After the last gunshot, quiet descended. It was a heavy, complete silence, as if even the ancient building was grieving. The final bullet, intended to strike Dominic, instead hit Maria once more as he turned, protecting him in a final act. At first, he remained still. He embraced Maria tightly, her blood soaking his shirt, the warmth of her vitality flowing out and into him. For a long moment, only the overwhelming burden of her selflessness and the burning agony of that final impact were real. Then, the world snapped back into motion.

Maria gripped his arm weakly. “Please, promise me you’ll protect Aria,” she pleaded, using the last of her strength.

“I promise,” Dominic said, his voice firm. “As long as I live, no one will hurt her. I’ll keep her safe.”

A faint smile curved Maria’s lips, but the pain etched on her face seemed to deepen.

“Thank you… and please, be happy. Don’t let your past consume you. I always prayed you’d find peace. It’s time to let go of the darkness and embrace the joy you still deserve,” she whispered. With that, her body went still.

Tears slipped down Dominic’s cheek—tears he hadn’t shed in thirteen years, not since he was sixteen. Maria had been the only person he truly confided in, the only one who treated him like a son, with kindness and loyalty.

Gunfire erupted at the far end of the corridor, but Dominic barely heard it.

The instant her blood spread across the marble, the weight of his promise crashed down on him. He'd irrevocably changed things. For the first time, he was indebted to another person, violating his own personal code.

Dominic rose slowly, a silent fury brewing within him. His hand lingered briefly on Maria’s lifeless one before he wiped his face, steeling himself. The time for mourning would come later—if it ever came at all.

He stood, voice cutting through the noise like a whip. “Lock down the south wing. Clear the breach. No one leaves this castle alive unless I say so.”

“Yes, boss!” his men chorused, their energy renewed as they dispersed to carry out his orders.

Dominic hurried through the corridors, quickly stepping into darkened areas and giving orders. The entire Lugard Castle seemed to vibrate with anxiety. He thought clearly and strategically, yet a painful feeling gripped his heart. This was more than just an ambush, it was a deliberate signal.

He stopped in the war room, his gaze sweeping across the flashing surveillance monitors.

Six hours earlier, in the outskirts of Lucca

In a dimly lit estate surrounded by pine trees and silence, the leader of the Vescari clan leaned over a map of Moretti Castle. His name was Santino Vescari—ruthless, sharp-eyed, and dangerous in the way fire is to dry fields. The Vescari were the second most powerful mafia family in Italy, locked in a long-standing feud with the Moretti clan. Their fathers had been enemies, and that animosity had passed down to their sons, Dominic and Santino, like a poisoned legacy.

Santino's father constantly held Dominic up as the gold standard, always pointing out how Dominic was supposedly wiser, smarter, more skilled, and stronger. This constant belittling had fueled a deep, burning hatred and envy in Santino for Dominic.

Just a few months prior, this simmering animosity had boiled over. Santino, desperate to prove his worth and cripple Dominic, had orchestrated a daring raid to steal a massive shipment of high-value goods meant for the Moretti clan. But Dominic, always a step ahead, had turned the ambush into a trap. The ensuing fight was a brutal massacre. The Vescari clan suffered a devastating defeat, with many of their men killed, their resources drained, and Santino himself only narrowly escaping with serious injuries, forced to retreat in disgrace.

A quiet, fragile peace had settled over everything since that day, but the desire for revenge never really disappears.

“They won’t expect it,” Santino said, tapping a finger against the castle’s southeast entrance. “They're always focused on the main entrance.”

Matteo, his right hand man and his most trusted associate frowned. “They’ve upgraded surveillance. Every inch is wired. How are we getting past that gate?”

A slow, pleased smile spread across Santino's lips. "We don't need to break into their systems. We already have someone on the inside."

He gestured towards a shadowy figure in the corner. The man moved forward and lowered his hood.

It was Rico. A high-ranking guard in Dominic’s inner circle, outwardly loyal but secretly seething with resentment. He had always hated Dominic’s guts, consumed by a persistent envy that he cleverly concealed behind a show of unwavering loyalty. His greed was limitless, and he was never satisfied, making him an easy target for the Vescari. He had immediately accepted their proposition, eager to witness Dominic's downfall.

“They’ll open the gate at exactly 7 PM in the evening,” Rico said calmly, his eyes cold with conviction. “A routine supply truck, carrying imported cigars and vintage wines, is expected to arrive thenIt's a normal, scheduled delivery, so security will be briefly lessened. That gives you twenty minutes before backup rotates to the main gate. I'll disable the south sensors for that period. You'll enter unnoticed."

Santino gave a nod. “Then tonight, the blood debt will be paid in full.”

Back to the Dominic castle – Present

The fighting was over. Although the castle was damaged, it was safe. Dominic’s men had swiftly and brutally defeated the Vescari attackers, leaving a trail of bodies and shattered glass. The halls smelled of gunpowder and betrayal. Dominic moved through the hallway, broken glass crunching under his boots, his face a frozen mask of anger.

“Take Maria’s body,” Dominic commanded, his voice flat, devoid of emotion, yet carrying absolute authority. “Prepare her. No one touches her but my own. She will receive the respect she deserves.”

He then turned to Viktor, who stood beside him, his expression grim. “The private feed. Now.”

Viktor nodded, leading Dominic down a hidden passage behind a false wall, a secret known only to the three of them: Dominic, Viktor, and Maria. The passage led to a small, enclosed room, filled with a complex array of monitors and recording devices, a surveillance center far more advanced and hidden than the main control room.

Dominic’s eyes, cold and sharp, immediately went to the screens. He quickly scanned through the recorded security footage of the attack, his jaw tight with tension, until he reached the pivotal point. The main entrance, briefly unlocked. A barely noticeable sensor malfunction. And then, the person emerging from the darkness to meet the approaching Vescari squad.

Rico.

The betrayal hit Dominic like a physical blow, a tight, painful feeling in his stomach. The person he had relied on, who had worked alongside him for so long. The anger that had been brewing beneath his sorrow now exploded, raw and untainted.

“Rico,” Dominic growled, his voice a low, menacing sound.

Rico had already escaped with Matteo when they saw Dominic's forces gaining control.

"I want Rico and Matteo captured. And Santino dealt with, permanently."

“Yes, boss,” Viktor responded, his voice tight with understanding. “It will be taken care of.”