POV: Valentina

The car door closes behind me with a quiet, solid click. Too quiet. Too final. I don't move right away.

I sit there for a second, hands in my lap, phone still clutched in my fingers, trying to process how fast everything just changed. One moment I was sitting in Bellissimo waiting for my father. The next-

I'm in the back seat of a car with three men I don't know, driving somewhere I didn't agree to go. The engine starts. Smooth. Controlled. Like everything else about them.

I look up. The first one is in the driver's seat. Of course he is. The second sits in the passenger seat, relaxed in a way that feels anything but casual. The third-he's beside me.

Close enough that I'm aware of him without turning my head. Close enough that the space feels smaller than it should. The car pulls away from the curb. And just like that-Bellissimo disappears behind us.

My chest tightens. I don't look back. I can't. Because if I do, I might hesitate. And hesitation doesn't exist in this version of my life anymore.

Silence fills the car. Heavy. Not awkward. Not uncertain. Intentional. Like they’re waiting. For me. Fine.

"You're going to start talking," I say. My voice is steady. Stronger than I feel. "I'm not sitting here in silence while you take me somewhere without explaining anything.”

No one answers immediately. Of course. The second one glances back at me through the mirror. That same sharp edge in his gaze. "You talk a lot for someone who just agreed to come with us," he says. I don't miss the challenge.

"I didn't agree," I shot back, "I didn't have a choice."

A pause. Then.

"That's the first accurate thing you've said all night."

My jaw tightens. I turn my head slightly-just enough to look at the one beside me. The quiet one. The observant one. He hasn't spoken yet. Hasn't reacted. But I can feel his attention. Constant. Unbroken.

"I'm not answering anything until I know who you are,” I say. Clear. Final. "If you expect me to trust you-"

"We don't," the driver cuts in. The words land immediately. No hesitation. No softness."We don't expect you to trust us." I go still. 

Because that's not what I expected. 

"That's not how this works," he continues. 

"Then explain how it works,” I snapped. Silence again. 

Then-the car slows slightly as we hit a light. Red. Stillness settles for a moment. And something shifts. Subtle. 

"Say it again," the one beside me says quietly. I turn fully

 this time. My brows pulling together. "What?" 

"What you said." he repeats. "About not talking to strangers." 

A beat. Then-

"I don't talk to people I don't know," I say. His gaze doesn't leave mine. Not even for a second. 

"Good" The word is soft. Measured. Like approval. And then- 

"Then learn" A pause. And he gives it. Not casually. Not as an introduction. As something else. Something heavier. 

"Luca" The name settles between us. Not offered. Placed. My breath catches.

Because of the way he said it. Because of the way it feels. Like I'm supposed to remember it. Like I won't have a choice.

The second one lets out a quiet breath, almost amused

"About time,'' he mutters.

Then he turns slightly, glancing back at me again. His eyes sharper up close. More dangerous.

"Matteo."

There's no softness in it. No invitation Just fact. Control. 

And finally- the driver. He doesn't turn. Doesn't look at me. But I hear it anyway. Clear.

Certain.

"Nico."

The name lands differently. Not softer. Just... deeper. Like it carries something underneath it. Something I don't understand yet.

Silence fills the car again. But it's not the same silence. Now it's heavier. Defined. Real. I sit back slightly.

Processing. Three names. Three men. Three pieces of something I'm now part of whether I want to be or not. 

"And now you know who we are." Matteo says.

"Not really," I replied.

Honest. Because names don't explain anything. They don't tell me why my father is missing. Why I'm here. Why they know everything about me?

"Then ask better questions, " he says. I let out a slow breath. Trying to steady myself Trying to stay in control of something. Anything- 

"Where are you taking me?" I ask. Nico answers this time.

Without hesitation.

"Somewhere safe.”

I almost laughed. Almost.

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you need right now."

There it is again. Control. Always control.

My grip tightens around my phone.

"They said they're watching me," I say. Quieter now. Because that part won't leave my head. "How?" 

Luca shifts slightly beside me. Close enough that I feel it. 

"They have eyes," he says "On you. On the restaurant. Possibly on your apartment." A chill runs through me. 

"That's not possible." 

"It already happened," Matteo replies. "So it is."

I look between them. Trying to understand. Trying to catch up. And failing. 

"Why me?" I ask again. Because that question hasn't gone anywhere. Because it's the one that matters.

This time-none of them answer. And that-that scares me more than anything else.

Because it means they don't know. Or worse- they do. And they’re not telling me.

The car turns. Faster now. Deeper into the city. Further away from everything I recognize. My chest tightens.

But I don't panic. Not anymore. Because panic doesn't help. Because fear doesn't change anything. Because I already stepped into this. And there's no way out now.

I look straight ahead. At the road. At the night swallowing everything behind us. And I realize learning their names didn't make this better. It made it real.

And somehow-that's worse