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Chapter 26
Last Updated:
2025-02-06 16:54:52
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Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 27
For a second, I stand there staring at him, my head spinning. What just took place? I had the fleeting impression that Marco was revealing to me a side of himself that he keeps hidden from the public. Now, though, it seems to have never occurred.I follow him back to the car, my chest tight with fury and confusion. When I believe I understand him a little better, he withdraws once again and hides behind barriers I can't figure out how to get past.The stillness between us is heavier than ever as we resume our journey. I feel more lost than ever when I gaze out the window. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to unravel the riddle that is Marco. He gives me glimpses of a man I never expected by being aloof and icy one minute and then vulnerable the next.However, those moments are fleeting. As the hours pass, I realize that Marco will not share anything with me, he has given up or the suffering he endures. Not entirely. Not quite yet.I can't get rid of the impression that something is chang
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I can sense the tension in the room now, even if the doctor's demeanor remains unchanged. People are affected by Marco in that way. Even in a hospital setting where lives are on the line, he commands attention, demands outcomes, and handles this as though it were a commercial discussion."Mr. Moretti," the doctor adds in a calm voice, "I can't guarantee miracles, but I understand your anxiety. This is a challenging process, and I need you to be aware of the hazards.I suppose Marco could dispute for a second as his jaw tightens. However, he nods instead. His voice is low as he continues, "Do whatever it takes." "It is not an option to fail."The doctor looks at Marco and then at me, as though considering what to say next. He pledges, "We'll do everything we can."I release a breath I didn't know I'd been holding as the doctor exits the room to get ready for the procedure. Marco's face softens somewhat as he turns to face me. Marco adds, "He'll make it," in a softer tone. "We will not
Last Updated : 2025-02-06Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 29
It doesn't seem like home when we get back to Marco's house. The tension between us seems to suffocate me as the walls close in around me. Unspoken words abound, yet I lack the energy to strike up a conversation. All I can think about is the uncertainty surrounding my father's situation. I can still hear the doctor say, "We won't know for a few days." Those words seem to go on forever.I try to ground myself as I enter the living room and leave my bag by the door. I collapse onto the couch, fatigue weighing heavily on my body. But despite my best efforts to calm down, my mind keeps racing. Marco is looking out into the night from the window. He seems to be holding something back because of his stiff stance. I feel his gaze on me, but I choose not to raise my head. We are so silent that it is nearly intolerable.Since we left the hospital, things have been silent and tense, as though we are both waiting for something to happen. I can feel the weight of his gaze as if he's watching me a
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The damage is done even when Marco doesn't reply. I sense the change, the uncertainty erecting itself like a wall between us. I don't know how, but I want to reach out and draw him back to me. Something poisonous has been sown by Gianni's comments, and I'm not sure how to combat it.A Terrifying CautionGianni stops beside me as he makes his way to the door, moving in close enough for me to feel his breath against my ear. His voice is low and menacing as he adds, "Francesca, you won't make it through this." "You're in a lot of trouble."His words freeze me in place and send a shiver down my spine. My mouth gets dry, and I'm unable to breathe or move. Gianni retreats, giving me a final arrogant glance before leaving a trail of discomfort in his wake.With a gentle click, the door closes behind him, but the tension in the room is still there and stronger than before. I feel as though the ground has moved underfoot as I stand there. I can't get Gianni's comments out of my head; they're a
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I ultimately realize I can't handle it any longer late one evening. I require answers. I need to know why he’s pulling away from me, why he’s acting like a stranger when we’ve been through so much together. I find him seated at his desk in his office, the gentle glow of his computer screen shining on his face. I can sense the tension in the room rising as soon as I walk in, even though he doesn't glance up."Marco," I begin, my voice faltering but resolute. "We must speak."His fingers keep tapping at the keyboard in front of him, and he takes a while to react. Every click feeling like a hammer striking my heart, the sound irritates me.I get closer and beg, "Marco, please." "What is the reason behind your distance from me?"At last, he pauses his typing and gives me an unreadable glance. I briefly fear that he may dismiss me once more and offer me the same flimsy justification that he has so frequently used. Then, however, he gets up, quietly scraping his chair back, and moves to the
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The situation weighs heavily on me as I stand there in startled silence while Luca and Marco continue their conversation. Marco's distancing, Gianni's remarks, and now this—Luca's alert to a fresh danger.Something greater than I could have ever envisioned has ensnared me, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to endure it.My relationship with Marco is becoming more strained, and now that Gianni is threatening us, I'm not sure whether we can handle what's next.Luca steps into the room, his face drawn tight with worry. There’s something different about him tonight, something that sets my nerves on edge. Marco, who’s been sitting quietly across from me, stiffens the moment Luca enters. The stress in the air swells like a storm brewing on the horizon.“Marco,” Luca starts, his voice low, barely above a whisper, but it holds enough weight to make my heart pound. “We have a problem.”I look at Marco, waiting for his response. His eyes darken, a dangerous darkness falling over his face. He doe
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“What do you want me to do?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. There’s a tremor in my tone that I hate, but I can’t hide the fear anymore.Marco stands up, walking over to me with that steady, deliberate pace that always unnerves me. He reaches out, taking my chin in his hand and tilting my face up to meet his eyes.“You’re going to stay close to me,” he says, his voice soft but full of command. “I’ll protect you, but you need to listen to me. No more questions. No more defiance. You’re part of this now.”I nod, even though every part of my being wants to fight against the idea. But what choice do I have? Gianni’s out there, planning something dangerous, and now I’m a part of it whether I want to be or not.Luca steps forward, breaking the moment. “There’s more,” he says, his voice serious. “Gianni’s not working alone. He’s got people on the inside, Marco. We don’t know who yet, but there’s a mole.”A cold sweat breaks out across my skin. A mole? Someone inside Marco’s group is
Last Updated : 2025-02-08Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 34
I try to go about my day, pretending that things are normal. But there’s always this nagging thought in the back of my mind, this constant stress that I can’t shake. I’m always on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop.One evening, Marco comes home later than usual. The house is quiet, the kind of quiet that makes me feel more alone than ever. I’ve been moving, trying to keep my mind busy, but it’s useless. Every creak of the floor, every faraway sound makes me jump.Without thinking, I reach for his hand. My fingers brush his, and I half-expect him to pull away, to hide behind the cold mask he’s been wearing for days. But to my surprise, he didn’t. He lets me hold his hand, his fingers curling around mine. It’s such a small act, but it feels like a lifesaver in the middle of a storm.We don’t talk. There’s nothing to say. But standing there, holding his hand, I feel a flicker of hope…like maybe things aren’t as broken as they seem. Maybe, despite everything, there’s still something
Last Updated : 2025-02-08
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Sofia glances between us, her expression serious. “I’ll handle the logistics. We’ll move rapidly, and we’ll be in frequent contact. But be ready for anything.” I nod, my gut knotted with fear. Tonight, everything might change. We’re going to step into the dark, into the lion’s den. And there’s no telling what…or who…awaits us. As we prepare to go, the weight of the decision weighs down on me like never before. The hazards are larger than they’ve ever been, but we have no other alternative. We have to act. And we have to survive. As Marco, Luca, and Francesca prepare to meet the new opponent in the warehouse, the stakes are greater than ever. With the danger drawing closer and no way of knowing what awaits them, one incorrect action may cost them everything. Will they survive the showdown, or will the new adversary strike first? The night seems darker than normal as we make our way to the building. The address Sofia’s contact gave us looms in the distance, a scary shadow in the da
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I swallow hard, trying to ignore the increasing sensation of terror that seeps into my gut. “How do we even start looking for them?” I inquire, my voice barely above a whisper. “We don’t have any leads.” “We’ll get one,” Marco adds, his tone leaving no space for dispute. “Sofia’s contact is working on it. We simply need to be patient.” But patience is the last thing I have right now. Every second that goes by seems like another second closer to disaster. Closer to the adversary we still can’t see. As the minutes turn into hours, my anxiousness only intensifies. Marco and Luca are deep in discourse, contemplating various strategies and methods to gain the upper hand. But all I can think about is how everything appears to spiral out of control. I sat beside the window, staring blankly at the night sky, my heart heavy with terror. The more I watch Marco and Luca prepare for what seems like another battle, the more my imagination races with worst-case possibilities. “What if this nev
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Sofia arrives at the hospital two days later with a determined expression on her face despite her pallor. She enters the room and declares, "I've reached out to someone." "A former underworld contact." He may know the identity of this new adversary.I look at Marco, and I can see the discomfort in his eyes. "Are you certain we can rely on him?" Marco asks in a doubtful tone. "Sofia, we are in dangerous territory.""I understand," Sofia responds steadily. But there is nothing we can do. It's no longer just about us. We're all in trouble if this person is as dangerous as I've heard. We require every available assistance.Feeling conflicted, I bite my lip. Sofia is correct; if her contact can provide us with the answers we need, it may be our only option. However, I'm terrified of the idea of delving even further into the criminal underworld. We've already lost a great deal. How much more are we willing to risk?At last, Marco declares in a determined tone, "We'll meet him." However, we
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Her remarks were like a kick to the stomach. One more adversary. One more danger. It sounds worse than Gianni, this one."Are you sure, Sofia?" My voice is hardly steady as I inquire.With an agitated tone, she responds, "I'm sure." "You must use caution, Francesca. You're not secure. None of us is.As I hang up, my head is racing from the weight of Sofia's warning, and my heart is pounding. With my hands shaking and my face pallid, I turn to face Luca.I mumble, my voice cracking, "Luca." "There's another person. It was not only Gianni.As the truth sinks in, Luca's face hardens and his eyes widen. "Who?" he asks in a low, menacing voice."I'm not sure," I answer, my throat constricted. Sofia, however, believes that he is much more dangerous than Gianni.Tension permeates the air as the room becomes quiet. The fear is beginning to step in and envelop me like a thick mist.A fresh adversary appeared out of the shadows just as I believed that the situation was fully resolved. I'm not s
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"Is he visible to me?" After hours of sobbing and begging, my voice hoarse and sounds like a whisper.The physician gives a nod. "You can, but only temporarily. He needs to sleep.I move toward Marco's room without waiting for him to finish, my feet moving as if they were on autopilot. I must see him. He must still be with me, I must know that.I'm astounded to see Marco lying there so still as soon as I enter the room. He is connected to equipment, and the only sound in the room is the heart monitor's steady beep. He has bandages all over his body and a pale, almost ghostly face. He is, however, breathing. That is all that is important.To avoid disturbing the IV that is connected to his arm, I carefully take his hand in mine as I approach him. I clutch to the warmth of his flesh as if it were the only thing keeping me rooted.I tremble as I grasp his hand and whisper, "You're going to be okay." "You must be."I eventually give myself a moment of relief as I sit next to him. He is st
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I'm at a loss for what to do. I have no control over anything that occurs. I am unable to wage this struggle on his behalf. I can pray, though.I tremble as I say, "Please," tears streaming down my face. "Don't take him away from me, please. I can't let him go just yet. Not after everything.My body trembles with quiet sobbing as the tears become more intense and I bury my face in my hands. The Moon Goddess may or may not be listening, but I have to think she is. There must still be hope, in my opinion.I mutter, "He’s everything to me," while I cry. "Just give me more time, please. Let him live, please.The length of time I spend kneeling on the chilly floor with my hands clenched together in fervent prayer is unknown to me. The tears soon cease, though, and all that's left in my chest is an empty emptiness.I gently get to my feet, wipe my eyes, and go back to the chair. Luca turns to face me, worry shining in his eyes.He responds, rather quietly, "He’ll pull through," but I can he
Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 69
My voice cracks as I whisper, "I'm not losing you." Marco, can you hear me? I won't lose you.His head lolls to the side and his eyelids flutter close without a response."Marco!" I yell and give him a light shake in an attempt to encourage him to open his eyes and stay with me. He doesn't, however, move. I feel as though my heart is being torn apart as his chest rises and falls with feeble breaths."Assist!" My voice is rough with desperation as I shout. "Help, someone, please!"But now that the fight is finished and the enemy has been vanquished, the warehouse is eerily silent. I'm not heard. Nobody shows up.Even if the conflict is finished, the battle for Marco's life has only just begun, I know as I kneel next to him, his blood still soaking through my fingertips. Marco's life is in jeopardy, but Gianni is dead.Furthermore, I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to save him.As we get to the hospital, the world is a blur. I'm sitting in the back seat, holding Marco's head in my lap w
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Every time my heart beats, it serves as a reminder that time is passing. I can't let him go. Not in this manner. Not right now."Hold on," I plead once more, applying more pressure to the cut in an attempt to stop the blood flow. My fingers are numb from the chilly horror that grips me, and my hands shake with the effort. "Just a bit more time, Marco. Please.His eyes awaken and briefly fix themselves on mine. Maybe I'm seeing things, but there seems to be a faint smile. He is making an effort to remain strong and with me. I'm not sure how much longer he can fight, though, because his face is etched with misery.Abruptly, the sound is broken by a piercing scream. I notice Gianni as I look up, and my heart jumps into my throat. His back is against the distant wall as he stands there, his eyes wide with terror. Panic has taken the place of the arrogant look he had when he first entered this warehouse.He is flanked by Luca and a couple of the men from the enemy family. Either Gianni's w
Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 67
I see Marco amid the mayhem, firing at Gianni's men with his gun raised, as I peek around the edge of the crates. Beside him, Luca is engaged in combat with a fierceness I have never witnessed. With bodies moving in a haze of carnage and devastation, the warehouse resembles a battlefield.I see Gianni standing close to the rear of the room, his face still arrogant, as though he's taking pleasure in this, and my breath catches in my throat. My heart stops when he lifts his rifle and points it at Marco."No!" I scream, but the commotion drowns out the sound.The bullet just misses Marco by inches as he moves in time, but Gianni's expression indicates that this isn't the end of it. By no means.I hear a cry of pain just when I think it can't be much worse. I turn my head around, trying to find the source of the sound as my blood runs cold.At that moment, I spotted him…Marco….on the ground."No," I say in a whisper that is almost heard over the fighting noises. "No, no, no."Blood is stre
