Layers of Deception

CHAPTER 4

LIVIA'S POV

Livia watched from the shadows of the grand hall as Dante conversed with his men, each one hanging onto his every word. His presence commanded the room effortlessly, a silent authority that left no room for dissent. He didn’t have to raise his voice or threaten—his power came from something deeper, a respect he had earned through strength and loyalty. As Livia observed him, she felt an unexpected pang of admiration. She had come to destroy this man, but she couldn’t deny the allure of his charisma. Even she, with her mind set on vengeance, found it hard to resist.

Her gaze shifted when a new figure entered the hall. Bianca Visconti. Tall, statuesque, and beautiful, Bianca exuded a confidence that was hard to ignore. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, pausing as they landed on Livia. There was something calculating in her gaze, a spark of suspicion that made Livia’s pulse quicken.

She looked away, feigning indifference as she moved to another corner, but she could feel Bianca’s gaze linger. Livia knew she’d need to tread carefully. Women like Bianca could be dangerous, especially if they saw her as a threat.

Throughout the evening, Livia noticed how Dante interacted with his men. He addressed them by name, listened intently, and responded with a calm, measured tone that made them respect him even more. But when he looked her way, his expression softened ever so slightly. It was subtle, but it was there—a look that left her both intrigued and wary.

As the night wore on, she began to feel the weight of her deception pressing down on her. She had a mission here, a purpose. She was supposed to use this opportunity to gather information, not get caught up in stolen glances and fleeting touches. Yet, every time Dante’s eyes met hers, she felt her resolve weaken.

Later, when the hall had emptied, Dante approached her, his steps quiet but purposeful. Her heart pounded as he stopped in front of her, his intense gaze piercing through her defenses.

“Did you enjoy the evening, Livia?” he asked, his voice low and smooth.

She forced herself to appear calm, offering a small nod. “It was... enlightening.”

His lips curled into a faint smile. “Enlightening, hmm? And what did you learn?”

Livia hesitated, careful not to reveal too much. “That you have a way with people,” she replied, keeping her tone neutral. “They respect you.”

“Respect is earned, not demanded,” he said, his voice tinged with a hint of pride. “A lesson I’ve learned over many years.”

Their eyes locked, and for a brief moment, the tension between them was palpable. She felt a strange pull toward him, one that defied all reason. She was here to bring him down, to see him suffer, yet every fiber of her being seemed drawn to the warmth in his gaze.

Just then, Bianca appeared at the edge of the room, her eyes narrowing as she watched them. Livia straightened, reminding herself of her purpose. She couldn’t afford to let her emotions cloud her judgment. Not now, with someone like Bianca watching her every move.

Dante seemed to sense her shift in mood, his gaze flicking over to Bianca before returning to her. “Bianca is... protective,” he murmured. “She’s been with me for years and doesn’t trust easily.”

Livia forced a smile, hiding the unease growing within her. “I can see that.”

Without another word, he turned and left, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She exhaled slowly, her mind racing. This was dangerous. She was getting too close, too entangled in his world. Her mission was clear, yet her heart was pulling her in a direction she couldn’t afford to go.

The following day, she noticed Bianca trailing her, watching her with a scrutinizing gaze that made her skin prickle. Livia did her best to keep up appearances, acting as though she was just another one of Dante’s servants, but she knew Bianca was no fool.

At one point, Bianca confronted her, a sly smile playing on her lips. “You seem to have caught Dante’s attention rather quickly,” she remarked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Not many can say that.”

Livia met her gaze, forcing herself to remain calm. “I’m just doing my job.”

Bianca’s smile widened, a hint of malice flickering in her eyes. “I’d be careful if I were you. Dante doesn’t trust easily, and neither do I.”

Livia’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t rise to the bait. She simply nodded, keeping her expression neutral. “Thank you for the advice.”

As she walked away, her mind churned with a mixture of anger and fear. Bianca was onto her, or at the very least, she was suspicious. Livia would need to be careful, or she risked everything she’d worked for. But even as she reminded herself of her mission, she couldn’t shake the memory of Dante’s gaze, the way he looked at her as if he saw something in her that no one else did.

That night, as she lay in bed, her thoughts returned to him. Despite everything she knew about him, despite the pain he’d caused, she couldn’t deny the pull she felt. It was a dangerous line she was walking, one that could end in disaster if she wasn’t careful.

In the days that followed, Livia threw herself into her role, observing Dante from a distance and taking note of his every move. She watched how he interacted with his men, how he commanded respect without ever raising his voice. His leadership was powerful, almost magnetic, and the more she saw, the harder it became to resist his pull.

And yet, every time she felt herself softening, she reminded herself of her purpose. Dante was the enemy. He was the reason for her pain, her losses. She couldn’t let herself forget that, no matter how drawn to him she felt.

One evening, she found herself alone in the library, flipping through an old book when Dante entered. She looked up, her heart skipping a beat as he approached, his gaze intense.

“I see you’ve made yourself comfortable,” he remarked, a teasing glint in his eye.

She shrugged, feigning indifference. “I’m just passing the time.”

He leaned against the bookshelf, watching her with that same penetrating stare that always left her unnerved. “Passing the time… or hiding something?”

Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to keep her composure. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Dante smirked, crossing his arms as he studied her. “You’re an enigma, Livia. One moment, you’re defiant, and the next, you’re vulnerable. It’s... intriguing.”

Livia swallowed, feeling the weight of his gaze. He was getting too close, too perceptive. She had to divert his attention before he saw through her mask. “Maybe you’re just imagining things.”

Dante’s smirk faded, replaced by a seriousness that sent a shiver down her spine. “Perhaps. But I have a feeling there’s more to you than meets the eye.”

Before she could respond, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch was light, but it sent a shockwave through her, a reminder of the dangerous line she was walking. She could feel his breath on her skin, his proximity making it hard to think clearly.

“Be careful, Livia,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “The deeper you go, the harder it is to escape.”

She looked up at him, her heart racing, torn between the desire to push him away and the urge to pull him closer. His words echoed in her mind, a warning she couldn’t ignore. She was in too deep, her heart betraying her every time she was near him.

As Dante pulled back, his gaze softened, leaving her feeling exposed, vulnerable in a way she hadn’t expected. She watched him walk away, a mix of anger and longing twisting in her chest. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She had come here to destroy him, to make him pay for the things he’d done. Yet, with each passing day, she found herself sinking deeper into his world, her heart betraying her mission.

Alone in the darkened library, Livia clenched her fists, her resolve wavering. She couldn’t let herself fall for him. She had to stay focused, to remember why she was here. But as the memory of his touch lingered, she knew it wouldn’t be that simple.