The shadows of the past had woven themselves into the present, and vengeance was brewing. But this time, Eliza and Dilna were not alone. They had found an unexpected ally in Rossum Digio, the son of the late Giorgio. Ambitious and cunning, Rossum had grown up in the shadow of his father, always feeling that his potential had been stifled by Giorgio's loyalty to Alexander. Now, with his father gone, Rossum saw an opportunity to seize control of the empire that Alexander had built, using Eliza and Dilna as pawns in his game.
Rossum was a man of elegance and charisma, but behind his charming exterior was a ruthless strategist who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He had inherited his father's connections and influence, but unlike Giorgio, Rossum was driven by pure ambition rather than loyalty. He believed that the syndicate should be his, and with Eliza and Dilna's thirst for revenge, he saw a way to tear it away from Alexander.
Rossum had first approached Eliza and Dilna separately, testing the waters, gauging their readiness to align with him. He offered them resources they couldn't refuse—money, weapons, and most importantly, information. He had access to the inner workings of the syndicate, having been groomed by Giorgio for years, and knew the vulnerabilities that Alexander had tried so hard to hide.
In a dimly lit room in a luxury hotel in Milan, Rossum, Eliza, and Dilna gathered to solidify their alliance. The atmosphere was thick with tension and anticipation.
"We share the same enemy," Rossum said smoothly, his eyes flicking between the two women. "But more than that, we share the same vision. Alexander's reign is coming to an end, and with your help, we can ensure that he never rises again."
Eliza leaned back in her chair, her gaze cold and calculating. She had once loved Alexander, but that love had turned to ash long ago. Now, all that remained was the desire to see him fall. "You speak with confidence, Rossum. But what's in this for you? We both know you're not doing this out of the goodness of your heart."
Rossum smiled, a slow, predatory grin. "You're right, Eliza. I'm not. I want control—complete control. Alexander's empire should have been mine by inheritance, but instead, he took it all. Once he's out of the picture, the syndicate will fall into chaos. That's where I come in."
Dilna, who had been silent until now, narrowed her eyes at Rossum. "And you think we'll just hand it over to you? After everything?"
Rossum's smile didn't falter. "Not hand it over, no. You'll be partners. But we all know someone has to lead. I can offer you power, protection, and the satisfaction of seeing Alexander crumble. Isn't that what you both want?"
There was a long pause as the weight of his words sank in. Finally, Eliza nodded. "Fine. But if you double-cross us, Rossum, you'll regret it."
Rossum inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the warning. "Understood."
With Rossum's resources and strategic mind, the plan to take down Alexander and Priya began to take shape. He had men on the inside, loyal to him rather than Alexander, who fed him information about the syndicate's operations. Every detail was scrutinized, every weakness exploited. Rossum's involvement brought a new level of sophistication to their plans—one that Eliza and Dilna had lacked before.
As the three of them plotted, Rossum introduced two new players into the game—Dominic and Alessia, two of his most trusted enforcers. Dominic was a former mercenary, skilled in both combat and espionage. He had been Rossum's right-hand man for years, loyal only to him. Alessia, on the other hand, was a master of manipulation. Her beauty and charm made her a valuable asset in extracting information from anyone who underestimated her.
"We'll need to attack Alexander from all sides," Rossum explained during one of their strategy meetings. "He's too powerful to be taken down by a single strike. We weaken him, make him doubt the loyalty of those around him, and when the time is right, we hit him where it hurts the most."
Dominic nodded in agreement. "Alexander's men respect him, but they don't fear him the way they feared Giorgio. That's his weakness. We can exploit that."
Alessia leaned forward, her eyes glinting with mischief. "And Priya? What's the plan for her?"
Eliza's expression darkened at the mention of Priya. "She's the key. If we can isolate her, make Alexander question her loyalty, it'll destabilize him. He's too attached to her—emotionally. That's his greatest vulnerability."
Rossum nodded thoughtfully. "Exactly. We'll use that against him. But we need to be careful. Priya is no fool. If she senses something is off, she'll retaliate. We need to make her believe she's in control, right up until the moment we take it all away."
As the weeks passed, the plan was set into motion. Rossum, Eliza, and Dilna worked together seamlessly, each playing their part in the intricate web of deceit they had spun. Dominic and Alessia moved quietly through the shadows, carrying out their orders with precision.
But despite their best efforts, there was an underlying tension between the three allies. Eliza and Dilna were well aware that Rossum was not to be trusted, and Rossum knew that the women would turn on him the moment their goals diverged. It was a fragile alliance, held together by a shared hatred of Alexander and a desire for power.
As the storm gathered, all they could do was wait—wait for the moment when Alexander's world would come crashing down around him.
