15

**Amelia's POV**

The pub wasn’t hard to find, and neither was Carlos. He was sitting on a barstool, nursing a glass of wine like he had all the time in the world. As soon as he spotted me, he finished off his drink in one gulp and grabbed a briefcase, striding toward me.

"Would you like a drink first?" he asked, his tone casual, almost amused.

"Let’s just get this over with. I’m already sick of this place," I replied with a dramatic sigh. He chuckled, clearly entertained, and motioned for me to follow him.

We wove through the crowded pub until we reached a discreet door at the back. Carlos opened it, revealing a dimly lit corridor that led to what I assumed was some private area. As we walked, his voice dropped to a hushed tone.

"There’s no one here, not even a security guard, so you don’t have to worry."

"That’s suspicious, don’t you think? Why wouldn’t there be a single guard?" I asked, my instincts kicking in.

"Having guards here would draw unnecessary attention. Antonio’s just arrogant enough to think no one would dare to cross him," Carlos explained, setting the briefcase on the ground.

I frowned. "Why is Kai investigating Antonio? I thought they were friends."

“the mafia is just like an hunger game, you have no friends or ally, anyone can be backstab anyone at any time” carlos explained while I nodded

I looked around the dim room, my gut telling me I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The air felt heavy, like even the shadows had secrets to hide. "So, what’s the plan here?" I asked, trying not to let my unease show.

Carlos leaned casually against a table, looking like this was just another Tuesday for him. "Kai wants you to hack into the armory’s security cameras. We think Antonio’s been involved in some shady dealings, and we need proof to bring him down."

No pressure, right?

I picked up the sleek little hacking device Carlos had brought and gave it a once-over. Impressive. For someone who acts like a walking disaster, at least he had good tools.

"Alright, let’s get this over with," I muttered, plugging the device into my laptop.

I inputted the keys in the laptop as i started working and in no time, i was done.

The camera feeds popped up on my screen. Every corner of the armory was laid bare before me. I saved what we needed, disconnected, and slammed my laptop shut.

"Done," I said, spinning around, only to find Carlos... playing a video game on his phone.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," I muttered under my breath.

Carlos glanced up, blinking like I’d interrupted something important. "Oh, you’re done? That was quick."

My patience snapped. "You do realize anyone could’ve walked in here and shot us both, right? Maybe prioritize our safety next time instead of Candy Crush or whatever the hell you’re playing."

He shrugged, completely unfazed. "Relax, it didn’t happen, did it? Pack up the tools so we can leave. I promise to keep watch this time."

"Absolutely not. I’m done here. You can pack up and clear the evidence yourself," I shot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

Carlos frowned. "But this is your job. We’re not supposed to split duties like this."

I grabbed my bag and started for the door, tossing a final retort over my shoulder. "Then tell your boss to pay me."

I stormed out of that room, still fuming. My heels clicked angrily against the floor as I made my way back to the club. Carlos could deal with his own mess—I wasn’t about to babysit him.

Kai’s POV

I was sitting at the table, barely hearing the noise of the club around me. My mind was spinning, and I was trying to keep my frustration in check. Amelia. Where the hell was she? I told Carlos to keep an eye on her, and of course, that idiot couldn't manage one simple task.

I caught sight of him weaving through the crowd, his face already screaming guilt. Great. This was gonna be fun.

"Boss," Carlos started, clearing his throat like it’d soften the blow. "Amelia’s done with the mission. Everything’s taken care of."

I didn’t even bother looking at him right away. "Where is she now?"

There was this awkward pause, and when I finally glanced up, he had that look. You know the one. The I screwed up but maybe I won’t die if I explain fast enough look.

"Uh, I thought—"

That’s all I needed to hear. I was out of my chair in a second, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him close. "You were supposed to keep an eye on her," I growled, my voice low enough that no one else could hear over the music. "She doesn’t know this place, and it’s not safe for her to wander around alone."

"I thought she was with you," he stammered, his hands awkwardly hovering like he couldn’t decide if he should try to push me off or just let me kill him. Smart choice. He didn’t try.

I shoved him back, letting go. I scanned the room, my eyes cutting through the crowd, but she wasn’t there. "Find her," I snapped, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Now."

Carlos nodded, already turning to leave, but I wasn’t done.

"And, Carlos," I added, my voice dropping even lower, "don’t let Pietro find her first. If he does, you’ll be as good as dead"

*****************

Amelia’s POV

I had found my way to the club’s top-floor balcony, needing a breather from all the testosterone-fueled chaos below. The cool night air helped, and the view wasn’t bad—city lights sparkling like they were mocking my life choices.

I was tracing the rim of my whiskey glass, lost in my thoughts, when I sensed someone approaching. Turning slightly, I saw a man walking to me. The way he carried himself, like he owned every room he walked into, was hard to ignore.

"Enjoying the view?" he asked, his voice smooth, like he was already halfway through charming his next conquest.

I turned fully to face him, sizing him up. "It’s alright," I replied coolly.

He smiled, extending a hand. "I’m Pietro."