Chapter 86
★10AM✓✓DE LUCA ESTATE★
Cristiano stormed into the estate, his face set with determination.
Without a moment’s pause, he headed straight for Angelica's suite.
Bursting through the door, he found her seated on the couch, lost in thought.
“Angelica,” he began, his voice trembling with urgency. “Stephanie is missing. Alessandro has been taken... by someone anonymous. We don’t know who or why.”
Angelica's eyes widened in shock, her hands flying to her mouth as tears welled up.
“No... not now,” she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. “Steph can’t leave me now, Cristiano. Not when I finally know she’s my twin sister. She just can’t!”
Cristiano crouched before her, gripping her hands tightly.
“Angelica, listen to me. Crying won’t bring them back. We need a solution. We need to think clearly.”
As if on cue, the door creaked open.
Sara entered, her eyes red and swollen, accompanied by Camelia, who looked equally distressed.
Angelica and Cristiano turned to them, exchanging worried glances.
Sara took a shaky breath, her voice hoarse from crying.
“I know where Stephanie and Alessandro are.”
The room fell into silence, the weight of her words settling over them like a storm cloud.
★**********★
★12PM✓✓FOREST★
Alessandro sat motionless beside Francesca's lifeless body, his hands resting limply on his knees.
The tears had stopped, but his eyes remained hollow, fixed on her still form.
The silence in the forest was suffocating, broken only by the soft murmurs of his voice as he spoke to himself.
“Francesca… you were my only best sister,” he whispered, his voice raw with grief. “And now Gabriel has taken you away. Just like Stephanie… I’ve lost her too. And now you…” His voice cracked, and he clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
As he sank further into despair, a cold sensation pressed against the back of his head.
The sharp chill of metal sent a jolt through him, and his breath hitched.
Slowly, Alessandro raised his head, his heart pounding in his chest.
Standing before him was Luciano, a wicked smirk playing on his lips.
Behind him, a dozen guards clad in black stood silently, their weapons aimed at Alessandro.
“Master!” Luciano sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
Alessandro's jaw tightened, and he stared at Luciano with a mix of shock and fury.
“Luciano…” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
★
★12:30PM✓✓BIANCHI SUITE★
The opulent suite was alive with the clinking of glasses and the hum of low laughter.
Bianchi, draped in a deep emerald gown that shimmered under the chandelier’s light, sat regally at the head of the table.
Her sharp, calculating eyes flicked between Corenzo, who lounged lazily with a cigar in hand, and Gabriel, whose confident smirk was impossible to miss.
Maids moved swiftly, placing trays laden with exotic dishes before them.
The scent of roasted meats, spiced wine, and freshly baked bread filled the air, adding to the decadence of the evening.
Bianchi raised her glass, a glint of triumph in her eyes.
“To victory,” she said, her voice smooth and commanding. “The fall of Alessandro was inevitable. But this… this is sweeter than I imagined.”
Gabriel chuckled, leaning back in his chair as he swirled his glass of wine.
“Mother, you should’ve seen the look on his face when it all came crashing down. Alessandro thought he was untouchable.”
He took a sip, savoring the moment.
“But now? He’s nothing. He has lost everything—his allies, his resources, even his precious Francesca and wife Stephanie"
Corenzo exhaled a cloud of smoke, his lips curling into a satisfied grin.
“The brat underestimated us. He thought his name alone could shield him. A fatal mistake.”
Gabriel leaned forward, his tone turning more animated.
“And it’s not just Alessandro’s downfall we’re celebrating tonight.”
His eyes gleamed with ambition as he looked at Bianchi.
“Mother, I’ve successfully convinced Federico to sign the Mafia document. He had no choice after I threatened him with his family, I will soon be declared as the new Patriarch soon”
Bianchi’s lips parted in a slow, approving smile.
She reached out to place a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder.
“My son, I’ve always known you were destined for greatness. This is the culmination of our plans, years in the making. The title of Patriarch will soon be yours, and with it, absolute power.”
Gabriel’s chest swelled with pride.
“Federico was hesitant at first, but the right amount of persuasion… and pressure… made him see reason. He signed willingly in the end, though I suspect he knows what’s coming for him next.”
Corenzo laughed, a low, gravelly sound that filled the room.
“That fool. He won’t even see the knife coming. By the time he realizes, it’ll be far too late.”
The three of them shared a knowing look, their alliance solidified by their shared thirst for control.
The maids continued to move silently around them, refilling glasses and serving more dishes, but none dared to meet their eyes.
Bianchi raised her glass again, her expression imperious.
“To Gabriel, the future Patriarch of the most powerful Mafia family this world has ever seen. May our enemies continue to fall before us.”
The three clinked their glasses together, their laughter echoing through the suite.