A Queen's Dilemma

The Target: Serena Moretti

The streets of Ravello were quieter at night. A stark contrast to the chaos inside Belle's mind.

She sat in the backseat of a sleek black car, staring at the photograph in her hands.

Serena Moretti.

Nineteen. Soft brown eyes. A shy smile.

She wasn't a soldier.

She wasn't a threat.

But she was Luca's sister.

And that made her valuable.

Dante had given Belle a name, a time, and a location.

"Do this, sweetheart, and there's no going back."

Belle had nodded, but inside—she wasn't sure.

Her fingers curled around the edges of the file.

Could she kill an innocent girl just to prove herself?

A voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"We're here."

The driver pulled up near a quiet bookstore on the outskirts of town.

Through the window, Belle spotted her target.

Serena.

She was sitting alone at a café table, sipping tea, completely unaware that death was watching her.

Belle's grip tightened around the gun in her lap.

She could end it now.

One shot. Quick. Clean.

Dante would be satisfied. Giovanni would be shaken.

But something inside her screamed against it.

She had killed before.

But this?

This wasn't a kill.

This was a sacrifice.

Belle inhaled slowly.

There had to be another way.

---

A Different Kind of Power

Instead of reaching for her gun, Belle reached for the door handle.

She stepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement as she walked toward Serena's table.

Serena glanced up, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Oh—sorry, I was just about to leave—"

"Stay." Belle slid into the seat across from her.

Serena blinked. Confused. Nervous.

"Do I know you?"

Belle smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Not yet."

She leaned forward.

"But I know you."

Serena frowned, glancing around like she was realizing something was wrong.

"I have to go—"

Belle reached across the table, covering Serena's hand with her own.

"If you leave now, you'll be dead before you reach the end of the street."

Serena froze.

Belle's voice was calm, cold.

"Dante wants you dead."

Serena swallowed hard. "Why?"

"Because of your brother."

Realization dawned in Serena's eyes.

She shook her head. "Luca's not—he wouldn't—"

"It doesn't matter what he would or wouldn't do," Belle interrupted.

"What matters is that Dante gave me a choice. Kill you and prove my loyalty to him, or let you live and risk everything I've built."

Serena paled. "Then why are you telling me this?"

Belle exhaled, leaning back in her chair.

"Because I don't want to waste a pawn when I could gain a queen."

Serena's brow furrowed. "What—?"

Belle slid a burner phone across the table.

"If you want to live, you'll do exactly what I say."

Serena hesitated but took the phone.

"What do you want from me?"

Belle's lips curled.

"Leverage."

She leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper.

"You're going to help me take down both Dante and Giovanni."

Serena's eyes widened in horror.

"You're insane."

Belle smirked.

"No, sweetheart. I'm just tired of being a pawn."