Arya walked into the church with her security. As expected, she met Isabel, the Mother Superior and Manuel, the Mayor. “Welcome Dona”, Manuel greeted. “Hi, Manuel. How are you faring?”, she asked. “I’m very well. I was about to leave before you stepped in. Good bye”, he said and walked out. “He suspects someone must have leaked the details about the assassins”, Isabel said. “Hope he didn’t figure out who did it?”, Arya asked. “No. He didn’t. But I told him the Don is a smart man regardless of his age. He would know better than to give away his location”, the nun responded. “Okay, that’s great. Thank you once again for risking it”, Arya said. “Please sit. Your mother, Adriana, went through a lot of risks for me and the children in the orphanage. I can’t let the last piece of her get killed by greedy old men”, Isabel responded. Arya sat on the pew. “In time you will tell me about my mother. I wish I knew more about her bravery”, she said. “In time. Don’t take my n
Dolores’ green eyes moved sharply across the room. She was dressed in a satin gown and had on excess expensive jewelries. Her smoky eye make up accentuated her eye colour perfectly. She nodded in approval as the girls displayed their beauties. “Hurry up, girls. A good courtesan knows the value of time”, she said. The girls hurried to change their clothes or accessories that she told them to. “My queen, your daughter is here”, her assistant said. “Which of them?”, she asked with a bored expression. “Lima”, her assistant answered. “Lima? I’m surprised she still knows the way to her mother’s house”, Dolores said sarcastically. “Should I let her in?.” “Yes. Let her in”, Dolores said. Some seconds after, Lima appeared in her presence. “Mother, how have you been?”, she asked. “Same way you left me”, Dolores responded. “That’s why I’m here, mother. I want to move back home”, she said and fell on her knees. “And I want to retire and enjoy the rest of my life trav
Lima took deep breaths backstage. She wore her most expensive outfit and used her most expensive make up products for this event. She needed to imprint on him and gauge his reaction before coming up with her plan. The curtain dropped and through her veil she could see the light reflecting on her and the other girls. She knew this dance by heart but the fact that the Don was watching made her feel uneasy. The music started and so did their bodies. They danced along to the sound in seductive rhythm and the men cheered at them, occasionally throwing money and gifts at them. With the lights in her eyes, she could not get a clear view at the men’s faces but she assumed the Don would be at the head of the table. Sit up, wife. This mistress may have a trick or two up her sleeves. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Arya tossed around on her bed. She missed her babies so much but she tried not to think about it too much. She was regretting ever encouraging Leo to go to that
Leonardo walked out of the event the moment the dancers came out. He was already very occupied and didn’t have time for flimsy entertainment. Rupert appeared from the corner. “Oh, my. Mistress was not exaggerating. It’s like god amongst men”, he said to Leonardo’s hearing. Rupert was ignored but he didn’t give up. “My mistress is the best courtesan in all of Spain and even the whole world. She’s performing for you and that’s a very rare thing”, he said as he tried to push security out of the way to no avail. “Hey, back off”, one of the guards said. “And if I don’t? I wasn’t talking to you”, Rupert said. Leonardo walked out of the building without a glance at Rupert. "I almost wished he was gay, seeing as he wasn't swayed by my mistress's charms. Maybe then I'd have had a chance," Rupert thought, as he turned and went in search of Lima. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * “We have with us today, Arya Marcello. We all know she is our sponsor so feel free to
Lima was sitting in her room, alone. The Don was proving to be a tough nut to crack but she had to admit that was what she liked about him. Unlike every single men she’s met, he doesn’t seemed enamored by her charms. His attention barely left his wife the day they met for the first time. She would try every spell in the book, every trick in her hat and every single thing in her disposal to get him. And she would get him, use him and toss him aside like an old toy. An old toy she would definitely always go back to. She bit her lips at the thought. She moaned and touched herself thinking about him but was distracted by the knock on the door. “Mistress?”, Rupert’s voice was heard. She sighed in agony. “Yes? Come in”, she said and sat up. He entered the room. “Mistress, your phone has been buzzing non stop since your performance. Word has gone out that you are back in La Hermandad de las Estrellas apparently”, he said. “Oh, goodness. All these men but I only want the one
Arya rushed into the cabin as soon as the car stopped. She had to wash up because she had been throwing up non stop since the ride. Leonardo ran in after her but she locked the bathroom door behind her. “Arya”, he banged the door. “Go away, sicko”, she said and threw up again. “This sicko is not going anywhere”, he said and banged the door. She pour cold water over her face and took off her gown. She was standing in the bathroom in her underwear and heels. “I’m still here. Open the fucking door, Arya”, he said. She started brushing her teeth. “Go away”, her voice was muffled. “I’ll break the door in if you don’t come out before I loose my mind”, he said and she held the sound of him walking away. “Padrino, il tipo ha appena consegnato la, she heard one of the soldiers talking to him. (Godfather, the guy has delivered the cocaine). “Va bene, verrò a controllare presto”, her husband responded and shut the door. (Alright, I’ll come check it out soon). She would
Dolores sat in a room alone. It was a very small room with a single bed and only plastic furniture. A young man with tattoos and a nose piercing walked in. “The queen of the Sisterhood in my hostel? It must be my lucky day”, he said. “I don’t have time for that, Crue. Someone cut off my son’s feet and one of his ears. I have no interest in getting revenge but I do want to know what this is about”, she said. “Pablo? I thought he was out of the country. Oh man, that’s fucked up. I told him to stay away from those innocent ladies. Like dude there is something call consent”, he said and slapped his forehead. “I can see you’re very high on drugs right now so I’ll make this shorter than I intended to. He is in a coma now but when he wakes up, I want you to get the necessary details from him. For now, I want you to try to see what you can find”, she said. “Yes, queen. I’d do this for free but do you have anything for me aside this. I’m like your son and it’s hard out here in the
Lima went to the meeting with Manuel. He picked her up on time and they had a little chitchat on their way. “Good thing is that his wife is not coming with him. I want you to try to seduce him. I need him to invest in this project”, he said. “From the little I know about this project, it’s scam. You think the Don would fall for a scam?”, she asked. “He’s just a little boy. He doesn’t have experience or wisdom. And you’re also in the picture, making it easier for us”, Manuel said with a smile. “Oh, Manuel. And you said the Sisterhood is dying. Just know you owe us big money, big time”, she said with a winning smirk. “I know, Lima. Don’t forget to do the needful. And I noticed you changed your style, desperate much?”, he smirked. The car came to an halt in front of the venue. “For you, no. By the way, you have something green in your teeth”, she said, pointing at his mouth. He was embarrassed and quickly used his phone camera to get it off. “Also, here’s mint”, she
ONE YEAR LATER Leonardo watched her from the doorway, his arms folded as a soft smile played on his lips. Arya stood by the crib, gently stroking the twins’ hair until their breathing grew soft and even. A new mother in her element — flourishing. But he knew it wasn’t just because they were finally reunited with their babies. No, there was another weight lifted off her shoulders. Andrea’s body had washed ashore the morning after they returned to Italy. Whoever killed him had clearly found no more use for him. But Leonardo still wondered — was it Vito? He stepped forward, his voice low. “It’s been a year since we got back. The kids are happy, safe, and drowning in all the love we could give them. Are you finally ready for us?” Arya turned, eyes locking with his in that way that always made him feel like the only man in the world. “More than anything, Leo. I love our family — but throwing parties, decorating, smiling at guests — that’s not what I want to do with my life.” His smile
Arya placed her thumb against the sharp metal protruding from the mirror’s hidden safe. The prick was sharp and quick, a bead of blood welling up instantly. The metal retracted with a soft mechanical hiss, followed by a deep click as ancient locks gave way. The door of the safe creaked open, revealing what lay inside.Her breath caught.An old, thick book, its leather cover worn but unnaturally strong, sat beside a small, sleek device. The contrast between them — one ancient, the other unnervingly advanced — sent a chill through Arya’s spine.Isabel’s breath hitched. “I thought that was destroyed during the final battle between the Order and the Sisterhood — over fifty years ago.”Arya’s fingers hovered over the objects. “What exactly is it?”Dolores stepped forward, her face grim. “It’s a weapon. That device can override every military system on earth. Nukes, missiles, satellites — you name it. With the right codes, you could trigger wars from this room. The book holds those codes, a
The silence after Henry’s death was suffocating. Leonardo and Arya stood over his body, blood painting their hands and faces, their breath ragged and uneven. The room was littered with corpses, a battlefield stained with loyalty and betrayal.Ricardo and Roberto had finished off the remaining men, but Isabel barely had a moment to breathe before a rough hand seized her arm.“Let go of me!” Isabel struggled, but the man twisted her arm behind her back, dragging her toward the far end of the room. Leonardo’s gun snapped up, finger curling around the trigger — but before anyone could react, a single, sharp gunshot rang out.The man crumpled at Isabel’s feet, blood pouring from a hole between his eyes.Dolores stood a few feet away, smoke curling from her pistol. Her expression was calm, but her eyes betrayed years of unresolved rage. “No one touches another woman in front of me again.”Isabel stumbled into Arya’s arms, trembling. “It’s over,” Arya whispered. “You’re safe now.”But then A
“You remind me of him…” Andreas’ voice slithered through the tension like a blade through silk. Leonardo didn’t move, didn’t lower his gun. His heart was a hammer against his ribs, but his hand was steady, aimed straight at Andreas’ head. And yet, the Pope only smiled. “Vito. Your grandfather. You have his temper… his instincts.” A pause, measured, deliberate. Then, softer—“His arrogance.” “You were close to him,” Leonardo said. His voice was steady, but inside, something twisted. Andreas smiled. “Closer than you think. He would have been proud of you, Leonardo. If only he were still alive.” Leonardo’s jaw tensed. Andreas had been a ghost from his past, a man he had once admired, a mentor in a strange way. And now, he was standing against him, speaking about his grandfather as if— He didn’t have time to unpack it. Because in the next second, Ricardo’s gun cracked, the shot echoing through the chamber. Leonardo had silently given the signal, and Ricardo took the sh
Arya could barely believe her ears. None of this made sense. Isabel coming to this town had been a coincidence.Hadn’t it?Her pulse hammered in her ears, drowning out the distant creaks of the ancient walls.“Isabel having Adriana? Her coming here? You’re spewing nonsense,” Arya said, her voice sharper than she intended.Henry smirked. “I am here to ensure my predecessors’ wishes are met. Of course, her coming here wasn’t a coincidence. Neither was Stanley getting her pregnant. We ruined your life in ways that would bring you here. Not that we had to try too hard—Stanley was more than happy to do it and didn’t even come back for his pay.”Isabel gasped, her breath hitching. “Wha—”“I beg you, Isabel.” Henry’s voice turned colder, almost bored. “Don’t speak until you’re spoken to. Now that I’m no longer pretending, I can admit—I never could tolerate you. Always rushing to do the right thing for the church, as if doing good has ever brought you good luck.”Leonardo stepped forward, his
A second of stunned silence stretched between them. Then, as if a trigger had been pulled, everyone moved at once. Ricardo’s hand flew to his gun. Leonardo stepped protectively in front of Arya. Dolores unsheathed a hidden dagger from her belt, while Isabel squared her stance, ready for a fight. Roberto cocked his pistol, finger already on the trigger. But Henry didn’t flinch. Instead, he smiled. And then—the ground shook. A deep, guttural rumble echoed through the underground chamber, vibrating up their legs. Dust rained from the ceiling. The ancient stone beneath their feet groaned, as if something massive had just shifted deep within the earth. For a fraction of a second, everyone hesitated. And that was all Henry needed. A single, sharp whistle left his lips. A sniper’s laser appeared—red and deadly—right over Arya’s forehead. Leonardo’s stomach dropped. “Ah-ah,” Henry tutted, raising a single finger. “You know, I’d really rather not get blood all over these nic
Arya, Leonardo, Ricardo, Roberto, Isabel, Dolores, and Penelope, along with several others, entered the underground hideout and saw that Henry had already opened a secret door.“He left the door open for us to follow him? He’s either an egotistical moron or just plain stupid,” Leonardo said.Isabel was horrified. “I never even knew about this secret door—right here, in the very room where I trained my girls.”“Henry comes from a line of corrupt priests, each one worse than the last. They’ve been pitting you all against each other for years. Of course, he knew more than he let on,” Ricardo said.Penelope placed a comforting hand on Isabel’s shoulder.Dolores didn’t pause—she kept moving through the secret passage, and the others followed. The walkway was dimly lit by old, slow-burning lanterns, their glass clouded with dust. Cobwebs hung in thick strands, untouched for what must have been decades. The walls were covered in strange symbols, a forgotten language carved into the stone.“I
Smoke and dust hung thick in the air, swirling through the ruined convent like ghosts mourning the dead. The scent of burning wood mixed with the coppery tang of blood. The once-pristine courtyard was unrecognizable—bodies lay strewn across the stone floor, habits stained red, fingers still curled around the weapons they had fought with. Bullet holes riddled the chapel walls, and shattered stained-glass windows cast fragmented colors onto the carnage below. Flames crackled in the distance, devouring part of the east wing, their light flickering like dying prayers. Arya stepped over a body, careful not to let her boots slip on the slickness of fresh blood. She felt Leonardo’s presence beside her, solid and tense. Roberto and Ricardo moved with weapons drawn, scanning for any remaining threats. But the battle, for now, had paused. The dead had no more fight left in them. And in the heart of it all stood Isabel. She was drenched in blood, her gray-streaked hair matted with sweat. A
The doctor finished his examination, checking Leonardo’s pulse, pupils, and responsiveness. He pressed against his wrist, watching the steady beat, then moved a small flashlight across his eyes. Leonardo tolerated the prodding in silence, though his body ached from days of inactivity. Finally, the doctor stepped back and exhaled. “He seems clean. The drug is out of his system.” Arya sagged, as if the weight she had carried for days had been lifted just enough for her to breathe again. Her hands, which had been gripping the sheets so tightly her knuckles turned white, finally loosened. “Thank you, Doctor,” she said, her voice raw. The doctor gave her a small nod. “He may still experience some lingering effects—fatigue, confusion, maybe even nightmares—but the worst of it is over. His body will adjust in time.” Leonardo listened, barely absorbing the words. His mind was already moving forward, pushing past the haze of the last few days. He had woken up and gone back under so