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
The explosion rattled through the walls, a deafening burst of chaos that sent Leonardo crashing to the ground. His ears rang, his vision blurred, but instinct forced him to move. He pushed up on shaking arms, gritting his teeth against the pain. Ricardo groaned beside him, coughing through the thick smoke. His face was bloodied, but he was already scrambling to his feet, his body wired for survival. Leonardo barely had a second to process the situation before he caught a glimpse of Arya beyond the cracked glass. She wasn’t running—she was fighting. “Let me go!” she shouted, twisting violently in the grip of Leonardo’s men. One of them wrapped an arm around her waist, hauling her back, while another grabbed her wrists. She kicked out, thrashing against them, her voice raw with fury. “You cowards! I need to—Leonardo!” He tried to push toward her, but his legs were still unsteady. “Get her out of here!” someone barked. “Arya!” he choked out, but the heavy doors slammed shut
The air smelled of smoke and blood, the last echoes of the explosion still vibrating in their bones. Dust clung to Leonardo’s skin as he shoved a piece of rubble off his leg and pushed himself up. Ricardo groaned beside him, coughing as he shook debris from his hair. Henry was gone. But his presence still lingered, thick in the air like a curse. Leonardo’s fists clenched. He had to let him go. He had no choice. Across the room, Maria lay slumped in a chair, barely conscious. The force of the explosion had thrown her across the floor, but she was still breathing. Unlucky for her. Ricardo wiped blood from his forehead and staggered to his feet. “Where’s Arya?” His voice was rough, desperate. Leonardo’s jaw tightened. “Gone.” Ricardo’s head snapped up. “What?” “My men pulled her out before the explosion,” Leonardo muttered. “She fought them, but I gave the order.” He exhaled sharply. “She’s safe.” Ricardo nodded slowly, but his eyes burned with something close to resen
There was no way Leonardo could change her mind—not when she had already made her decision, not when she knew what was at stake. He saw it in her eyes: that quiet, unshakable resolve. It grated on him, but in the end, his agreement was nothing more than a formality. She wasn’t asking for his permission. She never had.Besides, with Bianca back in New York, Arya was their only way in. The only woman in their team. The only one with the connections to slip past the convent’s defenses unnoticed.For the first time in a long while, she wasn’t standing on the sidelines, waiting for someone else to act. She wasn’t just surviving—she was needed. And that feeling? That purpose? It was intoxicating.Arya moved quickly through the stone corridors of the convent, her boots clicking against the ancient floors. The silence felt wrong. Too deep. She had been here before, but tonight, the walls seemed to breathe, pressing in on her like they knew a secret she didn’t.She turned a corner—and there wa
Mother Superior exhaled softly, wiping the blood from her blade with a linen cloth. She turned to Arya with an expression of calm inevitability. “He would have betrayed us.” Arya’s pulse pounded against her skull. “You don’t know that!” Isabel smiled. It was almost sad. “Yes, I do.” The other nuns stood in silence, their faces unreadable, their eyes watching Arya like she was the intruder here. Like she was the one who didn’t understand. Arya felt the weight of the centuries pressing down on this place, felt the shadows moving in the corners. She realized, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t know what the convent really was. And maybe she never had. “Why did you do that? God, he already gave you the information willingly,” Arya said. “With this place being a secret and all, we couldn’t risk him ratting us out. If La Hermandad got their hands on him, he’d spill everything just as easily,” Isabel said. “And what exactly are you looking for? What was worth an in
Arya rushed into Leonardo’s arms, burying herself in his warmth. After so long, they were finally back at the cabin. The fire crackled in the hearth, wrapping them in its golden heat, but it was nothing compared to the way he held her. “How was your day?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly would shatter the moment. “Chaotic,” she murmured, eyes fluttering shut as she pulled him closer. “But I got answers.” “Ditto.” He exhaled, his breath ghosting over her skin. “We haven’t had this in forever. Just us. No war. No blood. No ghosts.” He brushed his lips over her hair, inhaling her scent like it was the only thing keeping him alive. “I miss us. I miss you, mia cara.” She lifted her head, locking eyes with him. “I’m here now. And I need you.” That was all it took. He crashed his lips onto hers, pouring weeks of longing into the kiss. Every fight, every death, every ounce of blood spilled—it was all worth it for this. For her. He yanked her dres
The knock came again. Sharp. Measured. Real. Leonardo quickly put on his clothes. He barely registered Arya opening the door. His mind was slipping, his thoughts running in circles, tangled and fraying at the edges. His grip on his gun tightened, the weight of it grounding him, tethering him to something solid in the haze clouding his vision. Then he saw her. His breath caught, his world narrowing to just her. Adriana. Slumped in Roberto’s arms. Blood soaking her chest, her breaths shallow, labored. Her dark eyes met his, the same ones Arya had inherited, and in them, he saw no anger, no blame—just acceptance. Leonardo staggered forward, his mind warring with reality. She was alive. She was hurt, dying, but she was here. And beside her, the man in the suit. The one who started all of this. The one who tore them apart. The one who needed to pay. Everything in him snapped into place. He raised his gun. “Leo…”, Arya shouted. One shot. Straight through the sui
The doctor adjusted the IV and checked Leonardo’s pulse before turning to Arya. “His body is processing the drug. We’re flushing it out through the IV, but it’ll take time. He might still experience some disorientation when he wakes up.”“How long?” Arya asked, her voice flat.“A few more hours, maybe a day. He’s responding better than expected.”She nodded. “Anything else?”The doctor glanced at the monitors. “We’ve done all we can. Now, it’s just a matter of letting his system recover. If anything changes, let me know immediately.”“I will.”He gave a short nod before gathering his things. “I’ll check back later.” With that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him.The room smelled like antiseptic and faint traces of cologne—the one scent that still made her chest ache. The only proof that Leonardo was still here. That he hadn’t left her.Yet, in so many ways, he already had.Arya sat beside the bed, knees pulled up to her chest, her fingers curled into the sheets. Three days. Th
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