Chapter 21: Betrayal

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angel

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angel

The day felt like it should have been a victory, a fresh start for Alexander and me, free from Dante's shadow. We had successfully evaded the mob's clutches, and with the help of my birth family, we managed to cut our ties to the dangerous life we once knew. But just as our hope took root, Riley delivered news that shattered our sense of peace.

"Angel, Alex...we have a problem," Riley said over the phone, his voice tense and urgent.

"What is it?" Alexander asked, already on high alert, sensing the weight behind Riley's words.

"It's... complicated," Riley replied, a hesitation in his voice that sent a chill down my spine. "Dante's dead. But somehow, someone is still after you."

"What do you mean someone is still after us? Who's pulling the strings now?" Alexander's voice was tight, brimming with a mixture of confusion and anger.

"That's the thing," Riley explained, his voice low and filled with urgency. "Dante's gone. But someone else, someone who knew about your plans and Dante's every move, is still out there. Whoever they are, they're using his network and resources. It's almost like they stepped in to finish what he started."

A slow, sickening realization dawned on me. Dante's death wasn't the end-it had only paved the way for someone else to step into his place. My mind raced back to the strange, untraceable help we'd received during our escape. I'd assumed it was my birth family reaching out with a hidden loyalty I hadn't expected. But now, that assistance felt tainted, like it came with strings attached. Who had been watching, waiting, all along?

"Do we know who?" Alexander asked, his voice sharp with anger and frustration.

"No. I'm still piecing it together. All we know is that they know you better than Dante ever did, almost like they're familiar with your every move."

As Alexander ended the call, a dark realization settled over both of us. The betrayal wasn't just about Dante or the gang-it was someone closer, someone who knew everything about our lives and was now holding the threat of violence over us as a final power play.

"Angel, we need to keep moving," Alexander said, his voice a low murmur as he wrapped a protective arm around me. I nodded, though my mind was swirling with questions and doubts.

"Where do we go? We can't just run forever,i almost due " I replied, feeling the panic rise in my chest. "And if someone knows our every move, how can we be safe?"

"We have to find Riley. He'll know what to do," he said, determination glinting in his eyes.

As we made our way back to our temporary hideout, the weight of the situation pressed down on us. The roads felt longer, each shadow growing darker, as if they were alive with unseen dangers. My mind was racing, trying to connect the dots. Had my birth family really been helping us? Or had they been orchestrating this whole thing, playing both sides while we thought we were escaping?

The fear of betrayal twisted in my gut as we drove through the night, the headlights slicing through the darkness. Every street corner felt like a trap, every alley a potential ambush. I could feel Alexander's tension radiating from him; his jaw was set, eyes scanning the surroundings like a hawk.

Once we reached the hideout, Riley was already waiting, a frown etched on his face. "You guys look like you've seen a ghost," he said, but the gravity of his tone told us this was more than a casual meeting.

"We got a call," Alexander said, cutting straight to the chase. "Dante's dead, but someone else is gunning for us. We need to know who."

Riley nodded slowly, pulling out a notebook filled with notes and names. "I've been digging into everything since you both went off the radar. There's something bigger at play here, something I can't quite put my finger on."

As Riley laid out the details, a chill ran through me. Names of people I'd never heard of before, connections to dark corners of the criminal world I never wanted to know existed. I felt like a pawn being moved around on a chessboard, and the stakes were my life and my freedom.

"Whoever it is, they're not just trying to find you," Riley continued. "They're trying to get to you through everyone you care about. That means family, friends, and-"

"Alexander," I interjected, my voice shaking. "What if they find out about our baby? They could use that against us."

Alexander's expression hardened. "No one will touch you or our child. I swear it." He turned back to Riley, his voice low and steady. "We need a plan. We can't just sit here and wait for them to make their move."

Riley nodded, flipping through his notes. "We could lay low for a bit, make it seem like you're not a priority. But it's a risk. They could still find us. Alternatively, we could go on the offensive. Figure out who's behind this."

I felt a swell of anxiety. The idea of going on the offensive meant drawing the battle to us, risking everything. But at the same time, it felt like the only way to take back control.

"Let's go on the offensive," I said, surprising even myself. "We need to show whoever this is that we won't back down."

Alexander glanced at me, a mixture of pride and concern flickering in his eyes. "You sure, Angel? Once we take that step, there's no turning back."

"I'm sure," I replied, feeling the fire ignite within me. "I won't let them dictate our lives any longer. We'll fight for our future."

As we began to strategize, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, that the real threat was lurking just outside, waiting for the moment to strike. The tension in the air thickened, and with every word we spoke, I could feel the ghosts of our past closing in. But together, we were ready to confront whatever lay ahead, prepared to face the betrayal that had already begun to take shape around us.

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