Chapter 2

The bass thrummed through the walls of Vortex, one of the most exclusive clubs in the city. Owned and operated by Matteo Costa, it was more than just a place for overpriced drinks and flashing neon lights- it was a fortress. A gathering place for the powerful, the corrupt, and the untouchable.

Swaby Nolan stood at the entrance, her pulse steady despite the weight of what she was about to do. Dressed in a sleek black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, she looked the part- dangerous, alluring, a woman who belonged in Matteo's world.

She wasn't just here to impress. She was here to infiltrate.

The bouncer, a hulking man in a dark suit, barely spared her a glance before nodding her through. Matteo had already cleared her for entry.

She stepped inside, the atmosphere hitting her like a wave. Strobe lights painted the room in flashes of blue and red, illuminating the packed dance floor where bodies moved in a hypnotic rhythm. At the VIP section on the second level, behind a glass railing, Matteo Costa sat like a king overseeing his kingdom.

Their eyes met. A slow, deliberate smirk touched his lips, and he lifted his glass slightly, a silent acknowledgment of her arrival.

Game on... Upstairs

A suited man- one of Matteo's security- guided her to the private lounge. As she entered, Matteo was already waiting, reclining on a leather couch, a glass of whiskey in hand. Vincent stood nearby, watching her like a hawk, his expression unreadable.

Matteo gestured to the seat across from him. "Sophia."

She smiled as she sat, crossing her legs. "Matteo."

He chuckled, setting his drink down. "I like a woman who doesn't waste time."

"I like a man who appreciates efficiency," she countered.

Matteo studied her, his gaze lingering longer than necessary. "You say you're a business consultant. What kind of business, exactly?"

Swaby leaned forward slightly, keeping her expression calm, confident. "The kind that helps men like you stay ahead."

Vincent scoffed, arms crossed. "That's vague as hell."

She turned her attention to him. "You think I'm lying?"

"I think you're selling yourself without proof."

Matteo tapped his fingers against the glass table between them. "Then prove it."

Swaby had anticipated this. She reached into her small clutch, pulling out a flash drive. "This is a portfolio of work I've done for people in your... profession. Anonymous, of course. Money laundering, investment strategies, eliminating financial threats before they become problems." She set the drive down. "If you check, you'll find that my results speak for themselves."

Matteo stared at the device for a moment before nodding to Vincent. "Run it."

Vincent took the drive and left the room without another word.

Matteo leaned back, swirling his drink. "You don't seem nervous."

She met his gaze. "Should I be?"

A slow smile spread across his lips. "Most people are, when they sit across from me for the first time."

Swaby smiled back, unfazed. "I guess I'm not most people."

Matteo chuckled. "No, you're not."

Silence stretched between them, charged and heavy. Swaby knew she had his interest, but interest wasn't enough- she needed trust. She needed him to see her as an asset, not a threat.

Vincent returned moments later, a grim look on his face. He handed Matteo a tablet, and Matteo scrolled through it, his expression unreadable.

Finally, he set the device down and looked at her. "Impressive."

Swaby relaxed slightly. Step one- complete.

"I could use someone with your skills," Matteo admitted, eyes still locked on her. "But tell me, Sophia-why me? There are plenty of men in this city with power. Why come to me?"

Swaby had prepared for this. "Because you're the best," she said simply. "And I only work with the best."

Matteo's smirk returned, but there was something sharper in his gaze now. "Flattery will get you far in this business. But loyalty gets you further."

Swaby held his gaze, unwavering. "Then let me prove my loyalty."

Matteo leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to something dangerously smooth. "Be careful what you offer, Sophia. Loyalty in my world comes at a price."

Swaby tilted her head, meeting his challenge head-on. "Then name it."

Matteo studied her for a long moment, then smiled. "We'll start small. I have a problem that needs solving. If you handle it well, we'll talk about a more... permanent partnership."

Swaby hid her satisfaction. This was exactly what she needed-to be useful, to get closer, to earn his trust.

"What's the problem?" she asked.

Matteo took another sip of his drink, then set the glass down. "There's a man who owes me a significant amount of money. More importantly, he thinks he can run from his debt." He slid a piece of paper across the table. "His name is Patrick Donahue. Find him. Remind him why running from me is a mistake."

Swaby picked up the paper, reading the name slowly. A test. He wanted to see if she was capable.

She met his gaze once more. "Consider it done."

Matteo's smirk deepened. "Then let's see if you're as good as you claim to be."

Hours Later – Hunting the Target

Swaby stepped out of Vortex and into the night, her mind already working through the task at hand.

Patrick Donahue. A man in debt to Matteo Costa. A man who thought he could escape.

Foolish.

She found an empty alley and pulled out her phone, dialing a number she hadn't used in years.

The voice on the other end answered immediately. "Didn't think I'd hear from you again, Red."

Swaby smirked. "I need a favor."

A pause. Then, "Name it."

"Patrick Donahue. I need to know where he's hiding. Fast."

The man chuckled. "You always did go after the dangerous ones. Give me an hour."

Swaby hung up, slipping her phone back into her purse.

One hour. That was all she needed. Because by the time the sun rose, Patrick Donahue would be begging Matteo Costa for mercy. And Swaby Nolan would be one step closer to her revenge.