Alessandro's POV
Smoke curled slowly into the air, thick and heavy, clinging to the quiet like it belonged there.
I leaned back in my chair, one hand resting against the armrest, the other holding the cigarette loosely between my fingers.
The office was silent.
Too silent.
The kind of silence that didn't calm you—it made you think.
And right now…
Thinking was the problem.
The image replayed in my mind again.
The man in the cell.
Felix.
The way he smiled.
The way he said her name.
Zolani.
My jaw tightened slightly.
I brought the cigarette to my lips, inhaling slowly, letting the smoke burn its way down my throat.
It didn't help.
Nothing did.
A knock didn't come.
It never did with him.
The door opened anyway.
Dante walked in like he owned the place.
Or at least like he wasn't afraid of the man who did.
He walked over, dropped into the chair across from me, and reached into his suit.
A cigarette.
A lighter.
A quiet flick.
The flame danced briefly before dying as he lit it.
Still—
Silence.
He took a drag, leaning back slightly, his posture relaxed.
Too relaxed.
I watched the smoke rise from his cigarette.
Then spoke.
"That fucker wouldn't tell me his name."
My voice came out colder than I intended.
Or maybe not.
Dante didn't react immediately.
He just exhaled slowly, the smoke leaving his lips in a controlled stream.
Waiting.
He always did that.
Waited for me to say more instead of interrupting.
Smart.
"He knows about Zolani," I continued, my tone tightening. "How many people do?"
No answer.
Of course not.
Because neither of us knew.
And that was the problem.
"This is so annoying," I muttered, more to myself than to him.
My fingers tightened around the cigarette.
"I kept her safe," I said, my voice dropping slightly. "Away from the world."
The cigarette burned closer to my skin.
I didn't notice.
"How do they know?"
The question hung in the air.
Unanswered.
Unacceptable.
I crushed the cigarette in my hand.
The ember burned into my palm before dying out completely.
I didn't react.
Pain wasn't new.
Dante finally spoke.
"The thief told you this?"
His voice was calm.
Measured.
But there was something beneath it.
Something sharper.
I nodded once.
"Apparently," I said, leaning forward slightly, resting my elbows on the desk, "over forty people want my head."
A pause.
"For twenty billion dollars."
That got a reaction.
Dante's eyes widened slightly.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
"Forty?" he repeated.
I smirked faintly.
"Disappointed?" I asked. "Expected more?"
He scoffed quietly, shaking his head.
"No," he said. "Just didn't think they'd be that bold."
"Desperation makes people stupid," I replied.
Dante took another drag of his cigarette.
Slow.
Thoughtful.
The room filled with more smoke.
More tension.
More things unsaid.
"I've already cancelled all contracts with our allies," I added.
That made him look at me properly.
"Already?"
"Yes."
His brows furrowed slightly.
"That fast?"
"They're liabilities now," I said simply. "If someone is leaking information about Zolani, it's coming from somewhere close."
Dante didn't argue.
Because he knew I was right.
Still—
"That cuts off a lot of support," he said.
"I don't need support," I replied coldly.
Dante huffed a quiet laugh.
"Yeah, because that's always worked out great."
I didn't respond.
Because this wasn't the time.
"What about Zolani?" he asked after a moment, his tone shifting slightly.
More serious.
"We need to find whoever knows about her before they tell anyone else."
My gaze hardened.
"I know."
The words came out sharper than intended.
"I've already contacted an old ally."
Dante tilted his head slightly.
"Old ally?"
I didn't elaborate.
"Zolani will stay in the estate," I continued.
"No exceptions."
Dante watched me for a moment.
Then nodded slowly.
"Good."
A pause.
Then—
"Also," I added, leaning back in my chair again, "we're going out tonight."
That got his attention.
"Where?"
I smirked faintly.
"Somewhere people talk too much."
Dante exhaled slowly.
A small, dangerous smile forming on his lips.
"Finally," he muttered. "Something interesting."
I didn't smile.
Because this wasn't interesting.
This was necessary.
And whoever knew about my sister—
Was going to regret it.
___________________☆____________________
Zolani's POV
I was halfway through my drink when Dante came back.
I didn't even notice him at first.
Which was surprising, because somehow… I always noticed when he walked into a room.
"Done eating?"
His voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I looked up quickly.
"Oh—yeah."
He nodded once, glancing at the plate in front of me.
"You barely touched your food."
I shrugged slightly.
"I wasn't that hungry."
That wasn't entirely true.
I just… had too many thoughts in my head.
Too many new things.
Too many unfamiliar feelings.
Dante didn't push it.
Instead, he straightened slightly and looked at me with that usual calm expression of his.
"Do you want to explore the company?"
My eyes lit up instantly.
"Really?"
A small smirk tugged at his lips.
"Yeah. Unless you'd rather sit here and stare at your untouched food."
I stood up immediately.
"Let's go."
He huffed a quiet laugh under his breath.
"Figures."
Walking beside Dante felt… oddly comfortable.
Like I didn't have to try too hard.
Or think too much.
He didn't talk constantly.
Didn't ask too many questions.
And somehow, that made it easier.
The company was… huge.
Way bigger than I expected.
People moved around with purpose—typing on tablets, walking briskly, talking in low voices that sounded important.
Screens were everywhere.
Glass walls.
Clean lines.
Modern designs.
It felt like stepping into a completely different world.
"What exactly does the company do?" I asked, glancing around curiously.
Dante slid his hands into his pockets as he walked.
"Tech."
I blinked.
"…That's it?"
He glanced at me.
"What were you expecting? Fashion? Food?"
I rolled my eyes.
"No, I just thought you'd explain more."
He sighed softly.
"We design software, security systems, AI frameworks… stuff like that."
My brows lifted slightly.
"Oh."
That sounded… complicated.
"Does Aless actually do all that?" I asked.
Dante smirked faintly.
"He oversees it."
"So… he doesn't sit and code all day?" I teased lightly.
Dante let out a quiet chuckle.
"No. That would be a disaster."
I smiled a little.
For some reason, imagining Aless coding felt… wrong.
We walked past a large glass room where a group of people were gathered around a holographic display.
My eyes widened.
"Whoa… is that real?"
Dante followed my gaze.
"Yeah."
"That's so cool."
"You sound like a kid."
I nudged his arm lightly.
"Shut up."
He chuckled softly.
We kept walking.
Different sections.
Different rooms.
Each one more interesting than the last.
"This place is insane," I muttered.
Dante shrugged slightly.
"You'll get used to it."
"I doubt that."
He glanced at me.
"You'd be surprised."
We stopped near a quieter hallway.
Less people.
More closed doors.
Something about it felt… different.
"Is this where Aless works?" I asked.
Dante's steps slowed slightly.
"Yeah."
I looked down the hallway.
A large door stood at the end.
Sleek.
Dark.
Simple.
But it stood out anyway.
"That's his office?"
Dante nodded.
"Yeah."
I hesitated for a second.
Then—
"Can we go in?"
The question came out before I could stop it.
Dante raised a brow.
"You're asking me like I own the place."
"Well… do you?" I shot back.
He smirked faintly.
"Depends on the day."
I crossed my arms slightly.
"Dante."
He sighed.
"He's not here."
"So?"
He looked at me for a moment.
Like he was deciding something.
Then—
"Fine."
The door opened quietly.
And just like that—
I stepped into Aless's office.
It was… exactly what I expected.
And yet—
Not at all.
Dark tones.
Clean.
Organized.
Everything had its place.
Nothing looked out of order.
A large desk sat near the center, with a sleek laptop and a few neatly arranged files.
Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across one side of the room.
The city visible beyond them.
It felt… powerful.
Like the room itself carried authority.
"Wow…" I breathed.
Dante leaned against the doorframe, watching me.
"You like it?"
I nodded slowly.
"It suits him."
"Yeah," he muttered.
I walked further in, my fingers brushing lightly against the surface of the desk.
"He spends a lot of time here?"
"More than he should."
I frowned slightly.
"He works too much."
Dante didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"Yeah."
There was something in his voice.
Something I couldn't quite place.
I turned slightly, looking around again.
Then my gaze landed on something.
A framed photo.
I walked closer.
Picked it up.
It was old.
Younger Aless.
A woman.
A man.
My parents.
And…
Me.
I blinked.
"…I don't remember this."
Dante walked over slowly.
"It was taken a long time ago."
I traced the edge of the frame lightly.
"They look happy."
Dante didn't answer.
I looked up at him.
"…Do you think he misses them?"
Dante's expression shifted slightly.
Then settled.
"Every day."
Something in my chest tightened.
I placed the photo back carefully.
We stood there for a moment.
Quiet.
Then—
"Let's go," Dante said.
I nodded.
But as I walked out—
I glanced back once more.
At the office.
At the desk.
At the life Aless carried without ever showing it.
And for the first time—
I wondered if I really knew my brother at all.