A Dangerous Bargain

Alessia’s pulse thundered in her ears.

Ten seconds.

Damian Valenciaga’s eyes never left hers, his expression unreadable. The weight of his presence alone made the air feel thinner, pressing against her like an unseen force.

Swallowing hard, she squared her shoulders. She had come this far—she wouldn’t back down now.

“My brother,” she said, her voice steady despite the racing of her heart. “Marco Romano. He’s missing.”

Damian took a slow sip of his whiskey, his movements deliberate, almost lazy. “And?”

Alessia’s nails dug into her palms. “And I found a note with your name on it.”

Silence.

Then, he chuckled—a deep, rich sound that sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine. “Sweetheart, if I had your brother, you wouldn’t need a note to know.”

Her stomach twisted. “Then where is he?”

Damian exhaled, setting his glass down on the table beside him. Then, in a flash, he was on his feet, closing the space between them. Too close. Too fast.

Alessia instinctively took a step back, but the back of her knees hit the leather couch, leaving her trapped. He leaned in, one hand braced on the armrest beside her, caging her in.

The scent of expensive cologne and whiskey clung to him, mixing with the faintest trace of something darker—gunpowder.

“I don’t appreciate people barging into my business,” he murmured, voice low and edged with danger. “And I certainly don’t take kindly to being accused of something I didn’t do.”

She forced herself to meet his gaze. “I’m not accusing you. I just need answers.”

For a moment, his piercing blue eyes searched hers, as if peeling back the layers of her defiance. Then, something flickered in them—a mix of intrigue, amusement, and something darker.

He straightened, his smirk returning. “You’re brave. Or reckless. Maybe both.”

Alessia swallowed hard. “Will you help me or not?”

Damian tilted his head slightly, considering her. Then, he reached into the pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a small, sleek phone. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it onto the couch beside her.

“Call that number tomorrow. I’ll see what I can find.”

She stared at the phone. “That’s it?”

His smirk deepened. “That’s me being generous.”

Something about the way he said it sent a warning through her veins. She knew better than to trust men like him. Powerful. Calculating. Dangerous.

Still, she hesitated.

“Why?” she asked, her voice softer this time. “Why help me at all?”

Damian exhaled slowly, studying her. Then, as if deciding something, he took another step back, giving her space for the first time.

“Because I don’t like unanswered questions.” His voice was smooth, but there was something else in it—something unreadable. “And now, thanks to you, I have one.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant, but she had no intention of staying longer to find out.

Alessia grabbed the phone and turned toward the exit. As she walked away, she could still feel his gaze burning into her back, the weight of it lingering long after she left.

What had she just gotten herself into?

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