Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Deceptive Moves

The club had never felt so suffocating. Bianca stood at the bar, her fingers wrapped around a glass of whiskey. She'd always thought of herself as a woman of control, someone who never allowed emotions to get the best of her. But tonight, everything felt different. The weight of her choices, of her position in this dangerous game, pressed heavily on her chest. Salvatore's test was becoming more than just a challenge—it was starting to feel like a trap she wasn't sure she could escape. The music throbbed in the background, its bass vibrating through the floor beneath her heels, but it barely registered in her mind. Her thoughts were consumed by the ever-tightening grip of the world she was entangled in. She could hear the echoes of Salvatore's voice, those harsh words that had been etched into her memory: Prove yourself. What did he really want from her? And why had he singled her out? She could still feel the bite of his gaze when he'd spoken to her that night at the club. He wasn't just testing her—he was sizing her up, trying to figure out just how much she was willing to risk for his approval. And she knew, deep down, that once she stepped over that line, there would be no going back. "Bianca." The deep voice startled her, and she turned to find Lorenzo standing beside her, his expression unreadable. He was dressed sharply, as always, his dark suit fitting him like it had been tailored just for him. There was an edge to him tonight—something more than just the usual air of control he exuded. "Lorenzo," she greeted, trying to keep her tone even. "What are you doing here?" He studied her for a long moment, his gaze intense. "I could ask you the same thing. This place isn't exactly where I'd expect to find you." She gave a half-hearted laugh, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. "Sometimes, the lines between where we should be and where we end up blur." Lorenzo took a step closer, his voice dropping lower. "I don't like seeing you like this, Bianca. You're playing with fire." She met his gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I've always played with fire. And I always come out on top." He didn't respond right away. Instead, he reached for the glass in her hand, lifting it to his lips and taking a slow sip. The gesture was casual, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that made her feel as though he was trying to read her, to see if she was as composed as she appeared. "You're playing a dangerous game," he repeated, his voice firm. "Salvatore isn't someone you want to owe favors to." Bianca sighed, looking past him to the darkened corners of the club. She didn't want to talk about Salvatore. The more she thought about him, the more she felt as though she was losing control of her own path. But Lorenzo wasn't about to let her off the hook. "Why are you so worried about me?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with something sharper. "I thought you didn't care about anyone but yourself." The words stung, and she regretted them the moment they left her lips. She knew that Lorenzo had always been distant, a man who kept people at arm's length. But there was something about him that kept pulling her in. There was an unspoken connection, a magnetic pull that neither of them could seem to shake. Lorenzo's jaw tightened at her words, and for a brief moment, she saw the walls around him crack. It was fleeting, but it was enough to make her pause. He didn't answer her right away, his gaze intense as he set the glass down. "I care about you," he said, his voice low, almost a growl. The words were raw, unfiltered, and they hit her like a punch to the gut. It wasn't the answer she'd expected, but in a way, it was the one she'd been hoping for. But even as she let the words hang in the air between them, the reality of their situation couldn't be ignored. She was tangled in a world of lies, power, and manipulation. Lorenzo's care for her could be dangerous. He could get in the way of her plans, or worse, he could become another obstacle she would need to overcome. She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "You're not supposed to care, Lorenzo. Not in this world." He leaned closer, his body almost touching hers, but he didn't make a move. His eyes were dark, searching hers, as though trying to pull her closer with nothing more than his gaze. "You're wrong," he whispered, his breath warm against her skin. "In this world, that's exactly what makes you dangerous. That's what gives you power." Bianca's heart raced as the distance between them closed, but she forced herself to stay composed. She wasn't here to indulge in feelings she couldn't afford. Her eyes darted around the room, her mind scanning for an escape. But when she looked back at Lorenzo, she saw the intensity in his gaze, and for the first time, she wasn't sure whether it was a warning or a plea. She cleared her throat and took a step back, distancing herself from the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm her. "I can handle myself." Lorenzo's lips twitched, but he didn't say anything. He only nodded, acknowledging the strength in her words, but his eyes told a different story. He wasn't convinced. Before she could say anything else, a voice broke through the tension. "Bianca." She turned to find Salvatore approaching, his presence commanding the attention of everyone around him. His dark suit clung to his frame in a way that screamed power, and his sharp features were set in that same cold, calculating expression she had come to expect from him. "Salvatore," she greeted, forcing a smile as she turned away from Lorenzo. "I didn't expect to see you here." "Funny," Salvatore said with a small, dangerous smile. "I was just about to say the same thing." He slid into the seat next to hers, not bothering to wait for an invitation. His gaze flickered to Lorenzo for a brief moment, a flicker of something that might have been recognition—or something far darker. Lorenzo, however, didn't flinch. He simply raised an eyebrow, his posture unchanged. "We were just talking." Salvatore's lips curled into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm sure you were." The air between them thickened, charged with a tension that Bianca could feel down to her bones. She had no idea what game Salvatore was playing, but she could see that this wasn't just about her anymore. The men who had been circling around her, each with their own agendas, were now on the brink of a collision. Salvatore turned back to Bianca, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "You've been… busy. I've heard about your little conversation with Lorenzo." Bianca stiffened, her fingers tightening around her glass. "It's nothing." "Nothing?" Salvatore's smile grew colder. "You and I both know that's not true." She met his gaze, refusing to back down. "You don't control me, Salvatore. I make my own choices." His smile faded, replaced by something darker. "We'll see about that."