la
ntended to be jus
glass of wine elegantly held as I exchanged smiles w
eneer of yet another Laurent
rank excessively, his fingers nervously clenching around the cry
ng with a sense of victory, oblivious to the dangers. But
ase settled i
in diamonds and men in finely tailored suits, heading towards the dimly lit hallway th
heard h
thing left
ath captured
alm, low, and menacing responded. "T
issed what I had heard. Instead, I pressed closer, ear a
d with desperation. "My assets, my businesses,
le
e Va
name sent a chi
more than a man he was a legend, spoken of in hushed tones across Ne
e debts," Dante
"I I have someth
ce fo
e's voice agai
hardly
d, his voice quivering. "Well-mannere
o
back. "You're offer
No
ll I hav
The walls felt as though they were closing in, and the air was
iver, a man more devoted to money than ethics bu
ld
cess my thoughts,
seemed to have emerged from the shadows, every aspect of him sharp and unyielding. His face was chiseled-high cheekbones, a
ld, and
o mine, renderi
ttered behind
he words barely
flinched.
had shifted a
staring
Da
me as if I we
g me like a new acquisition. An unreadable expression passed
he ad
trea
her
er re
nd soon I was against the wall
detect the faint scent of expensive cologne crisp and
uncing my name like a slow-burning
rembling all over.
t it wasn't amusement-it was
n you
't exp
t sting i
ring of
world tilting beneath
in my last moments of consciousness, Dante Vale
ach
eel
aimed another piece in