Game Of Cards

The dimly lit bar was a world away from Giovanni's opulent office. The air was thick with cigarette smoke, and the quiet murmur of voices mixed with the clink of glasses. Adriana sat in the corner booth, her back to the wall, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. The revelations of the day still hung heavy on her, but she couldn't afford to show weakness. Not here. Not now.

Rico slid into the seat across from her, his movements deliberate and measured. He looked different in the muted light—less like the cold enforcer she had met and more like someone carrying his own secrets. His sharp suit was replaced by a leather jacket, the rugged look only adding to the enigma that surrounded him.

"Why here?" Adriana asked, her voice low. "Why not somewhere safer?"

Rico leaned forward, his elbows resting on the sticky table. "Because safe places don't exist anymore. Not for you. Not for me."

Adriana's eyes narrowed. "You've got a flair for the dramatic. But that doesn't explain why you wanted to meet."

He smirked, the expression fleeting. "You're angry. Good. You'll need that if you're going to survive what's coming."

"I didn't come here for pep talks," she snapped. "I came here for answers."

Rico's expression darkened, the playful edge vanishing. "And you'll get them. But first, you need to understand something, Adriana. You're not just caught between two families. You're the key to ending this war—or escalating it."

Her stomach tightened. "What are you talking about?"

He reached into his jacket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. Sliding it across the table, he nodded for her to open it. Adriana hesitated, her fingers brushing against the worn edges before unfolding it. The contents made her blood run cold.

It was a photograph of her father, standing beside a man she recognized all too well—Luciano Corvelli, Giovanni's father. They weren't adversaries in the picture. They were allies.

"This doesn't make sense," Adriana murmured, her mind racing. "My father hated the Corvelli family. He said they were nothing but snakes."

Rico's jaw tightened. "People lie, Adriana. Especially in this business. Your father and Luciano were partners—once. But something changed. A deal went south, and the fallout cost your father his life."

Her breath caught in her throat. "What kind of deal?"

Rico's gaze bore into hers, unflinching. "One that could destroy both families. Money, power, and secrets that were never supposed to see the light of day. Whatever they were working on, it was dangerous enough to make them enemies."

Adriana's hands trembled as she set the photo down. "And now you're telling me that I'm part of this?"

"You've always been part of it," Rico said, his voice softer now. "Whether you knew it or not. Your father's death was just the beginning. Giovanni and Luciano don't just want to settle a score—they want to finish what your father started."

She shook her head, anger rising in her chest. "This doesn't add up. If my father was working with Luciano, why would the Corvellis kill him?"

"Because trust doesn't exist in our world," Rico said simply. "Whatever deal they made, it was worth betraying each other for. And now, you're the leverage everyone's fighting over."

Adriana felt the weight of his words settle on her like a shroud. Her entire life, she had believed in her family's power, their invincibility. Now, everything felt like a house of cards, ready to collapse.

"So what's your angle, Rico?" she asked, her voice sharp. "Why are you telling me this? What do you get out of it?"

He leaned back, his eyes never leaving hers. "I get to keep you alive. That's all I care about right now."

She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Why? Because Giovanni told you to? Or because you think you can use me too?"

Rico's expression softened, and for the first time, Adriana saw something genuine in his eyes—regret, maybe even guilt. "Because I owe it to your father. He saved my life once, and I promised him I'd protect you if anything ever happened to him."

The confession caught her off guard. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. The man sitting across from her wasn't just an enforcer. He was a link to her father, to a past she was only beginning to unravel.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rico's jaw set, his determination clear. "Trust me. Let me help you navigate this mess. But you need to play the game smart, Adriana. One wrong move, and they'll tear you apart."

Adriana stared at him, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. Trusting Rico felt like stepping into quicksand, but she didn't have many options. The game was on, and she was running out of cards to play.

"Fine," she said, her voice steady. "I'll trust you—for now. But if you cross me, Rico, you'll regret it."

His lips quirked into a small smile. "Fair enough. Just remember—sometimes, the only way to win is to make a deal with the devil."

Adriana leaned back in her seat, the photo still clutched in her hand. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, but the picture they formed was darker than she had ever imagined. The game wasn't just about revenge or power.

It was about survival.

And she was determined to come out on top.