Valentina.
“I’m so sorry.” I whispered, placing a kiss on his cheek.
The moon hung low, its silver light barely breaking through the canopy of trees as I made my way down the forest path.
The same path I took the night when I ran away from Matteo.
Every step seemed to echo in the silence, the crunch of leaves beneath my boots, the only sound accompanying the rapid beating of my heart. I kept glancing over my shoulder, feeling the weight of unseen eyes watching me.
But I was alone.
At least, I hoped I was.
I had no idea if he would be there tonight. But desperation had a way of twisting your instincts, pushing you into trusting people you had no business even knowing.
The man from the woods. That’s who I was meeting tonight.
I ran into him a few days ago during a moment of weakness when I needed to clear my mind from the mess of Matteo’s secrets and protectiveness. He knew something about my sister.
I needed to know what it was
I hoped I didn’t make a mistake coming back to this place.
Ahead of me, the trees parted to reveal the same small clearing where we’d first met. And…
He was there.
Leaning against a fallen log as though he had been waiting for me for hours, his sharp eyes caught mine as I stepped into the clearing while his lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.
“Again.” He said simply, his voice low and rough like gravel underfoot.
I stopped a few feet away from him, arms crossed over my chest, trying to maintain an air of confidence I didn’t quite feel. “I’m here. Now tell me what you know.”
“So needy.”
He straightened, taking a step toward me, his presence imposing even in the dim light. There was something about him that unnerved me – a kind of quiet power that made me wary, though I couldn’t pinpoint why.
He wasn’t a large man, not in the way Luca or Matteo were. He was all lean muscle and sharp features, attractive and tall. Perhaps six feet two… but his energy crackled with a barely-contained edge that set my nerves on high alert.
Just like Luca, he couldn’t be trusted.
“You’re a bold one,” he continued, circling me slowly, his eyes raking over me in abway that made my skin prickle. “Most people would’ve sent someone else. Or stayed far away.”
“I don’t have time for games,” I snapped, staring him down. “You said you had information about my sister.”
He stopped his pacing and cocked his head at me, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Straight to the point. I like that. Fine.” He gestured to the trees behind him. “I know you guys picked the scent on Luca. He’s been moving operations to a new warehouse. Off the grid, not one of his usual spots, but I’ve seen it. And I know that’s where they’re keeping her.”
My breath caught in my throat. “Isabella?”
He nodded slowly, watching my reaction with a keen interest. “She’s there. I can’t tell you what condition she’s in, but she’s alive. For now.”
A wave of relief and fear crashed over me. Isabella was alive. But she was in Luca’s hands.
That smug bastard.
“Where is the warehouse?” I asked, my voice firmer now though I tried to keep the urgency out of my words.
The man didn’t answer right away. Instead, he studied me, his eyebrows raised. “You’re not like others.” He said after a long pause.
I blinked, confused. “What are you talking about?”
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I’ve seen women in your position before. Stuck with a man like Matteo. They either run or they crumble. But you…. you stand your ground.”
I swallowed hard, unsure where this was going. “I don’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice,” he murmured. “And I’m giving you one now.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What do you mean?”
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper, handing it to me. I hesitated for a moment before taking it, my fingers brushing against his. It felt like ice, but I unfolded the paper quickly, scanning the hand-drawn map on it. There was a small red circle marking a spot deep in the industrial part of the city.
“That’s the warehouse,” he said, stepping back. “Luca thinks no one knows about it. He’s been smuggling people and goods through there for weeks. And your sister… she’s there, locked away.”
Panic clawed up my throat.
I traced the lines of the map with my eyes, memorizing the route. “Why are you giving me this?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly. “What’s in it for you?”
He tilted his head, his smile returning, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Let’s just say I have my own reasons for wanting to see Luca fall. My own reasons to see Matteo suffer. But I’m not doing this for free. There’s always a price.”
My stomach twisted. Of course, there was.
There always was.
I clenched my fists, staring at him. “What do you want?”
He smirked, taking another slow step toward me, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “Nothing you can’t handle, sweetheart. Just make sure Luca suffers. And make sure he knows it’s because of you.”
My blood ran cold. This wasn’t just about Isabella. This man had his own vendetta against Luca, and he was using me to get to him. But right now, I didn’t care. All that mattered was getting my sister back.
“I’ll make sure of it,” I said, my voice hard. “Now tell me how to get inside.”
He gave me a knowing look before pulling out another sheet of paper from his jacket-a layout of the warehouse. He pointed to an entrance at the back, near the loading docks. “Security’s tight, but not impossible to get past. You’ll want to go in through here during the shift change. There’ll be a small window where the guards won’t be watching as closely.”
I studied the layout, committing it to memory. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something.
“When do I make my move?” I asked, folding the papers and slipping them into my pocket.
The man’s eyes gleamed again, a sharp, predatory look. “Tomorrow night. That’s when the next shipment goes out. You’ll need to be quick. Luca doesn’t let his cargo linger for long.”
That’s when Matteo and Ethan would go to the wrong place.
I nodded, my mind already racing with plans. I would need to move fast, and I’d have to do it alone. Matteo would never let me go if he knew. But I couldn’t wait any longer. Isabella was running out of time, and I couldn’t risk losing this chance.
“Thank you,” I said, turning to leave, my heart pounding in my chest.
But before I could take a step, he grabbed my wrist, pulling me back to face him. His grip was firm but not painful, his eyes locking onto mine. “Be careful, Valentina,” he said, his voice low and serious. “Luca won’t go down easily. And once you step into his world, there’s no turning back.”
I swallowed hard, nodding. “I know.”
He let go of my wrist, his fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary. “Good luck, sweetheart. You’ll need it. I hope this atonement is all I need to get what I’m going for.”
With that, I turned and walked back into the darkness, the weight of his words heavy on my shoulders.
As I made my way back to Matteo’s estate, my mind whirled with plans and possibilities. I knew this was dangerous. I knew Luca was ruthless, and walking into his warehouse could be a death sentence. But I didn’t care.
Isabella was in there. And I was going to get her out, no matter what it cost me.
I would face Luca. I would fight him if I had to. And if it meant ending him to save my sister, I would do it without hesitation.
The trees thinned as I neared the edge of the woods, the safe house’s lights flickering in the distance.
Tomorrow, everything would change.