Shadows Behind the Throne

Shadows Behind the Throne


LUCA'S POV

I watched the house from my office window, eyes on Izzy as she moved through the halls, giving orders and checking on her people. She looked tense, but she wasn’t faltering. I let Matteo lean against the doorway behind me, quiet as always, waiting for me to start.

“She’s holding her own,” I said, not taking my eyes off the house. “Better than I expected.”

Matteo crossed his arms. “She’s tough, smart too but she’s still learning. You know that.”

“I know,” I said. “That’s why we watch. She’s in control, but the pieces are still moving beneath her. Every move has to be measured, every word observed.”

Matteo tilted his head. “You’re thinking of the families, aren’t you?”

“Of course,” I said. “And Marco. He’s gone, but he’s not dead. He’ll be planning already. The second she shows weakness, he’ll take advantage.”

Matteo let out a short laugh. “So now we’re spies in her house. Watching, protecting, moving quietly. Sounds fun.”

“Fun?” I said, not turning to him. “It’s survival and right now, she doesn’t need us to be visible, she needs the foundation to be secure. If she senses us stepping in too much, she’ll rely on us instead of trusting herself. That’s dangerous.”

Matteo nodded slowly. “Fair. Let her lead but you’re going to reroute assets behind the scenes?”

“Quietly,” I said. “Everything has to look like it’s under her control. No alerts, no flags. If the families notice before she does, it could destabilize her position.”

Matteo’s eyes narrowed. “So we play invisible but what if she needs something she doesn’t know she needs?”

“I’ll provide it,” I said. “But only in a way that makes her think she handled it herself. That way, she builds confidence instead of relying on me or anyone else.”

Matteo leaned against the desk. “And if she slips? If she makes a mistake that’s noticed outside?”

“That’s why we’re watching,” I said. “We catch it, quiet the ripple, and let her think she solved it. Mistakes are lessons, but not disasters she can’t recover from, not yet.”

He nodded. “You’re protecting her, not controlling her. Got it.”

I gave a short smile. “Exactly. Let her feel the weight, let her carry it. She’s strong enough, but she has to see the real threats herself to grow. That’s how she’ll earn respect, not just fear.”

Matteo watched the window with me for a long moment. “You know, I didn’t think she’d handle this this well. I thought she’d hesitate more, show cracks.”

“I did too,” I admitted. “But she is surprised. She’s focused, sharp. She’s learning fast and she’s paying attention to everything. That makes her dangerous in a good way.”

He smirked. “Dangerous is good for us?”

I laughed softly. “For now, yes. Dangerous for our enemies, not for her. We keep her safe, let her feel in control, and everything else falls into place but we always watch.”

Matteo’s expression darkened. “And Marco?”

“Marco,” I said slowly, “is a different problem. He’s gone, but he’s not gone. He’ll be plotting, waiting. Anyone in his path will feel it. That’s why Izzy needs loyalty now, before exile becomes action.”

Matteo leaned closer. “So we prepare. Reroute assets, strengthen the defenses, observe everyone she trusts.”

“Exactly,” I said. “We’re the shadows behind her throne. Let her sit on it, make it hers but we’re ready if it’s threatened.”

He nodded, eyes scanning the property. “You’ve thought of everything.”

“I’ve thought of what matters,” I said. “And right now, that’s her.”

Matteo smirked faintly. “You sound like you’re in love with the idea of her leadership.”

I gave him a dry look. “I’m in love with the results and so far, she’s proving she can handle it but we can’t afford surprises. Not with Marco, not with the families, and not with anyone who thinks they can undermine her.”

He shrugged. “Fine. We watch, we protect, we move quietly. No one sees it but us.”

I nodded. “Exactly. Let her fight her battles. Let her learn to win but when the tide threatens to pull her under, we’ll be there. Invisible, precise, and ready.”

Matteo leaned back, a quiet agreement in his stance. “You make it sound so simple.”

“It’s never simple,” I said, eyes returning to the house. “But it has to look that way, she’s the boss. We’re just making sure the floor beneath her doesn’t collapse before she gets her footing.”

He watched the windows, where she was still moving, still delegating, still observing everyone. “She’s not like her father,” he said quietly.

“No,” I agreed. “She’s sharper, faster and smarter but she’s still learning and we have to make sure the lessons she learns don’t cost her everything.”

Matteo finally smirked. “So, silent guardians, invisible support, protecting the boss without her knowing it. Sounds like a spy movie.”

I chuckled. “Except the stakes are real, every move matters. One wrong slip, one early alert, and the enemies smell blood and I won’t let that happen.”

Matteo nodded, quiet for a moment. “Then we do it right, we watch. We wait and we strike only if necessary.”

“Exactly,” I said. “And right now, necessary doesn’t mean visible. It means ready, every second. Every detail, every corner. That’s how she stays in control.”

He sighed, running a hand down his face. “I hope she knows how lucky she is to have us watching her back.”

I smirked. “She does. In her own way but she has to earn her victories herself. Our job is making sure the battlefield is safe enough for her to do it.”

Matteo grinned faintly. “Then let’s get to it. Time isn’t on her side, and you know that.”

I turned back to the window, eyes sharp. Izzy was still moving, still observing, still calculating. Every step she took, every word she said, told me she
was ready to take what was hers and as long as we stayed in the shadows, she would.