“Celia,” Vito corrected, his voice steady but firm.
The man raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He stepped closer, his polished shoes clicking sharply against the marble floor. “Vito’s spoken highly of you. Says you’re… resourceful.”
I stole a quick glance at Vito, unsure of what to say. He gave me a small nod, his face unreadable.
“I hope I can live up to his words,” I said, cautiously.
The man’s lips twisted into a smirk, cold and unfriendly. “We’ll see.”
The tension in the room thickened. Another man, standing with his arms crossed, fixed me with a sharp, piercing look. “Do you even know what you’ve gotten yourself into, Celia?”
Before I could answer, Vito spoke, his tone unwavering. “She knows enough. And she’s ready.”
I wasn’t so sure, but I nodded anyway, letting his confidence carry me.
The first man gave a curt nod. “Let’s not waste time,” he said, his voice cold and final. “Follow me.”
He turned sharply, leading us deeper into the fortress-like building. The dimly lit corridors stretched ahead, and with every step, my pulse raced faster.
Vito stayed close, his hand brushing my lower back in a subtle gesture of reassurance—or, perhaps to keep me from faltering.
We entered a sleek conference room, the long table bathed in stark, unflinching light. The other members of the Viper Group entered quietly, their movements deliberate, almost predatory.
The man who’d spoken earlier took a seat at the head of the table and gestured for me to sit across from him. Vito stood behind me, his presence solid and grounding.
“So,” the man began, leaning forward. “Do you have what it takes to bring Marco Moretti to his knees?”
My breath hitched, but before I could speak, Vito’s hand landed lightly on my shoulder. “She does,” he said, his voice firm.
The man’s gaze held mine, calculating, searching for something—weakness, resolve, I wasn’t sure. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
The sound of a phone buzzing cut through the tension. Vito straightened and pulled his phone from his pocket. He glanced at the screen before excusing himself and stepping out of the room.
My eyes followed him, my stomach twisting with unease.
The room’s attention shifted back to me, but my thoughts stayed on Vito. I needed him here with me, his steadiness anchoring me.
In the hallway, Vito answered the call. His voice is low but steady. “Yes?”