Into the unknown

The dawn broke softly, casting streaks of orange and pink across the skyline, but Amara barely noticed. She had barely slept, her mind too restless to find peace in the unfamiliar luxury of Dante’s penthouse. The weight of her decision pressed down on her chest, suffocating her with doubt. She had agreed to something without fully understanding the consequences, and now she was tethered to a man whose world was as dangerous as it was alluring.

As she lay in the massive bed, staring at the ceiling, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Her heart leapt, hoping it might be Olivia, but it was an unknown number. With trembling hands, she picked it up.

“Good morning, Ms. Bennett. This is Claudia. Mr. Luciano has arranged for me to help with your transition today. I’ll be at your apartment in one hour to collect your belongings,” a cool, professional voice said.

Amara swallowed, the reality of her situation settling in. “All right,” she replied, her voice thick with sleep and uncertainty.

The call ended abruptly, and she sat up, running her fingers through her hair. The world outside was moving, and she had to catch up. There was no room for hesitation anymore.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, glancing around the opulent room. It was all too much—too clean, too grand, too far from the life she knew. The plush carpet felt strange beneath her bare feet, and the air smelled like expensive cologne and polished wood. For a fleeting moment, she missed the cramped, run-down apartment she shared with Olivia, the familiarity of it, even though it had been a constant reminder of their struggles.

But that was the past now.

Amara showered quickly, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of doubt clinging to her skin. She dressed in the clothes she’d arrived in the night before, her uniform from Le Croix feeling out of place in the lavish surroundings. With a sigh, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror, her face pale and drawn. There was no escaping what lay ahead.

When she stepped out into the living area, Dante was nowhere to be seen. She had half-expected him to be there, watching her like he had the night before, but instead, the space was empty, filled only with the hum of the city below. A note rested on the kitchen island.

Amara,

I’ll be away for the day. Claudia will take care of everything. Consider this your new home.

–D

She stared at the neat, precise handwriting, her stomach churning with a mixture of anticipation and dread. His world was becoming hers, and there was no turning back.

Claudia arrived precisely one hour later, as promised. She was the picture of elegance—tall, slender, and impeccably dressed in a designer suit. Her blonde hair was pinned back into a severe bun, and her eyes, though polite, were distant.

“Ms. Bennett,” she said with a slight nod. “Shall we?”

Amara followed her out of the penthouse, feeling like a shadow in the presence of someone so composed. The drive to her old apartment was silent, save for the soft hum of the luxury car’s engine. Claudia didn’t ask questions, and Amara wasn’t in the mood for conversation.

When they arrived at the small, dilapidated building she had called home for years, a wave of unease settled over her. This place had been her reality for so long. It was hard to believe she was leaving it behind.

Claudia led the way inside, her heels clicking sharply against the cracked pavement. “We’ll be quick,” she said, her tone clipped but efficient. “Everything will be handled with discretion.”

Amara nodded, though a part of her still felt hesitant. She wasn’t used to people taking care of things for her. For years, she had been the one in charge, the one making decisions. Now, everything was out of her hands.

When they reached her apartment, Amara paused in the doorway, taking in the familiar clutter of her life. Olivia’s medical equipment, the worn-out couch, the stack of unpaid bills on the kitchen counter—it all felt like a distant memory, even though it was still very much her reality.

“Where’s your sister?” Claudia asked, noticing the empty apartment.

“She’s at the hospital,” Amara said quietly. “She has her treatments there every week.”

Claudia nodded curtly. “We’ll arrange for her to be transferred to a better facility. Mr. Luciano will see to it personally.”

Amara blinked, taken aback by the matter-of-fact way Claudia spoke. It was as if moving someone’s entire life from one place to another was as simple as making a phone call. And maybe, in Dante’s world, it was.

“Pack what’s essential. The rest can be stored or donated,” Claudia instructed, already moving toward the closet. “We’ll have everything ready by the time your sister returns.”

Amara hesitated, her heart aching at the thought of Olivia coming back to an empty apartment. She knew this was for the best—knew that Olivia would get the care she deserved—but it didn’t make it any easier.

“I’ll pack her things,” Amara said, her voice soft.

Claudia didn’t protest. She busied herself with gathering Amara’s belongings while Amara moved to Olivia’s room, a tight knot forming in her chest. Olivia’s room was small but filled with the warmth and comfort that had always defined her sister. Posters of her favorite bands covered the walls, and the bed was neatly made with the quilt their mother had sewn before she passed.

Amara sat on the edge of the bed, running her fingers over the quilt’s frayed edges. Olivia had been through so much—far more than anyone her age should ever have to endure. The thought of her being uprooted, of being thrust into a new world without warning, made Amara’s heart ache. But what choice did she have? This was the only way to give her sister the life she deserved.

With a deep breath, Amara began packing Olivia’s things. She folded clothes, gathered books, and carefully placed her sister’s favorite items into a suitcase. All the while, her mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead.

Claudia’s efficiency was startling. In less than an hour, the apartment had been stripped of nearly everything that mattered. Amara’s life, once scattered across this tiny space, was now packed neatly into boxes and suitcases, ready to be whisked away to a new beginning.

As they loaded the last of the bags into the car, Amara took one final look at the apartment. It felt strange to say goodbye, even though this place had been a constant reminder of her struggles. It had also been her home, the only home she and Olivia had known since their mother died.

“Are you ready?” Claudia asked, her tone professional but not unkind.

Amara nodded, though the word “ready” felt far from accurate. She was stepping into a world she didn’t understand, with a man she barely knew. But she had made her choice.

The ride back to Dante’s penthouse was just as silent as the ride away from it. Claudia made no attempt at small talk, which suited Amara just fine. Her thoughts were too jumbled, too consumed by what was happening. By the time they arrived back at the penthouse, Amara felt like she was caught in a dream—one she couldn’t wake up from.

When the elevator doors opened to Dante’s penthouse, the space felt different. It wasn’t just the grandeur of it, but the knowledge that this was now her home. For better or worse, she was a part of this world.

“Mr. Luciano will be returning this evening,” Claudia informed her as she set down the final suitcase. “I’ll arrange for a doctor to check on your sister as soon as she’s here. Is there anything else you need for today?”

Amara shook her head, still feeling numb from the whirlwind of the day. “No, that’s everything.”

Claudia gave her a brief nod. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”

With that, Claudia left, the door closing behind her with a finality that echoed in the empty space.

Amara stood in the middle of the penthouse, the silence pressing down on her. She wandered toward the large windows that overlooked the city, the bustling world below moving on as if nothing had changed. But everything had changed.

Her fingers grazed the cold glass, her mind drifting to thoughts of Dante. What kind of man had she bound herself to? He was dangerous—that much was clear. His power, his presence, the way he commanded attention without even trying—it was intoxicating, but it was also terrifying.

And yet, here she was, drawn into his orbit, unable to escape.

The day passed in a blur, and by the time evening rolled around, Amara was pacing the penthouse, her nerves fraying at the edges. She didn’t know what to expect when Dante returned, didn’t know how to behave, what he would demand from her.

When the door finally opened and Dante stepped inside, her heart stopped.

He looked at her, his dark eyes scanning her from head to toe, as if assessing her every thought, every hesitation.

“Good,” he said, his voice low and steady. “You’re still here.”

Amara’s breath hitched. She wasn’t sure if it was a compliment or a warning.

Dante moved closer, his presence overwhelming. He reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You made the right choice, Amara.”

She nodded, her throat too dry to speak.

He smiled then, that same dark, dangerous smile that had both intrigued and frightened her since the moment they met. “Welcome to my world.”

And with that, her new life truly began.