A Deal with the Devil

Elena's breath was shallow, her mind racing.

Dante stood before her like a ghost that refused to stay buried. Luca was tense beside her, his fury barely contained. The tension between the three of them was suffocating—thick with history, betrayal, and something far more dangerous.

Dante's smirk widened as he stepped closer. "You look like you've seen a ghost, mi amor."

Elena clenched her fists. "You are a ghost."

Luca's hand hovered near his gun again. "Enough of the games. If you're alive, you must have a damn good reason for showing up now."

Dante exhaled dramatically. "You're always so serious, Luca. No wonder she picked me first."

Luca's jaw twitched. "Watch it."

Elena had enough. "What do you want, Dante?"

His eyes locked onto hers, and for a split second, she saw something—something raw beneath the amusement. But then it was gone, replaced by that familiar arrogance.

"I want what I'm owed," he said smoothly. "And lucky for you, cariño, I'm willing to make a deal."

Elena narrowed her eyes. "What kind of deal?"

Dante's smirk faded slightly. "The kind that keeps you alive."

Luca stiffened beside her. "Keeps her alive?" His voice was sharp, dangerous. "Who the hell is after her?"

Dante's gaze flicked to him. "More people than you'd like to know."

Elena's stomach tightened.

She had been careful. She had covered her tracks. But if Dante was here, alive, then it meant—

"The people we ran from," she whispered. "They know."

Dante nodded. "And they're coming."

Luca's grip on her wrist tightened protectively. "Let them come."

Dante chuckled. "I admire the confidence, but trust me, Luca, you're not ready for this war." His eyes darkened as he turned back to Elena. "We both know what they'll do if they catch you."

Memories she had buried clawed their way to the surface. The blood. The screams. The promises of vengeance whispered in the dark.

She swallowed hard. "What's the deal?"

Dante smiled. "Come with me. Leave Luca behind, and I'll make sure you don't end up six feet under."

Luca's fury exploded. "Over my dead body."

Dante sighed. "That can be arranged."

Elena stepped between them. "Stop." Her voice was steel, even though her heart was pounding.

She turned to Dante. "I'm not running again."

Dante arched a brow. "So you'd rather stay and fight?"

Elena looked at Luca—at the man who had risked everything for her.

Then she turned back to Dante, her voice unwavering.

"I'd rather finish what we started."

Dante's smirk returned, but there was something darker in his eyes now. "Then I hope you're ready, princesa."

Because the past wasn't just knocking.

It was about to burn everything down.

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Next Chapter: Fire and Blood—Elena, Luca, and Dante are forced into an uneasy alliance, but the war they've been running from is finally here. And no one is safe.