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Chapter 39
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-14 23:02:13
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Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 40
It is dark when we arrive at the safe home. It's a modest, unremarkable cabin tucked away in the woods, miles from the city and the mayhem we just left behind. My chest starts to relax a little as soon as we enter, but it only lasts a little while. Due to his severe injury, Marco is hardly able to function. As usual, he maintains his composure despite his pale face and the perspiration dripping from his brow.I lead him to a shabby couch and gently say, "Sit down." As I talk, my voice quivers, but I make an effort to ignore the fear. I must be focused and strong for him."I'll be alright," he murmurs in a rough voice. He shifts his weight and leans back, squirming a little, but he doesn't moan. Even when it's obvious that he's in pain, Marco never gives in to weakness. There is something admirable and frustrating about his strength.With trembling hands, I take the first aid box that Luca found and explain, "You're not fine." I slowly unbutton his shirt while kneeling in front of him
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A traitor? I look at Marco; his face has grown serious. I can see the wheels moving in his mind as he tries to put everything together, and his eyes narrow. I can feel the weight of Luca's remarks bearing down on us all as the tension in the room rises."A traitor?" I can sense the rage bubbling beneath Marco's dangerously composed voice. "Who?"Luca grimaces and shakes his head. "We're not sure yet. However, Gianni has been receiving information from whoever it is. He has been able to keep one step ahead of us because of this.I feel like I've been knocked in the stomach by the realization. Is someone around us collaborating with Gianni? My skin tingles at the idea. I can't stop thinking about who it might be. Luca? No, that isn't feasible. He has supported Marco through every challenge. Then who?The discomfort makes Marco wince a little when he stands, but he doesn't let it deter him. His voice is harsh and demanding as he states, "We must discover who it is." "They'll wish they h
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-14Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 42
The faces flash in my head, one after the other—Luca, who’s stayed with Marco through thick and thin. Could it be him? No. I shake my head, pushing the thought away. Luca has endangered his life for us. He wouldn’t betray Marco. He wouldn’t betray me. But then who? My mind races, replaying every interaction, every word spoken. It might be anyone. And that’s what terrifies me the most. The concept that someone we’ve trusted, someone who has been with us through everything, could be the one tearing us apart from the inside. The treachery feels too close, too personal, and it left me reeling. Marco’s voice cuts through the silence, strong and decisive. "We’re going to find out who it is," he continues, his tone dangerously calm. "And when we do, they’ll regret ever crossing me." I glance at Marco, and I can see the storm in his eyes. His jaw is clenched so firmly that I’m astonished it hasn’t snapped. His rage is obvious, a fire burning just beneath the surface. He’s not just furious…
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Sofia hesitates for a moment as if contemplating her alternatives. Then, finally, she glances up, her eyes filled with dread. "It’s someone close to you,"she replies gently. "Someone you’d never suspect." An icy sensation rushes down my spine. The space feels abruptly smaller, the walls closing in around me. I can’t breathe. Sofia knows the truth, but the issue remains—can we trust her? Marco steps forward, his eyes locked into Sofia’s. "Tell me who it is," he growls, his voice filled with rage. Sofia’s lips tremble as she whispers the words that will change everything. "The traitor... is someone within your inner circle." The weight of Sofia’s words comes down on me, sending a shockwave through my entire body. Someone in Marco’s inner circle? My mind races, the faces of those closest to us flashing before my eyes Luca, Enzo, Matteo. People we’ve fought beside, and trusted with our life. Could one of them be the traitor? I glance at Marco, and for the first time, I detect uncerta
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-15Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 44
The words hang in the air, and my stomach drops. I notice Marco stiffen, his eyes narrowing further, if that’s even possible. “Who?” he demands, his voice a hoarse snarl. Sofia swallows hard. “I... I don’t know exactly,” she admits, and Marco lets out a hard laugh. “Of course, you don’t.”“No!” Sofia shakes her head urgently. “I know it’s someone in your inner circle. Someone who’s been feeding Gianni information for months.”My throat tightens, and I can feel my hands quivering at my sides. The room spins slightly as the reality seeps in. A traitor. Someone we’ve trusted. Someone who has been with us all along. The concept makes my skin crawl. Marco draws closer, his voice deadly quiet again. “If you don’t know who it is, then how do you expect us to believe anything you’re saying?” He’s hanging over her now, his presence frightening, but Sofia doesn’t back down. “I overheard him!” Sofia blurts out, her voice shaking. “He was on the phone with someone. I heard him utter your name
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-15Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 45
The weight of Sofia's confession hangs in the air, leaving Francesca and Marco to confront the truth: someone close to them is the enemy, and their time is running out to identify who it is before it's too late.Sofia's remarks hang in the atmosphere like a ticking time bomb. Every muscle in my body tightens with uneasiness as the strain seeps through. Marco is equally shaken, and I can see it in his eyes as well. There is an intolerable quiet in the room."Who is it?" Marco's harsh, low voice pierces the dense atmosphere. His query lingers, and Sofia remains silent for a considerable amount of time. She stands up and shifts, her hands shaking and her gaze darting around anxiously. She appears frightened, as though she is aware of the seriousness of what she is going to say.At last, she murmurs, "It's Luca."My heart sinks. "Luca?" I utter the word with shock and amazement. It isn't possible. He has been devoted to Marco from the beginning. I shake my head, attempting to process what
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 46
Marco remains motionless and does not blink. His calm statement, "I don't know what to believe," lingers in the atmosphere. It's similar to witnessing a mountain topple. Marco's confidence in Luca is eroding, and I can sense it in everything he says.Luca steps closer to Marco and shakes his head. "Marco, you are aware of me. I've been your friend for years. I would never turn on you. I am not the enemy; Gianni is."So why did Sofia claim to have heard you conversing with him?" With a stern voice, I ask. "If this weren't true, why would she put herself in danger to come here and tell us?"A sneer curls Luca's lips as he glares at Sofia. "Because she's attempting to protect herself." She's playing me under the bus because she fears Gianni will murder her. It's a traditional move.Sofia takes a step forward, her enraged eyes flashing. "You're telling lies! Luca, you are the traitor! Admit it!It seems like the room is going to blow apart. With his hands clenched so tightly that I can se
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 47
Sofia, standing a few feet behind me, doesn’t say a word. I can feel her presence, nervous and on edge, waiting for Marco to make his choice. It’s like we’re all waiting for the moment when everything shatters.“I’ve always been loyal to you, Marco,” Luca adds, his voice firm. He takes another step toward Marco, his eyes locked on his. “I would never turn my back on you. Not now, not ever.”I swallow hard, trying to make sense of this. Luca has always been by Marco’s side. He’s been with us through thick and thin. But why would Sofia lie? Her fear is palpable. I can see it in the way she clutches her hands together, her fingers shaking. Why would she come here, risk her life, if she wasn’t telling the truth?“Marco,” I say quietly, breaking the heavy silence. “We need to be careful. What if she’s right?”Luca turns to me, his eyes hard. “You believe I could do this, Francesca? After everything?”I don’t know what to believe anymore. Doubt comes into my thoughts, and it eats away at th
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Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 75
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
Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 73
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
Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 72
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
Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 71
"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
Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 70
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
Betrayal and Devotion Chapter 68
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
