Leonardo’s brows furrowed as he studied Lima’s expression. “You were supposed to meet up with her here?” His tone carried a mild irritation, laced with the growing tension in the room. She nodded, her gaze steady. “Yes, she called me just a few minutes ago.” Ricardo caught Leonardo’s eye, and an unspoken understanding passed between them. Something wasn’t right, and the longer Arya remained unreachable, the more Leonardo’s unease grew. “My tech guy should have footage from the convent gates,” Ricardo offered, breaking the silence. “Even the secret escape gates that are supposed to be well hidden. If she hasn’t left the convent, we’ll know soon enough.” Leonardo gave a terse nod, his eyes shifting back to Lima. “What exactly were you two meeting up for?” Ricardo pressed, his suspicion evident. Lima shrugged, her nonchalance almost too casual. “I have no idea. She just called and asked me to meet her here. Said she had something urgent to discuss.” “Well, she’s off the gri
Henry's face went ashen as Leonardo’s accusations hung heavy in the air. His hands trembled slightly as he tried to compose himself, but it was clear he was rattled. The phone lay on the floor, forgotten in the tense silence. “Don Leonardo,” Henry began, his voice wavering slightly before he regained control, “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I would never send anyone to harm you or your wife. My work here is solely to serve the church and the community. Any rumors you’ve heard are false.” Leonardo’s gaze didn’t waver, his eyes narrowing as he studied the man before him. “I’m not a man easily fooled, Father. Don’t mistake my patience for ignorance. You sent men to the bar to take me out, and I know for a fact that you put out a hit on Arya.” Henry shook his head vehemently, the fear in his eyes quickly being replaced by a look of defiance. “I am a man of God, Don. I’ve heard many accusations in my time, but this… This is beyond absurd. I may not like how you conduct yo
As Bianca approached the convent gates, Leonardo watched her closely, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. He knew she was capable, but the unease gnawing at him wouldn’t relent. The sight of the massive stone walls, once symbols of sanctuary, now seemed to close in, trapping secrets that could either save or destroy Arya. Bianca turned to face them, her expression calm but resolute. “I’ll be back with answers,” she said, her voice steady. The air was thick with tension, every word she spoke echoing in the silence that had fallen over them. It was as if the very atmosphere had shifted, growing heavier with the weight of unspoken fears and the looming uncertainty that lay ahead. Leonardo nodded, trying to keep his features impassive. “Remember, you’re not alone. We’re right outside. The moment you sense anything off, you get out. We’ll handle the rest.” His voice was firm, but beneath the surface, a storm of emotions raged. The fear of losing another loved one, the frustr
Leonardo’s eyes stayed glued to the small screen in front of him, watching every move Bianca made through the live feed from the cross chain. Ricardo and Rob were close by, equally tense, their faces etched with concern and anticipation. The car was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional crackle of static from the device. Bianca, now dressed in the nun’s habit, approached the convent gates with a confident stride, but Leonardo could see the slight tremor in her hands. She rang the bell and waited, her face calm but her eyes betraying a hint of anxiety. The minutes stretched out as the three men watched her wait, their own tension mounting. Finally, a nun appeared, opened the gate and greeted Bianca with a polite but distant smile. They exchanged a few words that Leonardo could barely make out, then the nun gestured for Bianca to enter. The gates closed behind her with a resounding clang that sent a shiver down Leonardo’s spine. “Stay sharp, Bianca,” Leonard
“Arya?” Leonardo repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief, as if saying her name again might somehow make the situation clearer. Both Rob and Ricardo turned to him, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion. “That’s Arya,” Rob confirmed, his tone steady. “I see her too. This is very strange,” Ricardo added, his gaze locked on the screen. “What in hell is she doing here, and what is she discussing with that nun? I thought she was in danger.” The initial panic had faded, replaced by a surge of intense curiosity. Leonardo’s mind raced, trying to piece together the fragmented clues of this bizarre scene. What was Arya involved in? Why was she here with these nuns, and what kind of business could she possibly have with them? Despite his efforts, the answers eluded him. On the screen, Bianca had stepped further into the room, her head bowed in deference. Leonardo’s gaze remained fixed on Arya, who was scrutinizing Bianca with an intensity that was unmistakably familiar.
Isabel’s voice rang out across the dimly lit room, her commanding presence impossible to ignore. The nuns, who had been training relentlessly over the past few days without understanding the reason, now stood in silence, awaiting her words. “La Hermandad de la Estrella has discovered the arrest of their men,” Isabel began, her tone sharp and unyielding. “They don’t know when we’ll be ready, but they do know someone powerful is backing this convent. What they don’t know is that we are not just women of faith; we are fighters.” Arya stood at the back, taking in every detail. She had only arrived this morning, but already she already sensed the gravity of the situation. She heard whispers about Isabel, the woman who trained these nuns, and it was clear now that Isabel was far more than she appeared to be. There was no frailty in her; she was a leader, a fighter, and the nuns respected her deeply. “They think they can take us by surprise,” Isabel continued, her eyes narrowing. “But
Rob’s voice cut through the heavy silence. “And here we were, trying to give her a chance to turn things around. I knew she couldn’t be trusted.” His voice was sharp with frustration, and Arya couldn’t help but nod in agreement, the sting of betrayal still fresh. “I can’t believe I took care of her when she was down,” Arya muttered, leaning deeper into Leonardo’s arms. “I feel so foolish.” Her voice wavered, more hurt than she wanted to admit. She wondered why Lima would still be trying to attack the church. “Don’t feel foolish, babe.” Leonardo’s arms tightened around her, his voice a soothing contrast to the tension in the room. “Lima’s the foolish one for thinking she could take advantage of your kindness.” Arya sighed, her eyes drifting to Ricardo, who stood silently by the window, lost in thought. “You’re awfully quiet,” she observed. Ricardo turned away from the window, his expression unreadable. “Yeah, just thinking,” he replied. Leonardo wasn’t letting him off that
Leonardo stood by the window as he made preparations for their next move. Maria and Carls, the two key figures they needed answers from, had been transported to Spain by sea while Leonardo and the rest had flown ahead by jet. He needed to visit them in their cell, but there were other matters to attend to first. Arya’s phone rang, cutting through the quiet tension in the room. She glanced at the screen—an unsaved number. Her instincts flared with caution. Everyone around her paused, sensing the shift in the air. Rob gave her a nod, urging her to answer. Arya hesitated before picking up the call. “Hello?” The voice on the other end was familiar, yet unsettling. “Is this Mrs. Marcello?” the woman asked, her tone too casual for comfort. Arya’s heart quickened. “Yes, who is this?” she responded, her voice steady despite her unease. “It’s me, Lima. You won’t believe what I had to go through to get your number. I went to Ricardo’s place looking for you, but your husband told m
Isabel cradled the baby close, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as the infant’s soft cries filled the room. Her daughter. She traced the baby’s tiny features with trembling fingers—her button nose, her soft cheeks, and the tiniest fingers she had ever seen. A fierce protectiveness gripped her heart, unlike anything she’d ever felt before. But the moment of tenderness was fleeting. The cold, harsh reality of her situation came crashing down on her. She had no home, no job, and no way to provide for herself, let alone a newborn. The room reeked of decay and dampness, its peeling walls and rat-infested corners a far cry from the safe haven a child deserved. The baby’s cries grew louder, piercing through Isabel’s haze of despair. “Shh, shh, I’m here,” she whispered, rocking her gently. But the cries didn’t stop, and Isabel realized with a sinking feeling that the baby was hungry. She looked around the room, her heart racing. There was no milk, no clean water—nothing. Panic cla
Arya gasped, her eyes wide with shock. “You got impregnated by your mother’s boyfriend?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Isabel nodded solemnly. “I did. I did all I could as a pregnant teenager with no home. I wish I’d known about the convent back then—it would have made my life so much easier. With little to no source of income or support, I was miserable and alone in the trenches of this town after I had to leave the old one. I won’t bore you with all the details. But when I was in labor, I had to make some difficult decisions.” FLASHBACK Isabel sat in the corner of her dimly lit room, chewing on the last bit of food she’d managed to scavenge. Her stomach cramped painfully, but she wasn’t sure if it was from hunger or something worse. It had been four days since her last meal, and her body was weak, her limbs trembling with every small movement. The cramps intensified, radiating through her body, and a wave of nausea swept over her. She pressed her hands again
“By the time I turned sixteen, much had changed in my life, though little for the better. I was the scorn of the town, whispers trailing me wherever I went. It wasn’t just the shame of my past that followed me like a shadow; it was the doors that slammed shut in my face, the jobs that paid me barely half of what they should, the side-eyes from those who thought they knew my story. And then there was Mama’s boyfriend, Stanley, who moved into our already-cramped home.” FLASHBACK Isabel stumbled into the house after a long, grueling day of work. The sun had long since set, and her body ached with exhaustion. She immediately headed to the kitchen, her stomach growling in protest, but her heart sank when she found the pans empty. She had prepared the food earlier that morning before leaving, but as usual, there was nothing left for her. Not a scrap. Her younger siblings, Amanda and Jacob, had already gone out for their own work, leaving the house silent save for the faint rustling
Arya burst into the room, emotions swirling in a storm of frustration. Leonardo, shirtless and in sweatpants, lay on the bed with his laptop, his brows furrowed in deep concentration. When he looked up and saw her, his expression immediately softened. “What’s wrong, babe?” he asked, concern evident in his voice. “Fuck! I’m so tired of all of this! When does it actually end?” Arya's voice was thick with anger and despair as she shouted, letting out everything she had bottled up inside. Leonardo remained quiet, letting her vent, and placed a gentle hand on her back for support, feeling the tension in her shoulders. “We can talk about it when you're ready,” he said quietly, his voice calm and steady. She took a shaky breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Isabel said she’s my grandmother,” she blurted out. He froze, stunned by her revelation. It explained so much—Isabel’s secretive behavior, her willingness to help them even at great personal risk. “How do you fe
Arya walked into the Mayor’s office, her mind still swirling with thoughts of her time at the convent, which had ended permanently. Henry had called her the day before, insisting that someone come to the Townhouse to collect a certificate for her volunteer service. She had kindly turned him down, but Henry was insistent, not taking no for an answer. Arya found herself wondering where this sudden niceness was coming from. She didn’t trust a single soul in this town, not even after everything she’d done to protect herself, including running a secret background check on Ricardo—though he would never find out about that. “Ah, Dona, welcome to my office,” the Mayor greeted, his voice oozing charm as his secretary led her into the room. Across from him sat Isabel and one of the council members, Frederick. Arya couldn’t bring herself to look at Isabel, her gaze fixed firmly on Henry instead. “Thank you for having me,” Arya said, offering a smile that barely touched her lips. Henr
She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. “It’s… it’s all too much, Leo. Everything. Isabel, the Sisterhood, my parents—I never even had the chance to mourn them, and now all of this…” He squeezed her hands, the warmth of his touch grounding her. “You don’t have to carry this alone. I know it feels like the world is crumbling, but we’ll get through it. We always do.” She gave a bitter laugh, wiping away a tear. “You warned me about this life. You told me it would be hard, that it would come with pain and danger. And I thought I was ready. But now…” He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his expression softening. “You are ready. You’re stronger than anyone I know. And you’re not alone.” She broke down into even harder sobs, and he just held her close, letting her cry against his chest. His arms were wrapped around her tightly, and he whispered soothing words, his touch gentle and comforting. As her body shook with grief, he fought the urge to share what had happe
By the time they finished work, dusk had settled over the city, casting long shadows across the streets. “I need to get back to the cabin,” Leonardo said, gathering his things. “My wife’s there, and we’ll wrap things up once we’re back.” He knew Arya had gone to the convent earlier to confront Isabel, and although his instincts told him she was safe, a faint sense of urgency nagged at him. Working here, dealing with everything else, had given her space, but he couldn’t help wanting to check in on her. Behind him, Ricardo and Rob were in yet another argument, voices rising and falling as they debated. Leonardo had long since learned to tune them out. Instead, he let his thoughts wander. Spending most of his childhood alone, with only the company of books he’d memorized cover to cover, he’d become accustomed to living inside his mind, finding peace there. But something shifted. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of movement, something or someone moving too delib
Leonardo walked into the room to find everyone already seated, waiting expectantly. He took his seat, and Rob slid a few files across the table. “These are all we could gather, boss. I double-checked—it’s everything they had,” Rob said, his tone firm. Leonardo picked up the files, scanning through them quickly. Setting them back down, he looked up, addressing the room. “Someone is playing a twisted game with my wife. She suspects it might be the Mother Superior, but I’m not convinced,” he began, his voice steely. Rob tensed beside him. Usually, they didn’t discuss these matters openly, especially with others around. But Rob must have trusted Leonardo’s judgment since he didn’t attempt to question it. “Of course, we don’t suspect any of you,” Leonardo added, glancing around the table. “We trust you all completely, especially after the support you’ve shown. And if we need further assistance, we’ll reach out.” He nodded at Ricardo, who took the cue. “You heard the Don. We
Arya could hardly believe Isabel’s audacity. Her voice trembled with anger as she glared at the Mother Superior. “Don’t sit there on your high horse, pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about.” Isabel sighed, placing her reading glasses delicately on the table. “I get that you’re the wife of a very powerful man, a Don, but Arya, I don’t need to hear about the issues in your marriage. I have done nothing wrong, and I genuinely have no idea what you’re accusing me of.” Arya recoiled, taken aback by the indifference in Isabel’s tone. “What? Why would you say that?” “Why shouldn’t I?” Isabel responded sharply, her expression unreadable. Arya narrowed her eyes, studying Isabel's face. “No. Why would you assume this was about my marriage, Isabel? What makes you think that’s what I came here for?” Isabel raised an eyebrow, her mouth curling in a faint, mocking smile. “Oh, it’s not? Then I’m truly sorry for the misunderstanding. But tell me, Arya—what exactly are you accusi