Chapter 7 Betrayals and Broken Promises

The Valentini estate had become a fortress. Guards at every door, cameras monitoring every angle, and yet, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that danger was already inside.

Lorenzo had left hours ago, leading a strike against the Rossi's warehouse operations. His parting words haunted her.

"I'll finish this war before it reaches our doorstep."

But in Aria's world, peace was always temporary.

The Betrayal

Aria stood in the estate's control room, watching the surveillance monitors flicker. Leo was safe upstairs with his nanny, but the unease in her chest wouldn't settle.

Giovanni, Lorenzo's most trusted underboss, entered, his face hard and unreadable.

"Lorenzo wants you to stay alert," he said curtly.

She nodded. "Do you think the Rossis will try again?"

Giovanni's lips curved into a smirk that didn't reach his eyes. "They're desperate. Cornered dogs bite the hardest."

But something in his tone felt off.

Aria's instincts prickled.

She followed him out of the control room, pretending to trust his composure, but the sinking feeling only grew as Giovanni's steps led them toward the west wing-far from Leo's room.

"I thought you said Lorenzo wanted me in the control room," she said, slowing her pace.

Giovanni's smile sharpened. "Change of plans. You're leaving with me."

Aria's blood turned to ice. "What are you talking about?"

Giovanni's hand shot out, gripping her arm. "Orders from someone much higher than Lorenzo. The Rossis are paying top dollar for you and the kid."

Her world tilted.

"You're betraying him?" she gasped, struggling against his iron grip.

"It's not betrayal, sweetheart. It's survival. Valentini's losing this war. Time to switch sides."

But before Giovanni could drag her another step, a cold, lethal voice cut through the corridor.

"Take your hand off her, Giovanni, or lose it."

Lorenzo.

He stood at the end of the hall, gun drawn, fury radiating from every inch of him.

Giovanni's grip tightened for a heartbeat, then loosened as he raised his hands mockingly. "Boss. You're back early."

"Lucky for you," Lorenzo said, stalking forward. His gun never wavered. "I trusted you like a brother. You chose the wrong side."

In a blink, Lorenzo's fist connected with Giovanni's jaw, sending him sprawling. Aria stumbled back as Lorenzo pressed his gun to Giovanni's temple.

"This is for my son," Lorenzo growled and pulled the trigger.

The gunshot echoed like a final verdict.

Giovanni crumpled to the marble floor, lifeless.

Lorenzo turned to Aria, his face a mixture of relief and lingering rage. "Are you hurt?"

Aria shook her head, but the adrenaline had her trembling. "He said the Rossis wanted Leo and me... and someone from inside was helping them."

Lorenzo's jaw clenched. "There's always a snake. But he was their last chance inside these walls."

The Breaking Point

They moved swiftly after that. Lorenzo increased the guard rotation, doubled security, and wouldn't let Aria or Leo out of his sight.

That night, as the estate settled into a tense, watchful silence, Aria found Lorenzo in his private office, standing by the bar with a glass of scotch in his hand.

"You should rest," she said gently.

He looked at her, his expression unreadable. "I can't afford to rest. Not until they're all buried."

Aria stepped closer, seeing the storm of guilt and rage behind his carefully controlled mask. "You can't do this alone, Lorenzo."

His laugh was bitter. "Alone is all I've ever known."

"You're not alone now," she whispered, her fingers brushing against his arm. "You have Leo. You have me."

His defenses crumbled. The weight of the past, the betrayals, the endless wars-it all caught up to him.

"I can't lose you," he said, voice raw. "Not again."

"You won't," she promised.

The space between them vanished as their lips met in a desperate, searing kiss. It wasn't soft or tentative-it was a collision of years of unresolved feelings, fears, and fierce longing.

He hoisted her onto the desk, his hands threading through her hair as if anchoring himself. Aria responded with equal fervor, her fingers clutching his shirt, grounding them in this fragile, stolen moment of truth.

But the chime of Lorenzo's phone shattered the moment once again.

He groaned against her lips before pulling away, checking the screen. His expression turned deadly.

"They've taken one of my informants. They're trying to negotiate a trade-your life for his."

Aria's stomach twisted. "You can't give in to them."

"I won't," Lorenzo said, his eyes blazing. "But I'll send them a message they'll never forget."