Laila's pov
Dante's eyes never left mine as he began to speak, his voice low and steady, carrying the weight of years I never wanted to remember.
"You and your brother don't know the half of what's at stake," he said. "Years ago, before all this, your family was tied to something powerful — a network of influence and secrets that controlled more than just money. Adrian's debts are just the surface."
I swallowed hard, the room suddenly feeling colder. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did you disappear?"
He looked away briefly, a flicker of regret crossing his face before the mask of control slid back into place. "Because the truth would have put you in danger. Because I made mistakes… and I had to disappear to protect you."
"Protect me?" I echoed, voice tight. "By threatening my brother? By trapping me here?"
Dante's gaze was unwavering. "I'm not your enemy, Laila. Not entirely. But I'm not your savior either. I'm a man who pays debts, collects what's owed. And right now, you owe."
I clenched my fists, anger mixing with fear. "I won't be your pawn."
He smiled — but it was hollow. "You already are. The question is, how far will you go to survive?"
Outside, the rain hammered harder against the windows, drowning out the silence that fell between us.
For the first time, I saw the man behind the threat — a man broken by the past, bound by debts, and driven by a code I didn't understand.
And I realized that to fight him, I'd have to understand him.