TWISTED DESIRE

BENEATH THE SURFACE

The atmosphere in Inferno seemed to thicken around Vanessa, the weight of Enzo's words pressing on her. She was Alessio's weakness—a dangerous position to be in, especially in his world. But she wasn't going to crumble. She had come this far, and she wasn't about to back down now.

"Who's behind it?" Vanessa asked, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Enzo's eyes flickered with something unreadable, and for a moment, she wondered if he'd even tell her the truth. Then he glanced around, making sure no one else was close enough to overhear.

"It's complicated," he said, his tone low. "There are factions within Alessio's organization—people who think they can challenge him by targeting you. But it's more than just jealousy or power plays."

Vanessa's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Enzo's gaze darkened. "There are rumors. Whispers that Alessio's keeping secrets from you. And people are trying to use that against both of you."

The words hit her like a bucket of ice water. Secrets? Alessio had always been a closed book, carefully choosing what he revealed to her, but she thought she had cracked through his walls. Had she been wrong?

"I need more than rumors, Enzo," Vanessa pressed, her voice tight. "If there's something I don't know, tell me."

He hesitated, glancing away for a moment before finally meeting her eyes again. "There's a name you should know—Luca DeSantis."

The name felt like a weight dropping into her stomach, even though she didn't know who Luca was. The way Enzo said it, the way his eyes flickered with caution, told her this person was dangerous—someone who could shake everything.

"Who is he?" Vanessa demanded.

Enzo leaned in closer, his voice a harsh whisper. "Luca is Alessio's half-brother. And he's gunning for control."

Vanessa's breath hitched. Half-brother? Alessio had never mentioned family beyond his father's legacy. And if Luca was after control, that meant Alessio's empire wasn't as solid as it appeared.

"But Alessio never mentioned him..." she began, but Enzo cut her off.

"Because he's been keeping you out of it, trying to protect you from this part of his world." Enzo's gaze softened slightly, but there was no comfort in his words. "But Luca's making moves, and he's starting with you."

Vanessa's pulse raced. So that's what the messages had been about—Luca was behind it, using her as leverage in his power play. But what did he want from her? And how far was he willing to go to hurt Alessio?

"I need to see Alessio," Vanessa said abruptly, already turning toward the door. She wasn't going to sit around and let this game play out without understanding the full scope of it.

Enzo grabbed her arm gently, stopping her. "Be careful, Vanessa. Luca doesn't play by any rules, and if you go to Alessio now without knowing all the pieces, you could make things worse."

Vanessa shook him off, her determination hardening. "I'll take my chances."

As she stepped out into the cool night air, Vanessa's mind raced with questions. Alessio had kept so much from her—probably to protect her, yes—but that didn't erase the sting of betrayal. She wasn't fragile. She had proven that time and again. And now, with Luca coming for her, it felt like the truth was the only thing that could save her.

Her phone buzzed again.

Unknown Number: You're in deeper than you realize. But it's not too late to walk away.

Vanessa's hands clenched into fists. She wasn't walking away. She was going to face this head-on, even if it meant stepping into Alessio's darkest secrets.

By the time she reached the mansion, her heart was pounding. The guards at the gate gave her a brief nod, but their expressions were tense. They knew something was up. And as Vanessa stormed through the front doors, she felt the weight of what was coming down on her shoulders.

Alessio was waiting for her in his office, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto her as she entered. He didn't need to say anything—he knew she was onto something. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension.

"Vanessa," he started, his tone deceptively calm. "What's going on?"

She didn't mince words. "Why didn't you tell me about Luca?"

Alessio's jaw tightened, a flicker of something dark passing through his eyes. For a moment, silence hung between them like a blade, sharp and dangerous.

"Who told you?" he finally asked, his voice low, but there was no mistaking the edge of fury in it.

"That doesn't matter," Vanessa shot back, stepping forward. "What matters is that I had to find out from someone else. Do you have any idea how that feels, Alessio? To know you've been keeping things from me?"

His eyes flared with anger, but there was something else there too—something more vulnerable. He stood up from behind his desk, pacing toward her, his gaze intense.

"I didn't tell you because I didn't want you in the middle of this," Alessio growled. "Luca is dangerous, Vanessa. He's ruthless, and he'll stop at nothing to take what he thinks belongs to him. Including you."

Vanessa's heart twisted. "I can handle myself, Alessio. You don't get to decide what I need protection from."

He stopped in front of her, his hand reaching out to cup her face, his touch both tender and possessive. "You're everything to me. Do you think I want to see you get hurt?"

Vanessa's resolve faltered slightly under the weight of his words, but she held her ground. "Then don't shut me out. I'm not some fragile thing you need to protect. If we're going to face this, we face it together."

For a moment, Alessio's gaze softened, his thumb brushing lightly across her cheek. But then the darkness returned to his eyes, his grip tightening slightly.

"If Luca gets his hands on you, Vanessa... I won't be able to control what I do."

There it was—the storm inside him that she both feared and craved. The dangerous edge that made him unpredictable, lethal. But instead of backing down, Vanessa stepped closer, her voice low and fierce.

"Then don't let him."

Alessio's breath hitched, and for a moment, the tension between them shifted, becoming something deeper, something primal. His hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck, pulling her closer until their lips were just a breath apart.

"I won't," he growled, his voice a raw promise.

Their lips crashed together, the kiss searing, all-consuming. It was a moment of raw emotion, of desperation and need, as if the very act of being together could keep the darkness at bay. But beneath the passion, Vanessa could feel the storm brewing, the danger lurking just beneath the surface.

And somewhere deep inside her, a small, nagging thought took root—was it possible that this was only the beginning?