The rain lashed the pavement, transforming the city into a labyrinth of shimmering reflections. Alaina tightened her coat around herself, trying to ignore the shivers that ran down her spine. She should never have come here. Not alone. Not at this hour.
The invitation had arrived in a black envelope, slipped under her door. No signature, no explanation, just an address scrawled in gold ink. A trap? Perhaps. But she couldn't ignore the allure of mystery.
She stopped in front of the building's entrance. A private club, judging by the dim light filtering through the heavy curtains. Two men in suits stood at the door, their cold gazes gliding over her like a silent assessment.
"Name?" asked one of them, his voice sharp as a blade.
"Alaina."
The guard exchanged a glance with his colleague before opening the door.
"Welcome," he murmured, a strange smile on his lips.
Alaina took a deep breath and entered the lair of danger.
The club's interior was a stark contrast to the icy rain outside. Dim lighting, the heady scent of cigars and whiskey, hushed whispers among strangers dressed with an almost unreal elegance. Alaina immediately felt she didn't belong there.
Her heels clicked lightly on the marble floor as she walked forward, aware of the stares directed at her. She knew she was being watched, assessed, but by whom?
"You're finally here."
The voice, smooth and tinged with a hint of amusement,
made her freeze. Lorenzo.
He was leaning against the bar, a glass of amber liquor in his hand. His black shirt, open just enough, revealed a patch of skin and a discreet gold chain. His eyes, dark and burning, were fixed on her with a disconcerting intensity.
"How did you know I would come?" she asked, approaching, her heart beating faster.
"Because it was written. From the beginning."
A smile touched his lips before he leaned towards her,
reducing the distance between them to a breath.
"And now that you're here, Alaina, there's no going back."
Alaina felt an invisible weight press down on her shoulders as Lorenzo led her through the club.
They passed elegant figures, whispers lost in the muffled sound of the music. Each step plunged her deeper into a world she didn't yet understand.
A solid wood door stood before them. Lorenzo opened it effortlessly and invited her in.
The room, more intimate, was bathed in soft light. A huge desk stood in the center, flanked by mahogany bookcases and a dark velvet sofa.
Alaina remained frozen near the door.
"Sit down," Lorenzo ordered him, pointing to the armchair in front of him.
"Why am I here?" she asked, her voice trembling more than she would have liked.
"Because you wanted it."
He settled quietly behind his desk,
clasping his hands under his chin.
"You don't understand yet,
but you've entered a world from which there's no return,
Alaina. And me…"
He paused for a moment, scrutinizing her with an almost predatory smile.
"I am the one who decides whether you sink or float."
A shiver ran down Alaina's spine.
"And what if I don't want to sink or float? What if I want to leave?"
Lorenzo stood up slowly. Every movement was calculated, imbued with overwhelming confidence. He approached her, further reducing the space that separated them.
"That's where you're wrong. There's no way out."
Alaina met his gaze, refusing to back away. She wasn't the type to be intimidated. Yet, facing him, she felt something inexplicable drawing her into a spiral she couldn't control.
Lorenzo reached out and lightly touched his chin with his fingertips.
"Do you still think you have a choice?"
She held her breath.
"Everyone has a choice."
He gave a soft, dark, mocking laugh.
" Not here. Not with me."
He stepped back slightly and walked towards a solid wood cabinet.
Opening it, he took out a thick file and placed it on the desk.
"Your future," he murmured.
Alaina frowned.
" What is this ?"
He tapped the cover of the folder with his fingertips.
"A story that begins."
Alaina stared at the file as if it might burn her fingers.
A story beginning? No. A story that was already beyond her.
"Open it," said Lorenzo in a neutral tone.
She hesitated. Every instinct within her screamed at her not to obey, not to play his game. But his gaze, captivating and sharp as a blade, held her captive. Slowly, she reached out and lifted the cover of the file.
Photos. Documents. Information about her, her life, her habits.
His breath caught in his throat.
"How...?"
Lorenzo leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the desk.
"I've been watching you for a long time, Alaina."
A shiver ran through her. It wasn't a simple coincidence,
not a fluke. He knew everything.
"Why?" she murmured, her throat tight.
Lorenzo gave a slight smile,
but it was anything but reassuring.
" Because you belong to me."
Alaina stood up abruptly, slightly tipping the chair backward.
The sharp sound of her movement shattered the intimacy of the room.
She took a step back, her heart pounding.
"You want to scare me, is that it?
You want me to believe you, to be your puppet?"
Lorenzo remained motionless, almost too calm.
His eyes, however, never left her, scrutinizing her every move.
He didn't even seem surprised by her reaction.
On the contrary, it was as if he had been expecting it.
"You still don't understand, Alaina. It's not a question of fear.
It's a question of power."
She looked at him, bewildered. He approached again,
but this time he didn't try to touch her.
He simply dominated her with his presence,
with that aura of control that seemed to envelop her like a second skin.
"You already belong to me, he repeated in a low voice.
Everything you see, everything you feel, it's all part of the plan.
You're already a part of me."
The words coiled around her like invisible chains. She didn't dare give in to panic, but anguish rose within her. How could he know so much about her? What was he really waiting for?
Alaina couldn't relax. The silence in the room was oppressive, almost too much to bear. She got up again to take a few steps, her heels clicking on the marble floor, but it was no use. The questions kept swirling in her head. What was she doing here? Why her, why now?
She knew everything was more complex than she could see. The mafia, this strange life to which she had just unwittingly succumbed, couldn't be explained simply by a chance encounter. There was something bigger, something she didn't know, and she had no idea how she could deal with it. She paused for a moment, staring at herself in the mirror. Her reflection seemed almost alien. She wasn't the same Alaina she had been. Recent events had changed her. For better or for worse, only time would tell.
A loud noise from the hallway made her jump. Someone was coming. She froze. What if it was him, Lorenzo? Her heart began to race, but she forced herself to remain calm. The door opened slowly. A tall man with a confident stride entered the room. His dark eyes met hers immediately, a slight smile stretching his lips.
"So, are we starting to adapt to this new world?" he asked in a deep, almost friendly voice.
She swallowed with difficulty.
She felt as if everything was slipping away from her.
"I… I'm just getting used to it,"
She tried not to let her nervousness show, but it wasn't easy. The man was scrutinizing her with an intensity that unsettled her. He didn't seem to be in a hurry, and this relaxed attitude only heightened the tension in the air.
The man approached slowly, and Alaina felt a strange warmth fill the room, a warmth that contrasted sharply with the icy air she had just felt. He wasn't as imposing as Lorenzo, but something about his demeanor gave her an impression of control, as if every move he made had been meticulously planned.
"You're right to get used to it, he said finally, breaking the silence.
Because here, you don't really have a choice.
This world has chosen you, and you'll have to learn to be a part of it."
His words resonated within her like a warning, but also a promise.
A shiver ran down her spine. Alaina didn't reply immediately;
her mind was racing with a thousand conflicting thoughts.
The man took a step back, still watching her.
An amused glint shone in his eyes.
Alaina wondered exactly who he was and what role he played in this organization.
Just a member of the mafia? Or a trusted man, one of Lorenzo's lieutenants?
"I'm Alessandro, he said finally, as if he anticipated her question.
And you're the one who's going to change a lot of things here,
if you know how to play your part."
Alaina, despite her instinctive distrust, had no choice but to listen.
She hadn't yet grasped the full extent of what was happening around her.
But it was clear she wouldn't be free to do as she pleased.
"I am not a puppet," she replied, her voice firmer, more determined.
He shrugged, an almost mocking smile on his lips.
"You'll see. You have more power than you think. But all this requires patience, strategy, and above all, knowing when to make the right choice."
A heavy silence settled once again.
Alaina couldn't shake the feeling that she was trapped in a machine much bigger than herself.
Alessandro turned slowly, ready to leave. But before leaving the room, he turned back to her one last time.
Lorenzo wants to see you tonight. He's eager to show you how it all works. Get ready.
Lorenzo's shadow was already looming in her mind.
How would she face this encounter? What exactly did he want from her?
Her thoughts raced, but she knew one thing: she had no choice.
She would have to delve deeper into this world,
however dark and oppressive it might be.
The sound of the door closing echoed in the room,
leaving her alone once more.
Solitude no longer frightened her.
No, it was the next encounter that terrified her.
The prospect of coming face to face with Lorenzo and finally understanding her place in all of this.
She took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself. No matter what happened, she had to be ready. Because one thing was certain: in this world, there was no room for the weak.