his expression serious. "We have a problem."

Alessio raised an eyebrow, setting his glass down. "What is it?"

"It's about Elena Carter," Luca said, handing over a more detailed dossier. "She's not just any mercenary. She's a former military commander. Special Forces. Her record is impressive—commendations, honors, the whole package. But she left the service about a year ago. No explanation, no reason given. She just disappeared."

Alessio scanned the documents, his jaw tightening. "And now she's working with Salvatore."

Luca nodded. "That's what worries me. She's too good for this. She's hiding something, and we need to figure out what it is before she becomes a bigger threat."

Alessio leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. Elena was an enigma, and that made her dangerous. But it also made her intriguing. He had to know more.

"I want to meet with her," Alessio said, his voice firm. "Arrange it."

Luca looked surprised. "Are you sure that's wise? She could be playing us."

Alessio's lips curled into a dark smile. "Maybe. But if she is, I'll find out. And if she's not... well, then we'll see where this goes."

The arranged meeting took place at an upscale restaurant in the heart of Naples. It was the kind of place where privacy was guaranteed, where deals were made behind closed doors, and where the waitstaff knew better than to ask too many questions. Alessio had chosen it for that very reason.

When Elena arrived, she was dressed in a sleek, black dress that clung to her figure in all the right places. She moved with the same confidence and grace that had first caught his attention, and Alessio found himself admiring the way she seemed to command the room without even trying.

She slid into the booth across from him, her eyes locking onto his. There was no hesitation, no sign of nerves. She was every bit as composed as she had been the night before.

"Mr. De Luca," she said smoothly, her voice low and husky. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting?"

Alessio leaned back, studying her. "I wanted to know more about the woman who's decided to work for Salvatore Serafini. A woman with your skills doesn't end up in this line of work without a reason."

Elena smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "And you think you're the man to figure me out?"

Alessio's gaze darkened, a mix of curiosity and challenge swirling in his chest. "Firefly I've always been good at reading people. But you... you're different. You're hiding something."

Her smile faltered for a brief moment, just enough for Alessio to catch it. "Everyone has secrets, Mr. De Luca. Even you."

He chuckled softly. "That's true. But some secrets are more dangerous than others."

Elena's expression remained unreadable. "And what do you want from me? Information? Loyalty? Or something else entirely?"

Alessio's eyes flickered with amusement. She was sharp, too sharp to be playing games in this world without a deeper motive. "For now, I want to understand youFirefly. To know what you're after. Because you don't strike me as someone who works for men like Salvatore unless you have no other choice."

Elena leaned forward slightly, her gaze intense. "Maybe I don't have a choice. Or maybe I just enjoy the thrill of it. But you, Mr De luca... you're not like the others. You think you're in control, but you're playing a dangerous game. And I wonder, what will happen when you realize you're not the one pulling the strings?"

Her words were a direct challenge, and Alessio felt the heat of it. The tension between them crackled like electricity, a push and pull of power and attraction. He had never met a woman like her—one who could stand toe-to-toe with him without flinching.

But Alessio wasn't a man to back down. He reached across the table, his fingers brushing against hers in a subtle but deliberate move. "I'm always in control, Firefly. And if you're in my world, that means you're part of it. Whether you like it or not."

Elena didn't pull away, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something that intrigued him even more. "We'll see about that."

As the night went on, the conversation between them grew more personal, more charged. They talked about their pasts in vague terms, neither one willing to reveal too much. But there was an undeniable connection, a chemistry that neither could ignore.

By the time they left the restaurant, the air between them was thick with tension—both of the dangerous and the romantic kind. Alessio walked Elena to her car, his hand resting on the small of her back in a possessive gesture that made her heart race.

"Be careful, Firefly" he said softly, his voice laced with warning. "This world... it can swallow you whole if you're not careful."

Elena turned to face him, her eyes meeting his with a defiant glint. "I'm not afraid of your world, Mr De luca . I've seen worse."

He leaned in, close enough that she could feel the heat of his breath against her skin. "Maybe. But don't forget, Firefly—you're in my territory now. And I don't like losing control of what's mine."

The words hung between them, heavy with meaning. Elena's breath hitched, but she didn't back down. "I'm not yours, Mr De luca, Not yet."

Alessio's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "We'll see."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Elena standing by her car, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched him go, a mixture of emotions swirling inside her—fear, desire, and something she couldn't quite name.

This was more than just a mission now. It was personal. And that made it even more dangerous.

As she got into her car and drove away, Elena couldn't help but wonder what she had gotten herself into. Alessio De Luca was a force to be reckoned with, and she was playing a dangerous game by getting close to him.

But there was no turning back now. She had made her choice, and whatever happened next, she would face it head-on.

Because if there was one thing Elena Carter knew how to do, it was survive.