A Dream of Rome

, far from the city. They've found work, and they're settling into their new life. But

re in the distance. Her heart skips a beat as she recognizes the man - it's he

e's almost to her house when he grabs her arm, spinning her around. "Isabella

rt pounding in her chest. "Let me go!" she c

ce contorting into a scowl. "You're a part

knows she has no choice but to go with him. As they drive away, she feels the weight of her decision settling

leads her inside and up to his office.

e's told, her legs

wl. "I know you've been in contact with Luca," he says, his voice

with shame. She knows she shouldn't have lied to her father

says, stopping in front of her. "

searching for her. He'd reached out to everyone he knew, but

afia boss had taken someone to his mansion on the outskirts of the city. And even

matter what it took. But as he approached the mansion, he saw something that made his blood run cold. There, in the fr

knew he couldn't fight the mafia boss head-on, but

lice. Luca hoped the police would arrive before Isabella's father realized what he was doing. But he wasn't so l

anded, his voice full of menace. "You

aid, his voice shaking with fea

menacing laugh. "You really th

. He could feel his resolve hardening, his fear replaced by a fierce det

alm and collected. "You're out of your depth

his ground. "We'll see about that," he

can win this fight," he said. "But I'll make you a deal. You walk away now, and I'll let you l

r here, with this man. He had to do something. And then, an idea hit him. He took a deep breath, and spoke as calmly as he could. "If I can beat you in a g

ssive. "You think you can beat me?" he asked

isk," Luca said, his voice

face. "Alright," he said. "But you have to win two out of three games. And

e had to take the deal. It was the only way to get Isa

o guards, no weapons, no sign of anyone else at all. It was just the two of them, standing in

here. The man must have been more confident than he

ng towards a door to the left

way to the ceiling. A large, ornate chessboard sat on a table in the center of th

e white queen, but stopped. There was something off about the board. The pieces wer

a trick?"

. "No tricks," he said.

eeling in his gut and focus on the game. He moved his queen f

g. "I know you're a smart one. I know you have a knack for st

ed himself to smile. "I think I'm pre

if you can tell that I'm lying to you," he said, his voice dropp

from his face as the man's words sunk in. This wasn't

his game. I want to win a much bigger game. I want t

rd. "I won't go down without a fight," he

d, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "

looked around the room, searching for anything that could help him. Then

, his voice calm and steady.

ugged. "Sur

pointing to the object o

flashing with pride. "Dated to the second century. A

keeping his voice level. "Because I've he

. "Are you call

ling. "I'm just curious. I wouldn't

a grin. "You're a smooth talker, I'll give you that," he said, chuckling. "But I k

That's good to know," he said. "I

preening a little. "Now, sh

had oth

from his chair. "I need to use the re

on the chessboard. "Be my guest," he said. "But

got suspicious. He darted down the hall, his eyes scanning the area for anything that could help him. An

. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. The grounds of the mansion were vast

d towards the trees. If he could reach them, he could hide, and maybe get help. But as he ran, he heard footsteps behind hi

ied out in pain, but he forced himself to get up. He had to keep moving. But as he l

ding a pistol in his hand. "I told you not to run," he said, his

le. But he had to try something, anything. "Please," he said, his

he pistol he was holding i

uestioned about his activities. But he refused to t

tic. He called in Isabella, hoping that seeing her would break Luca's

her voice cracki

n his expression changed. He seemed