The Price of Secrets

Adrain...

The explosion rocked the quiet night, sending a shockwave through the DeLuca estate. Glass shattered, alarm wailed, and the scent of smoke filled the air. I shot up from my leather chair, my eyes sharp narrowing as I reach for my gun from my top drawer.

Dante bursts through the office doors, his expression grim. "Boss, we've got a problem. The Romano family just made their move."

I didn't need further explanation. I knew an attack was imminent, but this? This was a declaration of war.

Lorenzo stormed in behind Dante, adjusting his cufflinks as if we weren't in the middle of goddamn crisis. "We should have hit them first."

I ignored him, moving towards the massive floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the estate grounds. Smoke curled into the night sky, the remnants of a car bomb still flickering in the driveway. "Casualties?"

"Two of our men. One injured," Dante says. "But this wasn't just a warning shot. They wanted us to know they can get close."

Lorenzo scoffed. No one gets close unless someone lets them. We need to start looking inwards."

I clenched my jaw. The thought had already crossed my mind. A mole.

My phone buzzed in my pocket bring me back from my thoughts. I pulled it out and read the message.

"You're losing control, Russo. Tick tock."

My grip tightened around the device. Whoever sent this wasn't just taunting me. They are watching.

"Dante, double the perimeter secuirity. No one leaves or enters without my say. And Lorenzo—"

"Yeah?"

I turn, my gaze like steel. "Find me the traitor."

Lorenzo smirked."And if I already have a suspect?"

Dante exhaled sharply, eyeing Lorenzo. "You think you know who it is?"

Lorenzo leaned against the desk, folding his arms. "It's just a hunch. But the timing's just too perfect. And our newest business associate is the only one who wasn't here when the bomb went off."

I don't react. But my mind is already racing. Celeste.

"Careful with your accusations," I say with a cold tone. "She had nothing to gain from this."

Lorenzo shrugged. "Or maybe she has everything to gain. Watch her closely bos—"

" I said careful." I say with hint of anger. 

I dismissed Lorenzo but I know his words make total sense.

What are you really up to Ogonëk? 

Celeste...

I hear a loud explosion and I freeze on my track. I grip my phone tighter as I watch the explosion from a distance. This wasn't part of the plan.

My mission was to get close to Adrian Russo, infiltrate his empire, and bring him down piece by piece. But now, with a full-blown war erupting between the mafia families, everything is spiraling out of control. 

I press a number on my burner phone. "Sienna, tell me you're seeing this."

"I see it," Sienna's voice crackled over the line."This wasn't supposed to happen. What the hell is going on?"

"Are you still in?" Sienna asks, urgency in her tone."Because if Russo suspects you—"

"I know the risks," I cut in." But I have to stay."

I hung up before Sienna starts to argue. My heart pounding against my ribs as I turned back to the street below. staying meant I was in deeper than ever. 

And if Adrian found out who I really was, there would be no escape. 

A sudden noise behind me makes me whirl around, reaching for the knife strapped at my thigh. A shadow moved in the alley below, too fast to be a random pedestrian. I wasn't alone.

I pressed myself to the rooftop's edge, my breath steady as I assessed my surroundings. Was someone following me?

I tapped my earpiece. "Sienna. I think I'm being watched. Can you trace my location?"

"Already on it," Sienna replies."Wait—Celeste, there's someone moving toward you from the east side. Get out of there."

I clench my jaw. I couldn't run. Not yet.

I exhaled slowly, waiting. The moment the figure stepped into the light, I moved. Fast, precise and deadly.

The man barely had time to react before I had him pinned against the alley wall, my blade against his throat. "Who sent you?"

The man struggled but I pressed harder, forcing him to stay still. A messenger, not a fighter.

You need to listen," he rasped. "You're in danger. They know."

Cold dread settled in my stomach. "Who knows?"

The man wheezed, eyes flickering with something close to fear. "Russo. He's already watching you. You don't have much time.

My blood ran cold. It can't end so soon.

Before I could press for more, the man jerked forward—a gunshot splitting the silence. His body went limp, collapsing at my feet.

I didn't wait around to be next.

Tucking my knife into its holster, I turned on my heel and disappeared into the night my mind racing.

If Adrian wan onto me, I was running out of time.