STOLEN HEARTS: FALLING FOR THE ENEMY

*THE CRIMSON LOUNGE*

"Alessia! If you wipe that counter any slower, we'll be out of business by morning!"

Tony barked from the kitchen door, his heavy voice cutting through the low chatter in the bar. He stomped out, his greasy apron tied too tight around his bulging stomach. "Get your head out of the clouds and bring those drinks to table six!"

Alessia flinched, her hands gripping the edge of the bar. She was used to Tony's yelling, but after a long day, it still made her stomach churn. She grabbed the tray of drinks, balancing it carefully as she moved through the tables.

"Sorry, Tony, I'm on it," she mumbled under her breath.

"You better be," Tony snapped. "I do not pay you to stand around like some princess."

Alessia swallowed back her frustration. Pay? If she could call the miserable paycheck he gave her 'pay,' she might have laughed. But tonight, there was no energy for sarcasm. She couldn't afford to lose this job. Not with her mom back at home, barely able to afford the medicine to keep her alive.

Approaching table six, she plastered on the fake smile she had perfected over the years. The men seated there barely looked up. They were dressed too well for a bar like this, their suits crisp and expensive, making the smoke-stained walls around them seem even more dingy by comparison. They muttered to each other, speaking in low voices that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Here's your drinks, gentlemen," Alessia said, setting the glasses down carefully.

One of the men glanced up, his eyes sharp and assessing. He didn't say thank you-none of them ever did. He gave her a dismissive nod before returning to the conversation, as if she were invisible.

She quickly retreated back to the bar, her heart still racing from Tony's earlier outburst. She could feel his eyes on her from across the room, watching, waiting for another reason to snap and threaten her about firing her.

"Alessia, stop dragging your feet!" Tony barked again. He slammed a stack of dirty dishes onto the counter in front of her. "We've got more customers coming in, and you're moving like a damn snail. You think I pay you to stroll around like this is a vacation?"

"I'm working as fast as I can," she muttered, avoiding his eyes. Why can't he hire more workers if he had this much costumers.

"Well, it's not fast enough!" Tony snarled, his face turning red. "I've got half of my mind set to toss you out on the street if you don't speed up."

Alessia clenched her jaw, holding back the retort that burned on her tongue. She couldn't afford to lose this job. Not now. Not with Leo still missing, and her mother's medical bills piling up. So she nodded, biting back her words.

"Yes, Tony."

Tony snorted, clearly unsatisfied but too lazy to push further. He wiped his greasy hands on his apron and headed back toward the kitchen, mumbling under his breath.

As soon as he was gone, Alessia exhaled, allowing herself a brief moment of peace. She leaned against the counter, closing her eyes. This job was suffocating her, but what choice did she have? Velancia was a city ruled by power, money, and fear. And she had none of those.

"Another night in hell," she whispered to herself.

"Alessia," a deep voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

Her eyes snapped open as she looked up. Standing on the other side of the bar was Tommaso, one of Tony's regulars. He was a low-level thug in the Crimson Empire, always here with a smirk and an attitude. Alessia forced a polite smile, though she hated every second of dealing with him.

"Tommaso," she greeted stiffly, reaching for an empty glass. "What can I get you?"

"You can get me a smile that isn't so damn fake," he said with a grin, leaning across the bar. "Come on, Alessia. You're too pretty to be frowning all the time."

She bit the inside of her cheek. "What'll you have?"

He chuckled, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Whiskey. Neat."

She quickly poured the drink, sliding it across the counter without meeting his gaze. Tommaso always lingered longer than necessary, making her skin crawl with the way he looked at her. Tonight was no different.

"How's your brother, Leo, doing?" Tommaso asked casually.

Her fingers tightened around the glass she was wiping. "I don't know," she said carefully. "He's been... away for a while."

Tommaso's eyes sparked with something she couldn't place. "That so? You should keep an eye on him, Alessia. Leo's been getting into some deep shit lately."

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tommaso shrugged, taking a slow sip of his whiskey. "Just saying, I've heard things. Things that might be bad for your family. Velancia is not a forgiving place, you know? Especially not for people who mess with the wrong crowd."

Alessia's stomach twisted in knots as her intestines battled inside her. She didn't need Tommaso's warnings to know Leo was in trouble. She had felt it for weeks. But hearing it out loud made it real. Too real.

"Thanks for the advice," she muttered, turning away to hide the panic rising in her chest.

Tommaso chuckled again, setting his empty glass on the counter with a soft clink. "Anytime, sweetheart."

As soon as he was gone, Alessia sagged against the bar, her hands trembling.

'What had Leo done?' She had a terrible feeling that whatever it was, it wasn't something they could easily escape from.

Just as she placed the empty tray on the counter, the doors to the lounge swung open. A wave of silence spread through the room. Alessia didn't need to look up to know who had just walked in.

Dante Russo.

The underboss of the Crimson Empire.

His presence was like a dark cloud settling over the room. People moved out of his way as he strode in, flanked by two bodyguards.

Dante's dark eyes scanned the room, assessing every corner as he walked into a private room with his usual air of quiet authority.

Alessia quickly turned away, praying he wouldn't notice her. She had heard the stories-everyone in Velancia had. Dante Russo was ruthless, a man who would crush anyone who crossed him without hesitation.

"Alessia," Tony hissed from behind her, making her jump. "Don't just stand there like an idiot. Get to work!"

She grabbed a tray, her mind racing. If Dante Russo was here, it could only mean one thing: something big was about to happen.

And she was terrified that her brother might be the reason behind it.

Alessia stared down at the crumpled piece of paper in her hand, her heart sinking into her stomach.

Fifty dollars.

That's all Tony had given her after working her ass off for an entire week.

She marched toward Tony's office, her pulse quickening with frustration. He had to be joking, right? There was no way he thought this was a fair wage. Not after she had barely slept the last few days, pulling extra shifts to make sure the bills were covered.

Her breath hitched as she knocked on his office door, the metal rattling under her fist. "Tony!"

The door flew open, and Tony's sour face appeared. "What now?" he grumbled, eyeing her with clear annoyance.

"This," she held up the cheque, her voice trembling with restrained anger. "This is a joke. I worked all week, Tony. I-"

"And you were moving slower than a damn snail," Tony cut her off, crossing his arms over his wide chest. "You think I didn't notice? You barely did shit today, Alessia. I'm not paying you full wages when you're dragging your feet around the place like you're on vacation."

Her mouth dropped open in disbelief. "Are you serious? I was here, wasn't I? I served tables, cleaned, even dealt with the usual creeps. I've been working my ass off, Tony!"

Tony's eyes narrowed, his voice turning cold. "You wanna keep your job or not? 'Cause I can find a dozen girls just like you who'd be happy to take over."

Alessia clenched her fists, fighting the urge to scream. "It's not fair," she muttered, but her voice sounded small even to her own ears.

Tony snorted, clearly enjoying her defeat. "Life's not fair, Alessia. Now get out of my office. I don't have time for your whining."

He slammed the door in her face before she could get another word out. The sound echoed down the narrow hallway, leaving Alessia standing there, fuming. Her blood boiled as she stared at the peeling paint on the door, the thin paycheck still clutched in her hand.

"You're such a piece of shit," she muttered under her breath.

The door swung open again, and Tony glared at her. "You say something?" he barked.

Alessia's heart jumped in her chest. She forced a smile, swallowing her anger. "Nope! Nothing at all." She quickly turned and walked away, her fake laugh echoing through the empty hall.

Outside, the cold night air hit her like a slap. She stuffed the check into her pocket, kicking at a loose stone on the sidewalk as she headed home. The streets of Velancia were quiet at this hour, with only the distant hum of traffic and the occasional barking dog breaking the silence.

Her mind raced, filled with the usual mix of frustration and worry.

'How long could she keep this up?'

She was barely scraping by as it was, and now with Leo gone... the rent was overdue, her mother's medication was running out, and she had no idea when Leo would come back, or if he would come back at all.

She kicked another stone, watching it skid across the pavement. Her shoes were worn, the soles almost paper-thin from years of overuse. Every step felt heavier than the last, dragging her down like the weight of the world was tied to her ankles.

"Why does everything have to be so damn hard?" she muttered, glancing up at the dark sky. Her breath puffed in the cool air as she trudged through the cracked streets toward the rundown apartment building she called home.

When her eyes finally landed on her house, her heart skipped a beat. The lights were on.

Alessia froze, her pulse quickening.

No one was supposed to be home. Her mother was too weak to move around much after dark, and she hadn't been expecting Leo... but then again, it wasn't like Leo ever told her where he was going or when he'd be back.

She rushed to the door, her hands shaking as she unlocked it and shoved it open.

"Leo!" she shouted, storming inside. Her chest tightened as she saw him sitting there, sprawled out on the couch like nothing had happened. He looked up lazily, as if he'd just been sitting all day while the world crumbled around them.

"Hey, sis," Leo said with a smirk, stretching his arms behind his head. "Miss me?"

Alessia's jaw dropped, disbelief turning into rage. "Where the hell have you been?" she yelled, her voice shaking with fury. "You just disappear for weeks, no calls, no messages, and now you're just sitting here like nothing happened?"

Leo rolled his eyes, swinging his feet off the couch. "Relax, Alessia. I've been busy. You know I've got things to handle."

"Busy?" Alessia's voice rose, her anger boiling over. "You're out doing god-knows-what while I'm busting my ass trying to keep a roof over our heads! Do you have any idea what I've been dealing with? Do you even care?"

Leo's smirk faded, his face hardening. "Oh, don't start with this crap, Alessia. I didn't ask you to play the hero."

"No, but you're happy to let me, aren't you?" she shot back. "You're happy to let me be the one paying the rent, the bills, the food! And now-" She choked on her words as her eyes darted to the foam cushion on the couch, which had been lifted. Panic gripped her as she rushed to it, her hands frantically searching the spot where her savings used to be.

Empty. All gone.

She spun around, glaring at Leo. "You took my money?"

Leo shrugged, not meeting her gaze. "I needed it."

"You needed it?" Alessia's voice cracked with disbelief. "That was all the money I had left! That was for Mom's medication! How could you do this?"

"I told you, I needed it," Leo snapped, his face twisting with frustration. "I've got things going on. Important things."

"Important?" Alessia screamed, stepping closer. "Like what, Leo? What could possibly be more important than keeping this family together? Than keeping Mom alive? Do you even realize what you've done?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you," Leo said coldly, standing up and towering over her. "You think you're better than me because you've got a shitty job and you pay the bills? You're not. You're just like me. We're both stuck in this hellhole, and pretending like you're some saint isn't gonna change that."

Alessia's fists clenched at her sides. "I'm the one holding this family together. You're out there, running around, probably getting into trouble, and now you're putting all of us at risk!"

"Enough!" Isabella, their mother's weak voice suddenly broke through the shouting as she shuffled into the room, her body leaning heavily on the doorframe. "Please, stop fighting. Leo, where have you been? Alessia's right, we're all struggling..."

"Mom, stay out of this," Leo growled, turning his back on her.

"You can't keep doing this, Leo. We need to stick together. Your sister has been-"

Leo shoved her aside, his hands rougher than he intended. "I said stay out of it!"

Their mother stumbled, her body hitting the floor with a thud.

Alessia gasped, rushing to her mother's side. "Mom!" Her hands shook as she helped her up, glaring. "How could you?" she whispered. "She's our mother!"

Leo's face twisted in guilt for a brief second, but he quickly masked it with anger. "She's the one who put us in this mess. If she'd married someone rich, maybe we wouldn't be living in this dump. Maybe we'd have the life we deserve!"

Alessia stared at Leo, her chest heaving with anger and disbelief. "You're unbelievable, Leo. You act like you're the only one who's suffered, like you're the only one who deserves a better life. Well, guess what? We all do, but you don't see me stealing from my own family to get it!"

Leo scoffed, shaking his head. "You think working as a waitress is some kind of noble sacrifice? You think that'll change anything for us? You're just wasting your time, Alessia."

Her eyes flared. "Wasting my time? I'm doing everything I can to keep us afloat, and you-you're out there, running with who-knows-who, throwing your life away! You took everything, Leo. Everything. That was all we had left!"

Leo's face twisted in frustration. "I'm doing what I have to, alright? You don't understand the world I'm dealing with. You think you can save us by waiting tables and playing house, but it's not that simple. We need more than that."

"You're not 'dealing with' anything but getting us into deeper shit!" Alessia shot back, stepping closer, her face inches from his. "Who are you mixed up with, Leo? What kind of trouble are you in? You think your shady business is going to fix everything?"

Leo's jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring. "You're risking everything, Leo. And for what? You're going to get us all killed, and you don't even care."

His expression darkened. "I don't need a lecture from you, Alessia."

She threw her hands in the air. "Then what do you need, Leo? You've already taken everything I have. Do you even care about Mom? About me? Explain it to me. Tell me what's so important that you're willing to destroy this family for it."

Leo turned away, his fists clenched at his sides. "I don't owe you an explanation."

"Of course, you don't," Alessia snapped, her voice rising again. "Because you don't have one. You're just a selfish coward, running from your responsibilities while I'm left to pick up the pieces."

Leo's face hardened, his fists clenching again. Without another word, he grabbed his jacket from the chair and stormed toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Alessia demanded, following him. "You can't just run away every time things get tough!"

Leo flung the door open, not bothering to look back at her. "I'm done with this conversation."

"Leo!" Alessia shouted. "Don't you dare walk out on us again! Don't you dare leave us like this!"

But Leo didn't stop. He slammed the door behind him, the sound ringing through the apartment like a final blow. Alessia stood there, staring at the closed door, her body shaking with a mixture of rage and helplessness.

Behind her, Isabella, their mother let out a soft sob. "Why... why can't he just stay?" she whispered, her voice broken.

Alessia turned, her heart aching at the sight of her mother, slumped against the wall, her frail body trembling from the fall and the stress. She rushed to her side, wrapping her arms around her, pulling her close.

"It's okay, Mom," Alessia whispered, even though she didn't believe it. "It's going to be okay."

But as the words left her lips, they felt like a lie.

Alessia stood in the doorway of the cramped apartment, watching her mother swallow the last of her medicine with a weak smile. It had been three days since Leo had stormed out, leaving her to shoulder the burden alone-again. She couldn't help but feel the weight of it all pressing down on her like a storm cloud, threatening to break.

"I'm sorry" came Isabella's weak voice. "If I wasn't..."

"Don't" Alessia interrupted. She was going to listen to the sorry words of her mom. It wasn't her fault that she was sick.

Isabella's gaze drifted to the medication bottles as she continued "I'm sorry, Alessia. If wasn't..so broken, you wouldn't have to carry everything on your shoulders." Tears brimmed in her eyes.

Alessia rushed to her side, taking her frail hand. "Don't say that, Mom. You're going to get better. You just need to rest." She tried to reassure her, but the weight of their situation threatened to crush her.

Isabella's weak voice continued, "Leo leaving..it's all because of me. I wasn't strong enough to keep him here." A coughing fit interrupted her words, leaving her gasping for air. Alessia held her close, trying to comfort her. "Shh, Mom. It's not your fault. Leo made his choices. You focus on gettina better. okay?" She stroked her hair making few hair stands pull out unintentionally.

"Just close your eyes and sleep, okay?"

Isabella, her mother, nodded like an obedient child. She lay back against the tattered couch, her frail frame blending into the faded fabric.

Alessia's heart clenched as she watched the woman who had sacrificed so much for them. Now, she was left with nothing-no savings, no security, and hardly any strength left. The silence of the apartment echoed in her mind. She slipped into the tiny bathroom, the only place she could find a moment of privacy.

The bathroom was barely more than a closet, with peeling wallpaper that had long lost its color, a cracked mirror, and tiles so stained that they looked permanently dirty no matter how hard she scrubbed. The ceiling sagged in one corner, and the dripping faucet was a constant, maddening rhythm.

Alessia leaned against the sink, gripping the edge as she felt her emotions rising, threatening to spill over. She had always prided herself on being strong, on holding it together for her mother's sake, for her own. Tears were a luxury she couldn't afford-at least, that's what she told herself. They were a sign of weakness, something Leo would mock, something the world had no sympathy for.

But today, she couldn't stop them. Silent tears slid down her cheeks, betraying the iron control she always tried to maintain. The pressure was too much, and no matter how many times she told herself she could handle it, she was breaking. Quickly, she wiped her face with the back of her hand, trying to compose herself before stepping back into the harsh reality waiting outside the door.

Just as she turned to leave, a loud, impatient knock echoed through the apartment. Alessia froze for a second, her heart pounding. Another knock, this time more forceful. She inhaled deeply, wiping the last traces of her tears, and went to answer the door.

It was the landlord.

His face was red, eyes bulging with anger as he started his rant before she could even greet him. "You think I'm running some charity here, girl? Two months, two whole months you're behind on rent! What do you think this is, a free ride?"

Alessia opened her mouth to respond, but he didn't give her a chance.

"I've been more than patient, but I'm done waiting! You better come up with that money by the end of the week, or you and your sick mother can find a nice cozy spot under the bridge! This ain't a charity home!"

She felt the sting of his words like salt on a fresh wound. Her hands tightened into fists at her sides, the words "sick mother" hitting her harder than any insult he could throw at her. Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, as she tried to stay calm. "I'll pay. I just need a little more time."

The landlord barked a laugh. "Time? You've had time, girl! Maybe if you spent less time crying and more time working, you wouldn't be in this mess. Or better yet, why don't you use that pretty face of yours? Bet you could make that rent in a night if you knew how to work your assets."

Alessia felt her stomach churn with disgust. Her jaw clenched as she struggled to keep her temper in check. The words stung, but she swallowed her anger, trying to stay composed. "I'll pay you by the end of the week," she repeated, her voice firmer.

The landlord wasn't done. He leaned in closer, his voice low and full of malice. "You better, or you and your sick mother will be out on the street faster than you can blink."

That was it. Alessia's patience snapped. She looked him square in the eye, her voice rising as she let the frustration and exhaustion spill out. "Rent! rent!! rent!!! Maybe you should do something about your building before talking about rent. Your building's a piece of junk! Every time it rains, it's like living in a waterfall, the roof leaks, the walls are crumbling, and you have the nerve to talk to me about rent? This place isn't worth half of what you charge!"

The landlord's face darkened. "You ungrateful little-"

"Ungrateful?" Alessia cut him off, her voice shaking with anger. "I'm doing everything I can, and you're acting like I'm trying to cheat you. Maybe if you fixed this dump, you wouldn't have so many tenants late on rent!"

He stepped closer, his voice filled with venom. "You're lucky I haven't thrown you out already. If you don't have that money by the end of the week, I'll personally throw your sorry ass out."

Alessia glared at him, the rage boiling inside her. "Fine! I'll get you the money," she spat, slamming the door in his face before he could respond.

For a moment, the apartment was silent. Alessia leaned against the door, her hands trembling, her heart pounding. The adrenaline rushed through her veins, but as it began to fade, the crushing weight of her situation settled in. How was she supposed to come up with that much money in just a few days? She barely made enough at the bar to cover food, let alone the rent.

She glanced at her mother, still sleeping peacefully on the couch, blissfully unaware of the storm raging in her daughter's mind. Alessia ran a hand through her hair.

"I'm only twenty-one," she muttered bitterly. "How did my life turn into this?"

Just as she sank into the worn-out chair, her thoughts spiraling into panic, another knock came at the door. This one was louder, more forceful. She groaned, pushing herself up, anger already bubbling to the surface again.

"I told you I would get you the money!" she yelled, storming toward the door and yanking it open. "I said I would-"

Her voice caught in her throat as her eyes locked with the last person she ever expected to see standing at her doorstep.

Dante Russo.

The man whose name sent shivers down everyone's spine. The man whose reputation was stained with blood and power, feared and respected in every corner of Velancia. His cold, piercing eyes met hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.

"What...what are you doing here?" she stammered, her heart hammering in her chest.

Dante stood tall, his expression unreadable as he looked her over, his presence alone speaking danger. There was no mistaking the deadly aura surrounding him, and as he stepped forward, Alessia realized she was in a situation far more worse than she had ever imagined.

'Why was he here?'