“I hope I can live up to his words,” I said, cautiously.
The man’s lips twisted into a smirk, cold and unfriendly. “We’ll see.”
The tension in the room thickened. Another man, standing with his arms crossed, fixed me with a sharp, piercing look. “Do you even know what you’ve gotten yourself into, Celia?”
Before I could answer, Vito spoke, his tone unwavering. “She knows enough. And she’s ready.”
I wasn’t so sure, but I nodded anyway, letting his confidence carry me.
The first man gave a curt nod. “Let’s not waste time,” he said, his voice cold and final. “Follow me.”
He turned sharply, leading us deeper into the fortress-like building. The dimly lit corridors stretched ahead, and with every step, my pulse raced faster.
Vito stayed close, his hand brushing my lower back in a subtle gesture of reassurance—or, perhaps to keep me from faltering.
We entered a sleek conference room, the long table bathed in stark, unflinching light. The other members of the Viper Group entered quietly, their movements deliberate, almost predatory.
The man who’d spoken earlier took a seat at the head of the table and gestured for me to sit across from him. Vito stood behind me, his presence solid and grounding.