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CHAPTER 41: THE AMBUSH
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-01-08 05:17:29
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Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 42: THE MANIPULATOR
Sienna’s heels echoed through the cavernous halls of her father’s estate. Her hands clenched into fists as she remembered her life in this house, waiting hand and foot on her stepmother and half siblings, enduring verbal and emotional abuse, her breath came hard and fast. Inside, her father sat behind his ornate desk, the glow of a single lamp casting sharp shadows across his face.“What game are you playing, Dad?” Sienna burst in, her voice sharp. Alessandro glanced up calmly, swirling his whiskey. “Sienna. Always so dramatic. Can’t a father enjoy a quiet evening without your drama?”“Don’t play coy with me.” Sienna advanced, her tone biting. “I know you’ve been meeting with Mateo Salazar. Were you involved in the attack against Enzo yesterday?”Alessandro leaned back in his chair, feigning surprise. “Mateo? Is that what this is about? You’ve spent too much time with Falcone, my dear. His paranoia seems to be rubbing off on you.”Sienna slammed her palms on the desk. “Don’t deflect
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-09Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 43: THE PLAN IN MOTION
Enzo stood at the head of the long, mahogany table in his private planning room, his dark eyes scanning the map laid out before him. His men—Luca, Nico, and Federico—sat around him, their postures tense.“This is where Mateo’s supply line is weakest.” Enzo pointed to a marked location. “Cutting it off will force him into the open.”Luca nodded in agreement. “Smart. He’ll have to redirect resources to protect it.”Nico leaned back against the wall. “What about his alliances? If Mateo’s smart, he’ll have Diego shoring him up.”“Diego’s involvement is a wildcard.” Enzo gritted his teeth. “But Mateo is desperate—he won’t want to share power. That’s our advantage.”The door swung open, and Sienna entered, her expression unreadable. All conversation stopped as the men turned toward her.“And what’s my part in this plan?” Sienna asked mildly.“You’re staying out of it.” Enzo responded without hesitation.Sienna crossed her arms. “Like hell I am. Mateo has made this personal. You need me.”En
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-12Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 44: THE FALLOUT
Enzo’s office was tense, the weight of unspoken words thick in the air. Luca stood by the window, arms crossed, his jaw tight. Enzo sat behind his desk, his fingers steepled in front of him, waiting for Luca to speak first.“You’re letting her have too much say in our operations, Enzo.” Luca said, finally breaking the silence. “I think It’s a mistake.”“She’s proven herself more than once. You’ve seen it.” Enzo reiterated calmly.Luca turned sharply. “What I’ve seen is you putting her above everything. Above the men. Above me.”“Careful, Luca.” Enzo warned, his voice hardening. “This isn’t about her—it’s about you not liking that I’m making the decisions.”“You’re blinded, Enzo.” Luca shot back, his voice heated. “You can’t see how dangerous this is. The men are talking, and they’re not wrong.”Enzo leaned forward. “And what exactly are they saying?”“That she’s a distraction. That she’s softening you. And after Marco? They’re wondering if you’re next to lose your head.” Luca said, gr
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-13Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 45: THE BLOWOUT
At a remote warehouse outside the city, dimly lit and eerily quiet. Enzo, Luca, Nico, and a team of armed men approach, their movements calculated and silent. The intel gathered by Sienna is confirmed, Mateo is inside, conducting a meeting with his inner circle“This feels too easy.” Luca whispered, his eyes scanning the perimeter. “Mateo doesn’t operate without layers of security.”“You think I don’t know that?” Enzo adjusted his grip on his weapon. “Stay sharp. He’s in there.”Nico checked his gear. “And if he’s not?”“Then we burn the place to the ground.” Enzo said coldly. “Either way, he feels the heat.”Luca grinned grimly. “Always the diplomat.”Enzo ignored the comment. “Federico, take your team around back. No one leaves.”Federico nodded. “Got it.”“You’re with me. Keep it tight. No mistakes.” Enzo said to Luca and Nico.The team breached the entrance, moving swiftly and quietly. The air is thick with the smell of oil and dust, the sound of faint voices carrying from deeper
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-14Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 46: THE POWER PLAY
In a private lounge in an upscale hotel. Mateo Salazar and Diego Torres sit across from each other, the tension palpable despite their forced civility. The air reeks of whiskey, cigars, and danger.Diego leaned back in his armchair “Never thought I’d see the day, Mateo. You, crawling to me for help.”“I wouldn’t call it crawling.” Mateo calmly swirled his glass of scotch. “I’d call it an opportunity. Enzo Falcone is a problem for both of us. Together, we can erase him.”Diego raised an eyebrow. “Erase him? You’ve tried that. Multiple times, if I recall. Yet, here we are.”“You’re no better, Torres.” Mateo retorted, his voice sharp. “How many of your men has he buried in the past month? Not including your brother.”“Touché.” Diego grinned. “But let’s not pretend this is about me. You hate him. You want his empire, his territory, his power. I just want him dead.”Mateo nodded. “Then our goals align. I have the intel, you have the manpower. Together, we can finish this.”Diego paused, ca
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-15Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 47: THE ROMANTIC GETAWAY
At his private villa on the outskirts of the city, hidden away from prying eyes. The hum of the distant ocean fills the silence as Enzo and Sienna sit across from each other at a small candle lit table. The moonlight spills through the open balcony doors, casting a soft glow over the room. Enzo poured wine into her glass. “It’s not much, but it’s the least I could do after everything.” Sienna smiled softly. “You mean after I yelled at you for trying to keep me out of the fight?” “Something like that.” Enzo chuckled. Sienna tilted her head. “It’s perfect. I almost forgot what quiet feels like.” Enzo leaned back, studying her. “That’s the point. You deserve to forget, even if it’s just for tonight.” “What about you?” Sienna teased. “Do you ever forget, or are you always in mafia mode?” “Always in mafia mode? Is that what you think of me?” Enzo demanded. “You’re the one who spends half his time plotting revenge and the other half brooding.” Sienna shrugged playfully.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-16Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 48: THE CUTTING OF TIES
The sun was setting over the Falcone villa when Sienna heard the faint sound of tires crunching on gravel. She looked up from the desk in Enzo’s study, her brow furrowed. Visitors were rare, and unannounced ones were unheard of. Seconds later, a knock echoed through the room. Federico stepped inside.“It’s your father.” Federico announced grimly. “He’s waiting in the drawing room.”“My father?” Sienna asked, surprised. “Alessandro?”Federico nodded. “Enzo’s out dealing with the shipment. Should I call him back?”“No. I’ll handle this.” Sienna answered after a pause.The drawing room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a chandelier casting shadows across the polished floor. Alessandro stood by the window, looking every bit the calculating man she remembered. When Sienna entered, he turned, a smile playing on his lips that didn’t reach his eyes.Alessandro: “Cara mia. You look well.”“What are you doing here, Alessandro?” Sienna asked c“No ‘father’? Not even a hug? I’m wounded.” Alessandro
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-17Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 49: A NEW BEGINNING
Sienna sat on the balcony of Enzo’s villa, the night air cool against her skin. The distant hum of the city seemed muted, almost peaceful. But inside, her mind was anything but calm. Alessandro’s words from their last conversation echoed in her head, pulling her in two directions. She barely noticed when Enzo stepped onto the balcony, his footsteps soft but deliberate. “You’ve been quiet all evening.” Enzo said gently. Sienna turned to him. “Just thinking.” “About him?” Enzo sat beside her. Sienna nodded. “Him trying to convince me to leave you, to join him and Mateo. He said staying with you is a death sentence.” Enzo clenched his jaw. “You’ve told me already. What I want to know is... what are you thinking now?” “I don’t know.” Sienna looked away. “He’s my father, Enzo. For all his faults, for everything he’s done, part of me still feels... tethered to him.” Enzo leaned closer, his voice soft but firm. “Ties don’t mean loyalty, Sienna. You don’t owe him anything—especi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-18
Bab terbaru
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
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 92: TWO SIDES OF A COIN
Alessandro DeLuca sat in the sparsely furnished living room, an empty glass in his hand, staring at the pile of unpaid bills scattered across the table. The walls around him felt smaller, suffocating.The front door opened, and Veronica stepped inside, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. She wasn’t alone—Julian and Victoria trailed behind her, their expressions unreadable.Alessandro straightened. “You’re back.”Veronica met his gaze, but there was no warmth in her eyes. “Only to get the rest of our things.”His stomach dropped. “What?”She sighed, placing her purse down. “I’m leaving, Alessandro. For good. And the kids are coming with me.”Julian, arms crossed, stood firm. “We don’t want to be part of this anymore, Dad.”Victoria, barely holding back tears, nodded. “Mom’s right. It’s not safe here.”Alessandro’s jaw clenched. “Safe? I’m your father. You think running away is the answer?”Veronica stepped closer, her voice calm but unwavering. “You burned every bridge, Ales
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 91: THE CONTRACT
The air inside the office was thick with tension. Federico paced near the window, eyes darting to the street below. Enzo, seated at his desk, flipped a pen between his fingers, his expression unreadable."Word's out," Federico finally said, his voice low. "Everyone knows you've left. Some think you're weak. Others think you’re a liability. And then there are the ones who just want you gone."Enzo didn’t react. He merely leaned back in his chair, the pen still spinning. "And which one sent the hitman?"Federico scoffed. "Does it matter? The fact is, someone’s coming. And we need to be ready."A long silence stretched between them. Enzo finally put the pen down, lacing his fingers together. "How sure are you?""Nico sent word. Said he caught wind of something through one of his informants. A contract’s been put out. Clean, quiet, professional. Someone wants you buried without a trace."Enzo sighed. "Any names?"Federico hesitated. "Just one. Matteo Ricci."Enzo’s brow furrowed. "Ricci?
Beneath the Shadows CHAPTER 90: A BREAKING POINT
Enzo sat alone in the dimly lit restaurant, the low hum of conversation filling the space. He checked his watch. Ten minutes past the agreed time.He shouldn’t have come.But when Massimo Guiliani requested a meeting, you didn’t ignore it. Not unless you were prepared for the consequences.The door at the back of the restaurant swung open, and a man stepped in. Massimo Guiliani—old but still sharp, his silver hair neatly combed back, his suit pristine. He moved with the careful confidence of someone who had outlived most of his enemies.“Enzo,” Guiliani greeted, sliding into the booth across from him. “It’s been a long time.”“Not long enough,” Enzo said, leaning back. “Let’s skip the pleasantries. Why am I here?”Guiliani chuckled, shaking his head. “Always straight to business. That’s what I always liked about you.”Enzo remained silent.Guiliani signalled the waiter, ordering a whiskey for himself and a water for Enzo. “Still keeping that sharp mind clear, I see.”“I don’t have tim
