Chereads / CHAINS OF JUSTICE / Chapter 2 - THE ENCOUNTER

Chapter 2 - THE ENCOUNTER

Chloe adjusted the press badge clipped to her coat and took a steadying breath. This was her way in—no disguises, no elaborate lies. Just a carefully crafted identity that would put her close enough to observe Milan without raising suspicion.

The Venezian Tribune had been hesitant to bring on a young journalist with limited field experience, but Chloe had made herself invaluable. She worked late, took assignments no one wanted, and ensured her articles had just the right balance of intrigue and discretion. She knew how to ask questions that didn't seem like questions. How to listen without looking like she was listening.

And tonight, all of that would be put to the test.

She smoothed her hands over her notebook as she sat in the dimly lit corner of La Nera Luna, a high-end club known for its exclusivity. Milan DeLuca owned this place, but he rarely made appearances. That was what made tonight different.

Rumors buzzed among the staff—he would be here. A private meeting. No one knew why, but the air was thick with anticipation.

Chloe had spent weeks preparing for this moment. She had charmed the right people, built a believable cover, and now, finally, she was close. Close enough to hear the way people spoke about him.

"He's not one to cross," a bartender muttered under his breath to a server.

"I heard he handled that situation last week personally," the other whispered back, voice tense.

Chloe's pen hovered over the page. Situation? She needed more details.

She lifted her glass of wine, pretending to be absorbed in its deep red color as she listened. A woman at the bar, elegantly dressed in a silk gown, leaned toward her companion.

"I don't know why I find him so fascinating," she murmured. "It's not just his power. It's something else."

Her companion scoffed. "He's dangerous, Olivia. You'd do well to remember that."

Dangerous. Chloe had read the reports, the accusations, the stories whispered among those too afraid to say them aloud. But none of it was enough to bring him down. That was why she was here.

Then the energy in the room shifted.

A stillness spread, like the collective intake of breath before a storm.

Milan had arrived.

Chloe didn't dare look up immediately. She let her fingers dance over the rim of her glass, her ears picking up every subtle movement—the hushed voices, the scrape of chairs, the way the music softened just slightly, as if even the speakers understood who had just walked in.

She risked a glance.

Through the soft haze of cigar smoke and golden light, she caught sight of him. Milan DeLuca was taller than she expected, his tailored black suit sculpting his lean frame. Sharp jawline, dark eyes that missed nothing—he moved with an authority that was neither forced nor exaggerated. He didn't demand attention. He simply had it.

A man whispered something to him, and Milan gave a slow, almost lazy nod before taking his seat in a private booth near the back. His expression was unreadable, but there was an edge to his movements—like a lion who appeared relaxed but could strike in an instant.

Chloe exhaled slowly.

This was it.

For now, she was nothing more than another face in the crowd. Milan DeLuca had no idea she existed.

Not yet.