Chapter 3 - The Secret Behind the Italian Girl
Anna spent the entire night convincing herself that Lorenzo Moretti was nothing more than a dangerous man with too much power.
It should have been easy.
She had grown up hearing stories about men like him.
Men who controlled businesses nobody understood.
Men whose names were spoken quietly.
Men who could make problems disappear.
But the problem was…
Lorenzo Moretti had not acted like the monster everyone described.
Monsters did not warn people to stay away from danger.
They did not look concerned when someone else might get hurt.
And they definitely did not look at a woman insulting them and smile.
By morning, Anna was already regretting how much space he occupied in her thoughts.
She walked into the hotel lobby wearing her usual black blazer, ready for another exhausting day.
But something was different.
The staff was nervous.
Too nervous.
She noticed Daniel Davis, the hotel manager, standing near the entrance, speaking quietly with two unfamiliar men.
When Anna approached, the conversation stopped.
"Good morning," she said.
Daniel forced a smile.
"Anna."
The hesitation in his voice immediately caught her attention.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You are a terrible liar."
Before Daniel could answer, one of the men stepped forward.
He was wearing an expensive suit, but something about him felt wrong.
Too confident.
Too comfortable.
"Miss Bellini?"
Anna looked at him.
"Yes?"
"My employer would like to speak with you."
"Who is your employer?"
The man smiled.
"Someone who knows Mr. Moretti."
Anna immediately became cautious.
"No."
The man blinked.
"No?"
"I don't discuss hotel guests."
His smile disappeared.
"This isn't about hotel information."
Anna remained silent.
"It's about Lorenzo."
That was enough.
She turned away.
"I have nothing to say."
The man grabbed the folder in his hand tighter.
"Miss Bellini, you should understand something."
He lowered his voice.
"People around Lorenzo Moretti eventually get hurt."
Anna stopped.
The words bothered her.
Not because they scared her.
Because they sounded like a threat.
"Are you threatening me?"
The man's expression changed.
"No."
A pause.
"I'm giving you advice."
Before Anna could respond, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Interesting."
Everyone turned.
Lorenzo stood near the entrance.
Dark suit.
No coat.
Cold expression.
The entire lobby became silent.
The stranger immediately stepped back.
"Mr. Moretti."
Lorenzo looked at him.
"You approached her."
The man swallowed.
"I was simply asking questions."
"No."
Lorenzo walked closer.
"You were testing her."
His eyes turned colder.
"That was your mistake."
Anna watched carefully.
This was the man everyone feared.
Not because he shouted.
Because he never needed to.
The stranger lowered his head.
"I apologize."
Lorenzo ignored him.
"Leave."
The man left immediately.
Anna looked at Lorenzo.
"You followed me?"
"No."
"Then how did you know?"
"I had someone watching the hotel."
She frowned.
"That sounds worse."
A slight smile appeared.
"It probably does."
Anna crossed her arms.
"Who was that?"
Lorenzo looked at the empty doorway.
"Someone connected to the person who betrayed me."
"And you think I am involved?"
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Too quickly.
Anna noticed.
"Then why protect me?"
Lorenzo looked at her.
"Because they came to you because of me."
The honesty surprised her.
Anna lowered her voice.
"What exactly happened?"
For several seconds, Lorenzo said nothing.
Then:
"Someone inside my family sold information."
Anna froze.
"Your family?"
"My organization."
He corrected himself.
"But betrayal inside my world is always personal."
Anna studied his face.
"You don't trust anyone."
"No."
"Not even your own people?"
"No."
"Then why do you trust me?"
Lorenzo looked at her.
"Because you had no reason to lie."
Anna looked away.
She hated that his answer affected her.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It does."
He stepped closer.
"Everyone around me wants something."
A pause.
"You wanted me gone."
Anna almost smiled.
"I still do."
For the first time, Lorenzo laughed quietly.
A real laugh.
And Anna hated that she noticed how different he looked when he did.
Then his expression changed.
"Your grandmother's name was Isabella Bellini."
Anna froze.
The smile disappeared.
"How do you know that?"
Lorenzo watched her carefully.
"Because my father knew her."
Anna's heart skipped.
"My father?"
"Years ago."
His voice became softer.
"Before I became who I am now."
Anna stared at him.
"What happened?"
Lorenzo looked away.
May you like
"That's what I am trying to find out."
---
