Welcome to the Varela Gala

The Varela Gala was a spectacle of wealth and power, an illusion of civility masking a world of corruption. Held at a private estate on the outskirts of the city, it was a gathering of the elite—criminal masterminds, billionaires with blood on their hands, and the kind of people who thrived in the shadows.

Tonight, Luca, Mira, and Dominic would walk straight into the fire.

—

Dressed to Kill

Luca adjusted the cuff of his tailored black suit, the fabric smooth but suffocating. He had never been one for formal events, but tonight, he had a role to play.

Mira stepped beside him, slipping a small knife into the slit of her dark red dress. "Remind me why we're doing this again?"

Luca smirked. "Because I don't like being hunted."

Dominic, dressed in a sharp navy tux, checked his watch. "Cassian will be here soon. We need to blend in until then."

Mira exhaled. "Right. Blend in. Because that's what we're good at."

—

Inside the Lion's Den

The estate was breathtaking—towering marble columns, golden chandeliers, and waiters serving champagne to the worst people on the planet.

Luca scanned the room, his eyes sharp. He could feel the weight of hidden glances, the quiet tension that came with being somewhere he didn't belong.

Mira leaned in, whispering against his ear, "We've got eyes on us already."

Luca's smirk was barely there. "Let them watch."

—

A Ghost in the Crowd

Then, the room shifted. Conversations hushed, movements slowed. The air thickened.

And Luca knew—Cassian Varela had arrived.

The man moved through the room like a shadow, dressed in an all-black suit with a presence that demanded attention. He was tall, composed, his dark eyes cold and calculating. A slow smirk curled at his lips as he locked eyes with Luca.

Cassian raised his glass in a silent toast.

Game on.

—

Next Chapter: A Dance with the Devil.