Chapter 57: Connecting the dots
Lucia’s POV
Dante is at the desk when I return to the room.
Of course he is.
He doesn’t look up when I enter, just continues reading through whatever file is in front of him, sleeves still rolled, posture steady in that controlled way of his that makes it look like exhaustion is something other people experience.
I close the door softly behind me. And for a moment, I just stand there.
Because Nico’s words are still looping in my head.
Not loudly. Just… repeatedly.
Like a file I haven’t opened properly yet. Different people know different things.
Casteelo doesn’t trust anyone. Information is divided. Controlled. Distributed.
My fingers tighten slightly. I don’t notice I’m moving until I’m already in front of Dante’s desk.
“Dante,” I say quickly.
He finally looks up. His eyes narrow slightly. “What is it?”
I don’t sit. I don’t even breathe properly.
“I think I understand something,” I say.
A pause. “About Casteelo.”
That gets his attention immediately. He sets the file down slowly.
“Talk.”
I start pacing slightly without realizing it, words coming faster as they form.
“He doesn’t keep full information with one person,” I say. “He splits it. Like pieces. Different people know different things.”
Dante’s expression shifts slightly.
I don’t stop.
“That’s why your building got hit without warning,” I continue. “Because the people who would normally know… didn’t know everything.”
I stop abruptly. My mind finally connects the last piece. And it clicks.
Fully.
My breath catches.
“Wait.”
Dante sits back slightly. “Lucia.”
I shake my head. “No, no—listen.”
My voice rises slightly now. “What if that’s how he’s operating inside your empire too?”
Silence. I don’t wait for permission anymore.
“He’s not just attacking from outside,” I say quickly. “He’s doing the same thing internally. Splitting information. Feeding different men different parts of the truth. That’s how you get leaks without people realizing they’re leaking anything important.”
Dante’s eyes sharpen instantly. I continue before he interrupts.
“What if your men aren’t all betraying you knowingly? What if they’re just acting on incomplete information?” I stop finally, chest rising slightly faster than normal.
Dante doesn’t speak. Not immediately. His eyes stay on me.
“Repeat that,” he says quietly.
I blink. “What?”
“Repeat it.” Because now he’s not just listening. He’s calculating.
I exhale slowly and force myself to slow down.
And I do. I explain it again. Cleaner this time.
When I finish, the room is completely silent.
Dante stands slowly. He walks past me toward the phone on the desk.
Without looking at me, he says
“Prepare. We’re having a meeting.”
And just like that this is no longer just an idea. It’s a decision.
The study is full now.. Antonio is there. Giovanni too. Salvatore stands near the window. Alex and Enzo are by the side. Dante at the head of the table.
I sit slightly behind him this time, not because I’m told to but because there’s no space where I would normally stand.
He speaks first. “This is what my wife identified.”
All eyes shift slightly toward me. I keep my expression neutral.
Dante continues. “Casteelo is splitting information internally. That means the leaks inside my organization may not be intentional betrayals.”
A pause. Giovanni frowns slightly. “You’re saying we’ve been hunting ghosts?”
“Not ghosts,” Dante replies. “Miscommunication.”
Salvatore exhales quietly. “That changes everything.”
Dante nods once. “It changes the structure of the counterattack.”
They begin talking. Planning. Adjusting. Building.
And for the first time, I am not just listening. I am part of it.
The meeting continues for a few minutes more until Dante finally leans back.
“This will work,” Giovanni says.
“It has to,” Salvatore adds.
Dante nods once. “Then we move.”
A pause.
Then Alex mutters under his breath:
“So basically Lucia just saved all of us.”
I look up slightly. “No I didn’t,” I say quietly. “I just connected something.”
Alex grins immediately.
“That’s still saving us.”
Dante finally looks at him. Slowly. Alex feels it instantly.
“…what?” he says cautiously.
Dante stands. “Come here.”
Alex leans back slightly in his chair. “Something about your tone tells me you're not about to give me medical advice.”
A few snickers around the table. Dante doesn’t move his expression.
“Antonio,” he says calmly. “Bring him to me.”
Antonio immediately steps aside. “No.”
Enzo laughs. Giovanni exhales like he’s tired already. “I’m not getting involved in this one.”
Alex stands up slowly. “…I feel like I should run.”
Dante’s gaze stays locked on him. “Too late.”
Alex backs away slightly. “Okay, listen—whatever Lucia said I support it fully—”
Lucia clears her throat quietly. “Don’t use me as protection.”
Alex points at her. “Too late, Bella, we are emotionally bonded now.”
Dante turns slightly. “Bella?”
Silence. Immediate silence.
Alex freezes. “…pet name,” he says quickly. “Friendly. Completely harmless. Respectful. Platonic—”
Dante steps forward. Alex takes one step back.
Then another.
“I’m just going to—” Alex gestures vaguely. “Exit the area of danger.”
Giovanni leans back in his chair. “Good plan.”
Enzo nods. “Very strategic.”
Antonio mutters, “I’m not catching him if he runs.”
Alex pauses at the door. “…I regret all my life choices.”
Dante doesn’t move. “Alex.”
Alex sighs deeply. “Yes boss?”
“Run.”
And he does.
The room erupts instantly.