Mafia's desire: A love that kills
Synopsis:
Sophia, a journalist, investigates organized crime. Dante, a mafia underboss, is tasked with stopping her. But Sophia's determination and intelligence intrigue him. As they engage in a cat-and-mouse game, Dante finds himself torn between duty and desire.
CHAPTER 1: "Deadline Looming"*
Sophia Russo tapped her pen impatiently on her desk, staring at the blank page in front of her. Her editor, Mark, had been breathing down her neck all morning.
"Sophia, where's the mafia exposé?" Mark asked, his voice firm but laced with annoyance. "You've had weeks to work on this. I need something concrete by the end of the day."
Sophia took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "I'm close, Mark. Just need to verify some sources."
Mark's expression turned skeptical. "Verify? You've been verifying for months. I need results, Sophia."
As Mark walked away, Sophia's phone buzzed with an incoming text:
"Meet me at the coffee shop on 5th and Main at 7 pm. Come alone. -A"
Sophia's heart skipped a beat. Alex, her reliable source, rarely contacted her directly.
She glanced around the newsroom, ensuring no one watched, before quickly typing:
"See you then."
The message sent, Sophia's mind whirled with possibilities. What did Alex have for her? Was it finally the break she needed?
The pressure from Mark still lingered, but Sophia's determination reignited. She would get this story.
As she processed the message, a sudden wave of déjà vu washed over her. The newsroom around her blurred, and Sophia felt herself transported back in time.
She saw herself as a teenager, sitting in the backseat of her parents' car, laughing and arguing with her mom about college plans. The sound of screeching tires and shattering glass shattered the memory. Sophia's heart raced as she relived the horror of that fateful night.
Her parents' faces flashed before her: her father's encouraging smile, her mother's unwavering determination. The accident's aftermath unfolded like a cruel slideshow – the hospital, the funeral, the loneliness.
Sophia's gaze drifted to the silver necklace around her neck, the press badge pendant a tangible connection to her parents' legacy.