Shadows Beneath the Surface

The night was eerily silent. The kind of silence that whispered danger.

Damien stood by his office window, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The mansion’s security lights glowed faintly outside, but his sharp eyes scanned the darkness beyond. Something felt… off.

A soft knock broke his thoughts. Luca stepped in, his face unreadable.

“It’s confirmed.” His voice was low, steady, but there was an edge to it. “Someone’s been watching the mansion. And it’s not one of ours.”

Damien’s jaw tightened. “Who?”

Luca hesitated, then placed a small envelope on the desk. Damien picked it up, his fingers brushing against the slightly crumpled edges. Inside was a single bullet casing and a note written in jagged letters:

‘Your weakness has been found.’

His grip on the glass tightened until it nearly cracked. His weakness. They meant Leo.

A Warning in the Dark

Aria lay awake in her room, staring at the ceiling. Something about the mansion felt different tonight—heavier.

A sudden noise outside her window made her jolt upright. She tiptoed toward the curtain, pulling it aside just enough to peek through.

A shadow moved near the gates.

She sucked in a breath. Not a guard.

Without thinking, she grabbed her robe and rushed out. The hallway was dimly lit, her soft footsteps almost silent against the polished floor. But before she could reach the main door, a firm grip caught her wrist.

She spun around, heart racing. Luca.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he hissed, his dark eyes narrowed.

“There’s someone outside,” she whispered urgently. “I saw—”

“I know,” he cut her off, glancing toward the entrance. “Stay inside. This isn’t your problem.”

Aria clenched her fists. “Leo is my problem.”

Luca’s gaze flickered with something unreadable before he sighed. “You don’t know what you’re getting into.”

Aria didn’t back down. “Then tell me.”

A Name from the Past

Downstairs, Damien examined the bullet casing under the dim glow of his desk lamp. .45 caliber. Clean. Precise. Professional.

Luca entered, dragging a chair forward. “It’s him.”

Damien didn’t look up. “Felix Romano.”

A ghost from the past. A rival kingpin who had disappeared years ago after Damien forced him into exile. If Felix was back, it wasn’t for peace.

“He’s been watching for weeks,” Luca continued. “And now he’s making a move.”

Damien took a deep breath, his fingers tapping against the desk. “He thinks I have a weakness.”

Luca nodded grimly. “And he’s not wrong.”

Silence. Heavy. Tense. Then, Damien exhaled sharply, setting the casing down. “Double security. No one gets in or out without my say.”

Luca hesitated. “And Aria?”

Damien’s gaze darkened. “Keep her close. If Romano knows about Leo, he knows about her.”

The Garden Incident

The next morning, Aria took Leo to the garden. The boy loved the fresh air, and after last night’s unease, she wanted him somewhere open—where she could see everything.

Leo giggled as he played with his soccer ball, kicking it back and forth with Aria. For a brief moment, she forgot the tension from last night.

Until she felt it.

A chill ran down her spine. The eerie sensation of being watched.

Her eyes darted toward the high stone walls of the mansion. And then she saw it—a shadow moving beyond the gates.

Her heart pounded. Not again.

“Leo,” she called out, trying to keep her voice calm. “Let’s go inside, okay?”

Leo pouted. “But Nanny—”

“Now, sweetheart.”

She grabbed his hand and hurried toward the house. But just as she reached the entrance, a loud crack echoed through the air.

A gunshot.

Guards moved instantly. Luca’s voice barked orders. The air was thick with panic, but Aria’s only thought was—Leo.

She shielded the boy with her body, her arms wrapped tightly around him. He trembled against her, his small hands clutching her dress.

A car sped away in the distance. Whoever it was, they had just sent a message.

Damien’s Wrath

By the time Damien arrived, his entire demeanor had shifted. He wasn’t just angry. He was lethal.

Aria stood in the hallway, still shaken, but refused to back down when Damien approached her.

“What the hell happened?” His voice was dangerously low.

“They were watching us,” Aria answered, her voice firm despite the fear still clinging to her. “They were waiting for the perfect moment.”

Damien turned to Luca. “Find them. Now.”

Luca nodded and disappeared without another word.

Aria expected Damien to leave next, but instead, he stepped closer, his eyes scanning her face.

“Are you hurt?”

She blinked, caught off guard. “I—I’m fine.”

His gaze flickered to Leo, still holding onto her, then back to her. Something shifted in his expression. A silent storm.

He reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The touch was brief, but it sent a shiver down her spine.

His voice softened just a fraction. “You did good.”

Aria exhaled. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Damien studied her, then gave a small nod before stepping back. “I know.”

The Final Blow

That night, Luca returned. His face was grim.

“We found him.”

Damien’s fingers clenched around the whiskey glass. “Where?”

Luca’s next words made the room turn ice-cold. “Closer than we thought.”

There was a traitor among them. And Felix Romano wasn’t working alone.

To be continuous......

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