A Dangerous Gamble
Castellano Estate – Evening
Belle sat in front of the vanity, staring at her reflection.
Tonight would decide everything.
Giovanni wanted her alone at the docks.
Dante wanted her by his side to confront him.
No matter what she did, she would be betraying someone.
Her phone sat on the table, Giovanni's message still glowing on the screen.
Her fingers hovered over the keypad.
Warn him? Or stay silent?
A knock at the door made her flinch.
"Come in," she called, forcing her voice to stay steady.
Dante stepped inside. Dark suit. Cold eyes. Dangerous smirk.
Belle's pulse quickened.
"It's time."
---
The Docks – Midnight
The cold wind bit at Belle's skin as she stepped onto the wooden pier.
Dante walked beside her, his presence commanding, unshaken.
Giovanni was already waiting.
He leaned against a black car, hands in his pockets, smirking like this was all a game.
"Ah, the lovebirds," he mused. "Didn't expect you to bring company, princess."
Belle swallowed. She could feel Dante watching her.
Testing her.
Dante's voice was casual, but deadly.
"You've been getting too close to what's mine, Giovanni."
Giovanni chuckled. "Relax, Castellano. I only wanted to know if your little fiancée was as loyal as she claims."
Dante's smirk didn't falter.
"And? What did you find?"
Giovanni glanced at Belle. "That depends. Did she tell you about our little agreement?"
Belle's breath caught.
Dante's hand tightened around her waist.
"She did." His voice was ice.
Belle's stomach twisted.
He was lying. He wanted to see if she'd break first.
Giovanni's smirk grew. "Then you know she failed me."
Silence.
Dante's grip on her waist tightened.
Then—he laughed.
Belle stiffened.
"You expected her to betray me?" Dante shook his head. "You must be desperate."
Giovanni's smirk flickered.
Dante turned to Belle, his gaze piercing.
"And you, sweetheart? Anything you want to confess?"
Belle's throat went dry.
This was it.
Lie—and keep Dante's trust.
Tell the truth—and risk everything.
The choice was hers.