Arya woke up with her a banging head ache. There was a bright light above her head and it reflected in her eyes. “Ouch”, she said and tried to sit up but she couldn’t. Her hands and legs were tied to whatever she was lying on. Soon, her memory came rushing back. FLASHBACK “Ladies….. In a hurry, are we?”, the familiar voice asked. “Come close to us and I’d claw your eyes out”, Bianca replied. Arya was still in shock and she felt a sharp pain in her chest. Russo brought out a gun. “Walk back in”. “Oh, fancy pants. Who needs a gun to capture two helpless women?”, Bianca said. “Not today, lawyer. Don’t try to outsmart me”. Bianca pinched Arya’s shoulder which jotted her back to reality. “Walk back in, ladies. While I’m still trying to be nice”, Russo warned. “You might as well take us fighting. We have nothing to loose”, Arya said. “I love you, Arya. Don’t try to force me to hit you”, Russo said. “And this is your version of love?”. “How is it any di
Arya swallowed as Russo stared her down with the blade to her throat. She tried to distract him. “You will fail. You will never have me”. "But I will. And I do. In a couple of seconds, you’ll be free of these monsters that the devil you call your husband has planted in you." “Big talk for someone who’s trying to kill innocent babies. You are worse than the devil”. He smiled. “You seem to have a taste in men”, he trailed the tip of the knife on her cheek. “I didn’t even choose you. You forced yourself into my life.” “Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”. “No. I’ve never had the urge to kill anyone in my life, but you. I’ll personally take care of your murder”, she spat in his face. She watched as his eyes fell on the blade and his expression changed. He must have seen Bianca. Just as Bianca was about to run the knife through him, he turned and she stabbed his arm instead. “You fucking bitch”, he screamed, veins popping on his forehead and neck. His face was contorted w
Leonardo stared at the woman on the couch. His woman. Russo and Fin were tied up and under watch but he resisted the urge to kill them both. He knocked them out, though. But that was him doing nothing. Bianca wasn’t hurt, not physically at least. He had managed to shoot Russo’s hand that was holding the gun just in time. One second late, his sister would have been history. Although Russo missed his shot, the bullet hit the wall so close to her and Arya might have assumed she was hit. Bianca was currently unconscious in one of the rooms upstairs. His men had their eyes on her. “Don, Lucy is here”, Rob said. Soon, the doctor and her teams rushed in with their equipments. “Good morning, Don. I had to bring half the hospital supplies in case it is a serious case”, Doctor Lucy said as her staff put the equipments to use. Doctor Lucy had come a fetal doppler as well to check the babies heart rate. Leonardo grudgingly left his wife side and the medical team got to wo
….. Leonardo felt the earth shake beneath him. Whatever happened, Arya must not die. “Go on”, he said. Doctor Lucy hesitated. “I…I don’t…”. “Go on, Doctor”, he said in a surprisingly calm tone. “It is not a cervical issue. Her case is very complicated and luckily, we brought the necessary equipments”. “Lucy, go straight to the point”, he was loosing his darn patience. “It’s a placenta abruption case. The placenta has detached from the uterine walls. This situation is both harmful for mother and children. She’s bleeding profusely and the babies can’t get oxygen”, she said. Leonardo was too stunned to speak. “How could this have happened?”, he had a hard time processing the news. “Shock must have caused it. I’m sorry, Don. We have to carry out a caesarean section on your wife. Otherwise, she won’t survive. Neither will the babies”, she said. “What the fuck do you mean caesarean section. It’s very risky”. “I’m sorry, Don. It’s the only way”, she said. “H
Leonardo stared at the woman on the surgical table in horror and fear? No, that was not possible. He had no fear. He was the Don. She was lying unconscious with an incision in her abdomen. He resisted the urge to push everyone out so he could hold her and keep her safe in his arms. His chest tightened and so did his fist. “Incision in the uterus”, he heard the doctor say. They already made the first incision and was going for the second. There was only too much he could take but he felt that if he took his eyes off her, she’d disappear. Tension was evident in the room as everyone held their breath. Leonardo’s heartbeat was the loudest sound he could hear, like a drum in a silent forest. He already had anxiety about the whole child birth situation but this only made it worse. The second incision was finished and he watched as they tried to bring the babies out. The nurse pushed on her abdomen lightly and he winced. It was traumatizing. There was no way he
The phone rang out but no answer. “There is only so much I can take in a day”, Carls ended the call in frustration. “Chill out. What is the problem now?”, Maria asked. There was a white powdery substance on her nose. “Don’t tell me to chill out, junkie. Our guy is not picking up. The Don must have caught him spying”, Carls said fearfully. “You call me a junkie and yet, you like my ideas”, Maria laughed. “You are a drug addict, no doubt. But you’re a much bigger psychopath. That is what I need you for”, he said. “I could say same for you”, she laughed and continued “The show must go on, regardless of who falls on the way to victory.” He felt attacked. “I won’t let you fall”, he said. Maria bursted into a fit of laughter and he stared at her in shock. “Do you think I am that stupid? I know you would drop me the very first chance you get as long as I’m no longer useful. I can’t blame you for that, Carls. Arya is having my Leonardo’s baby and it’s obvious he has gone
Rico watched the cabin from afar. He saw the guards protecting the cabin and he wondered where their spy could be. He decided to call Greg but he didn’t pick up. He wondered if the Don had caught him lurking around. His phone rang and he picked up. “What’s the update?”, Carls voice boomed from the other end of the call. “I just got here and I can’t find Greg”, Rico said. “Then get to work. We don’t need Greg”, Carls retorted. “Yes, boss.” “Good. I errr, I might be busy with stuffs but don’t hesitate to call me. I got a text from Greg a while ago. I tried calling back but he is not picking up”, Carls said. “Same here. I will give you updates, boss”, Rico said and Carls ended the call. Just as he tried to survey his surroundings, he heard a twig breaking not so far from him. He pulled out his gun. “Who’s there?”, he asked but there was no response. Just as he moved from the spot, he saw Greg standing at a distance. “Psst”, he said as he walked closer to Greg.
Arya! No. It could not be. Even though he believed it, his heart dropped to his stomach. He only just got her back. In his arms, his sister shook. It was obvious they both had same thoughts and fear. “Never mind, Don. One of the prisoners tried to escape”, a soldier said. His racing heart slowed down. “What is the problem?”, he asked. “It’s the Greg guy. Should we get rid of him now?”. He shook his head. He intended to get as much information as he could from them. Bianca sighed in relief. “Don’t worry too much. You know your health is still fragile”, he said and frowned in concern. “Like you were not worrying yourself. She’s just as important to me, you know. And so are the babies”, she retorted, trying to hide her tears. He held back his response so as to not hurt her feelings. “You do not have to worry anymore. They are alright now.” “For how long? How long before someone strikes again? I love Arya but she has changed you. I admire it too but these are dange
Ricardo’s grip on Maria’s jaw tightened. “What did you just say?” Maria laughed, a dry, humorless sound. Even half-conscious and weak, she had the audacity to find amusement in his reaction. “You heard me,” she murmured, voice hoarse. “Henry.” Ricardo’s blood ran cold. There was no way. No way in hell she should know that name. His father had been a ghost to the world, a man who moved in shadows, leaving behind nothing but blood and whispered prayers. But Arya, watching from the screen, caught something even deeper—Maria wasn’t surprised by Ricardo’s reaction. She expected it. Arya leaned forward, speaking through the AirPods in Ricardo’s ear. “She didn’t just pick that name randomly.” Ricardo’s heart hammered against his ribs. He let go of Maria, taking a step back as if physical distance could untangle the mess suddenly unfolding in his mind. He had spent years trying to bury everything related to his father, to carve out an identity that wasn’t shaped by the man’s sin
Arya was about to respond when the door swung open, and a soldier rushed in. His face was tense, his breathing heavy, as if he had sprinted all the way there. “Don Ricardo,” the soldier addressed him directly, though his eyes flickered briefly to Arya. “We have a situation. It’s Maria.” Ricardo exhaled sharply. “What now?” “She’s refusing food and water. She hasn’t taken a bite since last night. The doctor says if this continues, she won’t last another day.” Ricardo scoffed. “Then let her starve. Saves us the trouble.” Arya’s frown deepened. “No. This isn’t Maria being weak. She’s doing this on purpose.” Ricardo turned to her. “What do you mean?” Arya shifted carefully in bed, ignoring the sharp pain in her side. “She’s trying to force our hand. If she dies here, it gives someone else control of the narrative. You really think she’s doing this out of despair?” Ricardo’s expression hardened. He wasn’t stupid. He knew how people like Maria operated. “You think she’s be
Leonardo’s grip on her hand tightened as he felt the slightest movement. At first, he thought he imagined it, his exhaustion playing tricks on him. But then, Arya’s fingers twitched again, and a soft, strained breath escaped her lips. His heart pounded. “Arya?” His voice was hoarse, desperate. He leaned closer, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face. Her eyelids fluttered before barely opening, her dark eyes hazy with pain and confusion. She swallowed, her throat dry, and tried to speak, but only a weak whisper came out. “Leo…” Leonardo exhaled sharply, relief crashing into him like a wave. “Mia cara, I’m here,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “You scared the hell out of me.” Arya’s lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say more, but she winced instead. She tried to shift, but the pain hit her like a hammer, dragging a soft groan from her throat. “Shhh,” he soothed, gently pressing her back down. “Don’t move too much. The doctor said you need to res
Leonardo hadn’t moved from Arya’s side all night. Her breathing had evened out, but the pallor of her skin was a constant reminder of how close he had come to losing her. He didn’t dare close his eyes, as if staying awake could somehow anchor her to him, keep her safe.It was noon when a soft knock broke the stillness of the room. Leonardo didn’t bother answering. The door opened, and Ricardo stepped inside, his usually composed appearance in shambles. His beard was unkempt, his eyes hollowed by sleeplessness and something darker.“I got your message,” Ricardo said quietly, his voice rough. He glanced at Arya, lying motionless on the bed. “How’s she holding up?”Leonardo let out a slow breath. “Not great. Stable, but…” He shook his head. “This isn’t where she’s supposed to be.”Ricardo nodded, the lines on his face deepening. “I’m sorry, Don. This shouldn’t have happened. Let me help. Where did you last see the attackers?”“Rob and the others are already on it,” Leonardo replied, his
Leonardo sat slumped in the chair by Arya’s bed, his hand wrapped around hers as though holding on to her would tether her to life. His eyes burned from exhaustion, but he hadn’t dared to close them, not even once. The faint sound of the door creaking open drew his attention. He turned sharply, his face hard, ready to dismiss whoever it was. “Good afternoon, Don,” one of his forensic experts said, stepping into the room cautiously. He held a folder in one hand, his expression a mixture of urgency and hesitation. “The chip we retrieved from Andy’s neck contained encrypted files. My team decoded them late this morning.” Leonardo straightened, his gaze sharp. “What did you find?” The man hesitated briefly, glancing at Arya’s unconscious form before clearing his throat. “Documents and records of purchase. They include significant financial transactions and detailed logs of weapons bought under false identities. It appears to be tied directly to some operations.” Leonardo’s jaw t
As the doctor worked on Arya, Leonardo paced the length of the room, his fists clenched and his jaw tight. The sight of her pale face and the blood-streaked bandages made his stomach churn. Every shallow breath she took felt like a countdown he couldn’t stop.His phone buzzed in his pocket. He hesitated for a moment, reluctant to take his eyes off her, but he finally answered.“Talk,” he barked.“It’s Sergeant Diaz. We tracked the attackers. Sir, you need to see this,” the soldier said, his voice grim. “It’s not just about the ambush… there’s something bigger going on here.”Leonardo’s grip on the phone tightened. “Send me the details.”“It’s something you have to see in person, sir. A name came up—someone close. I don’t think you’ll believe it unless—”“Just tell me the name,” Leonardo interrupted.There was a pause, heavy with tension. “It’s…” The soldier’s voice dropped. “Adriana.”Leonardo froze. His mind raced, struggling to connect the dots. Adriana? His mother-in-law? The woman
“Instruct some men to follow them and gather any information we might need. We’ll head back to the hotel and decode the chip,” Leonardo commanded, his voice firm. Arya frowned, her fingers curling into a fist to steady herself. “Why? I thought we were going after them.” Leonardo’s sharp gaze softened, but his tone remained resolute. “We don’t have time to chase shadows, princess. We need to split up. Let them lead us to their base while we focus on the chip.” She shifted uncomfortably, the sharp sting in her side now impossible to ignore. Just as she straightened, the pain betrayed her, pulling a grimace onto her face before she could hide it. Leonardo caught it instantly. His eyes narrowed, his suspicion unmistakable. “Is something wrong?” “Just… shoulder tension,” Arya muttered, forcing a weak shrug. “Come here, princess.” His tone softened as he reached for her. “You shouldn’t have to bear this—” “Ah!” A sharp cry tore from Arya’s lips as Leonardo’s arm brushed her
With the gunfire subsiding, the world fell into an uneasy silence. Leonardo and Arya regrouped with Rob and the few soldiers who had made it through. The air smelled of burnt gunpowder and death, the metallic tang of blood clinging to their senses. The forensic expert approached Leonardo with careful steps, holding out a small bag. Inside was the chip, smeared with traces of Andy’s blood. Leonardo took it, his fingers brushing against the plastic as he studied it intently, his brow furrowed in thought. “This has to be important,” Arya said, her voice calm but sharp, cutting through the silence. She wiped at her face with a shaking hand, smearing dirt and blood across her cheek. “Andy was tortured for it. And whoever sent that ambush didn’t care about lives—they cared about this.” Leonardo slipped the chip into his pocket, his face unreadable. “If Andy died for it, then it’s worth something. We’ll find out what soon enough.” The group quickly retreated, the convoy of cars wea
Gunfire shattered the tense moment as bullets ricocheted off the metal surfaces of the dock. Leonardo immediately grabbed Arya and pulled her behind a steel container. Rob dove for cover beside them, drawing his weapon. “Where the fuck did that come from?” Rob hissed, scanning their surroundings. “Ambush,” Arya said through clenched teeth, already gripping her gun. “Stay down,” Leonardo barked, peeking around the corner. He spotted shadows moving near the crates stacked further down the dock. Whoever had come for them was prepared, and they weren’t leaving without a fight. Leonardo signaled to their men, and a firefight erupted. Arya darted out from cover, her movements fluid and precise as she shot at their attackers. Each shot was calculated, dropping one assailant after another. Leonardo felt his chest tighten as he watched her. She was fearless, but fearlessness could also get her killed. “Cover her!” he ordered. Rob laid down suppressing fire as Arya advanced, vau