Trapped in his world

Chapter One: The Witness The night was supposed to be simple. Get in, handle business, and get out—just like every other job. Alessio Moretti moved like a shadow through the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Rome. His father’s orders were clear: deliver the warning, leave no loose ends. With years of experience under his belt, he never failed. That was what set him apart from his two older brothers—why their father favored him. But tonight, something was off. He felt it before he saw it. A presence. A breath of air shifting where there shouldn’t have been one. Then, a gasp. Alessio’s gun was out in a second, his body tensing as he turned sharply. And there she was. A woman. She was frozen in the shadows, her dark eyes wide with fear. She had no business being here. Civilians didn’t just wander into places like this. And yet, here she was. His grip tightened on the gun. “Who the hell are you?” She swallowed hard, backing up a step. “I—I didn’t see anything.” Alessio almost laughed. “Liar.” Her breath was shaky, her hands trembling at her sides. But something about the way she held his gaze made him hesitate. She wasn’t just afraid—she was calculating. Smart. A survivor. Still, she had just witnessed something that could get her killed. And if his father found out… Alessio exhaled slowly, lowering his gun slightly. He had two options: get rid of her, or find another way to silence her. And for the first time in his life, he hesitated. --- Earlier That Night Isla Romano wasn’t supposed to be here. She had been walking home from her second shift at the café, taking the shortcut she always took when she saw them—men in dark suits, moving with purpose, dragging another man between them. She should have turned away, should have kept walking. But something made her stop. That something was curiosity. And now, that curiosity might get her killed. Her heart pounded as she stared at the man in front of her. He looked lethal. Tall and broad, with dark hair that was slightly tousled, as if he had just run a hand through it. His green eyes locked onto her, unreadable but sharp, assessing. She had heard rumors about the Moretti family, about how their power stretched far beyond their legitimate businesses. And now she was staring at one of them. “Please,” she said, her voice steadier than she expected. “I swear I won’t say anything.” He tilted his head slightly, studying her. “You saw too much.” Her stomach twisted. “I can forget,” she tried, voice softer. “I didn’t see your face, I don’t know who you are.” A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “And yet, you’re saying this to my face.” Damn it. She shifted on her feet. “What do you want me to do? Beg?” He took a step closer, and she forced herself to stand her ground. “No,” he said. “I want you to listen.” Her heart pounded as he lowered his gun completely but kept it in his grip. “You have two options, bella.” His voice was almost casual, but there was steel underneath it. “One, I make sure you never talk. You won’t like how that ends.” A chill ran down her spine. “Two,” he continued, “you prove that I don’t have to worry about you.” Isla’s breath hitched. “And how do I do that?” He smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “You work for me.” She stared at him, unblinking. “Excuse me?” “You sign an agreement. You don’t speak a word about what you saw tonight. In return, you become useful to me.” Her fingers clenched at her sides. “Useful how?” “That depends on what you can do.” He stepped even closer, his presence overwhelming. “I need an assistant. Someone discreet. Someone smart. You fit the bill.” Her lips parted in shock. “You—you want me to work for you?” He shrugged. “It’s better than the alternative, isn’t it?” She hated that he was right. But then she thought of her grandmother. Of the hospital bills piling up, of the doctors telling her there was no way they could proceed with the surgery unless she paid upfront. An idea formed in her mind. If she had to make a deal with the devil, she was going to make sure it was on her terms. “I’ll do it,” she said, lifting her chin. “But I have a condition.” His brows lifted. “You’re not in a position to make demands, bella.” “Then kill me,” she shot back. “Because if you want my silence, you’re going to have to give me something in return.” His smirk returned, this time with a flicker of interest. “Go on.” “My grandmother,” she said, her voice steady. “She needs surgery. You pay for it, and I’ll sign whatever you want.” Silence stretched between them. Then, Alessio chuckled. A dark, amused sound. “You have guts,” he said. Isla didn’t respond. She couldn’t afford to waver. Finally, he let out a breath and nodded. “Fine. You have a deal.” Her stomach twisted. She had just made a pact with the most dangerous man she’d ever met. And there was no turning back.