UNDERWORLD HEARTS

chance encounter

Chapter One: Chance Encounter

Alessia Romano adjusted her scarf as she weaved through the crowded streets of Milan, the winter chill cutting through her coat. She’d been running errands all morning, but something felt off. A lingering sensation crawled up her spine, a sense of being watched. Her instincts, honed over years of working in places that didn’t exactly follow all the rules, told her to keep moving, stay alert, but act casual.

She rounded a corner into a quieter alley, hoping to shake off the feeling. The distant hum of city life faded, leaving only the echo of her heels against the cobblestones. She thought she was alone—until she wasn’t.

Three men stepped into the alleyway, blocking her path. Their eyes were sharp, assessing, and they wore matching smirks that made her skin crawl. Alessia’s hand instinctively tightened around her bag.

"Lost, bella?" one of them sneered, his voice dripping with condescension.

Alessia felt a flare of anger but kept her expression neutral. “I was just leaving.”

“Not so fast,” he said, stepping closer.

Before she could respond, a low voice echoed from the shadows behind her, deep and laced with authority. “I believe the lady said she was leaving.”

She turned, heart pounding, to see a man step into the dim light. He was tall, dressed in a black coat that hugged his frame. Dark hair fell messily over his forehead, and his eyes—an intense, penetrating gray—were fixed on the men ahead.

The stranger’s gaze held a dangerous calm, like the eye of a storm. Alessia recognized the look; she’d seen it enough times in men who didn’t live by ordinary rules.

“Dante Caruso,” one of the men stammered, a flicker of fear breaking through his confident front. “We didn’t know—”

“That’s clear,” Dante replied coolly, taking a step forward, his hands sliding casually into his coat pockets. “Now, I suggest you leave before I make you regret interrupting my afternoon.”

The men hesitated, exchanging nervous glances, but it only took a hard look from Dante for them to retreat, muttering curses under their breath as they scurried away.

Alessia let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding, but she stayed rooted to the spot. This man—Dante Caruso—she’d heard his name before. Heir to the Caruso family, one of the most feared mafia clans in Italy. She should thank him, she knew, but the words stuck in her throat.

Dante turned his gaze on her, and for a moment, his expression softened just enough for her to catch a glimpse of curiosity in those steely eyes.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice less severe than it had been with the others.

Alessia cleared her throat, forcing herself to stand taller. “Yes. Thank you.”

“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he said, his tone shifting to one of faint reprimand.

She bristled. “I can take care of myself.”

One dark eyebrow arched slightly. “Is that so?”

“Yes.” Alessia’s pulse quickened, and it wasn’t just the residual fear from the encounter. She didn’t like being underestimated, especially by a man who clearly thought he had her figured out in one look.

Dante studied her for a moment longer, an amused glint flickering in his eyes. “Then I won’t keep you.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and walked back down the alley, his tall figure disappearing into the shadows as if he were a part of them.

Alessia watched him go, her heart pounding in her chest, frustration mingling with a reluctant sense of gratitude—and something else she couldn’t quite name. As she left the alley, she told herself she would never see him again.

But something inside her knew that was a lie.

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