Valeria

When the men started to leave, I knew I couldn’t let it end like that. I took a deep breath and stepped forward, ignoring Elena’s glare. My hands were shaking, but I hid them under the table.

“Please,” I said, my voice firm. “Give me one moment.”

The man with the silver hair stopped and turned slowly. “And who are you to ask for that?”

I straightened my shoulders. “My name is Valeria DeLuca,” I said clearly. “Dante Moretti sent me here to speak for him. ...