Rescued by Darkness

The Reckoning

In the aftermath of the ambush, the D'Angelo family had established a tense calm. Lorenzo paced the expansive living room, his mind racing with the events of the previous night. He had felt the adrenaline surge through him as he fought to protect his family, and it was that very fire that burned in him now—a mix of determination and the need for vengeance.

Alessia, still shaken from the ordeal, sat on the couch cradling Luciana in her arms. The little girl was asleep, blissfully unaware of the chaos surrounding her. It was a bittersweet sight; the innocence of Luciana contrasted sharply with the violent world her family was embroiled in.

"Rocco is gathering the men for a debrief," Xander said, breaking the silence as he entered the room, his expression serious. "He wants to discuss our next steps."

Lorenzo nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "We need to get to the bottom of this. Viktor was just a pawn; we need to find out who's pulling the strings."

Nico leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Do you think it's the same mole we've been tracking? The one who leaked our movements?"

"It has to be," Lorenzo replied, his jaw tightening. "We need to tighten our security and figure out who can be trusted."

"I'll speak to our contacts," Leo chimed in, determination flickering in his hazel eyes. "We can't let them get away with this."

Lorenzo appreciated the enthusiasm, but he felt a heaviness in his gut. Every time they sought answers, they found more questions.

The family gathered in the dining room, each member taking their seat around the long table. Rocco stood at the head, his expression grave. "We've managed to capture a few of the Russian men from the ambush. They're being held at one of our safe houses. We can get information from them, but we need to decide how to proceed."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed. "I want to handle it personally. If we're going to get to the bottom of this, I need to look them in the eyes and make them understand what happens when you threaten my family."

Rocco nodded, respect evident in his gaze. "You know what to do. Just remember—torture can yield information, but it can also lead to complications. We need to tread carefully."

"Complications?" Lorenzo's voice was low, the warning evident. "I'm done being careful. They need to learn that we won't tolerate threats against our family."

Alessia's voice broke through the tension. "Lorenzo, please. Just be careful. We can't lose you too."

His gaze softened as he looked at her. "I promise I'll come back. I have to do this."

Later that night, Lorenzo gathered his brothers in the dimly lit garage, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. They had set up a makeshift interrogation room where the captured Russians were being held.

"We're going to extract information, and we're going to do it right," Lorenzo said, a fierce determination in his voice. "We find out who the mole is and dismantle their operation. No mercy."

Nico clenched his fists, ready for action. "Let's make sure they understand what we're capable of."

"Do you have any leads?" Xander asked, his brow furrowed.

Rocco shook his head. "Not yet, but we'll get them talking. If they know what's good for them, they'll spill everything."

Lorenzo stepped into the dimly lit room, the air heavy with the scent of sweat and fear. A single bulb flickered above a table where two of the captured men were bound. Their eyes were wide, fear evident in their expressions.

"Welcome," Lorenzo said, his voice steady. "You've made a grave mistake crossing paths with my family. I'm here to ensure you understand the consequences."