Chapter 180 – The Hidden Warning

Chapter 180 – The Hidden Warning

Lila POV

I didn’t turn around.
I couldn’t.
My whole body froze the moment that voice brushed past my ear.
Don’t turn around.
It wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t urgent.
But it carried something I couldn’t ignore.
Authority.
Familiarity.
Something that lived deep inside my chest.
My fingers curled slowly at my sides.
My heart started racing so fast it hurt.
Enzo.
It had to be him.
No one else could make my body react like this without even touching me.
“Lila,” Luca’s voice cut through the darkness. “Stay where you are.”
I didn’t answer.
Because I couldn’t speak.
I was afraid if I opened my mouth, I’d say his name out loud.
And if I did—
Everything would break.
The lights flickered again.
A second later, they came back on.
The room returned.
People moved again.
Noise came back.
But the space behind me—
Was empty.
I turned.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Nothing.
Just a hallway full of confused faces and moving bodies.
No sign of him.
No trace.
My chest tightened painfully.
Did I imagine it?
No.
No, I didn’t.
I knew what I heard.
“Lila.”
Luca was suddenly in front of me, his hand on my shoulder.
“Are you okay?”
I stared at him.
“I…”
My voice felt strange.
Like it didn’t belong to me.
“I heard him.”
Luca frowned.
“Heard who?”
I swallowed.
“Enzo.”
Marco stepped closer immediately.
“What?”
“He was here,” I said. “Right behind me.”
They exchanged a quick look.
“Lila,” Marco said carefully, “there are a lot of people here—”
“It was him.”
My voice came out stronger this time.
Certain.
Because I wasn’t guessing.
I wasn’t hoping.
I knew.
Luca studied my face for a long second.
Then he sighed quietly.
“Alright.”
Marco looked at him.
“You’re just going to accept that?”
“I’m not ignoring it.”
Luca turned back to me.
“What exactly did you hear?”
I hesitated.
Then repeated it.
“He told me not to turn around.”
Silence.
Marco shook his head.
“That doesn’t prove anything.”
“It proves he was close,” I said.
“Or someone wants you to think that.”
I clenched my jaw.
“No one can fake his voice.”
“You’d be surprised what people can fake,” Marco replied.
Luca raised a hand.
“Enough.”
He looked at me again.
“Did you see anything?”
“No.”
“Feel anything?”
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Like… he was watching me.”
The words felt strange, but true.
Not fear.
Not danger.
Just presence.
Luca didn’t say anything for a moment.
Then he exhaled.
“Let’s get out of here.”
Marco nodded.
“Yeah. This place is too exposed.”
They didn’t argue with me anymore.
That alone told me something had changed.
Because they believed something was happening too.
Maybe not exactly what I felt.
But enough to take it seriously.
We left the casino quickly.
The night air hit my face, cold and sharp.
I took a deep breath.
But it didn’t help.
Because my mind was still inside that moment.
That voice.
That whisper.
Don’t turn around.
Why?
Why didn’t he want me to see him?
Luca opened the car door for me.
“Get in.”
I did.
Marco took the front seat.
Luca started the engine.
The ride was quiet at first.
Too quiet.
Finally, Marco spoke.
“If he was there… why not show himself?”
I stared out the window.
“I don’t know.”
“Maybe he couldn’t,” Luca said.
“Or didn’t want to,” Marco added.
I shook my head.
“No.”
Both of them looked at me.
“That wasn’t hesitation,” I said. “That was control.”
“What do you mean?”
“He knew exactly what he was doing.”
Luca’s grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel.
“And that bothers you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Enzo never played games with me.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Complicated.
Marco leaned back.
“People change.”
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t want that to be true.
We arrived at my apartment not long after.
Luca parked and turned to me.
“Call me if anything feels off.”
I nodded.
“I will.”
Marco looked at me seriously.
“And lock the door.”
“I’m not careless.”
“Just saying.”
I gave him a small look.
Then got out of the car.
The hallway felt quieter than usual.
Too quiet.
I walked to my door, unlocked it, and stepped inside.
Dark.
I reached for the switch.
The lights came on.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
I closed the door behind me slowly.
Locked it.
Then leaned against it for a second.
My heart was still beating fast.
Not from fear.
From something else.
Expectation.
I walked further inside.
My eyes moved across the room carefully.
The couch.
The table.
The kitchen.
Nothing out of place.
I let out a slow breath.
“See?” I muttered to myself. “You’re overthinking.”
But then—
Something caught my attention.
On the table.
A small piece of paper.
My steps slowed.
I knew I didn’t leave anything there before I left.
My chest tightened again.
I walked closer.
Slowly.
Like the paper might disappear if I moved too fast.
It didn’t.
It stayed there.
Waiting.
I reached out and picked it up.
My fingers felt cold.
There was only one thing written on it.
Three words.
Simple.
Clear.
Sharp.
Don’t trust Dante.
My breath stopped.
The paper slipped slightly in my hand.
I read it again.
And again.
Like maybe the words would change.
They didn’t.
Don’t trust Dante.
A chill ran down my spine.
Because this—
This felt different.
Not a threat.
Not a game.
A warning.
Real.
Direct.
And personal.
I looked around the room again.
“Who’s here?” I said out loud.
No answer.
Silence.
But I knew.
I wasn’t alone earlier.
Someone had been here.
Someone had left this.
And deep down—
I already knew who.
“Enzo…” I whispered.
My voice barely made a sound.
But the moment his name left my lips—
A noise came from the balcony.
Soft.
Quick.
I turned sharply.
My heart jumped.
The curtain moved slightly.
Like someone had just passed through.
I rushed forward.
Pulled it aside.
The balcony was empty.
The night stretched out in front of me.
Quiet.
Still.
But the air—
Felt disturbed.
Like something had just left.
I stepped out.
Looked around.
Nothing.
But then—
My eyes caught something on the railing.
A small scratch.
Fresh.
Like metal had hit it.
Like someone had climbed over.
I stepped closer.
My fingers brushed against it.
Cold.
Real.
Not my imagination.
I looked down at the paper still in my hand.
Don’t trust Dante.
My chest tightened again.
Because this wasn’t random.
This wasn’t just someone trying to scare me.
This was targeted.
Specific.
And if it was really him—
Then everything changed.
Because Enzo wasn’t just alive.
He was close.
Watching.
Protecting.
Warning me.
About Dante.
I swallowed hard.
My mind raced.
Why Dante?
What did he do?
What was he hiding?
Before I could think further—
My phone vibrated in my hand.
I flinched slightly.
Then looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
My heart started racing again.
I hesitated.
Then answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
“Who is this?”
A breath.
Soft.
Familiar.
Then—
“Did you read it?”
My whole body went still.
Because I knew that voice.
I knew it.
And this time—
There was no doubt.
Enzo.
My grip tightened on the phone.
“Where are you?” I asked immediately.
Silence.
“Enzo—”
“Don’t trust him.”
His voice was low.
Serious.
Nothing like before.
“He’s not who you think.”
My heart pounded.
“What are you talking about?”
No answer.
“Enzo, stop—talk to me!”
A pause.
Then—
“Next time… don’t come alone.”
The line went dead.
I stood there.
Frozen.
The phone still pressed to my ear.
My heart racing out of control.
Because this wasn’t a dream.
This wasn’t a memory.
This was real.
Enzo was alive.
And he just warned me.
About Dante.
And then—
My phone vibrated again.
A new message.
From an unknown number.
I opened it slowly.
My breath caught the moment I saw it.
A photo.
Taken just seconds ago.
From outside my apartment.
Through the balcony.
Of me.
Standing there.
Holding the paper.
And below it—
One sentence.
He’s already watching you.