Chapter 7%
“You’re pathetic, Vincenzo,” Bianca sneered. “You’ve always loved Alessandra–you were just too proud to admit it. But now that you finally see it… it’s already too late. She’s never coming back to you.“”
A muscle in Vincenzo’s jaw ticked. His eyes, dark and empty, burned with a cold, unearthly rage. The calculating restraint of a mafia boss dissolved into something raw and primal.”
“No.“%
His hand shot out, clamping around Bianca’s throat. She gasped, clawing at his wrist as he lifted her off the ground. His fingers pressed into her skin, cutting off her air.”
“Alessandra will come back to me,” he growled, his voice low and guttural. “She trusts me. She won’t leave me. As long as I get rid of you and avenge our child… she’ll come back.“}
Bianca’s eyes bulged as her face turned blue.
“Don’t do it, sir!” The guards rushed into the room, hesitating to interfere. “If you kill her, the Lady will be even more heartbroken!”
Vincenzo’s grip tightened for a second longer–then his eyes sharpened. His hand fell away and Bianca collapsed to the floor, gasping and coughing.”
“Turn her over to the police.“”
“No… you can’t do this!” Bianca screamed as the guards seized her arms. She thrashed violently, her hair whipping around her face. “Vincenzo, you swore to protect me!“}
Vincenzo didn’t flinch. His face was cold, impassive. He waved his hand. The guards dragged Bianca’s hysterical body out of the room. Her screams echoed down the marble halls until the heavy doors slammed shut.
Silence settled over the Sicilian castle like a funeral shroud.
Vincenzo stood motionless, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Then, he turned toward the staircase.
“Any news about her?“”
The answer came softly. “No, sir.“”
Vincenzo walked into the master bedroom. His steps slowed as he approached the bed. Alessandra’s pillow was still in place. He sank onto the edge of the mattress and picked it up, burying his face in the fabric.\
Her scent lingered faintly–floral, delicate, haunting. He inhaled deeply, a sharp ache blooming in his chest. Carefully, he picked up a strand of her hair from the pillow and pressed it to his heart.”
A single tear slid down his cheek.}
“Sandra… where are you?“}
Vincenzo lay down in the spot where Alessandra used to sleep. His arm stretched across the empty space, clutching at the sheets. Her soft gaze flashed in his mind–those dark eyes filled with unconditional trust.
A sharp, searing pain exploded in his chest. Vincenzo sat upright, gasping for breath, his hand clutching his heart. He stumbled toward the balcony, desperate for air.
The rain outside was cold and relentless. He stepped onto the marble steps, the downpour soaking through his suit, plastering his hair to his forehead. He sat down heavily on the steps, his breath hitching as the storm pounded around him.
His body gave out. His vision blurred. Finally, his body gave out and he passed out in the storm.
Alessandra’s POVE
I was working in a hidden forensic lab in Milan. A body lay on the table, mutilated from a mafia turf war.
Sweat slid down my face beneath the mask, but my hands remained steady.”
Every stitch I made felt like I was carrying on my father’s legacy. He had been the best undercover agent–sacrificing his life in the pursuit of evidence against the underground families. And now, I was determined to restore dignity to every life shattered by their violence through the work of my own hands.”
For years, I had wanted to become a professional forensic investigator, but Vincenzo had always stopped me–claiming it was for my protection. One delay after another, for five long years, I had never truly worked on my own.!!
My life during those five years had been under his complete control.
But from now on, I would heal every scarred body with my own hands, uncovering every hidden truth that needed to be exposed.”
For myself. For my father. I would continue down this path toward justice.”
Once I finished reconstructing the body, I sent the photos to Interpol, hoping it would help crack the case behind this underground family conflict.”
Vincenzo’s POV
2/12
11:28 AM
“Don! Our Intel team found her! A source spotted her at the forensic lab in Milan!”
Vincenzo tore open the sealed report, his chest tightening at the sight of that all–too–familiar figure.
His eyes skimmed through the series of flawless post–mortem reconstruction reports. Every single case reflected an exceptional level of expertise – the kind of precision that could only come from her.”
