Chapter 1

As I stood there, my heart racing, and my mind filled with questions, my mother's words echoed in my ears. "We need to leave now!" Her urgency sent shivers down my spine, as her trembling hands clutched onto mine. The broken fragments of her favourite mug lay scattered on the floor, mirroring the chaos that had suddenly consumed our lives.

"Leave? And where are we going, Mum?" I managed to utter, my voice betraying my fear and confusion. At eighteen years old, I believed I was on the verge of understanding the world, but this moment shattered that illusion.

"Anywhere but here," my mother replied, her voice quivering. The confident, unwavering woman I knew seemed frail and vulnerable. Her pitiful expression tore at my heart, demanding my attention and cooperation.

"Mum, please calm down," I said, gripping her clammy hands in an attempt to provide some sense of comfort. Her anxiety was contagious, and I could feel it seeping into my veins.

"Where is Dad and what is going on?" I pressed, my fear escalating. But my mother's response was a silent shake of her head as if to say that the words were too heavy to bear or too dangerous to speak aloud.

The silence hung in the air, suffocating and ominous. Just as my thoughts spiralled into a whirlwind of possibilities, the sound of a car outside disrupted the stillness. Could it be Dad? Has he returned to shed light on this mystery?

Without a moment's hesitation, I moved away from my mother and rushed to the door, determined to find the answers I sought. But before I could reach the handle, the door swung open, revealing my father's hurried figure. His eyes met mine, conveying a mix of relief and urgency.

"Where is it? Are you guys ready?" he asked, his voice betraying a sense of urgency that matched my mother's.

My mother shook her head, her expression laden with unspoken fear and determination. I couldn't bear the weight of their cryptic exchanges any longer. I needed answers, clarity, and the reassurance that my family was safe.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" I cried out, desperation seeping into my voice. But my parents exchanged a glance, an unspoken agreement passing between them.

My father approached me, his hand gently cupping my face. "Luna honey, we can talk in the car, okay? Right now, we need to leave," he said his attempt at concealing his fear falling short. The anxiety in his gaze was undeniable.

My heart pounded in my chest, torn between obedience and the relentless pursuit of the truth. I knew I couldn't abandon my parents in their time of need, no matter how cryptic their actions seemed.

"Okay," I reluctantly agreed, my mind racing with questions. I turned and ran upstairs to my room, my footsteps echoing through the empty hallways. My room appeared untouched as if waiting for this exact moment. The box that contained my cherished belongings lay open, urging me to pack swiftly.

Without second-guessing, I started grabbing clothes, memories, and essentials, piling them haphazardly into the box. My mother entered the room, her presence both grounding and unsettling.

"Where's your high school results? Go get them because you'll need them," she instructed, her voice tinged with urgency. I scurried to retrieve my academic achievements and handed them over to her.

Amid my chaotic packing, my mother discarded most of the clothes I had initially selected. Confusion etched itself onto my face, and she explained. "We can

always get more clothes there. You just need the necessary things," she explained, her tone hurried yet calculated.

Minutes flew by as we rushed to gather the essentials. My mother's efficiency in selecting the most vital items astounded me. It was as if she had anticipated this moment as if she had prepared for it in advance.

Finally, we completed the task at hand. My mother left to gather her belongings while I carried the box down the stairs. As I reached the ground floor, I noticed my parents whispering to each other, their faces etched with concern. Their hushed conversation abruptly ceased as they caught sight of me.

"I'm ready," I announced, my voice quivering with a mix of anxiety and determination. My father turned his gaze toward me, offering a faint smile amid the chaos that enveloped us.

"Go to the car, we're coming," he instructed, his voice strained. Although I longed to know the truth, to unravel the enigma that had consumed our lives, I complied without protest. The urgency in their voices compelled me to trust their judgment, no matter how unsettling it felt.

I walked towards the car, clutching the box tightly in my arms. A wave of sadness washed over me as I realized I wouldn't be able to attend the party I had promised my best friend. I hastily sent him a message, expressing my regrets and explaining that circumstances beyond my control had intervened. I knew he wouldn't fully understand, but I had no choice. My parents' safety and our uncertain future took precedence over social obligations.

Silence engulfed the car as my parents joined me inside. The weight of unspoken words hung heavily in the air, suffocating us. My father took his place behind the wheel, his knuckles turning white as he firmly gripped the steering wheel. Without a word, he started the engine and pulled away, leaving behind the life we once knew.

As we sped down the familiar streets of Milan, a whirlwind of emotions consumed me. Uncertainty, fear and a sense of loss intertwined within me. My mind raced, desperately seeking answers to the questions that lingered, unanswered.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, I broke it with a whisper, almost afraid to disturb the fragile peace within the car. "Are we going to Grandpa's house?" I ventured, my voice barely audible.

In response, my mother reached out, her hand grasping my father's, a silent exchange passing between them. "No, we're not. We are going to the US," she revealed, her voice carrying a mix of resignation and determination.

"What! Why?" I exclaimed, my heart sinking at the thought of leaving behind everything I held dear. The US seemed like a foreign and distant land, a place that held no familiarity for me.

"We have some issues, Luna. We need to leave Italy for a while," my father explained, his words cryptic, yet laced with a promise of eventual return. They were attempting to shield me from a truth too dark and dangerous to fully comprehend.

"I'm not a child anymore, Dad," I protested, my voice tinged with a newfound resolve. "So it's either you tell me what's going on or drop me off at GGrandpa I don't want to go to the US." The thought of leaving behind my friends, my school, and my beloved Milan sent a pang of sorrow coursing through me.

My parents exchanged a glance, their expressions burdened with regret and worry. It was as if they were weighing the risks of unveiling the truth against the safety of keeping me in the dark.

"It's not a choice," my mother finally spoke, her voice strained. "We are being pursued by a dangerous gang, and we

have information that could put our lives at risk. We need to disappear, to keep ourselves safe," she revealed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

The weight of her words crashed over me like a tidal wave. A dangerous gang? Are our lives at risk? It felt like a scene ripped from a thriller movie, but this was our reality. My parents had been living in the shadows, hiding a secret that threatened to consume us all.

"But why? How did this happen?" I choked out, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the situation. Fear and anger surged through my veins, a turbulent mix of emotions clashing within me.

My father sighed heavily, his eyes filled with remorse. "It's complicated, Luna. There are things we've been involved in, things we didn't fully understand at the time. Now, we're paying the price for it," he explained, his voice laced with regret.

Tears welled up in my eyes as a whirlwind of emotions swirled within me. I felt betrayed, not only by the dangerous circumstances we were entangled in but also by the fact that my parents had kept this hidden from me. The sense of security I had taken for granted was shattered in an instant.

My mother reached out and took my hand, her touch offering a sliver of comfort amidst the chaos. "Luna, we did this to protect you. We didn't want you to be involved or in harm's way. We love you, and that's why we're doing everything we can to keep you safe," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.

A mix of gratitude and resentment battled within me. Part of me understood their intentions, the need to shield me from danger. Yet, another part longed for the truth, to be treated as an equal, to have a say in the fate that had been thrust upon us.

As the car sped towards an uncertain future, a newfound determination swelled within me. I couldn't change the past or the dangerous circumstances that surrounded us, but I could choose how I faced them. I would no longer be the oblivious teenager in the dark; I would be an active participant in this clandestine journey.

"Okay," I finally said, my voice filled with a mix of resignation and determination. "I'll trust you, but I need you to trust me too. No more secrets, no more half-truths. We're in this together."

My parents exchanged a glance, their expressions softened by a glimmer of hope. They had feared my rejection, my defiance. But at that moment, I made a silent vow to stand by their side, to protect each other, no matter what lay ahead.