The dress fit like a second skin.
I stared at myself in the mirror and barely recognized the woman looking back. The red fabric hugged every curve, dipping low enough to be dangerous but high enough to maintain some dignity. My hair fell in dark waves over my shoulders. Someone had left makeup on the dresser, and I had applied it with shaking hands.
I looked expensive. Dangerous. Like I belonged in Dante's world.
But inside, I was still the girl from the auction. Still terrified. Still trapped.
The door opened without warning.
Dante stepped in and stopped. His eyes swept over me from head to toe, lingering in places that made my skin burn.
Good, he said finally. You look like a Luna.
I look like a possession.
You are a possession. His. He walked closer, pulling something from his pocket. But tonight, you need to look like more than that.
He held up a necklace. Diamonds and rubies that probably cost more than most people made in a lifetime.
Turn around.
I hesitated, then obeyed. He stepped behind me and draped the necklace around my throat. His fingers brushed my skin as he fastened the clasp, and I felt the mate bond flare.
His hands lingered on my shoulders.
Beautiful, he murmured. And deadly. Exactly what I need.
I am not deadly.
Not yet. His breath was warm against my ear. But you will be. After tonight, everyone will know you are mine. And they will know that touching you means death.
You cannot protect me from everyone.
Watch me. He turned me around to face him. His hands rested on my waist, firm and possessive. Listen carefully, Bianca. The men we are meeting tonight are monsters. They will try to intimidate you. Insult you. Test you. And if they sense weakness, they will use it against me.
So what do you want me to do?
Survive. He tilted my chin up. Do not speak unless spoken to. Do not show fear. And stay close to me. Always.
And if someone threatens me?
Then I will kill them. His eyes flashed gold. Slowly.
The certainty in his voice should have terrified me. Instead, it sent a thrill through my body that I did not want to examine.
We should go, he said. The car is waiting.
The drive was silent.
Dante sat beside me in the back of the black SUV, his hand resting possessively on my thigh. The contact was casual, almost absent-minded, but it sent constant sparks through the mate bond.
I stared out the window and watched Milan blur past. The city at night was beautiful. All lights and shadows and secrets.
Where are we going? I asked finally.
A place called Il Sotterraneo. The Underground. It is neutral territory. Where the families meet to discuss business without starting wars.
What families?
The five most powerful mafia organizations in Italy. All of them run by Alphas. All of them hungry for more power. He glanced at me. And all of them will be very interested in you.
Why?
Because you are my weakness. The first one I have shown in years.
Then why bring me?
Because hiding you makes me look weak. Showing you makes me look powerful. Like I have nothing to fear.
Even though you do.
Even though I do. He squeezed my thigh. But they do not need to know that.
The car stopped in front of an old building that looked abandoned. Broken windows. Graffiti on the walls. Nothing that suggested power or wealth.
Dante saw my confusion and smiled. Appearances can be deceiving.
He got out and offered me his hand. I took it and let him pull me from the car.
Two guards flanked us immediately. Luca appeared from another vehicle, along with Isabella and several other wolves I recognized from training.
Stay close, Dante said again.
Then he led me inside.
The building was a facade.
Beyond the decrepit entrance was a staircase leading down. Deep underground. The temperature dropped with each step. The walls changed from crumbling concrete to polished stone.
Music drifted up from below. Not loud. Just a steady pulse that felt like a heartbeat.
When we reached the bottom, I understood why this place was called The Underground.
It was a massive space carved into the earth itself. Stone pillars. Vaulted ceilings. Chandeliers that looked like they belonged in a palace. Tables scattered throughout, occupied by men in expensive suits and women who looked like weapons wrapped in silk.
And at the center of it all was a raised platform with a single large table. Five chairs. Five positions of power.
Dante led me straight toward it.
Every eye in the room turned to watch us.
I kept my chin up and my expression blank, just like he had told me. But inside, my heart was racing.
Dante, a voice called out. Finally gracing us with your presence.
A man stood from one of the chairs. He was older, maybe fifty, with silver hair and a cruel smile. His eyes swept over me with open calculation.
Carlo, Dante said coolly. Still alive, I see.
Difficult to kill. You should know. You have tried often enough. Carlo gestured to me. And who is this lovely creature?
My mate. Dante's hand tightened on my waist. Bianca.
Mate. Carlo's smile widened. How... unexpected. I did not think you believed in such things.
I did not. Until I met her.
How romantic. Carlo walked closer, his eyes never leaving me. Tell me, Bianca, how does it feel to be tied to the most dangerous man in Italy?
I met his gaze and forced myself not to flinch. Safe.
Carlo laughed. Safe. Did you hear that, Dante? She feels safe.
She should, Dante said quietly. Because anyone who touches her will die screaming.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Carlo's smile faded slightly. Of course. He stepped back. Please, sit. We have much to discuss.
Dante led me to the table. There were now six chairs instead of five. One had been added beside Dante's.
For me.
I sat. Dante sat beside me, his hand never leaving my leg.
The other Alphas took their seats. Carlo. A younger man with dark eyes and a scar across his cheek. An older woman who looked like she could kill with a glance. And one empty chair.
Where is Viktor? the younger man asked.
Late, as always, the woman said. The Russian has no respect for anyone's time.
As if summoned by his name, the door opened.
And Viktor Kozlov walked in.
He was tall. Broad-shouldered. Blond hair and ice-blue eyes that seemed to see everything. He moved with the kind of confidence that came from knowing he was the most dangerous person in any room.
His eyes found me immediately.
And he smiled.
Apologies for my tardiness, Viktor said, his accent thick. I was detained by business. He walked to his chair but did not sit. Instead, he stared at me. And who is this beautiful creature Dante has brought to our table?
My mate, Dante said. His voice had gone cold. Bianca.
Mate. Viktor's smile widened. How fascinating. I did not know you had found your fated one, Salvatore.
It is recent.
How recent?
Recent enough.
Viktor finally sat, but his eyes never left me. She is lovely. Absolutely lovely. Tell me, Bianca, are you happy with my old friend Dante?
I did not answer. Dante had told me not to speak unless necessary.
Silent, Viktor observed. Obedient. How delightful.
She is neither, Dante said. She simply knows better than to engage with snakes.
Viktor laughed. Snakes. Is that what we are calling each other now?
The tension at the table was thick enough to choke on.
Shall we discuss business? the older woman interjected. Before the testosterone in this room suffocates us all?
Yes, Carlo agreed. Business.
For the next hour, they talked. Territories. Shipments. Money. Betrayals. Alliances.
I understood maybe half of it. But I watched. I listened. I learned.
And I felt Viktor's eyes on me the entire time.
Halfway through the meeting, Dante stood.
Excuse us, he said. I need a moment with my mate.
He did not wait for permission. Just took my hand and pulled me from the table.
We walked through the club, past tables of criminals and killers, until we reached a private alcove hidden behind thick curtains.
The moment we were alone, Dante pushed me against the wall.
His body pressed against mine, hard and demanding. His hands framed my face, and his eyes burned gold.
Do not look at him, Dante growled.
What?
Viktor. Do not look at him. Do not acknowledge him. Do not speak to him.
He was staring at me—
I know. His thumb brushed my lower lip. And it is taking everything in me not to rip his throat out.
Why do you care?
Because you are mine. The possessiveness in his voice was absolute. Mine, Bianca. And I do not share.
The mate bond surged between us, hot and overwhelming. My body responded to his proximity, to his touch, to the raw dominance radiating from him.
This is insane, I whispered.
Yes. He leaned down, his lips hovering over mine. But I stopped caring about sanity the moment I saw you.
Dante
Say my name again.
What?
Say it. His hand slid down to my throat, not squeezing, just resting there. Possessive. Claiming. Say my name and tell me you do not want this.
I could not.
Because it would be a lie.
I wanted this. Wanted him. Despite everything. Despite the violence and the danger and the absolute insanity of being tied to a man like him.
I wanted him.
Dante, I breathed.
He made a sound low in his throat, somewhere between a growl and a groan. Then his lips crashed against mine.
The kiss was not gentle. It was claiming. Consuming. His tongue invaded my mouth, and I opened for him without thought. His hands were everywhere, my waist, my hips, tangling in my hair.
I kissed him back just as desperately. My hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer, needing more.
The mate bond exploded between us. I could feel everything he felt. The desire. The possessiveness. The need that matched my own.
His hand slid up my thigh, pushing the dress higher.
I gasped against his mouth.
And then his phone rang.
Dante pulled back with a curse. His eyes were pure gold now, his wolf barely contained.
He looked at the phone and snarled. What?
I could not hear the other end of the conversation, but I watched his expression go from frustrated to murderous.
When? he demanded. Where? How many?
He hung up without saying goodbye.
When he looked at me, the heat in his eyes had been replaced by something colder. Something deadly.
We are leaving, he said. Now.
What happened?
Viktor just made his move. He hit three of my warehouses simultaneously. He waited until I was here, distracted, and he struck.
I felt ice spread through my chest. Is it bad?
It is war. He took my hand and pulled me back toward the main room. And he just made you a target.
We returned to the table. Viktor was still sitting there, that same infuriating smile on his face.
Dante did not sit down. He stood behind his chair and addressed the table.
This meeting is over.
We are not finished, Carlo protested.
Yes, Dante said. We are.
He looked at Viktor. And you just made the biggest mistake of your life.
Viktor's smile widened. Did I? How unfortunate.
Dante leaned forward, bracing his hands on the table. You wanted a war, Viktor. Now you have one.
How exciting. Viktor's eyes slid to me. And such high stakes. After all, the lovely Bianca is now involved, is she not?
Dante moved so fast I barely saw it. One moment he was behind the chair. The next, he had Viktor by the throat, slamming him back against the wall.
Guards from both sides raised their guns.
Touch her, Dante snarled, and I will burn your entire empire to the ground. I will kill everyone you love. Everyone you have ever known. And I will make you watch before I tear your heart from your chest.
Viktor did not fight back. He just smiled. Such passion. She must be truly special.
Dante released him and stepped back.
Stay away from my mate, he said. This is your only warning.
Then he turned to me. We are leaving.
I followed him out, my heart pounding.
Behind us, I heard Viktor call out.
Goodbye, Bianca. I look forward to our next meeting.
Dante's hand tightened on mine.
And I knew, with absolute certainty, that everything had just changed.
War was coming.
And I was right in the middle of it.