Chapter 7 - Shadows of the Past
As the sun reached its zenith, Elena and her brothers retreated to the Moretti family estate—a sprawling, fortress-like compound nestled in the private hills overlooking the city. Unlike the flashy, ostentatious mansion of the Coles, the Moretti estate was built for endurance, surrounded by ancient stone walls, iron security gates, and a perimeter patrolled by elite guards.
Inside the private medical wing, a personal physician carefully cleaned and dressed the remaining whip marks across Elena’s back. The pain was sharp, but the physical healing was nothing compared to the psychological closure of shedding the life she had built on a lie.
Dominic waited in the adjacent study, pouring two glasses of aged scotch. When Elena walked in, wearing a loose silk robe, he handed her a glass without a word.
“You didn’t have to dismantle the entire corporation, Dom,” Elena said quietly, taking a small sip of the amber liquid. “Taking his wealth was enough.”
“No, it wasn't,” Dominic replied, his voice hardening. “He didn't just steal from you, Elena. He didn't just cheat on you. He humiliated you in public, and he raised a hand against a Moretti. In our world, an insult paid in blood must be settled in full.”
Matteo walked into the study, tossing a secure satellite phone onto the desk. “Word is spreading through the underground. The old families are talking. They thought the Morettis had gone soft because Elena married a civilian tech-bro and played housewife for three years. They know better now.”
Elena stared into her glass, watching the ice cubes drift. “I thought I could leave this life behind. I thought if I married someone normal, someone outside our world, I could escape the violence and the shadows.”
“You can never escape who you are, little bird,” Gabriel said gently, walking in with a fresh stack of encrypted reports. “Blood isn't just about violence; it’s about protection. The Coles thought you were unprotected. They learned the hard way that our walls extend wherever you go.”
Nico leaned against the doorway, smirking slightly. “By the way, Vanessa tried to catch a flight to Zurich this morning using a forged passport. Border security stopped her before she even cleared the terminal. She’s currently sitting in a holding cell waiting for Luca to finish with her.”
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Elena looked up at her four brothers—men who controlled shadows, finances, and empires, yet would burn the world to the ground if anyone scratched her skin. A faint, genuine smile touched her lips for the first time in months.
“Good,” Elena said. “Let her wait.”
