Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

S ofia

T his was a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity.

I'd never been to anything like this charity gala in my life. I looked around, seeing a sea of designer dresses and expensive tuxes. Classical music drifted through the air, blending seamlessly with the clinking of glasses and the low hum of the crowd. It was overwhelming and exhilarating all at once.

Even though I was supposed to be focused on the party, my thoughts kept drifting back to Papa, still locked up behind cold steel bars. Worry gnawed at my insides. Was he sleeping? Was he eating? Did he have anyone to talk to, or was he sitting there in silence, replaying every moment that led him to this point? I knew my father well enough to understand how he would be tormenting himself over my involvement, how he would be cursing himself for not keeping me safe, for somehow letting me get caught up in the very world he tried so hard to shield me from.

And now, here I was, tangled up with Massimo, thrust into the dangers of a life Papa never wanted for me. He'd spent years protecting me from this world. What would he think if he knew the truth about how far I'd gone? Would he hate me for it? Blame himself for failing to keep me safe? The thought of him sitting in that tiny cell, worrying about me more than his own freedom, made my chest tighten painfully.

I could almost hear his voice, filled with both anger and heartbreak, asking how he could have let this happen, how his little girl ended up walking straight into the very dangers he'd warned her about. And all I wanted, more than anything, was to tell him that I was okay, that I was stronger than he thought, that this was my choice now.

That I could do this.

Massimo kept a firm hand on the small of my back as we moved through the room, guiding me with a quiet confidence that I found both reassuring and possessive. He introduced me to several important figures—senators, business tycoons, even a high-ranking judge. Massimo pulled me close and whispered a crash course of information into my ear about each one, giving me a snapshot into his volatile underground world.

I tried to keep up, smiling politely and offering a few words where I could, but my mind was racing. It was one thing to hear about Massimo's world, but to see it firsthand was something else entirely.

As we made our way past the bar, I caught sight of one of the men that Massimo had introduced me to, Raffaele, standing near one of the large windows that overlooked the city. His figure was half-shrouded in shadow, but even from across the room, his presence was unmistakable. He was deep in conversation with another man—a tall, thin figure dressed in an understated but impeccably tailored gray suit. There was something about the way they stood, their heads bent close together like they were talking about something important, that caught my attention.

Curiosity got the better of me. "I'll be right back," I murmured to Massimo, slipping away from his side before he could respond. I heard him call out behind me, but I was already several steps away from him and I didn't look back.

I moved slowly, keeping to the edges of the room, my gaze locked on Raffaele and his companion. As I drew closer, I could hear the low murmur of their voices, too soft to make out clearly. I positioned myself near a large potted plant, feigning interest in the ornate decorations as I strained to listen.

"…not much time left," Raffaele was saying, his voice barely above a whisper but laced with an edge of impatience. "We need to act now if we want to disrupt their plans. This opportunity won't present itself again."

The other man nodded, his expression tense. "I understand. But we have to be careful. If this gets traced back to us?—"

"It won't," Raffaele cut him off sharply. "I've made sure of it. Just follow the instructions and stick to the timeline. The timing is crucial. We can't afford any mistakes."

My heart skipped a beat. This wasn't the kind of conversation you had at a charity ball. This was something else.

I watched as Raffaele handed the man a small, folded piece of paper. The exchange was quick, almost too fast to catch, but the secrecy of it sent a chill down my spine.

The man took the paper and slipped it into his pocket, glancing around nervously before nodding once more. "I'll take care of it."

"Good," Raffaele said, his tone final. "Make sure you do."

The two men parted ways, and I quickly turned away, pretending to examine a nearby painting as Raffaele walked past. He didn't notice me, his mind clearly preoccupied with whatever plans he was setting in motion. I waited until he was out of sight before I let out the breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

I made my way back to Massimo, my thoughts racing. Whatever Raffaele was involved in, it wasn't just politics or charity. He was orchestrating something that required secrecy and precision, and the urgency in his voice told me it was happening soon.

Maybe even tonight…

Massimo was speaking with a small group of politicians when I returned to his side. He glanced at me, a question in his eyes, but I just gave him a small, reassuring smile. This wasn't the time or place to bring up what I'd overheard, not with so many eyes and ears around us. But as I stood there, nodding along to the conversation, my mind was elsewhere, turning over Raffaele's words and trying to piece together what he could possibly be planning.

As the evening continued, I stayed close to Massimo, my senses heightened, my gaze drifting back to Raffaele every now and then. I knew I needed to tell Massimo what I'd heard, but for now, I kept it to myself, letting the pieces fall into place in my mind. There was more to uncover, and I intended to find out exactly what Raffaele was up to—before it was too late.

I glanced over at Massimo. He was engaged in a discussion with a senator, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. Now wasn't the time to interrupt him, but I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. My gut told me that Raffaele's plans were far from innocent, and if I was going to be part of Massimo's world, I couldn't just sit back and let things unfold without at least trying to gather more information.

My eyes swept the room, searching for the tall, thin man Raffaele had been speaking with. He was slipping through the crowd, moving with purpose toward the far side of the ballroom, near a set of ornate double doors that led out to a quieter hallway. I hesitated for only a moment before making up my mind.

"One moment," I whispered to Massimo, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze before slipping away.

I moved quickly but carefully, weaving through the clusters of guests, keeping the man in my sight. He was easy to follow, his distinctive gray suit standing out among the sea of darker colors. He glanced around occasionally, his movements tense, as if he knew he was being watched. I stayed far enough behind to avoid drawing attention, slipping into the shadows of the hallway just as he pushed through a side door.

My heart raced as I reached the door, pausing for a moment to steady my breathing. I listened carefully, the faint sound of his footsteps echoing down the corridor. I pushed the door open slowly, peeking around the corner to make sure I wasn't walking into something dangerous.

I could see him further down, turning another corner. I followed, my footsteps light as I moved along the plush carpet that muffled the sound of my heels. The hallway opened into a small, secluded courtyard, where the man paused to pull out his phone, his back to me. He glanced around again, checking to make sure he was alone before raising the phone to his ear.

I pressed myself against the wall, straining to hear his voice.

"Yes, it's me," he said, his voice low and urgent. "I've got the instructions. He wants us to move forward, no delays. The distraction at the fundraiser should buy us enough time to hit the shipments undetected too."

I felt a chill run down my spine. A distraction? Shipments? I inched closer, my pulse pounding in my ears as I tried to catch more of the conversation.

"No, he doesn't suspect a thing," the man continued, his voice confident. "As long as we keep up appearances, they won't see it coming. We'll be in and out before they even realize what's happening."

I edged closer still, careful to stay hidden in the shadows. My mind was racing, trying to piece together the fragments of the conversation. If Raffaele was planning a distraction here at the ball, it meant he was willing to risk the safety of everyone inside just to achieve his goals. And the shipments he mentioned—could they be connected to Massimo's operations? Or maybe someone else's?

As the man hung up the phone, I quickly retreated, slipping back around the corner, and pressing myself flat against the wall. Whatever Raffaele was planning, it was big.

I needed to tell Massimo everything I heard. Right away.

I waited until the man had left the courtyard, heading back toward the ballroom, before making my way back down the hallway. My heart was still racing, the urgency of the situation crystal clear in my mind. As I stepped back into the grand ballroom, the noise and light seemed almost overwhelming after the quiet tension of the hallway.

I spotted Massimo immediately, still deep in conversation, but his eyes found mine the moment I entered the room. He raised an eyebrow, and I quickly crossed the room to his side.

"We need to talk," I whispered urgently, my voice barely audible over the music and chatter. "It's about Raffaele. He's planning something."

Massimo's expression immediately darkened, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the urgency in my tone. He nodded curtly, excusing himself from the conversation he'd been engaged in. Without another word, he took my arm, his grip firm and protective as he guided me through the crowded ballroom, navigating swiftly past clusters of guests and waitstaff.

"Where are we going?" I asked, keeping my voice low, glancing around to see if anyone was paying us too much attention.

"Somewhere we can talk without prying eyes," Massimo said, his voice edged with stiffness. He led me through a side door that opened into a long corridor lined with intricate wood paneling. The noise from the ballroom faded into the background as we continued down the hall, the quiet clicking of our footsteps echoing off the walls.

At the end of the corridor, Massimo pushed open a heavy oak door, revealing a small, private lounge. It was elegantly furnished, with plush armchairs and a dark mahogany bar stocked with expensive liquors. Massimo checked the room quickly before closing the door behind us, shutting out the rest of the world.

"We're safe here," he said, his voice steady but laced with the intensity that always seemed to simmer just beneath the surface. He turned to me, his gaze searching my face. "Now tell me everything."

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "I overhead Raffaele talking to a man, and I followed him," I began, my voice quiet but firm.

Massimo's jaw clenched and he narrowed his eyes. "Young lady, do you know how dangerous that was?"

"I do," I whispered, and he gave me a look that said I was undoubtedly getting spanked over this. My pussy clenched as a spike of arousal raced through me at the thought.

"When we get home, I'm going to decide whether or not we're going to discuss this with my belt. Now, tell me what you heard," he continued.

My bottom clenched knowingly, and I swallowed hard, but I immediately rushed into what I had to say because it needed to be said.

"He went out to a small courtyard and made a call. I overheard him saying that Raffaele is planning a distraction here at the fundraiser. Something that will give them time to hit shipments undetected. He mentioned following instructions and sticking to a timeline."

Massimo's jaw tightened, his expression hardening as he processed my words. "Did he say what kind of distraction? Or which shipments they're targeting?"

I shook my head. "No, but he seemed confident that everything was set. He said they would be ‘in and out before anyone realizes what's happening.' And he said Raffaele doesn't suspect that they're being watched. Whoever this man was, he's involved in something big, and it's happening soon."

Massimo ran a hand through his hair, pacing the length of the room as he considered the implications of what I had said. "If Raffaele's planning to do something here, it could be a cover for anything—a hit on one of our shipments, a move against a rival, or maybe even something else." He paused, his eyes meeting mine, a mix of determination and frustration swirling in their depths. "And if he's targeting our shipments, it means he's more entrenched in this than we thought."

"What do we do now?" I asked, looking to Massimo for guidance. The urgency of the situation hung between us, and I drew in a deep breath.

Massimo's gaze sharpened, and I could see the gears turning in his head. "First, we need to confirm exactly what he's up to. If we can figure that out, we might be able to stop him before he does any real damage."

He pulled out his phone, sending a quick text to Enzo. "I'm getting my men on this. Enzo can start digging right away. If Raffaele thinks he can pull something off right under our noses, he's got another think coming."

I nodded, my resolve strengthening. "I'm with you. Whatever it takes, we can't let him get away with this."

Massimo looked at me, his expression softening just a fraction. He reached out, taking my hand and squeezing it gently. "You did well, Sofia. I'm proud of you for catching this."

A warmth spread through me at his praise, and I squeezed his hand back.

"And your belt?" I asked a bit nervously and his gaze narrowed as he found mine.

"Do you think you still deserve a belting, la mia bambina ?"

I opened and closed my mouth, trying to find the words, all while my clit flared to life like a little fucking traitor.

"Maybe a little," I finally managed, and he grinned, his eyes darkening as he reached out and pulled me close to him.

"Then when this is all over, I'll make sure that sweet little ass is very well marked from my belt," he whispered, and I shivered hard, dropping my fingers to brush over the leather strap at his waist. It was soft, well-conditioned, like butter against my fingers.

My pussy clenched hard.

"Will it hurt?" I asked.

"Yes. You'd be disappointed if it didn't, wouldn't you?" he asked and I blushed hard, pressing myself against him as a wave of heat swept up my face.

"Yes, sir," I whispered.

"Good, now you're going to be a good girl and stay by my side for the rest of the night, or else I'm going to use the belt to truly punish you instead of just getting that pretty pussy soaking wet," he threatened.

"I'll be your good girl," I said softly, and he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck. Pulling me in for a kiss, his lips found mine and devoured me for several long seconds before he pulled back.

"You're so much more than I anticipated, bambina ," he whispered and then he reluctantly pulled away like letting go of me was the hardest thing in the world.

My heart swelled just a little bit.

In silence, Massimo led me out of the safety of the private lounge, his hand firm on my lower back as guidance. When we stepped back into the grand ballroom, I held my breath, lifting my head high and pulling my shoulders back. I needed to pretend like nothing was wrong and amongst these people, I had to put on the performance of a lifetime. One wrong move and it would cause a ripple effect that we potentially couldn't come back from.

I scanned the room, my eyes seeking out Raffaele or any sign of the man I had followed earlier. I didn't see them anywhere and that didn't sit well with me. What were they going to do? Who were they planning to hit?

Massimo leaned in close, his voice a low murmur in my ear. "Keep your eyes open. If anything seems off, let me know immediately. We can't afford to be caught off guard."

I nodded, swallowing the lump of anxiety that had lodged itself in my throat. "I will."

We moved further into the ballroom, and as the minutes ticked by, I began to relax, thinking that perhaps Raffaele's plan might not unfold as quickly as I thought it would. But just as I started to calm down, the lights flickered, once, twice, and then went out completely, plunging the room into sudden darkness.

A collective gasp rose from the crowd, followed by murmurs of confusion and the clinking of glasses as people fumbled to steady themselves. The only light in the entire room was the faint glow of emergency exit signs. I blinked several times, my eyes slowly adjusting to the dim glow.

"Stay close," Massimo ordered, his hand tightening on my arm as the ballroom erupted into chaos. People were already beginning to panic, their voices rising in frantic whispers as they tried to make their way through the darkness.

Massimo pulled out his phone, the screen putting out a soft light. "Enzo, we've got a situation," he spoke quickly into the phone, his tone sharp. "Find out what's happening with the power and secure the place immediately."

I strained to hear Enzo's response, but Massimo's focus was already shifting, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. His body was tense as he calmly assessed the situation, ready to act on a moment's notice.

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I noticed movement near one of the emergency exits—a group of men, dressed in black, slipping through the door. They were too coordinated to be ordinary guests, and the way they moved suggested they knew exactly what they were doing and where they were going.

"Massimo," I whispered, nodding toward the exit. "Over there."

He followed my gaze, his expression darkening as he spotted the men. "Stay here," he ordered, his voice firm. "I'm going after them."

"No," I said quickly, grabbing his arm. "I'm coming with you."

Massimo hesitated, and I squeezed his arm. My gaze met his and I leveled him with a firm look that said that I could handle it. He nodded as if he understood, his grip on my hand tightening as he led us through the crowd, moving swiftly toward the door where the men had disappeared.

We pushed through the door and emerged into a dark service hallway. The air was cool back here and I could hear the faint murmur of generators kicking in somewhere in the building, but the lights remained off, casting long shadows that danced along the walls like tree limbs in the breeze.

The group of men was further down the hallway, their footsteps echoing as they moved quickly toward a set of loading docks at the back of the building. Massimo and I followed at a distance, our footsteps muffled by the carpet as we tried to stay hidden.

I didn't know what I was about to get into, but I was going to find out.