Chapter 4 ALLIES IN THE SHADOWS

The safe house was silent except for the hum of the city outside and Ava's shaky breaths. I could still feel Matteo's call burning in my veins, every word a threat, every second a countdown

I paced the room, gun in hand, calculating, planning. Three conflicts tangled in my chest and wouldn't let me breathe. My mother's betrayal, Matteo's relentless pursuit, and Ava's secret, the child. All three converged into a storm I had no choice but to face it.

Ava sat on the edge of the sofa, knees pulled to her chest, watching me like I was going to break apart at any moment

"Lucien," she said softly, "we need a plan We can't keep running." I stopped pacing, stared at her, You think I haven't considered that? "Yes," she whispered, But we need help. People who don't care about bloodlines or revenge. People who are willing to fight for us.

I studied her, the same fierce determination that had haunted and seduced me in Milan, the same resolve that had made her sign my death and risk her life to survive

You have someone in mind? I asked slowly

She nodded, There's one person, Someone who owes me, someone who doesn't know yet that we're alive. But he'll help If we can find him in time.

First conflict, trusting someone from our past in a world where loyalty is a weapon.

"Fine," I said "But we move fast. Matteo gave us twenty four hours. We won't last that long hiding in this cage"

I grabbed the car keys and my bag of weapons, slinging it over my shoulder. Ava followed without hesitation. She had learned to survive in fire and now she had to learn to fight in it.

We drove through abandoned streets, avoiding traffic and surveillance cameras, every corner a potential ambush. My mind raced, Matteo's men were everywhere. The tunnels, the garages, the safe houses we used to think were secure, all compromised. We arrived at a small warehouse on the outskirts of the city, one I hadn't set foot in for years. The air smelled of oil and rust, shadows dancing in the dim light of broken windows

Ava led me to the back, knocking in a pattern I hadn't recognized. A chain rattled, and the door opened slowly, revealing a tall man with sharp eyes and a crooked grin

"Rico," Ava whispered

Rico! I repeated, Recognition hit me like a bullet. One of Ava's old allies, a ghost from her past who had disappeared from our lives like he'd never existed

"Lucien Moretti," he said, eyes narrowing. "Didn't think I'd see your face again, alive"

"Rico," I said cautiously, "We need help! Matteo's hunting us, my mother's working with him. He wants the child and Moretti Global."

Rico's expression darkened, "You got guts showing up here"

Second conflict, forming alliances with dangerous strangers whose loyalty is as unpredictable as the bullets we dodge

"We don't have time for caution," I snapped. "Either you help us or you're irrelevant"

He smirked, pulling a cigarette from his pocket. "Fine, I will help. But understand, I don't work for anyone. Least of all the Morettis"

Ava stepped closer to me, whispering, "He's our only chance"

I nodded, "Then we make him our ally, whether he likes it or not"

Rico led us inside, and we immediately started planning. Blueprints, maps, surveillance footage, contacts we had hours to prepare, and every second felt like minutes under fire.

"I can get you inside Matteo's network," Rico said, "but you need to move tonight. He'll be expecting hesitation"

I clenched my fists. "Then we don't hesitate. We strike first."

Ava's hand brushed against mine, and I felt the weight of our shared past, the tension of fate, and the dangerous promise of what was to come. Every heartbeat reminded me of the child, of her, and of everything I could lose.

Third conflict, balancing love, survival, and revenge in a world that wants to destroy us

We moved at night, slipping through alleyways and abandoned streets, blending into shadows. My men were gone, scattered or killed. Matteo's men were everywhere. Every shadow could hide a gun, every window could be an assassin's eye. We reached a quiet building, one Rico had claimed as a temporary safe house. He ushered us inside and barricaded the doors. Maps covered the walls, red markers showing Matteo's known operations, black markers his possible moves.

"We hit them here," Rico said, pointing to a central warehouse where Matteo stored his most valuable assets. "We take him by surprise, disrupt the chain, and you reclaim your empire"

Ava's eyes flicked to me, Are you sure?

"I don't have a choice," I said. "If we hesitate, they will kill everything I care about. You, the child, this city and everything. We prepared weapons, checked guns, and loaded silencers. The adrenaline surged through me, the same bloodlust that had kept me alive in Milan now fused with desperation and love

Hours later, the city slept, unaware of the storm about to hit.

I stood at the edge of the roof, watching Matteo's warehouse below. Ava beside me, clutching my arm, and Rico scanning the perimeter. Every step counted, Every mistake would be fatal.

Ava whispered, Lucien, what if we fail?

I tightened my grip on her, feeling her heartbeat against mine. Then we die together. But we can't fail.

We descended, shadows among shadows, silent and deadly. Every movement calculated, every breath controlled. This was more than survival, this was war.

As we reached the warehouse, I peeked through a broken window and froze

Inside, Matteo sat at a table, flanked by men in suits, counting stacks of cash, but he wasn't alone.

My mother. She sat across from him, smiling faintly, the same cold expression that had haunted me for years. Her hand rested on a folder one that looked suspiciously like another death warrant.

I felt Ava's hand tighten on mine. "They're ready for us," she whispered

"No," I said, jaw tight. "We're ready for them."

I moved back to Rico. "Tonight, we take everything. The empire, The revenge And my child's life"

He nodded, loading the final rounds into his rifle. "Let's make this night count"

I turned to Ava, our eyes locking. Fate had given us a second chance, but it had also given us a war. And nothing in my life had prepared me for the choice I was about to make.

A shot rang out behind us

Rico shouted, "They know we're here"

I spun, gun raised, and my blood ran cold

Standing in the shadows, grinning like a predator, was Matteo And he wasn't alone

Ten men emerged, guns raised, surrounding us completely.

Ava's scream hit me like fire, I knew in that moment, nothing would survive the night

And then Matteo stepped forward slow, deliberate, and whispered in my ear

"Game over cousin."