Three o'clock came fast. I pulled up to the university gates in Marco's black Maserati, engine purring like a satisfied cat.
Sonia stood there, designer bag clutched tight, checking her phone every few seconds.
Even anxious, she was gorgeous. The old Julian's memories hit hard—watching her from afar, never brave enough to approach. Always the friend, never the choice.
Well, I'm not him.
I rolled down the window. "Sonia."
She looked up and froze. Her eyes went wide, taking in the changes. Three weeks had transformed the soft, shy boy she knew into something else entirely.
"Julian? Is that... you?"
"Get in. Marco sent me."
The disappointment flashed across her face before she could hide it. "Oh. He couldn't come himself?"
"When has Marco ever done anything himself?"
A small smile tugged at her lips. She got in, designer perfume filling the car. Vanilla and something darker.
"Where are we going?" she asked as I pulled away from campus.
"Lunch."
"Julian, I don't think—"
"When's the last time you ate?"
She paused. "This morning?"
"Try again."
"...Yesterday afternoon."
"Then we're definitely getting lunch."
I took a left, heading downtown instead of toward Marco's place.
"This isn't the way to—"
"I know."
She studied me, really looking now. "You're different."
"Good different or bad different?"
"Dangerous different."
"Is that a problem?"
She didn't answer, but I caught her smile in the mirror.
[Attraction +10]
[Sonia's Status: Curious > Interested]
---
Luciano's was the kind of place the old Julian would never dare enter. Dim lighting, private booths, and prices that could feed a family for a week. The maître d' recognized me immediately.
"Mr. Marino. Your usual table?"
I'd been building my presence here too.
"The corner booth. Complete privacy."
"Of course, sir."
Sonia raised an eyebrow as we were led through the restaurant. "Your usual table?"
"I like the food."
"Since when do you come to places like this?"
"Since I started living instead of hiding."
The booth was perfect—high walls, candlelight, impossible to see from the main floor. Sonia slid in across from me, still tense.
"Julian, Marco's going to—"
"Marco's going to wait." I handed her the wine menu. "Pick something."
"It's three in the afternoon."
"And?"
She stared at me, then laughed. A real laugh, not the polite ones she gave Marco.
"Fine. The Merlot."
I ordered a bottle. The waiter disappeared like smoke.
"So," I leaned back, studying her. "Want to tell me why you haven't eaten since yesterday?"
"It's nothing."
"Try again."
She fidgeted with her napkin. "Marco and I had a fight."
"About?"
"About you, actually."
[Interesting Development]
[Quest Progress: 35%]
The wine arrived. I poured two glasses, waiting.
She took a sip, then another. "He's obsessed with you lately. Says you've changed. Says you're dangerous."
"And what do you think?"
"I think..." She met my eyes. "I think he's right. But not in the way he means."
"Explain."
"The old Julian was safe. Predictable. Easy to ignore." Another sip. "You? You're none of those things."
"Disappointed?"
"No." The word came out too fast. She blushed. "I mean—"
"Sonia."
"What?"
"Stop overthinking."
---
The first glass became a second. Her walls started cracking.
"You know what's funny?" She swirled her wine, not quite meeting my eyes. "I had the biggest crush on you freshman year."
"Had?"
"You were different then. Sweet. Safe. Nothing like your brothers." She laughed, but it sounded bitter. "Then Marco noticed me, and suddenly I was his girl. Didn't even ask what I wanted."
"And what did you want?"
She looked at me then. Really looked at me. The candlelight caught the gold flecks in her brown eyes.
"Doesn't matter now."
"It does to me."
[Seduction Path Unlocked]
[Lust Sin Potential: High]
Her hand moved across the table, stopping just short of mine. "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"Being nice to me. Taking me here. Acting like you give a damn."
"Maybe I do give a damn."
"Since when?"
"Since now."
She laughed again, but this time it was shaky. "God, you even sound different. The old Julian would have stammered through that."
"I told you. I'm not him anymore."
"No," she whispered. "You're not."
Her fingers finally touched mine. Electric.
[Physical Contact Detected]
[Lust Points +5]
[Sonia's Status: Interested > Yearning]
---
Third glass. Her cheeks were flushed now, eyes bright.
"Want to know a secret?" She leaned closer, voice dropping. "Marco told me something yesterday. About you."
"What did he say?"
"He said you killed Roberto. Enzo's man. Said you beat him to death with your bare hands."
"And?"
"And I didn't believe him. The Julian I knew couldn't hurt a fly." She studied my face. "But looking at you now..."
"Now you believe him?"
"Now I think he was holding back." Her thumb traced circles on my hand. "What happened to you, Julian? Three weeks ago you were—"
"Weak."
"I was going to say innocent."
"Same thing in this family."
She shook her head. "No. Not the same. Innocent was... was what I liked about you."
"And now?"
"Now?" She bit her lip. "Now I can't stop looking at you. And I hate myself for it."
"Why?"
"Because I'm supposed to be Marco's girlfriend. Because I'm supposed to—" She stopped, pulling her hand back. "Shit. Julian, I need to tell you something."
[Emotional Spike Detected]
[Hidden Quest Progress: 67%]
"That Marco sent you to test me?"
Her eyes went wide. "How did you—"
"I'm not the same naive kid, Sonia. I know a setup when I see one."
"It's not what you think—"
"Then tell me what it is."
She grabbed her phone with shaking hands. "He made me install this recording app. Said if you made a move on me, if you tried anything, I should get evidence. Prove you're not loyal to the family."
"And?"
"And I can't do it." She showed me the phone—recording app unopened. "I won't do it."
"Why not?"
"Because I—" She stopped, eyes filling with tears. "Because I've wanted this for three years. Wanted you to look at me like you're looking at me now. And I hate that it's happening like this, with lies and tests and—"
I stood up, moving to her side of the booth. She tensed as I sat beside her.
"Julian, what are you—"
"Shh." I took her phone, deleted the app. "There. No more lies."
"He'll know. He'll—"
"Let me worry about Marco."
"You don't understand. There's more. These photos—" She swiped to her gallery, hands trembling. "I took these last week. I was going to delete them, but after our fight..."
I looked. Marco meeting with men I recognized—Esposito family. Money changing hands. Documents spread on a table. My name visible on one.
"He's not testing you," she whispered. "He's setting you up. This is a contract, Julian. On you. For tonight."
[Hidden Quest Revealed: Survive the Night] [Betrayal Points +50] [Threat Level: Severe]
"When?"
"After I confirm you're a 'traitor.' After I give him what he wants." She was crying now. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know it would go this far. I thought it was just family drama, not—"
"Sonia." I cupped her face, thumb wiping away tears. "Look at me."
She did.
"I'm not mad."
"You should be. I was going to—"
"But you didn't. You chose me instead."
"Julian..."
"Choose me again."
The kiss was inevitable. Three years of want crashing together. She tasted like wine and truth and dangerous choices. Her hands tangled in my hair, pulling me deeper. I pressed her against the leather booth, swallowing her soft gasp—
"Should I come back later?"
We froze.
Luna stood there in a waitress uniform, holding a tray of drinks. Her smile was sharp enough to cut glass.
"Luna?" Sonia pulled back, face flushed. "You work here?"
"Just started." She set the drinks down harder than necessary, some wine sloshing over. "Julian likes this place, so I thought... why not get closer?"
[Yandere Alert: Jealousy Level Critical]
[Love Triangle Initiated] [Danger Level: Rising]
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked.
"Long enough." Her eyes never left mine. "Interesting choice, Julian. Your brother's girlfriend."
"Ex-girlfriend," Sonia corrected, chin lifting.
"Not yet." Luna's smile grew wider. "Does Marco know his girl is throwing herself at his little brother?"
"Luna—" I started.
"Oh, I won't tell." She leaned down, her breath hot against my ear. "But you'll owe me. And I always collect."
She straightened, that fake waitress smile back. "Enjoy your meal. I'll be watching."
She walked away, hips swaying. Every step a threat.
"That girl is insane," Sonia breathed.
"You have no idea."
"Julian, we need to go. If Marco's plan is tonight—"
My phone buzzed. Marco.
Marco: Is it done?
I showed Sonia. She paled.
"What are you going to tell him?"
I typed back: Done. She's mine now.
"Julian!"
"Trust me." I stood, pulling her up. "We're leaving. Together."
[Quest Complete: The Girlfriend Pickup]
[Bonus Achieved: Stole Your Brother's Girl]
[Lust Sin +50]
[New Skill: Honey Trap - Convert enemies through seduction]
We made it three steps from the booth.
The restaurant windows exploded.
Men in black suits, guns drawn. Esposito family.
"Down!" I shoved Sonia behind an overturned table as bullets shredded the air where we'd been standing.
"Guess they moved up the timeline," I muttered.
Sonia grabbed a steak knife from the floor. "Together?"
"Together."
The kitchen doors burst open. Luna emerged, two guns in hand, that crazy smile back in full force.
"Room for one more?" She opened fire on the Esposito men. "Nobody touches my Julian but me!"
[Warning: Multiple Threats Detected]
[Combat Mode: Activated]
[Survival Probability: Calculating...]
Well, thisescalated quickly.