Business Partners

Business Partners
The glass vase broke against the wall, missing Dante's head by inches.
"You want to do what?" Alessio growled, his voice dangerously quiet despite the violence of his action.
Dante didn't move. He simply brushed an imaginary speck of dust from his sleeve and continued as if Alessio hadn't just tried to take his head off.
"Buy the mayor's struggling hotel chain," Dante repeated calmly. "It's the perfect way to legitimize part of our income. Plus, we'd own half the city's high-end accommodations."
"While I'm trying to save my sister," Alessio growled, "you're shopping for hotels?"
"Your sister isn't the only one in danger," Dante said, his eyes hardening. "The fake professor who has Valentina's friends? He's connected to the same people who tried to kill us both last month."
Alessio paced the meeting room, trying to control his rage. Three days had passed since Valentina's friends were taken. Three days of dead ends and fake leads.
"We need to appear strong," Dante continued. "Business as usual. If they see us panicking, they'll know they have the upper hand."
The door burst open, and Luca rushed in. "We found them."
Both men froze.
"The college kids?" Alessio asked, hope in his voice.
"No," Luca said sadly. "But we found where they're keeping your parents. An abandoned textile factory on the river."
Alessio moved toward the door, but Dante caught his arm.
"Wait," Dante said. "We need a plan. This feels too easy."
"My parents have been missing for months," Alessio snapped. "I'm not waiting."
"And rushing in blindly helps how?" Dante asked. "This is business, Alessio. Strategic business."
"This is family," Alessio shot back.
"Which is why you're not thinking clearly." Dante pulled up a map on his tablet. "Look, the factory has six entry points. Security cameras here, here, and here. It's a fortress."
Alessio stared at the screen, his analytical mind finally engaging. "How many guards?"
"At least twenty," Luca reported. "Armed."
"We'll need thirty men," Alessio said immediately.
"Or two men and a better plan," Dante replied.
Alessio looked at him like he was crazy. "Two?"
"You and me," Dante explained. "Plus Luca for tech support. Smaller team, less chance of being spotted."
"That's suicide," Alessio countered.
"That's strategy," Dante said with a dangerous smile. "Something I thought the great Viper understood."
The insult hit its spot. Alessio's pride wouldn't let him back down now.
"Fine," he admitted. "But we do this my way. No improvising."
"Your way got your sister's friends kidnapped," Dante said, then quickly regretted his words when he saw Alessio's face darken with guilt.
"I'll call Valentina," Alessio said stiffly. "She should know."
While Alessio stepped out to make the call, Dante turned to Luca.
"What about the hotel deal?"
"Mayor Jenkins is desperate," Luca confirmed. "His hotels are failing, and election season is coming. He'll sell for half what they're worth."
"Make the offer through our legitimate holding company," Dante directed. "And double the security at all our existing businesses. If this is a trap, I want to be ready."
Alessio returned, his face grim. "Valentina insists on coming."
"Absolutely not," Dante said instantly.
"Try telling her that," Alessio answered. "She's already on her way."
"She's a liability," Dante argued.
"She's the best shot in the family," Alessio replied. "And they're her parents too."
Before they could argue further, Dante's phone rang. He frowned at the caller ID: Mayor Jenkins.
"Mr. Russo," the mayor's voice shook over the speaker. "I received your offer."
"And?" Dante asked, eyes on Alessio.
"It's very generous, but I've already accepted another bid. I'm sorry."
Dante's face darkened. "From whom?"
"I'm not at liberty to say." The mayor paused. "But he mentioned you might call. He left a message: 'Tell the Wolf and the Viper that business is business.'"
The line went dead.
"Marco," Alessio spat.
"He's moving against us on multiple fronts," Dante realized. "The kidnappings, now this."
Alessio slammed his hand on the table. "This isn't about business anymore. This is personal."
"It's always been personal," Dante said softly. "That's why we need to be smart. Cold. Strategic."
"And ruthless," Alessio added, his eyes meeting Dante's.
For a moment, the tension between them changed into something else. Something electric.
The door opened again, and Valentina entered, dressed in black, a gun holstered at her hip. Her face was pale but determined.
"Tell me about the factory," she said without preamble.
While Dante described the layout, Alessio watched his sister with a mixture of pride and concern. She absorbed the information like a professional, asking smart questions about guard rotations and exit plans.
"Your plan is too complicated," she finally said, studying the map. "We don't need to clear the whole building. We just need to get to the third floor, east wing, where they're keeping them."
"How do you know that's where they are?" Dante asked, shocked.
"Because I hacked into their security feed," Valentina said simply. "Zoe's been teaching me some computer skills."
Alessio looked impressed despite himself. "You saw Mom and Dad?"
Valentina nodded. "And something else. The fake professor was there, talking to Marco."
"Marco is working with him?" Dante asked, sharing a look with Alessio.
"They seemed like partners," Valentina confirmed. "And they're expecting us tonight. They mentioned having 'bait' in three locations."
"It's a trap, as we suspected," Dante said. "They're splitting our forces."
"Then we split up," Alessio decided. "Valentina and I will go for our parents. Dante, you take your men and find her friends."
"That's exactly what they want," Dante argued. "Us separated, vulnerable."
"What would you suggest?" Alessio asked. "Leave some of them behind?"
Dante stepped closer, his voice low. "I suggest we use their plan against them. Make them think we're falling for it, then hit them where they least expect it."
"The meeting point," Valentina said suddenly. "The text said to meet at the old library basement at 8 PM. What if that's where Marco will be?"
"Cut off the head," Alessio nodded, understanding.
"While rescuing the hostages," Dante added, a slow smile spreading across his face.
For the next hour, they revised their plan. For once, Dante and Alessio worked in perfect sync, their different methods complementing each other. Dante's strategic thinking meshed with Alessio's attention to detail. Valentina offered insights about the campus layout, knowing places to hide and escape routes.
As dusk fell, they prepared to move out. Dante pulled Alessio away while Valentina checked her weapons.
"Whatever happens tonight," Dante said quietly, "we finish this together."
Alessio studied him for a moment, then gave a short nod. "Together."
As they headed for the cars, Valentina's phone buzzed with a text. Her face went white as she read it.
"What is it?" Alessio asked.
She turned the phone so they could see. It was a picture of Professor Harmon's office door, slightly open. The text read: "Too late. The game has changed."
Another text followed immediately: "Choose wisely. Parents, friends, or the truth about your family? You can't save them all."
Attached was a video that began to play immediately. On screen, the real Professor Harmon—clearly filmed before his death—looked straight at the camera.
"Valentina," he said quickly. "If you're seeing this, I'm already dead. What I discovered about your family will change everything. The Castellos aren't who you think they are. Your father—"
The video cut off.
Valentina looked up at her brother and Dante, her eyes wide with shock and confusion.
"What did he mean?" she whispered. "What don't I know about our family?"