The King’s Move

Luca had spent his whole life believing in a lie.

Now, that lie was unraveling.

And the truth?

The truth could kill him.

—

He didn't speak on the drive back.

Sofia and Henry didn't push. They knew better.

But the weight in the car was suffocating.

Finally, Sofia broke the silence. "Whatever he told you…" She hesitated. "Are we believing him?"

Luca exhaled slowly.

"We're finding out."

—

The safe house was silent when they arrived. Henry locked the doors. Sofia checked the perimeter.

Luca went straight to his father's old study.

It had been years since he touched anything inside.

But now…

Now, he was searching for something.

Answers.

Secrets.

Proof that Dante wasn't just playing mind games.

—

Hours passed.

Old documents, encrypted files, names he recognized and names he didn't.

Then—

A single folder.

A name he never expected to see.

Nicolo DeLuca.

His father.

His betrayer.

Luca's pulse roared in his ears as he flipped through the pages.

Bank transactions. Meetings. Letters exchanged in the dead of night.

Deals with Moretti. Deals with enemies.

Deals with Salvatore.

His breath caught.

Dante had been right.

His father had sold out the family.

—

Luca stared at the papers in front of him, his chest tight.

For years, he had built his empire in his father's name.

But now—

Now, that name meant nothing.

A knock at the door.

Sofia stepped in, arms crossed. "We need to talk."

Luca glanced at her. "Not now."

"Yes, now," she said firmly.

He looked up.

Her expression was unreadable. But her voice was careful.

"Henry found something."

Luca stood. "What?"

Sofia swallowed.

"A hit."

Luca frowned. "On who?"

Sofia held his gaze.

"…On you."

—

Silence.

Then Luca exhaled, slow and controlled.

"How long?"

Sofia's jaw tightened. "Two hours ago."

Luca processed that.

Someone had put a price on his head.

And he had a damn good guess who.

—

The room felt colder.

Luca grabbed his gun, checking the magazine.

Sofia narrowed her eyes. "What's the plan?"

Luca locked the slide.

"We find out who pulled the trigger."

A beat.

Then he met her gaze, his voice like steel.

"And we bury them first."

—

Next Chapter: The Hunt Begins – Luca tracks down the assassin, but the closer he gets, the more dangerous the game becomes.