That afternoon, Naples was filled with the scent of the sea and the hustle and bustle of a harbor that never truly slept. The damp wind carried the salty fragrance from the Bay of Naples, and the footsteps on the cobblestone streets sounded loud, piercing the silence that arose amidst the city's clamor.
Luciana walked through the narrow corridor of Via Toledo with light steps, yet they felt heavy to her. Every breath she took was filled with the lingering pain since the death of her fiancé in Jakarta. Her heart was shattered, so she decided to go to Italy, her father's homeland.
Luciana entered a small café, choosing a seat near the window. Outside, the evening light reflected on the stones of the street wet from last night's rain, creating a golden shimmer that seemed to mock human sorrow.
"Who killed Adrian?" she murmured to herself.
She stared at a cup of cappuccino in front of her, its steam rising slowly into the air. Her slender hands gripped the cup tightly, as if holding back all the emotions swelling in her chest. Her eyes were empty, staring out the window, yet her mind returned to Jakarta, to Adrian, who had now become the bitterest memory.
"Why can life be so cruel to us?" she whispered. The voice was drowned in the midst of the café visitors' chatter.
Suddenly, the café door creaked open loudly, drawing the attention of several customers.
A handsome-faced man stepped in. The black suit clung perfectly to his muscular body, his black hair neatly combed, and his cold blue eyes seemed to pierce every soul daring to look at him.
"Alessandro Romano," murmured one of the patrons. He froze in his seat.
The name made people in Naples shiver. Especially since the death of his beloved, Alessandro had become colder and more ruthless. He always moved through the streets, searching for Giulia's killer.
The young master of the wealthy mafia family was the most feared figure in Italy. He did not hesitate to eliminate anyone he suspected. And for some reason, at this moment, he was in that small café.
Meanwhile, Luciana only glanced at him briefly. She did not flinch or feel afraid in the least. She returned her gaze to her cappuccino cup, seemingly indifferent to the presence of Alessandro or the fearful murmurs of the café patrons.
Still standing, Alessandro scanned the room and finally stopped at Luciana. There was something that drew his attention, prompting him to step closer.
His eyes fixed on Luciana's face, which did not turn toward him at all. "Who is that woman? It seems she's new in this city," he murmured to himself.
Alessandro's gaze was locked on a face that seemed to hold so many wounds. Yet the more he looked, his heart throbbed violently, his pulse racing as if he recognized Luciana very closely.
"Why do I feel that this woman is so close to me?" he murmured.
Luciana, realizing that Alessandro had been staring at her all this time, boldly returned the man's gaze.
"Who is this man?" she wondered to herself.
Then he swept his gaze across all the patrons, who were bowing their heads, not daring to look toward Alessandro.
Luciana furrowed her brows. "Why do they seem afraid of this man?" she whispered.
She looked at Alessandro again, then lowered her gaze to study the appearance of the cold man who made the café's visitors look terrified. But not Luciana; her body trembled subtly. Her heart beat faster, as if the man standing before her was not a stranger.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the tremor and the racing of her heart. "I don't know anyone in this country, except my father's family," she murmured to herself.
"Is this table empty?" Alessandro asked. His voice sounded cold and sharp, as if giving Luciana no choice to refuse.
Luciana exhaled deeply. Actually, she did not want him to sit at that table, but she had no other choice since the café was full.
"Please!" she said.
Without uttering a single word, Alessandro sat at the chair. His eyes never left Luciana's face, examining it as if reading the sadness etched on that beautiful face. Yet he also saw something wild in Luciana's gaze, as if an untamable natural energy resided there.
"You're not from here." His voice sounded very calm, yet behind that calmness lay a great curiosity.
"My father is from Naples, and I'm here just to visit his family," Luciana replied in a casual tone.
Without Alessandro intending it, he suddenly offered a faint smile. "Naples is not very friendly to newcomers," he said.
Luciana leaned back in her chair, her eyes meeting Alessandro's gaze. She let out a deep sigh, then lifted the corners of her lips, offering a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"I know that, and I don't care. As long as their unfriendliness doesn't bother me."
Alessandro raised one eyebrow. He was captivated by the courage of the woman sitting before him. For the first time in his life, someone spoke to him with such indifference.
Soon, he was startled when he caught a flash in Luciana's eyes. "This woman…" he murmured to himself.
Suddenly, something stirred within his heart. Alessandro's chest felt tight, his breath rapid, and his fingers unconsciously clenched on the table. His jaw hardened, as if holding back a roar trying to escape his throat. His heart raced wildly, his pulse thundering, as if his body recognized something his mind could not explain.
There was a strong energy within this woman, something different from anyone he had ever met.
"I feel this again," he murmured to himself.
At the same time, suddenly outside, rain began to fall, drenching the streets of Naples. Streetlights reflected on the puddles, creating a magical atmosphere as if marking the beginning of their fated meeting.
Luciana took a sip of her coffee, her mind filled with questions. "Why do I feel like this? Why is my heart pounding so fast? Why does this turmoil refuse to leave? Those eyes seem to pull me in like a magnet. And those eyes, where have I seen them before?"
The café suddenly fell silent. Their eyes locked, as if time had stopped. Something trembled in each of their chests. An energy that was familiar, wild, and electrifying, though they did not know its origin. That energy reminded them both of the spirit of the white tiger that had always haunted their dreams.
Then they were startled and turned simultaneously toward the door when a loud sound was heard.
"Brakk!"