Betray
1012 Words
Dante Ricci stepped into the dimly lit study, where Vittorio Luca sat behind a heavy oak desk, a half-smoked cigar resting between his fingers. The air was thick with the scent of tobacco and aged whiskey.
Vittorio barely glanced up, swirling the amber liquid in his glass before fixing Dante with an expectant gaze.
"Tell me," Vittorio's voice was smooth, but there was steel beneath it. "What have you uncovered in Granvera?"
Dante stepped forward, measured and deliberate. "I found Amara’s best friend, Elena Garcia. She had no idea about Amara’s disappearance. She truly believed Amara had returned to Palonva to marry Basille Moretti."
Vittorio exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. His fingers tapped idly against the crystal glass in his hand. "Which means... you have no solid leads on who took Amara or where she is?"
"Not exactly," Dante replied, his voice steady. “There’s another angle we might be able to exploit with Elena Garcia.”
Vittorio’s gaze lifted, sharp and calculating. “How?”
Dante leaned forward slightly, enjoying the moment of having something valuable to offer. “Amara’s best friend in Granvera. Or at least, that’s what Amara believed. In reality, Elena’s been using her from the start. Riding on her connections, living off her generosity.”
Vittorio’s lips curled slightly, amused at the pettiness of it all. “Jealousy is a powerful motivator.”
“Exactly,” Dante continued. “She had no idea Amara never went through with the wedding. When I told her, she was genuinely shocked. It means she’s been out of the loop. But that won’t last long.”
He leaned back, crossing his arms. “If Amara appear in Granvera, Elena will be the first person she looks for.”
Vittorio tapped his fingers against his glass, his patience thinning. “How long, Dante? I don’t have time for guesswork. I need to know where she is before the Morettis pull out of this alliance.”
Dante nodded. “I’ll keep close to Elena. The moment she hears from Amara, I’ll know.”
Vittorio’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Good. Keep her on a leash, but don’t let her know she’s being walked. If she’s as desperate as you say, she’ll do all the work for us.”
Dante chuckled, the thrill of the game settling deep in his veins. “Understood. I’ll make sure she plays her part.”
Vittorio's fingers tightened around his glass. He had always known the Morettis were ambitious, but to stage an a*******n?
It was a bold and dangerous move, even for them.
Dante continued, "Basille had the most to lose if Amara was unwilling. Instead of letting her slip away, maybe he took matters into his own hands. That would explain why she vanished without a trace. Not even ransom."
Vittorio’s expression darkened. "If Basille Moretti dared to take Amara's under my nose, thinking he could control her, thinking he could outplay me..." He trailed off, eyes narrowing in thought. "It would mean war."
Dante nodded, stood across from him, hands in his pockets, his stance relaxed but alert. He smirked, sensing the direction of Vittorio’s thoughts.
"It would. And from what I’ve gathered, there’s been no movement from the Morettis to clear their name. If they weren’t behind this, they would’ve at least reached out by now, if only to assure you the marriage was still on."
Vittorio swirled the liquid in his glass, watching the amber liquid catch the dim light. The silence stretched, thick and expectant.
Finally, he spoke, his voice slow and deliberate, his expression unreadable. "If Basille is behind this, he has no idea what he’s just started."
Dante took a measured step forward, voice low and coaxing. "That’s exactly it. If he really took Amara, he’s betting on something. Either he’s secured an alliance powerful enough to challenge you, or he thinks keeping her hidden gives him leverage."
Vittorio drummed his fingers against the desk, his patience wearing thin. "If the Morettis think they can undermine me, they’re bigger fools than I thought. Increase surveillance in Granvera. Track their movements in Morenza. Find out where Basille has been since the wedding day. If he had any part in this, I’ll tear his empire apart with my own hands."
Dante gave a slow nod. "I’ll have my men increase surveillance in Granvera. I’ll also start watching Moretti’s contacts in Morenza, see if anyone's been making unusual moves. Someone must know something."
Vittorio took a long sip of his drink, considering. "If Basille thinks he can undermine me, he’ll regret it. If he’s behind this, I want proof. Because when I strike, I won’t give him the chance to deny it."
Dante’s smirk deepened. He was playing his part well, planting seeds of doubt, steering Vittorio toward a path that would ultimately serve his own interests. If the Luca and Moretti families went to war, there would be chaos.
And in chaos, men like him thrived.
Vittorio set his glass down with a decisive clink. "Go. I want answers. And Dante..."
Dante halted at the door, arching a brow. "Boss?"
Vittorio’s gaze was razor-sharp. "Don’t just look for clues. Start setting the stage. If war is coming, I want to be the one who strikes first."
Dante inclined his head, barely suppressing his grin. "Understood. I’ll report back soon."
Vittorio exhaled slowly, pleased with the development. “Then we play the long game. If Moretti has her, we’ll take her back. If someone else is pulling the strings, we’ll cut their hands off.”
His grip tightened around the glass before he took a slow sip. “And Dante… don’t fail me.”
Dante’s smirk remained, but there was an edge of seriousness in his nod. “I won’t.”
As he exited the study, Dante could already feel the shift in his position.
This wasn’t just about Amara anymore.
It was about power. And if he played his cards right, he’d be standing much higher in the syndicate when all of this was over.
- Writer
