05

Aurora

I didn’t stop walking until I reached the car waiting outside Dante’s building. My hands were shaking as I pulled the door open and got inside, my heart still hammering from the confrontation. I hated that he got under my skin. I hated that he enjoyed it.

I clenched my fists. I should have slapped him.

I should have done more than shove him away.

As the driver took me back to my house, my mind raced through everything I had learned tonight. My father had been involved with the Moretti family more deeply than I ever imagined. Dante had confirmed it, but there was still so much he wasn’t saying. If my father had made promises he couldn’t keep, what had those promises been? And who had he betrayed?

The thought that my father might not have been the man I thought he was made my stomach churn.

When I arrived home, the house was dark. Sofia was asleep, unaware of the mess I had gotten us into. I locked the door behind me, pressing my back against it as I exhaled deeply. My body was still buzzing, but I wasn’t sure if it was from anger, frustration, or something else entirely.

Something I refused to acknowledge.

I went straight to my room, turning on the lamp beside my bed. My reflection in the mirror caught my attention.

My cheeks were flushed. My lips were slightly parted, like I had just been—

No.

I shut my eyes and forced the memory away. I will not let him get to me.

I changed into a loose t-shirt and climbed into bed, but sleep didn’t come easily. I kept seeing Dante’s dark eyes, the way he had looked at me before grabbing me, the slow, dangerous smile that had sent shivers down my spine.

I hated him. I hated how he made me feel out of control.

And I hated that a part of me liked it.

The next morning, I forced myself to get up early. If I had to face Dante again, I would do it on my terms.

I dressed in black slacks and a white blouse, professional but no-nonsense. My makeup was minimal, my hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. I needed to look untouchable, even if I didn’t feel that way.

Sofia was in the kitchen when I came downstairs, eating cereal straight from the box.

"Where are you going?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"To work," I said, pouring myself a cup of coffee.

She snorted. "Work? You mean back to the mafia king?"

I shot her a warning look. "Sofia—"

She held up her hands in surrender. "Hey, I’m just saying. Be careful, okay?"

I nodded, but I didn’t need the reminder.

Dante Moretti was dangerous. I knew that better than anyone.

---

By the time I arrived at Dante’s office, I had rehearsed every possible interaction in my head. I was ready to be cold, professional, and completely immune to his presence.

But the moment I stepped inside, I realized Dante had no intention of making this easy for me.

He was already there, standing near his desk, but he wasn’t alone.

A woman was with him.

Tall. Blonde. Perfectly dressed in a tight red dress that clung to every curve. She was gorgeous, and she was standing too close to him, her hand casually resting on his forearm as she whispered something in his ear.

I froze.

I had no right to be bothered. No reason for my stomach to twist into knots.

And yet, I hated the sight of her touching him.

Dante’s eyes flicked up as soon as I entered. He held my gaze for a beat too long before his lips curled into that familiar smirk.

"Good morning, Aurora."

I ignored the heat rising in my chest. "Are we working today, or should I come back when you’re finished entertaining?"

The blonde woman turned, her eyes sweeping over me like I was something stuck to her shoe.

"And you are?" she asked, her voice smooth as silk.

"Aurora," Dante answered before I could. "My new lawyer."

The woman’s perfectly manicured brows lifted. "You hired a lawyer?"

Dante chuckled. "More like acquired one."

My jaw clenched. "If we’re done here, I have work to do."

I turned to leave, but Dante’s voice stopped me.

"Stay."

It wasn’t a request. It was an order.

I swallowed my frustration and turned back. The woman was still looking at me like she was trying to decide if I was a threat. I wasn’t. But the fact that she had to wonder made something bitter settle in my chest.

Dante pulled out a chair across from his desk. "Sit."

I hesitated, but I refused to let him see my reluctance. I walked forward, taking the seat without looking at him.

The blonde woman took that as her cue to leave. She placed a hand on Dante’s chest, her red nails trailing down the expensive fabric of his suit. "See you tonight?"

His lips twitched. "We’ll see."

My fingers tightened into a fist beneath the table.

The moment she left, I spoke without thinking.

"That was subtle."

Dante’s gaze flicked back to me, amusement dancing in his dark eyes. "Jealous?"

I let out a sharp laugh. "Not in this lifetime."

He leaned back in his chair, watching me closely. "Good. Because she doesn’t matter."

I didn’t respond. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing I had reacted at all.

"Now," he continued, pulling out a folder and sliding it across the table. "Shall we get back to business?"

I opened the file, forcing my mind to focus. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Dante was playing a game.

And I was already losing.