Chapter 1

I was only finally discovered three hours later before being brought to the hospital, and I was unconscious for a whole day.

When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was the pale and dull white ceiling above me.

The nurse on duty told me that nobody had visited me while I was there.

The next morning, I pulled the IV out of the back of my hand and got myself discharged before dragging my weary, half-dead self back to Gambino Manor, where the Famiglia headquarters were.

I changed out of my muddy, blood-soaked clothes and sat down on the couch, charging my phone that was completely drained.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Luca Gambino stood outside the door. His collar was still stained with dried blood, and his face looked tired and exhausted. His tense shoulders relaxed when he saw that I was home safe and sound.

However, he flew into a rage right after that.

"Where the hell have you been these two days? The Famiglia searched for you everywhere based on the coordinates you sent asking for help, but there was nobody there.

"When will you stop throwing a tantrum like this every time, Elena Pasquini? Don't you know that wasting the family's resources on finding you like this makes us passive and vulnerable to threats?"

I opened my mouth, my throat parched and dry.

"I never changed the coordinates. I waited for you in the alley the whole time."

"That's impossible," Luca said, interrupting me impatiently. "Carmela was the one who checked the coordinates. She tracked the signal and confirmed that you were in the West District, but we searched for you for four hours and found nobody."

I looked at him quietly. This was the same face that I'd been looking at since I was eight years old, and now, I was already 25.

I recalled the first time I touched a gun when I was eight years old. The gun barrel had felt so cold in my hands that I shivered from the fright. Yet, Luca took my hand from the back, enveloped my hand with his, and rested his chin on my shoulder.

Then, he smiled and spoke to me as gently as he could, "Don't be afraid, Elena. I'm here. I'll always protect you."

But now, there was only doubt, scrutiny, and impatience left on his face, making me look like I was a sinner and a liar.

"I'll say it again," I said quietly and calmly. "I never changed locations. The first coordinates I sent you were exactly where I was at that time."

"Carmela would never make such a rookie mistake like that," Luca said, avoiding my gaze and tugging at his collar frustratedly. "She is the core of the intelligence team, and she's handled plenty of classified operations without a single mistake. I absolutely trust her professionalism. But compared to her—"

He suddenly cut himself off abruptly.

"Compared to her, I'm nothing," I said, calmly finishing his sentence for him. "I'm not professional enough, not sensible enough, and I only ever serve as a burden to you. Am I right?"

Luca's lips moved, a fleeting hint of guilt flashing in his eyes.

"That's not what I meant."

"Then, what did you mean?"

He stayed silent for a long time. Finally, he massaged his temples wearily and said, "Just stay here and rest. Come and find me again after you've thought things through and are finally willing to tell me the truth."

He turned to leave, and I stopped him.

"Luca."

He paused.

"You'd rather trust her than me, don't you?"

His back stiffened slightly.

"Carmela is the core intelligence member of the Famiglia. I know her character the best."