Born of the Storm

Chapter 2

          Eight months had passed but everything feels like yesterday. Many but not much has changed and yet everything feels unfamiliar.

       A dark space filled with the aroma of confusion, mingled with the potent emotions of regret and guilt, of anger and fear. My life was questionable, shrouded in uncertainty.

       Each day brings a new version of ourselves. We think wisely but end up making the same mistakes. We dream widely with grace only to fall into a dark abyss. We try our best to hold on, to keep going, to understand, to feel, and to be content, yet it is never enough. We will fall into the same trap once, twice, thrice—countless times—and often remain clueless. Clueless of the time passing by, of what tomorrow holds. I was clueless, of each lie, of the faces behind each mask, of the feelings they and even myself hid. I ignored each sign, believing it was better to live away from the world I was born into.

       But I'll be all right. I should be. After all, I did what I had to.

       "Teresa, è ora." (It's time) The cloud of thoughts washed away when I heard Luca's thick Italian accent through my earpiece.

       I don't know how much has changed, how much I've changed, or if anything has truly changed at all. All I know is that I've done things I never would have considered before. Despite the constant reminders from those around me to take it easy, I haven't noticed any real differences. I've accepted for long enough what I have to do.

       I've been through countless assassinations and missions. I remember the first time I killed—it didn't feel wrong. Instead, It fueled something deep inside me. Though they say I'm weak, I never stop. Maybe this path, has always been for me.

       The plan was straightforward: seduce the targets, lure them into a private room, and dispatch them quietly. Luca had laid out every detail to minimize risks and ensure a clean getaway. I was to use a sedative to incapacitate the target, then eliminate them without causing a scene. Timing was crucial, and communication with Luca through the earpiece was supposed to be constant. The aim was precision and subtlety—no unnecessary attention, no collateral damage.

       The mission ahead loomed large in my thoughts—Alessio Bernardi and Vincent Marino, two dangerous men whose elimination would send ripples to through the underworld. Luca had briefed me thoroughly on their crimes, their networks, their weaknesses and their betrayal to the Italian Mafia. Now it is up to me to execute the plan flawlessly.

I strolled up to the busy counter, lined with an array of glittering bottles filled with colorful liquors. The bar was a hive of activity, filled with the hum of conversations and the occasional burst of laughter. The lighting was low and intimate, casting a warm glow on the polished wood and brass fixtures. I found myself a seat between two targets—two sharply dressed businessman nursing a whiskey.

       The crowd was a mix of the city's elite and those who aspired to be, dressed seductively, each person more eager than the last to see and be seen. I could feel the eyes following me, whispers spreading like wildfire as they watched me. Once the quiet girl in the corner, I was now the center of attention, my presence commanding the room in a way that felt both foreign and exhilarating. The changes were more than just superficial; the confidence that now radiated from me was different to the person I had been.

       "Un vino rosso, per favore," (A red wine, please) I said, my voice dripping with allure. Their attention snapped to me in an instant, eyes trailing down my legs clad in sheer black stockings, before roaming over my entire body, wrapped in a sleek, crimson dress that hugged every curve. The soft fabric shimmered under the dim light, reflecting an elegance that was both seductive and intimidating. My high heels clicked softly on the floor, each step exuding confidence. I felt their gazes envelop me, a silent invitation hanging in the air.