Chapter 15: A Fractured Trust

The ride back to the hospital was quiet, the weight of our new alliance with Dominic Ferraro settling heavily between Ethan and me. I stared out the window, watching the city pass by in a blur of streetlights and shadows, but my thoughts were miles away, tangled in the implications of what we had just agreed to.

Could we trust Ferraro? The logical answer was no—he had spent years working under Castellano, soaking in the darkness that came with that power. But as Ethan said, we didn't have a choice. The deeper we ventured into my father's past, the more we uncovered layers of betrayal and violence. If Ferraro was willing to help us take down Castellano, even for his own gain, we had to use him.

But it left a bitter taste in my mouth, the idea of relying on someone so steeped in the world I was trying to escape.

Ethan, ever the steady presence, remained silent as he drove, his focus entirely on the road. But I could feel the tension radiating off him—the same wariness I was feeling. He was my best friend, and I knew him well enough to know that despite his calm demeanor, the meeting with Ferraro had unsettled him.

When we arrived back at the hospital, Ethan parked in the lot and turned off the engine, but neither of us moved. The car was still, the silence between us charged with unsaid words. I could feel the weight of everything pressing down on my shoulders—the pressure of leading my father's empire, the danger looming over us, and now, the dangerous game we were about to play with Ferraro.

"Do you think we made a mistake?" I asked quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan sighed, leaning back in his seat and rubbing a hand over his face. "Honestly? I don't know. But what I do know is that we didn't have many options. Castellano's got too many people in his pocket. If we want to take him down, we're going to need someone who understands his operations from the inside."

I nodded, though the uncertainty still gnawed at me. "But Ferraro... he's not doing this for us. He's doing it for himself."

Ethan's eyes flicked to me, and there was something sharp in his gaze. "You're right. But we can use that to our advantage. Ferraro wants power, and if we can offer him something better than what Castellano is giving him, we can control the narrative."

I let out a long breath, trying to absorb his words. The idea of manipulating someone like Ferraro made me uneasy, but this wasn't about comfort anymore. It was about survival. And if there was one thing I'd learned, it was that we were playing a dangerous game where trust was a luxury we couldn't afford.

As we stepped out of the car and headed into the hospital, my mind raced ahead to what came next. Ferraro might help us for now, but there would be a price. And I had no idea what that price would be.

When we entered William's room, I found him sitting upright in bed, his eyes scanning through several documents that had been scattered across his lap. His face was still pale, but there was a fierceness in his gaze that told me his mind was already back in the fight.

William glanced up as we entered, his brow furrowing slightly. "How did it go?"

I exchanged a glance with Ethan before sitting down in the chair beside William's bed. "We met with Ferraro," I said slowly, my voice tight with the weight of what we had just done. "He's willing to help us take down Castellano, but... he wants something in return."

William's eyes darkened. "Of course he does. What does he want?"

I swallowed hard, bracing myself. "He wants power. When Castellano falls, he expects to take his place."

The room fell into a tense silence. William's expression hardened, and I could see the gears turning in his mind, calculating the risks, weighing the options. After a long pause, he spoke, his voice low and cold. "And you agreed to this?"

Ethan stepped forward, his arms crossed. "We didn't have much of a choice, William. Ferraro knows Castellano's operations inside and out. Without him, we're shooting in the dark."

William's jaw tightened, the muscles in his neck flexing as he processed the information. "So we trade one monster for another."

"Not necessarily," I said quickly, trying to cut through the tension. "We don't have to let Ferraro rise to power. We just need him to help us take down Castellano. Once that's done, we can figure out how to deal with him."

William's gaze flicked to mine, his eyes intense. "And what makes you think Ferraro will just step aside after Castellano is gone? Men like him don't give up power easily, Alice. They take what they can get, and they never let go."

I didn't have an answer for that, and the realization sent a wave of unease through me. William was right. Ferraro wasn't going to walk away once Castellano was out of the picture. He would demand something in return, something that might be just as dangerous as Castellano himself.

"We're going to have to keep an eye on him," Ethan said, his voice steady. "If Ferraro makes a move we don't like, we cut him off."

"That's a dangerous game," William muttered, his eyes narrowing. "We'll be trading one enemy for another."

I sat back in my chair, feeling the weight of his words. William's instincts were right—this was a dangerous alliance. But we couldn't back out now. Ferraro was our best shot at taking down Castellano, and until Castellano was gone, we had no choice but to play along.

"We have to play this smart," I said, my voice firmer now. "We'll use Ferraro for as long as we need him. But we won't let him get too close."

William studied me for a moment, his eyes searching mine, before he gave a curt nod. "Fine. But the second Ferraro steps out of line, we take him down."

I nodded, relieved that he was willing to go along with the plan, even though I could see the unease lingering in his eyes. I didn't like the idea of dealing with Ferraro any more than William did, but we were running out of time. Castellano was coming for us, and if we didn't strike first, we might not get another chance.

Before I could say more, William shifted in bed, wincing slightly as he adjusted his position. Despite his best efforts to hide it, I could see the pain etched in his face, the toll his injuries had taken on him.

"You should rest," I said softly, reaching out to touch his arm. "We'll handle things from here."

But William shook his head, his expression hard. "No. I'm not going to sit here while you two are out there dealing with Ferraro. I need to be involved."

I could see the frustration in his eyes, the sense of helplessness that came from being sidelined. But I couldn't let him push himself too far. Not when he was still healing.

"You'll be involved," I promised, my voice gentle but firm. "But right now, you need to focus on getting better. We can't afford to lose you."

For a moment, William didn't respond, his eyes locked on mine, the tension between us palpable. Then, with a reluctant sigh, he leaned back against the pillows, his body relaxing slightly. "Fine. But keep me in the loop. I want updates on everything."

Ethan gave a nod of agreement. "You'll know everything. But for now, get some rest. We'll need you back on your feet sooner than later."

William's eyes flicked to Ethan, a flicker of gratitude passing between them, though neither of them would say it aloud. There was an unspoken understanding between them—one forged in years of friendship and shared battles.

As the tension eased slightly, I rose from my chair, glancing at Ethan. "We should check in with Lucas. Make sure Ferraro hasn't changed his mind."

Ethan nodded, stepping toward the door. "I'll make the call."

As he left the room, I turned back to William, my heart heavy with everything that had happened—and everything that was still to come.

"I'll be back soon," I said softly, squeezing his hand. "Get some rest."

William's eyes softened as he looked up at me, his fingers brushing against mine. "Be careful, Alice."

I gave him a small, reassuring smile before turning and leaving the room, but his words echoed in my mind.

*Be careful.*

I had a feeling that being careful wasn't going to be enough.