Chapter 15: choice of shadows

Elena stood there, her breath shallow, her body frozen in place as Luca's words echoed in her mind. *You could be with me. You could have everything.* The offer was seductive, a promise of power and freedom in a world she had come to fear. But it came with a price—betrayal, treachery, and a life where loyalty meant nothing.

She pulled away from Luca's touch, taking a step back, her mind racing. "I'm not like you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not a part of this war."

Luca's smile was cold, calculated. "You already are, Elena. You've been in this game from the start. You've just been too blinded by your own art to see it." He stepped forward again, his gaze never leaving hers. "You can either keep painting in the shadows, or you can join me and help bring about a new dawn. But understand this—Don Vincenzo is losing his grip. And soon, you'll have to choose who you stand with."

Elena's pulse quickened, her heart pounding in her chest. She thought of Don Vincenzo—of the man who had brought her into his world, who had made her a part of his empire. He had shown her a world of luxury and power, but also one of ruthless survival. Was this what she wanted? Was this all she could ever be—caught in a battle for control, torn between two men, two worlds?

"I don't want this," Elena said, her voice cracking. "I just want to create."

Luca's expression darkened, and for a moment, the charm fell away, revealing the danger beneath. "Then you'll have to choose, Elena. Because in this world, there is no place for those who hesitate."

With that, Luca turned and walked toward the door. Before leaving, he glanced back over his shoulder, his voice low and dangerous. "Remember—Don Vincenzo isn't the man you think he is. He'll use you until you're no longer useful, and then… you'll be discarded. If you come with me, I'll protect you. You'll have everything you've ever wanted."

Elena stood there in the dim light, the weight of his words pressing down on her chest. She had known this world was brutal, but hearing it so plainly from Luca, from one of Vincenzo's closest men, made the reality of the situation feel all the more suffocating.

But despite the fear and uncertainty, one thought kept repeating in her mind: I'm not just a pawn.