~ALEX~
From where I stood, leaning against the sleek black car parked in a dim alley, I could see Lexi watching me with that challenging look in her eyes. It was late—dangerously late for someone like her to be out in this part of town. But then again, she was with me.
We had come here to meet a contact—someone who could provide us with intel on the Rossi clan. It was supposed to be a simple exchange: cash for information. No trouble. But trouble had a way of finding me, and tonight felt like the storm was finally going to break.
The Rossi mafia clan. Second only to my family in power. Their reach was vast, their influence creeping into every corner of the Santiago underworld. For years, our two gangs had been at war, both fighting for control of this city's most lucrative operations—drugs, arms, and the quiet chaos that kept everything else in motion. There could only be one ruler of the underworld, and neither of us was backing down.
"Are we just going to wait here?" Lexi asked, her voice sharp and impatient as she glanced around the shadowy alley, her arms crossed. Despite the tension, she still had that look in her eyes—determined, confident, like a cop ready to handle whatever came next.
Her words broke me out of my thoughts, pulling me back into the moment. I checked my watch and then looked at her. "Patience, Lexi. You're not exactly in control here."
She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. Her blue eyes sparkled with annoyance, and the faint natural pink of her lips pressed into a line. Her hair, the color of light brown honey, fell just past her shoulders, shifting slightly as the breeze ruffled it. She wasn't just beautiful—she had this way of being quietly captivating without trying.
"I just don't see the point in sitting here doing nothing."
"You don't need to see the point. Just listen and follow directions."
Her lips pressed together, her defiance palpable. She hated being told what to do. Part of me enjoyed pushing her buttons, but tonight was about something bigger—survival.
Suddenly, the rumble of an engine broke the silence. My body went rigid as I scanned the shadows at the end of the alley.
"Stay close to me," I ordered, pulling her slightly behind me.
She didn't need to be told twice. "What's going on?" she whispered, her eyes sharp, taking in every movement.
Footsteps grew louder until three men stepped into view. All dressed in dark clothes, each one armed. I recognized them immediately—Rossi's men. My jaw clenched. I should've known they'd find out about this meeting. The middleman had been a setup. The deal wasn't going to happen. This was about power.
The tallest of the three had short blonde hair and a sharp, calculating look on his face. The second was almost his height, his grey beard giving him a grizzled, older appearance. The third, stockier than the others, had a scarred face that made it clear he was no stranger to violence.
"Esposito," the blonde-haired man called out, his voice a low growl. "Seems you're stepping into Rossi territory without an invitation."
I smirked, keeping Lexi behind me. "I didn't realize Rossi owned this city."
The second man, with the grey beard, chuckled darkly. "We own plenty, Alex. You should know better."
"I'm not here for trouble," I said, keeping my tone even. "Just handling business."
"Business?" the blonde sneered, his eyes flicking to Lexi. "I think your business just became our business."
I could feel Lexi's presence behind me, her muscles coiled, ready to spring into action at any second. This wasn't her first time facing down a threat. As a cop, she'd seen her share of trouble, and I could tell she wasn't going to just stand by and be some damsel in distress.
"We don't want trouble," I said, holding my hands out in a gesture of peace. "Let's all just walk away."
The blonde grinned wider, his eyes full of malice. "How about you hand her over, and we'll consider letting you walk?"
Lexi's eyes met mine, sharp and calculating. I could almost hear the wheels turning in her head. She wasn't afraid. Not one bit.
"Alex…" she started, her voice low, but steady. "We don't have time for this."
Her hands subtly moved to the side, where I knew her gun was holstered. She wasn't just a bystander; she was ready to fight. And I had no doubt she would do whatever it took to survive this.
"No one's getting handed over," I said, my voice hardening, as I placed a protective hand on her shoulder. "Not now, not ever."
"Well, that's a shame," the blonde said, reaching into his jacket. His hand moved like he was reaching for something—maybe a weapon, maybe a signal. I didn't wait to find out. I grabbed Lexi's arm and yanked her behind the car for cover.
"Get down," I hissed, my voice low and urgent. "Stay low. Do not move."
"But—"
"Lexi, trust me," I snapped, my eyes locking onto hers. "I'm not going to lose you tonight. Stay down."
She didn't argue. She nodded once, and I knew she understood the gravity of the situation. Lexi wasn't the kind of person who'd hesitate in the heat of the moment, and tonight wasn't any different.
A gunshot rang out before I could even process the thought, and I immediately snapped into action. One of Rossi's men had taken the first shot, and I was ready. I fired back, hitting him square in the chest. He dropped without a sound.
The other two rushed forward, guns drawn. Without hesitation, I moved, darting from behind the car to draw their fire away from Lexi. I knew she was fast, and I knew she wouldn't just sit still. As soon as they aimed at me, I aimed at them.
Gunfire exploded in the confined space of the alley. Lexi crouched lower, her movements swift as she slid toward the car. She wasn't panicking—she was calculating, already planning her next move.
"Lexi, move toward the car!" I shouted, my voice urgent. "Now!"
She scrambled low, but just as she was about to reach the door, one of Rossi's men stepped around the side, aiming straight at her.
"Lexi, down!" I shouted. Without a second thought, I pulled the trigger twice. He dropped, crumpling to the ground in a heap. But as the body hit the concrete, I saw her flinch. The bullet had barely missed her.
"What the hell are you doing?" she hissed, her voice shaking slightly, but there was no fear in it. Only fury.
"Saving your life," I snapped back, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her to her feet. "Now get in the car. Go!"
I shoved her inside, jumped into the driver's seat, and slammed the door shut. I gunned the engine, tires screeching as I tore out of the alley, leaving Rossi's men behind in a cloud of dust and tension.
For a moment, the car was silent. Lexi sat there, breathing heavily, her eyes blazing with something fierce—something I couldn't quite read. She wasn't shaken; she was just… furious.
"What… was that?" she asked, her voice still laced with disbelief.
"That, Lexi," I said, glancing at her briefly, "is why I told you to stay out of this."
She shook her head, her expression a mixture of anger and confusion. "You dragged me into this. You and your family. You could've just left me alone!"
"Oh, believe me," I said, sarcasm biting, "if it were up to me, I wouldn't have you anywhere near this."
"Then why am I here, Alex?" she demanded, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "Why keep me so close if you don't trust me?"
"Because…" I paused, trying to find the right words. "Because I can't risk you turning on us, Lexi."
She scoffed. "So you think I'm some threat?"
I gave her a hard look. "I think you're hiding something, and that makes you dangerous."
"Dangerous?" She laughed bitterly. "I'm just trying to survive."
We sat in tense silence as I weaved through the streets, each turn bringing us closer to the Esposito estate. Finally, I broke the quiet.
"Look, if you're planning on taking us down, just know this—you're not the first one to try, and you won't be the last."
Her gaze sharpened. "Maybe I'm just the one who will succeed."
I couldn't help a small, dark smile. "Is that a threat?"
"Maybe it's a promise," she replied, unfazed.
I pulled up to the gates, nodding to the guard as he opened them. We rolled up the long drive, tension thickening between us.
"You're brave, I'll give you that," I said as we came to a stop. "But you're stepping into something you don't understand."
She looked out the window, a slight frown marring her face. "Maybe I understand more than you think."
I narrowed my eyes. "If you're thinking of crossing me, Lexi… don't. You won't like how it ends."
She turned to meet my gaze, her expression unreadable. "I don't plan on losing, Alex."
There was a flicker of something in her eyes, something that made me pause. But before I could ask what she meant, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the message:
"Inside. Now!"
It was from my father.
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "My father wants us inside. This isn't over."
She nodded, following me out of the car and toward the house.
We stepped into my father's study. Don Vincenzo was seated behind his desk, the same commanding presence he always had. At 54, his dark eyes were sharp, calculating—never giving anything away. He rubbed his chin, his dark eyes steely as he noticed Lexi standing beside me. His grey beard shifted under his fingers as his gaze lingered on her a moment too long.
"Interesting night, wasn't it?" he said, his voice smooth but carrying an edge.
I got straight to the point. "Rossi's men ambushed us."
He rubbed his chin again, his eyes narrowing. "Rossi… it's time to send a message."
I could feel the tension. My father was a man caught between preserving the old ways and adapting to the future. The Rossi family had been stirring trouble lately, and I knew that meant tough choices were coming.
I glanced at Lexi, who was watching my father with a mix of curiosity and caution. He noticed her look and smirked.
"Lexi, my dear," he said smoothly. "I trust you're settling in well?"
She nodded, though her distrust was clear. "As well as can be expected."
He chuckled, then turned his gaze back to me. "Alex, perhaps it's time to test her loyalty."
I froze, a chill running through me. "What are you suggesting?"
"Oh, just a small task," he replied with that cold smile of his. "One that will prove exactly where her allegiances lie."
Lexi's eyes widened, and I felt the same unease gnawing at me. Whatever he had in mind, it wasn't good. And I couldn't shake the feeling that by morning, everything was about to change.