Background Check
Enzo tapped at the tablet in his hand. Lines of data scrolled fast—addresses, school records, incident reports.
Dante leaned against the window frame, arms crossed, face unreadable
Enzo Marchelli
Name: Lena Bishop.
Born nineteen years ago in Pittsburgh. Moved to this city at sixteen after her foster placement collapsed.”
Dante Kade(DanteK)
""Foster "
Enzo nodded, swiping left.
Enzo Marchelli
“Parents died in a car crash when she was seven.
No siblings. No extended family claimed her. Bounced around the system until she aged out. No arrests. No drugs. Nothing sketchy
Dante Kade(DanteK)
So, no one
Enzo Marchelli
“She’s alone. Entirely.
Except for this girl.”
He turned the tablet around.
A photo of Tasha Rivera, arms around Lena in a messy dorm selfie.
Enzo Marchelli
“Tasha Rivera. Twenty. Roommate. Friend. Protective as hell. No record either, but she’s loud on social media. Anti-men. Anti-authority. Anti-this entire arrangement.”
Dante Kade(DanteK)
“She doesn’t like me.”
Enzo Marchelli
She hates you
Enzo Marchelli
“Lena’s a student at Northside College. Literature major. Half-paid tuition. Rest in debt. Works part-time at the campus café—minimum wage.”
Enzo Marchelli
“She wasn’t looking for trouble. She was looking for survival.”
Dante was quiet. Eyes still fixed outside.
Dante Kade(DanteK)
“And yet she walked into this. Into me.”
Enzo Marchelli
“Curious girl.
Brave.
Or reckless.”
Dante didn’t respond.
But the corner of his mouth moved—just slightly.
Lena sat on the edge of her bed, turning the silver card over in her hand.
Tasha paced the room.
Tasha Rivera
You signed something. With a man you just met. A man who has drivers, a rooftop apartment, and silent muscle lurking in the corners!”
Lena Bishop
“He didn’t force me
Tasha Rivera
“No, but he didn’t need to. You’re soft. You’re sweet. He’s going to eat you alive.”
Lena Bishop
“He looked at me like I wasn’t nothing.
Like I could be... something.”
Tasha stopped pacing. Stared.
Tasha Rivera
“You don’t need to belong to a man to be something,
Lena Bishop
I know.
But I’ve belonged to no one my entire life.”
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