Mafia Girl's Journey

Chapter 25: Unraveling Truths

Amara’s POV:

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over Marco’s study. I blinked awake, feeling the warmth of Marco’s embrace around me. For a moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the safety and comfort of his presence, but reality quickly crashed back in, bringing with it the memory of Luca’s betrayal.

I shifted slightly, trying to disentangle myself without waking Marco. His hold tightened instinctively, and his eyes fluttered open, meeting mine with a mix of concern and warmth.

“Morning,” he said, his voice still husky from sleep.

“Morning,” I replied, offering a small smile. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s fine,” he assured me, sitting up and stretching. “How are you feeling?”

I took a deep breath, trying to sort through the whirlwind of emotions inside me. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “Part of me is still angry, but another part just feels… numb.”

Marco nodded, his expression serious. “You have every right to be angry, Amara. What Luca did was unforgivable.”

“I know,” I said softly, my gaze drifting to the window. “But it’s not just that. It’s everything. This life, the constant danger, the secrets… Sometimes it feels like it’s too much.”

Marco reached out, gently taking my hand. “You don’t have to face it alone, Amara. I’m here for you, whatever you need.”

I looked at him, searching his eyes for any sign of hesitation, but all I saw was unwavering support. “Thank you, Marco. That means more to me than you know.”

We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of our unspoken feelings hanging in the air. Finally, I stood up, needing to move, to do something other than wallow in my misery.

“I need to clear my head,” I said, grabbing my jacket. “A walk might help.”

Marco nodded, standing as well. “I’ll come with you.”

I didn’t argue. Having him by my side was a comfort I didn’t want to deny myself. We left the study and stepped into the crisp morning air, the city still waking up around us. The streets were quiet, and the familiar sounds of Rome provided a soothing backdrop as we walked.

As we strolled through the streets, Marco’s presence was a steady anchor, grounding me amidst the turmoil. We walked in comfortable silence, each lost in our thoughts. It wasn’t until we reached a small café that Marco broke the silence.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked gently.

I sighed, leaning against the railing outside the café. “I don’t know. There’s so much I need to process.”

He nodded, his expression understanding. “Take your time, Amara. I’m not going anywhere.”

His words were a balm to my soul, easing some of the tension that had been building inside me. “Thank you, Marco. I just… I never expected this. Luca was supposed to be different.”

“He’s a fool for letting you go,” Marco said, his voice firm. “You deserve so much better than him.”

I looked at him, the sincerity in his eyes making my heart ache. “And what about you, Marco? What do you deserve?”

His gaze met mine, a flicker of something deep and unspoken passing between us. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I do know that I can’t stand the thought of you being hurt.”

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, frowning at the unknown number. “Hello?”

“Amara,” a familiar voice said, sending a chill down my spine. It was Matteo, one of my father’s trusted men. “We need you at the estate. Now.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, my heart rate quickening.

“It’s your father,” Matteo said, his tone grave. “He’s been attacked.”

Matteo’s POV:

The news of the attack on Don Rossi spread through our ranks like wildfire, sending a shockwave of fear and anger through everyone. We’d always known that our lives were fraught with danger, but an attack on the Don himself was a bold move that demanded immediate retaliation.

I was at the estate when the call came in. My initial shock quickly gave way to a fierce determination to protect our family and seek vengeance on those who dared to strike at us.

As Amara and Marco arrived, I could see the worry etched on her face, mingling with the remnants of the hurt she was still processing from her encounter with Luca. There was no time to dwell on personal matters, though. We had a crisis to deal with.

“Amara,” I called out as they approached. “Your father is stable, but we need to discuss our next steps.”

Her eyes widened with relief and fear. “Where is he?”

“In the study,” I replied. “The doctor is with him now.”

She nodded, her grip tightening on Marco’s arm as they headed inside. I followed them, my mind already racing with plans for our response. Whoever had done this would pay dearly.

We gathered in the study, where Don Rossi lay on a makeshift bed, his face pale but determined. He looked up as we entered, his gaze sharpening when he saw Amara.

“Amara, my dear,” he said weakly, reaching out a hand. “I’m glad you’re here.”

She rushed to his side, tears brimming in her eyes. “Father, what happened?”

He sighed, wincing as he shifted slightly. “An ambush. They knew our route, knew where we’d be vulnerable. It was well-planned.”

“Who did this?” Marco asked, his voice filled with barely controlled anger.

“We’re still trying to figure that out,” Don Rossi replied. “But we have our suspicions. It could be the Russians or the Koreans. They’ve been making moves lately.”

I nodded, the names swirling in my mind. Both groups had been causing trouble recently, pushing into our territory and testing our limits. It wouldn’t be surprising if one of them had decided to make a more direct statement.

“We need to strike back,” I said firmly. “Show them that we won’t tolerate this kind of attack.”

Don Rossi nodded, his eyes meeting mine. “Yes. But we must be careful. We can’t afford to start a full-scale war without knowing exactly who’s behind this.”

“Leave it to me,” Marco said, his voice cold and determined. “I’ll find out who did this, and I’ll make sure they regret ever crossing us.”

There was a steely resolve in his eyes that I recognized all too well. He was ready to do whatever it took to protect our family, to exact vengeance on those who had hurt us. And I knew that he would stop at nothing to achieve that goal.

Amara looked between us, her expression conflicted. “What can I do?”

“Stay with your father,” I said gently. “We’ll handle this.”

She nodded, but I could see the determination in her eyes. She wasn’t one to sit idly by, and I knew she’d find a way to contribute, to fight back in her own way.

As we left the study, Marco and I exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between us. This was far from over. The attack on Don Rossi was just the beginning, and we had a long and bloody road ahead of us.

But we would face it together, as a family. And we would make sure that our enemies paid for every drop of blood they had spilled.