Antonio's POV:

The day Sofia Moretti officially joined my personal guard was one I would remember for a long time. It wasn't just because she had proven herself worthy through the grueling training we put our soldiers through, but because she was the first woman ever to earn that position. In a world dominated by men, she had broken through, and for that, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride in her.

I watched as she moved through the ranks, as she pushed herself harder than any of the others. She had the drive, the determination, and the fire that I valued most in my men. No, not men—my soldiers. Sofia had proven herself to be more than just another recruit; she had shown that she could be trusted with the responsibility of guarding my life, of being by my side when the stakes were highest.

Today, she stood in front of me, her posture perfect, her gaze steady. I could see the faint sheen of sweat on her forehead from the intense drills she'd just completed, but there was no sign of exhaustion in her eyes. Only determination.

"Sofia," I said, crossing my arms over my chest as I appraised her. "You've done well. Better than I expected, if I'm being honest."

Her lips twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smile, but she remained professional, her expression neutral. "Thank you, Antonio. It's an honor to serve you."

The words were formal, but there was something in her tone that caught my attention. A softness, perhaps, or maybe something more. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I didn't dwell on it. Sofia had earned this position, and I wasn't about to let my mind wander into places it didn't belong.

"You've earned your place here," I continued, nodding slightly. "But don't think that means you can rest. I expect nothing less than perfection from my personal guard, and that includes you."

"I understand," she replied, her voice steady.

I studied her for a moment longer, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. Sofia was different from the others—her presence, her intensity, the way she carried herself with an air of quiet confidence. I had seen many recruits come and go, but none had made the impression on me that she had. She was special, and not just because she was the first woman to stand where she stood now.

There was something else about her, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. A sense of... unease, perhaps? No, that wasn't the right word. It was more of an awareness, a feeling that something wasn't quite right. But it was subtle, so subtle that I almost dismissed it entirely.

Almost.

"Dismissed," I said finally, watching as she nodded and turned to leave. As she walked away, I felt a pang of... what? Curiosity? Wariness? Whatever it was, it left me feeling unsettled, as though I had missed something important.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. Sofia had proven herself time and time again. She was loyal, dedicated, and had shown that she could handle the pressures of the job. There was no reason to doubt her, no reason to question the feeling that lingered in the back of my mind.

But as the days went on, I couldn't shake the sense that there was more to Sofia than what met the eye. She was always there, always watching, always attentive to my needs. At first, I chalked it up to her dedication, to her desire to prove herself in a world that wasn't always welcoming to women in her position. But the more I observed her, the more I noticed the subtle ways she seemed to know what I needed before I even asked.

It wasn't just her efficiency that caught my attention—it was the way she seemed to anticipate my thoughts, my moods. She was always one step ahead, always ready to act before I even gave the order. It was impressive, yes, but it also made me wonder how she had become so attuned to me so quickly.

There were moments when I would catch her watching me, her gaze intense, almost probing. It was as though she was trying to understand me on a level that went beyond the professional. And while I admired her dedication, there was something about the way she looked at me that made me pause.

I found myself testing her, giving her tasks that were deliberately difficult, situations that required quick thinking and adaptability. She handled them all with ease, never faltering, never showing any sign of weakness. It was as though she thrived on the challenge, as though she was waiting for the next test, the next opportunity to prove herself.

And yet, that nagging feeling remained. I tried to push it aside, to focus on the positives—her competence, her loyalty, her drive. But every time I did, that feeling would creep back in, whispering that there was something I was missing, something I needed to see.

I told myself it was just my imagination, that I was being overly cautious. After all, I had seen many soldiers come and go, and I knew how easy it was to let paranoia take hold. But this wasn't just paranoia. It was something deeper, something that gnawed at me in the quiet moments when I was alone.

But I couldn't afford to dwell on it. There were too many other things demanding my attention—business deals, rivalries, the constant threat of violence that came with the territory. Sofia was a valuable asset, someone I could rely on in a world where trust was a rare commodity. I couldn't let a vague feeling of unease get in the way of that.

And yet, as the weeks passed, that feeling only grew stronger. I started paying closer attention to Sofia, watching her as she watched me. She never faltered, never gave any indication that she was anything other than what she appeared to be. But the more I observed her, the more I realized that she was always there, always just a little too close, a little too attentive.

It was in the small things—the way she seemed to know exactly what I wanted before I even asked, the way she anticipated my needs, the way she watched me with a focus that bordered on obsession. It was flattering, in a way, to have someone so devoted to my safety, but it was also... unsettling.

I couldn't help but wonder what drove her, what motivated her to be so perfect, so relentless in her pursuit of my approval. 

Was it just ambition? 

A desire to prove herself in a world that didn't always welcome women in positions of power?

 Or was it something more, something darker?

I tried to push those thoughts away, to focus on the positives. Sofia was a valuable asset, someone who had earned her place by my side. She was strong, capable, and had proven herself time and time again. But that nagging feeling remained, a whisper in the back of my mind that I couldn't quite ignore.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day, I found myself alone in my office, nursing a glass of whiskey as I stared out the window. The city was alive with lights and movement, the pulse of the underworld beating just beneath the surface. It was a world I knew well, a world I had mastered.

But tonight, my thoughts were on Sofia. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something I was missing, something important. She was perfect—too perfect, perhaps. And in my line of work, perfection was something to be wary of.

I took a sip of my drink, letting the warmth of the alcohol settle in my chest. I knew I needed to trust her, to rely on her, but that nagging doubt wouldn't leave me alone. I couldn't afford to ignore it, but I also couldn't afford to let it consume me.

As I sat there, the door to my office opened quietly, and Sofia stepped inside. She moved with her usual grace, her expression calm and composed. She didn't speak, but I could feel her presence, the way she seemed to fill the room with her quiet intensity.

"Antonio," she said softly, her voice cutting through the silence.

I turned to look at her, my gaze meeting hers. There it was again—that look, that intensity that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was as though she was trying to see into my soul, to understand me in a way that no one else had ever tried to.

"What is it, Sofia?" I asked, my voice carefully neutral.

She hesitated for just a moment, then took a step closer. "I just wanted to check on you. You seemed... distant tonight."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her observation. "You're very perceptive."

She offered a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's my job to be."

I studied her for a moment, the unease I had been feeling all night coming to the forefront of my mind. "And what else do you see, Sofia? What else do you know?"

Her smile faltered, just for a moment, but it was enough. There was something there, something she wasn't telling me. I could feel it in the air between us, a tension that hadn't been there before.

"I know that you've been under a lot of pressure," she said carefully, her voice measured. "I know that you've been watching me, trying to figure me out."

I leaned back in my chair, my gaze never leaving hers. "And have I?"

She didn't answer immediately, her eyes searching mine as if she were looking for something. "I'm here to protect you, Antonio. That's all."

I nodded slowly, letting her words sink in. 

She was good-

too good. 

But there was something beneath the surface, something she was hiding. I could feel it.

Even if I could not name it I will eventually see the truth beneath this perfect mask. 

But I had a feeling that this truth wasn't going to please me.

WOW!!!! The tension!!!!