Chapter 3 - THE MAN WHO OWNED THE NIGHT
By midnight, the photograph was online.
Someone had leaked it.
The caption read:
DANTE MORETTI'S SECRET WOMAN REVEALED AT ST. REGIS GALA.
I stared at my phone.
My face.
His face.
The kiss.
Thousands of comments.
Hundreds of shares.
My name was already circulating.
Clara Hayes.
Twenty-six.
Event coordinator.
Brooklyn resident.
I felt sick.
Dante stood beside the window.
His phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then said:
“Find the source.”
A pause.
“No threats. No violence. I want evidence.”
He ended the call.
I stared.
“You have people for that?”
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
I laughed nervously.
“Of course you do.”
He turned toward me.
“Clara.”
I looked up.
“Yes?”
“I can arrange somewhere safe for you tonight.”
I folded my arms.
“Are you kidnapping me?”
His expression changed.
“No.”
“Because that would be a terrible start.”
He almost smiled.
“You're free to leave.”
I swallowed.
“And if I do?”
He looked toward the photograph on my phone.
“Then I'll still have someone watch your building from a distance until we know who leaked it.”
I stared.
“You can't just decide that.”
He nodded slowly.
“Fair.”
Then he asked:
“Would you allow me to arrange security?”
I studied him.
For a moment, I saw something beneath the cold exterior.
A man accustomed to controlling everything.
Trying, awkwardly, to ask permission.
I sighed.
“Temporary security.”
He nodded.
“Temporary.”
“And no more surprise announcements.”
His expression shifted.
I narrowed my eyes.
“Dante.”
He looked away.
“What?”
“What did you do?”
Silence.
Then his phone buzzed.
A news alert appeared.
MAFIA BOSS DANTE MORETTI DECLARES CLARA HAYES UNDER HIS PERSONAL PROTECTION.
I stared.
Then slowly turned toward him.
“Dante.”
May you like
He closed his eyes.
“I may have made one announcement.”
