Not Over Yet
Before Adriano could even have a moment to collect himself after that intense bidding war, Alessandro leaned forward, voice low and sharp enough to cut glass.
“Are you out of your goddamn mind?”
Adriano didn’t even bother to look at him. “You’re welcome.”
“For what? For putting a target the size of Naples on your back?” Alessandro’s voice rose a fraction, just enough to sting but not enough for anyone nearby to catch on. His jaw was set like stone. “Three hundred million, Adriano? Three. Hundred. Do you have any idea what you just did?”
Adriano leaned back in his chair, as if the weight of Alessandro’s words didn’t even touch him. “I did what needed to be done.”
“What needed to be done,” Alessandro repeated with a bitter laugh. “You mean recklessly throwing money around like a bored prince at a brothel? We’re supposed to be under the radar. Subtle. Unseen. That was the opposite of subtle.”
Adriano smirked, the kind of smirk that existed solely to irritate him. “You sound like Papà.”
Alessandro’s nostrils flared. “I take that as a compliment.”
“It wasn’t one,” Adriano said flatly.
The air between them sparked with mounting tension. Alessandro leaned closer, his blue-green eyes hardening. “You think you can keep playing cowboy in someone else’s house and there won’t be consequences? You think these people won’t remember the new face who outbid them all without breaking a sweat? Do you even realize what kind of sharks you just swam with?”
Adriano shrugged, resting his elbow lazily on the table. “Don’t care. We got what we came for.”
Alessandro’s fingers drummed on the table, his restraint fraying by the second. “One day, that arrogance is going to get you killed.”
“One day,” Adriano echoed, rolling his eyes. “But not today.”
Diamond, who’d been sitting stiff and silent between them, finally snapped. “Okay that's enough.”
Both men turned to her.
She glared between them, her voice low but laced with heat. “Can you two save the dick-measuring contest for later? We’re sitting in the middle of a nest full of psychos, in case you forgot.”
Adriano blinked at her. Alessandro looked like he wanted to argue but thought better of it.
“Exactly,” Diamond said, leaning back. “The necklace is ours. That’s what matters. So can we please focus on leaving this place alive?”
Adriano exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple. “She’s right.”
He glanced at Alessandro with a hint of triumph. “We’ve secured Mamma’s necklace. That’s the win. Now we just need to get it and get out.”
Alessandro sighed, a long exhale of defeat. “Whatever.”
Adriano smirked faintly and pressed his finger to his comm. “We got it. The necklace is ours.”
A chorus of voices erupted in his earpiece—Serena, Marco, Luca, but above all of them was Gabriele’s unrestrained cheer.
“Finalmente!” Gabriele nearly shouted. “You did it, Adri! Mamma’s necklace—nostra madre’s necklace is coming home!”
Adriano’s lips twitched into a faint smile. Even Alessandro’s eyes softened for a second.
“Don’t celebrate yet,” Adriano said. “We still need to collect it.”
His voice hardened as he switched comm channels. “Enzo.”
“Here, boss,” Enzo’s voice crackled through, faint under the clinking of glasses and murmurs of the crowd.
“They’ll be moving the auction pieces now. Follow the staff and find out where they’re keeping the necklace. If you need backup, use our men in the building. Once you’ve secured it, report back.”
“Copy that.” Enzo’s voice was calm, but Adriano could practically hear him weaving through guests with his tray of wine.
Adriano cut the comm and leaned back, watching as masked attendants began quietly removing each won item from the display area and disappearing through a side corridor.
Then Gio’s voice boomed through the microphone again, far too gleeful for what came next.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” His theatrics cut through the low hum of conversation. “If I may have your attention, our evening of fine collectibles and rare antiquities has only been the beginning!”
The crowd chuckled, intrigued.
Gio clapped his hands together, his emerald-green suit catching the light like a serpent’s scales. “Now, for the true connoisseurs among you, I invite you to join me for the… private indulgences portion of tonight’s offerings. Please, follow the attendants to the East Wing. You will not be disappointed.”
Private indulgences.
The words dripped with suggestion, deliberately vague and far too rehearsed.
Alessandro frowned, turning his head toward Adriano. “What the hell is he talking about?”
Adriano shrugged, irritated. “Why are you looking at me? I don’t know.”
But before either of them could think it through, Diamond sucked in a sharp breath.
Her hands trembled against her lap. “The children.”
Both men snapped their heads toward her.
“What?” Adriano asked, his voice low.
Diamond’s face paled. Her throat worked like she was forcing down bile. “The children they traffick. I guess that's where they… showcase them.”
The words hung there like a noose.
But before either man could react—before Adriano could so much as push back his chair—their table was suddenly swarmed.
A cluster of elites descended, all smiles and perfumed curiosity.
“Three hundred million?” one of them said, laughing lightly as he raised his glass toward Adriano. “Who knew new blood could have such deep pockets?”
Another leaned in, her jewelry clinking as she purred, “Mr. Valente, is it? You must tell us more about your… ventures. I hear you’re in tech? Government contracts, perhaps?”
They didn’t care who he really was. They just wanted to peel him open and measure how much power bled out.
Alessandro stiffened beside him, his eyes flicking between the predators in silk and Adriano’s stone cold expression.
Diamond used the chaos to her advantage. She slid her chair back quietly, her breath shallow, heart hammering against her chest.
None of them even noticed as she stood.
“Excuse me,” she murmured, though no one heard.
She slipped away. Past the chattering elites, past the servers clearing plates, following the trail of those heading toward the East Wing.