Vito’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “You’ll meet them soon enough.”
A shiver ran down my spine. My instincts screamed at me to turn back, but I couldn't. I wouldn't.
We pulled up in front of the huge stone stairs leading into the building, and as Vito shut off the engine, my door swung open.
“Come on, Celia” he said.
I hesitated for just a moment, and then I followed him into the cold, quiet air, the sound of our footsteps echoing.
As we ascended the steps and entered the building, I felt as if I had stepped into another world. The kind of world I had never known—and never expected.
Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Men in dark suits were standing in the main room, their faces unreadable. They looked like they were waiting for something.
And then, as my eyes scanned the room, I saw them.
The Viper Group.
My breath caught in my throat, my legs going weak beneath me.
The Viper Group. Marco's rival. The one he had battled for years. The group that no one crossed without paying a price. And now, here I was, in their midst, with no idea what I had just walked into.
Vito stepped forward, his presence commanding, and I followed, though every part of me screamed to run.
“You must be Celia Moretti,” a voice said from the shadows, cutting through the room.
My heart skipped a beat as the man stepped into the light. His face was cold, calculating, but there was something in his eyes that made my blood run cold.
"Welcome," he said, his smile icy. "We've been expecting you."
And in that moment, my heart raced. What had I just gotten myself into?
I hesitated at the threshold, my heart pounding in my chest.The members of the Viper Group dominated the room, their sharp suits and colder gazes slicing through the air. My throat tightened as I tried to speak, but the words stuck.
Vito leaned in close, his breath brushing against my ear. “Be nice to them. First impressions matter,” he whispered.
I glanced at him, startled by his calm. How was he so composed? Every instinct screamed at me to turn and run, but Vito’s presence beside me steadied me, his words carrying a weight I couldn’t ignore.
Swallowing hard, I stepped forward. “It’s an honor to meet you all,” I finally managed, my voice shaking.
The man who’d spoken earlier—standing at the center—chuckled softly. “An honor? Interesting choice of words, Mrs. Moretti.” His gaze swept over me, calculating.