Chapter 44

• The compound was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos earlier in the night. The bodies of Matteo’s men had been removed, and the fires were extinguished. Yet, for Rafael, the tension was suffocating. Victor Castellano stood in the center of the room, his hands clasped behind his back, surveying the aftermath like a general evaluating the battlefield.
• “You’ve done well tonight,” Victor said without turning to look at Rafael. “Your leadership under pressure is... commendable.”
• Rafael’s jaw tightened. “This wasn’t about leadership, Victor. It was about survival. There’s a difference.”