Born of the Storm

Chapter 14

        The past week had been a blur of motions, each day blending into the next. Meetings, decisions, shipments—life had become a relentless cycle of handling problems I didn't ask for. It felt like every time I managed to put out one fire, two more would flare up. And in the middle of all this chaos, I'd found myself reflecting more and more on the choices that had led me here. Choices I wasn't sure I'd ever stop questioning.

No matter how far I'd gone, something always pulled me back. Whether it was the people I'd left behind or the very things I'd tried to outrun, the past had a way of catching up with me. It didn't help that I couldn't seem to stop getting involved in the family's affairs, no matter how hard I tried to keep my distance. Maybe it was because, deep down, I knew I couldn't truly sever the ties. Or maybe it was because I still cared—more than I wanted to admit.

As I arrived back at my estate that night, the weight of the week hung heavily on my shoulders. The house was silent, the kind of quiet that would normally help me unwind after a long day. But tonight, something felt off. A tension I couldn't quite place.

I stepped inside, my mind still lost in the thoughts of everything I'd been juggling, when I felt it—a shift in the air. Someone was here.

I glanced around, my senses on high alert. There were no immediate signs of anything out of place, but I could feel eyes on me, waiting. Slowly, I reached for the light switch, but before I could flick it on, a voice cut through the darkness.

"Avresti dovuto stare più attento, Teresa." (You should have been more careful, Teresa)

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. The voice was unfamiliar, low, and laced with a cold confidence. I turned toward the source, but the man remained hidden in the shadows, only his outline barely visible.

I wasn't afraid, not really. More curious than anything. Threats were nothing new, but it was the first time someone had shown up uninvited. What intrigued me was how he'd managed to get inside without a single alarm going off.

"You're in far more danger than you realize," he continued, stepping just close enough for me to make out the glint of something metallic in his hand. "And your actions have only made things worse."

I narrowed my eyes, the weight of his words sinking in. "So, what are you here for? To give me a warning or to finish the job?"

He let out a low chuckle. "Let's call it... un promemoria amichevole. You've made some powerful enemies, and they don't appreciate the way you've been meddling." (a friendly reminder)

I could feel my pulse quicken, but I kept my expression neutral, my mind already working on a plan. This was no idle threat—this was a move to scare me into compliance, and I wasn't about to let that happen.

"I've been getting these reminders for a while now, and yet, I'm still here." I said, taking a slow step closer to the man.

The man shifted, his grip tightening on the knife in his hand. I wasn't sure what he came for, but I had no intention of finding out the hard way.

I kept him talking, inching closer with each exchange. "Who sent you?" I asked, casually leaning against the table, keeping the distance between us as minimal as possible without raising suspicion.

He smirked, his face still partially obscured by the darkness. "Does it matter?"

I took another step, subtly positioning myself within arm's reach. The room was dark, and the shadows played in my favor. He couldn't see everything I was doing, and that was his mistake. He thought he had control of the situation.