2025-05-28 22:36:14
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Chapter 37: The Key
The key. Ben's key. Santino's hand went to his pocket automatically.Viktor noticed. "Good. You do have it.""Even if I did, why would I trust you?""Because the alternative is worse.""What alternative?""El Amore's civil war."Santino frowned. "What civil war?""You really don't know? El Amore is dying. Pancreatic cancer. Six months, maybe less."The news hit like a physical blow."And when he dies, there will be a power struggle. Mia. Salvatore. Others you haven't met. All fighting for control.""Let them fight.""You don't understand. This isn't just about drugs or territory. This is about a network that spans continents. If it falls apart chaotically, a lot of people die. Innocent people."Viktor stood up. "Ben knew this day would come. That's why he hid something. Insurance.""What kind of insurance?""Names. Operations. Bank accounts. Everything needed to either preserve the network or destroy it cleanly.""And you think I know where it is?""I think Ben was smarter than we gav
Chapter 36: Fractured Family
The church was the same one from the night before with empty pews. Flickering candles. The smell of old incense.Santino knelt in the front row. His mother's blood was still on his hands. Literally.He'd tried to wash it off in the hospital bathroom. But some stains don't come out.Three shots. He'd heard three shots. But he didn't know who fired them. Or who had fallen.The police weren't talking. The hospital was sealed off. No information.Zara found him there an hour later. "I've been looking everywhere for you," she said."Any word?"She sat beside him. "The official report says a patient had a psychotic episode. Shot two security guards before being subdued.""And my mother?""Critical condition. That's all they'll say."Santino stared at the altar. The cross. The promise of redemption. He'd never been religious. But right now, he needed something to believe in."There's more," Zara said quietly."Tell me.""I ran facial recognition on Marcus Durand. The man who came to see you
Chapter 35: Mother's Light
Santino woke up in a hospital bed with White walls. White sheets and the smell of antiseptic. His head felt like someone had hit it with a hammer."You're awake." A woman's voice that was familiar sounded beside him. He turned his head as Zara sat in a chair beside the bed. Bandages on her arms with a cut on her forehead."How long?" he asked."Six hours. The doctors said you had a concussion." Santino tried to sit up as pain shot through his ribs."Don't move. You've got three broken ribs and a punctured lung.""The building?""Gone. Just like your penthouse.""Casualties?" Zara's face darkened. "My grandmother was visiting her sister. But the family downstairs..." She trailed off.Santino closed his eyes. More innocent blood on his hands."I'm sorry.""It's not your fault.""Isn't it?"A nurse came in to check his vitals and adjusted his IV drip."The police want to talk to you," she said. "I told them you weren't ready."After she left, Zara leaned closer. "We need to leave. Ton
Chapter 34: Warning Note
The penthouse was gone as Santino stood across the street. Fire trucks. Police cars. Ambulances. Red and blue lights painted the building.The home he got recently reduced to rubble and smoke."How bad?" he asked. Zara stood beside him. Her laptop bag over her shoulder. Always ready to run."Top two floors. Completely destroyed.""Anyone hurt?""The doorman. Pierre. He's in surgery."Santino's jaw tightened. Pierre had worked there for years. Had grandchildren. "Professional job," Zara continued. "Whoever did this knew what they were doing." A paramedic walked past. Blood on his uniform. "Did they find anything?" Santino asked."That's why I called you."Zara pulled out her phone. “Look at this,” she said, showing Santino a photo. “It was taken inside the building. Before the explosion.”In the photo, a white envelope. His name is written in elegant script. Santino narrowed his eyes. “Where was it?”“Your mailbox. Delivered this morning.”He took a closer look. The handwriting… it f
Chapter 33: Shattered Trust
The restaurant was quiet now. Santino sat alone at the table. The ring box was gone. Mia was gone. Only the smell of her perfume remained.He pulled Ben's key from his pocket. The metal was warm from his grip. He'd been holding it for an hour.Not like he's my real father anyway.Mia's words echoed in his head. What did she mean? El Amore wasn't her father? Then who was?Santino turned the key over in his palm. It was old. Brass. The kind used for safety deposit boxes. Ben had hidden it in their apartment. But why?He thought about the photo. Elena and Antonio had shown him the picture in Barcelona. His father is in Buenos Aires. Or was it?Something felt wrong about that photo. The man's face seemed too clear. Too perfect. Like it had been placed there."Sir?" The waiter appeared. "Will you be ordering dessert?""No. Just the check."The waiter nodded and disappeared, leaving Santiano alone again.Elena was supposed to be his father's ally. She gave him informations, She had given h
Chapter 32: The Truth About Mia
The restaurant was empty except for them. Mia had reserved the entire place. Twenty tables. Fifty chairs. All for a conversation between two people.Santino arrived exactly at eight. Mia was already there. She wore a red dress that hugged her body. Her hair was down in natural waves She looked beautiful but dangerous, "You're late," she said."I'm exactly on time.""In our world, on time is late."Santino sat across from her. The table was set for two. Crystal glasses. Silver cutlery. A single red rose in a crystal vase."Nice touch.""I thought you'd appreciate it."The recording device was in his shirt pocket. So small he'd forgotten it was there. But now it felt heavy as a lead. "You said we had things to discuss."Mia smiled. "We do. But first, dinner."A waiter appeared from nowhere. Poured an expensive red wine. "To new beginnings," Mia said, raising her glass."What kind of new beginnings?""The permanent kind."They drank, and the wine tasted perfect. "Is it drugged?" Santin
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