جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 100

Chapter 91: Cold Steel and Bitter Truths Clara The relentless, rhythmic pounding of heavy rain against my bedroom window had kept me awake for hours. I lay staring at the dark wooden beams of the ceiling, my chest constricted by a tight, suffocating weight. Every time I closed my eyes, the image of Venice applying her smudged crimson lipstick beside Dante’s desk flashed behind my eyelids, sharp and agonizingly clear.At 2:15 AM, three sharp, urgent knocks shattered the heavy silence of my suite.I sat up instantly, throwing off the duvets and grabbing my cream cardigan. I opened the heavy mahogany door to find Alex standing in the dimly lit hallway. He was still wearing his tactical pants and a dark shirt, his face etched with a rare, undeniable strain."Doctor," Alex said, his voice clipped and urgent. "You need to come to the Capo’s suite immediately."I stiffened, lacing my voice with as much icy indifference as I could muster. "I told him earlier, Alex. If he needs his dressing

Chapter 93: Colliding Currents Clara The silent friction from the previous night still hung heavy in the air during breakfast. Dante sat at the head of the dining table, his face pale beneath his dark stubble, his body moving with a rigid caution that told me his newly reinforced sutures were pulling tightly against his ribs.We didn't exchange a single word over coffee. Every time his intense, golden gaze drifted toward me, I kept my eyes fixed squarely on my plate, maintaining the cold, unyielding wall I had built between us.Shortly after breakfast, as I was returning my tea cup to the kitchen tray, I overheard Luca talking to one of the house staff near the side entrance, checking off a list of fresh produce and medical supplies that needed restocking.I stepped into the hallway, smoothing down the sleeves of my knit sweater. "Luca?"Luca turned, giving me a polite, respectful nod. "Morning, Doctor. Is there something you need from the bay?""You're heading out for groceries?" I

Chapter 95: Shadows, Lies, and Unbroken ThreadsClara A heavy, throbbing pulse beat inside my skull, matching the rhythm of the waves crashing against rusted metal somewhere close by.My eyelids felt impossibly heavy. When I forced them open, the world blurred into dark shapes, streaks of gray concrete, and flickering, harsh overhead fluorescent lights. A sharp, sting of iron coated my tongue. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to blink away the haze, feeling a warm, sticky drop of blood trickle slowly from my hairline down to my cheek."Look at that... the Capo's little doctor is finally waking up."The voice was rough, raspy, and accompanied by the heavy scent of cheap tobacco.I tried to shift my arms, but cold rope cut deeply into my skin, securing my wrists tightly behind a heavy wooden chair. The coarse fibers scratched against the skin of my forearms. I squeezed my hands into fists, trying to gauge how much give the knots had. Almost none.I tilted my head up, my vision slowly fo

Chapter 97: One Step Ahead Dante People often mistook me for a beast who only relied on raw violence. They forgot that you don't stay at the top of the syndicate food chain by simply shooting faster than your enemies—you survive by seeing the entire board three moves before anyone else even reaches for their pieces.Hours ago, before the Range Rover even left the estate gates, the trap was already set.Marco, Alex, and I had been dissecting the security dark-outs for days. We knew Venice was a mouth; we knew Costa was desperate. But more than that, I had known about Leo for over two weeks. My tech team had flagged his offshore accounts the moment he tried to launder Costa’s dirty crypto files. I kept quiet, carrying the sickening weight of his treason alone because I knew the truth would shatter Clara. I wanted to wipe his slate completely clean first, give him one last chance to walk away, and spare her the agony of knowing her own blood had sold her out.Then came the bug in her b

Chapter 99: ConfessionClaraThe sub-basement of the estate was cold, pristine, and lined with high-frequency monitors that cast a sharp, blue glow over the steel tables. I walked slowly beside Dante, holding his arm for balance. My head still throbbed lightly from the concussion, and the bandages around my wrists felt tight, but I refused to stay locked away in my room any longer.As the heavy reinforced glass doors slid open, a familiar tall figure stood beside Marco near the main console."Luca!" The name escaped my lips before I could stop it.Luca turned around quickly. A thick white gauze was wrapped neatly around his head, covering a nasty gash above his temple, but he was standing straight, wearing his signature black tactical shirt. The second his eyes landed on me, a mixture of intense relief and deep guilt washed over his features."Doctor," Luca breathed, taking two fast steps forward before halting abruptly, bowing his head toward me and then to Dante. "Capo.""Luca, you