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CHAPTER 25: TWO SPRUNG ATTACK
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-12-23 07:09:34
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Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 26: FURY UNLEASHED
The Torres convoy rolled through the industrial district, flanked by armed guards. Sienna sat in the back of an armored van, her wrists once again bound. Ricardo sat opposite her, watching her like a hawk.“Enjoying the ride?” he sneered.Sienna glared at him but said nothing. Her mind was racing, searching for a way out.“Don’t bother,” Ricardo said, noticing her darting eyes. “No one’s coming for you this time.”“You don’t know Enzo,” Sienna replied, her voice steady despite her fear.Ricardo chuckled. “And you don’t know Giancarlo. He’s already won. Falcone’s rage will be his downfall.”The van jolted to a stop. Ricardo frowned, reaching for his radio.“What’s going on?”The response crackled through. “Roadblock ahead. We’re checking it out.”Ricardo leaned toward the front of the van. “Stay alert.”A sudden explosion rocked the vehicle, throwing everyone inside against the walls. Sienna hit the floor hard, her ears ringing.Outside, chaos erupted. Enzo’s men swarmed the convoy, th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-24Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 27: A LOVE THAT BURNS
Back at the compound, Sienna sat on the worn leather couch, her knees drawn to her chest. Enzo was meeting with his men, overhauling the security system around his home and safehouses.The house was eerily quiet, the only sound coming from the faint crackle of the fireplace, when Enzo came back, he went straight to bar and poured himself a drink. He went to the window and stood staring into the darkness outside. His silhouette was tense, a predator still on edge.“You haven’t said anything in hours,” Sienna finally broke the silence, her voice hesitant.“There’s nothing to say,” Enzo replied without turning around.“That’s not true.” She leaned forward, her fiery determination bubbling up. “You’re angry. Not just at them—at me.”Enzo’s jaw tightened. “I’m angry because they keep finding ways to get to me. And now they’re using you.”“Using me?” Sienna stood, crossing her arms. “I didn’t ask for any of this, Enzo. I didn’t ask to be dragged into your world!”He turned then, his dark ey
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-25Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 28: BETRAYAL RUNS DEEP
The room was silent except for the faint sound of rain tapping against the window. Sienna paced in the library, clutching the phone she swiped from Ricardo while in captivity. Her hands trembled as she scanned the messages contained in the phone for the fifth time.“Enzo,” she whispered under her breath, “you’re not going to believe this.”The door opened suddenly, and Enzo walked in, his tie loosened, his face tired. “Sienna, it’s late. What are you doing?”She turned to him, eyes wide with urgency. “We need to talk.”Enzo frowned. “About what?”“This,” she said, thrusting the phone into his hands.He scrolled through the messages, his brows furrowing deeper with each line he read. “What is this?”“Check the dates of those messages,” Sienna said, her voice steady despite the storm in her chest. “Someone's been feeding information to the Torres Clan. And that someone is Marco.”Enzo froze, the weight of her words settling over him like a heavy fog. “That’s impossible. Marco’s been wi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-26Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 29: THE PRICE OF LOVE
The dimly lit room reeked of sweat and desperation. Sienna’s wrists were bound to the chair, her hair plastered to her forehead from the hours she had spent struggling. Marco leaned against the wall, a cruel smirk playing on his lips as he toyed with the gun in his hand.“You look comfortable,” Marco sneered. “Enzo really has a thing for broken things, doesn’t he?”Sienna raised her chin despite the trembling in her legs. “You’re underestimating him. And me.”Marco chuckled, pacing slowly around her. “Underestimate you? Sweetheart, you’re nothing but a pawn in a game you don’t understand.”“Funny,” Sienna shot back, her voice sharp, “that’s exactly what people are saying about you. And look where you are—desperate enough to sell me to save your sorry skin.”Marco’s smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing. “Watch your mouth.”“Why? Afraid the truth hurts?” Sienna’s voice didn’t waver. She leaned forward as much as her restraints allowed. “You’re a coward, Marco. You couldn’t beat Enzo, so y
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-27Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 30: NO REDEMPTION
The warehouse was eerily quiet, save for the sound of Enzo’s measured footsteps echoing against the cold concrete. Marco sat slumped in a chair at the center of the room, his face bruised and bloodied, his hands bound tightly behind him. A single bulb swung overhead, casting sharp shadows across the space.Enzo’s men lined the walls, silent and tense. At their feet lay the bodies of the Torres guards who had attempted to break Marco out earlier that night.“You’ve always had a flair for the dramatic,” Marco rasped, his swollen lips twisting into a defiant smirk. “A solitary light bulb? Really? What’s next, a monologue about betrayal?”Enzo stopped a few feet from him, his dark eyes burning with quiet fury. “I don’t need theatrics, Marco. I need answers.”Marco barked a laugh, wincing as pain shot through his ribs. “Answers? Oh, Enzo. I thought you were smarter than this. You already know everything.”“What I know,” Enzo said slowly, his voice as sharp as the blade he pulled from his
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 31: A MAN IN CONFLICT
The soft flicker of candlelight cast shadows across the room as Enzo sat in silence, staring into the tumbler of whiskey in his hand. He could hear Sienna moving about in the next room, her presence both a comfort and a torment.Marco’s final words echoed in his mind: You can’t change, Enzo. Men like us? We don’t get to choose.“Whiskey for your thoughts?” Sienna’s voice broke the stillness, light and teasing, though her eyes carried a deeper concern as she stepped into the room.Enzo glanced up, his lips twitching into a faint smile. “You shouldn’t be up. It’s late.”She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorway. “Sleep doesn’t come easily these days. You should know that better than anyone.”He swirled the whiskey in his glass, the ice clinking softly. “This life... it’s not easy for anyone.”“No,” she agreed, taking a cautious step closer. “But it’s harder when you don’t let anyone in.”Enzo sighed, setting the glass down. “You’re already too far in, Sienna. If I could take it
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-29Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 32: BALANCING SHADOWS
“Enzo, if you can’t control our men, you’re as good as dead,” Luca snapped, slamming a file onto the table. “Marco’s betrayal was a crack in the foundation. If you don’t patch it now, it’ll crumble under you.”Enzo leaned back in his chair, voice cold, “Do you think I don’t know that? Marco’s shadow still lingers. But let’s not pretend you’ve been a saint, Luca. Questioning my decisions in front of the men doesn’t help.”“Your decisions? Luca asked, defiant You’ve been distracted. That girl—”Enzo cuts him off, voice razor-sharp. “Her name is Sienna. And if you mention her like she’s a problem again, we’ll have more than words.”“Luca isn’t wrong, Enzo." Nico interjected cautiously. "The men… they’re talking. They’re wondering if Marco wasn’t the only one with misplaced loyalty.”Enzo stood abruptly, slamming his palms on the table. “Are you implying Sienna is disloyal?”“No.” Nico said quickly, “But perception matters, and right now, she’s seen as an outsider. She’s your weakness in
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-30Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 33: LINES DRAWN IN THE SAND
“Every time she’s in the room, something goes wrong,” Luca growled, pacing the length of the dining hall. “How much more proof do you need, Enzo?”Enzo leaned back in his chair, unshaken. “You’re overstepping, Luca.”Luca slammed his palm on the table, “No, you’re blind! First Marco, now this mess at the docks. And somehow, it’s never her fault?”“He has a point, boss.” Nico sitting with arms crossed. “The timing doesn’t lie. Ever since she showed up—”“You mean ever since Enzo saved my life?” Sienna cut in, voice steady.Luca turned to her, his glare icy, “Saved your life? Or invited trouble into ours?”Sienna stepped forward. “You think I wanted any of this? You think I asked to be dragged into your world of guns and betrayal?”Nico raised a brow. “And yet here you are, standing in the middle of it.”“Enough.” Enzo bellowed as he rose, his tone silencing the room. “If you have something to say, Nico, Luca, say it to me. Leave her out of it.”“That’s the problem, Enzo.” Luca said wea
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-31
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Beneath the Shadows EPILOGUE
Luca reclined on the couch in the Falcone’s residence, one leg propped up on a cushioned stool. The faint edge of a bandage peeked out beneath the collar of his shirt, evidence of the wound still healing beneath. Lucia toddled across the rug with determined little steps, a stuffed giraffe clutched in her chubby hands. Her giggle echoed through the room, bright and triumphant.“Hey there, bambina,” Luca said, his lips tugging into a grin. “You bringing that to me, or is it a bribe?”“Bibe, ncle Luca!” Lucia babbled as she reached him and dropped the toy into his lap with a high-pitched giggle, wobbling on her feet before plopping onto her bottom.“That’s what I thought,” he murmured, lifting the giraffe and inspecting it with mock seriousness. “You’re trying to win Uncle Luca over with cuteness. Mission accomplished.”From the kitchen, Sienna’s voice floated in. “It’s not hard. You’re already wrapped around her finger.”She entered with a bowl of fruit balanced in her hands, a teasing
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 100: BLOOD AND BROTHERHOOD
The shrill ring of Enzo’s phone cut through the silence of the bedroom. He blinked, dazed, the soft glow of the screen illuminating the time—2:47 a.m. Beside him, Sienna stirred, her hand brushing his arm.“Who is it?” she murmured, voice thick with sleep.He didn’t answer. The name flashing on the screen—Nico—already tightened something in his chest. Enzo swiped to answer.“Nico?”“It’s Luca,” Nico’s voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “His right-hand man just called me. There was a shootout. He’s been hit bad, Enzo. They’re not sure he’ll make it through the night.”Enzo sat bolt upright, the cold rush of adrenaline flooding his system. “Where?”“An abandoned warehouse off Via Caruso. They moved him to a private clinic on the edge of town. His crew didn’t want to alert the authorities.”Enzo was already out of bed, dragging on his jeans. “I’ll get Federico. Stay by your phone.”He ended the call, only to find Sienna sitting up, her expression taut.“What happened?” she asked,
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 99: WE ARE HOME
Enzo is with Federico to look at the books. He’s impressed with the figures, as he watches Federico pace behind the desk, sleeves rolled up, tie askew, an earpiece clipped to one ear.“Move the meeting with the Milan investors to Thursday, I want numbers in my inbox by tomorrow morning—no excuses.”He ended the call and turned to Enzo. “If these projections hold, we’re expanding to Zurich by next quarter.”Enzo blinked. “Zurich?”Federico grinned. “You said you wanted global. I’m delivering global.”“Remind me never to underestimate you again.”Federico smirked. “That’s twice this week you’ve said that.”“Because that's twice you’ve shocked him this week. Matteo added, tapping away at his laptop, glancing between screens and a printed contract.“You highlighted the wrong clause,” Enzo said mildly.Matteo frowned. “I thought that was the jurisdiction clause?”“It is. But the problem’s in the indemnity section.”Matteo groaned. “This stuff is so dry.”Enzo chuckled. “So was accounting w
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 98: FINDING PEACE
The warm light from the desk lamp cast a soft glow over the dark wood and leather. Enzo sat behind the desk, going over reports. The door creaked open, and Luca stepped in, unannounced but expected.“You’re late,” Enzo said without looking up.Luca smirked as he closed the door. “You never used to care about time when we were running heat in our backstreets.”“Now I care about school runs and quarterly projections,” Enzo replied, setting down his pen. “Different stakes.”Luca nodded and sat across from him. “It’s quieter out there.”Enzo raised an eyebrow. “Too quiet?”“There’s a vacuum, Enzo. Since you left… there’s no one solid holding things together.”“That’s not my concern anymore.”Luca leaned back, studying him. “You always had the head for order. Even when we were knee-deep in mess, you brought structure. People respected that.”“And feared it,” Enzo muttered. “Don’t romanticize it, Luca.”“I’m not. I’m telling you there’s instability. Factions forming, reckless kids stepping
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 97: LIVING THE LIFE
The late afternoon sun filtered through the kitchen windows, casting a golden hue across the counters. Sienna stood barefoot at the island, cutting strawberries for Lucia, who sat in her high chair, babbling to herself and occasionally tossing fruit to the floor.“Sweetheart,” Sienna said, laughing, “the food goes in your mouth, not under the fridge.”Lucia squealed in delight, clearly unconcerned.Enzo entered, sleeves rolled up, loosened tie around his neck. He leaned down, kissing Lucia’s forehead and then Sienna’s cheek.“Smells good in here,” he murmured.“That’s because it’s strawberries and not one of your protein shakes,” she teased.He chuckled. “Fair.”They watched Lucia for a moment, both quiet.“She’s growing fast,” Sienna said softly. “Seems like just yesterday I was waddling through this house, cursing swollen ankles.”Enzo smiled, resting a hand on her back. “And now she’s tossing berries like confetti.”Sienna turned to look at him. “Have you ever thought about having
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 96: GIVING BACK
Sienna adjusted the collar of her blouse as she stood in front of the small group of women seated in folding chairs. A banner hung behind her, the freshly printed letters reading: Lucia Foundation – Hope Beyond the Shadows. Natalia stood off to the side, clipboard in hand, giving her an encouraging nod.“You’ve got this,” Natalia whispered.Sienna smiled, then took a breath and stepped forward.“Thank you all for coming today. I know how hard it can be to walk into a room like this. I’ve been where you are. Caught in a world that told me silence was survival.”A murmur of agreement rippled through the group.“But silence isn’t strength,” Sienna continued. “Community is. And that’s what we’re building here.”After the session ended, Natalia approached her with a wide grin. “You were amazing. The women were hanging on every word.”Sienna exhaled, wiping her palms on her skirt. “I was terrified.”“Didn’t show.”Just then, Sienna’s phone buzzed. It was a picture from Federico—baby Lucia n
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 95: A GHOST OF THE FUTURE
Enzo leaned back in his chair, flipping through the latest quarterly report. The numbers didn’t lie. His lips curled into a wide smile just as Federico walked in, looking confident, sleeves rolled up and phone still in hand.Enzo raised a brow. “That the final call?”Federico nodded, tossing his phone onto the desk. “Done. They signed.”Enzo blinked. “You closed it?”Federico smirked. “I told you I would.”Enzo stood and walked around the desk. “You got them to agree to our terms? All of them?”“Every single one,” Federico said, voice calm but proud. “Distribution rights, branding control, full autonomy for expansion in the next region.”“Jesus,” Enzo muttered, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “That’s huge, Fed. This deal alone will cover our overhead for the next six months.”Federico chuckled. “Told you to trust me.”“I do trust you,” Enzo said, then added with a smirk, “But I didn’t expect you to wipe the floor with their legal team.”“They tried to box me in,” Federico said, settl
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 94: ONE LAST CHANCE
Enzo stood behind the counter of his café, sleeves rolled up, taking a break. The late afternoon crowd had thinned, leaving a calm lull in the air. The door chimed softly.Nico stepped in, dressed down in jeans and a black hoodie, eyes scanning the space.“Didn’t peg you for the espresso crowd,” Enzo said, smirking as he glanced up.Nico shrugged. “Didn’t come for coffee.Enzo picked up his coffee. “Then come on. Back patio’s quiet.”They moved out to the enclosed terrace, where potted herbs lined the walls and the city noise faded behind a curtain of green. Nico sat, drumming his fingers on the table.Enzo leaned back in his chair. “Talk to me.”“I’ve been thinking,” Nico started, eyes distant. “Things are shifting. Luca’s hanging by a thread. Everyone’s watching their backs. It’s not the life it used to be.”“It never was,” Enzo replied. “We just convinced ourselves it was worth the cost.”Nico looked up. “You made it out. Legit. I didn’t think it was possible, but you did it.”“It
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 93: BABY ON BOARD
Sienna pressed a hand to her belly, breathing through the tightness that gripped her. The restaurant bustled around her, waiters weaving between tables, the scent of fresh pasta and espresso filling the air. She tried to focus on the conversation with her friend, but another sharp pain made her grip the edge of the table.“Are you okay?” her friend, Natalia asked, concern flickering in her eyes.Sienna exhaled slowly. “I think—I think it’s happening.”Natalia’s eyes widened. “Now? Sienna, we need to call Enzo.”Sienna nodded, fumbling for her phone. Her hands trembled as she hit Enzo’s number. He picked up on the first ring.“Hey, piccola. What’s wrong?”She sucked in a breath, another contraction making her voice waver. “It’s time.”A chair scraped loudly on the other end. “Where are you?”“At the restaurant. I was meeting Natalia—”“I’m on my way.” His voice was sharp with urgency. “Stay put.”The call ended, and Natalia stood, waving down a waiter. “We need to get her somewhere mor
