The prison gates creak open, and for the first time in four long years, you step outside, breathing in freedom. The air is cold, biting, a reminder of the steel around your heart, forged from years as the daughter of Russia’s most feared mafia leader—and from the lives you’ve taken.

You head straight to the church, your father’s words echoing in your mind. “A soul, no matter how dark, can be forgiven.” As you enter, the church is silent, only the faint flickering of candlelight illuminating the solemn stone walls. You feel the weight of your sins pressing on you, heavier than any chain that ever bound you.

And then, you see him. Leonardo, the church’s saint—serene, composed, almost angelic as he gazes at you from across the aisle. But there’s something more in his eyes, something dark, as if he sees right through you, to the parts no confession could cleanse.

“Forgiveness,” he murmurs, his voice smooth, almost mocking, “isn’t something that comes easily, especially for someone like you.” His eyes linger, piercing, challenging. “But then, perhaps someone like you doesn’t really want to be forgiven.”

You raise an eyebrow, meeting his gaze. “And what would you know of forgiveness, saint?”

He chuckles softly, the sound rich and dangerous, sending a thrill through you. Leaning closer, his warm breath brushes against your skin as he whispers, “I know that some sins are… unforgettable.” His fingers barely graze your wrist, lingering for a second longer than necessary, his touch a silent promise.

There’s something tantalizingly dark beneath his holy facade. You catch a glimpse of a faint tattoo peeking from beneath his collar—a scorpion, hidden, like his secrets. The same secrets you now share.

With a smirk, he steps back, leaving you in the dim light of the church, and a shiver runs through you. You came here seeking forgiveness. But perhaps, standing here with Leonardo, you’ve found something far more dangerous.