The Mafia's vow

Leonardo The gala was a blur of champagne, silk dresses, and lies dressed in diamonds. I stood at the highest tier of the marble staircase, untouched by the chaos below, watching. Always watching. Then I saw her. She wasn't meant to be seen. No glittering gown. No bloodthirsty ambition behind her eyes. Just a girl in a server's uniform, carefully balancing a tray of wine glasses like it mattered more than anything. She turned. One glance. That was all. Golden skin. Wide, unguarded eyes. Like she still believed the world was good. Innocence. It slammed into me like a bullet. I stepped down. Slowly. Calculated. My guards didn't move, but they watched. Everyone did when I moved. Everyone except her. She didn't even know who I was. Good. I liked that. I liked her. And I was going to have her. --- Elena He was staring at me. I could feel it like heat-this unshakable, burning awareness crawling up my spine. I didn't dare look up. Rich men always stared. Some with pity, some with lust. Some with disgust. But this one... this was different. The air around him felt dangerous. Like if I looked, something in my life would shift forever. I moved quickly through the crowd, tray balanced, smile fixed. My brother needed his medicine by morning. One mistake tonight and I'd lose this job. But when I passed him, the man stepped into my path. I froze. His suit was perfect. His eyes were darker than night. And when he looked at me, it wasn't like I was a girl serving wine. It was like I was already his. "What's your name?" he asked, his voice deep and smooth like sin. I swallowed. "I... I'm just working, sir." He smiled. God help me, it was cold and beautiful and terrifying all at once. "I didn't ask what you were doing." He stepped closer. "I asked who you are." "Elena," I whispered. I don't know why I told him. I should've walked away. Should've run. But I didn't. And somehow, I knew I never would.