CHAPTER 73

Aurora.

The next morning, as the first light of dawn seeped through the curtains, I found myself still hunched over the laptop, going through the endless files on the flash drive. Rossi had finally succumbed to exhaustion a few hours earlier and was now fast asleep on the couch. I envied his ability to rest, but my mind was too restless, too full of the damning evidence we had uncovered.

Just as I was about to close the laptop and attempt to get some sleep myself, my phone buzzed on the table. I reached for it, my heart skipping a beat, when I saw the name on the screen: Ernesto.

Ernesto: Aurora, I need to see you. There’s something important I need to tell you. It can’t wait.

A sense of unease settled over me. After everything we’d been through, I wasn’t sure if I could trust Ernesto completely, but his warning had led to the flash drive. Now, he wanted to see me directly? I glanced over at Rossi, still deep in sleep, and felt a pang of worry. I didn’t want to wake him, but this felt urgent.

Aurora: What is it? Can’t it wait?

His response came almost immediately.

Ernesto: No, it can’t. I’ll explain everything when we meet. Same place as before. Please, Aurora, it’s about Rossi.

My heart pounded in my chest. Something about his message felt different, more desperate. I couldn’t ignore it. I needed to know what he had to say, especially if it concerned Rossi. Taking a deep breath, I made my decision.

I scribbled a quick note for Rossi, explaining where I was going and why, and left it on the table where he would see it as soon as he woke up. Then, grabbing my coat and phone, I quietly slipped out of the apartment, careful not to wake him.

The drive to the meeting place was tense; every nerve in my body was on high alert. The early morning streets were eerily quiet, adding to the sense of foreboding that hung in the air. When I arrived at the secluded alley, Ernesto was already there, leaning against a car, his expression grim.

“Aurora,” he greeted me, his voice low. “Thank you for coming.”

“What’s this about, Ernesto?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. “What do you need to tell me?”

He glanced around, ensuring we were alone before speaking. “There’s more you need to know about the Gotti’s and their plans. The flash drive was just the beginning. They’re planning something big, something that could put you and Rossi in even greater danger.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, my anxiety mounting. “What are they planning?”

Ernesto took a deep breath, his eyes locking on mine. “They know about the flash drive. They’ll stop at nothing to get it back. And they have a mole inside your circle; someone is feeding them information.”

A chill ran down my spine. “A mole? Who?”

“I don’t know who it is yet, but I’m close to finding out,” he replied, his expression earnest. “You need to be careful, Aurora. Trust no one.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. “Why are you telling me this, Ernesto? Why do you care?”

“Because I’m done being their puppet,” he said, his voice filled with conviction. “I want to see them fall as much as you do. And because…” He hesitated, then sighed.

"Aurora,” Ernesto said, his expression grave. “I owe you an apology. For everything I’ve done to you and for all the harm I’ve caused. I was under Gotti’s thumb, doing their bidding to protect my family. But that’s no excuse. You didn’t deserve any of it.”

I had been taken aback by his sincerity and the remorse in his eyes. “Why now, Ernesto? Why tell me this?”

“Because you deserve the truth,” he had replied, his voice heavy with regret. “And because I want to make things right, Helping you and Rossi is the only way I know how.”

"What truth?” I asked, feeling a mix of confusion and anticipation.

Ernesto took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting deep-seated pain. “After your parents died, the Gottis saw an opportunity. They threatened us and forced us into their service. We had to do their dirty work or face death. Sending you to boarding school was a way to keep you safe, away from all this chaos.”

The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. “So, all this time, you were protecting me?”

“In the only way we knew how,” Ernesto said softly. “But it wasn’t enough. We became their puppets, and you paid the price for our sins. I’m so sorry, Aurora. Keep the flash drive safe and find the mole. I’ll keep digging and get you more information. We’re in this together now.”

I nodded, feeling a strange sense of solidarity with him despite our complicated history. “Thank you, Ernesto.”

“Stay safe, Aurora,” he replied, his gaze intense. “And take care of Rossi. He needs you now more than ever.”

With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The weight of the new information pressed heavily on my shoulders as I made my way back to the apartment. The stakes had just gotten higher, and the path ahead was fraught with danger. But with Rossi by my side, I knew we could face whatever came our way.

As I approached the apartment, the sun was beginning to rise, casting a soft glow over the city. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the battle ahead. We would find the mole, expose the Gottis, and finally, we would be free.

The apartment door creaked open, and I stepped inside, the weight of the morning’s revelations heavy on my shoulders. The light in the living room was on, casting a warm glow over Rossi, who was pacing back and forth, his expression a mixture of anger and worry. The note I had left was crumpled in his hand.

“Aurora!” he snapped, his eyes locking onto mine the moment I entered. “Where the hell have you been?”

“I’m sorry, Rossi,” I began, but he cut me off, striding toward me with a fierce intensity.

“Sorry? Do you have any idea what went through my mind when I woke up and found you gone?” His voice was low, but the anger was palpable. “I thought something happened to you.”

I reached out to touch his arm, but he pulled back, his frustration evident. “I had to meet Ernesto,” I explained quickly. “He texted me this morning. He said it was urgent.”

“Ernesto?” Rossi’s eyes narrowed, and he shook his head in disbelief. “And you went to meet him alone? Without telling me first?”

“He said it was about you,” I said, my voice pleading for him to understand. “I didn’t want to wake you. I thought I could handle it.”

Rossi let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. “Handle it? Aurora, we’re in the middle of a war. You can’t just run off like that without backup, without me.”

“I know, I know,” I admitted, feeling a lump form in my throat. “But he had information. He said the Gottis have a mole in our circle. He’s close to finding out who it is.”

Rossi’s anger softened slightly, replaced by a look of concern. “A mole?”

“Yes,” I confirmed, stepping closer. “And he warned us that the Gottis were planning something big. They know about the flash drive, Rossi. They’ll stop at nothing to get it back.”

Rossi’s jaw clenched, and he took a deep breath, trying to rein in his emotions. “We’re in deeper than I thought,” he muttered. “And Ernesto? Can we trust him?”

“He seemed genuine,” I said, my voice steady. “He wants to see them fall as much as we do. He’s tired of being their puppet. And he cares about you, Rossi. He wants to help.”

Rossi’s eyes softened, and he finally reached out, pulling me into a tight embrace. “I was just so scared,” he whispered into my hair. “I can’t lose you, Aurora. Not now, not ever.”

I hugged him back, feeling the tension between us start to melt away. “I’m sorry I worried you. I just wanted to get answers.”

He pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes. “Promise me, no more solo missions. We do this together, okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed, nodding earnestly. “No more secrets. We face everything together.”

Rossi sighed, the anger fading completely. “Alright. Tell me everything Ernesto said.”

I relayed the entire conversation, from Ernesto’s warning about the mole to his insistence that we trust no one. Rossi listened intently, his expression growing more serious with each detail.

“We need to be careful,” he said finally. “If there’s a mole, we have to find them before they do any more damage.”

“And we need to protect the flash drive,” I added. “It’s our best weapon against the Gottis.”

Rossi nodded, his mind already working through the possibilities. “We’ll keep it secure, and we’ll start investigating our circle. No one is above suspicion.”

I squeezed his hand, feeling a renewed sense of determination. “We’ll get through this. Together.”

He leaned in, kissing my forehead softly. “Together,” he echoed. “Now, let’s get to work. We have a lot to do.”

As we sat down to plan our next steps, the weight of the challenge ahead felt lighter, knowing we were united. The road would be treacherous, but with Rossi by my side, I knew we had the strength to face whatever came our way. We were a team, and nothing would tear us apart.