That night, Alessandro stood alone on the balcony, city lights shimmering below him. Isabella's words kept playing in his head like a broken record: Confess or lose everything. The thought of Rachel getting caught in the crossfire twisted his gut more than any bullet ever had.
He heard footsteps behind him. Rachel joined him, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders. "You've been out here for hours," she said softly. "Talk to me."
Alessandro hesitated, then handed her a small black phone he'd received hours earlier. "A call came in. No ID. The voice was distorted. They said they're part of something called The Consortium—and they know everything."
Rachel scanned his face, searching his eyes. "Everything… meaning your past. The Florence massacre. All of it."
He nodded grimly. "They want me to join them. Or they'll leak everything to the world—and to the FBI. They said if I refuse, they'll start killing anyone who stands with me."
Rachel stepped closer, her hand warm against his cheek. "You can't join them," she said firmly. "You've spent your whole life trying to stop people like that."
"That's what they're counting on," Alessandro said, voice tight with rage. "They know I won't let innocent people get caught in the crossfire. They're betting I'll do anything to keep the peace I fought for."
Nico burst onto the balcony, eyes wide. "Boss, you need to see this."
They rushed to the living room, where Nico's laptop showed a live news feed: a luxury hotel downtown engulfed in flames, fire trucks swarming. The headline read: Mysterious Explosion at City Center Hotel—Dozens Feared Dead.
A shaky cell phone video played. A masked man stood amid the chaos, speaking into the camera: "This is only the beginning. Alessandro Romano, your sins have consequences."
Rachel's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my god…"
Alessandro's face was stone. "They're sending a message."
Nico pulled a gun from his belt. "Boss, we need to strike back. Hunt them down before they hit again."
But Alessandro shook his head, eyes burning with cold resolve. "No. We're not going to play their game. We'll find them on our terms—and end this once and for all."
He looked out at the city, the orange glow of the fire reflecting in his eyes. He'd faced many wars, but this one was different. This wasn't just a fight for power. This was a fight for his soul.