Dancing with the devil

Aurora De Luca ripped the acceptance letter into two before tossing it into the fireplace. The white paper curled into black ash. Sophia stared at her laughing. "Gurl you don't have to go full hulk mode with the papers." Aurora didn't look away from the flames. "Yhh well that's not the job I want." Aurora said, chuckling too. She reached for another envelope lying on the marble coffee table. This one carried a different name. Viviana Bennett. The woman who would walk into Moretti Holdings tomorrow morning. “Girl, are you sure you’re ready for this?” Sophia asked, looking straight at her. “I mean, you’re going in as a completely different person into the company of one of the strongest dons in all of the Mafia.” “Well, the fact that he’s in the Mafia isn’t public knowledge. If it were, do you really think anyone would be working there?” “It only takes a mafia to know a mafia,” Aurora said. “I hope you understand what you just said. You’re a Mafia princess going into a Mafia company. You really think he won’t catch on?” “Relax. Aurora is the Mafia princess. Viviana is the one going to the company.” “And by Vivianna you mean your sloppy undercover identity?” She drawled with an eye roll. “She's not sloppy, okay? Girl, you haven't even met her yet.” Aurora chuckled, clipping her toenails without a hint of concern Sophia gave her a look. “That's exactly what scares me. You sound way too comfortable about this” Aurora finally glanced at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Because I am comfortable” “You're about to walk into Moretti Holdings under a fake name, with fake documents, a fake background and a fake life, and you're telling me you're comfortable?” “When you say it like that, it sounds illegal” “It is illegal” “Details” Sophia groaned and sank deeper into the sofa while Aurora laughed. For someone who was about to step into enemy territory, she looked almost annoyingly relaxed. That was the part Sophia couldn't understand. Aurora had spent weeks preparing for this, yet she still managed to joke about it like they were planning a weekend trip instead of infiltrating one of Milan's most powerful companies “So what exactly does Vivianna have?” Sophia asked “A degree, an apartment, a bank account, a passport, social media accounts, a clean record and a job she apparently really wanted” “And parents?” “Dead” Sophia's expression immediately changed. “Damn” “It's the easiest backstory. Nobody asks too many questions when there's no one around to answer them” “That is actually terrifying” Aurora shrugged and reached for the envelope again. “Vivianna Grace Bennett. Twenty years old. Born in Florence, raised between Florence and London. Business administration graduate. No siblings. No family worth mentioning” Sophia stared at her for a moment before shaking her head. “You really thought of everything” “I had to” The room fell quiet for a few seconds Aurora looked down at the documents in her lap, running her thumb across the edge of the new identity card. The picture staring back at her wasn't exactly her, but it wasn't a stranger either. Different hair, different eyes, softer features. Ordinary enough to disappear in a crowd That was the point Aurora De Luca was impossible to overlook Vivianna Bennett wasn't supposed to be Sophia suddenly stood up and grabbed her handbag. “Okay, Miss Secret Agent, enough sitting around. If you're starting tomorrow, you need clothes” Aurora frowned. “I have clothes” “You have Mafia princess clothes” “I don't dress like a Mafia princess” Sophia looked her up and down. “You're wearing a silk robe while sitting in a room with marble floors” Aurora glanced around. “Fair point” “Come on” “Where?” “Shopping” “I hate shopping” “No, you hate spending money when it's not yours” Aurora smiled. “Same thing” She waltzed to her giant closet picking a wig and contacts that she fixed on immediately. “Do you really need those?” Sophia asked tapping her foot impatiently “Yes gurlll, we can't have the neighbors thinking two different people live here” she said, topping her disguise with a baseball hat and a face mask. Less than an hour later, they were walking through one of Milan's busiest shopping streets, Aurora carrying two bags while Sophia kept pointing at literally everything in the store. “This is ridiculous,” Aurora complained as they stopped outside another store “You're the one starting a new life tomorrow” “A new job, not a new life” “Same difference” “No, it's not” Sophia pushed the door open. “Keep telling yourself that” They spent the next two hours putting together everything Vivianna Bennett would need. Nothing flashy, nothing that would make anyone look twice. Neutral blouses, tailored trousers, simple heels, a handbag that didn't scream expensive and a coat that made Aurora look like every other young woman trying to build a career in Milan Sophia held up a pair of glasses. “These” “I don't need glasses” “Viviana does” Aurora took them from her and tried them on, staring at herself in the mirror Sophia burst out laughing. “Oh my God” “What?” “You look like you pay taxes early” Aurora snorted. “Give me those” She took them off and threw them back into the basket “Fine. No glasses” “Thank you” They were halfway through another store when Aurora's phone vibrated inside her bag She pulled it out. Matteo. Her smile appeared almost instantly as she answered the call. “Hey.” “Hey, Rory. How's my favorite troublemaker doing?. “Getting everything I need for tomorrow.” “Already?” “Yhh mainly work clothes. Apparently, becoming Vivianna Bennett requires an entire new wardrobe.” Matteo chuckled. “So Sophia finally convinced you to go shopping?” “She didn't have to convince me. I needed the clothes.” “And how's that going?” Aurora glanced at the growing number of bags in Sophia's hands. “Let's just say I might have underestimated her definition of ‘a few things.’” Sophia immediately protested from beside her, making Aurora laugh. “I can hear her, you know,” Matteo said. “Good. Maybe she'll feel guilty.” “I doubt it.” Aurora smiled, looking over at Sophia. “We're almost done anyway.” “Good. Don't let her bankrupt you before tomorrow.” “I'll try.” Aurora chuckled Matteo exhaled softly. “Aurora, you know you can still change your mind about working with Dante.” “Well technically I'm actually working FOR him not with……” “Rory!” She leaned against the counter, her expression losing some of its playfulness “I know” “You're actually doing it.” Aurora glanced at the clothes hanging over Sophia's arm. “I told you I was.” “I know. I just thought you'd find a reason to postpone it.” “And miss my chance to get into Moretti Holdings?” She shook her head. “Not happening.” Matteo went quiet for a moment. “Rory, once you start this, you can't just decide halfway through that you've had enough.” Aurora's expression softened. “I know what I'm doing.” “Do you?” She looked at Sophia, who was pretending very badly not to listen. “I know exactly why I'm doing it.” Matteo sighed. “You still believe Dante killed Lucian.” “I don't believe it.” Her fingers tightened around the phone. “I know it.” The amusement disappeared from Matteo's voice. “Then promise me something.” “Depends.” “Don't let him get inside your head.” Aurora gave a small laugh. “Matteo, I'm going there to get inside his.” “I'm serious.” “So am I.” He was quiet again before finally saying, “Just don't forget why you went in there.” “I won't.” “Good.” “Now stop worrying.” “I'll try.” “That's better.” Matteo laughed softly. “Call me when you get home.” “I will.” “And Rory?” “Hmm?” “Good luck tomorrow.” Her smile returned. “Thanks, Matty.” “Anytime.” She ended the call and slipped her phone back into her bag Sophia was staring at her. “What?” “Nothing.” Aurora narrowed her eyes. “Sophia.” “I didn't say anything.” “Your face did.” Sophia adjusted the pile of clothes in her arms. “Matteo's right, you know.” Aurora's smile faded slightly. “About what?” “Not letting Dante get inside your head.” Aurora looked at her for a moment before reaching for another blouse. “He won't.” Sophia watched her quietly. “Just don't forget that you're going in there for Lucian.” Aurora's fingers paused against the fabric. “I won't.” Sophia nodded, then glanced down at the bags in her hands. “Good. Now can we finish before these shoes become my permanent responsibility?” Aurora laughed. “You volunteered.” “I was young and foolish.” “That was twenty minutes ago.” “Exactly. I've grown since then.” Aurora shook her head, smiling as she followed Sophia toward the next store.They continued shopping until the sky outside began to darken, the city lights slowly replacing the last traces of daylight. By the time they made it back to Aurora's apartment, neither of them had the energy to complain about their feet Aurora dropped the bags onto the couch “I officially hate you” Aurora kicked off her shoes. “You volunteered” “I was manipulated” “You're dramatic” “I learned from you” Aurora laughed and disappeared into the kitchen while Sophia followed behind her A bottle of wine sat waiting on the counter, along with takeout containers and a small cake Sophia had somehow managed to buy without Aurora noticing Aurora stared at everything “You did all this?” Sophia shrugged. “To celebrate your new job” “Technically, Vivianna got the job” “Don't start” Aurora smiled and reached for the cake Sophia slapped her hand away. “Wait!” “What?” “We haven't toasted yet” Aurora rolled her eyes but picked up a glass instead “To Vivianna,” Sophia announced Aurora looked at the glass in her hand “To Vivianna” They clinked their glasses together Sophia grinned. “May she survive Moretti Holdings” Aurora's smile faded for the briefest moment “May she survive,” she repeated Because tomorrow morning, Vivianna Bennett would walk into Moretti Holdings as a new intern Aurora De Luca would walk in looking for a killer