Trapped in the Mafian's Web- Into the Shadows

ter

ra's

ight, its streets hummed with secrets, whispered deals, and unspoken truths that most would rather ignore.

na" wasn't just any dive in Little Italy. It was notorious for two things: its perfectl

urs. The warm scent of tobacco mingled with the sharper smell of whiskey. My eyes adjusted quickly to the

n DeM

rolled half the city's underground operations. Drugs, gambling, extortion-you name it, and DeMa

or, Marlene, had half-jokingly called this assignment my "make-or-break moment." Either I'd

the latter," I mutt

it blended into the shadows, but there was no mistaking him. He was every bit as magnetic as the whispers suggested-jet-black hai

ngerous, and I had no

asn't l

napped a picture of him. My heart pounded as I sent it to my encrypte

ke you doing in a

nst the bar, a sly grin on his face. He had the greasy charm of

oothly, lifting my glass of soda as i

usually last long around here. Friendly advice-don

ass. "Thanks for the tip," I said, keepin

ook, and wandered off. I exhaled slowly

ise, he was

uldn't quite place-fear, maybe. Or fascination. His lips curved into the

noticed me taking the pic

ng to check a text. But the urge to glance back at him

g that I had just made a ve

ed every moment, analyzing Julian's expression, the way his

ere frayed. I fumbled with my keys, cursing un

d he

down my spine. I spun a

shadows, his hands casually

, trying to mask my shock.

p close, he was even more imposing. His eyes seemed to pierce right

" he said, his voice low and mea

I don't know what y

lated. "You're not a very

rse, he knew my name. I sh

ning as much confidence as I coul

me. "And what questions are you

"The truth,"

n my spine. "The truth," he repeated. "That

not afraid

here was no warmth in it

oise a distant hum around us. Then he s

Thompson," he sa

hadows, leaving me standing there, m

arco was playing, but one thing wa

everything away from me.......I ho