All Good Times Comes To An End

All Good Times Comes To An End
Marco's pov
They had been at the safehouse for a week.
Seven quiet days where laughter had returned in cautious doses, where Alyssa started sleeping through the night again, where Sofia could sleep someday without waking up because of her nightmare.
Marco had begun to believe foolishly, maybe, that they could stretch this moment longer.
But peace, he knew, was a borrowed currency in his world. And the debt was always called in early.
His phone vibrated just after dawn. He answered on instinct, stepping out of bed carefully so as not to wake Sofia, who was curled under the covers in a loose shirt.
Giovanni.
“Marco. We have a situation,” his brother’s voice was clipped, grave.
Marco’s body tensed. “What kind?”
“There was a breach at the docks. Someone leaked the incoming shipment manifest our encrypted one. It’s not just about money, Marco. One of the containers was laced with surveillance tech. Cameras. Audio bugs. Hidden in furniture. Meant for us.”

Marco’s mind raced. “Kristoff?”
Giovanni exhaled. “If it wasn’t him, it’s someone working for him. Either way, he’s escalating. And our uncle’s territory is starting to ask questions.”
“How bad?”
Giovanni hesitated. “Bad enough that we need you back. Now.”
Marco stared into empty space, jaw tight.
They had run here, trying to catch their breath. But war didn’t let you breathe for long.
“Understood,” he said. “Give me six hours.”
He hung up and stood still, letting the silence wash over him before he turned and went back inside.
Sofia was awake, sitting up with sleep-streaked eyes, arms wrapped around her knees.
“Was that Giovanni?” she asked quietly.
Marco nodded.
“We’re leaving,” he said.
There was no anger in her response, just a slow, tired blink. “Of course we are.”
She didn’t ask for details. She didn’t protest. That unnerved him more than if she’d argued.

As she moved to get out of bed, Marco crossed to her side. “Sofia.”
She stopped, looking up.
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, gently. “This wasn’t a vacation.”
“I know.”
“But it was real.” He meant that with everything in him. He was going to make sure that after everything had died down, they would come back here for a real vacation. During their stay here, he had seen Sofia drop down her protective walls.
She looked away, and he hated how much that cut.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
He hesitated, but only for a moment.
“Someone tampered with one of our shipments. They’re watching. Listening. We don’t know how deep it goes.”

Her voice was low. “Are they watching us?”
Marco didn’t lie. “Maybe.”
“Is it Kristoff?”
“I think so.”
She nodded once, a tight line in her jaw forming. “I’ll get Alyssa up.”
The goodbye to the safehouse was quiet.
Alyssa didn’t ask why they were leaving again. She simply clutched her favorite storybook and Marco’s hand, walking in silence to the car.
Sofia sat beside her in the backseat, but her eyes met Marco’s in the rearview mirror several times.
There was no fear in them now.
Just a quiet readiness.

Back at the main De Santis estate, tension was already heavy in the air.
Guards at the perimeter had doubled. Camera systems were being upgraded. Marco’s men were on edge, their movements sharper.
Giovanni was waiting in the study when they arrived.
He gave Sofia a short nod and hugged Alyssa briefly before turning to his brother.
“We need to talk. Now.”
Marco glanced at Sofia. “Take Alyssa upstairs?”
She didn’t argue, only kissed Alyssa’s hair and led her away.
Once they were gone, Giovanni shut the door.
“You were right,” he said. “It was Kristoff. One of our newer tech handlers turned. He was offered money and protection for his sister.”
Marco didn’t flinch. “What happened to him?”
“He’s dead.”
“Good.”

Giovanni exhaled. “But it doesn’t end there. A contact in Milan says Kristoff has begun whispering into the ears of the Russians and the Genovese. He’s trying to fracture your alliances.”
Marco paced slowly.
“And it gets worse,” Giovanni continued. “He’s also using his pull with the Bianchi family.”
That made Marco pause. “Luca? Riccardo?”
“Luca moved quietly into Rome for a reason. I think he’s being baited. But Riccardo’s been seen meeting Kristoff’s men.”
Marco’s jaw tightened. “Sofia doesn’t know.”
“She can’t. Not yet.”
Marco glanced toward the hallway, where Sofia had disappeared with Alyssa.
A storm was coming. But this time, it wasn’t just about power or revenge.
This time, it was personal.