Chapter 2 - The Billionaire's Protection
The Escalade tore through the city traffic, running two red lights before settling into a smooth, aggressive pace. Nina pressed herself against the leather seat, her chest heaving as she stared at the man sitting next to him.
Dante Ricci looked completely out of place in the chaotic violence of her world. He wore a flawless, custom-tailored charcoal suit that matched the coat she was wearing. His dark hair was swept back, highlighting a sharp, aristocratic jawline and eyes the color of a stormy sea. He wasn't just a billionaire; he looked like a man who commanded empires with a single word.
"I asked you a question, Nina," Dante said, his voice dropping an octave. It wasn't a request. It was a demand.
"I don't know!" she cried, her voice cracking with a mixture of adrenaline and residual fear. "They said my dad stole something. A ledger. They said he took it from a syndicate. But it makes no sense! My dad is Thomas Walsh. He taught American History for thirty years!"
Dante fell silent, his gaze dropping to her trembling hands. Without a word, he reached into a small console, pulled out a crystal glass, and poured a finger of amber amber liquid. "Drink this. It’ll stop the shaking."
She took the glass, her fingers brushing against his. A strange, electric jolt traveled up her arm, making her gasp. She swallowed the liquid in one gulp. It burned all the way down, but it chased away the ice in her veins.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, looking out the tinted window. The city skyline was fading, replaced by the sweeping, snow-covered hills of the upscale northern suburbs. "I have a shift at the dry cleaners. If I don't show up, I'll lose the job. I need that money for—"
"Forget the job," Dante interrupted coldly. "Those men belong to the Kovac family. They don't leave witnesses, and they don't give up. If I leave you on the street, you’ll be dead or worse by midnight."
"Why do you care?" Nina turned to face him, her eyes flashing with sudden defiance. "You don't know me. Yesterday you gave me a coat out of pity, and today you’re playing bodyguard? What’s your angle, Mr. Ricci? Because men like you don't do anything for free."
A dark, dangerous smile played on Dante's lips. He leaned forward, bringing his face so close she could smell the clean, intoxicating scent of him.
"You're right. I don't do anything for free," he murmured. "But I have my own reasons for wanting the Kovac family ruined. If your father has something that can destroy them, then you are the most valuable asset in this city. And I protect my assets."
The Escalade pulled up to a massive set of iron gates that opened automatically, revealing a sprawling, ultra-modern estate built of glass and dark stone, perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the frozen river.
"Welcome to my home," Dante said, stepping out of the car and holding his hand out to her. "You’ll stay here until I find out the truth."
As Nina stepped out, she realized she was trapped in a golden cage. But before she could even process the grandeur of the mansion, Dante’s head security guard, a towering man named Silas, rushed down the stone steps, his face pale.
"Sir," Silas whispered, looking anxiously at Nina. "We just ran a background check on the old man she gave her coat to last night. The one from Fifth Street."
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Dante paused, his eyes narrowing. "And?"
"It’s not just some homeless man, sir," Silas said, his voice trembling slightly. "That’s Mikhail Kovac. The former Don of the Kovac syndicate who vanished five years ago. And he’s been looking for her."
