e a fortress. Unlike the ancient opulence of the Russo mansion, the Morano compo

bag she had packed the night before. She kept her gaze low, he

window lowered, revealing the sharp, scrutinizing gaz

Sophia?"

s,

enter the backseat. "Let's get some

se you're smart, quiet, and said the right things. Your job is simple: obey A

ia n

ize. And you only answer to Alessandro. Not his cousins, no

s,

oo

Sophia's eyes darted from one sleek building to anoth

nt of a black-marble residence-

e quarters beneath it," Rico said, opening he

st and silent. Dark wood. Cold st

hall, speaking into his phone. The momen

l with a curt, "

Sophia. Your new assistant.

pinned her in plac

said, her voice calm despit

t your age. I care

dded. "Un

ll be handling your schedule, errands, meal orders, and light household dut

s never leaving hers. "Do yo

s,

you

e briefest second. "

h his eyes-approval, maybe. Or curio

Alessandro disappea

her small suite-modest, clean, and tucked out o

our first day starts early. And wit

with those

, exhaling slowly. Her r

now-alone, under watch, and

asn't jus

usso family's

er she could survive this gam

er both calming and ominous. The room was simple: a twin bed with clean sheets,

the Russo estate-black, gray, and navy gowns that screamed "invisible professionalism." The

left, already loaded with encrypted communication lines and a single contact-"Raven", the codename of her Russo

. Lifting the phone to her ear, she whispered, "I've arrived. Everything looks... sec

ntact you when needed. Make sure you memorize his schedule. Build

hough they couldn't s

he call when a knock e

w behind the dresser just as the door creake

you doing

voice calm. "U

, then her. "Give m

d the dresser and handed it over. Rico eyed it,

, one laptop. Only one number saved-Alessandro Morano's. Use the laptop f

phone gleamed back at her, its scre

ut behind him. Only then did she retrieve the last item Bruno had given he

screet even Rico hadn't noticed it during the search.

this house

ouldn't just be her life at risk-

hrough the house, pointing out key areas and giv

k, two sugars. Do not mess it up. He takes it exactly

moved through the main hallway, past the lounge

Only move what he tells you to move. You'll receive his

ot a job where you're allowed mistakes. You'll either ea

t "Thank you," an

haled deeply, slipping off her shoes and sitting on the

y begin her work as Aless

rehearsed her l

s house, truth

becoming whoever th