the following morning, presenting her case to a panel of judges, she realized how quickly that boundary had dissolved. Her client was innocent, a small business owner

nge of dismantling her opponent's case. But today, the weight of Dominic's warning pressed against her chest like a vice. "Miss Moretti?" the judge's voic

from her colleagues. Carmen was waiting for her outside the courtroom, her expression concerned. "You were off your game in there," Carmen said as they w

Anyway, you've got a lunch meeting with the Sterling Group at noon. Want me to reschedule?" "No, I'll handle it," Maria said quickly. "Thanks, Carmen." Carmen hesi

present threat of Dominic. He knew Dominic well enough to recognize the patterns. The man thrived on fear and manipulation, and Luca hated that Maria had

he now?" "Holed up in one of Dominic's safehouses," Enzo replied. "But he's sloppy. We can grab him if you want." Luca considered it for a moment before shaking his head. "Not yet. Let him think he's unto

e distraction," Dominic said, sipping his wine as he addressed his inner circle. A man seated across from him chuckled. "DeLuca's completely off balance. The woman's a l

ant seeds of mistrust. She's smart, but even the smartest people crack under pressure." "And i

y slid into a secluded booth. Maria nodded, pulling out her phone. She handed it to him, showing him the texts from the unknown number. Luca's face darkened as he read the messages. "It's Dominic," he said quietl

you are, I need your trust now more than ever, Maria." She hesitated, her mind flashing back to the rose on her doorstep, the threats, and the growing danger. "I d

tion and something deeper, something that made her chest ache. "Alright," she said fi

He was patient, calculating, and relentless, determined to dismantle Luca's empire piece by piece. And

t the pavement, when she felt it, a prickling at the back of her neck, the unmistakable sensation of being watched. Her eyes darted around the dark parking lot, scanning for movement. She clutched her p

was filled with concern. "I'm fine," Maria lied, though her voice betrayed her unease. "I've been worried about you," Carmen said. "You've been so distant lately. And those guys from the docks... Ar

. You know that, right?" "I know," Maria replied, her chest tightening. "I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" "Okay," Carmen said reluctantly. "Stay safe." Maria ende

urled into a satisfied smirk. "Good. This will make her question everything." "And DeLuca?" Carlo asked. Dominic chuckled. "Let him scramble to pick up the pieces. By the time he realizes what's happening, it'll be too late." Carlo nodded, though unease flickered in his expression. He had followed

oached her desk, she stopped in her tracks. A large manila envelope sat on the centre of her desk, its surface blank except for her name scrawled in bold black letters. Her s

th men who were clearly armed, and exchanging what looked like cash for unmarked packages. Maria's hands sho

inic wanted her to doubt Luca. For a moment, she considered calling him, demanding an explanation. But another part of her hesitate

here did you get these?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with tension. "They were left on my desk," Maria replied. "Are they real, Luca? Is this who you are?" Luca looked up, his eyes meeting hers. "Maria, listen to me. These photos are a setup. Dominic's trying to

oubt remained. "How can I believe you?" Luca stepped closer, his voice was soft but firm. "Because you know me, Maria. You know the kind of man I am. And you know I would never hurt you." She wanted to believe him. But the images, the threats, the danger, it wa

matter which side she chose, she knew the consequences would be devastating. Meanwhile, Dominic watched from the shadows, his plans un

rowing shadow created a storm within her that refused to settle. She drove aimlessly through the city, her mind racing with que

s and paths. She sat down on a bench, clutching her coat tightly against the chill in the air. What am I supposed to do? she thought, s

couldn't be trusted. Walk aw

the device as far as she could. But instead, she forced herself to t

's working." Enzo crossed the room, his expression grim. "What do you want to do?" Luca picked up one of the photos, studying it closely. "We need to find out how he's getting to her. Who's delivering the messages? Who's watching her?" Enzo nodded. "I'll put our best men on it." Luca set the

from across the room. "Of course she is," Dominic replied. "Maria's strong, but even the strongest people have their limits. And once she's broken, Luca will fo

if she tried to ignore it. Maria took out her phone and dialled Luca's number. He answered on the first ring. "Maria?" "I need to know everything," she said, her voice steady. "No more half-truths. No more protecting me. If I'm going to survive this, I need to know exactly what I'm up against." There was a pause on the other end bef

aching, and she knew it wouldn't be long before everything exploded. But for the first time in days, she felt a flicker