Chapter 10: A Dangerous Secret

Valentina kicked and screamed as the men dragged her down the hotel hallway. Her mind raced, searching for a way out.

"Let me go!" she yelled, stomping hard on one man's foot.

He howled in pain but didn't let go. The other guard tightened his grip.

"Keep quiet," he growled. "Ms. Vega just wants to talk."

Valentina didn't believe that for a second. She thought of Alessio and Dante, surrounded by enemies in that room. They needed her. She couldn't give up.

As they rounded a corner, Valentina spotted her chance. A fire extinguisher hung on the wall ahead. She pretended to stumble, making the guards loosen their grip for just a second. That was all she needed.

She lunged forward, grabbed the fire extinguisher, and swung it hard. It hit the first guard in the head with a sickening thud. He dropped like a stone. Before the second guard could react, she sprayed foam into his face. He coughed and clawed at his eyes, giving her time to slam the extinguisher into his gut.

Heart pounding, Valentina ran back toward the presidential room. She had to help Alessio and Dante. But as she neared the door, she heard whispers. Helena Vega was speaking.

"You two really thought you could beat me?" Helena laughed. "Marco has been working for me all along. And Luca... well, he was easier to turn than I expected."

Valentina pressed herself against the wall, listening carefully.

"You're lying," Dante's voice was strained.

"Am I?" Marco said. "Tell him, Luca. Tell him how long you've been planning to take his place."

Valentina risked a peek through the slightly open door. Luca stood tall beside Helena, his face cold.

"Three years," Luca said. "Three years watching you make mistakes, Dante. Three years waiting for my chance."

The pain on Dante's face made Valentina's heart ache. She understood what it felt like to be betrayed by someone you trusted.

"And you, Alessio," Marco continued. "You never saw it coming, did you? Your men have been loyal to me for months. You were too busy with your grand plans to notice."

Valentina saw her brother's jaw clench. His hands were tied behind his back, but his eyes burned with rage.

"Your sister was supposed to be our final bargaining chip," Helena said. "But no matter. We have other ways to make you cooperate."

Valentina's mind raced. She needed to free them, but she couldn't take on all those armed men by herself. She needed a distraction.

She backed away from the door and looked around. The old hotel was falling apart. The fire alarm on the wall caught her eye. That might work.

She pulled the bell. Immediately, bells rang throughout the building. Shouts of confusion came from inside the suite.

"Check that!" Helena ordered.

Valentina hid around the corner as two men rushed out. She held her breath, counting to three, then peeked again. Helena was distracted, barking orders. This was her chance.

She slipped into the room, staying low behind a couch. No one noticed her. She caught Alessio's eye and put a finger to her lips. His eyes widened, but he quickly looked away, not wanting to give her away.

Moving slowly, Valentina made her way toward Rico, who was slumped in a corner. He was hurt badly, but still alive. She needed his help.

"Rico," she whispered, shaking him gently. "Wake up."

His eyes fluttered open. "Val?" he mumbled.

"Shh," she whispered. "I need your help."

While Helena was busy yelling at her men to check the building, Valentina helped Rico sit up. She spotted a knife in his boot and pulled it out.

"Create a distraction," she whispered. "I'll free Alessio and Dante."

Rico nodded weakly. He took a deep breath, then suddenly yelled and threw himself at the nearest guard. It wasn't much, but it was enough. In the chaos, Valentina darted forward, cutting Alessio's ropes with the knife.

"Get Dante," Alessio whispered as he rubbed his wrists.

Valentina ran to Dante, slicing through his bindings. His eyes met hers with thanks.

"Duck!" Dante suddenly yelled, pushing her down as a bullet whizzed over their heads.

Helena had spotted them. "Kill them all!" she screamed.

The room exploded into gunfire. Alessio grabbed a gun from a fallen guard and pulled Valentina behind a heavy desk.

"Stay here," he ordered.

But Valentina wasn't going to hide again. "I'm fighting with you," she insisted.

Across the room, Dante had taken cover behind a couch. He caught Alessio's eye and nodded. Some silent understanding passed between them.

"Marco's escaping!" Valentina shouted, spotting him slipping toward a side door with Luca.

"Go after him," Dante called to Alessio. "I'll cover you!"

Alessio hesitated, looking at Valentina.

"I'll be fine," she promised. "Go!"

Alessio squeezed her hand, then ran after Marco, dodging bullets as Dante provided cover fire.

Valentina stayed with Dante, helping him fight off Helena's men. They worked well together, almost like they'd been partners for years.

"Why are you helping us?" Valentina asked as they reloaded.

Dante's eyes were sad. "Your brother... he's not what I thought."

Before she could ask what he meant, more gunshots rang out from the hallway where Alessio had gone.

"Alessio!" Valentina cried, starting toward the door.

Dante held her back. "Wait!"

The door burst open. Marco stumbled in, blood spreading across his shirt. Behind him, Alessio appeared, his gun raised.

"It's over, Marco," Alessio said.

Marco laughed, coughing up blood. "No, it's just beginning." He turned to Dante. "Tell them, Luca. Tell them what you know."

Luca stepped forward, his face pale. "The Vegas aren't the only ones after you," he said. "There's someone else. Someone worse."

"Who?" Dante demanded.

Luca looked at Valentina, his eyes filled with something like sorrow. "Ask her. Ask her about the night her parents died."

Valentina felt the blood drain from her face. "What are you talking about?"

"The fire wasn't an accident," Marco whispered, his voice getting weaker. "And she knows—"

A single shot rang out. Marco fell, a bullet hole in his forehead.

Helena stood behind him, gun smoking. "That's enough talking." She turned the gun toward Valentina. "Some secrets should stay buried."

Alessio jumped in front of his sister as Helena fired. The bullet hit him in the shoulder, and he fell against Valentina.

"Alessio!" she screamed, catching him.

In that moment of chaos, Luca made his move. He grabbed Helena from behind, putting a knife to her throat.

"Run!" he yelled to Dante. "All of you, get out now!"

Dante looked confused. "Luca—"

"Go!" Luca insisted. "I'll hold them off. There's a boat at the back dock. Take it!"

Valentina didn't understand what was happening, but she helped Alessio to his feet. His wound was bleeding badly.

"We have to go," Dante said, backing Alessio's other side.

They stumbled toward the back stairs, gunfire exploding behind them. Valentina's head was spinning. What did Marco mean about her parents' death? What secret was he talking about?

As they reached the dock, Valentina looked back at the hotel. Flames were now visible from the upper floors. The fire warning had turned into a real fire.

"Get in," Dante ordered, helping Alessio into a small motorboat.

As they sped away, Valentina watched the hotel burning. Her whole world felt like it was burning too. She turned to Alessio, who was pale from blood loss.

"What did Marco mean?" she asked, her voice shaking. "About our parents?"

Alessio's eyes were heavy with pain and something else—fear.

"There's something I never told you," he whispered. "Something about who we really are."