Chapter Two

Renzo's POV

I sat by the window, cleaning my gun when Leo walked in. It was past eleven, and the house was quiet. The only sound came from the guards outside and the light drizzle of rain.

I already knew something was wrong.

Leo never came looking for me this late unless Don wanted something.

Leo stood by the door, staring at me for a moment without saying anything. That alone made me stop cleaning my gun..

“Don’t you knock?” I finally asked.

His hands rested in his pockets as he pushed himself away from the doorframe.

“No one knocks in this house, Renzo. You know that.”

"Hm."

I kept cleaning my gun.

“Don Vattelli wants to see you.”

I stopped cleaning the gun. “Now?”

Leo nodded. “Now.”

Without another word, I coupled my gun back together.

Then I got up and walked to his study, a part of the house where only a few people were allowed to go.

The door was slightly open. Something Don Vattelli did on purpose. He gave you the illusion that you were welcome, but depending on who you were, that same door could also be a path to your death.

I walked in.

His study was quiet and dimly lit, but something was different. He wasn't sitting in his chair as usual.

He stood by the window, watching the rain.

"Sit," he said without turning around to face me.

And I did just that, lowering myself into a chair in front of his table.

When he slowly turned to face me, I saw something in his eyes that I had rarely ever seen. It was Fear.

Don Vattelli wasn't a man who was easily afraid. Don was a man who had made his peace with death. After six decades of living in this world, he was one of the most feared men I had ever known.

But the fear in his eyes wasn't for himself.

It was for someone else.

"Valentina witnessed the murder of Senator Donny," he said, his voice ice cold.

My heart skipped a beat.

"Don Marco's men are after her. They saw her face, and if they find her, they will kill her."

He slowly sat behind his desk.

Don had spent his entire life building an empire people were afraid to challenge. He had survived enemies, betrayals and death.

But when it came to his daughter, none of that mattered. Valentina was the one weakness he had never been able to hide.

And now, if anything happened to her, I knew he wouldn't be able to survive it.

He leaned forward.

“Renzo,” he said quietly. “I need you to bring my daughter back.”

My chest tightened.

Of all the men he could have sent, he had chosen me. He knew the history between Valentina and me. He had never spoken about it, and neither had I.

But now he was asking me to go back into her life after being the one who broke her heart. I couldn't disobey Don's orders.

I just wasn't sure I was the right man to bring her home.

"Yes, sir," I replied. "But what if she refuses?"

Don looked at me for a moment.

“Then make her understand how serious this is. Don Marco is dangerous, Renzo. If she stays there, she could die.”

I lowered my eyes for a moment.

“Bring her back,” he said firmly. “She can hate me. She can hate you. I don't care.”

His jaw tightened.

“Just bring my daughter home alive.”

Three years ago, Valentina left Russia without me.

I had spent every day since then pretending I had made the right decision. I hadn't. And now I was going to see her again.

“The private jet leaves at six.”

“I'll be ready.”

“You leave tonight if you have to. I don't want her spending another day there alone.”

Without another word, I walked away.

I went to my room, packed a small bag and enough weapons. Sleep never came.

For three years, I had tried to forget Valentina but failed.

She had begged me to leave with her.

I had promised her once that we would have a life outside this world.

And when the time came, I was the one who refused to go.

I told myself I was doing the right thing.

Three years later, I still regretted it. I should have said yes.

Maybe if I had been with her, she wouldn't be in this much danger.

But I had made my choice and now I had to live with it.

I arrived at the airstrip before dawn.

The private jet's engines were already running, and ready to take off.

The sky was still dark, but slowly, everything was beginning to brighten.

Leo was already there.

“Be careful,” Leo said. “No mistakes.”

I looked at him. “I know.” Then I walked into the jet.

The cabin was empty, except for me.

I sat down, placing my bag on the next seat, and within seconds, we were in the air.

I looked out the window as Russia disappeared beneath the clouds.

By 10 a.m., I was in Rome.

When I stepped out of the jet, a taxi was already waiting for me.

I got in, and the driver handed me a piece of paper.

I opened it. It was Valentina's address.

It was from Don.

The man moved in mysterious ways.

The plan was very simple.

Go there.

Get her.

Leave.

Whatever it took.

This was the kind of mission that shouldn't require too much thinking.

But when it came to Valentina, my mind wasn't in the right place.

My heart wouldn't stop racing.

I kept imagining her expression when she sees me.

Would it be hatred, disappointment?

Or something else?

I shook my head.

Whatever I was thinking wasn't important right now.

After about an hour of driving, the taxi stopped in front of an apartment complex.

I got out and looked around, my eyes scanning every corner while also checking possible routes in case things didn't go as planned.

Valentina's apartment was in a good area.

It was a safe neighborhood, but at the same time, too quiet. If Don Marco's men had found her, this would be an easy place to trap someone.

I stood in front of her apartment door longer than I had intended.

I hesitated.

I wasn't a man whose hesitation was in his nature.

But this wasn't just any mission. This was Valentina. The woman I had loved since she was seventeen. Someone I had let walk away three years ago.

And now I was standing outside her door.

After almost six minutes, I finally raised my hand.

I knocked.