The cool night breeze gently tugged at the curtains as Alora made her way back to her room after a day filled with laughter and exploration with Lucia and Victoria. The village they’d visited was charming, filled with warm locals and winding streets that had kept Alora’s mind off the swirling doubts she’d been trying to suppress since she arrived. But as the evening settled in, the doubts began to creep back, uninvited.
As she approached the garden, she spotted Dante and Luca standing together, their heads bent in conversation under the dim light of the terrace. Instinctively, she stepped behind a column, just out of sight, unsure why she felt the need to hide but compelled to listen.
Their voices were low, and though they spoke in Italian—most of which she couldn't fully understand—Alora managed to catch a few words that sent chills down her spine.
"...proteggerla..." ("...protect her...") Dante’s voice, calm but serious, filtered through the night air.
Luca responded quickly, but Alora struggled to follow. All she managed to make out was "...rischio..." ("...risk...").
Her heart began to race, her pulse quickening. Protect? Risk? Alora’s mind whirled. What were they talking about?
Dante’s voice softened, but there was a steel edge to his words. "...non permetterò che le succeda nulla..." ("...I won’t let anything happen to her...").
Alora’s breath hitched. Her Italian wasn’t strong enough to follow everything, but the words danger and protection were enough to send her thoughts spiraling. Why would Dante be talking about protecting her? And from what?
As she strained to listen further, Dante’s final words to Luca struck her like a cold wave. "...devo sposarla presto... non c'è tempo..." ("...I have to marry her soon... there’s no time...").
Her stomach twisted. Why was there no time? Why was marrying her tied to protection? The questions clawed at her as she slowly backed away from the terrace, her mind racing with confusion and a growing sense of dread. The one thing that had once been part of her plan—to marry Dante—was now clouded by something she didn’t understand.
Back in her room, she paced for a few moments, trying to make sense of everything she’d overheard. But no matter how hard she tried, the pieces wouldn’t fit. She needed answers, and she knew exactly who to ask.
With trembling hands, Alora pulled out her phone and dialed Mina. Her heart pounded in her chest as the phone rang, each second dragging out her anxiety.
“Mina,” she whispered urgently when the line finally connected. “I just overheard Dante and Luca talking. They were speaking in Italian, and I didn’t catch all of it, but they kept mentioning protection and... marrying me soon. What’s going on? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
There was a sharp silence on the other end before Mina’s cold, blunt voice cut through it like a knife. “Alora, don’t start panicking over a few words you didn’t understand. Dante is protecting you because that’s what powerful men do. It’s their nature.”
Alora gripped the phone tighter, frustrated by Mina’s dismissive tone. “No, Mina, this was different. They sounded... serious. Like there’s a real danger I don’t know about. What aren’t you telling me?”
Mina sighed, clearly impatient. “You’re asking the wrong questions. Focus on what matters. Finish the job and stop letting your feelings get in the way. You’ve spent too much time around him if you’re starting to doubt yourself.”
“But—" Alora started, but Mina cut her off coldly.
“You’re in deep, Alora. Don’t make the mistake of letting emotions ruin everything. Stick to the mission. Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to.” Mina’s voice was chilling, and for a moment, Alora felt the weight of her words settle heavily on her chest.
Alora swallowed, her throat dry. She had always trusted Mina, but now... now everything felt wrong.
“Just keep playing your part, Alora,” Mina said with finality. “Don’t overthink this.”
The line went dead, leaving Alora standing there, her phone still clutched in her hand. The silence in the room felt suffocating as doubt and fear closed in around her.
What was she really getting herself into?
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I hope you loved this chapter, a pretty short chapter, unfortunately, but I hope you still liked it.
Thank you!
Love y'all 💗
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Deceptive Hearts
RomanceAlora Hayes is no stranger to deceit. Raised by a family of thieves, she's learned that survival comes at a cost. But when a dangerous deal forces her to infiltrate the powerful Santoro family, the stakes have never been higher. Her mission? Marry D...
