Massimo’s villa stood in silence, its marble halls dimly lit by amber sconces that threw long, flickering shadows across the walls. The night air was thick with tension, the kind that followed every battle, every promise made in the dark.

As they stepped inside, Talana’s shoulders sagged, exhaustion clinging to her like a second skin. The events of the day, her father’s betrayal, Maria’s slap, the deal with De Marco, all replayed in her mind in jagged flashes.

Massimo turned to her, ...