Seraphina had barely set foot inside the Morelli Foundation's ballroom before she knew something was wrong.
The gala glittered with chandeliers and champagne, gowns worth small fortunes swirling against tuxedos sharp enough to cut glass. But underneath the glamour hummed something colder—an edge that prickled along her spine.
She knew Alessandro wasn't here. He'd made it clear he was "busy" with Valenti business tonight.
But someone else was.
She felt him before she saw him.
A ripple passed through the crowd, whispers curling like smoke. And then Victor Romano emerged.
Tall. Immaculate. A tuxedo that fit like it had been sewn on his skin. Dark hair slicked back, smile too easy, too perfect. A predator dressed like a prince.
Her stomach knotted.
"Seraphina Morelli." His voice slid over her name like silk. "You grow lovelier every time I see you."
Her heels clicked against marble as she turned sharply. "Victor."
"You wound me." His hand pressed to his chest in mock offense. "No warmth? No smile for an old family friend?"
"You sent men into my house." Her voice was low, sharp.
He chuckled, soft and deliberate. "Men die every day in this city. Are you sure they were mine?"
Her jaw clenched.
Victor stepped closer, the crowd parting around him. He smelled of expensive cologne, the kind that lingered on silk sheets long after the man was gone. "Relax, bella. I'm not here to hurt you. Quite the opposite."
---
The Game
He offered his arm. "Dance with me."
"No."
His brows lifted, amusement sparking. "So cold. And yet, I hear you've been warming up to Alessandro."
Her pulse spiked. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, but I do." His smile sharpened. "The whole city's talking about it. The Valenti heir chasing the Morelli princess. Obsession, some say. Madness, others whisper. And you?" He leaned in, voice a whisper against her ear. "What do you say, Seraphina?"
She swallowed hard. "That you should stay out of my life."
Victor's laugh was low, dangerous. "Out? Cara, I've only just stepped in."
He brushed past her, heading toward the dance floor. "Join me, or let them all see you tremble."
Her teeth ground together. The room was watching. Every polished guest, every sly whisper. If she refused, it would look like weakness.
So she followed.
---
The Dance
Victor's hand slid around her waist, pulling her into a waltz. His touch was warm, confident, nothing like Alessandro's rough, demanding grip.
"See?" he murmured, spinning her effortlessly. "Not so terrible."
Her glare could've cut diamonds. "This is a warning, isn't it?"
His smile widened. "Smart girl."
The orchestra swelled. They moved as if they'd rehearsed, flawless on the surface, poison underneath.
"You think Alessandro can protect you?" Victor asked, his tone silky. "He's a blunt instrument. Effective, but crude. He'll die before he ever lets you go."
"And you're different?" she shot back.
"I don't die for women," Victor said simply. "I live for them."
Her stomach churned. "You're disgusting."
He twirled her, pulling her back against his chest, lips brushing her ear. "I'm honest."
Her breath hitched, fury colliding with unease.
---
The Warning
Victor stopped mid-spin, grip tightening. His smile never faltered, but his words cut cold.
"You don't belong to Alessandro, Seraphina. Not yet. Which means you can still belong to me."
Her eyes blazed. "I'm not a possession."
His gaze sharpened, amusement fading into steel. "Everything in this city is possession. Territory. Power. You're both."
She tried to pull away, but his grip locked tighter. For a moment, panic flared—then just as quickly, he released her, bowing slightly like a gentleman.
"Consider this dance my warning," he said smoothly. "Stay too close to Valenti, and you'll burn with him. Walk away, and you might survive."
Her voice trembled with rage. "Is that a threat?"
Victor's smile returned, dazzling and lethal. "It's a promise."
---
The Exit
He kissed her hand before she could stop him, lips lingering too long on her skin. The gesture looked courtly, almost romantic, but his eyes locked on hers, cold and unblinking.
Then he turned and vanished into the crowd, leaving only whispers and perfume in his wake.
Seraphina stood frozen, hand burning where his lips had touched.
For the fir
st time, she realized Alessandro wasn't the only monster circling her.
And this one smiled as he bared his teeth.