The city was alive with whispers. The streets, once belonging to both the Morettis and the Romanos, were now a war zone in everything but name. Every dark alley held secrets, every shadow disguised an assassin waiting for orders. The tension between the two families was at an all-time high, and both sides knew the next mistake could spark an all-out war.
Dante Romano sat in his office, staring at a map of the city. Every red-marked territory was contested ground, every black cross a fallen soldier. He traced a finger over the Moretti stronghold, his mind drifting to Aria. The taste of their forbidden kiss still lingered on his lips, a reminder of the war raging inside him.
A knock at the door pulled him back to reality. His most trusted right-hand man, Marco, stepped inside, his expression grim.
"We intercepted a message, boss," Marco said, tossing an envelope onto Dante's desk. "It’s from the Morettis."
Dante opened it carefully, his eyes scanning the contents. It was a warning. A challenge. The Morettis were making their next move, and it was up to him to respond. He clenched his jaw, knowing there was only one person who could truly decipher the intent behind this message.
Aria.
---
On the other side of the city, Aria Moretti stood in her father’s office, arms crossed as she listened to him outline their strategy. Giovanni Moretti was a man of calculated cruelty, his eyes sharp and devoid of warmth as he pointed to a specific location on the map.
"The Romanos will retaliate soon," he said. "Dante has hesitated long enough. We strike first."
Aria’s stomach twisted. She knew Dante’s hesitation wasn’t weakness—it was something else entirely. But her father saw only the battlefield, never the people involved. If she wanted to stop this war before it consumed them both, she needed to act now.
She turned on her heel, leaving the office before her father could question her. There was only one place she could go, one person she needed to see.
Dante.
---
The rooftop was their sanctuary, a place where time seemed to pause. As Aria stepped onto the ledge, she found Dante already there, as if he had been waiting for her.
"I thought you might come," he murmured, turning to face her.
Aria crossed her arms. "We need to talk."
Dante nodded, his gaze unreadable. "Then talk."
She hesitated before speaking, knowing the weight of her words. "Our families are pushing us toward war. But we both know how this ends. Bloodshed. More bodies. A cycle that never stops."
Dante exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You think I don’t see that? But it’s bigger than us, Aria. This war was set in motion long before we were born."
"Then we change it," she said firmly. "We make a different choice."
Dante studied her for a long moment. "And what happens when our fathers find out? When they demand blood for betrayal?"
Aria stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Then we find a way to survive. Together."
Dante reached for her hand, his grip warm and steady. In that moment, he knew the truth.
He could fight the world for her.
But could he fight himself?
---
The war was no longer just between the Romanos and the Morettis. It was a war within themselves, a battle between duty and desire.
And soon, they would have to choose which side to stand on.
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To be continued.........♡
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