CHAPTER 15: A Game of Secrets and Shadows

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• The Don's Possession    CHAPTER 51: Bloodlines

  The morning sun was soft, peeking gently through the tall windows of the house. It should have felt peaceful. But it didn’t.James stood at the window, still holding the file from the night before. He hadn’t slept. Not even for a second. His eyes were tired, but his mind was wide awake.Behind him, Rose was sitting on the couch, brushing Ariel’s soft hair as she slept curled up beside her.Penelope and Jennie were in the kitchen making tea. Cole was checking the house, every window, every door.James finally turned around. “I need to tell you all what I saw in the file.”Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him.“Come sit,” Rose said softly.He joined them at the table. His mother stood nearby, silent but watching.James opened the file again. His fingers brushed against the papers, slow and careful.“There are letters,” he began. “Letters between my father and his brother—my uncle. His name is Luciano.”Penelope blinked. “I thought your father was the head.”James shoo

• The Don's Possession     CHAPTER 50: Hidden Roots

  Chapter They drove for hours without saying much. The silence inside the car was heavy, filled with thoughts, worries, and old fears. Outside, the road stretched endlessly beneath the dark sky. The only sound was the hum of the tires and Ariel's soft breathing as she slept in Rose's arms.James kept his eyes on the road,with his hands firm on the wheel. Rose watched him from the passenger seat. "Are you okay?"she asked."I’m fine," James said, not taking his eyes off the road."You’re quiet,"she said."I’m thinking."he replied."About your mother?"He nodded slowly. "About what she'll say... or do."Rose gave him a soft look. "You think she won’t want to see you?"James gave a dry smile. "She might not even open the door. Or she might open it and throw a knife. Or maybe she’ll hug me. I honestly don’t know,"he said.They took a turn off the main road into a long narrow path. Trees surrounded them on both sides, tall and quiet like watchers in the dark.James slowed the car and sto

• The Don's Possession    CHAPTER 49: Deep Shadows

  The peaceful air they had known for two days now felt different—heavier, like something huge was coming.James sat on the steps of the porch, a blanket around his shoulders.Inside the house, Rose was putting Ariel to sleep. She kissed her forehead, pulled the blanket over her, and turned off the light. Then she walked out quietly, hugging herself as she stepped outside.James looked up at her. “Can’t sleep?” he asked.Rose sat beside him. “I could ask you the same.”They both smiled, but the silence that followed was thoughtful.James finally spoke. “You know, sometimes I sit here and try to picture the future.”“And what do you see?” she asked softly.“Us,” he replied. “You, me, Ariel… maybe Jennie. Maybe more people. A quiet house. Peace.”“Do you think we’ll get that?” she asked.“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “But I want to try. That has to count for something.”Rose leaned on his shoulder. “It counts. It really does.”The wind blew again, rustling the trees.James looked up a

• The Don's Possession    CHAPTER48: Hidden Truth

  The next morning started quiet again, like the storm had passed. The sky was clear, and the air was fresh with a light wind dancing through the trees.James and Rose had fallen asleep on the same bed again, wrapped in each other’s arms. No more walls. No more fear. For the first time, they felt whole.But peace doesn’t always last forever.A knock came at the door.Three times. Sharp. Quick.James opened his eyes and frowned. Rose groaned softly beside him. “Who’s that?” she asked.“I don’t know.” James stood up and grabbed his shirt. He walked over and opened the door.It was Cole.His face was serious.“Something happened,” Cole said.James stepped outside, closing the door halfway behind him. “What is it?”Cole looked around before whispering, “We just got a message. From someone we didn’t expect.”“Who?” James asked, his voice low.Cole took a breath. “Elio Plank.”James froze.“Elio?” he said slowly. “That can’t be. He’s—”“He’s supposed to be dead,” Cole finished. “But the messa

• The Don's Possession    CHAPTER47: Broken Words

  It's another day and the sun is rising again. Soft light came through the window, touching Rose’s face gently. But this morning didn’t feel like yesterday. There was no smile on her lips. No peace in her chest, it looks like there will be a problem.She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling and she found out James wasn’t beside her.“Where was he?”she asked herself.She sat up and listened but voices and no movement. Slowly, she got out of bed, grabbed a sweater, and stepped out of the room.*****James was outside, sitting alone on the wooden bench near the garden. His hands were crossed, his eyes looking far away, lost in thought.Rose stepped closer, but her steps were quiet. She didn’t want to disturb him… yet part of her hoped he would notice her.He didn’t.“Hey,” she said softly.James looked up quickly, surprised. “Oh. Morning.”he greeted.“Didn’t come back to bed,” she said, trying to smile.“I couldn’t sleep.”She walked over and sat beside him. The morning air was cool, bu

• The Don's Possession    CHAPTER 46: Quiet Morning

  The sun came up slowly, painting the sky with soft colors—orange, yellow, and light blue. It was a quiet morning, and everything felt calm for the first time in a long while.James opened his eyes and looked around the small living room where they had all slept. He was on the couch. Rose was sleeping beside him, her head resting on his chest. Ariel and Jennie were curled up on a mattress close by.James didn’t move. He didn’t want to wake Rose. She looked peaceful, her lips slightly open, her eyelashes resting on her cheeks.He stared at her quietly for a while, then whispered, “You’re safe now.”Rose moved a little but didn’t wake up.Cole walked in slowly, holding a cup of coffee. He saw James and gave him a small smile.“You didn’t sleep much, did you?” Cole asked in a soft voice.James shook his head. “Just enough,”he said.Cole nodded. “We’re lucky. Last night things could have gone very bad.”James looked at Ariel and Jennie. “But it didn’t. That’s what matters.”Cole sat on a c