Chapter 5 Rise of a Silent Flame

Ava stared down at the black card in her hand-the silver flame etched into its surface glinting under the low office light. It felt heavier now, like it had soaked up the weight of everything she'd been through since that shot in the alley. Since saving Nico DeLuca.

She stood across from Nico, who leaned back in his chair with that same unreadable calm, his dark eyes fixed on her like he was waiting for her soul to speak. Enzo stood silently by the door, arms folded, a quiet storm in a leather jacket.

"I'm not joining your crew," Ava said finally, her voice low but clear.

Nico didn't react at first. He just watched her. Not surprised. Not angry. Just... waiting.

Enzo shifted, but Nico held up a hand.

"Why?" Nico asked.

"Because I didn't ask for this," she snapped. "I didn't want to be dragged into whatever empire you're building. I didn't save you for power. Or money. Or family. I did it because it was the right thing."

"The right thing," Nico echoed, almost amused. "In this world, there's no such thing. There's only choice-and consequence."

"I'm not built for this," she said, stepping back. "Whatever this is."

"You already are," Enzo muttered, finally speaking. "You just don't see it yet."

Ava's hand curled tighter around the card. "I want out."

Nico stood then, slow and deliberate, walking around the desk until he was in front of her. "You think walking away keeps you safe? That it makes you invisible again?" He leaned in. "You saw too much. You saved the wrong man. You're not walking in the dark anymore, Ava. You're in it. Knee-deep."

She hated how true that felt.

But before she could respond, the door to the office burst open.

Three of Nico's men turned instantly, guns drawn, barrels pointed at the intruder's head.

She couldn't help but flinch at the sight of all the guns.

And the man in the doorway raised both hands slowly, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Well," Rafe Virelli said, eyes scanning the room before settling on Nico. "Nice to know I still make an entrance."

Ava stepped back instinctively. She knew that name-Virelli. Even before she met him, she'd heard whispers. Violence. Charisma. Power. A rival. A danger.

But no one said he was beautiful.

Because he was-tall, confident, dressed in black from his fitted shirt to his tailored coat, dark hair slightly tousled like he hadn't slept but still managed to look lethal. And his eyes-ice blue, sharp as blades.

"Put the guns down," Nico said calmly, though his jaw ticked. "If he wanted to start a war, he wouldn't have walked in here alone."

Enzo didn't move. "He shouldn't be here."

"I came to talk," Rafe said, still holding his hands up, though his smile said he wasn't afraid of a bullet. "If I wanted a fight, Enzo, trust me-I wouldn't be standing still."

Slowly, Nico gave a nod. The guns lowered-reluctantly-but no one holstered anything.

Rafe stepped into the room like he belonged, glancing at Ava briefly before returning his focus to Nico.

"I'm not here to play games," he said. "That hit on you in the alley-that wasn't me."

Nico's eyes narrowed. "You're saying someone made a move under your name?"

"I'm saying I didn't plan it," Rafe replied. "I wouldn't waste a bullet without reason. Especially not on a back alley ambush like some street punk." He looked at Ava again. "And I wouldn't leave a witness."

She bristled under his gaze, but Nico didn't miss the subtext.

"You think I believe you just dropped by to clear your name?" Nico asked.

Rafe's smile faded. "No. I came because whoever's stirring the pot isn't just coming for you. Last night, one of my shipments went missing. Guns. Valuable ones."

Nico raised a brow. "You think someone's trying to pit us against each other?"

"I think someone wants to weaken both of us and watch us tear each other apart," Rafe said. "And I'm not interested in being someone else's pawn."

Ava could feel the tension in the room, thick like smoke. Two powerful men, rivals by legacy, now forced to face a threat that neither could quite name yet.

Enzo looked ready to punch something. "You expect us to believe this is goodwill?"

"I expect you to believe I value survival over pride," Rafe said coolly. "You don't have to like me, Enzo. Hell, you can hate me. But there's a storm coming, and if we don't figure out who's behind it, we're both going to drown."

He looked at Nico directly. "Think about it."

Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked out, like he hadn't just stepped into a lion's den with guns to his head and walked away with his throat intact.

Silence followed. Ava finally exhaled.

Nico turned to her, his voice quieter now. "Still want out?"

Ava didn't answer.

Because the truth was written all over her face.

No matter what she wanted... she was already in.