Cassandra de Ville

Chapter 24

Cassandra slowly regained consciousness, her head pounding and her vision blurry. As the haze lifted, she found herself tied to a chair in a dimly lit room. The rough ropes bit into her wrists, and she could hear the faint, distant sound of water dripping.

Beside her, Roman was also tied up, his head slumped forward, but his breathing was steady.

A door creaked open, and the silhouette of a tall, imposing figure filled the doorway.

As the figure stepped into the light, Cassandra's heart sank. 

It was Enzo, one of the most feared enforcers in the mafia underworld. His cold, calculating eyes scanned the room before settling on Cassandra.

"Welcome back," Enzo said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I must say, your curiosity has brought you to a very dangerous place."

Cassandra struggled against her bindings, her mind racing to come up with a plan. "What do you want, Enzo?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

Enzo chuckled, a menacing sound that echoed off the walls. "It's not about what I want, Cassandra. It's about what you know. Your parents left behind quite a trail, and you've been following it diligently. But some secrets are meant to stay buried."

Roman stirred, lifting his head and blinking rapidly as he took in their surroundings. "Enzo," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "This isn't going to end well for you."

Enzo's smile widened. "Brave words for someone in your position. But enough of this. Let's get to the point." He walked over to the table and picked up the stack of photographs Cassandra and Roman had found.

"These pictures... they could be very problematic for certain people. Powerful people."

Cassandra's mind flashed back to the photographs, the faces of her parents alongside unfamiliar figures. "We just want the truth," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination. "We want to know who killed them and why."

Enzo's expression hardened. "The truth? The truth is dangerous, Cassandra. It has the power to destroy lives, topple empires. Sometimes, it's better to live in ignorance."

Before Cassandra could respond, the door opened again, and another figure entered the room. It was a woman, her face obscured by shadows, but there was something familiar about her presence.

"Enzo, that's enough," the woman said, her voice firm and authoritative. "We don't need to resort to violence. Not yet, anyway."

Enzo stepped back, clearly displeased but obedient, and left the room leaving the three of them.

The woman stepped into the light, revealing herself to be someone Cassandra already knew.

"You..." Cassandra whispered, recognition dawning on her. "You're... Aunt Antonella?"

Antonella stepped fully into the dim light, her expression unreadable. "Surprised, Cassandra? You shouldn't be. In our world, trust is a luxury few can afford."

Cassandra's mind raced. The photographs, the secrets they uncovered, and now this—the woman she once considered family was standing before her as an enemy. Roman, still groggy, looked at Antonella with confusion. "Antonella, what is this? Why are you doing this?"

Antonella's gaze shifted to Roman, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Roman, how are you? I still remember the look on your father's face when we killed him. He was just as surprised as you are right now."

Cassandra clenched her fists, struggling against the ropes that bound her. "You betrayed us," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. "You betrayed Cosimo, too. Does he even know what you're doing?"