Chapter 4 Alessio's Pov

The faint hum of the city filtered through the large windows of Alessio's penthouse as he poured himself a glass of whiskey. Morning light spilled into the room, but he paid it no mind. Day and night blurred together when you lived his life.

He leaned against the counter, swirling the amber liquid in his glass, his mind lingering on her.

Dahlia.

The name echoed in his thoughts, even though he hadn't expected to remember it. She was supposed to be a fleeting distraction-a beautiful woman who crossed his path and left just as quickly. But her defiance, her fiery charm, had unsettled something in him.

Women didn't often surprise him, but Dahlia had.

His lips curved into a faint smirk. He'd left her a note, along with the cash. It was a clean exit, his way of ensuring no complications. But something about the way she'd looked at him last night made him wonder if she would take it.

Would she pocket the money and disappear, proving she was just like everyone else? Or would she leave it behind, showing she was different?

He didn't want to care about the answer. But he did.

A knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. "Come in," he called, his voice calm but firm.

Matteo entered, his usual confident stride intact. As Alessio's second-in-command, Matteo was trusted with almost everything-including cleaning up loose ends.

"Boss," Matteo greeted, nodding respectfully.

"What is it?" Alessio asked, setting the glass down on the counter.

Matteo hesitated, just for a second. "I followed up on the girl from last night. You asked me to keep an eye on her."

Alessio's smirk returned, though his expression remained unreadable. "And?"

"She didn't take the cash."

The words hung in the air, heavier than Alessio expected. He arched a brow, gesturing for Matteo to continue.

"She left it behind, along with the note you wrote," Matteo said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Walked out without so much as a glance back."

Alessio leaned back against the counter, his arms crossing over his chest. He didn't say anything for a moment, his mind turning over Matteo's words.

She didn't take it.

His smirk widened, this time reaching his eyes. "Interesting."

Matteo tilted his head, watching him carefully. "Should I leave it at that, or do you want me to dig deeper?"

"No," Alessio said, his voice calm but firm. "Not yet."

He didn't need Matteo meddling. Not now. Dahlia intrigued him, and he preferred to handle his intrigue personally.

"She left an impression, didn't she?" Matteo asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Alessio chuckled, a low, almost dangerous sound. "You could say that."

Matteo shook his head, smirking as he turned to leave. "Careful, Boss. That kind of woman usually comes with trouble."

"I've never minded trouble," Alessio replied smoothly, his gaze fixed on the city skyline.

As the door closed behind Matteo, Alessio picked up his glass and took another sip. The fact that Dahlia hadn't taken the cash told him more than she probably realized.

She wasn't like the others.

And Alessio always finished what he started.

Just as he set the glass down, his phone rang, the shrill sound cutting through the quiet of the room.

He glanced at the screen-it was his lieutenant.

"What is it?" Alessio answered, his tone cold and professional.

"We've got a problem at the docks," the voice on the other end said urgently. "The Castellanos made a move. They've hit our shipment."

Alessio's eyes narrowed. The Castellanos. He knew they were getting bold, but this? This was an attack.

"Get everyone there," he said, his voice darkening. "I'll be there in ten minutes."

He hung up, the sharp sound of the phone cutting through the tension building in the room.

This was no longer a matter of business. This was war.

With a final glance at the skyline, he turned and headed for the door. Dahlia would have to wait. There was no room for distractions now.

The Castellanos had just made a dangerous mistake.