Great, Confidence. Let's continue
Lily's heart nearly stopped.
She had been certain she was alone in the car.
But now…
Someone was sitting behind her.
She could see the reflection in the window.
A dark silhouette.
Tall.
Still.
Watching her.
Her breath caught in her throat.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The nightclub lights flickered across the glass, briefly illuminating the man's face.
He wore a black suit.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Lily slowly turned around in her seat.
The man looked to be in his early thirties, with sharp features and cold gray eyes.
He studied her as if she were a puzzle he had already solved.
"Good evening," he said calmly.
Lily stared at him in shock.
"How did you get in here?"
"That's not the important question."
"Then what is?"
The man leaned slightly forward.
"The important question is… why did Darius Romano bring you here tonight?"
Lily's pulse quickened.
She immediately tried to open the door beside her.
Locked.
Of course it was locked.
The man noticed.
"That won't work."
Her eyes flashed with anger.
"Who are you?"
Instead of answering, he smiled faintly.
"A friend."
"I doubt that."
"That's understandable."
The man leaned back slightly.
"But if I wanted to hurt you, Lily… you'd already be dead."
Her blood ran cold.
"You know my name."
"Of course."
He tilted his head slightly.
"You're the girl who changed everything."
Lily frowned.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, I think you do."
The man's gaze shifted briefly toward the nightclub.
Inside, the music thundered through the walls.
"Ever since you appeared," he continued calmly, "Darius has been making… unusual decisions."
"Like bringing you into the middle of a mafia war."
Lily clenched her fists.
"I came here because I wanted to."
The man chuckled softly.
"No, you didn't."
"What?"
"You came because Darius allowed it."
Lily glared at him.
"You talk like you know him."
"I do."
"Then who are you?"
For a moment, the man didn't answer.
Then he leaned closer.
"My name is Adrian."
Lily's eyes narrowed.
"Adrian what?"
The man smiled again.
"Just Adrian."
Something about the way he said it made Lily uneasy.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
Adrian's expression grew thoughtful.
"Let's just say… I'm curious."
"About what?"
"About you."
Lily scoffed.
"That's creepy."
"Maybe."
"But also necessary."
"Necessary for what?"
Adrian studied her for a long moment.
Then he said quietly:
"To see if you're worth the trouble."
Before Lily could respond—
Gunshots suddenly erupted inside the nightclub.
BANG.
BANG.
BANG.
The music inside abruptly stopped.
People screamed.
Lily's head snapped toward the building.
"What was that?!"
Adrian sighed slightly.
"Right on schedule."
She whipped around to face him again.
"What did you just say?"
But Adrian was already opening the car door.
The cool night air rushed inside.
Chaos erupted outside the club.
People began rushing toward the exits in panic.
Adrian stepped out of the car and turned back to look at Lily.
"You should stay here," he said calmly.
"Why?"
"Because what's about to happen next…"
His eyes darkened.
"…is going to get very dangerous."
Before Lily could stop him, he closed the door and disappeared into the crowd rushing out of the club.
Lily sat frozen for a moment.
Her heart raced.
Gunshots.
Screaming.
People running everywhere.
And Darius was still inside.
Her hands trembled slightly.
She remembered his words.
Stay in the car.
But every instinct inside her screamed that something was terribly wrong.
She grabbed the door handle again.
Unlocked.
The door opened.
Lily stepped out into the chaos.
People pushed past her as they ran away from the club.
"What's happening?" someone shouted.
"Someone's shooting!"
"Call the police!"
Lily ignored them.
Her eyes were fixed on the entrance of the nightclub.
Somewhere inside that building…
Darius might be in danger.
She swallowed hard.
Then she ran toward the entrance.
Meanwhile, inside the club—
The once glamorous nightclub had turned into chaos.
Broken glasses littered the floor.
People scrambled for the exits.
Marco crouched behind a table, gun in hand.
"Boss!" he shouted.
Across the room, Darius stood near the bar.
His expression was cold and focused.
Three armed men lay unconscious—or worse—near the entrance.
Victor Romano stood on the second-floor balcony, looking down at the scene with amusement.
He slowly clapped his hands.
"Well done, cousin."
Darius's eyes burned with anger.
"You're getting predictable, Victor."
Victor smiled.
"And you're getting reckless."
His gaze swept across the club.
"You actually came."
"Of course I did."
Victor leaned casually against the railing.
"You should have stayed home."
"And miss this reunion?"
Victor chuckled.
"You always did enjoy danger."
Darius raised his gun slightly.
"Call off your men."
Victor tilted his head.
"Or what?"
"Or I'll end this tonight."
For a moment, the entire room fell silent.
Victor studied his cousin carefully.
Then he laughed.
"You still think you're in control."
Darius's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"I know I am."
Victor's smile slowly faded.
Then he raised his hand.
More armed men suddenly appeared from the shadows around the club.
Marco cursed under his breath.
"Boss… we've got company."
Victor looked down at them coldly.
"Tonight," he said slowly, "the Romano family finally gets a new leader."
Darius didn't look worried.
If anything…
He looked amused.
"That's funny."
Victor frowned.
"Why?"
Darius's eyes gleamed.
"Because you forgot one important thing."
Victor crossed his arms.
"And what's that?"
Darius's voice was calm.
"I never walk into a trap…"
A sudden explosion shook the building.
The entire nightclub trembled.
Glass shattered everywhere.
Victor's confident expression vanished.
Darius finished his sentence calmly.
"…without setting one of my own."
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