Stuck in a Mafia Romance

Locked Behind Those Door

I leaned forward. "Why are you interested in me all of a sudden?"

His answer was instant. "Because you're interesting."

....Excuse me?

I blinked, brain buffering, but before I could comment he added, "My turn. T or D?"

"T."

His lips curved, eyes gleaming. "Why are you not interested in me all of a sudden?"

Uh oh.

I crossed my arms and smirked. "Because you're no longer interesting."

He inhaled sharply through his nose, jaw ticking Oops. Did I just... piss off the mafia boss? Good job, Viella. RIP me.

I tried to brush it off. "T or D?"

"T."

"Okay..." I grinned mischievously. "You were interested in Alina, right? What happened suddenly?"

For the first time, Dante's face seems confused.

"...Alina?" His tone was flat.

I nodded, eyes wide. "Yes Alina. That maid! You forgot? You literally bought her that night. The day after our engagement."

He stilled.

"Ohhh, now you remember." I leaned back. "Yeah, that girl."

Something in his expression shifted. His gaze turned darker, heavier. He muttered, "Oh... that girl, I-"

And then he stopped.

"Uh... you okay?" I asked carefully.

He didn't answer. He just pressed his fingers against his temple like his head suddenly hurt. Then, without warning, he stood up-

"Wha-hey, what're you doing-"

In three steps, he was towering over me. Leaning close. His face inches from mine. His cologne drowning me.

My breath hitched.

He bent down... his hand reaching...

And then-he untied me.

The ropes fell from my wrists.

My eyes widened. "Uh... thanks?"

But before I could even blink, he straightened, turned, and walked away.

I stared at his back, brain fried. "HELLO?? The heck was that?! What about our game?My answers? Hey!!"

No response. Just silence.

I slumped against the seat, rubbing my sore wrists. "...Okay. That was weird."

My gut twisted. Something was off. Way off.

I bit my lip. "I definitely need to investigate this."

---

The flight was too long. Way, way too long. At some point, I gave up on glaring at the ceiling and surrendered to my stomach.

Those lobsters were Too good.
Me? Ate way too much.
Resulting...Food coma.

So yeah. Boom. Sleep.

...

But the moment I opened my eyes-

"Wait... where the hell am I?"

This didn't look like my room. Actually, scratch that-this wasn't ANY room I recognized. Then the memories rushed in. Ugh don't tell me...

I looked down.