Chapter 3 Bitter Bonds

Missi's POV

I hated the smell of the estate.

It wasn't that it was bad-it was actually quite lavish and clean-but there was something about the place that made my skin crawl.

Maybe it was the way the marble floors gleamed unnaturally, or the coldness of the air that seemed to freeze everything in its path. Maybe it was because I knew who owned it. And now, I had to pretend everything was fine, even though deep down, I wanted to scream.

"Missi, relax. It's just a party," Adriana said, trying to ease my nerves. But she knew as well as I did that this wasn't just a party. Nothing was ever just a party when it came to the Moretti family.

We entered the grandiose hallway, the sound of our heels clicking on the marble like a countdown to the inevitable. Adriana was wearing that mask of indifference she always put on when things got bad.

When things were too complicated for her to handle. I hated that she had to hide her emotions around me, but I understood. We both knew too well what would happen if anyone saw her weakness.

I grabbed a glass of champagne from a tray held by a servant, taking a sip just to have something to do. It didn't calm my nerves, but it helped distract me from the real issue: the damn marriage.

I was still furious about it. I hadn't been able to wrap my head around the fact that Adriana, my best friend, was now married to Ivan Valkof.

I had watched her fight against it, seen her frustration and rage, and it had only made me angrier. I would've done anything to change it, but I couldn't. No one could.

"Where's the damn bar?" I muttered under my breath, scanning the room. I wasn't interested in mingling, especially not with the mafia elite, so a drink was the only thing that would help me endure this hellhole.

Adriana's eyes flicked toward the corner of the room. "It's over there."

I followed her gaze, but as I made my way to the corner, a heavy hand landed on my shoulder.

"Missi," a voice rumbled behind me, and I froze.

I turned slowly to face Antonio Rizzo, Ivan's right-hand man. A man I loathed more than anyone else in this damn mafia.

"Antonio," I greeted him coldly, raising an eyebrow as I crossed my arms over my chest. He was tall, wearing his usual sharp suit, looking every bit the dangerous man he was. He smiled, but it wasn't friendly.

"You don't look pleased to see me," he said with an almost mocking tone.

I let out a humorless laugh. "Is that a surprise?"

Antonio chuckled, stepping closer until his scent-spicy cologne mixed with something darker, something I couldn't quite place-filled my nose. "I'm guessing you're not here for the drinks, are you?"

I gave him a sharp look, ignoring the tingling sensation that ran down my spine. He was too close. I could feel his presence pressing in on me, making me feel like I was trapped in a cage.

"I'm here for the drinks," I lied, forcing a smile. I hated how easily he could get under my skin, how effortlessly he could push my buttons.

But then, the smile faded as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You, me, and Ivan have a job to do. We're going to need your help."

My stomach dropped. I had a feeling the "party" wasn't the only thing I'd been invited here for. "You're joking, right?"

Antonio's eyes narrowed, but the smile didn't leave his lips. "Do I look like I'm joking?"

"No," I muttered. Of course, he wasn't joking. Antonio never joked. And now, I was roped into something that was sure to get me killed.

I took a step back, shaking my head. "I'm not doing it."

"You don't have a choice," he said calmly, but the finality in his words made my chest tighten.

"Why not?" I shot back, my voice filled with defiance. "Because I'm a woman? Or because you think I'm stupid enough to fall in line?"

His smile twisted into something darker. "Because if you don't, I'll make sure you regret it. You're already here, Missi. No turning back now."

Before I could respond, Adriana joined me, her steps firm, but there was a tension in her shoulders. She had overheard the conversation, I could tell. She turned to Antonio, her expression cold.

"What the hell is going on?" she demanded, her voice clipped. "What do you mean we're part of this mission?"

Antonio eyed her for a long moment, a slow smirk curling on his lips. "You didn't think this was just a party, did you? We need you two for the job. No one else."

I clenched my jaw, my blood boiling. This was exactly what I had feared. It was never just a party. I looked over at Adriana, who, like me, was clearly fuming.

"I didn't sign up for this," Adriana spat, her eyes flashing with fury. "And I sure as hell didn't sign up to work with you."

Antonio's smirk didn't falter. "And yet, here you are. I'm sure you'll find the arrangements... comfortable."

"Comfortable?" I barked a laugh, stepping forward to face him. "You think this is comfortable? Being forced into your mess? I hate you, Antonio. I hate you and everything you stand for."

Antonio's gaze darkened for a brief moment, but then he shrugged, as if my words meant nothing to him. "I don't need your love, Missi. I need your skills."

Adriana shot me a look, her anger matching my own. "You know, you could've just asked," she said bitterly. "But instead, you drag us into your filthy business."

Antonio's expression was unreadable, but his eyes flickered for a moment, the barest hint of frustration crossing his face. He straightened up, his jaw clenched.

"Enough," he growled, voice low. "There's no time for your tantrums. You're part of this whether you like it or not. Don't make me repeat myself."

I could feel the heat building inside me again, my fists clenching as I tried to keep my cool.

"And if we don't cooperate?" Adriana asked, her voice a low growl.

Antonio leaned in closer, his presence overwhelming. "Then you won't like the consequences. Trust me."

The room felt too small, too suffocating, as I stared into his dark eyes. I knew he meant it. I knew Antonio wasn't bluffing. Neither was Ivan.

I hated how much power they had over us, how easily they could make us bend to their will. But for all my anger, all my hatred toward these men, I knew the truth: we had no choice.

"I'll never trust you," I muttered under my breath, but it didn't matter. It didn't matter if I hated them. It didn't matter if Adriana hated them.

We were in this together. And there was no way out.I sighed, glancing at Adriana, her face a mask of anger and disbelief, just as mine was. Our worlds had been flipped upside down, and this-this was just the beginning.