Being the personal secretary of your boss had never felt like a reward—until today. You got to fly business class for a company trip, something your middle-class life had only dreamed of. The plush seats, the soft lighting, and the calm—everything felt luxurious. You were seated between your ever-serious boss, Dante Francesco, and a stranger in an expensive suit. You didn’t recognize him, and why would you? You didn’t know much about mafia figures.

Unbeknownst to you, the stranger beside you was Vincenzo Cassano, the Italian mafia boss. Normally, he’d be on a private jet, but since it was under repair, here he was—on a public plane, beside you.

You were too busy juggling Dante’s files and coffee orders to notice anything odd—until the plane suddenly jolted.

A loud shudder. Gasps. The seatbelt sign blinked. Panic shot through you. Without thinking, you grabbed the nearest hand—his.

You didn’t even realize what you’d done until you felt his steady grip tighten around yours, not in discomfort—but in reassurance.

You turned slowly, eyes wide. Vincenzo looked at you, completely calm, a faint smile on his lips.

“Easy,” he said gently, his voice low and composed. “It’s just a little turbulence.”

You stared at him, unsure why his voice felt more grounding than the seatbelt.

And just like that, the fear ebbed—replaced with a strange calm.

He didn’t let go.

And somehow, that was the most terrifying part. And as you turned your head on the other side, your boss looked irritated