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Anya's POV
The next morning, Rocco was already gone by the time I awoke. His absence left an unsettling quiet hanging over the room, but I was too wired to linger in bed. Today was going to be different; I could feel it in the air. If I was to be part of this world, I needed to know the rules, and more importantly, the players.
As I made my way downstairs, I ran into Carmen, one of the maids. She gave me a look that held both caution and something that almost resembled pity.
“Is there something you need, Miss Anya?” she asked carefully.
“Just coffee, thank you,” I replied, but before she could turn away, I lowered my voice. “Actually, can I ask you something?”
Her expression shifted, wary. “Of course.”
“Do you know anything about the Lichten family?” I asked, watching her reaction closely.
Carmen visibly stiffened. She looked around, then leaned closer. “Miss Anya, that family is nothing but trouble. If they’re involved… you’d best tread carefully.”
“Why?” I pressed, intrigued by her fear. “What do they want with Rocco?”
She swallowed, glancing down the hall. “It’s not just Rocco they want. They… they’ll go after anyone he cares about.”
I felt a chill run through me. The weight of my involvement was starting to sink in. “Thank you, Carmen,” I whispered, giving her a reassuring smile before she hurried off.
---
Later That Day
I found Rocco in his study, pouring over documents with a furrowed brow. His gaze lifted as I entered, and his expression softened, if only slightly.
“Anya,” he greeted, motioning for me to sit. “There’s something we need to discuss.”
I took a seat across from him, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. “What’s going on?”
Rocco hesitated, his fingers drumming against the polished wood of his desk. “Our alliance with the De Rossi family might be our only chance of countering the Lichten threat.”
“The De Rossi family?” I repeated, vaguely familiar with the name. They were one of the most powerful families in the underworld. Their influence reached farther than any other, their ruthlessness renowned. “So… we’re making an alliance with them?”
“It’s a necessary evil,” Rocco replied, his voice heavy. “The De Rossis have resources we need, and they’ve agreed to help, but they come with their own set of… complications.”
“Complications?” I asked, already sensing this wasn’t going to be a simple partnership.
“Luca De Rossi,” he said, his jaw tightening. “He’s the head of their family—and not someone I’d choose to work with under normal circumstances. He’s as dangerous as they come.”
A faint chill crept up my spine. “And you’re sure we can trust him?”
“No,” Rocco replied bluntly. “But he values power and loyalty. As long as our goals align, he’ll keep his word. That said, I need you to be on guard. Luca has a reputation for using… unconventional methods.”
“Unconventional how?” I asked, feeling a mix of curiosity and unease.
“Let’s just say Luca doesn’t believe in boundaries. He’ll do anything to get what he wants, and he’s ruthless with anyone he considers a threat.” Rocco’s gaze darkened, his tone sharp. “So if you’re ever alone with him, be cautious. Don’t trust him.”
I nodded, my pulse quickening. I was beginning to see just how complicated this world was. Every alliance came with its own hidden dangers, every move fraught with risk. But I’d chosen this path, and I was determined to see it through.
---
The Meeting
Later that evening, Rocco and I drove to a secluded, upscale restaurant where the meeting with Luca De Rossi was set to take place. The tension in the car was palpable, but Rocco’s hand rested reassuringly on mine, grounding me.
We arrived at a private dining room tucked away from the main area. Inside, a tall, impeccably dressed man with slicked-back dark hair awaited us. His gaze flicked to me as we entered, his eyes lingering in a way that made my skin prickle. This was Luca De Rossi—the man who could either save or destroy us.
“Rocco,” he greeted, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he extended his hand. “And you must be Anya. I’ve heard… interesting things about you.”
I held his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. “I’m sure you have,” I replied coolly.
Rocco’s grip on my hand tightened just slightly, as if reminding me to tread carefully.
Luca’s smirk widened, and he motioned for us to sit. “It’s refreshing to see a woman with spirit in this line of work,” he commented as he poured wine for us. “But let’s get down to business.”
As we discussed the terms of the alliance, I could feel Luca’s gaze on me, assessing, studying. He exuded a quiet menace, one that spoke of hidden dangers. I kept my expression neutral, reminding myself of Rocco’s warning.
“Now, about the Lichten family,” Luca continued, his tone turning serious. “They’ve been expanding aggressively, and they have resources that could put us all in jeopardy.”
“What kind of resources?” I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.
Luca’s eyes flicked to me, a hint of amusement in his gaze. “Financial, mostly. They’ve been pulling strings behind the scenes, buying loyalty where they can. They’re even rumored to have law enforcement in their pocket.”
My heart sank. If that was true, it would make things infinitely harder. Rocco remained calm, his expression unreadable.
“We need to be one step ahead of them,” Rocco said, his voice steady. “That’s why we’re here.”
Luca nodded, leaning back in his chair. “Agreed. But you should know, my help doesn’t come free. There will be… expectations.”
Rocco’s jaw tightened. “We’ll meet your terms, as long as they’re reasonable.”
Luca’s smirk returned, his gaze sliding back to me. “Good. I’ll be in touch with more details, but for now, consider this a partnership.”
The meeting concluded shortly after, but Luca’s parting words lingered in my mind. As we left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we’d just entered a pact with the devil himself.
---
Back at the Mansion
When we returned, I could feel the weight of what had just happened settling over us. This alliance with Luca might be our only chance, but it came with risks I was only beginning to comprehend.
“I don’t like this,” I admitted, breaking the silence as we entered Rocco’s study.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Neither do I. But if we’re going to survive this, we need his help.”
“But at what cost?” I asked, feeling a pang of fear. “Luca doesn’t seem like the type to let us walk away unscathed.”
“He’s not,” Rocco admitted, his gaze dark. “But I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”
I looked at him, a swell of gratitude filling my chest. Despite the dangerous world he’d dragged me into, Rocco had become my anchor. I knew he would fight to keep me safe, just as I would for him.
As he reached out, pulling me into a tight embrace, I closed my eyes, taking comfort in his warmth. Whatever lay ahead, we would face it together.
---
To be continued...
