The dimly lit room was thick with tension, the air heavy with smoke from a half-burned cigar resting in an ashtray at the center of the table. The men gathered around the table were shrouded in shadows, their faces obscured by the flickering glow of a single lamp hanging from the ceiling. Their voices were low, sharp, and laced with frustration.
Dominic Ferraro, the head of the Ferraro family and one of the most feared men in the underground world, leaned back in his chair, his expression grim. His slicked-back hair and sharp jawline gave him an air of superiority, but there was something dark in his eyes—a deep-seated anger that had been brewing for years.
"We were supposed to have her," Dominic growled, slamming his fist on the table. "That girl was ours. She was part of the deal."
Across from him, a lean man with cold, calculating eyes, known only as Caine, spoke in a measured tone. He was a broker of sorts, a middleman in deals that involved people, power, and money. His reputation was built on the fact that he never failed to deliver—until now.
"She was, but Ezra luca-de-liang interfered," Caine replied, his voice calm despite the palpable tension in the room. "He married her before we could move in. That wasn't part of the plan."
Dominic's eyes flashed with fury. "You told me she was guaranteed! The girl was supposed to be delivered to us. I've been waiting years for this."
"She was guaranteed," Caine said, leaning forward. "But no one anticipated that Ezra would make a move. We underestimated his interest in her."
Dominic's fists clenched at the mention of Ezra's name. Ezra Valenti, the powerful Italian-Chinese mob boss, had been a thorn in Dominic's side for years, always staying one step ahead, always slipping out of his grasp. But this time, it was personal.
"He didn't just marry her to save her," Dominic spat, his voice dripping with venom. "He did it to spite me. He knew exactly what he was doing."
Caine's lips curled into a slight smirk. "Perhaps. But that doesn't change the fact that the girl—Celia—is now under his protection. And as long as she's with him, getting to her won't be easy."
One of Dominic's men, a hulking brute with a scar running down the side of his face, grunted in frustration. "So what do we do now? Sit around and wait for him to hand her over?"
Dominic glared at him, his eyes cold and calculating. "We don't wait. We make our move. Ezra can't protect her forever. He has his own enemies to worry about, and eventually, he'll slip."
Caine raised an eyebrow. "You're suggesting we go after Valenti directly? That's risky, even for you."
Dominic's grin was sharp and predatory. "Ezra thinks he's untouchable. But no one is untouchable in this world. We have leverage—people on the inside who are willing to turn on him for the right price. We just need to apply the right pressure."
Caine considered this for a moment before speaking again. "Ezra is careful, though. He doesn't leave loose ends, and he's been more elusive since he married her. He knows we're after Celia, and he won't let her out of his sight."
Dominic's eyes darkened. "He won't have a choice. I've been patient long enough. We need to draw him out, make him vulnerable."
Caine tilted his head slightly. "And how do you plan to do that?"
Dominic leaned forward, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "We go after the one thing that can break him—Celia. She's the key. If we can get her away from him, Ezra will fall."
"But we can't get close to her," the scarred man muttered. "He's guarding her like she's a damn queen."
Dominic smirked, the glint of malicious intent in his eyes. "That's why we need to be smarter. Ezra swooped in and took her because he thought he was saving her. But what if Celia knew the truth? What if she knew why we were after her in the first place?"
Caine's expression remained impassive, though a flicker of interest crossed his features. "You're suggesting we tell her?"
Dominic's grin widened. "Not just tell her. We show her. Celia was never supposed to end up with him. She was part of a deal—my deal. We let her see that Ezra isn't her savior, that he's just another man playing his part in this world. Once she realizes that, she'll come to us on her own."
A heavy silence fell over the room as the implications of Dominic's plan settled in.
Caine's eyes narrowed. "And if she doesn't?"
Dominic's smile faded, replaced by a cold, hard resolve. "Then we take her by force. Either way, she'll be mine."
The scarred man shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Ezra's not going to take this lying down. He'll come for us."
Dominic waved a hand dismissively. "Let him. By the time he realizes what's happening, it'll be too late. Celia will be out of his reach, and he'll have no choice but to give up. Either that, or he dies."
Caine leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "You're playing a dangerous game, Dominic. But it just might work. Ezra's blind spot is Celia. If we exploit that, we can control the entire board."
Dominic's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Exactly. And once we have her, Ezra will be powerless. He'll have no choice but to bend to our will."
The scarred man still looked uneasy, but Dominic's confidence was infectious. He had been waiting for this moment for years, ever since Ezra had first crossed him. Now, with Celia in the mix, the game had changed.
Caine, always the strategist, spoke again. "We'll need to be careful. Ezra is a dangerous man, and he won't hesitate to strike back if he senses a threat to her. We need to make sure we don't overplay our hand."
Dominic nodded, his eyes narrowing. "I'll take care of Ezra. You focus on Celia. We need to get inside her head, make her doubt him. Once she's uncertain, we'll move in."
Caine's lips curved into a cold smile. "Consider it done."
The room fell silent as the men exchanged looks of grim determination. They all knew what was at stake. This wasn't just about taking Celia—it was about bringing down one of the most powerful men in the underworld. And if they succeeded, Ezra Valenti's empire would crumble.
But as the meeting came to a close, Dominic couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just business. It had always been personal for him—ever since that fateful day when Ezra had stolen what was rightfully his.
Dominic stood, his expression hard and unyielding. "It's time to finish what we started. Ezra's days are numbered."
As the men filed out of the room, the tension thickened. They all knew that the game they were playing was dangerous, and the stakes had never been higher.
But Dominic didn't care about the risks. He was willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
And what he wanted was Celia.
---
Meanwhile, miles away, Celia's body trembled as she sat in the back of the car, her gaze fixed on the city lights rushing past the window. Ezra was in the driver's seat, his jaw clenched, eyes scanning the road for any sign of trouble. His usual calm exterior had cracked since the phone call, and though he hadn't said much since they left the penthouse, Celia could feel the tension radiating off him in waves.
She wasn't safe, not even close. And the men who wanted her—they wouldn't stop until they had her.
The weight of it all pressed down on her like a heavy stone. The reality that she had been a pawn in someone else's game from the very beginning left her breathless. Sold. She had nearly been sold, and the man who was supposed to have her was still out there, plotting.
Ezra had saved her, yes—but what was the cost? And why had he done it?
Had he known all along? Did he marry her out of love, or had it all been part of some calculated move?
Her mind swirled with questions, each one more terrifying than the last.
She glanced at Ezra, her heart twisting in her chest. She needed to know the truth, but she wasn't sure if she was ready to hear it.
Because once she did, there would be no turning back.