The morning air nipped, cool, but did little to assuage Alessia's inner turmoil. Beside Dominic, she entered the syndicate's front-a fancy building masking the whole den of vipers beneath it. Beyond the glass doors, the city bustled, but Alessia was held captive by the stress and hidden threat slowly eating everything she held dear.
The doors whooshed open, slicing through the taut silence. In stepped Captain Lucas, a cop who exuded command. He did a scan of the lobby-the sort of practiced look of command. His gaze skimmed across the room, then arrested on Alessia for a second too long. Her pulse kicked up, a little too fast.
Lucas paused, studying her, as if trying to see past her calm mask. Alessia's gut tightened. Without conscious thought, she straightened, forcing her worry to stay buried. Lucas eyed her a beat longer, spotting the little tells in her eyes, before turning toward Dominic, who hadn't yet clocked the shift in the air.
Morning, Lucas drawled, his voice edged with power. Just here to ask a few routine questions about your operation.
Dominic's eyes narrowed, and he gave the captain a chilly stare that made Alessia's breath catch in her throat. She'd seen Dominic handle business before, big and small, but Lucas's presence made even Dominic pause. Alessia could feel the static zing between them, a silent clash of will.
Lucas flicked another quick glance her way. Alessia's stomach fell. She knew, in that flash of eye, he'd seen something – some flicker of vulnerability, a secret begging to get out. She dug her nails into her palm and shifted her stance to seem still, quiet, a model of obedience. Any crack in her composure could ruin everything.
After a few words, Lucas let her go, but Alessia's relief lasted only so long. He lagged behind near a shadowed nook, waiting for an opportunity to snag her alone. After a millisecond of consideration, Alessia made her way over, making sure Dominic and the staff were none the wiser. Her heart pounded, each step figured to dodge suspicion.
Alessia, Lucas began, his voice hushed but intense. Listen to me… you don't have to answer me now, but you need to know what kind of danger you're in. He inclined his head closer, his eyes darting to the street to make sure they were clear. Dominic Moretti… is the most dangerous man in Poland. You're lucky to be walking, but I can help you.
Alessia froze, her gut coiling with fear and doubt. Agreeing to anything, even within her head, meant disclosure of the truth-a child, a daughter hidden from Dominic's reach. Her mind started racing, thinking of a plan, calculating risks. Avery couldn't be found, not now, not ever.
I. appreciate it, she managed, forcing a level tone, trying to mask the tremble she couldn't quite control. I'll. remember that.
Lucas watched her closely, catching the near silent pause and careful choices she chose.
Be careful, he warned. You don't know how long you can keep this up. One wrong move, one slip and it all falls down. He took a step back, a curt nod her only sendoff before he was gone.
Alessia's legs felt wobbly. She put a hand to her chest, willing her heart to slow. That brief exchange had shaken her more than she let on. A cold certainty sank in: the cops were closing in, probing Dominic's operation, and any enemies who knew she was in the picture could use her as leverage. Her secret, her daughter's life, her own safety – all hung on her vigilance.
Everything all right? Dominic asked, his tone even but with an edge. Alessia could feel his gaze on her, heavy and inescapable.
Yes, she replied softly, trying to still her voice. Everything's fine.
Dominic's jaw ticked, and his eyes went dark. He'd seen their exchange, she was sure of it. But instead of a shout, he was calm, cold, calculating-a far scarier prospect.
She felt the air thicken and each second stretching out. Her decision to speak with Lucas, even cautiously, had stirred his suspicion. She knew that even her best intentions of wanting to keep Avery safe now could look like dishonesty. Dominic's want to protect could now be harder.
Alessia drew a shallow breath, brushing a hand across her forehead. The weight of Dominic's scrutiny, the threat of the police, the shadows cast by his enemies-it was a pressure that felt like something bearing down on her. All her careful planning… it still wasn't enough. Every choice had to be exact, both for survival and protection for her little girl-a secret that had morphed into a twenty-four-seven obsession. As they reached the elevator, Alessia cast a sideways glance up at Dominic's face. It was shut down, unreachable, but she knew she had lost some trust, and she felt a silent warning. The outside world might have its rules and consequences, its loose moral code, but in the world of Dominic, loyalty, obedience, and vigilance were law. And Alessia knew more clearly than ever that her secret wasn't just hers to carry; it could be a tool, one to be used as a weapon by the wrong han
ds, and she had to watch herself.