28

The night of the invitation, I stood in front of my mirror, adjusting the delicate gold bracelet around my wrist. Every part of me looked the part—soft waves in my hair, a dress that spoke of elegance rather than seduction, heels that added just enough height to command attention but not too much to draw suspicion.

This wasn’t just another meeting.

This was the moment I walked straight into the Ricci empire.

Dante leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, his gaze slow as he took me in.

“You look like you belong there,” he murmured.

I smirked, turning slightly. “That’s the point.”

His expression darkened. “Just remember why you’re going.”

I met his gaze, the air between us shifting. “To destroy him.”

Dante’s smirk was slow, dangerous. “Good girl.”

The words sent a thrill through me.

I didn’t let it show.

The Ricci estate was nothing short of a fortress—gated, patrolled, and sprawling across acres of land that screamed old money.

Elena met me at the entrance, her smile bright, her posture relaxed. “You made it.”

I returned the smile, matching her warmth. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

She linked her arm with mine, leading me inside. “I was hoping you’d come. It’s just a small gathering—nothing formal. My father isn’t even home.”

That sent a flicker of satisfaction through me.

It meant I had time.

I let her lead me through the marble-floored halls, my gaze sweeping over every entrance, every security measure, every guard that was meant to keep threats out.

They had no idea the real threat was already inside.

The evening was easy, effortless.

Elena introduced me to a few of her friends, all of them equally wealthy, equally oblivious. We sipped wine on the terrace, the conversation light, filled with stories of travel and luxury.

But I wasn’t here for them.

I was here for her.

“Elena,” I said after an hour, tilting my head slightly. “Can I see more of the house?”

She blinked, surprised. “The house?”

I smiled. “I just—I know you grew up here. I feel like it must be filled with memories.”

Her expression softened. “It is.”

I tilted my head. “Show me?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Sure.”

Hook.

Line.

Sinker.

Elena led me through the estate, her voice filled with nostalgia as she pointed out rooms from her childhood—the ballroom where she had danced as a little girl, the garden where she used to hide when she wanted to escape her father’s lectures.

I listened.

I absorbed.

And then, finally...

We reached his office.

The door was locked.

Of course, it was.

Elena sighed, rolling her eyes. “He never lets anyone in here.”

I bit my lip. “Never?”

She shook her head. “Nope. His private space.”

I forced a hesitant expression. “I mean… maybe just a peek?”

She laughed. “Oh, he’d kill me.”

I tilted my head, keeping my voice light. “He wouldn’t even know.”

Elena hesitated, glancing around.

Then, finally, she sighed, reaching for her necklace—a delicate gold chain with a tiny key hanging from it.

My pulse spiked.

That’s it.

She turned the key in the lock, pushing the door open. “Alright, but only for a second.”

I forced a grin, stepping inside.

The office was dark, lined with bookshelves, heavy wooden furniture, and a massive mahogany desk. But my eyes weren’t on the décor.

They were on the safe in the corner.

I kept my expression neutral, making a slow circle around the room.

“This is amazing,” I murmured, running my fingers over the desk. “So much history.”

Elena chuckled. “Yeah, or just a lot of expensive furniture.”

I smiled, turning back to her. “Come on, before we get caught.”

She nodded, relocking the door behind us as we stepped back into the hall.

I exhaled quietly.

I had seen enough.

And I knew exactly where we were going to strike.

Dante was waiting when I got back, his stance relaxed, but his eyes sharp as I stepped into the room.

“Well?”

I crossed my arms, smirking. “We have a way in.”

His smirk matched mine. “Tell me everything.”

We planned fast.

Dante had men who specialized in cracking safes. I had memorized the location of every security camera.

We had one shot.

One perfect window.

And when the night came.

We took it.

The Ricci estate was quiet when we arrived, the guards stationed at the gates unaware that they had already been compromised.

Luca had taken care of the surveillance feeds, looping the footage. We had exactly fourteen minutes to get in and out.

Dante moved with precision, his body pressed against mine as we slipped through the entrance.

The air was thick with tension, the kind that only came before something irreversible.

Dante’s lips brushed my ear. “Still breathing, princesa?”

I exhaled. “Barely.”

His smirk was quick. “Good.”

We moved fast.

Through the halls.

Past sleeping threats.

Straight to his office.

The lock was easy.

The safe? Not so much.

Luca worked fast, cracking it with skilled fingers, sweat beading at his brow. “Five minutes.”

I exhaled, scanning the room, keeping my ears open.

Then...

A soft click.

The safe swung open.

Stacks of cash. Documents. Passports.

And then...

Something we weren’t expecting.

A flash drive.

Dante grabbed it instantly, slipping it into his pocket before I could even blink.

“What’s on it?” I whispered.

His smirk was deadly. “Everything we need.”

Footsteps sounded in the hall.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

Dante’s eyes flickered to the door. “Time to go.”

We moved—fast, silent, invisible.

By the time we reached the outer gates, the sun was just beginning to rise.

We had done it.

We had stolen from the devil himself.

And he had no idea.

Yet.

Back at the safe house, Dante plugged the flash drive into a laptop, his jaw tight as files loaded onto the screen.

Luca let out a low whistle. “Well, shit.”

My stomach twisted. “What?”

Dante leaned back, his fingers steepled. “Ricci isn’t just running his own empire.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

Dante smirked, but there was no humor in it.

“I mean,” he murmured, turning the screen toward me, “that he’s been funding everyone.”

The names on the list made my blood run cold.

Politicians. Judges. High-ranking officials.

Ricci didn’t just have power.

He owned the city.

My pulse pounded. “What do we do?”

Dante’s eyes burned into mine.

“We take it all away.”

And just like that...

The real war began.