The drive back to the city was silent, the air between Dante and Alessia crackling with the tension of what had just unfolded. The threat Sergei had left hanging over them was real, and it gnawed at Dante’s mind. He had known the Russians would be difficult, but this was a different game. Now, they were testing the boundaries, looking for the cracks in his empire.

But what bothered him more was Sergei’s glance at Alessia—the lingering gaze that had set something dark simmering in his chest. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Dante had seen it. It wasn’t just business with Sergei; it was something more. Something personal.

As they neared his penthouse, Dante’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his thoughts spiraling. Sergei had sensed something between them. That much was clear. And now, it was being used as leverage. The problem was, Dante didn’t know how much longer he could deny it—deny that Alessia had become more than just an asset to him.

Alessia sat beside him, her posture as perfect and controlled as ever. But he could see the tension in her, the way her fingers flexed slightly, betraying her inner turmoil. She never let her guard down, and yet, Dante knew her well enough by now to recognize when something was eating at her.

He glanced at her, his voice cutting through the silence. “Sergei knows.”

Alessia’s eyes flickered to him briefly, her expression calm. “Knows what?”

“That there’s something between us.”

She stiffened, her gaze returning to the road ahead. “There’s nothing between us.”

Dante’s jaw clenched, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “You’re lying, Alessia. And we both know it.”

Her silence was louder than any words she could have spoken.

As they pulled into the underground parking garage beneath Dante’s penthouse, the tension between them reached its breaking point. Dante killed the engine and turned to her, his eyes dark and searching.

“Why do you keep doing this?” he demanded, his voice low and rough. “Pretending there’s nothing between us when it’s obvious that there is.”

Alessia didn’t look at him, her fingers flexing again in her lap. “Because it’s safer that way.”

“Safer?” Dante’s voice sharpened. “For who? You? Me? We’ve been walking a tightrope for months, and it’s only getting worse. Sergei’s not blind. He saw it tonight. He’s going to use it against us.”

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She finally turned to face him, her dark eyes flashing with something he hadn’t seen before—fear. “And that’s exactly why we can’t let this happen, Dante. If Sergei knows, others will too. It’s a vulnerability. And you know what happens when you show a vulnerability in this world.”

Dante’s frustration flared, but he held it back. He knew she was right. Vulnerability in their world was dangerous, something that could be exploited. But knowing that didn’t change the fact that he didn’t want to pretend anymore.

“I’m tired of pretending,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “Tired of this game we’re playing. You think I don’t know what this is doing to you? To me?”

Alessia’s gaze dropped, her walls beginning to crack. “I can’t let this happen.”

“Why?” Dante’s voice was softer now, the anger giving way to something more vulnerable. “Why can’t you just admit that there’s something between us?”

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with conflict. “Because I can’t afford to feel that way about you, Dante. Not in this life. Not with everything we’ve built.”

Dante stared at her, his frustration and desire battling for dominance. He knew what she was saying made sense—emotion had no place in the world they inhabited. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept.

“I don’t care,” he said finally, his voice firm. “I don’t care about the risks. I care about you.”

For a moment, there was only silence. Alessia’s breath hitched, her eyes locked on his, and in that instant, Dante could see the cracks in her armor. She wanted this too. He knew it. She had been fighting it for so long, but now, in the quiet of the car, there was no escaping the truth.

Before she could respond, the sudden chime of Dante’s phone shattered the moment. He cursed under his breath, pulling it from his pocket. The name flashing on the screen was familiar—Matteo, one of his most trusted lieutenants.

Dante’s voice was sharp as he answered. “What is it?”

Matteo’s voice was low, tense. “Boss, we’ve got a problem. One of Sergei’s men was spotted near the warehouse. I think they’re making a move.”

Dante’s blood ran cold, his focus snapping back to the danger at hand. “How many?”

“Just a few, but they’re watching. Waiting. I don’t like it.”

Dante’s mind worked quickly, the moment of vulnerability with Alessia now pushed to the back of his mind. This was what Sergei had been planning all along—a test to see how far he could push before Dante retaliated.

“Keep an eye on them,” Dante ordered. “I’ll be there soon.”

He hung up, his jaw set in determination. Alessia watched him, her own resolve hardening as the moment passed.

“We have to move,” Dante said, his voice all business now. “Sergei’s making his play.”

Alessia nodded, her emotions locked back behind the walls she had built. “I’ll drive.”

Dante didn’t argue. He knew they were slipping back into their roles—their carefully constructed personas that kept them both safe in this dangerous world. But the cracks were still there, beneath the surface, waiting to break open.

As they sped through the city streets, heading toward the warehouse, Dante’s mind was split between the immediate threat and the unspoken one that lingered between them.

Sergei was pushing, testing his empire. But the battle he was fighting with Alessia—the one between desire and control—was far more dangerous. And Dante wasn’t sure which one would break first.

---

The warehouse loomed ahead, dark and silent. Dante and Alessia stepped out of the car, their movements swift and coordinated, slipping into the shadows as they approached. Matteo was waiting near the entrance, his expression grim.

“They’re watching us,” Matteo said quietly, his eyes scanning the perimeter. “Haven’t made a move yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”

Dante nodded, his mind already working through the strategy. Sergei’s men wouldn’t risk a direct attack, not yet. They were probing, looking for weaknesses. And tonight, they weren’t going to find any.

“Let them watch,” Dante said coldly. “We’re ready.”

Alessia’s presence beside him was a comfort, even if he couldn’t acknowledge it openly. She was his shadow, always there, always watching his back. And tonight, he needed her more than ever.

As the night stretched on, the tension only grew, the weight of Sergei’s unspoken challenge hanging over them. But Dante knew one thing for certain.

No matter what Sergei tried, no matter how hard he pushed, Dante wasn’t going to back down.

And with Alessia by his side, he knew he would win.