The First Kill

Giovanni's Safehouse – Midnight

The gun felt heavy in Belle's hands.

She had held a gun before. Trained with one. But this was different.

Because this time, she had to pull the trigger.

Giovanni leaned back in his chair, watching her with amused patience.

"There's a man named Carlo," he said casually. "Low-ranking, nothing important. But he works for Dante. I want him gone."

Belle's pulse pounded.

"You want me to kill one of Dante's men?"

Giovanni smirked. "Consider it an act of loyalty—to me. Or do you need me to remind you of what happens if you say no?"

Belle's grip tightened around the gun.

She had two options:

1. Kill Carlo and prove her "loyalty" to Giovanni.

2. Refuse—and let Giovanni destroy her.

Belle took a slow breath.

Then, she made her choice.

---

Back Alley – Two Hours Later

Carlo was drunk.

Stumbling down a dark alley, his laughter echoed off the brick walls. He had no idea that tonight would be his last.

Belle stood in the shadows, the gun cold in her hands.

One shot. That's all it would take.

Her finger hovered over the trigger.

Could she do it?

Then—a whisper of movement.

Someone else was there.

Watching her.

Belle's breath caught. She turned just in time to see a shadow moving—

Dante.

Her blood turned to ice.

Dante stepped into the faint glow of a streetlight, his face unreadable.

He had followed her.

And now—he knew.

Belle's heart pounded. She was standing in a dark alley, holding a gun, about to kill one of his men.

And Dante Castellano had just caught her in the act.