A Game of Trust

CHAPTER 5

DANTE'S POV

Dante studied Livia from across the room, his gaze sharp yet conflicted. There was something about her that set her apart from anyone else who’d come into his world. For days now, he’d tried to keep his distance, to maintain the iron-willed control that had become second nature. But with Livia, that control seemed to slip, piece by piece.

She was clever, resilient, and, unlike the others, she didn’t seem to cower in his presence. She challenged him in ways he hadn’t expected, and the intrigue was impossible to ignore. Part of him wanted to test her, to see just how far her loyalty ran. But another part—a part he hadn’t felt in years—wanted to trust her, to believe that she might see something beyond the hardened mask he wore.

Tonight, the two of them sat alone in his office, the heavy silence between them charged with an energy he couldn’t deny. He’d decided to let her in, to peel back just a sliver of the armor he’d built. For reasons he couldn’t explain, he wanted her to know the real Dante Ricci.

“Livia,” he began, his voice low, measured. “Have you ever wondered why I do what I do?”

She looked up, her eyes meeting his with an intensity that nearly took his breath away. She didn’t reply, simply waiting for him to continue, as if sensing the weight of what he was about to reveal.

“This life,” he said, his gaze shifting to the darkened view beyond the window, “it’s a cage. People see the power, the wealth, the fear I command, but they don’t see what it costs.”

Livia leaned forward, her expression unreadable. “What does it cost you?”

He chuckled bitterly, rubbing a hand over his face. “More than I can count. Loyalty, trust, relationships… they become commodities, things to be used and discarded. Everyone in this world has an agenda, and it’s rare to find someone who doesn’t want something from you.”

He paused, glancing at her. She was watching him with an openness he hadn’t anticipated, her gaze soft yet searching. It was that look, more than anything, that made him want to continue.

“My family, the Ricci Syndicate,” he went on, “we built our empire through blood and betrayal. It wasn’t always like this, though. My father… he wanted something different, something less ruthless. But that vision died with him, and now I’m left with this legacy of violence, holding together a family that could tear itself apart at any moment.”

There was a flash of empathy in her eyes, a brief softening that twisted something in his chest. But as he leaned in, drawn closer to her than he intended, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Bianca’s silhouette appeared in the doorway, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene before her.

“Dante,” she called, her voice laced with jealousy as her gaze lingered on Livia. “I didn’t know you’d be entertaining tonight.”

Dante straightened, his expression hardening as he turned to face her. Bianca’s possessiveness had always been an issue, but tonight, it felt particularly grating. He knew he had to be careful with her, that her loyalty to him was as fierce as it was unpredictable. But Livia’s presence had shifted something in him, making Bianca’s jealousy feel like a weight he no longer wanted to bear.

“Is there something you need, Bianca?” he asked, his tone deliberately cool.

She hesitated, her eyes flicking between him and Livia, before stepping forward. “I just thought you should know that there’s been… unrest in the syndicate. Some of the men are questioning your recent decisions.”

Dante’s jaw clenched, a spark of anger flaring in his chest. Bianca’s words were a warning, an attempt to reassert her place at his side. He knew she was trying to remind him of the trust they’d built over years of loyalty and bloodshed. But tonight, that bond felt tenuous, as if the foundation they’d relied on was crumbling.

“Thank you for your concern,” he replied, his voice steely. “But I have it under control.”

Bianca’s gaze hardened, a flash of hurt crossing her features before she quickly masked it. She glanced at Livia, her expression one of thinly veiled contempt. Without another word, she turned and strode out of the room, leaving a trail of tension in her wake.

As soon as she was gone, Dante let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He glanced back at Livia, half-expecting to see fear or hesitation in her eyes. Instead, he saw something else—a quiet resilience, an understanding that seemed to go deeper than words.

“Bianca… she’s protective,” he murmured, more to himself than to her. “But sometimes, that protectiveness turns into something else.”

Livia offered a small nod, her expression contemplative. “It’s hard to find loyalty in a world like this. I understand why she might be wary.”

Her words struck a chord within him, a reminder of the precarious balance he’d built his life upon. Loyalty, in his world, was often synonymous with control, manipulation. But with Livia, he felt something different—a connection that went beyond mere allegiance, something he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years.

Without thinking, he reached out, brushing his fingers over her hand. The touch was brief, but it sent a spark through him, a reminder of just how dangerous this game had become.

“You’re different, Livia,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “In a world where everyone’s looking out for themselves, you… you don’t ask for anything. You don’t try to manipulate or control. It’s… refreshing.”

She looked up at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. For a moment, he thought he saw something vulnerable, something raw, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come.

“I’m just here to do my job,” she replied, her voice steady, yet he couldn’t miss the slight tremor beneath her calm exterior.

Dante studied her, his gaze lingering. He knew she was hiding something, that there were parts of her she wasn’t revealing. But in that moment, he didn’t care. All he wanted was to hold onto the sliver of trust he felt building between them, to nurture the connection that had become the only source of light in his otherwise dark existence.

As the evening wore on, he began to tell her more about the syndicate—its structure, its rules, the alliances that held it together. He watched her carefully, noting the way she absorbed every detail, her mind working to process the information. She was astute, far more so than she let on, and he found himself wondering just how much of his trust he was willing to give.

But as they spoke, he noticed a shift in her. Livia’s gaze would occasionally flicker with something unreadable, a mixture of determination and reluctance, as though she were weighing the consequences of every word he shared. It was a look he recognized, one that hinted at inner conflict—a struggle between duty and something far more dangerous.

Before he knew it, the clock struck midnight, and the air between them grew thick with unspoken tension. He could see the pull in her eyes, a magnetic force that seemed to draw them closer despite the risks.

Dante took a step forward, his gaze locked onto hers. “Livia… I know there’s more to you than what you’ve shown me. But for now, I’m willing to trust that what you’ve shared is enough.”

She blinked, a flash of surprise crossing her features. He could see the conflict in her eyes, the war between her mission and the undeniable connection they shared. It was a dangerous line they were walking, one that could shatter at any moment. But in that instant, he didn’t care.

Without warning, he closed the distance between them, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was as intense as it was brief. When he pulled back, he saw the shock in her eyes, the mixture of anger, desire, and confusion that mirrored his own feelings.

“This is a dangerous game we’re playing,” he murmured, his voice low, his gaze never leaving hers. “But as long as you’re here, I intend to see just how far we can push it.”

She didn’t respond, her expression unreadable. But as she turned to leave, he couldn’t help but feel that he’d finally found something real, something that went beyond power and loyalty—a trust that, however fragile, was worth fighting for.