Chapter 5 - The Lion's Den
The Grand Horizon ballroom was a glittering sea of diamonds, champagne, and high society corruption. Hundreds of the city's elite mingled beneath massive crystal chandeliers, completely oblivious to the undercurrent of danger vibrating through the room.
When the announcer called out Dante Ricci’s name, the entire room fell silent.
Dante walked in, his arm locked securely around Nina’s waist, pulling her flush against his side. The whispers began instantly.
"Who is she?" "Is that the Ricci heir’s new woman?" "She looks like royalty."
Nina kept her chin high, her heart hammering like a trapped bird against her ribs. She scanned the crowd until her eyes locked onto a man standing on the VIP balcony above.
Viktor Kovac.
He was younger than his brother Mikhail, with sharp, vulpine features, silver-streaked hair, and eyes that held absolutely no humanity. When his gaze fell upon Nina, a slow, terrifying smirk spread across his face. He raised his champagne glass to her in a silent toast.
"Stay close to me," Dante muttered, his grip tightening on her waist as a group of politicians approached them.
For the next hour, Nina played her role perfectly, smiling and nodding beside Dante, but her eyes never stopped scanning the room. She felt a strange, suffocating sensation, as if the walls were closing in.
"I need to use the restroom," Nina whispered to Dante during a brief lull.
Dante frowned, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the immediate area. "I'll have Silas escort you."
"Dante, it's right down the hall. There are security cameras everywhere," she insisted, needing just one moment of quiet to breathe without a hundred eyes on her. "I'll be two minutes."
He hesitated, then kissed her cheek softly—a gesture that felt shockingly real, sending a thrill through her core. "Two minutes, Nina. If you aren't back, I'm burning this building down."
Nina walked quickly down the quiet, marble-lined corridor toward the luxury restrooms. The noise of the ballroom faded into a distant hum. She stepped into the vanity area, splashing cold water on her wrists to calm her racing pulse.
Suddenly, the lights flickered and died.
Total darkness.
Nina’s hand immediately flew to the concealed pocket of her dress, her fingers wrapping around the cold steel of the pistol Dante had given her. But before she could draw it, a heavy, chemical-scented cloth was slammed over her nose and mouth from behind.
She fought furiously, kicking backward and driving her heel into her attacker's shin. She heard a grunt of pain, but a pair of massive arms locked around her, pinning her limbs.
As the chloroform began to take effect, darkness creeping into the edges of her vision, a voice whispered in her ear.
May you like
"You shouldn't have given away that coat, Nina. The Don wants his ledger back."
The last thing she smelled before blacking out wasn't amber or cedar. It was the scent of cheap, damp wool.
