Walking into the Lion's Den
342 Words
Elena sat in front of her vanity mirror, staring at her reflection. Her heart pounded in her chest as she replayed Adrian’s words over and over.
“Test his loyalty.”
She had spent her entire life in a world where betrayal was met with bullets, where trust was a rare currency. Now, Adrian was pushing her into the fire, daring her to see what it meant to truly belong in this life.
A soft knock on the door made her tense. She turned to find a maid standing in the doorway.
“Ma’am, your car is ready.”
Elena nodded, taking one last look at herself before grabbing her clutch. If she was going to walk into the lion’s den, she had to look the part.
At DeLuca’s Lounge
The lounge was dimly lit, thick with the scent of cigars and expensive cologne. Men in tailored suits sat at private tables, discussing deals worth millions. At the center of it all sat Luca DeLuca, his scarred face twisted into a smirk as he laughed with his associates.
Elena moved through the crowd, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She knew eyes were on her—some recognizing her as Moretti’s daughter, others whispering about Valenti’s new wife.
When she reached Luca’s table, he looked up, surprise flickering in his dark eyes.
“Elena Moretti,” he mused. “Or should I say Elena Valenti?”
She forced a smile. “Just Elena will do.”
Luca leaned back in his chair, eyeing her curiously. “What brings Adrian’s wife to my humble establishment?”
She slid into the seat across from him, crossing her legs. “I wanted to talk business.”
Luca chuckled, swirling the drink in his glass. “Business? I didn’t realize Adrian let his wife handle business.”
Elena tilted her head, keeping her expression unreadable. “He doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean I can’t make my own moves.”
Luca’s smirk faltered for just a second.
Hook.
Now, she just needed to reel him in.
- Writer
