3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Daniella

I run down a dark hallway, chasing after Jeremy. I just saw him vanish around a corner.

“Jeremy!” I shout, but he doesn’t look back. “Jeremy!” I yell again, slipping on the wet concrete as I race after him.

I think I see him turning another corner, so I hurry faster, my breath coming in heaving gasps.

As I round the corner, I slam into someone. I look up and my heart quails as I realize that I’m looking into the face of Massimo Ranieri.

“I need to get to Jeremy,” I insist, trying to slip around him.

“No,” he says to me in that deep, resonant voice that I can feel all the way to my core. He reaches out and grabs my shoulders in his elegant, long-fingered hands.

“Let me go!” I cry out, struggling against him.

“Jeremy was the past,” he says to me. I look up and see that he’s smiling at me softly. “I’m the future. Stop fighting against me.”

I scream, trying to break his grip on my shoulders. I hear him laughing and I realize that he has pressed a gun to my head. I feel terror freeze my heart in my chest just as he pulls the trigger.

I jolt awake with a gasp. I look around the room in a panic for a moment before I realize that I’m alone. I press a shaky hand to my forehead. It was a dream.

My mind races, thinking about all of the footage that I have watched of Massimo talking to the press advertising his various businesses. I think about the candid images that the press have captured of him at his villa in Italy or leaving the gym that he owns in downtown looking sweaty and dangerous.

Massimo's face haunts me, but so does my confusion about what he has to do with Jeremy.

I need answers, and I need them now.

Determined, I get up and throw on some clothing. I found an address for Massimo’s main business headquarters while I was doing research last night.

I punch the address into navigation and then pull out of the driveway. I follow the route to a slightly seedy part of town that reeks of desperation and danger. I park outside the drab, grey building and take deep breaths. My heart pounds in my chest, but I push the fear aside. I have to do this. For Jeremy.

The building is old and rundown, its brick facade crumbling with neglect. It makes me wonder why Massimo is doing business in a building like this. He’s clearly wealthy, so there’s no reason that he couldn’t afford a better location for his company’s headquarters.

The air is thick with tension as I make my way to the rusty front door of the building. My palms are sweaty,I wipe them on my jeans and take a deep breath to steady myself.

I push open the heavy door and step into a dimly lit hallway. The smell of mildew and stale cigarette smoke assaults my senses. Every creak and groan of the building sets my nerves on edge, but I force myself to move forward.

The hallway dead ends and I’m confronted with a counter that is protected by bars. I stretch up on tiptoes to see if anyone is seated at the desk. It’s empty. I glance around, but I don’t hear or see anyone.

“Hello?” I call out, looking over my shoulder again. My voice echoes in the large, empty space. “Is there anyone here?”

I try calling out a couple more times, but get no reply. I sigh, combing my hand through my hair. It was stupid to come here. I start to turn away, when suddenly, I hear a voice that I realize I would know anywhere.

“You’re far too brave for your own good, Dani.”

I whirl around and squint into the shadows. I know it’s him, but I can’t see him yet. Finally, he emerges from the gloom, the dim lighting in the hall throwing shadows under his high, sharp cheekbones and nestling in the edges of his full, lush lips.

“You don’t sound surprised to see me,” I say back, proud that my voice doesn’t tremble.

He tilts his head and gives me an appraising look. It makes me feel like he is seeing beyond just my skin and clothes.

“Grown men aren’t brave enough to come to this place and try to find me,” he replies.

“I’m not here for any trouble. I just…you were at Jeremy’s funeral…and I wanted to talk to you about how you know him.

“Really?” he says to me. He steps closer, his face fully lit by the spare, unprotected bulb in the hall. I swallow hard.

I whip out the lie I had prepared before coming here. “It’s been hard these past weeks. My therapist says that I need to find some closure, so I’m trying to get to know more about the part of his life that he clearly didn’t share with me. I need to know about his life before he met me.”

The lie rolls off my tongue with more ease than I expected it to and Massimo seems convinced.

A smirk plays on his lips. “You want to know about Jeremy? Well…he was a piece of shit. As dumb as he was selfish.”

My hands clench into fists. How dare he! “I thought you were close?”

“Close? To that guy?” His laugh is cruel. He steps forward and opens a door so that he can walk to where I'm standing. His eyes are lewd as he looks me up and down, and suddenly, I feel naked. My body flushes with heat and my heart quails.

“Why come to his funeral if you thought so little of him?” I ask, my voice a little rough.

He sighs and I’m surprised to see something that looks like regret pass across his handsome features. “Look, we were close…before. But then he went and did something really stupid and got himself killed.”

I swallow and force myself not to take a step back. I feel like running away from him, but I still don’t really know anything.

“Did you kill him?” I say, surprising even myself. I clasp a hand over my mouth in shock.

To my surprise, he laughs.

“I didn’t kill Jeremy. But I know who did.”

“Tell me,” I demand, stepping closer. My hands clench at my sides, my nails digging into my palms.

He steps into my space, towering over me. The air between us crackles with tension. “Why should I? What’s in it for me?”

“Closure for the woman he loved,” I spit out. “And maybe you can redeem yourself too.”

Massimo laughs and this time, it’s a harsh, grating sound. “Redemption? You’re in the wrong place for that, sweetheart. But I’ll tell you this much: Jeremy got mixed up with some dangerous people. People who don’t take kindly to loose ends.”

My heart sinks. “Who? Who are these people?”

He leans in close, his breath fanning across my cheek. “The Duretti family.”

The name sends a chill down my spine. The Durettis are notorious, their reputation steeped in violence and corruption. I’ve heard whispers about them, but never imagined Jeremy would be involved with them. Even as na?ve as I am, I still know who the Durettis are.

“Why?” My voice cracks, the weight of his words pressing down on me. “Why would they want him dead?”

Massimo eyes me, his expression inscrutable. “That’s for you to find out. But be careful. The Durettis don’t play games. If you get in their way, you’ll end up just like Jeremy.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Let’s just say that I like you,” he says and then he smiles at me. “You’re too pretty to end up like your boyfriend.”

Horrified by his words, I turn and leave, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. He lets me go and I resist the urge to turn back to look at him as I hurry down the hall.

Outside, the cool night air feels like a slap to the face. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

“Oh my God, oh my God,” I say to myself as I wrench open the car door and start the engine. “Dani, what the fuck are you doing?” I snarl into the silence as I back up and then drive away from the shabby factory location.

As I drive home, my thoughts are a chaotic mess. Jeremy’s death wasn’t just a random act of violence. It was a deliberate, calculated move by a powerful family. But why? What did Jeremy do to make them want him dead?

The Duretti family. The name feels like a death sentence.

I park in the garage and sit in the car for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts. The silence is suffocating, the weight of my discovery pressing down on me. I force myself to move, to get out of the car and go inside.

I don’t know what is more upsetting, that the Duretti family killed Jeremy, or that I just allowed Massimo Ranieri to come on to me.

The apartment feels empty, lifeless. I pour myself a glass of wine and sink onto the couch, my mind racing. The Durettis are dangerous, but I can’t let that stop me. I need to know the truth.

I pull out my laptop and start researching the Duretti family. Article after article paints a picture of a ruthless, powerful organization with ties to every corner of the criminal underworld. Their leader, Lorenzo Duretti, is a shadowy figure, rarely seen but always felt. The more I read, the more my fear grows. But so does my determination.

Jeremy’s death was not an accident. And I won’t rest until I find out why he was killed and make those who are responsible pay.

The hours slip away as I delve deeper into the Duretti family’s history. My eyes burn from staring at the computer screen, but I can’t stop. Every piece of information feels like a puzzle piece, slowly coming together to form a clearer picture.

Finally, I lean back, rubbing my temples. It’s late and exhaustion tugs at me. But I can’t sleep. Not yet. I need a plan.

I think back to what Massimo said about Jeremy getting mixed up with dangerous people. What was he involved in? Why would the Durettis see him as a threat?

As I ponder these questions, a thought strikes me. The Garden of Eden. The club is owned by the Durettis. It’s a long shot, but maybe someone there knows something. Maybe I can find answers.

Determination hardens within me. I have to try. For Jeremy.

I get up and head to the bedroom, pulling out a sleek black dress from the closet. It’s not my usual style, but I need to blend in. I slip into it, the fabric cool against my skin. I touch up my makeup, adding a bold red lipstick for confidence.

I glance at my reflection in the mirror. The woman staring back at me looks determined and fierce. I hold onto that image, letting it fortify me.

With a final deep breath, I grab my keys and head out. The night is still young and The Garden of Eden awaits.

As I drive through the city, the neon lights and street lamps blur past, casting colorful reflections on the windshield. My mind is focused, every nerve on edge. This is it. My chance to get answers. To find out why Jeremy was killed and who’s responsible.

When I arrive at The Garden of Eden, the exterior is as impressive as I imagined. The neon sign flickers, casting a soft glow on the line of people waiting to get in. The bouncers at the door look imposing.

I take a deep breath and walk up to the entrance, trying to exude confidence. The bouncers eye me for a moment before letting me through. Inside, the club is a whirlwind of lights and music. The bass reverberates through my chest, the crowd is a sea of bodies moving to the rhythm.

I weave my way through the throng, heading towards the bar. The bartender, a tall woman with striking features, gives me a nod as I approach.

“What can I get you?” she asks, her voice barely audible over the music.

“Surprise me,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.

She laughs, the sound sultry. “A woman after my own heart,” she says with a bold wink.

As she pours my drink, I glance around the club, my eyes searching for any sign of familiarity. I need to find someone who knows something, someone who can give me answers.

The bartender slides the glass of wine towards me. “First time here?”

I nod, taking a sip. The drink is strong, but very good. “Yeah. Quite a place.”

She smiles, leaning in a little closer. “You here for business or pleasure?”

“Business,” I reply, meeting her gaze. “I’m looking for someone who might have known Jeremy Foster.”

Her expression shifts, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. “I’ve heard the name. What do you need to know?”

“Anything you can tell me,” I say, my heart pounding. “He was killed a few weeks ago. I think it has something to do with the Duretti family.”

The bartender’s eyes narrow and she glances around before leaning in even closer. “Look, you're obviously new here, so I'll give you one piece of advice. Be careful who you talk to about the Durettis. They don’t take kindly to strangers asking questions.''

“Just sip your drink and try to have a good time. Keep your questions to yourself and maybe you'll get to keep your life, too.”

I nod and nurse my drink. I know I’m not going to heed her, but her warning makes me realize that I need to be more careful.

As she moves away, I take another sip of my drink, slowly this time, trying to steady my nerves. The minutes drag on, each one feeling like an eternity.

And then I see him.