a constant pressure that lingered no matter how hard she tried to ignore it. Her mind was consumed by

esitated for a moment before answering, her fingers gripping

olled voice greeted her. "We

o mistaking the authority in his tone. She held her breath, her mind racing. It had only bee

ping her voice steady despite the

e instructed. "We'll send someone

e went dead. The click of the dis

rible was waiting for her. Lucas's voice echoed in her mind, reminding her of the promise she had made to protect him

ng. She stood frozen for a moment, her body stiff with dr

man from the night before. His sunglasses still covered his eyes, but his presence sp

s voice as calm and detac

't fight this anymore. Not if she wanted

-

ana sat in the back seat, her eyes flicking nervously between the dark streets outside and the man sitting ac

he darkened street. It was an industrial area, quiet, with no signs of life. Aria

here was no security, no visible guards, just a single door at

This was where she found out just how deep Dante's influence ra

head as they walked down a narrow hallway. She could feel her heart pounding in her ches

se. Inside, a group of men were seated around a large table, their eyes turning to Ariana as she entere

voice as calm as ever, but there was a dange

lf to appear calm despite the chaos swirling in

next to him, and the man who had escorted her to the building pulled out the chair.

he leaned forward. "You've proven yourself capable enou

e didn't like the sound of

ever. "The money I need laundered is not the only thing that's on the line. There's a

wasn't just a businessman or a criminal-he was a player, manipulatin

?" Ariana asked, her voic

. "This test will require you to make a choice-one that will eith

rd, her throat dry.

something darker. "You'll have to decide what pr

hem. Then he leaned back in his chair, his fingers lig

r that the moment she stepped into this world, there was no going back. The gam

er voice steady despite

ed with approval.