Chapter 240

• GUSTAVO
• ~•~
• I remained motionless on the cold marble floor of the central hall while the circle of blood beneath me grew wider and darker. The knife wound between my ribs sent steady waves of fire through my chest with every shallow breath I allowed myself. I kept my eyes closed and my limbs completely limp. The pain served as a constant anchor that kept me alert. It sharpened my hearing and focused my mind on every word spoken above me. Ricci continued to speak without pause. His voice carried the weight of a man who believed victory had already arrived. He stood beside Valentina and addressed the gathered guards and lieutenants as if the new empire had already begun. I listened to each sentence with absolute clarity. I stored every name, every location, and every planned move in the quiet spaces of my memory.