The study smelled faintly of leather, ink, and espresso.
Alessandro Moretti sat behind the massive mahogany desk, flipping through documents with the same cold precision he used during negotiations.
His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, but he didn't bother fixing it. His attention was locked on the papers.
Dante leaned against the wall across from him, arms crossed.
Neither men had spoken for nearly a minute.
But the tension in the room was thick enough to cut.
Dante finally broke the silence.
"She wants to go out for her birthday."
Aless didn't look up.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Sharp. Final.
Dante rolled his eyes.
"You didn't even think about it."
"I don't need to."
"She's turning nineteen, Aless."
Aless flipped another page.
"And?"
Dante pushed himself off the wall.
"And she wants one day outside."
"No."
Dante's jaw tightened.
"Jesus, you're unbelievable."
That got Alessandro's attention.
Slowly, he placed the document down.
Then he lifted his eyes.
The air in the room immediately shifted.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
"Careful," Aless said quietly.
Dante scoffed.
"Oh please. Don't give me that boss look."
Aless leaned back in his chair.
"This is exactly the boss look you should be worried about."
Dante ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
"She's not a prisoner."
"She's safe."
"That's not the same thing."
Aless's expression hardened.
"She's staying here."
Dante took a few steps closer to the desk.
"You didn't see her, Aless."
"I don't need to."
"She was crying."
Aless's jaw tightened slightly, but his expression didn't change.
"That doesn't change my answer."
Dante stared at him.
"You're unbelievable."
"She's alive," Aless replied coldly.
"That's what matters."
"You're suffocating her."
"And you're forgetting your place."
The words landed hard.
Dante went still.
For a moment, the room was completely silent.
Then Dante laughed once, humorless.
"My place?"
Aless didn't blink.
"You work for me."
"And you're my friend," Dante shot back.
Aless leaned forward slowly.
"And my decision stands."
Dante clenched his jaw.
"Why are you being so damn stubborn?"
Aless's eyes darkened.
"Because I don't know who's coming for her."
Dante went quiet.
That was the truth sitting between them.
The unknown enemy.
The French's warning.
And the fact that none of them knew exactly where the threat would strike.
"She'll be protected," Dante said finally.
Aless laughed under his breath.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
"You think a birthday shopping trip is worth the risk?"
Dante hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
Aless stared at him like he'd lost his mind.
"Why?"
Dante opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
Because the truth was complicated.
Because he didn't want to admit that Zola's disappointed face had been stuck in his head all morning.
Because he hated the way her voice had sounded when she asked him.
Because he had promised her.
And Dante Russo didn't break promises.
"She deserves it," he said finally.
Aless studied him carefully.
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Or you just don't want to disappoint her."
Dante said nothing.
Aless leaned back in his chair again.
A slow smirk formed.
"Well that's interesting."
Dante frowned.
"What?"
Aless folded his arms.
"You're unusually invested in this."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Aless chuckled quietly.
"You're defending her like your life depends on it."
Dante rubbed his face in frustration.
"Because you're acting insane."
"I'm acting careful."
"You're acting like a paranoid dictator."
Aless's smirk vanished instantly.
The room went cold again.
Dante sighed.
"Look," he said, calmer now.
"One day. I'll go with her. She won't be alone."
Aless's expression didn't change.
"No."
Dante slammed his hand on the desk.
"Aless—"
"I said no."
"Stop treating her like she's made of glass!"
"Stop pretending you understand the danger!"
The room exploded with tension.
Both men were standing now.
Staring at each other.
Years of loyalty and friendship clashing with pure stubbornness.
Aless spoke first.
Cold.
Final.
"She stays in the estate."
Dante clenched his fists.
"You're going to break her spirit if you keep doing this."
Aless's voice dropped lower.
"I'd rather break her spirit than bury her."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Dante had no response to that.
After a long moment, he exhaled slowly.
"This isn't over."
Aless met his gaze calmly.
"Yes it is."
But as Dante walked toward the door, one thought lingered in his mind.
He had promised Zola.
And Dante Russo didn't break promises.
^^^
The Next Day
Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Zola's bedroom, painting the soft pink walls in warm gold.
Zolani Moretti stretched beneath her blankets, letting out a quiet yawn before sitting up.
Her messy brown hair fell around her shoulders as she rubbed sleep from her green eyes.
Another day.
Another morning inside the estate.
She padded across the room toward the bathroom, beginning her usual routine—washing her face, brushing her teeth, tying her hair into a loose ponytail.
Afterward she wandered toward the calendar pinned beside her desk.
Her eyes immediately landed on the date.
June 12.
Zola smiled.
Then she leaned closer, her finger tracing the square on the calendar.
July 3.
Her birthday.
Her grin widened.
"Just a few more weeks," she whispered to herself.
A few more weeks until she could finally leave the estate.
A few more weeks until she could breathe outside air.
Zola practically bounced toward her closet.
Instead of anything fancy, she grabbed her favorite panda onesie, the soft black-and-white fabric warm and ridiculously comfortable.
She zipped it up and looked at herself in the mirror.
"Perfect."
Normally she hated going down to the dining hall in the morning.
It reminded her that Alessandro always left the estate for work.
While she stayed behind.
But today felt different.
Today she had something to look forward to.
So Zola skipped downstairs toward breakfast.
The long dining table was already set.
Alessandro sat at the head of the table, dressed in a crisp black shirt, calmly sipping his coffee while scrolling through something on his phone.
Zola beamed.
"Good morning, Aless!"
Alessandro looked up.
For a split second, surprise crossed his face.
Zola rarely joined breakfast.
But just as quickly, his expression returned to its usual calm neutrality.
"Morning."
Zola sat down happily and began eating.
A few minutes later footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Dante entered the room.
Zola's face lit up immediately.
"Good morning, Dante!"
Dante paused when he saw her.
Something unreadable flashed across his face.
But instead of teasing her like usual…
His expression turned cold.
"Morning."
The word was short.
Flat.
Then he grabbed a plate, piled food onto it, and walked out of the dining room again.
Zola blinked.
Confused.
She turned toward Alessandro.
"What's wrong with him?"
Aless simply shrugged, cutting into his food.
"No idea."
But Zola could feel something was off.
The cheerful mood she'd woken up with slowly faded.
After finishing breakfast, she stood up.
"I'll be right back."
Aless barely looked up.
Zola left the dining hall and walked down the hallway, searching.
It didn't take long to find him.
The indoor pool room was quiet except for the gentle sound of water.
Zola stepped inside.
And immediately froze.
Dante stood at the edge of the pool.
His shirt was gone, revealing his broad shoulders and sharply defined muscles and tattoos running down his left shoulder to his right lower-back.
Water glimmered across the surface of the pool beside him.
Without noticing her, he dove in.
The splash echoed through the room.
Zola stayed hidden near the doorway, watching him swim effortlessly across the water.
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
He swam back and forth a few times before finally resting his arms against the edge of the pool.
Then he tilted his head back, eyes closed.
"You can stop staring now."
Zola jumped.
Her face flushed immediately.
"I—I wasn't staring!"
She stepped into the room.
Dante chuckled softly, still not opening his eyes.
"Yeah. Right."
Zola huffed and sat down on the dry tiles near the pool.
Dante pushed himself away from the edge and began swimming again.
Zola watched quietly.
"Wanna join?" Dante asked casually.
Zola blinked.
"But I'm wearing my onesie."
"Take it off."
"What?! No!"
Dante laughed under his breath and swam back to the edge.
Zola scooted a little closer.
Then she asked quietly,
"Aless accepted… right?"
Dante froze.
He sighed slowly and shook his head.
"No."
Zola's smile disappeared.
"Oh…"
She looked down quickly, trying to hide the sudden sting in her chest.
"That's okay," she said softly.
But her voice cracked.
Dante noticed immediately.
"I'm really sorry, Lani," he said quietly. "I tried to convince him. But… he won't change his mind yet."
Zola blinked quickly, forcing a small smile.
"N-no, it's okay. I understand."
Her eyes were already shining.
Dante sighed and climbed out of the pool.
Water dripped onto the floor as he grabbed a towel.
Zola stood up quickly.
"I—I should go," she said. "I still have paintings to finish."
Dante nodded.
"Zola."
She stopped at the doorway.
"Please don't cry."
Zola nodded silently.
Then she left.